Walkersville City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VII
Industrial Districts
[Amended 8-9-2000 by Ord. No. 2000-4; 11-12-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-09; 8-10-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-03; 1-28-2026 by Ord. No. 2025-05]
§ 88-50 Intent and purpose.
The Limited Industrial District (LI) is intended to provide adequate area for development of industrial uses whose operations have a relatively minor nuisance value and provides a healthful industrial operating environment secure from the encroachment of residential uses and protected from adverse effects of incompatible industries. These uses are of such size and character as are deemed inappropriate for other commercial districts.
§ 88-50.1 Permitted uses: LI District.
A.
Agriculture.
(1)
Agriculture.
(2)
Commercial greenhouses and nurseries.
(3)
Forestry.
(4)
Agritourism enterprise.
(5)
Farm brewery, distillery, or winery.
(6)
Farm alcoholic beverages tasting room.
B.
Commercial and automotive.
(1)
Office.
(2)
Auction house.
(3)
Furniture repair.
(4)
Lumber yard (not sawmill).
(5)
Stone monument sales.
(6)
Carpentry, electrical, plumbing, welding, printing, upholstering shops.
(7)
Car wash.
(8)
Auto and truck repair and service shops.
(9)
Golf driving range.
(10)
Miniature golf.
(11)
Indoor theater.
(12)
Bowling alley.
C.
Wholesaling and processing.
(1)
Stone monument processing.
(2)
Carpet and rug cleaners.
(3)
Industrial laundry and dry cleaning.
(4)
Wholesaling and/or warehouse.
(5)
Research laboratory.
(6)
Mini-warehouse storage operation.
(7)
Limited manufacturing and assembly use.
D.
Institutional and utility.
(1)
Civic parks and recreation area.
(2)
Fire and rescue service (not a practice burn facility).
(3)
Public building and property.
(4)
Public utility.
(5)
Public transit station.
(6)
Essential services.
(7)
Commercial solar facility.
(8)
Wireless telecommunications facility when sited and constructed in accordance with Chapter 86 of the Town Code.
§ 88-50.2 Special exception uses: LI District.
A.
Archery ranges (outdoor or indoor) and hunting, fishing, and gun clubs. Rifle and pistol ranges in an approved indoor facility only.
B.
Helipads; but not aircraft landing and storage areas.
C.
Stadium or outdoor stage.
§ 88-50.3 Accessory uses: LI District.
A.
General signs: see Article II and § 88-14.
B.
Dwelling on the same property in conjunction with a permitted use, i.e., owner, caretaker.
C.
Accessory solar facility.
§ 88-51 Intent and purpose: Limited Industrial Park District (LIP).
The Limited Industrial Park District (LIP) is intended to provide for those industrial uses which require outdoor storage of equipment or supplies. Special screening is required.
§ 88-51.1 Permitted uses: LIP District.
A.
Uses permitted in the LI District.
B.
Additional uses permitted. Yard storage; mobile home sales; boat sales and service; farm equipment sales and service; bus repair, maintenance, and storage facility; contractor equipment and material storage yard; car wash; auto and truck repair and service shop; auto and truck sales and service centers; mini-warehouse storage operations.
§ 88-51.2 Special exception uses: LIP District.
A.
Uses permitted as special exception use in LI District.
B.
Two-way radio dispatch tower (not to exceed 70 feet in height), provided that the setback of the tower from the lot line equals the height of the tower.
C.
Bulk storage of oil, petroleum, gasoline and similar flammable liquids and compressed gases. (See § 88-16, Storage of flammable and combustible fuels.)
§ 88-51.3 Accessory uses: LIP District.
A.
General signs: see Article II and § 88-14.
B.
Outside vending machines.
(1)
Machines must occupy not more than 21 square feet of total surface of the property of record on which located.
(2)
Vending machines may not be stacked one upon the other.
(3)
Location of machines must be indicated on site plan.
(4)
Machines must be located on a paved surface abutting the main structure on the property.
(5)
All machines on the site must be located side by side to each other and not at multiple locations on the site.
(6)
Vending machines may not be located in such a location as to interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic onto, off of, or within the property on which they are located or adjoining public property or rights-of-way.
§ 88-52 Intent and purpose: General Industrial District (GI).
The General Industrial (GI) District is intended to provide areas for industries involving manufacturing. It provides an operating environment secure from the encroachment of incompatible residential, institutional and commercial land uses. Special screening is required.
§ 88-52.1 Permitted uses: GI District.
A.
Uses permitted in LI District.
B.
Agriculture
(1)
Agricultural products processing.
(2)
Feed or grain mill.
(3)
Cannabis growing facility.
(4)
Cannabis processing facility.
C.
Commercial and automotive.
(1)
Mobile home sales.
(2)
Boat sales and service.
(3)
Farm equipment sales and service.
(4)
Auto auction sales.
(5)
Bus repair, maintenance and storage facility.
D.
Wholesaling and processing.
(1)
Yard storage.
(2)
Contractor equipment and material storage yard.
E.
Bottling plant.
F.
General manufacturing.
§ 88-52.2 Special exception uses: GI District.
A.
Uses permitted as special exception use in LI District.
B.
Motor freight transfer terminals, for the handling and transshipment of freight and cargo.
C.
Two-way radio dispatch tower (not to exceed 70 feet in height, see § 88-58).
D.
Bulk storage of oil, petroleum, gasoline and similar flammable liquids and compressed gases. (See § 88-16, Storage of flammable and combustible fuels.)
§ 88-52.3 Accessory uses: GI District.
A.
Accessory uses permitted in the LI District.
§ 88-53 Lot/yard dimensions and building height requirements: Industrial Districts.
Minimum Lot Width (feet) | Front Yard1 Buffer (feet) | Side Yard1 Buffer (feet) | Rear Yard Buffer (feet) | Height (feet) | Minimum Lot Area (square feet) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LI | 125 | 50 | 25 | 602 | 45 | 30,000 |
GI | 200 | 1002 | 253 | 602 | 45 | 80,000 |
503 |
1 | No parking is authorized in the front yard buffer of the LI District or side yard buffer of the LI or GI Districts; however, parking is allowed beyond the buffer line. |
2 | Two-thirds of the rear yard buffer requirement (nearest to the building) and 2/3 of the front yard buffer may be used for parking. The remaining 1/3 must be grass or landscape. The Planning Commission shall require screening in the remaining 1/3 of the front yard to screen parking areas from the street or adjoining properties in accordance with the standards set forth below. Such screening may be designed to allow some visibility of the site from the street. Screening shall consist of a landscaped berm, or evergreen shrubs supplemented with deciduous trees, planted within a five-foot or wider planting strip, or a combination thereof. The minimum screening standards for plantings shall meet those found in § 88-54C. Openings may be permitted where needed for access and visibility of structures, signs or entrance features. Any existing screening which complies with standards set forth above may be used to satisfy the requirements of this chapter. Screening planted in accordance with the Frederick County Forest Resource Ordinance may be used to satisfy the requirements of this section. |
3 | The twenty-five-foot side yard is required if the adjoining property is zoned LI. The fifty-foot side yard is required if the adjoining property is zoned other than LI. |
A.
Open space. The minimum landscaped open space on any individual lot shall not be less than 20% of the land area of the lot. The landscaped open space shall not be impervious or open for vehicular use and the landscaping shall be maintained in a reasonable manner.
§ 88-54 Site plan - specific performance standards: Industrial districts.
All new uses, changes of uses, site modifications, and site improvements shall require site plan approval by the Planning Commission. The following specific standards will be met in site plans in all districts, in addition to other requirements:
A.
Site plan approval required. Site plan approval is required for all new uses, changes of use, or expansion of uses in the industrial districts.
B.
Lighting. Lighting emitting objectionable glare observable from surrounding properties or streets will be shielded. Any operation or activity producing glare shall be conducted so that direct or indirect light from the source shall not cause illumination in excess of 0.5 footcandle when measured in a residential or open space district.
C.
Public utilities. All uses in the LI and GI Districts, except uses listed in § 88-50.1A, shall be served by public water and sewage facilities. All new uses or changes of use shall be subject to the provisions of Chapter 2, Adequate Public Facilities.
D.
Screening. The Planning Commission may require screening along the property line and around and within the parking areas. Minimum standards are: Planting strips will be no less than 10 feet wide, planted with shrubs or trees, which are of a type and spaced at intervals which may be expected to form a year-round dense screen at least six feet high within three years, and opaque fencing may be used in conjunction with trees and shrubs, subject to the approval of the Planning Commission.
E.
Storage of flammable materials. See § 88-16, Storage of flammable and combustible fuels.
F.
Storage. In the LI and GI Districts, storage of equipment, materials or products will be conducted within completely enclosed buildings. Storage may be permitted outdoors only when completely screened by a wall, opaque fence or evergreen plantings so that materials or equipment are not visible from a public way or adjoining property at all times of year. The Planning Commission shall determine the most appropriate screening for the use.
G.
Noise. The application for a zoning certificate will be accompanied by a certification by a licensed engineer or architect that noise will not be detectable at the lot line. The following sources of noise are exempt:
(1)
Transportation vehicles not under the control of the industrial use.
(2)
Occasionally used safety signals, warning devices, and emergency pressure-relief valves.
(3)
Temporary construction activity between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
H.
Vibration. No vibration will be produced which is transmitted through the ground and is discernible at or any point beyond the lot line. The application for a zoning certificate will be accompanied by a certification by a registered engineer or architect that vibration will not be detectable at the lot line.
I.
Dust and particulates. Emissions of dust and particulates shall be in accordance with the Federal or State of Maryland rules and regulations governing air contamination and air pollution, whichever is stricter. Particulate matter emissions from materials or products subject to becoming windborne will be kept to a minimum by paving, sodding, wetting, covering, or other means such as to render the surface wind resistant. Such sources include vacant lots, unpaved roads, yards and storage piles or bulk material such as coal, sand, cinders, slag, sludge, sulfurs, etc.
J.
Odor. Odorous material released from any operation or activity shall not be detectable at the lot line. The application for a zoning certificate will be accompanied by a certification by a registered engineer or architect indicating that fumes and odors produced by the industry will not be detectable at the lot line.
K.
Odor. Odorous material released from any operation or activity shall not be detectable at the lot line. The application for a zoning certificate will be accompanied by a certification by a registered engineer or architect indicating that fumes and odors produced by the industry will not be detectable at the lot line.
L.
All industrial practices shall be in compliance with all county, state and federal requirements.
M.
The site shall be maintained free of litter and any other unsanitary materials and shall be cleaned of debris on a daily basis.
N.
The facility shall be maintained free from rodents at all times.
O.
Agritourism. Agritourism uses shall have gravel drives and parking areas, and the tracking of debris into public rights-of-way shall be prohibited.
§ 88-55 Off-street parking and loading: industrial districts.
There shall be provided in the LI and GI Districts adequate off-street parking and loading in accordance with the schedule in Article II.
