A. Purpose Statement: The purpose of the Small Neighborhood Business Zoning District is to provide areas for small commercial uses to be located adjacent to residential land uses, including mid block. This district will preserve and enhance older commercial structures and storefront character by allowing a variety of commercial uses and placing more strict regulations on new construction and major additions to existing buildings. The regulations are intended to restrict the size and scale of the commercial uses in order to mitigate negative impacts to adjacent residential development and encourage pedestrian oriented development. This zoning district is appropriate in places where it is supported by a community master plan, small area master plan or other adopted City policies.
B. Uses: Uses in the SNB Small Neighborhood Business District are as specified in the table of permitted and conditional uses set forth in chapter 21A.33 of this title.
C. Design Review:
1. Projects which meet the intent of this section, but not the specific design criteria outlined in the following subsections, may be approved by the Planning Commission pursuant to the provisions of chapter 21A.59 of this title.
D. Minimum Lot Area And Lot Width: The minimum lot areas and lot widths required in this district are as follows:
To view this table in PDF, click HERE.
Land Use | Minimum Lot Area | Minimum Lot Width |
Land Use | Minimum Lot Area | Minimum Lot Width |
Dwelling unit, located above first floor retail or office uses | Included in principal use | Included in principal use |
Municipal service uses, including City utility uses and police and fire stations | No minimum | No minimum |
Natural open space and conservation areas, public and private | No minimum | No minimum |
Places of worship less than 4 acres in size | 5,000 square feet | 50 feet |
Public pedestrian pathways, trails and greenways | No minimum | No minimum |
Public/private utility transmission wires, lines, pipes and poles | No minimum | No minimum |
Retail goods establishments, when located within an existing building originally designed for residential use | 5,000 square feet | 50 feet |
Retail service establishments, when located within an existing building originally designed for residential use | 5,000 square feet | 50 feet |
Single-family detached dwellings | 5,000 square feet | 50 feet |
Two-family dwellings | 8,000 square feet | 50 feet |
Other permitted or conditional uses as listed in section 21A.33.030 of this title | 5,000 square feet | 50 feet |
E. Maximum District Size:
1. Sixteen thousand (16,000) square feet.
F. Yard Requirements:
1. Front and Corner Side Yard: Front and corner side yard setbacks shall be equal to the required yard areas of the abutting zoning district along the block face. When the property abuts more than one zone the more restrictive requirement shall apply.
2. Interior Side Yard: Interior side yard equal to the required yard areas of the abutting zoning district along the block face. When the property abuts more than one zone the more restrictive requirement shall apply.
3. Rear Yard: Rear yard setbacks shall be equal to the required yard areas of the abutting zoning district along the block face. When the property abuts more than one zoning district the more restrictive requirement shall apply.
4. Buffer Yards: Any lot abutting a lot in a Residential District shall conform to the buffer yard requirements of Chapter 21A.48, "Landscaping and Buffers", of this title.
5. Accessory Buildings and Structures in Yards: Accessory buildings and structures may be located in a required yard subject to Section 21A.36.020, Table 21A.36.020.B, "Obstructions in Required Yards", of this title.
G. Landscape Yard Requirements:
1. Front and corner side yards shall be maintained as landscape yards. Subject to site plan review approval, part or the entire landscape yard may be a patio or plaza.
H. Maximum Height:
1. Twenty five feet (25'). However, in no instance shall the height exceed the maximum height of any abutting Residential Zoning District along the block face.
I. Maximum Height Of Accessory Structures:
1. Refer to subsection 21A.40.050C of this title.
J. Hours Of Operation:
1. Businesses in the SNB Zone shall be open to the general public no earlier than seven o'clock (7:00) A.M. and no later than ten o'clock (10:00) P.M.
K. New Nonresidential Construction:
1. Construction of a new principal building, parking lot or addition to an existing building for a nonresidential use that includes the demolition of a commercial structure or a structure containing residential units may only be approved through a design review process pursuant to chapter 21A.59 of this title and provided, that in such cases the Planning Commission finds that the applicant has adequately demonstrated the following:
a. The replacement use for properties containing residential units will include an equal or greater number of residential units; and
b. The structure is isolated from other structures and does not relate to other structures within the residential-business neighborhood. For purpose of this section, an isolated structure is a structure that does not meet the development pattern of the block face or block faces for corner properties; and
c. The design and condition of the structure is such that it does not make a material contribution to the character of the neighborhood. A structure is considered to make a material contribution when it is similar in scale, height, width, and solid to void ratio of openings in the principal street facing facade.
L. Enlargement Of A Structure: The enlargement by square footage of an existing structure may be approved by an Administrative Hearing Officer only if all of the following conditions are met:
1. Use is permitted in the zone.
2. The proposed use is compatible to the neighborhood in terms of development intensity, building configuration, building height, and building bulk.
3. The traffic generated by the proposed expansion is similar to that generated by the existing use or off street parking is available for the additional square footage.
4. The use will not be detrimental to the existing character of development in the immediate neighborhood or endanger the public health, safety, or general welfare. (Ord. 12-24, 2024: Ord. 67-22, 2022: Ord. 14-19, 2019: Ord. 12-17, 2017)