Chapter 18.18
NC NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL ZONE DISTRICT
Sections:
18.18.050 Development standards.
18.18.010 Intent.
The intent of the neighborhood commercial (NC) zone district is:
A. To establish and preserve areas suitable for transitional uses between more intensive commercial activities and residential uses. The uses are intended to be those which provide professional and personal services, and general retail sales which generate small numbers of people and small volumes of traffic.
B. Ensure that development in this district is characterized by human scale buildings, low traffic generation, considerable walk-in-trade and quiet operations.
C. Protect existing neighborhood retail districts and permit new establishments where local economic demand and appropriate design can ensure compatibility with the neighborhood.
D. Limit the size, scale and expansion of neighborhood commercial uses in order to minimize traffic volumes and congestion, and other adverse impacts on the neighborhoods in which said establishments are located.
(Ord. O95-035, Added, 12/19/1995)
18.18.020 Permitted uses.
Permitted uses in the NC district are as follows:
A. Personal services;
B. Professional services;
C. Recreational facilities occupying no more than three thousand square feet in floor area;
D. Support facilities;
E. Post office, library, museum, art gallery;
F. Parks and open space areas;
G. Planned unit development;
H. Retail sales occupying no more than three thousand square feet in floor area and for which operating hours are limited to between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.;
I. Medical clinics;
J. Child day care center, child mini-day care center;
K. Adult family homes, residential care facilities;
L. All uses which were legally established prior to January 1, 1996, except where there is a cessation of the use for three or more years;
M. Restaurants without drive-in windows occupying no more than three thousand square feet in floor area;
N. Offices;
O. Family child care homes;
P. Mixed use structures subject to the size limitations for individual uses and TMC 18.18.050(D) and the density requirements for residential use in the NC district found in subsection W of this section;
Q. Attached wireless communication facilities, except that it is prohibited to attach a nonaccessory wireless communication antenna on a single-family or two-family dwelling;*
R. Electric vehicle infrastructure;
S. Community gardens;
T. Farmers markets;
U. Centers for senior citizens, youth, general community, and similar groups;
V. Temporary expansions of schools, such as portable classrooms;
W. Multifamily residential use as part of a mixed use development with a minimum density of four dwelling units per net acre and a maximum density of eight dwelling units per net acre, which is calculated by averaging the densities of all of the different types of housing provided within the development in accordance with TMC 18.14.050(B), excluding the area of the building and parking associated with the commercial development;
X. Drive-through espresso stands/coffee shops occupying no more than five hundred square feet in floor area;
Y. Food trucks or trailers in accordance with TMC 18.42.120;
Z. Food truck or trailer courts in accordance with TMC 18.42.120;
AA. Senior housing facilities, independent;
BB. Permanent supportive housing, subject to TMC 18.42.150;
CC. Transitional housing, subject to TMC 18.42.150;
DD. Optometry clinics.
*Wireless communication facilities are subject to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) standards and approval, and furthermore are subject to provisions for wireless communication facilities in TMC Chapter 11.20, Wireless Communication Facilities.
(Ord. O2022-013, Amended, 10/04/2022; Ord. O2021-19, Amended, 01/18/2022; Ord. O2020-005, Amended, 03/16/2021; Ord. O2019-020, Amended, 11/19/2019; Ord. O2018-029, Amended, 01/15/2019; Ord. O2018-025, Amended, 12/18/2018; Ord. O2017-006, Amended, 07/18/2017; Ord. O2010-029, Amended, 06/07/2011; Ord. O2010-015, Amended, 09/07/2010; Ord. O97-019, Amended, 06/17/1997; Ord. O95-035, Added, 12/19/1995)
18.18.030 Accessory uses.
Accessory uses in the NC district are as follows:
A. Parking lots are permitted as an accessory use. The proposed parking lot shall exclusively serve specifically identified uses and must be contiguous to the primary use. The uses served by the lot may change over time;
B. Home occupation, as approved by the director of community development;
C. Preschool child care facility;
D. Energy systems;
E. Accessory wireless communication antenna.*
*Emergency communication towers and antennas and wireless communication facilities are subject to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) standards and approval if they apply, and furthermore both uses are subject to provisions for wireless communication facilities in TMC Chapter 11.20, Wireless Communication Facilities.
(Ord. O2018-029, Amended, 01/15/2019; Ord. O2018-025, Amended, 12/18/2018; Ord. O2011-002, Amended, 03/01/2011; Ord. O97-019, Amended, 06/17/1997; Ord. O95-035, Added, 12/19/1995)
18.18.040 Conditional uses.
Conditional uses in the NC district are as follows:
A. Animal clinic or hospital;
B. Group foster home;
C. Schools;
D. The following essential public facilities:
1. Mental health facilities (including but not limited to congregate care facilities; adult residential treatment facilities; evaluation and treatment centers);
2. Inpatient facilities including substance abuse facilities (including but not limited to: intensive inpatient facilities; long-term residential drug treatment facilities; recovery house facilities);
E. Retail sales occupying no more than three thousand square feet in floor area for which operating hours include 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.;
F. Taverns, cocktail lounges, occupying no more than three thousand square feet in floor area;
G. Senior housing facilities, assisted.
(Ord. O2020-005, Amended, 03/16/2021; Ord. O2018-029, Amended, 01/15/2019; Ord. O2017-006, Amended, 07/18/2017; Ord. O2000-004, Amended, 07/18/2000; Ord. O97-019, Amended, 06/17/1997; Ord. O95-035, Added, 12/19/1995)
18.18.050 Development standards.
Development in the NC district must meet the following requirements:
A. Site area: minimum of one acre.
B. No more than eighty-five percent of the square footage of the site may be covered by buildings and parking.
C. Structure height: thirty-five feet; provided, however, that no structure shall penetrate imaginary airspace surfaces as defined by 14 CFR Part 77. A map that provides detailed information on ground and imaginary airspace surface elevations is available for inspection in the community development department.
D. Maximum Building Size (Gross Square Feet).
1. The maximum individual building size shall be five thousand for single use; ten thousand for mixed use with residential on the second floor and above.
2. The combined size of all buildings on an individual site shall not exceed ten thousand gross square feet or fifteen percent of the gross site area, whichever is greater.
E. Yards.*
1. Front: the minimum setback shall be ten feet from frontage property line. The maximum setback shall be fifteen feet from the abutting right-of-way;
2. Side: five feet from property line, or if on an alley located to the side, the setback shall be ten feet from the side property line;
3. Rear: five feet, or if an alley is located to the rear, the setback shall be ten feet from the rear property line.
Where structures or portions of structures are adjacent to the RSR, SFL, or SFM zoning districts, and where structures are constructed over one story, the structural setback from the adjacent property line or lines shall be increased by ten feet for every story above the ground level story of the proposed new building, and shall be screened from view in accordance with TMC Chapter 18.47.
F. Pedestrian Access.
1. An on-site pedestrian circulation system, which links the street and the primary entrance(s) of the structure(s), shall be provided. Sidewalks or pedestrian ways must connect the required pedestrian system to existing pedestrian systems on adjacent developments if adequate safety and security can be maintained.
2. Sidewalks shall be required and constructed according to the city’s road development standards.
3. Where the pedestrian circulation system crosses driveways, parking areas, and loading areas, it must be clearly identifiable, through the use of elevation changes, speed bumps, a different paving material, or other similar method approved by the community development director. Striping may be permitted only in conjunction with at least one of the preceding methods.
4. Lighting for parking lots and pedestrian ways shall be provided to ensure personal safety. Lighting shall be integrated into the architectural character both in terms of illumination and fixtures. Site lighting shall be directed downward and inward or other techniques may be utilized to minimize impacts on off-site uses.
G. Park and Open Space Area. New development in this district shall set aside land for park and open space area as specified in TMC 17.12.210 and 18.42.130 and the citywide design guidelines.
*See Diagram 18.04.670, Yard Determination Diagram, in TMC 18.04.230, Y definitions.
(Ord. O2020-015, Amended, 02/16/2021; Ord. O2018-029, Amended, 01/15/2019; Ord. O2011-002, Amended, 03/01/2011; Ord. O2004-009, Amended, 12/07/2004; Ord. O2000-004, Amended, 07/18/2000; Ord. O98-009, Amended, 10/20/1998; Ord. O97-024, Amended, 03/03/1998; Ord. O96-022, Amended, 12/19/1996; Ord. O95-035, Added, 12/17/1995)