Saint John City Zoning Code
ARTICLE IV
General Regulations
Section 400.180 General Regulations.
[CC Ch. 35 §18; Ord. No. 10-1974 Ch. 35 §18, 7-1-1974]
Unless otherwise stated, the regulations hereafter established shall apply within all districts established by this Chapter or by amendment thereto. These general regulations supplement and qualify the district regulations appearing elsewhere in this Chapter.
Section 400.190 Zoning Performance Standards.
[CC Ch. 35 §19; Ord. No. 10-1974 Ch. 35 §19, 7-1-1974]
A.
This Section contains the Zoning Performance Standards for the City of St. John. These standards shall apply to all land uses and developments in the Commercial and Industrial Zoning Districts and all land uses requiring a Conditional Use Permit within any Residential district.
B.
Performance Standards.
1.
Vibration. Every use shall be so operated that the maximum ground vibration generated is not perceptible without instruments at any point on the lot line of the lot on which the use is located.
2.
Noise. Every use shall be so operated that the pressure level of sound or noise generated, measured in decibels, shall not exceed, at any point on the lot line, the maximum decibel levels for the designated octave band as set forth in the following table for the appropriate area:
Octave Band Cycles per Second | Maximum Permitted Sound Pressure Level in Decibels Within or Adjacent to "R" Residence Districts | Within All Other Areas | |
|---|---|---|---|
0 to 75 | 72 | 79 | |
75 to 150 | 67 | 74 | |
150 to 300 | 59 | 66 | |
300 to 600 | 52 | 59 | |
600 to 1200 | 46 | 53 | |
1200 to 2400 | 40 | 47 | |
2400 to 4800 | 34 | 41 | |
above 4800 | 32 | 39 |
3.
Odor. Every use shall be so operated that no offensive or objectionable odor is emitted in accordance with the requirements of St. Louis County Health Department Ordinance 3347, 1964, or as amended.
4.
Smoke. Every use shall be so operated that no smoke from any source shall be emitted that exceeds the emission levels in the requirements of St. Louis County Health Department Ordinance 3347, 1964, or as amended.
5.
Toxic gases. Every use shall be so operated that there is no emission of toxic, noxious, or corrosive fumes or gases which exceed the emission levels in the requirements of St. Louis County Health Department Ordinance 3347, 1964, or as amended.
6.
Emission of dirt, dust, fly ash, and other forms of particulate matter. The emission of dirt, dust, fly ash, and other forms of particulate matter shall not exceed the emission levels in the requirements of St. Louis County Health Department Ordinance 3347, 1964, or as amended.
7.
Radiation. Every use shall be so operated that there is no dangerous amount of radioactive emissions in accordance with the standards of the Federal Radiation Council.
8.
Glare and heat. Any operation producing intense glare or heat shall be performed in an enclosure in such a manner so as to be imperceptible along any lot line without instruments.
9.
Any addition, modification or change in any regulations, code, ordinance or other standard referred to in Zoning Performance Standards shall become a part of these regulations.
Section 400.200 Supplementary Off-Street Parking Regulations.
[CC Ch. 35 §20; Ord. No. 10-1974 Ch. 35 §20, 7-1-1974; Ord. No. 803 §4, 6-21-2004]
A.
The off-street parking requirements specified in each zoning district are supplemented and/or qualified by the following general regulations:
1.
An area used for off-street parking space for four (4) or more vehicles shall be effectively screened from adjoining residential property. Such screening shall consist of louvered fence, solid fence, or wall, and such screening shall not be less than six (6) feet in height above the surface elevation of the parking area, except where sight distance regulations at street intersections require other arrangements.
2.
In a residential district.
a.
The required parking spaces to serve residential uses shall be provided on the same parcel of land that the residential use is located. Parking space required by this Chapter for non-residential use in a residential district shall be provided on the same lot as the principal use or on a contiguous lot.
b.
Parking space provided in an enclosed or semi-enclosed structure shall not project beyond any required building line, except as may be provided in Section 400.090, Subsection E(6), and Section 400.100, Subsection E(6) of this Chapter. Parking space provided in an unenclosed area shall not encroach on the front yard of any residential district.
3.
In a commercial district, parking space provided in an unenclosed area shall not be closer to the front property line than fifteen (15) feet. The area between the front property line and the building line, except for required driveways, shall be landscaped and such landscaping shall be adequately maintained.
4.
In an industrial district, parking space provided in an enclosed structure shall not project beyond any required building line. In an industrial district, parking space provided in an unenclosed area shall not encroach on the required front yard except that additional parking not to exceed five (5) spaces per one hundred (100) feet of frontage may be placed within the required front yard area, provided that access from the street to the parking spaces is by a driveway and that at least twenty percent (20%) of the front yard area is landscaped and such landscaping shall be adequately maintained.
5.
Off-street parking space in a commercial or industrial district shall not be located nearer than twenty (20) feet to any residential property line.
6.
In computing the parking space requirements, the following shall apply:
a.
Where fractional spaces result, the parking spaces required shall be construed to be the nearest whole number.
b.
The parking space requirement for a use not specifically mentioned herein shall be the same as required for a use of similar nature.
c.
Whenever a building or use constructed or established after July 1, 1974, is changed or enlarged in floor area, number of employees, number of dwelling units, seating capacity, or otherwise, to create a need for an increase of five percent (5%) or more in the number of existing parking spaces, such spaces shall be provided on basis of the enlargement or change. Whenever a building or use existing prior to July 1, 1974, is enlarged to the extent of ten percent (10%) or more in floor area or in the area used, said building or shall use then and thereafter comply with the parking requirements set forth herein.
7.
Two (2) or more uses may combine to provide the required parking space jointly; however, the parking space so provided shall equal the total space required if each use were to provide parking space separately, except as provided below. A written agreement, among the owners of the various properties involved, thereby assuring the retention of such parking spaces for the specified purpose, shall be properly drawn and executed by the parties concerned, approved as to form, and executed by the City Attorney, after the plans for such joint parking are approved by the Planning and Zoning Board. Such written agreement shall be filed with the application for a construction permit.
8.
In combining uses to provide the required parking space jointly, the following may apply:
Up to fifty percent (50%) of the parking spaces required for theaters, bowling alleys, dance halls or night clubs; and up to one hundred percent (100%) of the parking spaces required for a church or school auditorium may be provided and used by banks, offices, retail stores, repair shops, service establishments and similar uses not normally open, used, or operated during the same hours as those listed above; provided however, that written agreement thereto is properly executed and filed as specified in Paragraph (7) above.
9.
Wherever a parking area is permitted, with the exception of those parking areas within the "PS" Park and Scenic District, the same, including driveways, shall be paved with asphaltic concrete or Portland cement concrete, and shall meet applicable building code requirements.
10.
All areas for off-street parking, excluding those of single-family and duplex residences, shall be so arranged so that vehicles can turn around within the area and enter the street or roadway in such a manner so as to completely eliminate the necessity for backing into the street or roadway.
11.
When necessary, parking stalls shall contain wheel guards or be curbed in such a manner to ensure that no vehicle will overhang sidewalks or landscaped areas and to ensure that vehicle movement be restricted to driving aisles and driveways.
12.
A minimum of one (1), two-hundred-square-foot curbed, landscaped island shall be provided at the ends of each single row of parking stalls and one (1) four-hundred-square-foot curbed, landscaped island shall be provided at the end of each double row of parking stalls
[Ord. No. 1176, 7-1-2019]
13.
No off-street parking space required under this Chapter shall be used for any purpose other than parking, and no vehicle shall be parked behind the lot line other than on a paved parking space.
14.
All required parking spaces, driving aisles, and access streets shall be constructed prior to the issuance of any occupancy permit.
15.
Parking stalls in commercial and industrial districts shall have a width of not less than ten (10) feet and a depth of not less than twenty (20) feet.
[Ord. No. 1176, 7-1-2019]
Section 400.210 Supplementary Sign and Lighting Regulations.
[CC Ch. 35 §21; Ord. No. 10-1974 Ch. 35 §20, 7-1-1974; CC §§21.09-21.22; Ord. No. 177, 12-1-1980; Ord. No. 178, 12-15-1980; Ord. No. 237, 2-18-1985; Ord. No. 264, 6-2-1986; Ord. No. 343, 8-1-1988; Ord. No. 405 §1, 4-15-1991; Ord. No. 407 §1, 5-6-1991; Ord. No. 815 §1, 11-15-2004]
A.
The following signs shall be permitted in all zoning districts, and do not require permits:
1.
Official traffic signs and their supports, directional, information or warning signs or sign supports, and street signs and their supports when erected or authorized to be erected by a governmental agency.
2.
Temporary signs indicating danger.
3.
Changing of the copy or parts of any sign that is required in the course of normal maintenance.
4.
During the construction period of a development, a temporary sign which identifies the architects, engineers, contractors, and other individuals or firms involved with the construction, and announces the character of the building, enterprise or the purpose for which the building is intended, but not including any advertisement of any product; providing, however, that there is only one (1) sign erected for each street frontage. The area of the sign for any one (1) firm shall not exceed nine (9) square feet in area or five (5) feet in height in residential districts, and fifteen (15) square feet in area or ten (10) feet in height in commercial and industrial districts. The sign shall be confined to the site of the construction and shall be removed within fourteen (14) days of the issuance of an occupancy permit for the structure with which the sign is associated.
5.
Public notices and legal notices as required by law.
6.
Signs on a truck, bus, trailer or other vehicle, while in use in the normal course of business. This is not to be interpreted to permit parking or storage of a vehicle to which signs are attached for merely advertising purposes.
7.
Public signs of a non-commercial nature and in the public interest erected by or on the order of a public officer in the performance of his public duty, including, but not limited to safety signs, danger signs, trespassing signs, memorial plaques, and signs of historical interest.
8.
Special decorative displays used for public holidays.
9.
Window display signs affixed to a window or part of a display of merchandise inside the window when limited in area to twenty percent (20%) of the total glass area of the window.
10.
Integral signs; that is, name of building, date of erection, monumental citation, commemorative tablet and the like when carved into stone, concrete, or similar material, made of bronze, aluminum, or other permanent type construction and made an integral part of the structure.
11.
Building street number and warning signs related to a condition on the premises not exceeding one (1) square foot in outline area per facing.
12.
Real estate signs advertising the sale, rental, lease, trade or other conveyance of any kind or type of real estate interest; provided however, that any such real estate sign shall be subject to the following regulations:
a.
Only one (1) sign shall be posted for any parcel or contiguous parcels sought to be conveyed in a residential district. The only exception to this prohibition is the one (1) "Open" sign which may be displayed as indicated in Subsection A (12,e) below.
b.
The facing of a sign in a residential district where advertising is to appear shall not be more than three (3) feet in length and two (2) feet in height with a maximum of two (2) facings.
c.
The maximum height of any said sign in a residential district shall not be more than six (6) feet above ground level and there shall not be more than two (2) supporting poles for each sign, said supporting poles not to exceed four (4) inches by four (4) inches in pole sides.
d.
No such sign in a residential district shall be placed on any easement or public right-of-way and must be on the real property offered for sale, but not affixed to or placed on any building or structure on such real property.
e.
Off-premises advertising or indicating that property in the City or any other area is for sale, rent or lease are hereby prohibited, except that four (4) off-premise "OPEN" signs may be posted on each Saturday or Sunday no sooner than thirty (30) minutes prior to, and no longer than thirty (30) minutes after the actual time the property is held open for public inspection. In no event shall the off-premise signs be posted prior to 11:30 A.M. or past 5:30 P.M. Those agents, brokers or individuals wishing to post off-premise "OPEN SIGNS" shall first register with the City of St. John their intent to do so on a form provided by the City Hall staff. Said form shall list all the foregoing guidelines and will require the agent, broker or individual's signature to attest that the guidelines have been read, understood and will be adhered to. In addition, one (1) "OPEN" sign may be displayed on the property which is for sale, rent or lease only during the time the property is open to the public for inspection. This "on-premise" sign shall not require registration as provided for in the foregoing paragraph. The agent, broker or individual shall be responsible for complying with this Subsection.
f.
The facing of a real estate sign in a commercial district shall not be more than eight (8) feet in length and four (4) feet in height with a maximum of one (1) facing. No such sign shall be placed on any easement or public right-of-way. A limit of one (1) such sign is allowed per parcel or for any grouping of contiguous parcels.
g.
Any real estate sign governed by this Chapter may contain a statement regarding only the present zoning classification of the subject parcel, and in no event shall any said sign contain a statement about a prospective and/or speculative zoning change for said parcel.
h.
Removal of signs shall be governed by Subsection C (6) of this Section.
i.
Any person violating any provision of this Subsection shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be subject to a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00). Any person convicted of subsequent offenses shall be subject to a fine of not less than double the fine assessed for the previous offense up to a maximum of five hundred dollars ($500.00).
13.
Political campaign signs are allowed without a permit in any zoning district subject to the following:
a.
Signs may announce the candidate seeking public office and other pertinent data or issues before the voters and other information pertinent thereto;
b.
Signs shall not exceed four (4) square feet in total area for any one (1) sign or five (5) feet in height;
c.
The maximum total sign area for all signs combined shall not exceed sixteen (16) square feet total for each lot or each dwelling unit;
d.
Said signs shall only be placed on private property ten (10) feet or more from the street curb or curb line and only with the consent of the private property owner thereof;
e.
Signs shall be removed within three (3) days after the election for which they were made.
B.
The following signs shall not be permitted in any zoning district:
1.
Signs painted on the surface of roofs that are visible from the public right-of-way.
[Ord. No. 1121 § 1, 6-5-2017[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: Section 1 repealed former Subsections (B)(1), regarding mechanical signs, and (B)(3), regarding projecting signs, and renumbered former Subsection (B)(2) to (B)(1).
C.
The sign regulations specified in each zoning district are supplemented and qualified by the following Supplementary Sign and Lighting Regulations.
1.
No sign or light standard shall be placed within or project over that portion of any street or alley right-of-way used or proposed to be used for vehicular traffic, except that this shall not apply to public signs and light standards erected by public agencies or utilities in the performance of their work as required by law.
2.
No sign or parts thereof projecting over any part of a sidewalk or walkway shall be erected less than eight (8) feet, measured vertically, above any part of such sidewalk or walkway; except for a barber's pole that is not more than six (6) inches in diameter, twenty-four (24) inches in length and projects not more than ten (10) inches from the building wall to which it is attached.
3.
No sign shall be permitted to obstruct any window, door, fire escape, stairway or opening intended to provide light, air, ingress or egress for any building or structure.
4.
No sign may be erected that, by reason of position, shape or color would interfere with the proper functioning of a traffic sign or signal, or a directional sign.
5.
No sign shall be erected within the required front yard of any district except those permitted in all zoning districts, as listed in Subsection (A) above, provided however, that such erection does not conflict with any of the provisions of this Chapter or other applicable ordinances. Directional signs and temporary business signs may also be erected within the front yard of those districts in which such signs are permitted, unless otherwise stated.
6.
Any sign previously associated with a vacated premises shall be removed from the premises by the lessee or owner not later than ninety (90) days from the time such activity ceases to exist. Additionally, any "For Sale" or "For Rent or Lease" sign shall be removed within two (2) days after the date of closing or leasing of said property.
7.
Owners of all permanent non-conforming signs shall have five (5) years from July 1, 1974, to remove or bring said signs into conformance with applicable sign ordinance provisions. If this requirement is not met, the City Attorney may then initiate legal action to achieve compliance with the provisions of this Chapter.
8.
All exterior lighting shall be so arranged to ensure that no direct light will be cast on adjoining streets or residentially zoned property.
9.
All sources of illumination shall be restricted to a maximum of twenty-two (22) feet above the elevation of the finished ground adjacent to the structure from which the illumination sources are attached.
10.
Mechanical signs and projecting signs may be permitted in commercial zoning districts after a review of the Planning and Zoning Board and upon its recommendation of any conditions related to the placement of these types of signs.
[Ord. No. 1121 § 2, 6-5-2017]
D.
Sign Permits, Structural Approval and Inspection.
1.
No sign, other than those listed in Subsection (A) above, shall be erected, constructed, posted, painted, altered or relocated, except as provided in this Chapter, until a permit has been approved by the St. John City Council. Before any permit is issued, an application, forms of which are provided by the Public Works Department shall be filed with the Public Works Department, together with a sign plan containing such drawings and specifications as may be necessary to fully advise and acquaint the Planning and Zoning Board and City Council with the location, construction, materials, manner of illuminating, and securing or fastening, and the wording and/or delineation to be carried on the sign.
2.
Structural and safety features and electrical systems shall be in accordance with the requirements of the latest edition of the Building Officials Conference of America (BOCA) Basic Building Code. No sign shall be approved for use unless it has been inspected by the Director of Public Works after installation and is found to be in compliance with 1) applicable technical codes, 2) ordinance requirements, and 3) sign plan requirements as approved by the City Council.
3.
The fee schedule for the construction of signs shall be as provided in the Building Code regulations of the City of St. John.
