Mercedes City Zoning Code
ARTICLE 30
CLASS LI DISTRICT
§ 1 Purpose and general conditions.
A.)
The purpose of this district is to create a limited industrial zone that provides for industrial uses that may be appropriate for an industrial park or similar type of development. Limitations are placed on the uses in this district to significantly restrict the outside activities and storage of materials, noise[,] vibration, smoke, pollution, fire and explosive hazard, glare and any other potentially blighting influences. These limitations create a zone that could be considered the “highest and cleanest” industrial zone.
B.)
This zone is intended for industrial parks and larger, cleaner types of industries. The manufacturing uses should be conducted within a totally enclosed building. Any activities conducted outside should be screened and buffered from any adjacent residential use or zone, and no external effects such as excessive noise or odor should extend beyond the property lines.
C.)
Because this is a limited industrial zone with screening and buffering requirements, limited industrial uses are suitable for high-visibility locations such as along the freeway, or within a reasonable distance of residential areas. Residential uses should be discouraged from locating within the industrial district to protect the industries from residential complaints.
D.)
Areas should not be zoned to this usage unless they are located on or close to arterials capable of carrying commercial and truck traffic. They should be located close to major truck routes. Internal streets in such developments should be sized and strengthened to accommodate truck traffic. Each industry should work with the City to make sure the water pressure and capacity is adequate to provide fire protection for that particular industry before such industry is developed. Industries should also be required to prove that the water, wastewater, and drainage capacity is adequate before they are allowed to develop.
(Ordinance 86-15 adopted 6/17/86)
§ 2 Permitted uses.
A.)
Any of the following uses when the manufacturing, compounding, or processing of previously prepared materials are conducted wholly within a completely enclosed building. That portion of the land use for open storage facilities for materials or equipment used in the manufacturing, compounding or processing or for truck loading and unloading shall be totally obscured by a wall on those sides abutting a residentially zoned district.
1.)
The manufacturing, compounding, processing[,] packaging or treatment of such products as bakery goods, candy[,] cosmetics, pharmaceutical[s], toiletries, food products, hardware and cutlery;
2.)
The manufacturing, compounding, assembling or treatment of articles or merchandise from the following previously prepared materials: bone, canvas, cellophane, cloth, cork, feathers, felt[,] fiber, fur, glass, hair, horn, leather, paper, plastics, precious or semi-precious metals or stones, sheetmetal (excluding saw and planing mills) and yarns;
3.)
The manufacture of pottery and figurines or other similar ceramic products using only previously pulverized clay, and kilns fired only by electricity or gas;
4.)
Manufacture of musical instruments, toys, novelties, and metal or rubber stamps, or other small molded rubber products;
5.)
Manufacture or assembly of electrical appliances, electronic instruments and devices, radios, and phonographs;
6.)
Laboratories–experimental, film or testing;
7.)
Manufacture and repair of electric or neon signs, sheetmetal products, including heating and ventilating equipment, cornices, eaves and the like;
8.)
Tool, dye, gauge and machine shops;
9.)
All public utilities, including buildings, necessary structures, storage yards and other related uses;
10.)
Any retail business, personal services, professional services, or business services;
11.)
Office buildings and accessory uses;
12.)
Institutional uses;
13.)
Restaurants and drive-in businesses;
14.)
Gasoline service stations, or retail outlets, where gasoline products are sold;
15.)
Automotive and other repair services, excluding wrecking yards;
16.)
Warehousing and storage;
17.)
Any wholesale trades conducted in an enclosed building;
18.)
Agricultural uses of unplatted land in accordance with all other ordinances;
19.)
Other uses of a similar and no more objectionable character to those principal uses permitted subject to any and all provisions of ordinance[s] relating to the use of property within the City of Mercedes.
20.)
Accessory structures and uses customarily related to the above principal uses authorized in this district, including the residence for a night watchman or caretaker employed on the premises.
21.)
Amusement parks; circus or carnival grounds, commercial amusements or recreational developments or tents or other temporary structures uses [used] for meetings, in accordance with all other applicable ordinances, and located more than three hundred (300) feet from the nearest residentially zoned or residentially used land.
(Ordinance 86-15 adopted 6/17/86)
§ 3 Prohibited uses.
A.)
Any manufacturing use that involves the use and/or storage of substantial amounts of hazardous or flammable materials, such as petroleum products, that in the opinion of the inspector is a potential hazard.
B.)
Any building erected or land used for other than one (1) or more of the preceding specified uses.
C.)
Any use of property that does not meet the required minimum area or site requirements as outlined in Section 4.
D.)
Any use whose external effects create excessive noise, vibration, odor, smoke, pollution, or glare extending beyond the property line. Complaints under this section shall be served by the Director of Planning and complaints filed with the municipal judge if the Director of Planning determines that there is probable cause to believe a violation of the subsection as alleged exists.
(Ordinance 86-15 adopted 6/17/86)
§ 4 Area requirements.
A.)
Minimum lot size: 20,000 square feet.
B.)
Minimum lot frontage on a public street: 100 feet.
C.)
Minimum lot depth: 200 feet.
D.)
Minimum depth of front setback: 20 feet.
E.)
Minimum width of side setback:
1.)
With firewall: 0'
2.)
Without firewall: 15'
A minimum ten-foot (10') side yard setback shall be imposed on all corner side yards of all ‘corner lot’ properties in all zoning districts. |
The above does not preclude any corner side yard setbacks that may be required through the recorded plat process. |
F.)
Minimum depth of rear setback:
1.)
With firewall: 0'
2.)
Without firewall: 10'
G.)
Minimum distance between detached buildings on the same lot or parcel of land:
1.)
With firewall: 0'
2.)
Without firewall: 10'
H.)
Maximum number of entrances and/or exits:
1.)
Arterial streets: 1 per site per each 200 ft. of street frontage.
2.)
Collector streets: 1 per site per each 100 ft. of street frontage.
3.)
Local streets: 1 per site per each 50 ft. of street frontage.
I.)
Buffering Requirements: Lots that have a side or rear contiguous to or separated only by an alley, easement, or street, from any residential district must be separated from such district by a buffer. The buffer shall be required as part of the building permit process, at such time that the lot is developed. A buffer shall be defined as a visual screen constructed of wood, concrete block, masonry, or landscape material in such a manner that adjacent property will be screened from the use contemplated, so noise, visual pollution, or other objectionable influences will be avoided. Such buffer shall be horizontal to the ground, opaque, and a minimum of six (6) feet in height.
(Ordinance 86-15 adopted 6/17/86; Ordinance 2020-16 adopted 11/3/20)
