(a)

The B-4 District is intended to provide for general commercial areas that serve the highway traveling public. These districts include much of the commercial property existing along the major streets of the city. The uses permitted are intended to accommodate both the local consumer and the automobile traveling public. It is not intended that any new residential development shall be permitted in this district.

(a)

Only the use of structures or land listed in this section shall be permitted in the B-4 District:

(1)

Business, service or recreational uses, including, but not limited to, the following and similar uses as may be determined by the zoning administrator:

a.

Animal hospitals, Veterinary Clinics or Kennels. (see definitions)

b.

Automobile accessory stores.

c.

Automobile, trailer, motorcycle, boat, farm implement and lawn and garden establishments for display, hire, rental and sales (including sales lots). This paragraph shall not be construed to permit automobile, tractor or machinery wrecking and rebuilding and used parts yards.

d.

Bowling alleys, pool halls and coin-operated amusement establishments.

e.

Carwashes.

f.

Commercial swimming pools, skating rinks, golf driving ranges, miniature golf courses, drive-in theaters and similar recreational uses and facilities.

g.

Day nursery and nursery schools.

h.

Drive-in banks.

i.

Food, meat and fruit stores and food catering services.

j.

Garage for general motor vehicle repair.

k.

Gas stations.

l.

Gift shops.

m.

Liquor and beverage stores.

n.

Mini-warehouses, self storage.

o.

Monument sales yards.

p.

Motels and motor hotels.

q.

Recreational vehicle (RV) park[s].

r.

Retail stores and shops.

s.

Restaurants, including drive-in restaurants.

t.

Self-service laundry and dry-cleaning establishments and laundry-pickup stations.

u.

Taverns, bars and nightclubs.

v.

Travel and tourist information centers.

w.

Travel trailer parks.

x.

Truck stops.

y.

Used car sales lots.

(2)

Combinations of the above uses.

(3)

Billboards and outdoor advertising signs, subject to the following provisions:

a.

All yard and height requirements for a permitted principal structure shall be complied with; provided, however, that when a billboard is erected between two (2) buildings that are within one hundred (100) feet of each other, no part of said billboard shall be located closer to any street right-of-way line than a line drawn from the nearest front corner of the two (2) buildings.

b.

The surface area on any one (1) side shall not exceed three hundred (300) square feet in area. Double-faced signs shall be permitted. If a single-faced sign is erected, the back shall be suitably painted or otherwise covered to present a neat and clean appearance.

c.

The ground area around the billboard structure shall be kept clean, and all scrub brush and tall grass shall be cleared away to a distance of at least ten (10) feet to the rear and sides of the structure and to the front property line and, if on a corner lot, to both property lines.

d.

Billboards attached to a building shall not project above the roofline of the building or be located on the roof of a building.

e.

Billboards located on the same street facing the same traffic flow shall not be located closer together than six hundred (600) feet. Each side of a doublefaced sign shall be considered as facing traffic flowing in the opposite direction.

f.

Billboards shall meet all of the applicable requirements of Chapter 306.C, Code of Iowa.

(4)

Child care center provided a special permit has been obtained pursuant to 19.10.010 (f-1).

(Ord. No. 1346, § 1(6), 3-14-2018; Ord. No. 1363, § 1, 7-10-2019)

(a)

Accessory uses and structures customarily incidental to any principal permitted use, including accessory uses permitted in the B-3 District.

(b)

Storage of merchandise incidental to the principal use.

(c)

Exterior signs located on the street frontages of principal buildings referring only to a use or uses located within such building and attached or integral thereto, provided that:

(1)

Such signs shall not have an aggregate surface area in excess of twenty (20) percent of the total surface area of the building elevation to which they are attached;

(2)

Signs which project out from the building more than eighteen (18) inches must be at least twelve (12) feet above grade and may project a maximum of six (6) feet;

(3)

No sign shall project more than four (4) feet above the roofline or parapet where one exists.

(d)

One (1) freestanding or post sign referring only to a use or uses conducted on the premises may be erected in any yard abutting a public street, provided however, that:

(1)

Such sign shall not have a surface area in excess of two hundred (200) square feet on any one (1) side, and not more than two (2) sides of said sign shall be used for advertising purposes;

(2)

A directory sign or monument sign may be substituted in place of a post sign, subject to the requirements set forth in (d)(1) above.

(3)

The zoning administrator shall have the authority to prohibit the erection of any sign that interferes with visibility for either vehicular or pedestrian traffic.

(a)

The following minimum requirements shall be observed subject to the modifications contained in Section 19.02.100:

(1)

Lot area: No minimum requirement.

(2)

Lot width: No minimum requirement.

(3)

Front yard: 50 feet.

(4)

Side yards: No minimum requirement except when adjoining any "R" district or street right-of-way line; in which case, fifty (50) feet.

(5)

Rear yard: 40 feet; provided, however, that for every foot the front yard is increased over fifty (50) feet, the rear yard may be decreased in direct proportion thereto; but in no case shall the rear yard be less than twenty (20) feet.

(6)

Maximum height: 45 feet.

(7)

Maximum number of stories: 3 stories.

(a)

The total land area devoted to open space and landscaping shall not be less than ten (10) percent of the gross land area included in the building lot. Such open space shall be maintainedas grassed and landscaped area and shall not include access drives, parking areas, structures or buildings except ornamental structures included as part of the landscaping theme.

(a)

Spaces for off-street parking and loading shall be provided in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 19.06.

(a)

Site plans shall be required in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 19.12 for all uses permitted in this district.

(a)

Signs shall be provided in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 19.09.