(a) Site Plan Review. A site plan shall be reviewed and approved by the Planning Commission for any parcel prior to conversion from residential to commercial use, or prior to changes in a previously approved commercial site. Site plans shall be submitted to and reviewed by the Planning Commission and City Council according to the procedures and requirements of Chapter 1278. Site plans required by this chapter shall also comply with the provisions of Chapter 1276 Parking and Site Design and Chapter 1282 Landscaping and Screening.
(b) Parking. Off street parking shall be provided as required by Chapter 1276. Shared parking drives between adjacent commercial uses are encouraged. A 10-foot landscaped strip between street rights of way and parking areas shall be provided and maintained for commercial uses.
(c) Commercial Uses. Commercial uses shall comply with the following:
(1) A minimum of 50 percent of the front yard shall be landscaped with grass, existing plant material or trees and with additional plant material from Lists A through E of Chapter 1282. The 50 percent landscaped area includes the 10-foot strip required in subsection (b) above. The front yard is the portion of the lot bound by the right-of-way line, the side lines and the front wall of the principal building.
(2) No accessory building shall be located in a required rear yard (25 feet) or side yard (10 feet). See Section 1262.06(d).
(3) There shall be no outdoor material storage or outdoor retail sales.
(4) All commercial uses shall provide exterior security lighting. Exterior lighting shall not shine on adjacent properties and shall be fixed to the building or mounted on supports which do not exceed ten feet in height.
(5) Required side yards (ten feet) shall not be used for parking when adjacent to a residential use, either in the C-O District or in an adjacent residential district. Adjacent to a residence, a required side yard may be used for a drive, to within five feet of the property line. The remaining five feet shall be landscaped. See Section 1262.06(d).
(6) A landscaped and screened buffer strip fifteen feet in width shall be installed and maintained along rear property lines when adjacent to a residence. See Section 1262.06(d).
(d) Waiver. The requirements of the C-O District listed below shall be waived for adjacent residential properties within the C-O District with the prior written consent of the adjacent residential property owner. It shall be the responsibility of the owner or developer to obtain the consent in a form approved by the Law Director. The following provisions are subject to the waiver:
(1) The side yard width requirement in Section 1262.05(d), on one side only;
(3) The rear yard buffer requirement in Section 1262.06(c)(6).
No other requirements of the C-O District shall be subject to this waiver, nor shall the waiver apply to yards adjacent to a residential district.
(1) A permanent ground sign with a maximum area of 35 square feet, a maximum height of 6 feet and with external illumination only; or
(2) A wall sign with a maximum area equal to the length of the wall on which it is placed and with external illumination only.
(Ord. 116-05. Passed 12-12-05.)