This district is composed of those areas of the township whose principal use is and ought to be general comparison retail, service and repair business activities which serve the entire township and surrounding area. It is the intent of this district to be located along major transportation networks within the township. This district has been located within the township to permit the development of these business activities, to protect adjacent agricultural, residential and industrial areas against the encroachment of incompatible uses, and to lessen congestion on public streets and highways. To these ends, certain uses which would function more effectively in other districts and would interfere with the operation of these business activities and the purpose of this district, have been excluded.

(Ord. of 7-22-2013, § 32.01; Ord. of 7-8-2014, § 32.01)

The following buildings and structures, and uses of parcels, lots, buildings and structures are permitted in this district:

(1)

All permitted uses allowed in LC—Local Commercial Districts as provided in section 36-363.

(2)

Business and professional offices, such as legal, engineering, accounting, financial and insurance.

(3)

Retail services, including department stores, furniture stores, appliance stores, and super markets.

(4)

Agricultural services, including machinery sales and repair establishments, and farm supply stores.

(5)

Showroom and sales of new automobiles, farm machinery, and other vehicle and equipment, and the display and sale of used cars, farm machinery, and other vehicles and equipment when in conjunction with a showroom and sales of new units thereof; and repair of same when in conjunction with a showroom and sales of new units thereof. Display of any vehicles shall not be within street right-of-way, in any required side or rear yard, or in any required transition strip.

(6)

Equipment services, including repair; radio and television, electrical appliance shop, plumber, electrician and other similar services and trades.

(7)

Printing, lithographic, blueprinting and similar uses.

(8)

Funeral establishments, mortuary.

(9)

Restaurants serving alcoholic beverages, provided that the gross receipts thereof derived from the sale of food and other goods and services exceed 50 percent of the total gross receipts.

(10)

Outdoor seating and/or service when associated with a restaurant subject to the requirements of section 36-735.

(11)

Indoor contractor wholesale supply when in conjunction with general retail sales of items including indoor storage of electrical, plumbing, lumber, and/or garden supplies.

(Ord. of 7-22-2013, § 32.02; Ord. of 7-8-2014, § 32.02; Ord. No. 16-48, § 4(a), 4-12-2016; Ord. No. 17-53, § 5, 2-14-2017)

The following buildings and structures, and uses of parcels, lots, buildings and structures, are permitted subject to obtaining a conditional use permit as provided in article XXVII of this chapter:

(1)

Bars or establishments principally used for the sale of beer, wine or intoxicating liquor for consumption on the premises, including restaurants primarily devoted to serving alcoholic liquors for consumption on the premises and/or providing entertainment, subject to the requirements of section 36-710.

(2)

Hotel, motel, tourist home and boarding and rooming house.

(3)

Animal hospital or clinic.

(4)

Open air display area for the sale of manufactured products, such as or similar to garden furniture, earthenware, hardware items and nursery stock, or the rental of manufactured products or equipment, small tools, pneumatic-tired two-wheeled and four-wheeled utility trailers, pneumatic-tired cement mixers, wheelbarrows, rollers and similar products or equipment. Displays must be located behind all setback lines and shall be related to the principal use of the site. Open air displays shall meet the requirements of section 36-701.

(5)

Automotive service station, including minor repair services, subject to the requirements of section 36-712.

(6)

Boat sales and marinas.

(7)

One dwelling unit within the principal building or structure for security purposes only, provided that the dwelling unit is accessory to the principal use.

(8)

Mini-warehousing, subject to the requirements of section 36-736.

(9)

Lots for the sale of used cars, used farm machinery, and other used vehicles and equipment, when not sold in conjunction with sales of new cars, machinery, vehicles, or equipment. Display of any vehicles shall not be within street right-of-way, in any required side or rear yard, or in any required transition strip.

(10)

Minor repair of vehicles, provided all work, materials, equipment, and waste products shall be contained within a completely enclosed building, subject to the requirements of section 36-712.

(11)

Drive-through facilities for a use permitted in the GC district, subject to the requirements of section 36-737.

(12)

Temporary outdoor sales, subject to the requirements of section 36-734.

(13)

Indoor and outdoor commercial recreation facilities, including theaters (indoor or drive-in), racket clubs, bowling alleys, miniature golf courses, commercial swimming pools, skating rinks.

(14)

Controlled uses as defined in section 36-710.

(15)

Child care facilities.

(16)

Commercial communications apparatus, if located on existing commercial communications or electrical towers, or other existing appropriate structure, and subject to the provisions of section 36-720, in addition to the requirements of article XXVII (conditional uses) of this chapter.

(17)

Sexually oriented businesses, as defined within section 36-721 and subject to the requirements of sections 36-721 and 36-710.

(18)

A church, synagogue, cathedral, mosque, temple or other building used for public worship.

(19)

A cemetery.

(20)

Hospitals, nursing homes, and sanitariums.

(21)

Marihuana establishments and facilities, subject to the standards of section 36-738, including:

a.

Retail marihuana and provisioning centers.

b.

Secure transporters.

c.

Safety compliance facilities.

(Ord. of 7-22-2013, § 32.03; Ord. of 7-8-2014, § 32.03; Ord. No. 16-48, § 4(b), 4-12-2016; Ord. No. 17-53, § 6, 2-14-2017; Ord. No. 19-66, § F, 11-12-2019; Ord. No. 23-87, § 2, 9-12-2023)

The following regulations shall apply in all GC—General Commercial Districts:

(1)

Lot area. No building or structure shall be established on any lot less than one acre in area, except where a lot is served with a central sanitary sewerage system, in which case there shall be provided a minimum lot area of 10,000 square feet for planned shopping centers.

(2)

Lot width. The minimum lot width for lots served with a central sanitary sewerage system shall be 80 feet. Where a lot is not so served, the minimum lot width shall be 150 feet.

(3)

Lot coverage. The maximum lot coverage shall not exceed 25 percent.

(4)

Yard and setback requirements.

a.

Front yard. Not less than 35 feet.

b.

Side yards. Least width of either yard shall not be less than 20 feet, except in the case of a corner lot or parcel where the side yard on the road or street side shall not be less than 35 feet.

c.

Rear yards. Not less than 20 feet.

The yard requirements in this subsection (5) shall apply to every lot, building or structure.

(5)

Height. No building or structure shall exceed a height of 45 feet.

(6)

Transition strips.

a.

A transition strip shall be required whenever any lot in this district abuts a lot in any rural or residence district. Such a strip shall be provided along every lot line, except front lot lines, which abuts a lot in such district, shall not be included as part of the required yard, and shall be improved with a screen, wall, hedge or shrubbery which will reach a height of four feet one year after planting. The strip shall be maintained in good condition. The planning commission shall have the authority to change the nature of, or reduce the required width of, or to waive completely, the requirement of a transition strip because of a probable change in land use or zoning of adjacent properties. Such determinations and reasons therefore shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting at which the action is taken. Said transition strip shall comply with the requirements of section 36-706.

b.

A landscape strip shall be provided along and adjacent to the front property line and shall extend across the entire width of the lot. Driveways may cross the strip but shall not occupy the strip.

(7)

Required off-street parking. As required in article XXV of this chapter.

(8)

Required site plan review. As required in article XXVIII of this chapter.

(9)

Supplemental regulations. As required in article XXIV of this chapter.

(Ord. of 7-22-2013, § 32.04; Ord. of 7-8-2014, § 32.04; Ord. No. 17-53, § 7, 2-14-2017)