The commercial districts established in this ordinance are designed to promote and protect public health, safety, welfare, convenience and prosperity. These general goals include, among others, the following specific purposes:

A.

To provide sufficient space, in appropriate locations, to meet the needs of the city for development of various types of commercial and service activities;

B.

To provide appropriate bulk regulations, buffers and parking areas to assure compatibility with adjacent zones and minimize traffic congestion;

C.

To encourage the continued orderly expansion of commercial facilities without creating increased vehicular congestion;

D.

To prevent commercial encroachment on existing residential Districts;

E.

To promote the most desirable use of commercial land and development in accord with a comprehensive plan, to promote stability of commercial development, to strengthen the economic base of the city, to protect the character of the district and its suitability for particular uses and to conserve the value of land and buildings.

7.2.1.

Intent. The provisions of this district are intended to apply to areas that can serve the general needs of the community within a large variety of retail commercial, financial, professional, office, service and other general commercial activities. This district establishes and preserves general commercial areas consisting of shopping centers and commercial strips where customers reach individual business establishments primarily by automobile. This district is characterized by an integrated or planned cluster of establishments often served by a common parking area. Limited residential uses are permitted.

7.2.2.

Authorized Uses. In a C Commercial District, no building or land shall be used and no building shall be erected or relocated, except for one or more of the uses allowed by right, by right with conditions or by special use permit as listed on Table 4-2, Section 4.6.4.

7.2.3.

Accessory Buildings, Structures and Uses, Parking and Signs.

A.

Accessory uses listed in Table 4-3, Section 4.6.5 are permitted with any additional requirements as listed on the table, or in Article III.

B.

Signs; see Chapter 25—Code of Ordinances of the City of St. Joseph, Michigan.

C.

Vehicle parking; see Article XVIII.

7.2.4.

Required Conditions.

A.

All business establishments shall be retail or service establishments dealing directly with consumers. All goods produced on the premises shall be sold at retail on premises where produced.

B.

All business, servicing or processing, except for off-street parking and loading, shall be conducted within completely enclosed buildings, except for restaurants with approved outside seating.

7.2.5.

Special Uses and Conditional Uses. The special uses specified in Table 4-2, Section 4.6.4, shall be allowed provided they meet the specified standards imposed for a particular use and subject further to the standards and procedures of Article XI, Special Use and Conditional Use Regulations.

7.2.6.

Planned Unit Developments. Any uses permitted in commercial districts may be allowed by planned unit development, provided they meet the standards and procedures of Article XIII, Planned Unit Development Regulations.

7.2.7.

Dimensional Requirements. All lots of record shall conform to the minimum dimensions for lot area, lot width, front, rear and side yards, maximum lot coverage, minimum floor area and maximum height of buildings specified in the schedule of district regulations in Article V of this ordinance, except as otherwise stated in the above text of this district or as modified by Article III, General Provisions, Article XI, Special Use and Conditional Use Regulations or Article XIII, Planned Unit Development Regulations, or as varied by the zoning board of appeals pursuant to Article XV of this ordinance.

7.3.1.

Intent. The purpose and intent of the Commercial Office District is to promote orderly development of land for commercial, office, administrative and institutional uses which by their characteristics have a low turnover of vehicular movement and as such enhance the proper movement of traffic along major arterial roads. Institutional uses allowed in this district should be centrally located in relation to the population they will serve. Related commercial service activities and certain basic personal services are also permitted. Limited residential uses are permitted.

7.3.2.

Authorized Uses. In a CO Commercial Office District, no building or land shall be used and no building shall be erected or relocated, except for one or more of the uses allowed by right, by right with conditions or by special use permit as listed on Table 4-2, Section 4.6.4.

7.3.3.

Accessory Buildings, Structures and Uses, Parking and Signs.

A.

Accessory uses listed in Table 4-3, Section 4.6.5 are permitted with any additional requirements as listed on the table, or in Article III.

B.

Signs; see Chapter 25—Code of Ordinances of the City of St. Joseph, Michigan.

C.

Vehicle parking; see Article XVIII.

7.3.4.

Required Conditions.

A.

All business establishments shall be retail or service establishments dealing directly with consumers. All goods produced on the premises shall be sold at retail on premises where produced.

B.

All business, servicing or processing, except for off-street parking and loading, shall be conducted within completely enclosed buildings.

7.3.5.

Special Uses and Conditional Uses. The special uses specified in Table 4-2, Section 4.6.4, shall be allowed provided they meet the specified standards imposed for a particular use and subject further to the standards and procedures of Article XI, Special Use and Conditional Use Regulations.

7.3.6.

Planned Unit Developments. Any uses permitted in Commercial Office Districts may be allowed by planned unit development, provided they meet the standards and procedures of Article XIII, Planned Unit Development Regulations.

7.3.7.

Dimensional Requirements. All lots of record shall conform to the minimum dimensions for lot area, lot width, front, rear and side yards, maximum lot coverage, minimum floor area and maximum height of buildings specified in the schedule of district regulations in Article V of this ordinance, except as otherwise stated in the above text of this district or as modified by Article III, General Provisions, Article XI, Special Use and Conditional Use Regulations or Article XIII, Planned Unit Development Regulations, or as varied by the zoning board of appeals pursuant to Article XV of this ordinance.

7.4.1.

Intent. To establish and preserve the downtown area as a commercial and retail center. The district will be convenient and attractive for the needs of nearby office workers and residents and for shoppers and tourists arriving by automobile and parking once to carry out several errands. Intensive development of shopping and service facilities and safe and convenient pedestrian travel are essential to the economic viability of the district and to public safety and welfare.

Future development will reinforce the Downtown District's role as the symbolic center of the community and the region with special attention to the unique setting of the district with surrounding park land, unique vistas, and complementary development in the adjoining commercial office and water recreational districts.

It is further the intent to strengthen the district's economic viability by permitting, with certain conditions, residential development of the upper floors of buildings, within the district.

7.4.2.

Authorized Uses. In the D Downtown District, no building or land shall be used and no building shall be erected or relocated, except for one or more of the uses allowed by right, by right with conditions or by special use permit as listed on Table 4-2, Section 4.6.4.

7.4.3.

Accessory Buildings, Structures and Uses, Parking and Signs.

A.

Accessory uses listed in Table 4-3, Section 4.6.5 are permitted with any additional requirements as listed on the table, or in Article III.

B.

Signs; see Chapter 25—Code of Ordinances of the City of St. Joseph, Michigan.

C.

Vehicle parking; see Article XVIII.

7.4.4.

Required Conditions.

A.

All business establishments shall be retail or service establishments dealing directly with consumers. All goods produced on the premises shall be sold at retail on premises where produced.

B.

All business, servicing or processing, except for off-street parking and loading, shall be conducted within completely enclosed buildings, except for restaurants with approved outside seating.

7.4.5.

Special Uses and Conditional Uses. The special uses specified in Table 4-2, Section 4.6.4, shall be allowed provided they meet the specified standards imposed for a particular use and subject further to the standards and procedures of Article XI, Special Use and Conditional Use Regulations.

7.4.6.

Planned Unit Developments. Any uses permitted in Downtown Districts may be allowed by planned unit development, provided they meet the standards and procedures of Article XIII, Planned Unit Development Regulations.

7.4.7.

Dimensional Requirements. All lots of record shall conform to the minimum dimensions for lot area, lot width, front, rear and side yards, maximum lot coverage, minimum floor area and maximum height of buildings specified in the schedule of district regulations in Article V of this ordinance, except as otherwise stated in the above text of this district or as modified by Article III, General Provisions, Article XI, Special Use and Conditional Use Regulations or Article XIII, Planned Unit Development Regulations, or as varied by the zoning board of appeals pursuant to Article XV of this ordinance.