Shelton City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 20
09 LI-C LOW-INTENSITY COMMERCIAL
§ 20.09.010 Intent.
The low-intensity commercial district (LI-C) is designed to provide for a variety of low-intensity commercial uses along Olympic Highway between C and K Streets and Adams and Jefferson Streets while protecting the abutting neighborhood. The regulations are intended to permit flexibility in the arrangement of structures on the site in order to encourage good architectural design, ensure adequate light and air, mitigate off-site development, and allow compatible development of uses.
(Ord. 1520-1099 Attch. B (part), 1999)
§ 20.09.020 Permitted uses.
Permitted uses for the low-intensity commercial district are listed in the land use matrix, Chapter 20.06.030, and as follows:
A.
Single-family dwellings.
B.
Duplexes or triplexes, or other multifamily dwellings having no more than sixteen dwelling units per building, shall be allowed (as defined in Section 20.44.260), provided design criteria of Section 20.64.025 are satisfied.
C.
Accessory dwelling units, subject to the design requirements of Section 20.64.040;
D.
Group homes.
E.
Accessory uses and buildings including but not limited to the following:
1.
Accessory buildings or structures which are clearly incidental to the residential use of the lot, such as buildings or structures for storage of personal property (including boats, recreational vehicles, etc.) or for the pursuit of avocational interests; or structures designed for and related to recreational needs of the residents of a residential complex. Accessory buildings shall be complementary to the basic architectural character of the main building on the lot, and appropriate to the accessory use;
2.
Home occupations which comply with all the conditions as set forth in Section 20.44;
3.
The keeping of common household animals or pets (Section 7.04.080).
F.
On lots which abut property zoned GC and not extending more than one hundred feet or one lot depth from that zone (whichever is less):
1.
Parking lots associated with uses on abutting GC uses, provided such areas are screened from neighboring properties according to Chapter 20.60.150; and subject to notes 15(a) and (c) in the matrix at Table 20.06.030;
2.
Outdoor sales and display areas for abutting GC uses, provided such areas are screened from neighboring properties according to Chapter 20.60.150; and subject to notes 15(a), (b), and (c) in the matrix at Table 20.06.030.
G.
Planned unit developments as provided in Chapter 20.32.
H.
Parks, publicly owned and operated.
(Ord. 1520-1099 Attch. B (part), 1999)
§ 20.09.030 Conditional uses.
Conditional uses as listed in the land use matrix, Section 20.06.030, require a conditional use permit as provided in Chapter 20.44, and subject to applicable conditions as found in that chapter.
(Ord. 1520-1099 Attch. B (part), 1999)
§ 20.09.040 Prohibited uses.
Uses other than those identified or described in Section 20.09.020 or 20.09.030 are prohibited.
(Ord. 1520-1099 Attch. B (part), 1999)
§ 20.09.050 Lot, yard, and open-space requirements.
A.
Yard setbacks, size, and shape of lots shall be as provided in Table 20.09.050, except in the following cases:
1.
Minimum lot area: three thousand square feet on lots platted before the adoption of this code, subject to the design requirements set forth in Chapter 20.64;
2.
Minimum front yard: when forty percent or more, on a front foot basis, of all property on one side of a street between two intersecting streets has been built up, the front yard required for new development shall be an average of the existing front yard setbacks, but shall not be less than that specified in Table 20.09.050.
Table 20.09.050 | ||
|---|---|---|
Minimum Standards | With Alleys | Without Alleys |
Lot area | 4,500 sq. ft. | 6,000 sq. ft. |
Front yard | 10 feet | 10 feet |
Side yard* | 5 feet | 5 feet |
Flanking street | 7 feet | 7 feet |
Rear yard | 15 feet (2 for garage) | 15 feet |
Building coverage** | 35—55% | 35—55% |
Building height | None | None |
Development coverage** | 60—80% | 60—80% |
* | Side yards are measured from perimeter, not interior, lot lines in cases of multilot projects. |
** | Increased coverage permitted if through block access provided. |
(Ord. 1520-1099 Attch. B (part), 1999; Ord. 2021-0824 § 3, 2024)
§ 20.09.060 Off-street parking.
Off-street parking shall be provided in accordance with Chapter 20.40 of this title.
(Ord. 1520-1099 Attch. B (part), 1999)
§ 20.09.070 Stormwater runoff.
All stormwater runoff shall meet city of Shelton requirements.
(Ord. 1520-1099 Attch. B (part), 1999)
§ 20.09.080 Development standards for commercial uses in LI-C district.
Low-intensity commercial uses shall be allowed in all low-intensity commercial (LI-C) zones subject to the following conditions:
A.
Allowed uses within low-intensity commercial areas: see chart at Section 20.06.030, LI-C zone.
1.
Uses similar to uses listed may be approved by the site plan review committee upon finding the use is consistent with the intent of this chapter and in the best interests of the surrounding neighborhood. Uses shall only be considered similar if they have similar noise, traffic, and artificial light impacts.
2.
Uses other than those identified or described in subsection (A)(1) of this section are prohibited.
B.
Community Environmental Performance Standards.
1.
General Character. Developments in this district shall generally be characterized by small buildings, low traffic generation, considerable walk-in trade, moderate interior and exterior lighting, quiet operations, and little or no night activity. Operating hours shall be limited to the hours between six a.m. and ten p.m.
2.
Outdoor storage shall be permitted only as a conditional use. All outdoor storage shall be screened from residential uses across Adams or Jefferson Streets, lights shall be situated so as to not shine or reflect across Adams or Jefferson Streets, and hours of operation shall be limited from eight a.m. to six p.m.
C.
Site Area. The size and shape of the sites shall be as follows:
1.
Minimum lot size from the development of a site in this classification shall be six thousand square feet except that three-thousand-square-foot lots existing at the time of adoption of this chapter shall be legal building lots;
2.
Where open space is provided, commercial uses shall be arranged around that open space. Where open space is not provided, arrangement of commercial uses around an intersection is required where possible or shall face each other across a street (strip development along one side of a street is strong discouraged). Other configurations may be deemed appropriate by the site plan review committee upon finding that the overall design fits the intent of this section.
D.
Building Dimensions. The height, setbacks, and other dimensional standards of the buildings shall be as provided in Table 20.06.030(A).
1.
Maximum gross floor area of building for single use: twelve thousand square feet; with a maximum of three thousand square feet being on the ground floor unless a larger amount is permitted as a conditional use per this chapter and Section 20.44.330. In no case shall a second floor exceed the area of the ground floor;
E.
Public Right-of-Way—Ingress and Egress.
1.
Uses involving outdoor storage or display or significant traffic shall not be accessed from Adams or Jefferson Streets.
2.
Access to a site which is on a corner shall be limited to one driveway on each of the intersecting streets. Access to a site which is an interior lot shall be limited to one driveway unless the site plan review committee approves two driveways, one for entering and one for exiting the site. Restrictions to access to/from Adams and Jefferson Streets imposed by this chapter shall supercede any access permitted in this subsection.
F.
Landscaping. Requirements of Chapter 20.60 shall be satisfied.
G.
Design Review. All requirements of Section 20.64.130 for LI-C areas shall be satisfied. Design review is required to assure that size of the buildings does not project noise or activity which would disrupt the residential uses across Adams and Jefferson Streets, that landscaping reflects the protection of residential character of properties across Adams and Jefferson Streets, and that structures reflect the residential style (wood frame, pitched roofs with overhangs), rather than institutional style (flat roof, modular look) of development.
H.
Signage. All signs shall comply with the applicable regulations of Chapter 20.38 of this title.
(Ord. 1520-1099 Attch. B (part), 1999; Ord. 2021-0824 § 4, 2024; Ord. 2025-0924 §§ 2, 3, 2025)
