Chapter 17.32
GENERAL COMMERCIAL (GC) ZONE
Sections:
17.32.010 Purpose.
17.32.020 Uses permitted.
17.32.030 Conditional uses permitted.
17.32.040 Yard requirements.
17.32.050 Minimum lot width.
17.32.060 Maximum building height.
17.32.070 Maximum building size.
17.32.080 Signs.
17.32.090 Parking.
17.32.100 Other required conditions.
17.32.010 Purpose.
The general commercial zone (GC) is provided to accommodate a wide range of retail commercial uses including those which attract shoppers from a community or larger market area, as well as convenience service/retail uses and single-family residential dwelling units. Retail commercial uses are those that sell services and/or products to the ultimate consumer. Also permitted as conditional uses are low intensity fabrication uses and other limited service facilities as listed. (Ord. 84-2 § 3.070(1))
17.32.020 Uses permitted.
In a GC zone, the following are given as examples of those uses that meet the intent of this zone:
A. Convenience service/retail use;
B. Eating and drinking establishments, excluding drive-in restaurants;
C. Carpet, rug, fabric and interior decorating shops including reupholstering, making of draperies and other similar articles which are conducted as part of, and secondary to, a retail sales operation;
D. Sporting goods stores;
E. Motels and resorts;
F. Building supply stores;
G. Public facilities;
H. Garden supplies and nursery;
I. Community meeting buildings, fraternal or social organizations;
J. Automotive parts and accessories;
K. Printing;
L. Carpenter, plumbing, cabinet, upholstering and sheet metal shops, if conducted wholly within an enclosed building;
M. Appliance sales and service;
N. Single-family dwellings, if developed under the standards in the R-1 zone;
O. Mini-warehouses, if existing on or if site plan approval was applied for before June 9, 2008. Mini-warehouses in existence on or applied for before June 9, 2008, may be expanded within the boundaries of the lot or lots they occupied as of that date, subject to the standards applicable as of the date of application for expansion;
P. Time-share units, when developed under the standards of LCMC 17.28.040;
Q. Bed and breakfast accommodations;
R. Professional and business offices;
S. Art gallery and studio;
T. Physical therapy;
U. Equipment rental establishments;
V. Physical fitness center;
W. Manufactured homes when developed in accordance with the standards specified in LCMC 17.28.090(C) and 17.52.250;
X. Veterinary clinics. (Ord. 2008-05 § 2; Ord. 2005-14 § 7; Ord. 95-26 § 1; Ord. 95-15 § 9; Ord. 94-13 § 3; Ord. 94-3 § 1; Ord. 90-22 § 1; Ord. 90-21 § 1; Ord. 90-12 § 1; Ord. 90-5 § 1; Ord. 85-10; Ord. 84-2 § 3.070(2))
17.32.030 Conditional uses permitted.
In a GC zone, the following are given as examples of those uses which meet the intent of this zone on a conditional basis, subject to the provisions of Chapter 17.60 LCMC:
A. A use listed in this zone with drive-in service facilities and including, but not limited to, drive-in restaurants, service stations, car washes and photo processing booths;
B. Off-premises advertising signs or structures;
C. Churches;
D. Indoor commercial recreation establishments including theaters;
E. Passenger terminals;
F. Public utility;
G. Utility substation;
H. Outdoor commercial recreational establishments, such as swimming pool and miniature golf;
I. Automobile and trailer sales; provided, that any incidental repair activities shall be conducted and confined wholly within a building;
J. Light fabrication establishments entailing the assembly of electronic or precision equipment, the sewing of fabric or materials or similar activities;
K. Recreational vehicle parks;
L. Duplexes developed under the standards of the R-M zone; multifamily dwellings developed under the standards and provisions of the high density section of the R-M zone;
M. Motor vehicle repair facility;
N. Tire shops;
O. Kennels;
P. Aggregate sales and storage;
Q. Manufactured dwelling sales and service;
R. Mortuary;
S. Wireless communications facilities, subject to the provisions of LCMC 17.52.270;
T. Emergency shelters. (Ord. 2003-08 § 10; Ord. 97-11 § 3; Ord. 95-17 § 1; Ord. 92-4 § 4; Ord. 91-31 § 1; Ord. 84-2 § 3.070(3))
17.32.040 Yard requirements.
A. Front Yard. None, except when the front yard is abutting or across the street from a parcel in a residential zone and then the front yard shall be the front yard required in the contiguous residential zone. However, the provisions of LCMC 17.52.060 and 17.52.070 shall apply.
B. Side, Street Side and Rear Yard. None, except when the side, street side or rear yard is abutting or across the street from a parcel in a residential zone, and then the side, street side or rear yard shall be a minimum of 10 feet. The required side, street side or rear yard shall be increased by one-half foot for each foot by which the building height exceeds 15 feet. However, the provisions of LCMC 17.52.060 and 17.52.070 shall apply. (Ord. 92-19 § 1; Ord. 91-19 § 1; Ord. 91-14 § 7; Ord. 84-2 § 3.070(4))
17.32.050 Minimum lot width.
Automobile service stations, drive-in restaurants and similar drive-in establishments shall have a minimum lot width of 100 feet. (Ord. 91-14 § 8; Ord. 91-8 § 4; Ord. 84-2 § 3.070(5))
17.32.060 Maximum building height.
Maximum building height shall be 45 feet, except as provided in LCMC 17.52.190 and 17.52.200. (Ord. 91-14 § 9; Ord. 84-2 § 3.070(6))
17.32.070 Maximum building size.
A. No building or group of contiguous buildings shall exceed a footprint of 60,000 square feet. Notwithstanding this limitation, any building or group of contiguous buildings in lawful existence that exceeded this limitation on January 1, 2003, may expand its footprint, by not more than 10 percent of the footprint on January 1, 2003; provided, that the use of the building or combined contiguous buildings has not ceased for a period of six months or more ending at any time on or after January 1, 2003.
B. Notwithstanding the provisions of LCMC 17.64.040, any building or group of contiguous buildings in lawful existence and that exceeded this limitation on January 1, 2003, may be rebuilt if destroyed by any cause to any extent up to its footprint immediately prior to its destruction.
C. Variances under Chapter 17.68 LCMC to the footprint limitation set out in this section shall not be allowed. (Ord. 2003-01 § 2; Ord. 84-2 § 3.070(7))
17.32.080 Signs.
Signs shall be permitted in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 17.72 LCMC. (Ord. 2003-01 § 2; Ord. 91-14 § 9; Ord. 84-2 § 3.070(8))
17.32.090 Parking.
Off-street parking shall be provided in accordance with Chapter 17.56 LCMC. (Ord. 2003-01 § 2; Ord. 92-8 § 8; Ord. 91-14 § 9; Ord. 84-2 § 3.070(9))
17.32.100 Other required conditions.
A. Landscaping. Landscaping shall be provided in accordance with LCMC 17.52.100.
B. Outdoor Storage Areas. All outdoor storage areas shall be screened from ground level view from adjacent properties and from public streets.
C. Outdoor Sales Displays. Outdoor sales displays are allowed, but shall not be located in any yard, landscaped area, or off-street parking or loading area which is required by this title.
D. Restrictions. No development shall occur in the GC zone unless all city services (sewer and water) are available to serve such development.
E. All commercial or mixed use buildings in the GC zone must conform to Chapter 17.74 LCMC, Commercial Design Standards.1 (Ord. 2007-10 § 4; Ord. 2003-01 § 2; Ord. 98-12 § 1; Ord. 91-14 § 9; Ord. 84-2 § 3.070(10))
Code reviser’s note: This subsection was added by Ord. 2007-10 as LCMC 17.32.100(C). It has been editorially relettered to avoid duplication.