Seminole City Zoning Code

   (A)   Characteristics. The characteristics of the C-1 Neighborhood Commercial District are a use area for small shopping centers designed to serve surrounding residential neighborhoods. The stores in this area provide durable goods, personal services and convenience goods. More ample parking requirements and more stringent bulk regulations are designed to make use area harmonize with the residential districts which surround it.

   (B)   General uses. The following and all essentially similar uses are permitted in this zone:

      (1)   Any use permitted in the R-3 Multiple-Family Dwelling District;

      (2)   Any conditional use set forth in the R-3 Multiple-Family Dwelling District;

      (3)   Retail stores and shops supplying the regular and customary needs of the residents of the neighborhood and primarily for their convenience, as follows:

 

      (4)   Nameplate and sign relating only to the use of the store and premises or to products sold on the premises, as follows:

         (a)   Flat single faced signs;

         (b)   Directly lighted signs not over 50 square feet in area; and

         (c)   Sign panels not over 100 square feet in area for each 50 feet of frontage.

      (5)   Any building used for any of the above enumerated uses may not have more than 40% of its floor area devoted to purposes incidental to the primary use. No materials or goods offered for sale or stored in connection with uses enumerated above shall be displayed or stored outside of a building.

   (C)   Accessory uses. Accessory uses in the C-1 District are other accessory uses that are incidental to the permitted uses and not detrimental to the adjacent property or the character of the zone.

   (D)   Area regulations. Any C-1 Zone lot established, and any structure erected on any C-1 Zone lot after the initial effective date hereof, shall comply with the following bulk and area requirements. The area requirements for dwellings shall be the same as requirements of R-3 Multiple-Family Dwelling District.

      (1)   Front yard. All buildings shall be set back from the street right-of-way line to comply with the following front yard requirements.

         (a)   Minimum depth of front yard where there is no parking permitted is 25 feet.

         (b)   Minimum depth of front yard where parking is provided between the structure and property lines adjacent to streets is 40 feet.

      (2)   Rear yard. Minimum rear yard where a commercial building is to be serviced from the rear is 30 feet.

      (3)   Intensity of use. Minimum lot area for new structures erected after the initial effective date hereof is 7,000 square feet.

      (4)   Coverage. Main and accessory buildings shall not cover more than 65% of the lot area.

      (5)   Off-street parking. Buildings shall be provided with a yard area adequate to meet the off-street parking requirements set forth in § 156.065 through 156.072 .

   (E)   Height regulations. No building shall exceed two and one-half stories or 35 feet in height, except as provided in § 156.047.

   (F)   Conditional uses. The following uses may be permitted only if authorized by obtaining a conditional use permit as provided in § 156.009 and after the Planning Commission has approved the site plan:

      (1)   Radio, television and microwave communication towers;

      (2)   Shipping container (subject to review and approval by the Planning Commission on an annual basis); and

      (3)   Warehouse, mini.

   (G)   Nonconforming uses. Nonconforming uses include any use not before mentioned under general, accessory or conditional uses. The Planning Commission shall have the authority to permit nonconforming uses in C-1 Neighborhood Commercial Districts under special written agreements between the city and the owner or occupier of the use. The agreements will detail existing and future use, site design, parking, building and setback requirements, and highway ingress and egress. Nonconforming uses will only be permitted if it is determined that the use is beneficial to the community.

(Prior Code, § 12-3B-1) (Ord. 1026, passed 3-14-2006; Ord. 1056, passed 11-13-2007)

   (A)   Characteristics. The characteristics of the C-2 General Commercial District are a central business district zone for commercial, governmental and exchange uses to the local and regional area. The uses in this area require a central location accessible from all routes entering the city, and they must be grouped so that the transient or infrequent shopper can park and visit a number of stores and offices on foot. The large volume of shoppers served and concentration of uses make it necessary to provide parking in nearby area rather than on specific properties in the central business zone.

   (B)   General uses.

      (1)   Uses enumerated. The following and all essentially similar uses are permitted in this zone.

 

      (2)   Requirements. The uses enumerated in division (B)(1) above shall comply with the following provisions.

         (a)   Screen planting. All open storage and display of merchandise, material and equipment shall be so screened by ornamental fencing or evergreen planting that it cannot be seen by a person standing on ground level in an R Residential or a C-1 Commercial District when located to the side or rear of the lot on which such open storage or display occurs; provided, however, that screening shall not be required in excess of seven feet in height. All planting shall be kept neatly trimmed and maintained in good condition at all times. Merchandise and materials which are not completely assembled or which are not immediately and actively being offered for sale shall, in addition to complying with the above screening requirements, be so screened by ornamental fences or evergreen planting or by permanent buildings so that it cannot be seen from public street.

         (b)   Landscaping of unoccupied yards. All yards unoccupied with buildings or merchandise or used as trafficways shall be landscaped with grass and shrubs and maintained in good condition the year round.

         (c)   Paving of parking areas and driveways. All of the lot used for parking of vehicles, for the storage and display of merchandise, and all driveways used for vehicular ingress and egress shall be paved with a sealed surface pavement and maintained in such a manner that no dust will be produced by continued use.

         (d)   Vehicle servicing within building. All servicing of vehicles and assembly of equipment carried on as an incidental part of the sales operation shall be conducted within a completely enclosed building.

         (e)   Driveway width. Driveways used for ingress and egress shall not exceed 25 feet in width, exclusive of curb returns.

         (f)   Outdoor lighting. Outdoor lighting, when provided, shall have an arrangement of reflectors and an intensity of lighting which will not interfere with adjacent land uses or the use of adjacent streets, and shall not be of a flashing or intermittent type.

   (C)   Accessory uses. Accessory uses in the C-2 District are other accessory uses that are incidental to the permitted uses and not detrimental to the adjacent property or the character of the zone.

   (D)   Area regulations. Any C-2 Zone lot established and any structure erected on any C-2 Zone lot after the initial effective date hereof shall comply with the following bulk and area requirements:

      (1)   Area. The area regulations for dwellings shall be the same as the requirements of the R-3 Multiple-Family Dwelling District.

      (2)   Front and side yards. There are no specific front or side yard requirements for uses other than dwellings.

      (3)   Rear yard. Where a commercial building is to be serviced from the rear, there shall be provided an alleyway, service court, rear yard or combination thereof adequate to provide off-street loading space. In all other cases, no rear yard is required.

      (4)   Off-street parking. Buildings shall be provided with a yard area adequate to meet the off-street parking requirements as set forth in § 156.065 through 156.072.

   (E)   Height regulations. The height regulations for dwellings and accessory buildings for dwellings shall be the same as those of the R-3 Multiple-Family Dwelling District. For other uses, no height restrictions are required.

   (F)   Conditional uses. The following uses may be permitted only if authorized by obtaining a conditional use permit as provided in § 156.009 and after the Planning Commission has approved the site plan. The following conditional uses are allowed:

      (1)   Any use permitted in the C-1 Neighborhood Commercial District;

      (2)   Radio, television and microwave communication towers; and

      (3)   Shipping container (subject to review and approval by the Planning Commission on an annual basis).

(Prior Code, § 12-3B-2) (Ord. 1027, passed 3-14-2006; Ord. 1056, passed 11-13-2007)

   (A)   Characteristics. The characteristics of the C-3 Commercial District are a zone for business that serves a city or regional trade, but which cannot command a location in the central business zone because of special clientele, need for parking or similar reasons.

   (B)   General uses.

      (1)   Uses enumerated. The following and all essentially similar uses are permitted in this zone:

         (a)   All uses allowed in C-2 General Commercial District;

         (b)   Farm implement and machinery sales, new and used;

         (c)   House trailer sales;

         (d)   Lumberyard;

         (e)   Metal and wood fencing, ornamental grillwork and decorative wrought iron work and playground equipment sales;

         (f)   Monument sales;

         (g)   New and used car and truck sales;

         (h)   Oil field or oil well supplies;

         (i)   Prefabricated house sales; and

         (j)   Trailers for hauling, rental and sales.

      (2)   Requirements. The uses enumerated in division (B)(1) above shall comply with the following provisions.

         (a)   Landscaping yards unoccupied with buildings. All yards unoccupied with buildings or merchandise or used as trafficways shall be landscaped with grass and shrubs and maintained in good condition the year round.

         (b)   Servicing vehicles, equipment within building. All servicing of vehicles and assembly of equipment carried on as an incidental part of the sales operation shall be conducted within a completely enclosed building.

         (c)   Driveway width. Driveways used for ingress and egress shall not exceed 25 feet in width, exclusive of curb returns.

         (d)   Outdoor lighting. Outdoor lighting, when provided, shall have an arrangement of reflectors and an intensity of lighting which will not interfere with adjacent land uses or the use of adjacent streets, and shall not be of a flashing or intermittent type.

   (C)   Accessory uses. Accessory uses in the C-3 District are other accessory uses that are incidental to the permitted uses and not detrimental to the adjacent property or the character of the zone.

   (D)   Area regulations.

      (1)   Area. The area regulations for dwellings shall be the same as the requirements of the R-3 Multiple-Family Dwelling District.

      (2)   Front and side yards. There are no specific front or side yard requirements for uses other than dwellings.

      (3)   Rear yard. Where a commercial building is to be serviced from the rear, there shall be provided an alleyway, service court, rear yard or combination thereof adequate to provide off-street loading. In all other cases, no rear yard is required.

      (4)   Off-street parking. Buildings shall be provided with a yard area adequate to meet the off-street parking requirements set forth in § 156.065 through 156.072.

   (E)   Signs. Permitted signs are flat, single face signs; sign and sign panels shall not be over 480 square feet in area. Flashing signs are prohibited.

   (F)   Conditional uses. The following uses may be permitted only if authorized by obtaining a conditional use permit as provided in § 156.009 and after the Planning Commission has approved the site plan. The following conditional uses are allowable:

      (1)   Any use permitted in the C-2 General Commercial District;

      (2)   Radio, television and microwave communication towers; and

      (3)   Shipping container (subject to review and approval by the Planning Commission on an annual basis).

(Prior Code, § 12-3B-3) (Ord. 1028, passed 3-14-2006; Ord. 1056, passed 11-13-2007)

   (A)   Characteristics. The characteristics of the H-C Highway Commercial District are a use area for retail establishments which cater to the traveling public. Lot sizes, highway ingress and egress, setback requirements and the design of the individual sites are intended to provide for motorists’ needs and yet maintain adequate, safe, attractive facilities with minimal marginal traffic interference.

   (B)   General uses.

      (1)   Uses enumerated. The following and all essentially similar uses are permitted in this zone:

         (a)   Automotive repair if connected as an accessory to another use (gasoline station) and wholly within an enclosed building;

         (b)   Churches;

         (c)   Eating establishments;

         (d)   Gasoline stations, but no above-ground storage of fuels;

         (e)   Liquor stores and other retail shops which cater primarily to resident traveling public; and

         (f)   Temporary lodging.

      (2)   Requirements.

         (a)   Driveways and parking lots. All driveways and parking lots shall be ample for the land use; they will be designed to keep marginal highway traffic interference to a minimum; and they will have a completely sealed surface.

         (b)   Screen planting. All products offered for sale will be inside a completely enclosed building or behind a permanent ornamental wall, fencing or planting such that it cannot be seen by a person standing on ground level; provided, however, that no screening shall be required to be in excess of seven feet in height.

   (C)   Accessory uses. Accessory uses in the H-C District are other uses that are incidental to the permitted uses and not detrimental to the adjacent property or the character of the zone.

   (D)   Special exception uses. A major truck stop which has a lot size of not less than five acres and completely sealed driveways and parking lots, and in the collective opinion of the Planning Commission is suitably located and sited with regard to adjacent uses, highway traffic interference, and is beneficial to the city, may be, with written permission from the Planning Commission, located in an H-C District.

   (E)   Area regulations.

      (1)   Area. Area regulations for dwellings shall be the same as for the R-1 residential requirements.

      (2)   Yards.

         (a)   Front yard minimum setback is 40 feet. The side yard setback if abutting a street is the same as for the front yard.

         (b)   The side yard setback will be at least 15 feet. The rear yard setback with no alley easement will be ten feet. If an alley is dedicated, a zero lot line in the rear is allowed.

      (3)   Off-street parking. Buildings shall be provided with a yard area adequate to meet the off-street parking requirements of § 156.065 through 156.072.

      (4)   Distance between buildings. The minimum distance between buildings on the same lot is 15 feet.

      (5)   Lot frontage. A minimum 100-foot frontage is required on all lots.

      (6)   Lot size. Minimum lot size is 10,000 square feet.

      (7)   Curb cuts. Longer curb cuts, up to 50 feet, are allowed for gasoline stations after approval by the Planning Commission.

   (F)   Height regulations. No building shall exceed two and one-half stories in height or 35 feet except as provided in § 156.047, unless it is set back from all lot lines an additional one foot for each two feet that the building exceeds 35 feet.

   (G)   Signs. Permitted signs are flat single face wall signs, ground signs and roof signs; signs and sign panels shall not exceed 400 square feet in area. Flashing signs are prohibited.

   (H)   Nonconforming uses.

      (1)   Nonconforming uses include any use not before mentioned under general, accessory or special exception uses. The Planning Commission shall have the authority to permit nonconforming uses in highway commercial districts under special written agreements between the city and the owner or occupier of the use. The agreements will detail existing and future use, site design, parking, building and setback requirements and highway ingress and egress.

      (2)   Nonconforming uses will only be permitted if it is determined that the use is beneficial to the community.

   (I)   Conditional uses. The following uses may be permitted only if authorized by obtaining a conditional use permit as provided in § 156.009 and after the Planning Commission has approved the site plan: shipping container (subject to review and approval by the Planning Commission on an annual basis).

(Prior Code, § 12-3B-4) (Ord. 1056, passed 11-13-2007; Ord. 1075, passed 3-11-2008)