(a)

Purpose of the NR Neighborhood Retail Business District. The NR District is established to promote the continuation of existing commercial centers that provide goods and services primarily for the convenience of the residents of the surrounding neighborhood. In addition, the district is designed to accommodate limited multi-family housing opportunities in a small-scale, mixed-use neighborhood environment. The development standards and range of allowable uses for the NR District are designed to maintain a relatively small-scale, pedestrian-oriented environment with the character of neighborhood commercial districts.

(b)

Purpose of the NR-1 Linden Square Neighborhood Business District. The NR-1 Linden Square District is centered at the intersection of Linden Avenue and 4th Street to promote commercial and multi-family housing primarily for the benefit of district residents and the surrounding neighborhood, in a small-scale, mixed-use neighborhood environment. The development standards and range of allowable uses are designed to maintain a relatively small-scale, pedestrian-oriented environment that capitalizes on the synergies with the public transportation and tourist activities afforded by the Linden CTA Station, Baha'i House of Worship, and Wilmette Harbor.

(c)

Purpose of the GC-1 General Commercial District. The GC-1 District is established to provide a location for higher-volume and higher intensity commercial uses which provide employment and revenues for the Village. Due to the higher volume of such establishments, and the traffic they typically generate, the GC-1 District is intended to be located along arterial streets and rail lines, and generally confined to existing commercial areas to ensure that the traffic generated by such uses does not impact nearby residential neighborhoods and that the uses themselves create less of an impact on residential areas than they would in other locations in the Village. The development standards for the GC-1 District are designed to buffer the GC-1 District from nearby residential properties and to maintain the general appearance of major thoroughfares through the Village.

(d)

Purpose of the GC-2 Heavy Commercial District. The GC-2 District is established to provide a location for commercial uses which do not involve a high level of retail customer traffic or a large number of employees, but represent relatively intensive use of land, such as establishments involving manufacturing, heavy equipment, and the processing, distribution, and storage of goods and equipment. The GC-2 District is intended to be located only on properties which abut the railroad right-of-way and which are not well suited for other commercial or residential uses, in order to provide a buffer between the railroad right-of-way and nearby residential areas. The development standards for the GC-2 District are designed to buffer the GC-2 District from nearby residential properties and to maintain and improve the general appearance of such areas.

(e)

Purpose of the OR Office-Research District. The OR District is established to promote and accommodate unified development projects for offices, research facilities, and related uses. The development standards for the OR District are designed to maintain a low-intensity environment that is compatible with nearby residential areas.

(Code 1993, § 20-9.1)

Table 9-1: Commercial Zoning Districts Permitted and Special Uses lists permitted and special uses for the commercial districts. A "P" indicates that a use is permitted within that district. An "S" indicates that a use is a special use in that district and must obtain a special use permit as required in Section 30-5.3 (Special Use). No letter (i.e., a blank space), or the absence of the use from the table, indicates that use is not permitted within that district.

NOTES:

(1)

All Permitted Commercial Uses in the NR and NR-1 Districts in excess of 5,000 square feet of gross floor area shall be a Special Use

(2)

Offices located at grade or up to eight (8) feet above or below grade, which occupy less than ten percent (10%) of frontage in the district where it is located.

(3)

Offices located at grade or up to eight (8) feet above or below grade, which occupy ten percent (10%) or more of frontage in the district where it is located.

(Code 1993, § 20-9.2; Ord. No. 2015-O-13, 4-14-2015; Ord. No. 2019-O-9, § 3, 1-22-2019; Ord. No. 2019-O-59, § 2, 9-10-2019; Ord. No. 2025-O-19, § 3, 3-11-2025)

Table 9-2: Commercial Zoning Districts Bulk and Yard Regulations establishes bulk and yard regulations for the commercial zoning districts.

NOTES:

(1)

Where the side lot line is adjacent to a residential zoning district, then the side yard requirement of the adjacent residential district shall apply along that side lot line; if an alley or a street intervenes between the property and the adjacent residential district, then the side yard shall be a minimum of fifty percent (50%) of the side yard requirement of the adjacent residential district.

(Code 1993, § 20-9.3)

(a)

Accessory Structures and Uses. See Section 30-13.4 (Accessory Structures and Uses) for standards covering accessory structures and uses.

(b)

Permitted Encroachments. See Section 30-13.5 (Permitted Encroachments) for standards governing encroachments.

(c)

Temporary Uses and Structures. See Section 30-13.6 (Temporary Uses and Structures) for standards governing temporary uses.

(d)

Off-Street Parking and Loading. See Article 30-14 (Off-Street Parking and Loading) for standards governing off-street parking and loading.

(e)

Landscaping and Screening. See Article 30-15 (Landscaping and Screening) for standards governing landscaping and screening.

(f)

Signs. See Article 30-16 (Signs) for standards governing signs.

(Code 1993, § 20-9.4)