The intent of this article is to permit the development of neighborhood and community shopping centers and to provide for attractive and efficient retail shopping facilities in appropriate locations to serve the residents of the county. Regulations provided in this article are intended to encourage planned commercial centers with carefully organized buildings, service areas, parking areas and landscaped areas.

(Code 1997, § 66-731)

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Community shopping center means a grouping of commercial establishments intended to provide retail sales and services to a larger geographic (communitywide) area than the neighborhood center. These centers shall have a greater number and variety of establishments than the neighborhood center and shall range in area from ten to 30 acres.

Neighborhood shopping center means a grouping of commercial establishments intended to provide convenience retail sales in close proximity to residential neighborhoods. These centers shall have a smaller number and variety of establishments than a community center and shall range in area from three to ten acres.

(Code 1997, § 66-732)

Cross reference— Definitions generally, § 1-2.

(a)

Applications for the establishment of shopping center districts shall be submitted to the administrator for review of compliance with the provisions of this chapter.

(b)

An approved copy of the plans, signed by the administrator, shall be forwarded to the planning commission for recommendation to the board of supervisors. Before recommending approval of a shopping center district, the commission may make reasonable additional requirements to ensure the protection of adjoining property owners. The plans for the district shall be amended in accordance with these requirements before being submitted to the board of supervisors.

(c)

An approved copy of the plans, with any amendments, signed by the chairman of the planning commission and the administrator, shall be forwarded to the board of supervisors for adoption.

(d)

Plans for the establishment of a shopping center district shall not be considered approved until a Mylar copy of the plans, signed by the chairman of the board of supervisors, chairman of the planning commission, and administrator, shall have been placed on file in the zoning office.

(Code 1997, § 66-733)

(a)

Neighborhood shopping center districts shall be permitted in B-1 and B-2 districts.

(b)

Community shopping center districts shall be permitted in B-2 districts only.

(c)

Community shopping center districts shall be located in areas served by both public water and sewer systems. However, neighborhood shopping center districts may be permitted in areas not served by public water and/or public sewer systems where adequate alternative water supply and/or sewerage disposal systems are available.

(d)

Shopping center districts shall have direct access to public streets adequate to accommodate traffic generated by the development.

(Code 1997, § 66-734)

(a)

The principal and accessory uses permitted in connection with neighborhood shopping center districts shall be the same as the permitted uses in the B-1 or B-2 district where the district is located.

(b)

The principal and accessory uses permitted in connection with community shopping center districts shall be the same as the permitted uses in the B-2 district.

(Code 1997, § 66-735)

Minimum and maximum areas required for the creation of shopping center districts shall be as follows:

(Code 1997, § 66-736)

Where residential districts adjoin shopping center districts, there shall be a minimum yard of 25 feet on the perimeter of the shopping center district, which shall be maintained in landscaping; and no vehicular access or parking shall be permitted in such a landscaped area.

(Code 1997, § 66-737)

Total lot coverage by all buildings for a neighborhood shopping center shall not exceed 40 percent of the area of the shopping center district, or 60 percent for a community shopping center.

(Code 1997, § 66-738)

(a)

Off-street parking shall be provided at the minimum ratio of five spaces per 1,000 square feet of gross leasable area for all shopping centers. The term "gross leasable area" shall mean total floor area designed for tenant occupancy and use, including basements.

(b)

Off-street loading space shall be provided with area, location and design appropriate to the needs of the shopping center; and no space designated for off-street parking shall be used as off-street loading space.

(Code 1997, § 66-739)

(a)

Vehicular access points shall be designed to encourage smooth traffic flow with controlled turning movements and minimum hazards to vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Pavement widths and strengths of both internal and external roads shall be adequate to accommodate projected traffic generated from the shopping center district.

(b)

Primary access in the shopping center district shall be provided from roads of adequate capacity to accommodate projected traffic. Vehicular access from minor streets through residential neighborhoods shall be generally discouraged and, where permitted, shall be primarily for the convenience of residential areas served directly by such roads and not for general public use.

(c)

Yards, fences, walls or vegetative screening in the shopping center district shall be provided where needed to protect residential districts and public streets from adverse influences such as undesirable views and lighting. Storage yards, parking and loading areas, and refuse storage areas in the shopping center district shall be effectively screened from first story windows on abutting lots in residential districts. Screening may consist of a sightly, opaque wall or fence, a planting strip, existing vegetation or combinations thereof. The location, type and extent of screening shall be approved by the planning commission.

(d)

Buildings in the shopping center district shall be arranged in a fashion to encourage pedestrian access of customers and minimize internal automotive movement. Facilities and access routes for deliveries, service and maintenance shall be separated, where practical, from customer access routes and parking areas.

(e)

Any part of the shopping center district not used for buildings or other structures, loading, parking and access shall be landscaped with grass, trees, shrubs or pedestrian walks.

(f)

The shopping center district shall be provided with proper street lighting to assure general public safety, and underground utilities shall be required where practical.

(g)

A transportation analysis plan shall be submitted with each application for the development of a shopping center district. This plan shall show projected automobile and truck traffic generation; internal and access point turning movement; percentage estimate of traffic distribution to and from the site or external roads; and proposed improvements to the existing transportation network.

(Code 1997, § 66-740)