The professional office (P-O) zone is established to provide locations beyond the central area of the city, primarily along arterials or major collector streets, which will accommodate offices or laboratories for professional persons and other related uses. This zone should not be established in a "strip" zoning manner along major streets, but should be concentrated to provide easy accessibility to the public. The zone is intended to provide availability of professional services conveniently to all neighborhoods in the community. Uses permitted in the P-O zone would typically include offices for doctors, dentists, accountants and other similar professions, medical and dental laboratories, and pharmacies. (Ord. 2000-23, 7-18-2000)

   A.   Uses Listed Permitted: Those uses or categories of uses as listed herein, and no others, are permitted in the P-O zone.

   B.   Standard Land Use Code: All uses listed herein are listed by number as designated in the standard land use code published and maintained by the community development department.

   C.   Permitted With Limitations: All such categories listed herein, and all specific uses contained within them in the standard land use code, will be permitted in the P-O zone, subject to the limitations set forth herein.

   D.   Permitted Principal Uses: The following principal uses and structures, and no others, are permitted in the P-O zone:

 

   E.   Accessory Uses And Structures: Accessory uses and structures are permitted in the P-O zone, provided they are incidental to, and do not substantially alter the character of, the permitted principal use or structure. Such permitted accessory uses and structures include, but are not limited to, the following:

      1.   Accessory buildings such as garages, carports, supply storage buildings, and similar structures which are customarily used in conjunction with, and are incidental to, principal uses and structures allowed in the P-O zone.

      2.   Storage of materials used for the construction of a building, including a contractor's temporary office or tool shed. Such uses must be on the building site or immediately adjacent thereto. Such use shall be for only the period of construction and thirty (30) days thereafter.

   F.   Conditional Uses: The following uses and structures are permitted in the P-O zone only after a conditional use permit has been approved and subject to the terms and conditions thereof:

 

(Ord. 2000-23, 7-18-2000; amd. Ord. 2007-34, 9-4-2007; Ord. 2022-18, 9-27-2022)

   A.   Required: Land within a given P-O zone, for which a preliminary project plan has been approved, shall be in single ownership or single control in order to provide for integrated development. The term "single control" shall be construed to allow the recording of a record of survey which is in conformance with the "final development plans", the "final approval", the "standards and requirements", and the "guarantees and covenants" sections of the performance development chapter of this title. The record of survey must be approved and recorded prior to the issuance of any building permit and must be in compliance with all applicable zoning ordinances and building codes adopted by the city.

   B.   Notice Recorded: Upon rezoning and the granting of preliminary project plan approval, a notice must be recorded with the county recorder's office on all properties within the zoned area, indicating the zoning, the requirement for single ownership or single control of the development, the existence of covenants, conditions and restrictions on the development, and the requirements for common management through the development's association to guarantee perpetual integration and maintenance.

   C.   Common Management: Developments within the P-O zone must provide for common management throughout the development by establishing an association and providing management provisions within the required covenants, conditions and restrictions. The association management will enforce the covenants and provide perpetual maintenance of the development.

   D.   Failure To Comply: Failure to maintain single ownership or single control may result in the initiation of action to return the property to the zone or zones existing prior to the establishment of the P-O zone. (Ord. 2000-23, 7-18-2000)

The minimum area of any lot or parcel of land in the P-O zone shall be one acre; however, smaller lots or parcels may be created as part of an approved and recorded record of survey, as specified in section 10-10-3 of this chapter. The area of land within such record of survey shall be at least one acre. (Ord. 2000-23, 7-18-2000)

Each lot or parcel of land in the P-O zone shall have an average width of not less than two hundred feet (200'); however, narrower lots or parcels may be created as part of an approved and recorded record of survey, as specified in section 10-10-3 of this chapter. (Ord. 2000-23, 7-18-2000)

Each lot or parcel of land in the P-O zone shall abut a public street for a minimum distance of two hundred feet (200'), on a line parallel to the centerline of a street or along the circumference of a cul-de-sac improved to city standards; however, lots or parcels with lesser frontage, or no frontage, on a public street may be created as part of an approved and recorded record of survey, as specified in section 10-10-3 of this chapter. Frontage on a street end which does not have a cul-de-sac improved to city standards shall not be counted in meeting this requirement. (Ord. 2000-23, 7-18-2000)

Lots or parcels of land which were created prior to adoption of this title shall not be denied a building permit solely for reason of nonconformance with the parcel requirements of this chapter. (Ord. 2000-23, 7-18-2000)

Each single P-O zone shall contain a minimum of one acre, and a maximum of twenty (20) acres. The P-O zone shall not be applied to an existing area which does not meet these area requirements, and shall not be applied to an existing office development which has not been designated and constructed as an integrated professional office complex. (Ord. 2000-23, 7-18-2000)

The following minimum yard requirements shall apply in the P-O zone (Note: All setbacks are measured from the property line):

   A.   Front Yard: Each lot or parcel in the P-O zone shall have a front yard of not less than twenty five feet (25'). Said front yard shall not be used for vehicular parking and shall be appropriately landscaped.

   B.   Side Yard: Except as provided in subsections C through E of this section, each lot or parcel of land in the P-O zone shall have a side yard of at least ten feet (10') when located adjacent to a residential zone. There shall be no requirements in those instances where the side property line abuts a commercial or industrial zone.

   C.   Corner Lots; Side Yard: On corner lots, the side yard contiguous to the street shall not be less than twenty five feet (25') in width, and shall not be used for vehicular parking. Said area shall be appropriately landscaped except those portions devoted to access and driveway use.

   D.   Side Yard Used For Access: When used for access to any garage, carport or parking area having less than five (5) parking spaces, a side yard shall be wide enough to accommodate an unobstructed twelve foot (12') paved driveway. When used for access to a loading dock, garage, carport or parking area having six (6) or more parking spaces, a side yard shall be wide enough to provide an unobstructed twelve foot (12') paved driveway for one-way, or a sixteen foot (16') paved driveway for two-way traffic.

   E.   Accessory Building; Side Yard: An accessory building may be located on a side property line if, and only if, all of the following conditions are met:

      1.   The accessory building is located more than ten feet (10') from any main residential building on an adjacent property.

      2.   The accessory building has no openings on the side which is contiguous to the property line, and the wall of said building adjacent to the property line has a two (2) hour fire retardant rating.

      3.   The accessory building has facilities for the discharge of all roof drainage onto the lot or parcel on which it is erected.

   F.   Rear Yard: If adjacent to a residential zone, a twenty five foot (25') minimum setback is required.

   G.   Accessory Building; Rear Yard: If adjacent to a residential zone, a twenty five foot (25') minimum setback is required. (Ord. 2000-23, 7-18-2000)

   A.   Permitted: The following structures may be erected in or projected into any required yard:

      1.   Fences and walls in conformance with city codes and ordinances.

      2.   Landscape elements, including trees, shrubs and other plants.

      3.   Necessary appurtenances for utility service.

   B.   Minimum Projections: The structures listed below may project into a minimum front or rear yard not more than four feet (4'), and into a minimum side yard not more than two feet (2'), except that a required driveway shall remain unobstructed from the ground up:

      1.   Cornices, eaves, belt courses, sills, buttresses, or similar architectural features;

      2.   Fireplace structures and bays; provided, that they are not wider than eight feet (8') measured generally parallel to the wall of which they are a part.

      3.   Stairways, balconies, door stoops, fire escapes, awnings; and planter boxes or masonry planters not exceeding twenty four inches (24") in height.

      4.   Carport and loading docks in a side yard or rear yard; provided, that such structure is not more than one story in height and twenty four feet (24') in length and is entirely open on at least three (3) sides, except for necessary supporting columns and customary architectural features. (Ord. 2000-23, 7-18-2000)

   A.   Specified: No lot or parcel of land in the P-O zone shall have a building or structure which exceeds a height of two (2) stories with a maximum height of thirty five feet (35'). Chimneys, flagpoles or similar structures not used for human occupancy are excluded in determining height.

   B.   Conditional Use Permit Required: Buildings with a height greater than two (2) stories may be allowed with the issuance of a conditional use permit by the planning commission, based on standards found in the general plan. (Ord. 2000-23, 7-18-2000)

The minimum distance between any accessory building and a main building on a lot in the P-O zone shall not be less than ten feet (10'). The minimum distance between all other buildings shall be twenty feet (20'). (Ord. 2000-23, 7-18-2000)

In a P-O zone, all buildings and structures shall not cover an area of more than thirty percent (30%) of the lot or parcel of land upon which they are placed. (Ord. 2000-23, 7-18-2000)

   A.   Parking Required: Each lot or parcel of land in the P-O zone shall have on the same lot or parcel, automobile parking sufficient to meet the requirements for professional offices or similar permitted uses as set forth in chapter 18 of this title.

   B.   Improvements Required: All parking spaces shall be paved with asphaltic or Portland cement concrete, and shall be provided with paved access from a public street.

   C.   Front Or Side Yard Prohibited: Parking spaces shall not be provided within a required front yard or a required side yard adjacent to a public street.

   D.   Paved Access; Width: Paved access for five (5) or less parking spaces shall have a minimum width of twelve feet (12'). Paved access for six (6) or more spaces shall have a minimum width of twelve feet (12') for one-way traffic and sixteen feet (16') for two-way traffic. (Ord. 2000-23, 7-18-2000)

   A.   Preliminary Project Plan: Concurrent with any request to rezone property to the P-O zone, a preliminary project plan shall be submitted to, and approved by, the planning commission. Said preliminary project plan shall be drawn to scale and shall contain the following information:

      1.   The location of all existing and proposed buildings and structures on the site, including an indication of the proposed uses.

      2.   The location of all parking spaces, driveways and points of vehicular ingress and egress.

      3.   A conceptual signing plan showing the location and size of typical signs to be erected within the professional office development.

      4.   A conceptual landscaping plan showing planting materials to be used, together with the location of fences, walls, hedges and open spaces.

      5.   Preliminary elevations of main buildings showing the general appearance and types of external materials to be used.

      6.   Stormwater management plan.

   B.   Project Plan; Information: Prior to the construction of any building or structure in the P-O zone, a project plan shall be submitted and approved. Said project plan shall be drawn to scale and shall contain all required information designated on the application checklist.

   C.   Failure To Submit Plan: Any failure to submit a project plan within two (2) years of the approval of the preliminary project plan shall terminate all proceedings and render the preliminary project plan null and void. (Ord. 2000-23, 7-18-2000)

If a project plan has not been approved within two (2) years of the establishment of the P-O zone to a specific property, the planning commission will automatically initiate a rezoning action to revert said property to the zone existing on said land prior to the establishment of the P-O zone. An approved project plan or preliminary project plan shall be in effect for all P-O zones. In the event an approved project plan or preliminary project plan expires, a rezoning action to revert said zone shall be initiated. (Ord. 2000-23, 7-18-2000)

   A.   Signs: All signs erected in the P-O zone shall be in conformance with the sign provisions of chapter 19 of this title and shall be in general compliance with the typical signing program described in the provisions of section 10-10-15 of this chapter. Signs proposed to be erected in the P-O zone shall be placed in the same classification with signs permitted in shopping center zones.

   B.   Landscaping: The following landscaping provisions shall apply in the P-O zone:

      1.   All open spaces in the required front yard and the required side yard adjacent to a public street, except driveways, walkways, utility areas, porches, etc., shall be maintained with suitable landscaping of plants, shrubs, trees, grass and similar landscaping materials.

      2.   Parking areas shall be landscaped, where possible, around the periphery and at the ends of parking rows in accordance with the landscaping plan approved as part of the project plan approval procedure.

      3.   Landscaping is to be installed (or bonded for if occupancy occurs in a nonplanting season) prior to issuance of an occupancy permit (certificate).

   C.   Trash Storage: No trash, used materials or wrecked or abandoned vehicles or equipment shall be stored in an open area. All such materials must be screened from public streets and adjacent properties with an opaque fence or wall, or must be stored in a fully enclosed building. Storage of commercial goods or materials is expressly prohibited. Containers for trash storage of a size, type and quantity, approved by the city, shall be screened by a sight obscuring fence and maintained in a location approved by the planning commission in conjunction with approval of a project plan.

   D.   Walls And Fences:

      1.   No wall, fence, or opaque hedge or screening material higher than thirty six inches (36") shall be maintained within a required front yard in a P-O zone.

      2.   A decorative masonry wall at least eight feet (8') in height shall be erected along all property lines which lie immediately adjacent to any residential zone, except that alternative screening may be used which may include a landscape hedge of six feet (6') at a two (2) year maturity, wood fence or a combination of landscaping with chainlink, with or without slats. In the case where there is mutual agreement by adjoining property owners and approved by the planning commission or its designee, this requirement may be waived.

      3.   Any conflict between this section and section 10-15-38 of this title, will be resolved in favor of the latter.

   E.   Transitional Development Standards: Where a lot in any business, commercial, manufacturing or industrial zone borders a residential zone, the standards set forth in section 10-15-29 of this title shall apply. (Ord. 2000-23, 7-18-2000)

   F.   Infrastructure: All required infrastructure shall be in place prior to the issuance of any certificate of occupancy. (Ord. 2016-3, 1-5-2016)