Chapter 10.85
PO – PROFESSIONAL OFFICE ZONE
Sections:
10.85.040 Minimum lot standards.
10.85.050 Distance between buildings.
10.85.060 Off-street parking and loading.
10.85.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this zone is to provide appropriate locations for the development, maintenance, and protection of professional and administrative establishments. The regulations of this zone shall promote a quiet environment for business administration, professional/medical, and government activities, free from the congestion and traffic of the usual commercial business district. The professional office zone is intended to provide a buffer or transition along minor or major collector streets adjoining residential neighborhoods. To this end, the regulations permit professional office buildings, medical, and appropriate non-automobile oriented financial facilities primarily for the service of the area residents. The intensity of development of such a district shall reflect its environmental setting with building height and coverage generally similar to and harmonious with those of neighboring residential districts. [Ord. 11-02 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 08-07 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 06-27; Ord. 06-17; Code 1971 § 10-18-010.]
10.85.020 Permitted uses.
The following are permitted uses by right provided the parcel and building meet all other provisions of this title or any other applicable ordinances of Syracuse City and receive site plan approval as provided in SCC 10.20.090:
(A) Administrative and executive offices.
(B) Animal clinics.
(C) Assisted living centers.
(D) Churches, synagogues, and temples.
(E) Day care and preschool centers.
(F) Financial planning, investment planning, real estate, and general business offices.
(G) Marriage and family counseling services.
(H) Medical and other health facilities.
(I) Professional nonretail services.
(J) Professional offices (for lawyers, engineers, and architects). [Ord. 20-28 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 11-02 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 08-07 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 06-27; Ord. 06-17; Code 1971 § 10-18-020.]
10.85.030 Conditional uses.
The following may be permitted as conditional uses after application and approval as specified in SCC 10.20.080.
(A) Accessory buildings (200 square feet or greater) (minor).
(B) Animal hospitals (major).
(C) Churches or religious service buildings (major).
(D) Dwellings, limited to one unit per property. Occupancy of the unit shall be limited to the business owner or employee and their family (major).
(E) Optical shops (minor).
(F) Public and quasi-public buildings (major).
(G) Temporary commercial uses (see SCC 10.35.050) (minor). [Ord. 20-28 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 11-10 § 10; Ord. 11-02 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 08-07 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 06-27; Ord. 06-17; Code 1971 § 10-18-030.]
10.85.040 Minimum lot standards.
All lots developed and all structures and uses placed on lots shall be in accordance with the following standards. Lot area for properties in this zone shall front existing minor or major collector streets of the City and include all property as described on the most recent plat of record.
(A) Lot area: minimum of one-half acre to maximum of 10 acres.
(B) Lot width: 100 feet.
(C) Front yard: 15 feet.
(D) Side yards: as required by site plan review.
(E) Rear yard: as required by site plan review.
(F) Building height: the height of buildings over 35 feet may be equal to the horizontal distance from the nearest zone boundary line. Buildings 35 feet high or less may be located within 10 feet of the zone boundary line. In determining height, exclude uses not for human occupancy, such as chimneys, flagpoles, church towers, and similar structures. [Ord. 11-02 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 08-07 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 06-27; Ord. 06-17; Code 1971 § 10-18-040.]
10.85.050 Distance between buildings.
In this zone, where there is more than one office building constructed on a site, there shall be a minimum distance between structures of at least 20 feet. [Ord. 11-02 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 08-07 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 06-27; Ord. 06-17; Code 1971 § 10-18-050.]
10.85.060 Off-street parking and loading.
Off-street parking and loading shall be provided as specified in Chapter 10.40 SCC. [Ord. 11-02 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 08-07 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 06-27; Ord. 06-17; Code 1971 § 10-18-060.]
10.85.070 Signs.
Signs permitted in this zone shall be those allowed in professional office zones by Chapter 10.45 SCC. [Ord. 12-05 § 2; Ord. 11-02 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 08-07 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 06-27; Ord. 06-17; Code 1971 § 10-18-070.]
10.85.080 Special provisions.
(A) Landscaping. In this zone, the following landscaping requirements shall include:
(1) Ten feet of landscaping along frontage areas not occupied by drive accesses.
(2) A sprinkling system and plantings with substantial live plant material for the purpose of buffering, screening, and beautifying the site (plant maturity landscaping should represent, as a minimum standard, compatibility with surrounding developed properties and uses with permanent maintenance by the owner or occupants).
(3) A minimum buffer of 10 feet adjacent to residential zoning.
(4) A landscaped area of five feet adjacent to off-street parking within required yard areas providing it does not abut residential zoning or uses (landscaping in areas adjacent to residential uses shall be according to buffering requirements per Chapter 10.30 SCC).
(5) Landscaping installed in all parkstrips to the same standards as other on-site landscaping as well as a minimum of two trees per every 50 feet of frontage (asphalt, paving stones, or brick or concrete paving in place of landscaping between the sidewalk and curb is prohibited).
(6) Landscaping covering at least 15 percent of the development site. Landscaping shall be installed within four months of occupancy and maintained in good condition.
(a) Turfgrass is not to exceed 15 percent of the total landscaped area.
(b) No turfgrass in parkstrips or areas with widths less than eight feet.
(c) Drip irrigation only in landscape areas less than eight feet wide.
(B) Fencing. Where the site abuts a residential zone, a six-foot-high decorative texture solid masonry wall shall be located along the property line. All fencing must comply with Chapter 10.30 SCC.
(C) Trash Storage. A screened or otherwise enclosed area, or outside area designated for a trash dumpster or other trash-control device, shall be an integral part of the on-site buildings to keep the trash out of public view and prevent litter from scattering throughout the area. The building materials for dumpster enclosures shall be similar to those of the primary use building.
(D) Lighting. The following provisions shall apply to installation, maintenance, and operation of outdoor lighting in this zone:
(1) All lights shall have shields to direct all light toward the earth’s surface and away from reflective surfaces.
(2) Light fixtures or lamps shall have shields or shades to direct incident rays away from all adjacent property.
(3) Lights on poles shall not be taller than the building whose area they illuminate nor taller than 15 feet, whichever is shorter.
(4) Any facilities requiring floodlights may not arrange the light(s) in such a way that it will shine towards roadways, onto adjacent residential property or residential use property, or into the night sky.
(5) The placement of any light fixture shall be in such a manner that no light-emitting surface is visible from any residential area when viewed at ground level.
(6) The level of lighting shall not exceed one-half foot-candle at any residential property line or one foot-candle at any nonresidential property line.
(7) Any canopy structure used at a business office location must have recessed lights with diffusers that do not extend below the surface of the canopy.
(8) Any luminaire on a pole, stand, or mounted on a building must have a shield, an adjustable reflector, and a nonprotruding diffusor. [Ord. 22-08 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 11-02 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 08-07 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 06-27; Ord. 06-17; Code 1971 § 10-18-080.]