The purpose of this chapter is to provide an alternative development technique for the location and arrangement of buildings for business and selected commercial uses; to encourage the clustering of such uses in accordance with a predetermined development plan and subdivision plat; to permit smaller lots in order to make more efficient use of land; and to reduce the cost of streets and public utilities, resulting in a more efficient and harmonious development.

(Ord. 1636 Exh. A (part), 1996)

A.

A planned business center shall be developed in accordance with a comprehensive development plan, as defined in Section 17.04.120, which shall be submitted and reviewed in accordance with chapter 17.180. In addition to the requirements of a comprehensive development plan, a subdivision plat shall be required, including covenants and restrictions relating to shared facilities and the maintenance and responsibility for the same, which shall be approved by the planning commission and recorded in the land records of Wicomico County.

B.

Permitted uses shall be all uses permitted in the zoning district in which a planned business center is permitted.

C.

The planned business center shall be designed so that buildings, parking areas and landscaping are attractively arranged and so that facades, signs and other appurtenances are designed to ensure a harmonious appearance. Landscaping of parking lots and perimeter screening and landscaping of all other areas shall be in accordance with chapter 17.100.

D.

A planned business center shall contain a minimum of two acres.

1.

Each lot in a center in a general commercial district shall contain a minimum land area of six thousand (6,000) square feet, each lot in a select commercial district shall contain a minimum land area of ten thousand (10,000) square feet. Each lot in a light business and institutional district shall contain a minimum land area of fifteen thousand (15,000) square feet. Each lot in a light industrial district shall contain a minimum land area of ten thousand (10,000) square feet. Each lot in a regional commercial district shall contain a minimum land area of twenty-five thousand (25,000) square feet.

2.

No part of a principal building shall be farther than one hundred (100) feet from an access roadway or drive providing vehicular access from a public street or farther than five hundred (500) feet, measured along the route of vehicular access, from a public street.

E.

A planned business center shall have not less than sixty (60) feet frontage abutting a public street.

F.

Perimeter setbacks for the entire business center shall be the same as or no less than the setbacks required for individual uses within the district in which a business center is located. Setbacks within the center shall be:

1.

Front—twenty-five (25) feet;

2.

Side—ten feet;

3.

Rear—twenty (20) feet;

4.

Whenever any property line in a planned business center abuts a residential district a setback of twenty-five (25) feet shall be required abutting the property line;

5.

Space between buildings:

a.

One story—twenty (20) feet;

b.

Two story—twenty-five (25) feet;

c.

Three story—thirty (30) feet;

d.

More than three stories—thirty (30) feet plus five feet per story.

G.

Minimum lot width, frontage abutting a public street and yard requirements otherwise applying to individual buildings in the district in which a planned business center is permitted do not apply within the center and shall be established by the planning commission on the required plan and subdivision plat, with consideration given to the provision of light, open space, ventilation, fire protection and other characteristics of the site.

H.

Parking shall be provided in accordance with chapter 17.196.

1.

When there are two abutting uses or where more than one business use is located on a lot and each use has different hours of business operation, parking may be shared at the discretion of the planning commission.

2.

Where shared parking is approved, additional land area to accommodate required parking shall be held in reserve, and the required parking area shall be installed when the business is changed and shared parking is terminated.

3.

All such shared parking shall be duly noted on both the plan and the subdivision plat or by a legal agreement between the owners of said shared facilities, approved by the city solicitor and recorded in the land records of Wicomico County.

I.

Signs. A plan shall be required showing the overall design, colors and location of signs throughout the center, which shall be submitted to and approved by the planning commission as part of the comprehensive development plan. Signs may be permitted as follows:

1.

Ground Signs.

a.

One ground sign for use by the entire center, no higher than twenty-five (25) feet, limited to two faces with a total surface area not exceeding a total of one hundred (100) square feet per face on a site of five acres or less, or not exceeding two hundred (200) square feet per face on a site of more than five acres, and located no closer than twenty (20) feet to any property line;

b.

One ground sign on each individual lot within the center, no higher than six feet with a total surface area of thirty-two (32) square feet and located no closer than ten feet from any property line;

c.

Location of ground signs shall be approved by the Planning Commission and designated on the final site plan.

2.

Wall Signs.

a.

One exterior wall sign shall be permitted for each business establishment on an individual lot.

b.

The number of exterior wall signs for a use shall be approved by the planning commission.

c.

All wall signs shall be mounted flush with the building, except that raised letters may extend no more than eighteen (18) inches from the building wall.

d.

Size, location and color of wall signs shall be approved by the planning commission as part of the overall sign plan.

e.

The total amount of wall signage including marquee signs shall not exceed two hundred (200) square feet.

3.

Marquee Signs. Marquee signs shall be considered a wall sign and shall be limited to not more than thirty-two (32) square feet in surface area and located no closer than ten feet above walkways.

4.

Instructional signs not exceeding three feet in height and six square feet in surface area.

J.

Residential Uses. A planned business center may include residential units limited to not more than fourteen (14) units per acre. All such uses shall be located within or above the first floor of a building including a business use. Whenever an applicant proposes to construct all buildings in a single phase, residential uses may be placed in an architecturally compatible freestanding building. In no case shall a free-standing residential building be constructed before at least one-half of the total gross square feet of all proposed buildings is constructed.

K.

Landscaping shall be provided in accordance with the requirements of chapter 17.220.

L.

Other Provisions. Except where specifically listed in this chapter all other requirements of this title shall apply.

(Ord. 1842 (part), 2002; Ord. 1636 Exh. A (part), 1996)