(A) Purpose. Business districts and commercial corridors are recognized as principal focal points of community activity providing an economic resource and a center for community orientation. It is in the interest of the city to protect and enhance the features of public interest in such business districts by:
(1) Preventing the deterioration of property and the extension of blighting conditions;
(2) Encouraging and protecting private investment which improves and stimulates the economic vitality and social character of the area;
(3) Providing an environment which creates a common theme or sense of place;
(4) Providing support services for the livability of adjacent residential neighborhoods; and
(5) Preventing the creation of influences adverse to the physical character of the area.
(B) Characteristics. The Reading Road General Commercial District shall contain a concentration of retail and service commercial establishments where the patrons arrive by automobile or on foot that:
(1) Serve as a principal business activity center for a neighborhood, community, or region;
(2) Is an area that has received or been approved for substantial public investment; and
(3) Is an area that is planned for unusual intensity or density of development.
(C) Uses.
(1) Principally permitted uses. The following uses shall be principally permitted in this District:
(a) Neighborhood business.
(b) Retail business.
(c) Personal services.
(d) Professional services.
(e) Commercial entertainment; excluding sexually oriented businesses.
(f) Office.
(g) Government and Municipal services.
(h) Restaurant.
(i) Fast food restaurant.
(j) Restaurant.
(k) Institutional uses.
(l) Municipal parking lot.
(m) Tavern.
(2) Conditionally permitted uses. The following uses shall be conditionally permitted in this District:
(a) Automotive filling stations.
(b) Automobile sales and service of new vehicles.
(c) Automotive sales of previously- owned vehicles.
(d) Residential dwelling; when located on an upper floor of a building.
(D) Property development standards.
(1) Lot, height and yard requirements.
Reading Road General Commercial District | |
Minimum Lot Size | None required. |
Maximum Height | 30 feet. Integrated architectural features may exceed the maximum height after review and approval from the Planning Commission. |
Minimum Front Yard Setback | 5 feet. |
Minimum Side Yard Setback | None unless abutting a residential district, then the side yard setback shall be equal to that of the abutting residential district. |
Minimum Rear Yard Setback | None unless abutting a residential district, then the rear yard setback shall be equal to that of the abutting residential district. |
Floor Area Ratio | .50 |
Impervious Surface Ratio | .75 |
(2) Landscaping/buffering. Landscaping and buffering shall be as established in Chapter 1276, Buffering and Screening.
(3) Off-street parking and loading. Off- street parking and loading shall be regulated as established in Chapter 1280, Off-Street Parking, and as follows:
(a) There shall be no more than one curb cut/driveway per lot unless the lot frontage is greater than 150 feet, then one additional curb cut/driveway may be permitted. The width of the curb cuts shall not exceed 24 feet for one ingress and egress lane or 35 feet for one ingress and two egress lanes.
(4) Signage.
(a) Signage shall be regulated as established in Chapter 1290, Signs and Billboards.
(b) Signage shall be professionally manufactured or professionally hand-lettered by a sign company or by a company proficient in sign manufacturing.
(5) Outdoor storage. Outdoor storage shall not be permitted in this District.
(E) Building development standards.
(1) Orientation. All walls visible from the public rights-of-way shall include windows, doors or other architectural features to prevent blank walls on any story of the structure.
(2) Roof. Flat roof lines shall use varying treatments to break up linear lines.
(Ord. 2010-58, passed 8-10-10)