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Watson Township City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 10

C-1 COMMERCIAL DISTRICT

10.01 Description And Purpose

This Zoning District is intended for commercial enterprises and related uses.

10.02 Permitted Uses

Land, buildings, or structures in this zoning district may be used for the following purposes only: (Amended Ord. 2003-1, Adopted 5/1/03, Effective 5/20/03)

  1. The cultivation of field and orchard crops, blueberries, nursery stock and vineyards. Such activity is a use permitted by right and exempted from the provisions of Chapter 14 - Site Plan Review. This provision shall not be interpreted as permitting the erection of farm buildings or other farm structures or the keeping or grazing of farm animals. (Amended by Ord. 90-1, 3/15/90)
  2. Stores and shops for the conducting of retail business, except that the storage of lumber and other building supplies or similar materials for retail sale shall be housed within a building having four (4) side walls and roof; open storage of this or similar materials may only be permitted by the Planning Commission as a Special Land Use.
  3. Garden centers.
  4. Medical offices Professional and Business offices.
  5. Office and showroom of a plumber, electrician, decorator, or similar trade.
  6. Personal service shops, such as barber shops, beauty parlors, shoe repair shops, laundry pickup shops, dry cleaning pickup shops, messenger or telegraph service stations, and any similar service, businesses and uses.
  7. Taxidermy shops.
  8. Printing shops.
  9. Radio and television, computer and electronic sales and repair.
  10. Tire, brake and muffler repair shops.
  11. Banks, credit unions.
  12. Restaurants, hotels, motels, motor courts.
  13. Dressmaking and tailor establishments, millinery shops, photographic shops, studios, sales and show rooms.
  14. Funeral homes.
  15. Dance halls, theaters, lodge and recreation halls.
  16. Religious institutions and places of religious assembly subject to the following standards:
    1. Facilities shall be located on a lot or parcel of land having a minimum area of two (2) acres and a minimum lot width of two hundred (200) feet as measured at the front property line.
    2. There shall be side and rear yard building setbacks of at least fifty (50) feet and a front yard setback of at least one hundred (100) feet.
    3. All parking areas shall be setback at least ten (10) feet from each front, side and rear property line.
    4. The provisions of Chapter 18 "Parking and Loading" and Chapter 16 "Signs" shall apply.
    5. Site plan review and approval under the procedures and standards of Chapter 14 is required.
  17. Establishments within buildings or structures for the repair alteration, finishing, assembling, fabrication, or storage of goods primarily for the residents of the locality or for sale at retail on the premises, provided there is not in connection therewith the operation of any activity or the storage or display of goods in such manner as to be obnoxious or offensive by reason of the emission of odors, fumes, dust, smoke, waste, noise or vibration, and further provided that no commercial enterprise shall employ more than five (5) mechanics or workers on the repair, conversion, alteration, finishing or fabrication of goods and no such repair, conversion, alteration, finishing or fabrication may occupy more than fifty percent (50%) of the floor area of the buildings or structures.
  18. Gasoline and oil service stations and garages.
  19. Commercial cleaning establishments.
  20. Food catering establishments.
  21. Exercise clubs and gyms.
  22. Massage therapists, licensed.
  23. Tack shops.
  24. Essential service utilities, poles and fixtures.
  25. Public museums, libraries, art galleries, community centers and similar public and institutional uses.
  26. Post offices, governmental, administration and service buildings.
  27. Animal hospitals and veterinary clinics provided the site contains a minimum of three acres with a width of three hundred (300) feet and further provided that buildings or structures used for the housing of animals shall be located a minimum of one hundred feet from any side or rear property line. Such premises may include kennels as accessory uses and shall include adequate storage for the disposal of manure and refuse, including adequate insect control, and shall be suitably fenced.
  28. Billboards as regulated by Chapter 16, Section 16.05.

10.03 Special Land Uses

The following uses may be permitted as a special land use when approval is obtained from the Planning Commission. Such uses are subject to the provisions of Chapter 15 and specific standards outlined or referenced within: (Amended Ord. 2003-1, Adopted 5/1/03, Effective 5/20/03)

  1. Miniature golf establishments.
  2. Amusement parks and go cart rides.
  3. Archery and firing ranges, indoor
  4. Campgrounds, recreation vehicle and travel trailer parks public and private, except that the minimum acreage standard enumerated in Chapter 15, Section 15.04(a) shall not apply to such uses in the "C-1" District.
  5. Racing facilities, motorized and non-motorized.
  6. Private schools, non-profit
  7. Towers and Communications facilities subject to Chapters 15 and 21.
  8. Residential Care Homes, Class II facilities.
  9. Licensed commercial day-care - non-residential building.
  10. New and used auto and recreational vehicle sales and showroom.
  11. Auto and truck washes.
  12. Self service / mini storage establishments.
  13. Contractors yards, equipment storage yards.
  14. Building supplies, lumberyards.
  15. Automobile, heavy truck or equipment, farm equipment sales and service.
  16. Auto, truck or equipment, farm equipment rental.
  17. Painting, auto body shops.
  18. Private Roads subject to Chapters 15 and 17.
  19. Essential service structures such as telephone exchange and/or repeater buildings, electrical sub-stations, gas regulator stations and buildings, subject to the provisions of Section 22.04.
  20. Mineral extraction, sand, gravel and soil removal and processing subject to Chapters 14, 15 and 17.

10.04 Building Height

Height limit of buildings in the "C-1" Commercial District shall be thirty-five (35) feet. The foregoing limit, however, shall not apply to water towers, smoke stacks, or other such appurtenances.

10.05 Lot Area

Every lot in Commercial Districts, used as a business, shall have an area sufficient in size to supply an adequate and safe water supply and a safe and adequate sewage disposal system as established by standards required by the State or County Health Departments' rules and regulations. A business lot shall have a minimum of 40,000 square feet of lot area, exclusive of public or private street right of way area, and 200 feet of street frontage. (Amended Ord 2000-4Z, 5/23/00)

10.06 Residences In Commercial Districts

No dwelling may be erected in the Commercial District except as an accessory use to a principal commercial structure for one of the uses defined in Sections 10.02 and 10.03. Such a dwelling shall be a single family dwelling only and meet all requirements of Section 10.07 and regulations, (a), (b), and (c). This section is intended to provide for owner occupancy only and shall not be rented to anyone other than the operator of the commercial use. Any expansion of the commercial use in the residential portion of the structure shall be considered a change of use and the requirements of Chapter 14 shall apply as well as the building codes for a commercial structure. A dwelling shall have a minimum useable floor area of 960 square feet. (Amended Ord. 97-3Z, 9/4/97 and Amended Ord. 2003-1, Adopted 5/1/03, Effective 5/20/03)

10.07 Area Regulations

No building or structure, nor any enlargement thereof, shall be hereafter erected except in conformance with the following yard, lot area, and building coverage requirements: (Amended Ord 95-2Z, 3/9/95)

  1. Front Yard. There shall be a front yard of not less than eighty (80) feet.
  2. Side Yard. For residential buildings and structures, there shall be total side yards of not less than fifty (50) feet; provided, however, that no side yard shall be less than twenty (20) feet. For all other buildings, there shall be two (2) side yards of not less than fifty (50) feet each.
  3. Rear Yard. There shall be a rear yard of not less than fifty (50) feet.
  4. Size of Buildings. No commercial or business building shall hereafter be erected or altered hereafter in a Commercial District having a first floor area of less than four hundred (400) square feet.

10.08 Site Plan Review

For all permitted and special land uses in the "C-1" District, a Site Plan shall be submitted in accordance with Chapter 14. (Amended Ord. 2003-1, Adopted 5/1/03, Effective 5/20/03)

10.09 Special Controlled Uses

Please reference Chapter 13, Special Controlled Uses, for provisions relating to certain adult and sexually oriented uses and activities.

10.10 Signs

As regulated by Chapter 16.

10.11 Parking And Loading Spaces

As regulated by Chapter 18.