Middlesex Township Butler County
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XXI
C-3 Regional Commerce District
§ 175-220 Purpose.
The purpose of this district is to accommodate larger-scale nonresidential facilities, generally located in high-volume traffic corridors, and where such uses are primarily retail, office, research and development, and limited industrial in nature and geared to the needs of both the community and the region.
§ 175-221 Authorized uses.
In the C-3 Regional Commerce District, the following principal uses are authorized:
A.
Permitted uses.
(1)
Any other permitted use specifically listed in the C-2 District business services.
(2)
Clinic.
(3)
Communication antenna.
(4)
Conference and training center.
(5)
Nonmunicipal recreation.
[Amended 12-20-2023 by Ord. No. 138]
(6)
Drive-in facilities.
(7)
Essential services.
(8)
Forestry.
(9)
Motels/hotels.
(10)
Offices, business and professional.
(11)
Planned shopping center.
(12)
Public utilities, except buildings.
(13)
Research and development, including pilot manufacturing.
(14)
Restaurants.
(15)
Wholesale sales in conjunction with retail business.
§ 175-222 Area and bulk regulations.
In the C-3 Regional Commerce District all uses shall be subject to the following regulations, except as they may be modified by the express standards and criteria for the specific conditional uses and uses by special exception contained in Article XI.
A.
Minimum lot size: one acre (43,560 square feet).
B.
Minimum lot width: 150 feet.
C.
Maximum lot coverage: 40%.
D.
Minimum front yard: 85 feet from front lot line plus one foot for each building foot over 36 feet.
E.
Minimum rear yard: 50 feet.
G.
Minimum distance between buildings: 20 feet (where there is more than one building on a lot).
§ 175-223 Parking and loading.
See Article XIII.
§ 175-224 Signs.
See Article XIV.
§ 175-225 Performance standards.
See § 175-139.
§ 175-226 Storage.
See § 175-149.
§ 175-227 Screening and landscaping.
See § 175-140.
§ 175-228 Vehicular access.
See § 175-150.
§ 175-229 Steep slope controls.
See § 175-141.
§ 175-230 Design standards.
A.
Nonresidential uses contained in one structure shall not exceed five individual uses.
B.
For nonresidential development, no curb cuts along a public right-of-way shall be permitted within 150 feet of another curb cut or driveway entry. For curb cuts located less than such established minimum, a developer shall either:
(1)
Prepare a legal agreement specifying the establishment and use of a shared driveway; shared driveway entrances and access drives are encouraged; or
C.
All buildings in the Regional Commerce District shall provide prominent and highly visible street-level doorway entrances along the front or side of the building which faces a public street.
D.
Awnings, sunscreens or other similar architectural treatments shall be permitted on the front facade of all nonresidential buildings. Such treatments shall be permitted to project into required front and side yards no more than three feet.
E.
All fire escapes or similar life safety features shall be located on the side or rear facade of a building or structure.
F.
No mechanical or electrical equipment related to a building or structure shall be visible from a public right-of-way. Wherever feasible, the use of exterior mechanical systems should be minimized.
G.
All land development within a Regional Commerce District shall provide sidewalks within the front yard of a lot and on a lot in order that a continuous internal sidewalk shall be provided from the public sidewalk along the street to the principal building entrance of any use. The minimum width of all sidewalks within the front yard setback shall be six feet. All other sidewalks shall be a minimum of five feet. Sidewalks shall be located to optimize the amount of contiguous area available for landscaping on a lot. When practical, all new sidewalks shall directly connect to existing sidewalks situated on adjoining lots. See also § 175-154, Sidewalks.
[Amended 3-20-2019 by Ord. No. 133]
H.
Off-street parking.
(1)
To the greatest extent possible, off-street parking areas shall be designed to reduce negative visual effects of extensive paved areas and contain defined landscaped pedestrian walkways. Parking areas shall be constructed within centralized location(s) accessible to multiple land uses. Parking areas on multiple lots shall be interconnected to the greatest extent possible to reduce traffic congestion and the number of curb cuts along public streets. If said layout can be demonstrated not to be physically feasible, then said parking shall be located to the rear or side of the lot's structures.
(2)
No single parking lot area shall exceed 40% of the overall lot.
(3)
All parking areas shall be landscaped as per Township standards.
(4)
One landscape island measuring at a minimum of 150 square feet in area shall be constructed for every 10 parking spaces. The island shall contain a minimum of one deciduous tree that has a minimum caliper size of three inches and ground cover planting covering 50% of the island's area.
(5)
Parking lots shall be located a minimum of five feet from any lot line.
(6)
Lighting for vehicular and pedestrian safety shall be provided in accordance with Township specifications. Streetlighting shall not exceed 24 feet in height. Pedestrian lighting shall not exceed 16 feet in height.
I.
Upon review of a proposed land development plan, the Township may permit a developer to exceed the maximum building coverage applicable to this district, if the developer demonstrates the incorporation of enhanced pedestrian spaces and amenities within the setback area. Enhanced pedestrian spaces and amenities may consist of a combination of features, such as plaza, courtyards, outdoor seating, widened sidewalks/pathways, landscaping, street furniture or other public space amenities.
J.
All service and loading areas shall be located in the rear yard of a lot. The service and loading area of all nonresidential developments shall be screened by an eight-foot high hedge, earth berm, masonry wall or fence with a minimum opacity of 80%.