Chapter 18.65
DOWNTOWN COMMERCIAL (C-D) ZONE
Sections:
18.65.040 Setback requirements.
18.65.060 Architectural standards.
18.65.070 Development standards.
18.65.010 Purpose.
The downtown commercial (C-D) zone is established so commercial businesses and shopping centers can serve the area in a manner that can create and preserve the city’s historic downtown as a marketplace. This zone is also established to assure maximum efficiency of both pedestrian and automobile traffic circulation. The intent of the downtown commercial zone is to establish the downtown of Riverton as a place for area residents to shop, seek entertainment, and enjoy civic and cultural activities and recreation.
Generally, uses that are conducive to this zone will be retail sales, services, banking and financial lending, restaurants, cultural centers and theaters. When possible, these uses shall be required to integrate and consolidate shared driveways, ingress and egress, green spaces, signage, pedestrian access and parking.
The general location of this zone shall be the area from the South Jordan Canal to 2200 West and from approximately 12500 South to 12800 South encompassing the intersection of Redwood Road and 12600 South in those boundaries. [Ord. 08-13 § 1; Ord. 10-8-03-2 § 1; Ord. 8-17-99-1 § 1 (Exh. A). Code 1997 § 12-260-005.]
18.65.020 Permitted uses.
Uses which are permitted and allowed in the C-D zone; provided, that the regulations and intent of this zone and all applicable ordinances are met, are shown in RCC 18.90.010, Table of commercial uses. [Ord. 23-08 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 11-04 § 1; Ord. 08-13 § 1; Ord. 10-8-03-2 § 1; Ord. 8-17-99-1 § 1 (Exh. A). Code 1997 § 12-260-010.]
18.65.030 Conditional uses.
Uses which are conditional in the C-D zone; provided, that the regulations and intent of this zone and all other applicable ordinances are adhered to, are shown in RCC 18.90.010, Table of commercial uses. [Ord. 23-08 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 21-10 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 08-13 § 1; Ord. 10-8-03-2 § 1; Ord. 8-17-99-1 § 1 (Exh. A). Code 1997 § 12-260-015.]
18.65.040 Setback requirements.
(1) Adjacent to Public Streets. All buildings adjacent to public streets shall be set back a minimum of 30 feet from back of curb.
(2) Side Yard Setbacks.
(a) Compatible Land Uses. Setbacks between buildings of compatible land use may have a zero setback if both buildings are constructed with a one-hour fire wall. Otherwise, the setbacks shall be a minimum of 15 feet for adequate access. Also, building spans shall have separations for rear access every 300 linear feet unless it can be shown that safety vehicles can adequately service the buildings.
(b) Noncompatible Land Uses. When located adjacent to a residential district (excepting recognizable holding zones for future commercial development), side yard setbacks shall be a minimum of 20 feet.
(3) Rear Yard Setbacks. Where adjacent to residential zones, the minimum rear yard setback shall be one foot for every one foot in building height. However, there shall be a minimum setback of 20 feet, unless an access lane is planned, in which case a minimum of 22 feet is required.
(4) Setbacks shall be measured to the foundation. [Ord. 08-13 § 1; Ord. 10-8-03-2 § 1; Ord. 9-2-03-2 § 1; Ord. 8-17-99-1 § 1 (Exh. A). Code 1997 § 12-260-020.]
18.65.050 Lot coverage.
(1) Building Pad Coverage. Commercial lots in the C-D zone shall have a maximum coverage of 40 percent.
(2) Open Space. Each commercial site in the C-D zone shall contain a minimum of 20 percent landscaped open space within property boundaries. [Ord. 08-13 § 1; Ord. 10-8-03-2 § 1; Ord. 8-17-99-1 § 1 (Exh. A). Code 1997 § 12-260-025.]
18.65.060 Architectural standards.
(1) Turn-of-the-Century Features. The C-D zone shall incorporate a minimum of five characteristics of the “turn-of-the-century.” However, as many characteristics of the turn-of-the-century as possible should be used to create a distinct turn-of-the-century feel to the downtown. The closer to the intersection of 12600 South and Redwood Road a development is, the more elements of turn-of-the-century should be used. These design standards and guidelines are as directed and administrated by the planning commission and city council.
(a) Commercial District Master Plan. The standards and guidelines in this section are the same as those currently found in the Riverton commercial district master plan.
(b) Encouraged Features. The following are encouraged features for all commercial buildings. Large developments should be able to use all of these features. Smaller scale developments are encouraged to use as many of these features as possible. Other acceptable features not listed herein can be found in the architectural guidelines of the Riverton City commercial district master plan.
(i) High pitched roofs.
(ii) Arched doorways and windows.
(iii) Decorative block or brick quoins.
(iv) Columns, either brick, rounded wood or colonial.
(v) Clock towers and other decorative vertical features.
(vi) Keystones over doorways or windows.
(vii) Decorative wood window shutters.
(viii) Brick accent walls.
(ix) Other features as approved by the city council after recommendation by the planning commission.
(2) Building Height. Buildings shall not exceed 50 feet in height, but shall not exceed 35 feet in height where the building is within 100 feet of a residential zone.
(3) Bulk. Commercial buildings shall be designed with architectural wall variations at least every 30 to 50 feet in linear width, depending on the size of the project. Variations could imply an undulation in wall surface or additional architectural elements that break up the large surface into smaller sections.
(4) Roof.
(a) Roofline.
(i) Parapet Walls. Parapet walls may be constructed in the C-D zone. Parapet walls must be solid and conform to the building materials and architecture of the overall building.
(ii) Height Variation. Parapet walls may not span more than 50 feet without variation in height or depth.
(iii) Rooftop Mechanical Equipment. All rooftop mechanical equipment shall be screened from view at the closest edge of adjacent public rights-of-way by parapet walls or other architectural elements as approved by the planning commission.
(b) Roof Materials. Appropriate roofing materials shall be evaluated by the planning department. However, at no time shall wood shingles be permitted.
(5) Exterior Surfaces.
(a) Protected Lower Wall. The lower portion of the wall shall consist of brick in keeping with the historic downtown theme, excluding entryways.
(b) Upper Wall Materials. The remaining portions of the exterior building may consist of glass and brick. However, not more than 30 percent of the building’s exterior wall surface may be glass, unless approved complementary to the turn-of-the-century theme.
(c) Color Palette. Exterior wall surfaces shall be rich tones consistent with the historical theme. Some of these may be earth tones and darker or red brick tones. [Ord. 20-20 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 17-08 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 08-13 § 1; Ord. 10-8-03-2 § 1; Ord. 8-17-99-1 § 1 (Exh. A). Code 1997 § 12-260-030.]
18.65.070 Development standards.
(1) Site Development.
(a) Building Arrangement. A site plan containing several buildings shall be designed, with courtyards when possible, and should break up parking into separate courts.
(b) Site Detail – Walkways, Courtyards and Plazas. Materials for walks, courtyards, and plazas shall be related to the materials of adjacent buildings and shall be a nonskid finish. Design shall encourage comfortable and safe pedestrian use, including landscaping, seating areas, and lighting as according to the adopted Riverton City lighting standards.
(2) Minimum Lot Size. Development within the C-D zone shall not be less than one acre in size, unless it is a pad site included as part of a larger development. Each parcel shall also be of sufficient size to assure compliance with the city’s off-street parking, landscaping, and site plan requirements.
The city may deny a commercial use on property where insufficient lot size or lot shape is such that it creates an illogical traffic circulation, or is not conducive to the intent of this title. The city will encourage the consolidation of lots for commercial uses where odd-shaped and insufficient-sized lots exists.
(3) Streetscape. The public right-of-way, which includes the back of curb, park strip, and sidewalk, shall be designed with a straight sidewalk in the C-D zone. Within the park strip, one-and-one-half-inch caliper trees shall be planted according to the streetscape master plan. Behind the sidewalk, the landscaping plan is encouraged to include berms that rise one foot over every three feet in width, for a maximum height of four feet.
(4) Buffering Between Noncompatible Land Uses. Between noncompatible land uses, a minimum of a six-foot solid masonry wall and seven feet of landscaping shall be installed. Businesses with a rear loading dock shall have an eight-foot masonry wall plus 10 feet of landscaping. Special considerations may be made when the rear yard is adjacent to compatible or future commercial holding zones. The landscaped strip shall include a combination of trees and shrubs that, along with the fence, shall maintain proper screening from adjacent residential uses. Unless otherwise specified by the city council as part of site plan approval, no land disturbance or construction not associated with placement and installation of fencing shall be allowed prior to installation of fencing required by ordinance or by action of the city council. [Ord. 09-07 § 1; Ord. 08-13 § 1; Ord. 10-8-03-2 § 1; Ord. 8-17-99-1 § 1 (Exh. A). Code 1997 § 12-260-035.]
18.65.080 Parking areas.
(1) Arrangement. Parking shall be arranged for convenient access and visibility, but also contained by buildings and landscaping. The site plan shall be designed to encourage parking locations to be on the side and/or rear of the buildings. If parking is necessary in the front, parking and building arrangements shall avoid a strip mall design. The site plan may be required to group parking lots into courts in order to break up the expanse of parking.
(2) Pedestrian Access. Parking lots containing more than 150 spaces must install safe, unobstructed pedestrian paths leading to the store frontage.
(3) Shade. Parking lots shall have a minimum shade canopy of 20 percent at point of mature tree growth. Planters for trees shall be a minimum of five feet by five feet. Planter areas may be counted toward the required open space.
(4) Landscaping. Landscaping medians and borders shall be used to direct circulation flow.
(5) Building Protection. A store front and store access shall not be blocked by parked cars. A store front and store access are not considered blocked by parked cars where they are separated from approved on-street parking by a sidewalk. A minimum of 10 feet shall be required to separate any exterior building wall from parking areas. [Ord. 08-13 § 1; Ord. 10-8-03-2 § 1; Ord. 8-17-99-1 § 1 (Exh. A). Code 1997 § 12-260-040.]