It is the purpose of the RC regional commercial district to provide areas for commercial establishments that offer a wide variety of goods and services to consumers from a trade area that extends beyond the city of Moorhead. The RC district is intended for establishments that have a large customer draw, generate significant traffic and parking needs, and require close access to arterial streets. Uses in this district are generally less dependent on adjacent commercial uses for spinoff business. It is the intent of the RC district to provide for the integration of an attractive environment for motorists and pedestrians with regional shopping services. (Ord. 2013-09, 6-24-2013)

See commercial/industrial district use table in section 10-18-1 of this title for permitted uses. (Ord. 2013-09, 6-24-2013)

The following are permitted accessory uses in an RC district:

All permitted accessory uses as allowed in a CC district. (Ord. 2013-09, 6-24-2013)

See commercial/industrial district use table in section 10-18-1 of this title for provisional uses. Provisional uses are permitted as long as they meet the provisions outlined in chapter 6 and section 10-18-2 of this title. (Ord. 2013-09, 6-24-2013)

See commercial/industrial district use table in section 10-18-1 of this title for conditional uses. Conditional uses are permitted as long as they meet the criteria outlined in chapter 4 and section 10-18-2 of this title, and any additional conditions required by the city council. (Ord. 2013-09, 6-24-2013)

The following minimum requirements shall be observed in an RC district subject to additional requirements, exceptions and modifications set forth in this title:

   A.   Lot Area: None.

   B.   Lot Width: None.

   C.   Building Setbacks:

      1.   Front yard: Twenty feet (20').

      2.   Interior side yard: Ten feet (10'), or zero feet (0') where common walls on attached buildings are located.

      3.   Street side yard: Twenty feet (20').

      4.   Rear yard: Twenty feet (20').

      5.   Rear or side yard when abutting a lot line of a residential zoning district: Fifty feet (50').

   D.   Parking Lot Perimeter Landscaping: Parking lot perimeter screens shall be located between off street parking areas and any adjacent street rights of way in accordance with the following table:

PARKING LOT PERIMETER LANDSCAPING

 

 

Alternative parking lot perimeter screens and/or buffer widths may be approved by the zoning administrator. Landscaping provided for the parking lot perimeter landscaping shall not be counted toward meeting the landscaping and tree standards of section 10-19-17 of this title.

All off street parking areas shall be subject to parking lot perimeter screens of this subsection. The standards do not apply to areas used for storing vehicles or equipment in conjunction with a vehicle sales or rental establishment.

   E.   Impervious Surface Coverage: The total lot coverage of hard surfacing and buildings shall not exceed eighty five percent (85%). Required stormwater retention ponds shall count as impervious surface coverage. The city planner has the authority to authorize an additional one percent (1%) of impervious surface in each of the following circumstances:

      1.   Use of on site stormwater retention pond by location or other manner will reduce significantly the visual impact of the impervious surface coverage of the lot.

      2.   Other methods employed by the developer will reduce significantly the impact of the impervious surface coverage of the lot. (Ord. 2013-09, 6-24-2013)

   A.   Landscaping And Buffer Yards: Plantings used to fulfill the requirements of section 10-19-17 of this title shall be grouped to maximize visual impact from adjoining streets.

   B.   Lighting: Lighting shall be directed downward, inward and away from public rights of way and adjoining uses, consistent with section 10-19-19 of this title.

   C.   Pedestrian Access: Identifiable and safe pedestrian walkways within the site shall be provided that interconnect front doors of establishments and connect to transit stops and to public sidewalks on the perimeter. Pedestrian walkways shall be a minimum of four and one-half feet (41/2') in width and of contrasting materials or color for easy identification. Pedestrian walkways shall be maintained and kept clean.

   D.   Storage And Display:

      1.   No required setback shall be used for outdoor storage or display of product.

      2.   Storage of refuse and recycling shall be in conformance with section 10-19-7 of this title. (Ord. 2013-09, 6-24-2013)

Buildings in the RC district shall meet the following standards, unless specifically exempted:

   A.   Buildings shall be attractive and constructed of materials that will maintain their appearance over the long term.

   B.   All exterior walls shall be of consistent quality and characteristics.

   C.   Main entrances shall be emphasized by distance recessed or projected, by accent materials, change of grade or by pedestrian scale lighting and other pedestrian amenities.

   D.   Exterior building walls greater than sixty feet (60') in length shall be divided visually into sections or bays to break up the mass.

   E.   Architectural elements, approved by the zoning administrator, shall be combined with landscaping to add interest to buildings, and especially to break up long expanses. Standards for architectural elements include:

      1.   The exterior of buildings shall be comprised of at least thirty percent (30%) quality materials other than steel and fiberglass; and

      2.   Exterior building walls visible from the public right of way shall incorporate no fewer than three (3) architectural elements comparable to those listed below or other architectural elements as approved by the zoning administrator.

         a.   Accent materials,

         b.   Public art,

         c.   Architectural details, such as tile work and moldings integrated into the building facade,

         d.   Windows,

         e.   Recesses/projections,

         f.   Roof overhang, which should vary according to building width, as follows: one foot (1') overhang for buildings less than fifty feet (50') in width, two foot (2') overhang for buildings fifty (50) to one hundred feet (100') in width, and three foot (3') overhang for buildings greater than one hundred feet (100') in width,

         g.   Varied rooflines,

         h.   Articulated cornice line,

         i.   Canopies/awnings/porticoes,

         j.   Arcades,

         k.   Planters and wing walls integrated with the building,

         l.   Outdoor patios,

         m.   Pedestrian plaza with benches and planters,

         n.   Window shopping walkway,

         o.   Outdoor playground,

         p.   Water feature, and

         q.   Display windows.

   F.   Rooftop mechanical equipment shall be screened in a manner that is incorporated in the architectural form of the building.

   G.   Overhead doors and loading docks:

      1.   Shall not face gateways, other arterial or collector streets, unless completely screened from view;

      2.   Shall not be located in required front yards; and

      3.   Shall meet the requirements of chapter 21 of this title. (Ord. 2013-09, 6-24-2013)

   A.   Principal building: Sixty feet (60').

   B.   Accessory buildings: As governed by section 10-18-3 of this title. (Ord. 2013-09, 6-24-2013)