(a) Until recent years, the regulation of all uses of land and structures through zoning has been accomplished by assigning each use to one or more use districts. However, the functions and characteristics of an increasing number of new kinds of land uses combined with conclusive experience regarding some of the older, familiar kinds of uses call for a more flexible and equitable procedure for properly accommodating these activities in the community. It should be recognized that the forces that influence decisions regarding the nature, magnitude and location of such types of land use activities are many and varied, depending upon functional characteristics, competitive situations and the availability of land. Rather than assign all uses to special, individual and limited zoning districts, it is important to provide controllable and reasonable flexibility in requirements for certain kinds of uses that will allow practicable latitude for the investor, but that will, at the same time, maintain adequate provision for the security of the health, safety, convenience and general welfare of the community's inhabitants.
(b) In order to accomplish such a dual objective, provision is made in this Zoning Code for a more detailed consideration of each of certain specified activities as it may relate to proposed conditions of location, design, size, operation, intensity of use, generation of traffic and traffic movements, concentration of population, processes and equipment employed and the amount and kind of public facilities and services required, together with many other possible factors. Uses of land and structures possessing these particularly unique characteristics are designated as conditionally permissible uses and are permitted through the issuance of a conditional zoning certificate with such conditions and safeguards attached as may be deemed necessary for the protection of the public welfare.
(Ord. 2001-081. Passed 8-6-01.)