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Richmond Heights City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 1151

O-S Office-Service District, B-1 Local Business District, B-2 Regional Business District, and B-3 General Business District

1151.01 INTENT.

   (a)   The O-S Office-Service District is designed to:
      (1)   Accommodate various types of office uses performing administrative and professional services.
      (2)   Serve as a transitional use between the more intensive uses of land such as major thoroughfares and/or commercial districts and the less intensive uses of land such as single-family residential.
      (3)   Limit commercial establishments of a retail nature or other activities which generate short-term parking demand and traffic from the general public.
   (b)   The B-1 Local Business District is designed to:
      (1)   Provide for the day-to-day convenience shopping and service needs of persons residing in the vicinity of the business.
      (2)   Provide for and be characterized as having individual free-standing structures or a grouping of strip stores of a size generally not exceeding 5,000 square feet of floor space for each individual business.
   (c)   The B-2 Regional Business District is designed to:
      (1)   Serve the needs of both convenience and comparison shoppers from a geographical area extending beyond the adjacent residential areas.
      (2)   Be characterized by an integrated or planned cluster of establishments exceeding 25,000 square feet of floor space served by a common parking area and generating large volumes of vehicular traffic.
         (Ord. 5-2007. Passed 3-13-07.)
      (3)   Provide for a complementary combination of residential and nonresidential uses to expand housing options within a pedestrian oriented, vibrant, compact, and unique mixed use environment with a consistent overall appearance, form, pattern and design.
         (Ord. 75-2018. Passed 7-24-18.)

1151.02 DISTRICT LOCATION STANDARDS.

   (a)   A B-1 District shall only be located at the intersection of major thoroughfares.
   (b)   A B-2 District shall only be located at the intersection of the two major thoroughfares bearing the greatest volumes of traffic, Wilson Mills Road and Richmond Road.
   (c)   An O-S District shall only be located on property at the intersection of major thoroughfares or abutting a B-1 or B-2 District. All properties in the OS District shall have frontage on a major or secondary thoroughfare.
(Ord. 5-2007. Passed 3-13-07.)

1151.03 PERMITTED, CONDITIONAL AND SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITED USES.

   Uses in the O-S, B-1, B-2 and B-3 Districts shall be as set forth in Table 1151.03.
Table 1151.03
Permitted, Conditional, and Specifically Prohibited Uses O-S, B-1, B-2 and B-3 Districts
O-S Office-Service District
B-1 Local Business District
B-2 Regional Business District
B-3 General Business District
Permitted Uses
Office & Government Uses
Executive, administrative and professional offices.
Government office buildings
Public utility offices, but not including storage yards
Executive, Administrative and professional offices.
Government office buildings
Public utility offices, but not including storage yards.
Professional, administrative, executive, offices
Government Office buildings
Public utility offices
Sales offices, without merchandising services.
Executive, administrative and professional offices
Government office buildings
Public utility offices but not including storage yards
Medical Offices, including clinics and medical laboratories
Medical offices, including clinics and medical laboratories
Medical offices, including clinics and medical laboratories
Medical offices, including clinics and medical laboratories
Dispensaries for Medical Marijuana
Dispensaries for Medical Marijuana
Dispensaries for Medical Marijuana
Libraries
Libraries
Libraries
Libraries
Facilities for human care such as hospitals
Facilities for human care such as hospitals
 
Table 1151.03
Permitted, Conditional, and Specifically Prohibited Uses O-S, B-1, B-2 and B-3 Districts
O-S Office-Service District
B-1 Local Business District
B-2 Regional Business District
B-3 General Business District
Permitted Uses
Office & Government Uses (Cont.)
Post office and similar government buildings
Retail and Service Uses
Establishments which perform personal services on the premises, such as beauty parlors and barber shops
Establishments which perform personal or professional services on the premises such as :
1. Beauty parlors, barber shops.
2. Repair shops including watches,
radios, television, shoes and etc.,
but prohibiting major repair shops
as automotive, heavy equipment,
large appliances, furniture etc.,
3. Tailor shops
4. Self-service laundries and cleaners,
dry cleaning and laundry
establishments provided cleaning
equipment is used to service only
the premises at which it is located.
5. Banks and similar financial
institution.
6. Photographic studios and interior
decorating studios.
Service establishments, such as
1. Beauty and barber shops;
2. Laundry agencies; dry cleaning
agencies, provided only non-
explosive and noninflammable
solvents shall be used, and provided
no work shall be done on the
premises for other outlets; self-
service laundries
3. Shoe and hat repair shops;
4. Radio and television repair shops;
5. Banks and savings and loan
associations;
6. Photographic studios;
7. Automotive repair and parts
accessory sales if accessory to a
main building or use.
Establishment which perform personal or professional services on the premises, such as beauty parlors & barber shops
Repair shops including watches, radios, television, shoes and etc., but prohibiting major repair shops such as automotive, heavy equipment, large appliances, furniture, etc.
Tailor shops
Banks and savings and loan associations
Photographic studios and interior
decorating studios
Establishment that prepare and service food and beverages on the premises, including, but not limited to, fresh meals, sandwiches, baked goods, and
light snacks, but excluding retail stores primarily offering groceries, meats, dairy products, or other packaged food items for off-site consumption.
 
Table 1151.03
Permitted, Conditional, and Specifically Prohibited Uses O-S, B-1, B-2 and B-3 Districts
O-S Office-Service District
B-1 Local Business District
B-2 Regional Business District
B-3 General Business District
Permitted Uses
Retail and Service Uses (Cont.)
Convenience stores of a generally recognized retail nature which supply commodities on the premises, such as but not limited to:
1. Groceries, meats, dairy products,
baked goods or other food.
2. Drug, dry goods, clothing,
notions
3. Hardware.
Retail stores conducted wholly within enclosed buildings offering products for sale to the following extent:
1. Groceries, meats, fruits, vegetables
2. All general merchandise, dry goods,
motions;
3. Wearing apparel, shoes, hats;
4. Household hardware, wallpaper,
paint
5. Furniture, appliances, floor covering
6. Sporting goods
7. Drugs, tobacco, periodicals
8. Flowers, gifts, jewelry
9. Sale, at licensed stores, of packaged
alcoholic beverages not to be
consumed on the premises
Legal pharmaceuticals (other than medical marijuana or cannabis), dry goods, clothing. notions, shoes, hats, periodicals.
Retail stores conducted wholly within enclosed buildings offering products for sale to the following extent:
- Household hardware, wallpaper, paint
- Furniture, appliances, floor covering
- Sporting goods
- Flowers, gifts, jewelry
Sales, at licensed stores, of packaged alcoholic beverages not to be consumed on the premises
Restaurant with no drive-through facility.
Restaurant with no drive-through facility
Table 1151.03
Permitted, Conditional, and Specifically Prohibited Uses O-S, B-1, B-2 and B-3 Districts
O-S Office-Service District
B-1 Local Business District
B-2 Regional Business District
B-3 General Business District
Permitted Uses
Other Uses
Public or private schools or colleges.
Public or private schools or colleges
Public or private schools or colleges
Facilities for human care such as convalescent and nursing homes
Facilities for human care such a convalescent and nursing homes
Photographic reproduction, blueprinting and print shops
Churches and related facilities
Funeral homes.
Establishments of electricians, plumbers, heating contractors, bakers, painters or similar trades in conjunction with a retail sales operation.
Photographic reproductions, blueprinting and print shops
Establishments of electricians, plumbers, heating contractors, bakers, painters or similar trades in conjunction with a retail sales operation
Accessory Uses
Accessory buildings or uses customarily incidental to any of the above permitted uses
Accessory buildings or uses customarily incidental to any of the above permitted uses
Accessory buildings or uses customarily incidental to any of the above permitted uses
Accessory buildings or uses customarily incidental to any of the above permitted uses
Dispensaries for Medical Marijuana associated with a cultivation, processing or testing use on the same or a contiguous lot
Dispensaries for Medical Marijuana associated with a cultivation, processing or testing use on the same or a contiguous lot
Table 1151.03
Permitted, Conditional, and Specifically Prohibited Uses O-S, B-1, B-2 and B-3 Districts
O-S Office-Service District
B-1 Local Business District
B-2 Regional Business District
B-3 General Business District
Conditional Uses
Restaurant
Bar, tavern, restaurant.
Restaurant with out door dining or service.
Restaurant with drive-through facility
Restaurant with outdoor dining or outdoor service, including drive-through facilities
Bar, tavern, restaurant.
Restaurant with outdoor dining or service.
Restaurant with drive-through facility.
Retail use accessory to a permitted or conditionally permitted use
Studios and classrooms for instruction in dang, yoga, martial arts, painting, sculpture, job skills, and similar
Amusement and recreation uses within an entirely enclosed soundproofed building, such as :
(1) Assembly and meeting halls;
(2) Bowling alleys, billiard halls;
(3) Theaters.
Studios and classrooms for instruction in dance, yoga, martial arts, painting, sculpture, job skills, and similar.
Indoor entertainment facilities that do not exceed 5,000 square feet of floor space for each individual business
Day care center
Day care center
Day care center
Veterinary clinics and veterinary hospitals
Banquet Facility
Hotel, motel
Hotel
Publicly owned buildings, public utility buildings, including electric transformer stations and substations and gas regulator stations excluding storage yards; water and sewage pumping stations.
Indoor entertainment facilities that d o not exceed 5,000 square feet of floor space for each individual business
Indoor assembly for recreation and/or amusement, including lectures, concerts and plays; indoor sporting activities or events; museums, exhibitions, galleries and libraries.
Laboratories, including research, medical, photographic and similar type laboratories
Laboratories, including research, medical, photographic and similar type laboratories.
Basic research facilities for the research and design of experimental product development when conducted within a completely enclosed building.
Table 1151.03
Permitted, Conditional, and Specifically Prohibited Uses O-S, B-1, B-2 and B-3 Districts
O-S Office-Service District
B-1 Local Business District
B-2 Regional Business District
B-3 General Business District
Conditional Uses
Basic research facilities for the research and design of experimental product development when conducted within a completely enclosed building.
Data processing and computer centers, including sales, service and maintenance of electronic and data processing equipment; and computer data storage/cloud server storage.
Data processing and computer centers, including sales, service and maintenance of electronic and data processing equipment; and computer data storage/cloud server storage.
Offices for law, engineering, drafting, accounting, insurance, broadcasting, investing and other similar professions and occupations.
Offices for law, engineering, drafting, accounting, insurance, broadcasting, investing and other similar professions and occupations.
Public or private schools or universities
Assembling, packaging and the accessory warehousing of small electronic instruments and devices, toys, novelties and other small household items.
Wholesale sales or online sale establishments and accessory warehousing.
Table 1151.03
Permitted, Conditional, and Specifically Prohibited Uses O-S, B-1, B-2 and B-3 Districts
O-S Office-Service District
B-1 Local Business District
B-2 Regional Business District
B-3 General Business District
Conditional Uses
New vehicle, light truck, trailer or garden equipment dealerships (sales and service facilities) with accessory used vehicle or equipment sales and service; new and/or used automobile, light truck or equipment leasing or renting establishments, subject to Section 1151.04
Any accessory buildings, fences, signage, off-street parking or other appurtenances as they relate to a use listed herein.
Cultivation, processing and testing of medical marijuana
Cultivation, processing and testing of medical marijuana
Veterinary clinics and veterinary hospitals
Garden Center
Banquet Facility
Drive-through facility
Drive-through facility
Sweepstakes/Internet Café
Publicly owned buildings, public utility buildings, including electric transformer stations and substations and gas regulator stations excluding storage yards; water and sewage pumping stations.
Publicly owned buildings, public utility buildings, including electric transformer stations and substations and gas regulator stations excluding storage yards; water and sewage pumping stations.
Publicly owned buildings, public utility buildings, including electric transformer stations and substations and gas regulator stations excluding storage yards; water and sewage pumping stations.
Table 1151.03
Permitted, Conditional, and Specifically Prohibited Uses O-S, B-1, B-2 and B-3 Districts
O-S Office-Service District
B-1 Local Business District
B-2 Regional Business District
B-3 General Business District
Conditional Uses
Auto Repair & Service Stations
Gasoline service stations as controlled by Chapter 1165 and Chapter 1169.
Automatic Car Wash
Self-service auto laundries as controlled by Chapter 1165 and Chapter 1169
Automatic Car Wash and In-Bay Car Wash
Automotive major repair
Table 1151.03
Permitted, Conditional, and Specifically Prohibited Uses O-S, B-1, B-2 and B-3 Districts
O-S Office-Service District
B-1 Local Business District
B-2 Regional Business District
B-3 General Business District
Similar Use
See standards for Similar Use as a conditional use in Section 1169.09
See standards for Similar Use as a conditional use in Section 1169.08
See Standards for Similar Use as a conditional use in Section 1169.08
Specifically Prohibited Uses
O-S Office-Service District
B-1 Local Business District
B-2 Regional Business District
B-3 General Business District
Dwelling units fo all types are prohibited
Dwelling units of all types are prohibited
Dwelling units of all types are prohibited.
Dwelling units of all types are prohibited.
Any use which is not listed in this table as a permitted or conditional use for this district is prohibited unless otherwise authorized according to the provisions of this Zoning Code
Any use which is not listed in this table as a permitted or conditional use for this district is prohibited unless otherwise authorized according to the provisions of this Code.
Any use which is not listed in this table as a permitted or conditional use for this district is prohibited unless otherwise authorized according to the provisions of this Zoning Code.
Any use which is not listed in this table as a permitted or conditional use for this district is prohibited unless otherwise authorized according to the provisions of this Zoning Code.
Warehousing or indoor storage of goods or materials not incidental to the above permitted uses shall be prohibited.
Dwelling units of all types are prohibited except for those which are permitted in a Mixed Use Development subject to Section 1151.10
(Ord. 5-2007. Passed 3-13-07; Ord. 37-2011. Passed 8-23-11; Ord. 20-2015. Passed 3-24-15; Ord. 10-2017. Passed 2-28-17; Ord. 11-2017. Passed 2-28-17; Ord. 75-2018. Passed 7-24-18; Ord. 123-2024. Passed 9-24-24; Ord. 71-2025. Passed 6-24-25.)

1151.04 ADDITIONAL USE RESTRICTIONS.

   (a)   No activity shall be conducted in a manner which is obnoxious or offensive by reason of the emission of odor, fumes, dust, smoke, waste, noise or vibration in excess of the performance standards set forth in Section 1171.05.
   (b)   The outdoor storage, display or sale of goods or materials shall be prohibited except as specifically authorized in this chapter or as authorized by a conditional use permit.
(Ord. 5-2007. Passed 3-13-07.)
 
   (c)   New vehicle, light truck, trailer or garden equipment dealerships (sales and service) facilities, as well as new and used automobile, light truck or equipment leasing or renting establishments, shall be considered as a Conditional Use in the B-2 Regional Business District subject to the following conditions:
      (1)   A new vehicle dealership as the primary use shall be defined as an establishment primarily engaging in the sale of new motor vehicles including cars, light trucks, light-duty cargo trailers, boats, motorcycles and similar vehicles, along with all equipment related thereto, and shall also include facilities for both major and minor engine repair, body repairing, parts sales, painting and washing and other required services. A new vehicle dealership or new and used vehicle leasing/renting establishment shall have a minimum of 100,000 square feet of total area (including parking, but excluding common entry/exit drives) located on the same or contiguous lot or leased areas. Used car or truck sales may be permitted as an accessory use to a new vehicle dealership as described above but shall be located on portions of the parcel exclusive of the 100,000 square feet used for new vehicle sales.
      (2)   A vehicle leasing or rental agency is defined as an establishment primarily engaging in the leasing or rental of new or used motor vehicles, including cars, light trucks, light-duty cargo trailers, boats, motorcycles and similar vehicles. Such establishments may include facilities for the servicing of such vehicles.
      (3)   Any vehicles or equipment being stored on the premises that are damaged, partially disassembled, or otherwise not in good running or working order shall be screened from sight from all directions within a building or by solid fencing, walls or other means as approved by the Planning Commission.
      (4)   Required minimum areas shall be exclusive of entry drives, safety services access drives, required buffer zones and required setbacks from property lines.
      (5)   Facilities for the sale of new vehicles shall not include the sale, rental or leasing of construction, maintenance or farm-related machinery, tractor trailers, recreational (motor) vehicles (RV’s) or mobile homes.
      (6)   Parcels shall be considered as contiguous if separated by nothing other than a common-area entrance or exit drive or right-of-way.
         (Ord. 10-2017. Passed 2-28-17.)
   (d)   The following regulations shall apply to uses in the O-S Office Service District:
      (1)   No interior display shall be visible from any property line.
   (e)   The following regulations shall apply to uses in the B-1 Local Business District:
      (1)   All business establishments shall be retail or service establishments dealing directly with consumers. All goods produced on the premises shall be sold at retail on the premises where produced.
      (2)   All business, servicing or processing, except for off-street parking or loading, shall be conducted within a completely enclosed building, except as specifically permitted under this chapter.
         (Ord. 5-2007. Passed 3-13-07.)

1151.05 YARD, AREA AND BULK REQUIREMENTS.

   Yard, area and bulk requirements shall be as required in Chapter 1173.
(Ord. 5-2007. Passed 3-13-07.)

1151.06 OFF-STREET PARKING.

   Off-street parking shall be as required in Chapter 1175.
(Ord. 5-2007. Passed 3-13-07.)

1151.07 WALLS AND LANDSCAPING.

   Walls and/or landscaping shall be as required in Chapter 1177.
(Ord. 5-2007. Passed 3-13-07.)

1151.08 SIGNS AND LIGHTING.

   Signs and lighting shall be as required in Chapter 1179.
(Ord. 5-2007. Passed 3-13-07.)

1151.09 SITE PLAN REVIEW.

   (a) No building or structure shall be erected or land used in an O-S, B-1, or B-2 District unless the site plan has been approved by Council. Council shall not approve the site plan unless it receives a report and recommendation from the Planning Commission, but Council may act on the site plan if a report and recommendation is not received from the Planning Commission within sixty (60) days after the site plan has been presented at a public meeting of the Commission.
   (b) When recommending the approval of a site plan, the Planning Commission may recommend conditions necessary to secure the following objectives:
      (1)   That all development features, including but not limited to the principal and accessory buildings, open spaces, service roads, driveways and parking areas, shall be located to encourage pedestrian and vehicular traffic safety; and
      (2)    That the design of such land use will not discourage the appropriate development or impair the value of existing or proposed development in the area surrounding the subject development.
         (Ord. 5-2007. Passed 3-13-07.)

1151.10 MIXED USE (MU) DEVELOPMENT.

   (a)   Purpose. The purpose of this section is to permit and regulate a compact combination of residential and nonresidential uses in a planned mixed use development in compliance with an approved development plan.
 
   (b)   Uses. The uses which may be established within a Mixed Use (MU) Development are limited to the following:
      (1)   Permitted and Conditional Uses as set forth in Section 1151.03 for the B-2 District.
      (2)   Multiple family dwellings as long as such dwellings are located in buildings that are a minimum of two (2) stories and do not exceed four (4) stories in height.
      (3)   Park areas, recreational areas, and pools which shall not be considered to be accessory to the permitted uses in this section.
      (4)   Accessory buildings and uses customarily incidental to any of the above permitted uses such as off-street parking, garages, outdoor dining, fences and walls.
 
   (c)   Development Area. The minimum land area required for a MU Development shall be ten acres and shall include a mix of uses so that no one use category exceeds 90% of the total floor area of the MU Development. The 90% maximum of the total floor area of the MU Development being devoted to any one use category may, at the sole discretion of the City Council, be exceeded where the Council finds that the purpose and intent of this section and Section 1151.01 (c) of this Code will be furthered thereby.
 
   (d)   Density. The maximum number of dwelling units permitted shall be one dwelling unit per 2,400 square feet of gross land area designated for the MU Development.
 
   (e)   Dwelling Unit Area. All dwelling units shall have at least one living room and one bedroom. The minimum floor area requirements shall be as follows:
      (1)   Efficiency unit - 600 square feet;
      (2)   One bedroom unit - 800 square feet;
      (3)   Two bedroom unit - 1,000 square feet; and
      (4)   Three bedroom unit - 1,200 square feet.
 
   (f)   Dimensional Standards:
      (1)   Maximum Lot Width: 300 feet minimum.
      (2)   Maximum Height: 65 feet and four (4) stories.
      (3)   Minimum Front Yard: 75 feet.
      (4)   Minimum Side and Rear Yards: Subject to subdivision (A) below, there is no minimum side setback for non-residential uses. Subject to subdivision (A) below, residential side setback must be at least 15 feet.
         (A)   Where a side yard abuts a single family zoning district, the setback shall be 50 feet. Setback areas abutting a single family zoning district shall be landscaped earth mounding, fencing, walls, hedges, or other plant material sufficient to create a suitable screen or visual buffer as approved in the development plan.
      (5)   Building Separation: 35 feet minimum for residential buildings.
 
   (g)   Open Space. Each MU development shall designate no less than 10% of the gross development area as open space. Such open space may be for the use and enjoyment of residents or it may be available to the general public. Additionally, structures and buildings for the purpose of active or passive recreation, plazas, outdoor dining and public art may be located in such open space as approved in the development plan.
 
   (h)   Parking and Loading.
      (1)   Off-street parking shall conform to the requirements of Section 1175.05 of this Code unless fewer spaces are approved in the development plan.
      (2)   Parking lot landscaping shall be as approved in the development plan.
      (3)   Loading and unloading spaces and facilities shall conform to the requirements of Section 1175.11 of this Code, unless modified by the approved development plan and such spaces and facilities shall be screened with fencing, walls or landscaping as approved in the development plan.
 
   (i)   Signs. All provisions of Chapter 1179 , Signs, which apply to multiple-family developments, shall apply to residential uses in the MU Development. Signs for nonresidential uses shall be as approved in the development plan and shall:
      (1)    Contribute to an overall cohesive design, reflect simplicity, and avoid visual clutter.
      (2)   Complement the building, adjacent buildings in the development, and the site by being designed and placed to enhance the architecture.
      (3)   Employ the use of compatible materials and colors of the sign, sign background, and sign frame with the character of the development.
 
   (j)   Lighting. All exterior site lighting shall be designed to eliminate glare and spillover lighting onto adjacent properties and shall be as approved in the development plan.
 
   (k)   Modifications. The Planning Commission may authorize minor modifications of an approved development plan.
 
   (l)   Conflicts. In the event of a conflict between the provisions in this section and other provisions in these Codified Ordinances, the provisions and regulations in this section shall govern. (Ord. 75-2018. Passed 7-24-18.)