Chapter 18.49
GENERAL BUSINESS ZONE (C5/GBZ)

Sections:

18.49.010    Purpose.

18.49.020    Land use objectives.

18.49.025    Permitted uses.

18.49.030    Conditional uses.

18.49.035    Accessory uses.

18.49.040    Minimum lot size.

18.49.050    Minimum lot width.

18.49.060    Maximum building height.

18.49.070    Setbacks and lot coverage.

18.49.080    Parking.

18.49.090    Accessory building and use regulations.

18.49.100    Sign regulations.

18.49.110    Development proposals.

18.49.120    Site design.

18.49.010 Purpose.

The general business zone is a zone classification providing a use district for commercial establishments which require a retail contact with the public together with professional offices, incidental shop work, storage and warehousing, or light manufacturing and extensive outdoor storage and display, as well as retail uses with similar requirements. The zone is not intended to include those uses whose primary purpose is residential or heavy industrial in nature. This zone may be applied to some portions of the City that are designated either commercial or industrial under the City of Ferndale Comprehensive Plan. In some cases, specific use types are restricted to certain road designations in order to preserve the consistency of uses within the zone. (Ord. 1603, 2010; Ord. 1573 § 1, 2010)

18.49.020 Land use objectives.

All proposed developments within the general business zone must demonstrate the manner in which the proposal achieves the following objectives:

A.    Establish attractive, visually interesting facades when adjacent to or visible from primary public roadways, without diminishing the function of the use for which the structure is intended. For the purposes of this section, attractive, visually interesting facades shall reflect the guideline contained within FMC 18.58.070(A)(1) (building design guideline for facades and exterior walls), as modified by this section:

    Facades should be articulated to reduce the massive scale and the uniform, impersonal appearances of buildings that are adjacent to or visible from primary public roadways, including Interstate Five, and provide visual interest that will be consistent with the community’s identity, character, and scale. Facades, exterior walls and entryways shall provide consistent architectural treatment.

B.    Be authorized to establish limited food operations intended to serve workers or visitors in the area.

C.    Be required to identify and conform to specific routes for heavy truck traffic, if such traffic should exist.

D.    Obscure, to the greatest extent practical, fleet vehicle parking, machinery, equipment, storage facilities, warehouses, and machine or service shops behind principal structures or landscaping, and/or design such uses to be visually appealing.

E.    Establish public or private connecting roads between parcels where practicable, in order to increase the efficiency of primary roadways in the area.

F.    Propose architectural designs and color palettes that will serve to break up or reduce the appearance of large structures, or will reduce the visual impact of multiple structures of similar size, style, and design.

G.    Consolidate, to the greatest extent possible, the number of access points from the primary roadways in the area.

H.    Create shared parking and loading areas within and between developments.

I.    Minimize the use and appearance of large, free-standing signage, as well as establish a comprehensive sign plan when more than two uses are proposed. (Ord. 1603, 2010; Ord. 1573 § 1, 2010)

18.49.025 Permitted uses.

A.    Automotive repair – major.

B.    Automotive repair – minor.

C.    Automotive repair – specialty shop.

D.    Automotive sales.

E.    Automotive service station.

F.    Auto part sales.

G.    Bicycle or motorcycle rental or sales.

H.    Bottling plants.

I.    Equipment rentals.

J.    Farm equipment and supplies sales.

K.    Heavy equipment sales and repair.

L.    Manufactured home sale lot.

M.    Marine equipment rentals.

N.    Marine gas sales.

O.    Marine repair.

P.    Truck rentals.

Q.    Vehicle leasing/renting.

R.    Vehicle sales.

S.    Warehousing, wholesale use.

T.    Animal shelter.

U.    Automatic teller machines.

V.    Commercial kennel.

W.    Contractor’s offices.

X.    Funeral establishments.

Y.    Laundry/dry cleaning, commercial.

Z.    Mini-warehouse/storage.

AA.    Mailing service.

BB.    Moving and storage company.

CC.    Telemarketing services.

DD.    Cafeterias.

EE.    Delicatessen.

FF.    Micro brewery.

GG.    Restaurants/drive-through.

HH.    Restaurants/lounge.

II.    Restaurants/take-out.

JJ.    Laboratory – research and development.

KK.    Light manufacturing uses.

LL.    Wholesale facilities and operations.

MM.    Financial institutions.

NN.    Newspaper offices and printing works.

OO.    Office – consulting services.

PP.    Office – corporate.

QQ.    Office – general.

RR.    Office – research and development.

SS.    Radio and television studios.

TT.    Commercial schools.

UU.    Trade schools.

VV.    General park M and O activities.

WW.    Public agency facilities.

XX.    Schools, institutions of higher education, including technical schools.

YY.    Trail head facilities.

ZZ.    Trails for equestrian, pedestrian, or nonmotorized vehicle use.

AAA.    Batting cages, racquetball and tennis courts, driving ranges, miniature golf, shooting range.

BBB.    Commercial recreation, indoor.

CCC.    Commercial recreation, outdoor.

DDD.    Building, hardware, garden supply stores.

EEE.    Commercial “card lock” fueling stations.

FFF.    Farm equipment sales and service.

GGG.    Landscaping material sales.

HHH.    Lumberyards.

III.    Nursery, plant.

JJJ.    Retail hay, grain and feed stores.

KKK.    Bus station.

LLL.    Publicly owned community signs and public art. (Ord. 1603, 2010)

18.49.030 Conditional uses.

In addition to the uses described in FMC 18.44.1145, other uses similar in nature to the uses listed above which are consistent with the purpose and intent of the district, have similar effects on surrounding land uses, and can meet the performance standards for this district may be proposed as conditional uses.

A.    Boat building.

B.    Car wash – automatic or self-service.

C.    Gas/fuel station.

D.    Towing, vehicle impound lots.

E.    Truck stop – diesel fuel sales.

F.    Truck terminal/truck stop.

G.    Crematoriums.

H.    Hospital/clinic – large animal.

I.    Hospital/clinic – small animal.

J.    Substance abuse treatment facility.

K.    Food processing.

L.    Warehousing and distribution facilities.

M.    Medical, dental and other clinics.

N.    Churches.

O.    Cultural institutions.

P.    Hospitals.

Q.    Public campgrounds.

R.    Indoor cinema.

S.    Recreational vehicle campgrounds.

T.    Recreational vehicle parks.

U.    Theater (indoor).

V.    Furniture, home furnishings, and appliance stores.

W.    Auction house.

X.    Convention center including banquet facilities and/or meeting halls.

Y.    Micro and macro antennas.

Z.    Monopole.

AA.    Transportation center. (Ord. 1603, 2010; Ord. 1573 § 1, 2010)

18.49.035 Accessory uses.

A.    Restaurants/sit-down.

B.    Dwelling units for watchman or custodian.

C.    Outdoor sales.

D.    Convenience store without fueling facilities.

E.    Convenience store with fueling facilities.

F.    Outdoor storage.

G.    Storage in an enclosed building. (Ord. 1603, 2010)

18.49.040 Minimum lot size.

Minimum lot size is as follows: none. (Ord. 1603, 2010; Ord. 1573 § 1, 2010)

18.49.050 Minimum lot width.

Minimum lot width is as follows: none. (Ord. 1603, 2010; Ord. 1573 § 1, 2010)

18.49.060 Maximum building height.

Maximum building height is as follows: 45 feet; provided, that structures which front on the primary roadway shall be as tall or taller than structures behind them. (Ord. 1603, 2010; Ord. 1573 § 1, 2010)

18.49.070 Setbacks and lot coverage.

Setbacks and lot coverage are as follows:

A.    Setbacks.

1.    Front: no setback from street right-of-way lines, contingent upon frontage improvements or right-of-way expansion required by the City.

2.    Rear and sides: 50 feet if site adjoins any residential zoning district or use, otherwise none.

B.    Lot coverage (maximum): none. (Ord. 1603, 2010; Ord. 1573 § 1, 2010)

18.49.080 Parking.

For specific parking requirements, refer to Chapter 18.76 FMC. (Ord. 1603, 2010; Ord. 1573 § 1, 2010)

18.49.090 Accessory building and use regulations.

For specific regulations on accessory buildings or uses, refer to FMC 18.72.050. (Ord. 1603, 2010; Ord. 1573 § 1, 2010)

18.49.100 Sign regulations.

For specific regulations on signs, refer to Chapter 18.80 FMC. (Ord. 1603, 2010; Ord. 1573 § 1, 2010)

18.49.110 Development proposals.

The City of Ferndale has identified the general business zone as an area in which development shall make efficient use of total lot area by consolidating development to the greatest extent practical, and by utilizing shared infrastructure such as parking and stormwater facilities. In addition, proposals which are anticipated to result in development which is phased in over time shall be required to identify the project scope on a planned unit development application or, for commercial subdivisions, propose a general binding site plan which will guide the development and be binding upon the City and the applicant, but may be amended if necessary. Commercial subdivisions such as short plats are discouraged in this zone, unless no project is identified. Short plats shall be reviewed based on the highest permitted use in the zone. (Ord. 1603, 2010; Ord. 1573 § 1, 2010)

18.49.120 Site design.

Stormwater facilities such as ponds shall not be permitted adjacent to the primary street on the property, unless landscaping and fencing are provided pursuant to Chapter 18.74 FMC (landscaping). (Ord. 1603, 2010; Ord. 1573 § 1, 2010)