Mitchelville City Zoning Code

The C-3 District is intended to provide for the development of shopping centers. For the purposes of this section, the term “shopping center” means a planned retail and service area under single ownership, management, or control characterized by a concentrated grouping of stores and compatible uses, with various facilities designed to be used in common, such as ingress and egress roads, extensive parking accommodations, etc. Since shopping center developments, whether large or small, have a significant effect upon the comprehensive plan for the development of the City, extensive authority over their development is retained by the Council and the Planning Commission. Many matters relating to the shopping center’s design, its potential for success or failure and its effect upon surrounding neighborhoods must be considered by the Council and Commission in order to be reasonably assured that the area will not eventually become blighted. It is further intended that in the event of an applicant’s failure to construct a shopping center in accordance with a reasonable time schedule, the Council shall enact the necessary legislation to reclassify the area to another classification consistent with the surrounding neighborhood. Such action would also, because of the reduction in commercial zoning in a given area, provide conditions whereby it could be reasonable for the Council to classify other areas in the vicinity for shopping center use.

1.   Procedures. The owner or owners of any tract of land comprising an area of not less than five acres may submit to the Council a petition requesting a change to the C-3 zoning district classification. The petition shall be accompanied by a plan for the commercial use and development of the tract for the purposes of meeting the requirements of this section and by evidence of the feasibility of the project and its effects on surrounding property, including each of the following:

   A.   A site plan defining the areas to be developed for buildings, the areas to be developed for parking, the location of sidewalks and driveways and the points of ingress and egress, including access streets where required, the location and height of walls, existing and proposed grades, the location and type of landscaping and the location, size and number of signs, type or style of architecture, building material, color or other significant feature.

   B.   An analysis of market conditions in the area to be served, including types and amount of service needed and general economic justification.

   C.   A traffic analysis of the vicinity indicating the effect of the proposed shopping center on the adjacent streets.

   D.   A statement of financial responsibility to assure construction of the shopping center, including landscaping, in accordance with the plan and the requirements of this section.

   E.   The development plan shall be referred to the Planning and Zoning Commission for study and report. The Planning Commission shall review the conformity of the proposed development with the standards of the Comprehensive Plan, and with recognized principles of civic design, land use planning and landscape architecture. The Commission may approve the plan as submitted or, before approval, may require that the applicant modify, alter, adjust, or amend the plan as the Commission deems necessary to the end that it preserve the intent and purpose of this Zoning Code to promote public health, safety, morals, and general welfare. The development plan as approved by the Commission shall then be reported to the Council, whereupon the Council may approve or disapprove said plan as reported or may require such changes thereto as it deems necessary to effectuate the intent and purpose of this Zoning Code.

2.   Principal Permitted Uses. Uses permitted in the C-3 District shall include only the uses of structures or land listed in this section, provided however, the Council may consider any additional restrictions proposed by the owner.

   A.   Retail or service establishments such as the following:

      (1)   Antique shops.

      (2)   Apparel shops.

      (3)   Art shops.

      (4)   Auto and home supply stores.

      (5)   Baby and children’s stores.

      (6)   Bakeries and baker outlets - retail sales only.

      (7)   Bicycle shops, sales and repairs.

      (8)   Book stores.

      (9)   Camera stores.

      (10)   Carwashes.

      (11)   Clubs and lodges.

      (12)   Collection office of public utility.

      (13)   Confectionery stores, including ice cream or snack bars.

      (14)   Consumer retail uses, personal services or business.

      (15)   Convenience or quick stop stores.

      (16)   Dairy stores - retail only.

      (17)   Dance studios.

      (18)   Delicatessens.

      (19)   Drug stores.

      (20)   Dry goods stores.

      (21)   Florist shops and greenhouses.

      (22)   Furniture stores.

      (23)   Gas stations.

      (24)   Gift shops.

      (25)   Grocery stores including supermarkets.

      (26)   Hardware stores.

      (27)   Hobby shops.

      (28)   Hotels, motels and tourist courts.

      (29)   Household appliances - sales and repair.

      (30)   Jewelry stores and watch repair shops.

      (31)   Key shops.

      (32)   Launderettes; coin-operated dry-cleaning establishments; and dry-cleaning or pressing establishments.

      (33)   Leather goods store.

      (34)   Meat market for storage and retail sales only.

      (35)   Music stores.

      (36)   Music studios.

      (37)   Paint and wallpaper stores.

      (38)   Printing shops.

      (39)   Professional offices.

      (40)   Public buildings and utilities, including administrative and sales office, equipment storage buildings, and enclosed storage.

      (41)   Radio and television sales and repair shops.

      (42)   Real estate, insurance and financial institutions.

      (43)   Restaurants, night clubs, cafes, taverns.

      (44)   Shoe and hat repair shops.

      (45)   Tailor and dressmaking shops.

      (46)   Toy stores.

      (47)   Variety stores.

   B.   Business and professional offices including the following: law, engineering, real estate, insurance and similar uses.

   C.   Hospitals, clinics, group medical centers, or the office of a doctor, dentist, osteopath or similar profession.

   D.   Photographic studios.

   E.   Personal service businesses such as beauty and barber shops, shoe repair, and similar uses.

   F.   Post office substations.

   G.   Combinations of the above uses.

3.   Permitted Accessory Uses.

   A.   Uses of land and or structures customarily incidental and subordinate to one of the principal permitted uses, unless otherwise excluded.

   B.   Signs in accordance with Chapter 165 of this Code of Ordinances.

   C.   Temporary buildings for uses incidental to construction work, said buildings shall be removed upon the completion of construction or abandonment of the construction site.

   D.   TV dish antennas in accordance with Chapter 168 of the Zoning Code - General Regulations.

   E.   Storage of merchandise incidental to the principal use, but not to exceed 40 percent of the floor area utilized for such use.

4.   Bulk Regulations. The bulk regulations of the C-2 District shall be considered minimum for the C-3 District; however, it is expected that these minimums will be exceeded in all but exceptional situations. Buildings may be erected to heights no greater than 90 feet, with a maximum number of six stories.

5.   Landscaping. A minimum of 15 percent of the area shall be returned as landscaped open space to include such items as walks, trees, shrubs, fountains or other ornamental features.

6.   Signs. Signs in accordance with Chapter 165 of this Code of Ordinances.

7.   Off Street Parking and Loading. See Chapter 168.