Chapter 17.36
C-2 GENERAL COMMERCIAL ZONE

Sections:

17.36.010    Intent.

17.36.020    Permitted uses.

17.36.030    Conditional uses.

17.36.040    Minimum property development standards.

17.36.050    Landscaping requirements.

17.36.060    Property abutting a residential zone.

17.36.070    Noise.

17.36.080    Special objective standards for transitional housing facilities and emergency shelters.

17.36.010 Intent.

The intent of the C-2 general commercial zone is to provide areas within the community that are primarily retail and service business in character with related hotel, office, cultural, institutional and public uses, and to provide, under closely controlled conditions, for light industrial uses that are frequently accomplished at the commercial place of business. (Ord. 472 § 3, 2010; Ord. 441 § 1, 2000).

17.36.020 Permitted uses.

Permitted uses allowed in the C-2 zone are set forth in Table 17.36-1. Such uses shall be conducted entirely within an enclosed building. (Ord. 472 § 3, 2010; Ord. 441 § 1, 2000).

17.36.030 Conditional uses.

Conditional uses allowed in the C-2 zone, subject to the conditional use permit regulations, are set forth in Table 17.36-1.

Table 17.36-1

C-2 General Commercial Zone
– Permitted and Conditional Uses 

Uses

Permitted Use1

Conditional Use2

All permitted uses allowed in Chapter 17.34 HMC

X

Fee-based commercial recreation

X

Financial, professional services and office uses which are conducted in office buildings or clinics

X

Garment assembly, manufacturing and wholesale distribution

X

General service uses, primarily engaged in rendering services to individuals and business establishments

X

Motel, hotel, motor hotel

X

Newspaper publishing, printing, and publishing establishments

X

Parking lots

X

Nonprofit private institutions and organizations which operate on a membership basis for the promotion of the interest of their members

X

Radio and television broadcasting studios

X

Retail uses engaged in selling merchandise for personal, household or farm consumption, and rendering services incidental to the sale of the goods

X

Schools, business and professional, including art, barber, beauty, dance, drama, music and swimming

X

Trade schools

X

Transportation terminals

X

Telephone exchanges

X

All conditional uses allowed in Chapter 17.34 HMC

X

Automotive body repair and/or automotive painting

X

Automotive repair

X

Automobile/truck washes or laundries

X

Building materials

X

Contractor’s storage yard

X

Distribution agencies

X

Equipment rental

X

Feed and fuel

X

Lumberyard

X

Machinery and equipment rentals

X

Material storage yard

X

Residential facilities and group care facilities serving more than six persons for the 24-hour nonmedical care of persons in need of personal services, supervision, or assistance; includes transitional care facilities and emergency shelters

X

Long-term care facilities

X

Places of assembly with a seating capacity for more than 100 persons

X

Public libraries, fire stations, and other public offices and related uses

X

Sales of new and used vehicles

X

Truck terminals

X

Utility service yards

X

1    Other similar uses shall be permitted subject to a recommendation by the planning commission and adoption by the city council.

2    These uses shall be permitted subject to a conditional use permit.

(Ord. 472 § 3, 2010; Ord. 441 § 1, 2000).

17.36.040 Minimum property development standards.

The property development standards set forth in Table 17.36-2 and contained in HMC 17.36.050 through 17.36.070 shall apply to all land and buildings permitted in the C-2 zone, except that any lot shown on an official subdivision map duly approved and recorded may be used as a building site as provided in HMC 17.10.060. Each building site shall have a minimum 20-foot-wide vehicular access to a street.

Table 17.36-2

C-2 General Commercial Zone
– Minimum Property Development Standards 

Development Standards

C-2 General Commercial Zone

Minimum lot area

10,000 square feet

Maximum lot coverage

100 percent

Maximum building height

35 feet

Minimum lot width

60 feet

Minimum lot depth

120 feet

Yard requirements

No requirements except as may be required by specific plan

(Ord. 472 § 3, 2010; Ord. 441 § 1, 2000).

17.36.050 Landscaping requirements.

Required front yards shall be landscaped to a depth of not less than 10 feet. Remaining front yard areas or setbacks may be used for required off-street parking. Said landscaping shall consist predominantly of plant materials except for walk and drives. (Ord. 472 § 3, 2010; Ord. 441 § 1, 2000).

17.36.060 Property abutting a residential zone.

A. A minimum setback of 20 feet shall be required wherever a lot in a C-2 zone abuts a lot in a residential zone. Said setbacks may be used for required open off-street parking areas.

B. Where a commercial use abuts property in any residential zone, a masonry wall six feet in height and screen landscaping at least five feet in width shall be erected and maintained between each use and the residential zone.

C. Wherever off-street parking areas are situated across the street from property in a residential zone, a masonry wall or berm three feet in height shall be erected between the required landscape area and the parking area to adequately screen said parking areas from the residential properties.

D. A landscaping and sprinkler plan shall be approved by the city prior to the issuance of a building permit. (Ord. 472 § 3, 2010; Ord. 441 § 1, 2000).

17.36.070 Noise.

In accordance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, the noise level emanating from any commercial use or operation shall not exceed five decibels above the ambient noise level of the area. (Ord. 472 § 3, 2010; Ord. 441 § 1, 2000).

17.36.080 Special objective standards for transitional housing facilities and emergency shelters.

All group care facilities and emergency shelters in the C-2 zone shall meet all the applicable development standards listed in the applicable zone, and in addition meet the following requirements:

A. Parking requirements shall be the same as for nursing homes and convalescent hospitals as described in Table 17.52-1.

B. All waiting and intake areas shall be within an enclosed building and shall have a legal occupancy rating as determined by the conditional use permit.

C. Each facility shall accommodate a minimum daytime staff of one staff member per six occupied beds, and a minimum nighttime staff of one staff per six occupied beds.

D. No parcel with a transitional home or emergency shelter shall be established closer than 300 feet from another parcel with a transitional home or emergency shelter use.

E. The length of stay within a transitional housing facility or emergency shelter shall be limited to a maximum of six months.

F. The exterior lighting of the building housing the transitional housing facility or emergency shelter shall be provided to adequately illuminate all sides of the building to allow for security to monitor all sides of the structure.

G. Security staff or electronic cameras with video monitors that can be viewed by nighttime staff shall be provided to monitor the exterior of the building housing the transitional housing or emergency care facilities. The exterior of the building shall be monitored by security staff or electronic cameras between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. (Ord. 472 § 3, 2010).