The C-O district is intended to serve as a neighborhood professional center for the limited needs of approximately one thousand families and to provide for limited compatible nonresidential uses or services. The size of the center is proposed to be directly related to the need for such professional and nonresidential uses or services, and its architecture and development shall be compatible with a residential atmosphere.

(Prior code § 1844)

The following uses shall be permitted in the C-O district subject to property development standards in Section 17.26.050:

A.

No existing residential structures in this district may be converted or altered for use for both residential and nonresidential purposes at the same time.

B.

All services and uses shall be conducted within a totally enclosed building constructed in conformity with the building regulations of the city. No sales of tangible, personal property shall be permitted within the district except as hereinafter specifically permitted.

1.

Offices (Business and Professional):

a.

Pharmacy, operated in connection with and as an incident to a medical office or offices,

b.

Real estate offices,

c.

Utility services offices,

d.

Accounting and legal offices,

e.

Governmental offices and public buildings, including but not limited to post offices and libraries;

2.

a.

Public utility distribution and transmission substations may be permitted; provided, that in each instance a conditional use permit has been obtained in accordance with the procedures stated in Chapter 17.68 of this code,

b.

A dispatch office with the storage of office supplies and activities subordinate to a dispatch office; provided, that in each instance a conditional use permit has been obtained in accordance with the procedures stated in Chapter 17.68 of this code,

c.

Medical offices, including offices for technicians and services incidental to rendering medical care, provided that in each instance a conditional use permit has been obtained in accordance with the procedures stated in Chapter 17.68 of this code;

d.

Churches may be permitted; provided, that in each instance a conditional use permit has been obtained in accordance with the procedures stated in Chapter 17.68 of this code.

e.

Schools may be permitted; provided, that in each instance a conditional use permit has been obtained in accordance with the procedures stated in Chapter 17.68 of this code.

3.

Other uses which the council, by written decision, determines to be similar to and not more objectionable than the uses already listed.

(Ord. 613 § 1 (part), 2000; Ord. 605 § 1 (part), 1999; Ord. 559 §§ 1, 2, 1993; prior code § 1845)

The following uses are expressly prohibited in the C-O district:

A.

Residential uses;

B.

Commercial uses not specifically listed in Section 17.26.020;

C.

Industrial uses;

D.

Amusement arcades;

E.

Reserved.

(Ord. 635 § 1 (part), 2007; Ord. 613 § 1 (part), 2000; Ord. 605 § 1 (part), 1999; prior code § 1846)

(Ord. No. 721, § 4B, 3-27-2018, eff. 4-26-2018)

No more than six games of skill and science are permitted and such games shall be only an accessory use.

(Prior code § 1846.1)

The following property development standards shall apply to all lots in the C-O district; provided, however, that where a lot has an area or width less than that required in this district and was held under separate ownership or was of record on March 15, 1960, such lot may be occupied by the uses permitted in Section 17.26.020, subject to the provisions of subsections D, E, F, G, H, I, J and K of this section.

A.

Minimum Lot Area. Each lot created in a C-O zone after September 1, 1974, shall have a minimum size of one acre.

B.

Minimum Lot Dimensions.

1.

Width: No limitations.

2.

Depth: No limitations.

C.

Maximum Population Density.

1.

No dwelling shall be permitted in this district.

2.

See Section 17.26.010 for use of existing residential buildings.

D.

Minimum Yard Requirements.

1.

Front yard. Each lot shall have a front yard extending across the full width of the lot, the yard to have a depth of not less than fifteen feet.

2.

Side yard. None; provided, however, that there shall be a side yard or not less than twenty feet maintained for all side yards abutting residential districts.

3.

Rear yard. None, except where the C-O district abuts a residential district there shall be a rear yard on the abutting C-O lot of not less than twenty feet.

E.

Maximum Coverage. The maximum coverage of the lot by buildings and structures shall not exceed twenty-five percent of the total lot area, one-half the width of all abutting alleys may be included in the C-O district.

F.

Maximum Building Height. No building or structure erected in the district shall have a height greater than thirty-five feet or two stories.

G.

Required Off-Street Parking. There shall be at least one auto parking space for each three hundred square feet of floor area, or fraction thereof. Where off-street parking facilities are provided in a large parking area or compound, and where the overall relationship between the parking area and the total floor area planned is in conformity with the provisions of this section, the off-street parking requirements for individual uses will be considered to be complied with when such parking areas are provided.

H.

Loading. No requirement.

I.

Fences, Hedges and Walls.

1.

Commercial Zones Adjoining Residential Zones.

a.

There shall be a five to six foot high masonry wall located along the property line where this commercial district abuts residentially zoned property, except where the wall is within twenty-five feet of any street right-of-way the wall shall be forty-two inches high.

b.

If, at the time of the precise plan of design, the planning commission is satisfied that the necessary separation is provided by a graded separation or additional yard depth, the requirement for a wall may be waived.

2.

Corner Visibility. To protect the visibility corners and provide for the safety of persons using the streets and sidewalks, fences, hedges and walls shall conform to the visibility requirements specified in the public streets provisions of this code (Title 12).

J.

Access. There shall be adequate vehicular access from a dedicated improved street, service road or alley, the design of which shall be approved by the city engineer to withstand commercial access, excepting as to and from streets, service roads and alleys set forth on a subdivision map recorded in the office of the county recorder.

K.

Plan Review. Plans and elevations of all buildings and permitted signs shall be subject to review by the council and approval shall be based on conformity of buildings and permitted signs to the neighborhood environment. Strip-type developments shall be prohibited as determined under design review by the planning commission.

(Ord. 605 § 1 (part), 1999; prior code § 1847)

Any vacant site(s) in the commercial-office district (C-O), including a site that is already vacant upon the implementation of this title, shall be cleared of debris and fenced and landscaped within thirty days of becoming vacant and shall comply with the below stated criteria at all times, until a grading and/or building permit is issued and actual re-construction of the site commences:

A.

A six-foot high chain link fence shall be installed around the vacant site, set back a minimum of five feet from the sidewalk or curb (property line), to provide an area for temporary landscaping. Access gates shall be permitted as necessary. All fencing and gates shall be installed with horizontal top bars and stretched taught to avoid sagging and maintained in this manner for the duration of time the fence is in place. Said fencing, including gates, shall also be covered with screening of a dark green mesh and shall be installed from top to bottom and maintained in a neat and orderly fashion at all times. Should any graffiti result on said fence screening, the graffiti shall be removed immediately (which may include replacement of the screening or portions thereof) by the property owner and/or tenant.

B.

Landscaping shall be installed within the required five-foot minimum setback area between the fence and sidewalk/curb to the satisfaction of the planning director and/or community services director. In the event that there is a park strip (within the city's public right-of-way) adjacent to the vacant site, the landscaping plan must address this area in addition to the setback area to be landscaped on private property.

C.

Any proposed fencing and landscaping for corner properties must comply with Section 12.08.040 (Corner cutoffs) of the RHEMC.

D.

A landscape plan shall be submitted for review and approval by the park and activities commission. The landscaping plan must be submitted to the city prior to a demolition permit being issued to allow ample review time, such that the required landscaping can be installed within the thirty-day time limit upon the site becoming vacant. Landscaping shall be temporary in nature, capable of being replanted when no longer needed, but need not include mature specimens. Said landscaping shall also be water efficient in as much as possible, and screen the fence in as much as possible. A temporary irrigation system (on automatic timers) shall also be required for the maintenance of said landscaping.

E.

The interior portions of the site shall be maintained on a regular basis and be kept free from weeds and debris. The required landscaping shall also be maintained in good order and trimmed as necessary such that the site has a pleasing appearance at all times.

F.

Any trash or illegal dumping on the property shall be removed immediately by the property owner and/or tenant.

G.

Any request for signage on the site, including on the required fencing, shall be subject to the City's Sign Code (Chapter 17.60 of the RHEMC) and shall be approved by the planning director.

(Ord. No. 649, § 1, 12-9-08)