This district is intended for the retail sales of merchandise and services. It is the intent of this section that the subdistricts C-1, C-2, and C-3 further define the type and size of commercial operations permitted as outlined herein.

(a)

"C-1" small business district. This district is intended for the conducting of small retail or wholesale businesses with a maximum of five employees on the premises at any one time. The building area shall not exceed 2,000 square feet.

(1)

Permitted uses. Buildings and premises or parts thereof may be used for one or more of the following purposes:

a.

Antique shops.

b.

Art and photographic galleries.

c.

Barber Shops, beauty shops and hair salons.

d.

Day care centers.

e.

Dog grooming, not including boarding of animals.

f.

Florist shops.

g.

Gift shops.

h.

Locksmith shops.

i.

Novelty shops.

j.

Offices.

k.

Parking lots accommodating up to five vehicles accessory to permitted use.

l.

Parks and playgrounds.

m.

Second hand stores and thrift shops.

n.

Tanning salons.

o.

Accessory structures.

(2)

Conditional uses.

a.

Planned unit developments.

b.

Dwelling units as an "accessory use".

c.

Bed and breakfast establishments.

d.

Churches and other permanent buildings intended for formal worship.

e.

Civic uses.

(3)

Height. No buildings shall exceed 35 feet or two and one-half stories.

(4)

Area and building setbacks. Building setbacks and area requirements shall conform to the provisions of section 118-5, "B" residence district.

(5)

Building area. No building with its accessories shall occupy in excess of 50 percent of the area of any one lot.

(6)

Green space. Every lot is required to provide a minimum of ten percent green space.

(b)

"C-2" general business district. This district is intended for the conduct of retail or wholesale business employing more than five persons. No structure shall exceed 10,000 square feet.

(1)

Permitted uses. Buildings and premises or parts thereof, may be used for one or more of the following purposes:

a.

Amusement arcades and game parlors.

b.

Auction rooms.

c.

Bakeries.

d.

Banks and savings and loan offices.

e.

Clinics.

f.

Dancing academies and music studios.

g.

Drug stores and pharmacies.

h.

Dry cleaners, laundry and dyeing shops.

i.

Electric repair shops.

j.

Employment agencies.

k.

Food and grocery stores up to 10,000 square feet in total area.

l.

Furniture stores.

m.

Hardware stores.

n.

Ice cream and frozen dessert shops.

o.

Laboratories, but not for manufacturing or research.

p.

Lodge halls, private clubs and banquet halls, and labor organization's offices and halls.

q.

Message stations.

r.

Painting and decorating sales shops.

s.

Parking lots as an accessory to a permitted use.

t.

Pet shops; including grooming, but not boarding of animals.

u.

Plumbing, building or carpenter shops.

v.

Printing and publishing shops.

w.

Public garages and parking lots.

x.

Public utility offices.

y.

Recreational buildings and community centers.

z.

Restaurants.

aa.

Sporting goods stores.

bb.

Stores and shops for the conducting of retail business employing more than five persons or utilizing over 2,000 square feet for the conducting of retail sales up to 10,000 square feet.

cc.

Tailor and seamstress shops.

dd.

Taxi and bus terminals.

ee.

Upholstering shops.

ff.

Veterinarian, but not including outdoor boarding.

gg.

Video sales and rental stores.

hh.

Wearing apparel shops.

ii.

Adult use cannabis dispensing organization only if the purposed location has an existing medical cannabis dispensing organization as defined by the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program Act (410 ILCS 130/1 et al.) and has had an existing medical cannabis dispensing organization in that location for a minimum of one year.

jj.

Uses permitted in district "C-1".

(2)

Conditional uses.

a.

Planned unit developments.

b.

Dwelling units as an "accessory use".

c.

Bed and breakfast establishments.

d.

Drive-through facilities.

e.

Churches and other permanent buildings intended for formal worship.

f.

Nursing homes, assisted living, retirement homes and other similar uses.

g.

Schools.

h.

Civic uses.

(3)

Height. Building height shall not exceed 50 feet or four stories.

(4)

Area. The minimum dimensions of yards and the maximum building area shall be as follows:

a.

Front yard. Front yard setbacks shall be a minimum of ten feet except where 40 percent or more of the frontage on one side of the street between two intersecting or intercepting streets is zoned as "A" residential district and the remainder is a less restricted district, the front yard requirements of the "A-1", "A-2" residence district, or the "B" residence district, as the case may be, shall apply to the entire frontage. Front yard setbacks shall be required at corner lots where both sides abut a public street.

b.

Rear yard. There shall be a rear yard having a depth of not less than ten feet to provide access for fire equipment. Where the rear yard abuts an improved alley or other public access, no rear yard setback is required.

c.

Side yard. A side yard shall not be required except on that side of a lot abutting on the side of a lot used for residence or multiple dwelling purposes, in which case there shall be a side yard of not less than five feet.

(5)

Building area. No building shall occupy more than 75 percent of the area of the lot.

(6)

Green space. Every lot is required to provide a minimum of ten percent green space.

(c)

"C-3" special business district. This district is intended for the conduct of specialized businesses, where significant traffic volumes, noise, litter and parking requirements are anticipated.

(1)

Permitted uses. Building and premises or parts thereof, may be used for one or more of the following purposes:

a.

Automobile sales and showrooms.

b.

Automobile service stations and repair shops.

c.

Beauty shops.

d.

Bowling alleys.

e.

Car washes.

f.

Catering establishments.

g.

Funeral homes and undertaking establishments.

h.

Greenhouses.

i.

Health and athletic clubs.

j.

Hospitals.

k.

Hotels and motels.

l.

Janitorial services and equipment.

m.

Lawn and garden centers.

n.

Package liquor stores.

o.

Parking lots accessory to permitted use.

p.

Post offices.

q.

Recycling collection facilities, not involving recycling manufacturing processes.

r.

Stores intended for retail sales of food or merchandise containing 10,000 square feet or more.

s.

Taverns, bars or lounges dispensing alcoholic beverages.

t.

Theaters.

u.

Vending companies.

v.

Veterinarians and boarding kennels.

w.

Cannabis dispensing organization.

x.

Uses permitted in "C-1" or "C-2" districts.

(2)

Conditional uses.

a.

Planned unit development.

b.

Dwelling units as an "accessory use."

c.

Marinas.

d.

Bed and breakfast establishments.

e.

Drive-through facilities.

f.

Churches and other permanent buildings intended for formal worship.

g.

Nursing homes, assisted living, retirement homes and other similar uses.

h.

Schools.

i.

Civic uses.

j.

Telecommunication facilities, towers and antennas. Wind energy system.

k.

Cannabis craft grower organization.

l.

Cannabis cultivation organization.

m.

Cannabis infuser organization.

n.

Cannabis processing organization.

o.

Cannabis transporting organization.

p.

Cannabis testing facilities.

(3)

Height. Building height shall not exceed 70 feet or five stories.

(4)

Area. Building setbacks and area requirements shall conform to the provisions of the "C-2" General Business District.

(5)

Green space. Every lot is required to provide a minimum of ten percent green space.

(d)

"C-4" central core business district. The purpose of the C-4 central core business district is to facilitate the implementation of the official downtown comprehensive plan, as focused on a distinctive subarea of the city with a common urban fabric. The C-4 zoning district is unique by reason of the scale and mix of specialty retail businesses, many of which make adaptive reuse of existing structures. The district is characterized by street level retail store fronts and structures that accent a pedestrian scale. Existing viable businesses and established institutional uses are encouraged to remain while mixed-use developments are encouraged as is the reuse of structures that assist in perpetuating the pedestrian-retail character in terms of scale, architecture and street continuity. It is intended to encourage a mix of activity in the area while providing for quality development that maintains a sense of history, human scale, and pedestrian-orientated character.

(1)

Permitted uses. Buildings and premises or parts thereof, may be used for one or more of the following purposes:

a.

General retail establishments.

b.

Eating and drinking establishments (without drive-through).

c.

Civic buildings.

d.

Financial institution licensed and chartered by the State of Illinois and United States Federal Government (without drive-through).

e.

Services, including, but not limited to barber shops, beauty shops, laundries, shoe repair, photography studios, tailor shops, appliance repair shops, and similar stores and shops for the conducting of a service.

f.

Theaters.

g.

Dwelling units (when not located on the floor at grade level or nearest grade level).

h.

Offices, business and professional (except in buildings with frontage on LaSalle Street between Jackson Street and Main Street where offices shall not be located on the floor at grade level or nearest grade level).

i.

Parking as an accessory use when located to the rear of the principal structure. Parking lots may not abut LaSalle Street, Main Street, Madison Street, and Jefferson Street in the C-4 District.

j.

Cannabis dispensing organization.

(2)

Conditional uses. The following conditional uses may be permitted in specific situations in accordance with the procedures for approval of a conditional use as outlined in section 118-19(h):

a.

Churches/centers for worship.

b.

Music/dance schools.

c.

Physical culture and health services, including health clubs.

d.

Planned unit developments.

e.

Bed and breakfast establishments.

f.

Cannabis testing facilities.

g.

Other uses which are of the same general character as the permitted uses but not specifically noted in the list of permitted uses.

(3)

Required conditions. The following conditions shall be required:

a.

Applications for development approval for properties within the C-4 district shall be subject to design review in accordance with the provisions of the "Design Review Ordinance" and "Manual of Downtown Design Guidelines." In carrying out these responsibilities, the city shall be guided by the policies, principles, and standards contained in the City of Ottawa downtown plan and comprehensive plan, as adopted, and the City of Ottawa manual of design guidelines.

b.

Dwelling units shall not be permitted on the floor at grade level or nearest grade level.

c.

Business and professional offices in buildings with frontage on LaSalle Street between Jackson Street and Main Street shall not be permitted on the floor at grade level or nearest grade level.

d.

All goods produced on the premises shall be sold at retail on the premises where produced.

(4)

Lot area requirements. There are no area requirements in the C-4 district.

(5)

Yard requirements. All buildings must be built adjacent to the public sidewalk the full width of the lot including corner lots. It is required that the front and side yard setbacks are zero; the rear yard setback shall have no specific requirements.

(6)

Height requirements. Maximum height of structures shall be three stories or 35 feet. One story structures are not permitted.

(e)

"C-5" secondary central business district. The purpose of the C-5 secondary central business district is to facilitate the implementation of the official downtown comprehensive plan, as focused on a distinctive subarea of the city with a common urban fabric. The C-5 zoning district provides for a concentration of finance, service, retail, civic, office, and cultural uses, in addition to complementary uses such as hotels, and entertainment. As with the C-4 district, existing viable businesses and established institutional uses are encouraged to remain while mixed-use developments are encouraged as is the reuse of structures that assist in perpetuating the pedestrian-retail character in terms of scale, architecture and street continuity. It is also intended to encourage a mix of activity in the area while providing for quality development that maintains a sense of history, human scale, and pedestrian-orientated character.

(1)

Permitted uses. Buildings and premises or parts thereof, may be used for one or more of the following purposes:

a.

Any permitted use in the C-4 district.

b.

Commercial indoor recreation.

c.

Churches/centers for worship.

d.

Fraternal lodge/meeting hall.

e.

Hotel.

f.

Media broadcasting station.

g.

Music/dance schools.

h.

Offices (located on any floor).

i.

Parks.

j.

Physical culture and health services, including health clubs.

k.

Printing, publishing, and blueprinting establishments.

l.

Cannabis dispensing organization.

(2)

Conditional uses. The following conditional uses may be permitted in specific situations in accordance with the procedures for approval of a conditional use as outlined in section 118-19(h):

a.

Dwelling units located at grade level or the floor nearest grade level.

b.

Parking lots and garages as a principal use.

c.

Drive-through facility (accessory or principal).

d.

Marinas.

e.

Planned unit developments.

f.

Public and private utility facilities.

g.

Bed and breakfast establishments.

h.

Veterinary clinic, provided that outside kennel/dog runs shall be prohibited.

i.

Cannabis testing facilities.

j.

Other uses which are of the same general character as the permitted uses, but not specifically noted in the list of permitted uses.

(3)

Required conditions. The following conditions shall be required:

a.

Applications for development approval for properties within the C-5 district shall be subject to design review in accordance with the provisions of the "Design Review Ordinance". In carrying out these responsibilities, the city shall be guided by the policies, principles, and standards contained in the City of Ottawa downtown plan and comprehensive plan, as adopted.

b.

All goods produced on the premises shall be sold at retail on the premises where produced.

c.

Exterior lighting shall be directed away from surrounding properties.

(4)

Lot area requirements. There are no area requirements in the C-5 district.

(5)

Yard requirements. There are no yard requirements in the C-5 district.

(6)

Height restriction. There are no height restrictions in the C-5 district.

(f)

"C-6" downtown transition district. The purpose of the C-6 downtown transition district is to facilitate the implementation of the official downtown comprehensive plan, as focused on a distinctive subarea of the city with a common urban fabric. The C-6 zoning district is intended to encourage a mix of office, retail, and residential uses and to provide suitable transition between the adjacent residential districts and more intense downtown districts. Existing viable businesses and established institutional uses are encouraged to remain, while opportunities to increase higher density housing is encouraged.

(1)

Permitted uses. Buildings and premises or parts thereof, may be used for one or more of the following purposes:

a.

Townhomes, condominiums, apartments (located on any floor).

b.

Single-family homes and duplexes (located on any floor).

c.

General retail goods and services establishments not exceeding 4,000 square feet.

d.

Parks.

e.

Offices (located on any floor).

(2)

Conditional uses. The following conditional uses may be permitted in specific situations in accordance with the procedures for approval of a conditional use as outlined in section 118-19(h):

a.

Any permitted or conditional use in the C-5 district unless now permitted in (f)(1) "permitted uses."

b.

Community center.

c.

Churches/center for worship.

d.

General retail goods and services establishments exceeding 4,000 square feet.

e.

Fraternal lodge/meeting hall.

f.

Financial institutions.

g.

Nursing home, retirement home, assisted living facilities and other similar uses.

h.

Funeral homes.

i.

Crematory.

j.

Bed and breakfast establishments.

k.

Other uses which are of the same general character as the permitted uses, but not specifically noted in the list of permitted uses.

(3)

Required conditions. The following conditions shall be required:

a.

Applications for development approval for properties within the C-6 district shall be subject to design review in accordance with the provisions of the "design review ordinance." In carrying out these responsibilities, the city shall be guided by the policies, principles, and standards contained in the City of Ottawa downtown plan and comprehensive plan, as adopted.

b.

All goods produced on the premises shall be sold at retail on the premises where produced.

c.

Exterior lighting shall be directed away from surrounding properties.

(4)

Lot area requirements. There are no area requirements in the C-6 District.

(5)

Yard requirements.

a.

Front yard. Front yard setbacks shall be a minimum of ten feet or the setback established by adjoining principal uses within 100 feet, whichever is less.

b.

Rear yard. There shall be a rear yard having a depth of not less than ten feet to provide access for fire equipment. Where the rear yard abuts an improved alley or other public access, no rear yard setback is required.

c.

Side yard. A side yard shall not be required except on that side of a lot abutting on the side of a lot used for residence or multiple dwelling purposes, in which case there shall be a side yard of not less than five feet.

(6)

Height restriction. Building height shall not exceed 70 feet or five stories.

(Ord. of 9-17-2013, § 6; Ord. No. O57-2019, §§ 3, 4, 12-3-2019; Ord. No. O15-2020, §§ 3—6, 3-17-2020; Ord. No. O66-2021, §§ 1—3, 12-7-2021)