The General Business District (GB) is to provide for business activities that are typically large in scale and are designed to serve the community and the region without negatively impacting the residents of the single-family neighborhoods by locating these uses at activity nodes located at the intersection of arterial roadways, or with direct access to major arterial roadways. The GB district allows for more intensive retail, office, and commercial land uses under architectural standards that result in consumer-oriented, quality development that promotes economic development and regional enterprise in a positive and sustainable manner for the city.

(Code 2014, § 46-343; Ord. No. 629, § 01.12.001, 12-1-2006)

Any use permitted in the Retail District (R) are permitted in the General Business District (GB), with the addition of:

   (1)   Automobile parts and accessories sales;

   (2)   Automobile repair/sales/rental;

   (3)   Convenience store;

   (4)   Laundromat (self-service washateria);

   (5)   Motel or hotel;

   (6)   Nursery (greenhouse);

   (7)   Pawnshop that has been licensed to transact business by the state consumer credit commissioner under V.T.C.A., Finance Code ch. 371;

   (8)   Reception hall; and

   (9)   Veterinarian or animal hospital (no outdoor kennels).

(Code 2014, § 46-344; Ord. No. 629, § 01.12.002, 12-1-2006; Ord. No. 794, § 01.12.002, 6-12-2017)

Any use conditionally permitted in the Retail District (R) will be conditionally permitted in the General Business District (GB), with the addition of:

      (1)   Automobile repair/sales/rental.

      (2)   Boat repair/sales/rental.

      (3)   Commercial amusement (outdoor).

      (4)   Gaming establishments.

      (5)   Heating or air conditioning sales or service.

      (6)   Heliport or helistop.

      (7)   Ice company sales, wholesale.

      (8)   Indoor archery and shooting range.

      (9)   Miniwarehouse or self-storage.

      (10)   Motorcycle sales/rental/service.

      (11)   Moving company.

      (12)   Nightclub or tavern (less than or equal to 5,000 square feet).

      (13)   Office, showroom/warehouse.

      (14)   Theater, outdoor.

      (15)   Printing company.

      (16)   Recycling collection point.

      (17)   Tattoo/piercing studio.

      (18)   Trade shop or office.

      (19)   Trailer rental.

      (20)   Truck rental.

(Code 2014, § 46-345; Ord. No. 629, § 01.12.003, 12-1-2006)

The height regulations for the General Business District (GB) are as follows:

      (1)   The maximum allowable height is 35 feet.

      (2)   Structures over 35 feet in height are permitted with the additional setback of one foot for each two feet in height over 35 feet.

(Code 2014, § 46-346; Ord. No. 629, § 01.12.004, 12-1-2006)

The setback regulations for the General Business District (GB) are as follows:

      (1)   Front setback shall have a minimum of 25 feet.

      (2)   Side setback shall have a minimum of ten feet.

      (3)   Side setback adjacent to a street shall have a minimum of 15 feet.

      (4)   Rear setback shall have a minimum of ten feet.

(Code 2014, § 46-347; Ord. No. 629, § 01.12.005, 12-1-2006)

The lot regulations for the General Business District (GB) are as follows:

      (1)   The minimum lot size shall be 20,000 square feet.

      (2)   The minimum lot width shall be 100 feet.

      (3)   The minimum lot depth shall be 200 feet.

(Code 2014, § 46-348; Ord. No. 629, § 01.12.006, 12-1-2006)

The off-street parking regulations for the General Business District (GB) are as provided in article XIX of this chapter.

(Code 2014, § 46-349; Ord. No. 629, § 01.12.007, 12-1-2006)

The building regulations for the General Business District (GB) are as follows:

      (1)   No building shall contain a single continuous exterior wall that exceeds 100 feet in length. All exterior walls shall be finished with at least 50 percent masonry, and consist of one or a combination of the following materials: brick, native types of stone, and/or cast stone. Alternative materials may be approved by the city manager if the alternative materials meet or exceed the standards of the materials listed in this subsection.

      (2)   Awnings and canopies may be made of sheet metal or canvas membrane. Plastic or vinyl awnings are not permitted.

      (3)   All ground-floor building faces shall utilize the similar architectural treatments on all sides visible from the street or adjacent residences.

      (4)   Pitched roofs shall be required on all buildings in this district. The slope of the pitch shall be a minimum ratio of 4:13.

      (5)   Glazed openings shall account for at least 25 percent of the overall wall surface along walls visible from a lot line. Glazing shall not exceed 80 percent. Mirrored glass is not permitted.

(Code 2014, § 46-350; Ord. No. 629, § 01.12.008, 12-1-2006)

The regulations specific to the General Business District (GB) are as follows:

      (1)   Merchandise can be displayed.

      (2)   A permanent structure with indoor facilities that include offices, restroom facilities, etc., that comply with all building code regulations is required.

      (3)   Open storage is permitted.

      (4)   Establishments selling alcoholic beverages shall not be located within:

         a.   300 feet of a public school, place of worship, or a public hospital.

         b.   1,000 feet of a public school, if the city council receives a request from the board of trustees of a school district under V.T.C.A., Education Code § 38.007; or

         c.   1,000 feet of a private school if the city council receives a request from the governing body of the private school.

      (5)   No temporary structures, such as recreational vehicles, travel trailers, construction trailers, or mobile homes may be used for on-site dwelling purposes.

      (6)   Duplex, townhouse, and patio home dwellings permitted conditionally in this district shall conform to standards as specified in article XXIV of this chapter.

      (7)   Wireless telecommunications facilities shall be allowed only as provided for in article XXV of this chapter.

      (8)   No use or operation, including those permitted by right, shall create a dangerous, injurious, noxious, or reasonably objectionable condition so as to adversely affect areas outside of the district.

(Code 2014, § 46-351; Ord. No. 629, § 01.12.009, 12-1-2006; Ord. No. 724, § 1, 7-8-2013)

The applicable landscaping regulations for the General Business District (GB) are as provided in article XX of this chapter.

(Code 2014, § 46-352; Ord. No. 629, § 01.12.010, 12-1-2006)

The applicable sign regulations for the General Business District (GB) are as provided in sections 34-116 and 34-117.

(Code 2014, § 46-353; Ord. No. 813, § 1, 10-9-2018)