North Royalton City Zoning Code

   As used in this Zoning Code, "public facilities" means facilities classified as main and accessory buildings and uses in the schedule provided in Section 1274.02(a). Public Facilities Districts and regulations therefor are established in order to achieve, among others, the following purposes:

   (a)   To provide proper zoning classifications for governmental, civic, health, welfare, educational and recreational facilities in proper locations and to an extent so as to promote the general safety, convenience, comfort and welfare;

   (b)   To protect such public and semipublic facilities and institutions from the encroachment of certain other uses;

   (c)   To assure that such public and semipublic facilities shall be compatible with adjoining residential uses;

   (d)   To provide an environment for the proper functioning of public facilities in relation to the City's adopted land use or street plan and other plans for community facilities; and

   (e)   To alert the public to the location of parcels either intended or currently being used for public facilities.

(Ord. 1988-172. Passed 10-17-88; Ord. 97-60. Passed 4-15-97.)

State and Federal buildings and uses       parsonage, residence for custodian or

for administrative functions and uses       guard, maintenance and heating facility,

by the general public, including post       adult day care centers, child day care centers.

offices, police and fire stations and

town halls.

libraries, museums, observatories,

places for public assembly, memorials,

monuments, cemeteries, fraternal

organizations and private clubs.

secondary public, private or parochial

schools; institutions of higher

education.

playgrounds, lakes, beaches, pools,

public gardens and golf courses.

      (1)   The site shall have a minimum lot size of three acres.

      (2)   The site shall not be located adjacent to any R1-A, R1-B, or RRZ residential zoning district.

      (3)   Facilities shall maintain all required licensure.

      (4)   The proposed number of beds sought for license shall be submitted to the Planning Commission and approved as part of the conditional use permit.

      (5)   Patients shall only be admitted on a voluntary basis. Involuntary admissions are prohibited.

      (6)   No facility shall offer outpatient services.

(Ord. 1988-172. Passed 10-17-88; Ord. 97-59. Passed 4-15-97; Ord. 01-173. Passed 11-6-02; Ord. 15-72. Passed 9-15-15; Ord. 24-50. Passed 4-16-24.)

   The parcel of land to be developed for a public facility, i.e. the above-stated main buildings and uses, shall be sufficiently large in area to provide a proper setting for the development so that the main and accessory buildings shall not occupy more than twenty percent of the parcel, and accommodate the off-street parking and other accessory uses without impairing the character of the neighborhood or enjoyment of use of adjoining properties.

(Ord. 1988-172. Passed 10-17-88.)

                                          Minimum Yard (ft.)*

      Governmental: Administrative buildings            50         75

      Civic: Non-assembly buildings                  50          75

         Assembly buildings                     50          75

      Educational: Public, private and parochial

            schools                           75          100

            Nursery schools, adult day care centers

             and child day care centers               50          100

      Inpatient healthcare facilities                  75         100

      Recreational: Buildings                     75          100   

      Religious: Churches and synagogues            50         75

      *Or two times the height of the building, whichever is greater.

(Ord. 1988-172. Passed 10-17-88; Ord. 01-173. Passed 11-6-02; Ord. 15-72. Passed 9-15-15; Ord. 24-50. Passed 4-16-24.)

   Public and semi-public buildings may be erected to a height not exceeding forty feet or three floors, and side and rear yard setback shall be a minimum of fifty feet, but two times the height of the building when the height of the building exceeds twenty-five feet. Further, chimneys, spires, cupolas, domes, towers, flagpoles and radio or television receiving antennas, monuments and other mechanical appurtenances, located upon or constructed as an integral part of the main building, shall not exceed a height of fifty feet.

   The maximum height of radio and television transmitting towers and water towers shall be determined by the Planning Commission but shall not exceed the minimum width of the side yard, the minimum depth of the rear yard or the minimum depth of the front yard, whichever is least.

(Ord. 1988-172. Passed 10-17-88.)

   Flood lighting or other lighting of play fields, buildings, bulletin boards and parking areas shall be located and designed so as to shield the light source from adjoining residences, and except for indoor lighting within the main building, shall be extinguished between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., unless a conditional use permit has been applied for and approved in accordance with Section 1262.07 for a longer lighting period.

(Ord. 1988-172. Passed 10-17-88.)

   Signs in Public Facilities Districts shall be designed, erected, altered, moved and maintained, in whole or in part, in accordance with the regulations set forth in Chapter 1284.

(Ord. 1988-172. Passed 10-17-88.)

   Preliminary and final development plans of proposed public buildings and land improvements in a Public Facilities District shall be submitted, along with maps, surveys and other required information, to the Planning Commission for review, and a public hearing shall be held thereon.

   (a)   Plans Required. Plans for a development shall be drawn at a scale of not less than one inch = 100 feet and shall include:

      (1)   Surveys. Property and topography surveys performed by a registered surveyor, showing land owned and proposed for development, surrounding and adjoining streets, and the adjoining lots and their uses.

      (2)   Buildings. Locations, sizes, height and use of all proposed main and accessory buildings; their general design, exterior materials and color; the nearest building on adjoining lots and its use.

      (3)   Traffic. The proposed system of on-site vehicular and pedestrian circulation, including proposed streets, driveways and sidewalks, details for accessways to streets, methods for control of traffic and the type of pavement.

      (4)   Parking areas. The general layout and an estimate of the number of spaces provided, landscaping and other design features, and the type of pavement.

      (5)   Utilities. The location, size and grade for all utility installations and connections to present or proposed facilities.

      (6)   Site development. The grading plan, design of landscape yards, planting areas and fence screens adjoining residential areas; the size, location and type of all outdoor signs; exterior lighting.

      (7)   Agreements. Preliminary drafts of all agreements, contracts, dedications, deed restrictions, sureties and other instruments as may be required.

   (b)   Submittal of Plans. A preliminary development plan designed in accordance with the planning standards, regulations and criteria established in this Zoning Code and the Subdivision Regulations of the City of North Royalton shall be submitted to the Planning Commission.

   (c)   Approval of Plans. After the approval of the preliminary plan, final plans shall be prepared and submitted to the Planning Commission in accordance with procedures set forth in Chapter 1262. A building permit shall not be issued until such plans are approved by the Planning Commission. In addition to the above requirements, appropriate conditions applying to particular situations may also be specified in the approval and permit, including the standards and criteria listed in Section 1274.09.

   (d)   Length of Approval Time. The approval of a final development plan by the Planning Commission shall become null and void if the construction of the building or site improvements is not started within a twelve-month period after the date of approval.

(Ord. 1988-172. Passed 10-17-88.)

   An application for a development plan approval within a proposed public facility shall not be approved unless, after a determination, the Commission shall find that the use applied for complies with the following standards and criteria:

   (a)   The proposed use shall be located so as to have access only on an arterial or collector street, except that it may be located on a local street if it is found that the extent and intensity of the proposed development shall not substantially increase the volume and type of traffic movements on the local street.

   (b)   The proposed use is necessary to serve the neighborhood or the community at large.

   (c)   The dimensions of the site are sufficient to fully provide the area, yard and open space requirements, and to insulate it from the surrounding dwellings.

   (d)   The location, design and operation of such use shall not discourage the appropriate development or impair the value of the surrounding residential areas.

   In addition to complying with the above general criteria, conditions appropriate to each particular application may also be set forth in the permit as determined by the Planning Commission.

(Ord. 1988-172. Passed 10-17-88.)

   All exterior masonry surfaces of all buildings constructed in Public Facilities Districts shall be of face brick, stone or any other finished type of masonry. Common concrete block shall not be permitted, except on rear walls adjacent to rear property lines where expansion can occur, provided that the rear wall does not face residential areas, public facilities, schools, churches, etc., and that all openings, doorways and transitions are returned in brick.

(Ord. 89-211. Passed 2-6-90.)