The Regional Business District (RBD) is intended to permit a wider range of business and entertainment activities than those permitted in any other business or commercial district within the City. The permitted uses are intended to be similar to those permitted in the Municipal Business District (MBD) in that they are usually found in major business areas along major streets or regional thoroughfares or near freeway access ramps, generate large volumes of vehicular traffic, require substantial access for off-street parking and loading and require detailed planning, particularly as to relationships with adjacent areas. However, the Regional Business District (RBD) is intended to permit uses of a larger size and scale than those found in any other business or commercial district. The intended potential customer base for these uses is the entire Municipality, along with the surrounding communities throughout the southeastern Michigan region.

(Res. 98-340A. Passed 9-21-98.)

In the Regional Business District (RBD), no use shall be permitted, unless otherwise provided in this Zoning Code, except the following:

   (a)   All uses permitted in the Neighborhood Business District (NBD), Municipal Business District (MBD) and Central Business District (CBD), subject to the terms and conditions therein, excluding all residential uses.

   (b)   All establishments with drive-through service windows.

   (c)   Automobile and other vehicle wash establishments.

(Res. 98-340A. Passed 9-21-98.)

   (d)   (1)Automotive fueling stations, including those combined with food services, restaurants and/or convenience stores, of no more than five thousand (5,000) square feet.

   (2)Automotive fueling stations and automobile service centers/stations, without accessory or combined food services, restaurants and/or convenience stores.

(Res. 99-416A. Passed 9-7-99.)

   (e)   Building and lumber supply or contracting firms, including landscape construction services, with incidental outside storage of equipment and materials on the same lot.

   (f)   Child care centers, nursery schools, day nurseries, and adult day care centers (not including dormitories or any type of overnight care).

   (g)   Colleges or universities.

   (h)   Commercial greenhouses, nurseries, and garden centers exceeding one-thousand (1,000) square feet of floor area.

   (i)   Drive-in restaurants or other drive-in establishments serving food and/or beverages.

   (j)   Essential public services and buildings within an enclosed building.

   (k)   Hypermarkets.

   (l)   Indoor recreational centers.

   (m)   Mortuaries and funeral homes.

   (n)   Retail businesses whose principal activity is the sale or rental of merchandise within a completely enclosed building of more than sixty-thousand (60,000) square feet of gross floor area.

   (o)   Self-service laundromats.

   (p)   Senior housing and housing for the elderly.

   (q)   Shopping centers with more than sixty-thousand (60,000) square feet of gross floor area, containing uses permitted within this chapter.

   (r)   Temporary buildings for uses incidental to construction work.

   (s)   Veterinary hospitals and clinics with outdoor pens, boarding, or other similar uses.

   (t)   Wholesale stores.

   (u)   Off-street parking and loading facilities in accordance with Chapter 1290, Off-Street Parking and Loading.

   (v)   Indoor flea markets, subject to the site design standards of Section 1296.02, Site Design Standards for Uses Permitted after Special Approval. (Res. 2012-259A. Passed 8-20-12, effective 9-5-12.)

   (w)   Antique malls less than twenty thousand (20,000) square feet in area, subject to the site design standards of Section 1296.02, Site Design Standards for Uses Permitted after Special Approval.

   (x)   E-Commerce establishments with less than ten thousand (10,000) square feet of gross floor area. (Res. 2022-146A. Passed 5-16-22, effective 6-1-22.)

(Res. 98-340A. Passed 9-21-98; Res. 2012-223A. Passed 7-16-12, effective 8-1-12; Res. 2012-259A. Passed 8-20-12, effective 9-5-12.)

In a Regional Business District (RBD), the following uses may be permitted subject to the applicable site design standards of Section 1296.02, Site Design Standards for Uses Permitted After Special Approval, and subject, further, to the approval of Council after recommendation from the Planning Commission in accordance with the processing procedures in Section 1262.08, Powers of Council Re Special Approvals:

   (a)   (1)   Automotive fueling stations and automobile service centers/stations, including those combined with food services, restaurants and/or convenience stores.

      (2)   Automotive repair stations, provided that any outdoor storage of vehicles is screened in accordance with the standards of Section 1294.28, Screening.

(Res. 99-416A. Passed 9-7-99.)

   (b)   Cocktail lounges and nightclubs.

   (c)   Hospitals, including animal hospitals and hospitals or sanitariums for the care of contagious acute, mental, drug or liquor addict cases and long term-acute care; and medical clinics; medical office centers; and dental clinics.

   (d)   Mechanical amusement device arcades, pinball parlors, and billiard and pool halls.

   (e)   New or used motor vehicle or recreational vehicle sales or rentals, including boats, snowmobiles, travel trailers, campers, motor homes, tents and accessory equipment, wherein motor vehicles or recreational vehicles are stored or displayed outside of completely enclosed buildings.

   (f)   Open air business uses, unless otherwise permitted in Section 1282.02, Principal Permitted Uses.

   (g)   Party stores.

   (h)   Storage garages.

   (i)   Uses similar to the principal permitted uses of Section 1282.02, Principal Permitted Uses, herein and not listed elsewhere in this Zoning Code as a principal permitted use or a special approval use.

   (j)   Antique malls at least twenty thousand (20,000) square feet in area.

For all uses in a Regional Business District (RBD), a site plan shall be submitted for review and approval in accordance with Section 1296.01, Site Plan Review. Where a new or expanded use occurs in a Regional Business District (RBD), after the effective date of this Zoning Code, which new or expanded use abuts directly upon a residentially zoned district, protective screening shall be provided in accordance with Section 1294.28, Screening.

(Res. 98-340A. Passed 9-21-98.)

For a Regional Business District (RBD), area, height, bulk and placement requirements and performance standards, unless otherwise specified, shall be as provided in Sections 1294.31, Performance Standards, and 1294.32, Schedule of Area Regulations.

(Res. 98-340A. Passed 9-21-98.)