(6) Ridge Avenue. 364

(a)   Applicability. 365

The requirements of this Ridge Avenue /NCA district apply to lots in commercial-mixed use and industrial zoning districts with frontage on the following streets:

(.1)   Ridge Avenue between Cresson Street and Paoli Avenue;

(.2)   Pechin Street between Hermitage Street and Paoli Avenue;

(.3)   Mitchell Street between Hermit Street and Hermitage Street; and

(.4)   Green Lane between Ridge Avenue and Lawnton Street.

(b)   Use Regulations.

(.1)   Prohibited Uses.

In addition to uses prohibited under base zoning, the following uses shall also be prohibited:

(.a)   Freestanding tower wireless service facilities;

(.b)   Moving and storage facilities;

(.c)   Personal care homes;

(.d)   Non-accessory parking, except where this parking satisfies the required accessory parking of an off-site use, pursuant to the requirements of § 14-802(9) (Off-Site Parking); and

(.e)   Drive-throughs.

(.2)   Special Exceptions.

In addition to uses requiring a special exception under base zoning, the following uses shall also require a special exception:

(.a)   Group child care; 366

(.b)   Research and development;

(.c)   Medical, dental, and health practitioner offices; and

(.d)   Take-out restaurants.

(.3)   For buildings in the CMX-3 district, at least seventy-five percent (75%) of ground floor frontage along Ridge Avenue must be occupied by a commercial use. 367

(.4)   Non-conforming commercial uses that obtained use permits prior to 2000 are permitted to expand the floor area devoted to that use by up to twenty percent (20%).

(.5)   Any proposal that will result in a total of five or more dwelling units within a building must include common, on-site trash storage. This storage may be included in a basement, designated trash storage room, or a dumpster for which the property owner will be responsible.

(c)   Development Standards.

(.1)   Buildings in a CMX-2.5 or CMX-3 zoning district may not exceed 38 ft. in height and may not contain more than three stories.

(.2)   Bonuses.

(.a)   The bonuses offered in § 14-702(7) (Mixed-Income Housing) may only be earned by including affordable units on-site in a quantity that satisfies § 14-702(7)(b)(.1); and

(.b)   No other Floor Area, Height, and Dwelling Unit Density bonuses may be earned.

(.3)   Roof decks must be set back at least five feet from all building lines.

(d)   Parking and Loading.

(.1)   Accessory parking shall be provided in a surface lot, not a garage.

(.2)   Parking for dwelling units in a CMX-2 or a CMX-2.5 district shall be provided at a minimum of 0 spaces per dwelling unit for the first five dwelling units, then at a minimum of 1 space per each additional dwelling unit, notwithstanding any other parking requirements set forth in this Zoning Code. 368

(.3)   Off-street surface parking and loading shall not be located between the building line and street line along Ridge Avenue. 369

(.4)   The Ridge Avenue, Pechin Street, Mitchell Street, or Green Lane frontage of any parking garage must include an office, retail sales, commercial services, public, civic, or institutional use. Regulated uses, as set forth in § 14-603(13) (Regulated Uses), shall not be used satisfy this requirement.

(.5)   Curb Cuts.

(.a)   If a lot has frontage on two or more streets, parking may not be accessed by Ridge Avenue, Pechin Street, Mitchell Street, or Green Lane.

(.b)   No curb cuts may exceed 24 feet in width.

(.c)   Lots with 150 feet or less of total linear street frontage shall have no more than one curb cut for both ingress and egress.

(.6)   In any zoning district, required accessory parking may be provided on a lot separate from the one on which the principal use is located, subject to the standards of § 14-802(9) (Off-Site Parking).

(e)   Facade Review.

L&I shall not issue a building permit for the erection of a building or the alteration of facade until the Planning Commission has reviewed the plans of all proposed facades and determined that the proposed facades, in the opinion of the Commission, are in harmony with the commercial area and pedestrian-oriented environment. The Commission shall have 60 days to approve or disapprove the application, after which its approval will be presumed.

(f)   Signs.

(.1)   In addition to the requirements of Chapter 14-900 (Signs), the following signs shall be prohibited:

(.a)   Internally illuminated signs and awnings;

(.b)   Animated illumination signs;

(.c)   Digital display; and

(.d)   Freestanding signs.

(.2)   The maximum area of signs shall be either 40 sq. ft. total per building frontage or the maximum area allowed in Table 14-904-1 (Accessory Sign Controls for Specific Zoning Districts), whichever is more restrictive.

(.3)   Where permitted, no more than one window sign may be placed in each window located above the first floor.

(.4)   The total area of window signs on doors shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the total transparent glazed area of all glass doors.

 

Notes

364	Subsection (6)(d) deleted, Bill No. 120430-A (approved January 14, 2013); amended, Bill No. 150722 (approved December 23, 2015); amended, Bill No. 180510 (approved July 18, 2018); amended, Bill No. 210075 (approved March 29, 2021); amended, Bill No. 220358 (approved August 31, 2022).
365	Amended, Bill No. 120774-A (approved January 14, 2013); amended, Bill No. 170008 (approved May 1, 2017); amended, Bill No. 180510 (approved July 18, 2018).
366	Amended, Bill No. 190253 (approved July 24, 2019).
367	Amended, Bill No. 180510 (approved July 18, 2018).
368	Renumbered, Bill No. 180510 (approved July 18, 2018).
369	Added, Bill No. 180510 (approved July 18, 2018).