The purpose of the Central Business District Overlay Zone is to establish development requirements which are specifically designed to address the unique challenges of the City's downtown.
(Ord. 475 §1, 2005; Ord. 506 §1, 2015)
For the purposes of this chapter, the Central Business District shall be defined as follows: all General Commercial (C-3) zoned property south of Azalea Street.
(Ord. 475 §1, 2005; Ord. 506 §1, 2015)
The following requirements shall apply to development within the CBD:
(A) 
General Requirements. Notwithstanding provisions contained elsewhere in this code, the following regulations shall apply to the development of new buildings and redevelopment of existing buildings within the Central Business District.
(B) 
Permitted Uses. Unless specifically modified by this chapter, regulations in this chapter do not prohibit or restrict, nor alter the development requirements of, permitted, specially permitted or conditionally permitted uses within the General Commercial Zone.
(Ord. 475 §1, 2005; Ord. 501 §1, 2013; Ord. 506 §1, 2015)
Those areas not containing building or parking improvements, including access driveways and loading areas, shall be landscaped.
(Ord. 475 §1, 2005; Ord. 506 §1, 2015)
New buildings, and the redevelopment of existing buildings that include exterior modifications, shall comply with the following standards:
(A) 
Setbacks. The maximum building setback from a street-side property line shall be 20 feet. No parking is allowed between the building and the street. Other than areas used for driveways, the street-side setback area shall be landscaped. Otherwise, there shall be no minimum nor maximum building setbacks.
(B) 
Building Height. New buildings shall be within 25% of the average height of existing buildings located on the same street side.
(C) 
Orientation. The main entrance to a building shall face a public street or perpendicular to a public street facing an internal parking lot with the main entrance door no more than 50 feet from the public sidewalk.
(D) 
Building Façade. Building façades visible from a public street shall provide a brick, masonry or wood appearance.
(E) 
Special Design Requirements. For property located on either side of Maple Street, the following additional design standards shall apply:
(1) 
Setbacks. The maximum building setback from a street-side property line shall be zero feet.
(2) 
Building Height. Buildings shall be within 10% of the average height of existing buildings within the block.
(3) 
Building Design. Buildings shall be similar in character and design with existing structures.
(F) 
Drive-Up and Drive-In Windows. Buildings constructed or reconstructed to include retail sale drive-up or drive-in windows shall be designed and constructed so the internal driveways access the public street(s) in a manner minimizing the potential for vehicle conflicts and congestion and minimizing the potential for pedestrian conflicts. Requirements that may be included in any permit approval may include limiting the number and location of driveways, design of pedestrian access or other appropriate and related safety measures. Internal driveways shall not be located in required landscape areas except to cross them as necessary to access the public street.
(Ord. 475 §1, 2005; Ord. 501 §2, 2013; Ord. 506 §1, 2015)
Signs shall comply with the following standards:
(A) 
Permitted Sign Types. Signs shall be limited to wall signs or projecting signs. The edge of a projecting sign nearest the wall shall not extend more than 18 inches from a wall.
(B) 
Maximum Allowable Area. The maximum allowable sign area shall be computed as follows: one square foot of sign area for each one foot of building street-side frontage. This maximum area shall apply to all signs located on the building.
(C) 
Number. There shall be no limit to the number of signs, provided the total sign area for all signs does not exceed the maximum allowable area for the building.
(D) 
Illumination. Direct or indirect illumination shall be permitted, provided all illumination is directed away from adjacent property.
(E) 
Prohibited Sign Types. Signs extending above the roof line, balloon/tethered signs, blinking or flashing lights, and freestanding signs shall be prohibited.
(F) 
Exempt Signs. Window signs shall be exempt from the maximum allowable sign area requirements. Portable signs shall also be exempt provided they do not exceed 16 square feet in area (all sides).
(G) 
Electronic Message Center Signs. Electronic message center signs shall be subject to provisions in Section 10.64.030(L), and, shall also require approval of a Sign Variance per Section 10.64.220.
(Ord. 475 §1, 2005; Ord. 506 §1, 2015; Ord. 540, 12/20/2022)
The Planning Commission, as part of the site design review process, may allow modification to the site design requirements in the Central Business District when both of the following criteria are satisfied:
(A) 
The modification is necessary to provide design flexibility where:
(1) 
Conditions unique to the site require such modification; or
(2) 
Parcel shape or configuration precludes compliance with provisions; or
(3) 
A modification is necessary to preserve trees, other natural features, or visual amenities determined by the Planning Commission to be significant to the aesthetic character of the area.
(B) 
Modification of the standards in this chapter shall only be approved if the Planning Commission finds that the specific design proposed is substantially in compliance with the intent and purpose of the Central Business District design provisions.
(Ord. 475 §1, 2005; Ord. 506 §1, 2015)