The I-1, light industrial district is designed so as to accommodate employment centers related to light industrial uses as well as research and development, engineering and testing, office uses, medical facilities, wholesale activities, warehouses, limited manufacturing and industrial operations. The district is intended to permit only those uses whose external, physical effects are restricted to the area of the district and only exert minimal detrimental effects to the surrounding districts. This district is further designed to recognize the growing convergence of office, industrial, and research in terms of functions, location, appearance and activities.

(Ord. of 10-6-03; Ord. No. 2010-02, § 6, 4-5-10; Ord. No. 2013-05, § 3, 10-21-13; Ord. No. 2014-03, § 4, 2-17-14)

The general goals of the light industrial district include, among others, the following specific purposes:

(1)

To provide sufficient space, in appropriate locations, to meet the needs of the city's expected economy for light manufacturing and industrial activities, research and development, office, medical, engineering and testing, and related uses.

(2)

To protect abutting residential districts by separating them from heavy manufacturing activities, and by prohibiting the use of such industrial areas for new residential development.

(3)

To promote light manufacturing development which minimizes the danger of fire, explosions, toxic and noxious matter, radiation and other hazards, and from offensive noise, vibration, smoke, odor and other objectionable influences.

(4)

To protect the most desirable use of land in accordance with a well-considered plan. To protect the character and established pattern of adjacent development, and in each area, to conserve the value of land and buildings and other structures, and to protect the city's tax revenue base.

(Ord. of 10-6-03; Ord. No. 2010-01, § 6, 4-5-10; Ord. No. 2013-05, § 2, 10-21-13; Ord. No. 2014-03, § 4, 2-17-14)

In a light industrial district, no building or land shall be used and no building shall be erected except for one or more of the following specified uses unless otherwise provided in this chapter.

Permitted uses:

(1)

Any of the following uses shall be permitted when the manufacturing, compounding or processing is conducted wholly within a completely enclosed building. That portion of land used for open storage facilities for materials or equipment, shall be screened from view of public roadways and any adjoining residential uses.

a.

The manufacture, compounding, processing, packaging or treatment of such products as, but not limited to: bakery goods, candy, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, toiletries, food products, hardware and cutlery, tool, die, wood, glass, metal, gauge and machine shops, breweries, wineries and distilleries.

b.

Warehousing and wholesale establishments.

c.

The manufacture, compounding, assembling, reassembly, packaging or treatment of articles or merchandise from previously prepared materials.

d.

The manufacture of textiles, ceramics, glass, clay or stone product.

e.

Manufacture of instruments, plastics or plastic molded products.

f.

Manufacture or assembly of electrical appliances, related electronic instruments and devices, including but not limited to computers, cellular phones and tablets.

g.

Manufacturing and fabrication of metal products.

h.

Central dry cleaning plants or laundries provided that such plants shall not deal directly with the consumer as retail.

i.

Manufacture and repair of professional, scientific and precision equipment: laboratory apparatus and analytical, optical, measuring and controlling instruments.

j.

Manufacture of material science products, including but not limited to plastics, polymers, laser technology and robotics,

k.

Professional offices for any of the following uses: medical offices and labs, administrative, accounting, clerical, education, executive, sales, technical or other similar professional offices.

(2)

Any of the following uses charged with the principal function of basic research, design pilot or experimental product development, and medical facilities when conducted within a completely enclosed building:

a.

Life science technology and medical laboratories, including but not limited to medical support facilities, biomedical engineering, biotechnology, genomics, proteomics, molecular and chemical ecology.

b.

Material science products, including but not limited to plastics, polymers, laser technology and robotics.

c.

Information technology, including but not limited to electronics, data processing and computer hardware and software.

d.

Automotive.

e.

Alternative energy.

f.

Food products and beverages.

(3)

Public utility buildings and storage yards, telephone exchange buildings, electrical transformer stations and substations, and gas regulator stations. Water supply and municipal sewage disposal plants. Water and gas tank holders. Railroad transfer and storage tracks railroad rights-of-way and freight terminals.

(4)

Trucking facilities.

(5)

Storage facilities for building materials, sand, gravel, stone and lumber, and storage of contractor's equipment and supplies, provided such is enclosed within a building or within an obscuring wall, fence or berm on those sides abutting all residential, office or business districts, and on any yard abutting a public thoroughfare. Open storage shall be screened from view of public roadways and any adjoining residential uses.

(6)

Mini warehouses and storage buildings for lease to the public including the dwelling and office of a caretaker. Buildings shall be spaced not less than thirty (30) feet apart on those sides having entrance doors.

(7)

Municipal uses such as water treatment plants and reservoirs, sewage treatment plants, and all other municipal buildings and uses, including outdoor storage.

(8)

Greenhouses.

(9)

Trade or industrial schools.

(10)

Business service establishments including, but not limited to printing and photocopying services, publishing, mail and packaging services, typing and secretarial services, and related activities.

(11)

Package delivery distribution centers.

(12)

Photographic studio and equipment sales and service.

(13)

Other uses of a similar, and no more objectionable, character to the above uses as determined by the planning commission.

(14)

Accessory buildings and uses customarily incident to any of the above permitted uses.

(15)

Film, TV or radio production studios and similar uses.

(16)

Wireless communication facilities as permitted in accordance with section 78-216.

(Ord. of 10-6-03; Ord. No. 2010-01, § 6, 4-5-10; Ord. No. 2013-05, § 3, 10-21-13; Ord. No. 2014-03, § 4, 2-17-14)

The following uses may be permitted by the planning commission subject to Article XXIII, the review and approval of the site plan by the planning commission, and the imposition of special conditions which, in the opinion of the commission, are necessary to ensure that the land use or activity authorized is compatible with adjacent uses of land, the natural environment and the capacities of public services and facilities affected by the land use, and subject further to a public hearing held in accord with section 78-281:

(1)

Major automotive repair facilities when completely enclosed, subject to section 78-285.

(2)

Lumber and planing mills when completely enclosed and when located in the interior of the district so that no property line shall form the exterior boundary of the I-1 district.

(3)

Metal plating, buffing and polishing, subject to appropriate measures to control the type of process to prevent noxious results and/or nuisances.

(4)

Banks, credit unions and other similar financial services (with or without drive-thru facilities)

(5)

Indoor recreational uses such as indoor soccer, racquet sports, volleyball, hockey, climbing walls, fitness centers, health clubs, dance studios, material arts and other similar recreation uses.

(6)

Commercial kennels when within a completely enclosed building and when located in the interior of the I-1 district so that no property line shall form the exterior boundary of the I-1 district.

(7)

Commercial wind energy systems, subject to section 78-261.

(8)

Other uses, which in the determination of the planning commission, are of a similar character to the above uses.

(Ord. of 10-6-03; Ord. No. 2010-01, § 6, 4-5-10; Ord. No. 2013-05, § 2, 10-21-13)

A review of the use proposed and its suitability to the district shall be determined by the planning commission prior to issuance of a building permit. The commission shall make findings that the following conditions will be met by the proposed use in addition to all other requirements of this and other ordinances of the city:

(1)

The use shall not, by reason of creation of noise, vibration, odor, smoke or other outside effects, cause a nuisance to abutting districts.

(2)

The use shall be compatible with the intent of the district and shall not be out of character with the established character of the district.

(3)

All buildings shall be constructed of finished materials where visible from public streets.

(Ord. of 10-6-03)

See article XVII of this chapter for the schedule of regulations limiting the height and bulk of buildings, the minimum size of lot by permitted land use and providing minimum yard setback requirements.

(Ord. of 10-6-03)