§ 347.20 Small Box Discount Retail Stores
   (a)   Purpose. The regulations of this section are established to regulate the location of small box discount retail stores for the purpose of protecting neighborhoods from negative secondary effects created by the concentration or clustering of such businesses. Furthermore, the regulations are established to avoid and reduce over-concentration and to maintain cleanliness for the health and safety of residents within our neighborhoods.
   (b)   Definitions. For purposes of this section:
      (1)   "Small Box Discount Retail Store" means a retail store of between three thousand (3,000) and fifteen thousand (15,000) square feet that dedicates less than fifteen percent (15%) of shelf space to fresh or fresh frozen foods and produce and sells at retail an assortment of physical goods, products or merchandise directly to the consumer, including food or beverages for off-premise consumption, personal grooming and health products, household goods and other consumer products that generally cost less than ten dollars ($10.00).
      (2)   "Fresh Produce" means fruits and vegetables that have not been processed in any manner. This term does not include such items as potted or dried herbs, wild rice, dried fruits and vegetables, raw nuts of any kind, popcorn, fruit or vegetable plants/seedlings, seeds/grains, flowers, maple syrup, cider, eggs, meat, cheese and seafood.
      (3)   "Fresh or Fresh Frozen Food" means food for human consumption that is in its raw state, or unprocessed; food that was quickly frozen while still fresh (blanching, blast freezing) and no deterioration has taken place.
      (4)   Exclusions. For purposes of this section, "small box discount retail store" does not include retail stores that dedicate less than five percent (5%) of shelf space to food sales, sell gasoline or diesel fuel, contain a prescription pharmacy or dedicate at least fifteen percent (15%) of shelf space to fresh or fresh frozen foods and produce.
   (c)   Spacing. No small box discount retail store shall be established on a lot or lots within ten thousand five hundred and sixty (10,560) feet (two (2) miles) of another lot or lots containing an existing small box discount retail store. No two (2) small box discount retail stores shall be located in the same building or on the same lot. Such distance shall be measured in a geometrically straight line which represents the shortest distance between the lot or lots accommodating the proposed small box discount retail store and the lot or lots from which the existing small box discount retail store is located. Such measurement shall be made using a scaled map, or a survey if deemed necessary, and shall be made without regard to intervening structures, objects, uses, the street grid, landforms or any other topographic feature.
   (d)   Maps Maintained in the Office of the City Planning Commission. The Director of City Planning shall maintain a map of existing Small Box Discount Retail Store locations and other information necessary to determine compliance with the spacing regulations under division (c) of this section.
   (e)   Floor and Shelf Plan Required. For any small box discount retail store subject to Section 347.20(c), a Floor and Shelf Plan shall be submitted as part of its Building Permit application in addition to any other required plans and information, and shall contain each of the following:
      (1)   The amount of shelf space dedicated to food sales and the amount of shelf space dedicated to fresh or fresh frozen foods and produce; and
      (2)   The types of goods, products, or merchandise to be sold and the general cost of such items.
   (f)   Maintenance. The owner and/or operator of a small box discount retail store shall comply with applicable provisions of these codified ordinances regarding maintenance of the premises and shall comply with the following:
      (1)   Keep the exterior of the site including the sidewalks and treelawns abutting the property free of litter and debris; and
      (2)   Provide one (1) or more solid waste containers located directly outside the primary entrance for the placement of paper, wrappers, and other items by customers and others. Such containers shall be maintained in good condition and be of suitable capacity to sufficiently contain litter and debris between scheduled waste collections.
   (g)   Exception. Section 347.20(c) shall not apply to any small box discount retail store as defined in Section 347.20(b)(1) currently in operation prior to the effective date of this section.
   (h)   Penalty. Whoever violates any provision of Section 347.20 shall be subject to the penalties set forth in Section 327.99.
(Ord. No. 816-2020. Passed 1-24-22, eff. 1-26-22)