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Asheville, NC Code of Ordinances
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Sec. 7-8-21. Light Industrial District.
(a)   Purpose. Realizing the importance of light industrial uses to the economy of the City of Asheville, it shall be the purpose of the Light Industrial District to reserve land for existing and future light industrial, office- warehouse, and related activities and for land uses that support these activities. Development standards are established to ensure that land uses located outside the Light Industrial District are not adversely affected by the negative impacts of the more intense development types permitted in this zoning district. Light Industrial Districts shall be located to capitalize on existing infrastructure where possible, such as transportation facilities and utilities.
(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 Light Industrial District shall be two dwelling units per acre and shall apply only to accessory dwellings as residential uses are generally prohibited in the Light Industrial District.
(2)   Structure size standards. None.
(3)   Lot size standards. The minimum lot size in the Light Industrial District shall be 10,000 square feet.
(4)   Lot width standards. Lots in the Light Industrial District shall have a minimum width of 100 feet.
(5)   Setback standards. The following minimum setbacks shall be required for uses in the Light Industrial District.
Front: 20 feet, except that the minimum setback may be reduced to five 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: None required unless adjacent to residential district, then setback shall be 30 feet.
Rear: None required unless adjacent to residential district, then setback shall be 30 feet.
The landscape and buffering standards (section 7-11-3) may require additional setback; 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. 85 percent.
(7)   Height standards. 80 feet.
(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 front setback. Loading docks designed to accommodate vehicles larger than panel trucks shall be limited to one per each 20,000 square feet of gross floor area.
(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.
(12)   Open space standards. Open space shall be provided as required by section 7-11-4 of this chapter.
(13)   Design and operation standards.
a.   Transition area: Within 200 feet of a residentially zoned area, primary entrances of buildings and structures shall be directed away from residential uses.
b.   Uses located in the Light Industrial District shall be subject to the noise standards set forth in the city's noise ordinance (article IV of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Asheville, sections 10-81 through 10-83).
c.   Exposed sources of light shall be equipped with a 90 degree shut-off fixtures. The top of light fixtures shall not exceed 30 feet in height in parking lots and 14 feet at all other locations on the development site.
(14)   Emergency wireless communications. Communication requirements shall be provided as required by section 7-11-9 of this chapter.
(Ord. No. 3262, § 1(c), 7-12-05; Ord. No. 3337, § 1(c), 2-28-06; Ord. No. 3583, § 1(a), 2-12-08; Ord. No. 3685, § 1d, 1-13-09; Ord. No. 3743, § 1a, 6-9-09; Ord. No. 3794, §§ 1a, b, 9-22-09; Ord. No. 3874, § 1h, 6-8-10; Ord. No. 3959, §§ 1n, p, 4-12-11; Ord. No. 4361, § 1m, 3-23-21; Ord. No. 4961, § 1a, 7-26-22)