(a) Purpose. The Office/Business District is established to reserve an area for the development of office uses and related support uses. This district will reserve areas for medium scale offices and a limited range of business uses and may serve as a transition area between commercial and residential areas.
(b) Allowable land uses. All permitted uses, special uses, conditional uses and uses expressly prohibited are identified in subsection 7-8-1(d), Table of Permitted Uses. Standards for special uses and conditional uses can be found in article XVI of this chapter.
(c) Reserved.
(d) Reserved.
(e) Reserved.
(f) Development standards.
(1) Density standards. The maximum residential density per acre within the Office Business District shall be 20 dwelling units; or 40 dwelling units if 20 percent of the dwelling units are designated affordable. Projects including affordable units must provide a declaration of deed restrictions ensuring that rents or sale prices will remain affordable for the first ten years after completion, increasing by no more than three percent per year, or the annual increase in the Consumer Price index, whichever is lower. Also, such units must be reserved for qualified households in a form satisfactory to the city attorney.
(2) Structure size standards. New structures in the Office/Business District shall not exceed a total of 30,000 square feet in gross floor area. Existing structures shall not be expanded to exceed 30,000 square feet in gross floor area.
(3) Lot size standards. The minimum lot size in the Office/Business District shall be 10,000 square feet.
(4) Lot width standards. Lots in the Office/Business District shall have a minimum width of 80 feet.
(5) Setback standards. The following minimum setbacks shall be required for uses in the Office/Business District.
Front: 15 feet, except that the minimum setback may be reduced to zero feet in pedestrian-oriented areas where road widening is not anticipated provided that all parking is located to the side or rear and not closer to the street than the façade of the principal structure, and where pedestrian-oriented design features are incorporated in building and site design.
Side: 10 feet.
Rear: 15 feet.
The landscape and buffering standards (section 7-11-3) may require additional setbacks; if so, the most restrictive requirement shall apply.
The minimum spacing between structures shall, in addition, be as per the Asheville Fire Prevention Code.
(6) Impervious surface standards. The maximum impervious surface coverage in the Office/Business District shall be 80 percent.
(7) Height standards. The maximum height of structures in the Office/Business District shall be four stories, but not to exceed 60 feet, except in the transition area described in subsection (13) below.
(8) Landscaping/buffering standards. Landscaping and/or buffering shall be provided as required by section 7-11-3
of this chapter.
(9) Parking/loading standards. Parking and loading facilities shall be provided as required by section 7-11-2 of this chapter. No parking shall be permitted in any required setback.
(10) Sidewalk standards. Sidewalks shall be provided as required by and pursuant to the requirements for sidewalks as set forth in section 7-11-8 of this chapter.
(11) Access standards. None required.
(12) Open space standards. Open space shall be provided as required by section 7-11-4 of this chapter.
(13) Design and operation standards. All activities associated with non-residential uses, including deliveries and refuse collection, shall be conducted between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
Transition area: Within 50 feet of a residentially zoned area, restrictions shall be placed on the height of buildings and structures. Height of buildings and structures located in this area shall be subject to the height restrictions established in the adjacent residential area.
(14) Emergency wireless communications. Communication requirements shall be provided as required by section 7-11-9 of this chapter.
(Ord. No. 2369, § 1, 5-27-97; Ord. No. 2539, § 1, 1-26-99; Ord. No. 2663, § 1(g), 2-8-00; Ord. No. 2664, § 1(k), 2-8- 00; Ord. No. 2904, § 1(k), 3-12-02; Ord. No. 3010, § 1b, 3-25-03; Ord. No. 3156, § 1, 8-24-04; Ord. No. 3209, § 1b, 1- 25-05; Ord. No. 3272, § 1(b), 7-26-05; Ord. No. 3337, § 1(b), (c), 2-28-06; Ord. No. 3483, § 1(b), 6-2-07; Ord. No. 3583, § 1(a), 2-12-08; Ord. No. 3643, § 1a, 7-22-08; Ord. No. 3743, § 1a, 6-9-09; Ord. No. 3874, § 1d, 6-8-10; Ord. No. 3908, § 1b, 10-26-10; Ord. No. 3959, §§ 1n, p, 4-12-11; Ord. No. 4374, § 1c, 12-9-14; Ord. No. 4361, § 1m, 3-23-21; Ord. No. 4961, § 1a, 7-26-22)