The regulations set forth in this chapter, or set forth elsewhere in this title when referred to in this chapter, are the regulations of the C-3 central business district. The purpose of the C-3 central business district is to provide for compact commercial development in the core area of the city and to maximize the utilization of this area by minimizing lot restrictions and height requirements.

(Prior code § 29-10 (part))

A building or premises shall be used only for the following purposes:

A.

Any residential or nonresidential use allowed in the C-2 general commercial district to include any restrictions imposed upon such use in the district, unless otherwise excluded in this section;

B.

Warehouse, wholesale merchandise or distributing establishment, without special use permit;

C.

Printing, publishing or engraving;

D.

Experimental, film or testing laboratory;

E.

Bakery, creamery or dairy operation;

F.

Bottling works or ice plant;

G.

Bus, truck or freight terminal, commercial garage or repair shop;

H.

Dry-cleaning and pressing establishments, but only if nonflammable solvents, approved by the fire department, are used;

I.

Theatres and assembly halls, indoor;

J.

Any other retail or service use of similar character which is not specifically permitted herein, when authorized by the board of aldermen after receipt of review and recommendations from the city planning and zoning commission and only when such use is consistent with the intent and purpose of the C-3 central business district regulations;

K.

Accessory buildings and accessory uses customarily incidental to the above uses, subject to the restrictions established in Section 17.56.010;

L.

Outdoor advertising sign or structure displayed under the following conditions and in conformance with Section 17.56.010:

1.

Signs shall contain only the name of business establishments on the premises, the principal business conducted on the premises or commodities, services or products sold or offered on the premises that the sign occupies.

2.

Attached signs in excess of thirty-two (32) square feet in area shall be painted on a vertical surface of the building or attached flat against a wall of the building. An attached sign shall not project more than twelve (12) inches from the building if mounted parallel to the wall and shall not project above the principal roof of a building, except that a sign may be attached flat against or painted on a parapet wall extending not more than three feet above such roofline.

3.

Detached, freestanding ground signs or structures, containing not more than one hundred (100) square feet in sign face area (if double-faced, the area of the sign shall be the area of one face of the sign); provided that any such signs shall not be located within ten feet of any residential district and not more than one such sign shall be permitted on any lot or tract. Provided, further, that such signs exceeding either six feet in the vertical dimension and/or ten feet in the horizontal dimension shall require a special use permit therefor. Any detached sign with the base of the sign face less than ten feet above any adjacent street grade shall be located at least ten feet from the pavement edge or curb line of the adjacent street or streets.

4.

Gasoline filling and service stations may have one double-faced, freestanding sign not over twelve (12) inches in thickness and sixty (60) square feet in area on which shall be advertised only the trade name and price of the product offered for sale. The area of a double-faced sign shall be considered as the area of one face of the sign. All such signs shall not constitute a traffic hazard as determined by the zoning administrator or the city engineer.

5.

Signs must be illuminated in a manner that does not impair the visibility of motorists or pedestrians. Light sources shall be shielded to minimize the visibility of lamps and prevent overspray beyond the sign perimeter.

6.

Exposed bulb signs must be approved by the board of aldermen after first being considered by the downtown revitalization committee and city planning and zoning commission as required in the zoning code. Rapid flashing, chasing, running or sequential lighting is not permitted.

7.

With the exception of projecting signs and awnings as described in this section, no private advertising signs shall be placed on or overhanging the public right-of-way.

8.

No private sign shall be attached to a utility pole.

9.

Signs and associated structures shall be removed within one hundred eighty (180) days of business closure, relocation or discontinuation of use. Upon owner request and written engineer certification, this period may be extended for up to an additional three hundred sixty-five (365) days. Signs not removed will be removed by the city and the cost of removal charged back or tax billed to the property owner.

10.

Signs that are not properly maintained, deteriorated signs, and abandoned signs shall be removed in their entirety. Signs not removed by the owners will be removed by the city and the cost of removal charged back or tax billed to the property owner.

11.

All projecting signs shall maintain a clear height of at least eight feet above the finished elevation of the sidewalk. Such sign shall not project upon or over any sidewalk for more than five feet and not closer than six inches from the back of curb. Signs shall not extend over a public street. Canopy signs require solid supports over sidewalk:

a.

For signs beginning at eight to ten feet of the finished elevation of the sidewalk, the size of the projecting sign shall not exceed six square feet in area.

b.

For signs beginning at ten to twelve (12) feet of the finished elevation of the sidewalk, the size of the projecting sign shall not exceed twenty (20) square feet in area.

c.

For signs beginning at twelve (12) feet and above the finished elevation of the sidewalk, the size of the projecting sign shall not exceed twenty-four (24) square feet in area, shall not project more than five feet from the building, and shall not extend closer than six inches from the back of curb.

12.

All awnings shall maintain a clear height of seven feet above the finish elevation of the sidewalk, shall not project over any sidewalk more than six feet, and shall not extend over a public street.

13.

Unique or unusual conditions on historic or existing buildings may require an exception to these regulations. Such requests must be approved by the board of aldermen after first being considered by the downtown revitalization committee and city planning and zoning commission as required in the zoning code.

(Prior code § 29-10(1))

(Ord. No. 5721, § 1, 12-1-15; Ord. No. 6332, § 1, 12-15-20)

Non-residential properties located in the C-3 general business district may display sidewalk signs under the following provisions:

A.

One sidewalk sign is permitted for each business. Multiple signs are allowed for multi-tenant buildings.

B.

Sidewalk signs may be displayed only during the business hours of operation.

C.

Sidewalk signs must be placed outside of required Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) walkways, outside of any required exits and/or entrances, and outside driveways.

D.

The maximum size of each display face of a sidewalk sign is six square feet.

E.

The maximum height of a sidewalk sign is forty-eight (48) inches, as measured above the sidewalk, and the maximum width is thirty-two (32) inches.

F.

The owner shall ensure the sign is maintained in good condition and measures are taken at all times, and particularly during windy weather, to ensure the sign does not blow over, block walkways, cause injury, damage property, and/or interfere with the pedestrian or vehicular traffic. Such measures may include approved weighting material or removal during such conditions.

G.

Sidewalk signs may be allowed in the public right-of-way if the proposed location does not inhibit the free flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic and allows the minimum of forty-eight (48) inches clear sidewalk width per city ordinance.

(Ord. No. 5721, § 2, 12-1-15)

A.

Access requirements shall be the same as those for the C-2 general commercial district.

B.

Off-street parking and loading spaces shall be provided in accordance with the requirements for specific uses set forth in Chapter 17.60. In addition, the specific requirements for off-street parking set forth in the C-2 general commercial district shall be observed.

(Prior code § 29-10(2))

In addition to the specific requirements for the C-3 central business district, all height, area and lot size regulations and exceptions set forth in Chapter 17.52, as they apply to uses in the C-3 central business district, shall be observed.

A.

Height. The maximum height of buildings permitted shall be forty-five (45) feet and not over three stories.

B.

Area. No building or structure shall be erected or enlarged, unless the following yards are provided and maintained in connection with such building, structure or enlargement:

1.

Front Yard. On each lot upon which a single-family or two-family dwelling is constructed, there shall be a minimum front yard of not less than thirty (30) feet. On lots upon which a multiple-family dwelling or nonresidential building is constructed, there are no front yard requirements.

2.

Side Yard. On each lot upon which a single-family or two-family dwelling is constructed, there shall be a side yard on each side of not less than eight feet. On lots upon which a multiple-family dwelling or nonresidential building is constructed, there are no side yard requirements, except that a side yard of eight feet shall be provided where such lot abuts a residential district.

3.

Rear Yard. On each lot upon which a single-family or two-family dwelling is constructed, there shall be a rear yard of not less than twenty-five (25) feet. On lots upon which a multiple-family dwelling or nonresidential building is constructed, there are no rear yard requirements, except that a rear yard of not less than twenty-five (25) feet shall be provided where such rear yard abuts a residential district.

C.

Lot Size. The minimum lot size permitted shall be as follows:

1.

All single-family and two-family dwellings shall comply with the minimum lot size and front lot line width requirements of the R-3 residential district.

2.

There are no minimum lot size or front lot line width requirements for multiple-family dwellings and nonresidential buildings.

D.

Percentage of Lot Coverage. All single-family and two-family dwellings, including accessory buildings, shall not cover more than forty (40) percent of the area of the lot. There are no lot coverage requirements for multiple-family dwellings or nonresidential buildings.

(Prior code § 29-10(3))