In addition to the general purposes set forth in article two, the B-1 General Business district is intended to provide for a variety of compatible business uses which will tend to draw trade which is mutually supporting and so promote public convenience and business prosperity; and to permit commercial development in locations where safe and convenient access to arterial or major collector streets can be provided to handle the increased volume and variety of traffic generated by such development. At such times when property zoned B-1 General Business district is located within the core retail area of the village as set forth on zoning district map, the provisions of section 4.14 et seq. shall apply as if fully set forth herein.

(Ord. No. 2010-064, § I(Exh. B), 12-7-10)

13.2.1. All permitted uses in the B-1 General Business District shall be for the retail sale only of tangible personal property, or provision of services to the consumer, and except for accessory off-street parking and loading, shall be conducted within a wholly enclosed building.

13.2.2. The following uses are permitted in a B-1 General Business district subject to the regulations contained in section 4.14 et seq.:

13.2.2.1. Antique shops;

13.2.2.2. Art and school supply stores;

13.2.2.3. Art galleries;

13.2.2.4. Bakeries, provided that all goods produced on the premises are sold at retail on the premises;

13.2.2.5. Banks and savings and loan associations, but not including drive-in facilities;

13.2.2.6. Barber and beauty shops;

13.2.2.7. Bicycle shops;

13.2.2.8. Book and stationery stores;

13.2.2.9. Camera and photographic supply stores;

13.2.2.10. Candy, confectionery and ice cream stores;

13.2.2.11. Carpet, flooring and rug stores;

13.2.2.12. China and glassware stores;

13.2.2.13. Clothes pressing establishments;

13.2.2.14. Coin and philatelic stores;

13.2.2.15. Drugstores and pharmacies;

13.2.2.16. Dry cleaners and laundries, but not a central plant serving more than one retail outlet;

13.2.2.17. Electrical and household appliance stores;

13.2.2.18. Florist shop;

13.2.2.19. Foodstores, delicatessens, grocery stores, supermarkets;

13.2.2.20. Furniture stores;

13.2.2.21. Furrier shops;

13.2.2.22. Gift shops;

13.2.2.23. Hardware stores;

13.2.2.24. Hobby and craft stores;

13.2.2.25. Interior decorating shops;

13.2.2.26. Jewelry stores, including watch, clock and jewelry repair;

13.2.2.27. Leather goods and luggage stores;

13.2.2.28. Locksmith shop;

13.2.2.29. Meat markets;

13.2.2.30. Medical and/or dental offices;

13.2.2.31. Music stores;

13.2.2.32. Office supply stores;

13.2.2.33. Optical shops;

13.2.2.34. Paint and wallpaper stores;

13.2.2.35. Photographic studios;

13.2.2.36. Health club;

13.2.2.37. Professional and general offices;

13.2.2.38. Radio, T.V., hi-fi and record stores;

13.2.2.39. Restaurants, including fast food and carry-out, but excluding dancing, the serving of alcoholic beverages, drive-thru and drive-in restaurants;

13.2.2.40. Schools; music, dancing, business, martial arts studios;

13.2.2.41. Shoe, clothing and hat repair shops;

13.2.2.42. Shoe stores;

13.2.2.43. Sporting goods stores;

13.2.2.44. Retail tailor and dressmaking shops;

13.2.2.45. Toy stores;

13.2.2.46. Travel bureaus;

13.2.2.47. Variety stores;

13.2.2.48. Wearing apparel shops;

13.2.2.49. Accessory uses, subject to the provisions of Article Four;

13.2.2.50. Off-street parking facilities as required or permitted by Article Nineteen;

13.2.2.51. Coffee shops;

13.2.2.52. Health or day spa.

(Ord. No. 2010-064, § I(Exh. B), 12-7-10; Ord. No. 2012-036, § 1(Exh. A), 6-19-12)

Upon recommendation by the planning and zoning commission, after public hearing on a petition pertaining thereto, in accordance with the requirements set forth for hearing in section 21.6, the corporate authorities of the village may, by special use permit, allow the following uses in the B-1 General Business district subject to the regulations contained in section 4.14 et seq.

13.3.0. Amusement, recreation and training for adults.

[Subject to the following:]

1.

All activities must be conducted indoors.

2.

No such activities in this use will be listed under any other special use in the Vernon Hills Zoning Ordinance.

3.

All activities in this special use will be in the B-1, General Business District.

4.

Alcohol may be provided, subject to receipt of the necessary permits and licenses.

13.3.1. Arcade for electronic games;

13.3.2. Animal clinic;

13.3.3. Animal hospital;

13.3.4. Any public building erected or leased by any department of a municipality, county, state or federal government;

13.3.5. Any building erected or leased by any public utility (light, gas, telephone, water, sewer) for use as a branch office and distribution center;

13.3.6. Automobile service station and/or mini-mart and/or automobile laundry;

13.3.7. Cocktail lounge or package liquor store;

13.3.8. Convalescent care facility;

13.3.9. Day care centers and nursery schools;

13.3.10. Drive-in banks, savings and loan associations, and currency exchanges;

13.3.11. Equipment rental;

13.3.12. Funeral parlors;

13.3.13. General retail sales;

13.3.14. Gunsmiths and gun shops;

13.3.15. Hotels or motor hotels;

13.3.16. Reserved;

13.3.17. Reserved;

13.3.18. Pet shops;

13.3.19. Restaurants serving alcoholic beverages;

13.3.20. Restaurants: drive-in, drive-thru;

13.3.21. Day camps and overnight camps operated in conjunction with a day camp;

13.3.22. Commercial picnic grounds, including the serving, but not sale, of alcoholic beverages, and related activities;

13.3.23. Bowling facilities;

13.3.24. Landscape, construction and architectural offices and yard provided [proper] screening for storage areas is provided and that no retail sales of material or related products shall take place on said premises;

13.3.25. Children's recreation and fitness facilities;

13.3.26. Entertainment uses, with or without alcohol service and including movie theaters, concert or music halls;

13.3.27. Reserved;

13.3.28. Warehouse retail facility;

13.3.29. Billiard facilities;

13.3.30. Houses of worship, convents, rectories, parsonages, parish houses and monasteries, including nursery schools sponsored by and operated within the sponsor's buildings;

13.3.31. Hourly drop-off childcare facilities operated within an enclosed retail shopping center, where parents or custodians of the supervised children remain on the premise and are readily available;

13.3.32. Automobile rental/leasing establishment;

13.3.33. Temporary use of a trailer or modular units to accommodate a financial institution with or without drive-through facilities, subject to the standards set forth in Article Eighteen;

13.3.34. Medical cannabis cultivation centers; subject to the regulations contained in Section 4.15 et seq.

13.3.35. Automobile repair service establishment.

13.3.36. Electric vehicle charging station (EVCS) primary use.

13.3.37. Tasting room, subject to the following:

1.

Features such as on-site processing/production, entertainment, or liquor auctions shall be identified as part of the special use permit.

2.

The establishment must obtain applicable liquor licenses from the village and state to permit all activities conducted on the premises.

3.

A tasting room offering servings above the state threshold for samples (one fourths ounce spirits, one ounce wine, two ounce beer), may be accessory to a package liquor store, but must be identified as part of the package liquor store's liquor license.

(Ord. No. 91-32, § I, 6-4-91; Ord. No. 92-10, § I, 3-3-92; Ord. No. 92-26, § I, 5-5-92; Ord. No. 93-72, § I, 10-5-93; Ord. No. 99-02, § I, 1-5-99; Ord. No. 2003-45, § I, 7-15-03; Ord. No. 2003-73, § I, 11-4-03; Ord. No. 2004-112, §§ IX, X, 12-7-04; Ord. No. 2010-064, § I(Exh. B), 12-7-10; Ord. No. 2012-036, § 1(Exh. A), 6-19-12; Ord. No. 2014-042, § II(Exh. B), 11-18-14; Ord. No. 2025-014, § IV, 2-4-25; Ord. No. 2025-040, § III, 4-15-25)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 650, § 2, adopted June 28, 1988, amended the Code by adding provisions designated as App. C, § 13.3.21. Inasmuch as there already exist provisions so designated, the provisions of Ord. No. 650, § 2, have been redesignated as § 13.2.23 by the editor. Subsequently, Ord. No. 675, § 1, adopted Oct. 25, 1988, amended App. C by adding provisions to § 13.3 but did not specify the manner of inclusion. Hence, said provisions have been included herein as § 13.3.24 at the discretion of the editor. Likewise, Ord. No. 91-32, § I, adopted June 4, 1991, added provisions to 13.3 but did not specify a subsection number. Thus, such provisions have been included herein as 13.3.25 at the discretion of the editor.

Every lot or tract of land upon which a building is erected or maintained shall have:

13.4.1. An area of not less than 40,000 square feet;

13.4.2. A width of not less than 200 feet; and

13.4.3. A ratio of building coverage of not more than 25 percent of the total site area for the principal building or buildings.

13.5.1. No building hereinafter erected shall exceed two stories, nor shall it exceed 35 feet in height, except as provided in Article Four.

13.5.2. Chimneys and other rooftop structures;

13.5.2.1 No chimney, cooling tower, mechanical appurtenances, or other rooftop structure shall extend above the maximum permitted building height of the district;

13.5.2.2 All cooling towers, mechanical equipment or appurtenances, vents, intakes or stacks, or other rooftop structures shall be screened from view on all sides of the building by a parapet wall, solid sight screen or other means which shall completely conceal the rooftop structures for [from] view. A chimney constructed of the same masonry as the exterior of the building is excepted, but a chimney of any other material must be screened. The zoning administrator shall determine the need for sight screens and the screens shall comply with all building code requirements for fire rating, wind loads and structural integrity.

Except as provided in Article Four, no building shall be erected or enlarged and no use shall be maintained, unless the following yards are provided:

13.6.1. A front yard on a public right-of-way shall be provided according to the following street designation, as contained in the Village of Vernon Hills Official Map:

Highway .....60 feet

Major street .....60 feet

Collector street .....40 feet

Local street .....30 feet

13.6.2. A side yard of not less than 35 feet;

13.6.3. A rear yard of not less than 40 feet;

13.6.4. Where any front yard abuts a public right-of-way, a landscaped buffer strip of not less than 25 feet in depth along the lot line abutting that public right-of-way shall be provided and maintained as part of the required yard, except that a 30-foot landscaped buffer strip shall be provided along a local street. Where the building is set back more than the required 30 feet, but less than 40 feet from a local street, the landscaped buffer shall continue to the building. Where the building is set back more than 40 feet, there shall be a landscaped buffer of 40 feet along the local street;

13.6.5. Where any side or rear yard abuts a residential district, a 25-foot-wide buffer strip, improved with earth berms and full landscaping, shall be provided and maintained along the lot lines abutting such residential districts. The height of the berms shall be from four to eight feet in height, depending on the finished grades of the abutting residential property in relationship to the proposed building height and finished grades of the new development. The berm height and the entire buffer strip landscaping plan is subject to approval by the president and board of trustees.

13.7.1. Signs shall be in accordance with the provisions of the Vernon Hills Sign Control Ordinance, as amended[, Chapter 19 of the Village Code].

13.7.2. All ingress and egress systems for permitted or special uses within the B-1 General Business District shall intersect a major arterial thoroughfare or a major collector street, each as designed and designated in the comprehensive plan for the village or pertinent village ordinance; and, as part of such ingress and egress systems, there shall be provided a clearly marked fire/emergency lane, not less than 15 feet in width, as close to any structure as might be possible, and then plainly marked so as to prohibit parking thereon or obstruction thereof in any way.

13.7.3. Refuse or trash collection areas shall be provided at the rear of each structure or positioned in or near the common parking lot or a driveway, as recommended by the planning and zoning commission; and shall be completely screened from view on all sides, with solid fencing of either wood or masonry construction, to a height of seven feet; and shall include concrete pad and an operable door of adequate width. Each such refuse area shall be provided with closed and covered trash containers of a type and size as required by village ordinances pertaining thereto. It shall be the responsibility, either separate or joint, of the owner and/or manager of the structure to ensure that the refuse areas are kept in a neat and well-ordered manner at all times. The owner and/or manager of the structure shall ensure that any spillover at the time of refuse removal is promptly and properly cleaned up, and that refuse is removed on a regular basis according to village ordinances pertaining thereto.

13.7.4. Off-street parking and loading facilities shall be provided as required in Article Nineteen.

13.7.5. Trucks and semitrailers shall not be parked or stored out-of-doors overnight, in the parking lot or on the premises, except within an enclosed loading dock, garage, or within a walled and gated sight screen enclosure, open to the sky, constructed of the same masonry exterior materials as the principal building and equal in height to the height of the first floor of the principal building. However, temporary parking overnight, not to exceed a 48-hour time period, may be permitted for delivery vehicles which arrive after normal business hours.

13.7.6. There shall be no outdoor storage of any materials of any kind, except as provided in section 13.7.5, nor shall there be any sale of any goods or services out-of-doors, except by special permission of the president and board of trustees.