20C.50.15 Commercial Zones.

20C.50.15-010 Purpose.

Commercial zones provide areas for the development and operation of retail and service businesses in support of community needs. These zones complement the Downtown zones (Chapter 20C.40 RCDG) and Overlake zones (Chapter 20C.45 RCDG). Mixed uses are encouraged in the commercial zones. Exclusive of the Downtown zones, Overlake zones and special design district zones, two types of commercial zones are established within the City. These include: Neighborhood Commercial (NC) and General Commercial (GC) as described in the following sections. (Ord. 2385; Ord. 2302; Ord. 2027)

20C.50.15-020 Neighborhood Commercial (NC) Zone.

The Neighborhood Commercial (NC) zone provides for small-scale shopping areas that offer retail convenience goods, professional and business services, and personal services for the daily needs of nearby neighborhoods. This zoning district is designed to reduce trips by providing convenient shopping and services. The allowed uses are intended to primarily serve the neighborhood. Uses that tend to draw traffic into the neighborhood are not allowed. NC zones are located on transit routes and near pedestrian facilities and bike paths to encourage transit use, walking and biking. Each neighborhood commercial area is compact to prevent commercial strip development. Buildings are located so customers can walk from building to building to meet their daily needs. Neighborhood commercial sites are limited in size to keep them in scale with the neighborhoods they serve and nearby uses. In addition, high-quality design and landscaping are used to make the area attractive, functional and to minimize negative impacts on nearby uses. Other measures, such as buffering requirements and limits on hours of operation, may be used to reduce impacts to nearby residences. Mixed uses and above-ground-floor residential uses are encouraged. The decision to include Neighborhood Commercial zones, their specific location, and size, are made during the neighborhood planning process. (Ord. 2147; Ord. 2027)

20C.50.15-030 General Commercial (GC) Zone.

The General Commercial (GC) zone provides for retail uses which are land intensive, serve travelers, or offer warehouse sales and sales of larger goods which are not well suited to the Downtown zone or to the Overlake area. High-quality design and landscaping are used to make these areas attractive and functional, and to minimize negative impacts on nearby uses. While automobiles are accommodated by this zone, site and building design also encourage pedestrian, bicycle, and transit use. Complementary uses are encouraged to cluster together. Shared parking and accesses are encouraged. Residential uses are allowed in the upper floors of buildings through the general development permit process where negative impacts will not result. (Ord. 2302; Ord. 2027)

20C.50.15-040 Retail Commercial (RC) Zone – Purpose.

Repealed by Ord. 2385. (Ord. 2027)