(A) Purpose and intent.
(1) This district is designed to provide adequate space in appropriate locations for the establishment of a wide variety of uses including commercial trades and services, entertainment facilities, offices and establishments engaged in wholesale trade.
(2) Since these activities tend to generate relatively large volumes of traffic and have other characteristics detrimental to residential districts, their locations should be removed from the proximity of residential districts as much as possible.
(1996 Code, § 176-69)
(B) Uses.
(1) Principal permitted uses shall be as follows:
(a) Convenience sales and services;
(b) Retail sales and service;
(c) Professional office;
(d) Animal care;
(e) Financial institution;
(f) General personal service;
(g) Automotive repair and cleaning;
(h) Transient habitation;
(i) Construction sales and service;
(j) Wholesale sales;
(k) Place of worship;
(l) Community education;
(m) Library;
(n) Public park or playground;
(o) Community assembly;
(p) Utility facilities necessary for public service;
(q) Healthcare;
(r) Public building; and
(s) Restaurants.
(2) Permitted accessory uses shall be as follows:
(a) Accessory facilities and structures customarily incidental to the above permitted uses;
(b) Accessory off-street parking and loading facilities as required in § 153.066; and
(c) Signs in accordance with the regulations of § 153.080.
(4) Any use not allowed by right or by accessory use is prohibited in the GC General Commercial District.
(1996 Code, § 176-70)
(C) Bulk regulations.
(1) Minimum required lot area. Within the GC District, the minimum required lot area shall be 15,000 square feet.
(2) Maximum lot coverage. Within the GC District, the maximum lot coverage for all structures, including accessory structures, shall not exceed 50% of the total lot area.
(3) Maximum height. The maximum height of a front wall or other portion of a building or other structure shall be 35 feet above the curb level. However, this limitation shall not apply to: belfries; spires; flagpoles; or antennas.
(1996 Code, § 176-71)
(D) Yard requirements.
(1) Front yards shall be a minimum of 40 feet on lots that do not have facilities for parking within the required front yard. On lots that provide parking within the required front yard, the front yard shall be a minimum of 60 feet. On double frontage and corner lots, there shall be a front yard on each street.
(2) Side yards shall be a minimum of 50 feet on each side and a total of 100 feet when the lot adjoins a residential district. For all other lots within the GC District, the minimum side yard shall be 30 feet on each side and a total of 60 feet.
(3) Rear yards shall be a minimum of 50 feet when the lot adjoins a residential district. For all other lots within the GC District, the minimum rear yard shall be 30 feet.
(1996 Code, § 176-72)
(E) Use of required yard area.
(1) Landscaping. All required yard areas not occupied by sidewalks and parking shall be devoted to landscaping as defined in § 153.007.
(2) Driveway.
(1996 Code, § 176-73)
(F) Site plan review.
(1) For all proposed development within the GC District, prior to issuance of a building permit, a site plan for the use and development of the entire tract shall be submitted to the Planning Commission. The site plan shall conform to the following requirements:
(a) Be drawn to a scale of one inch equals 100 feet;
(b) Include the following:
1. All existing and proposed roads and drainageways;
2. Curb cuts, drives and parking areas;
3. Landscaping and planting screens;
4. Building lines enclosing the portion of the tract within which buildings are to be erected;
5. The proposed use of the land and buildings; and
6. The existing zoning.
(c) Include a vicinity map showing the relationship of the proposed development to:
1. The entire town;
2. The street system;
3. The surrounding use districts; and
4. Surrounding properties.
(d) Provide a form for certification by the owner and trustee of the mortgage, if any, that they adopt the plan, and dedicate the streets as shown on the plan and agree to make any required improvements of adjacent streets as shown on the plan.
(2) If the proposed building or use is in conformity with the provisions of this chapter a permit shall be issued to the applicant by the Administrator.
(1996 Code, § 176-74)
(G) Exterior storage. The placement of waste disposal facilities is permitted in rear yards only, and such facilities shall be approximately screened and maintained using the same material from which the principal use is constructed.
(1996 Code, § 176-75)