A.
Commercial Zones. The purposes of the Commercial zones are to:
1.
Maintain areas for a broad range of local-and regional-serving commercial and office establishments that meet the needs of current and future residents and take advantage of the City's location relative to regional roadway and transit systems;
2.
Assure high-quality design and site planning of commercial and office areas to attract customers, enhance the neighborhoods in which they are located, and contribute to the positive character of the City as a whole;
3.
Encourage the development of commercial and office areas that create an opportunity to walk and bike between businesses, shopping and residences; and
4.
Ensure that new commercial and office development is designed to minimize traffic and parking impacts on surrounding neighborhoods and is appropriate to the physical characteristics of the site and the area where the project is located.
Additional purposes of each Commercial zone: |
B.
Neighborhood Commercial (NC). The NC zone is intended to provide for small-scale retail and service uses that meet the daily needs of nearby residents and workers. Standards for the NC zone are in-tended to reduce the need to drive by providing everyday goods and services close to where people live and work, and by allowing for centers of neighborhood activity that support small businesses. Development within this zone should maximize human-scaled elements while providing a sensitive transition between these uses and neighboring residential areas. Permitted uses within the NC zone include supermarkets, drug stores, small restaurants, laundromats, dry cleaners, and a variety of smaller shops. The maximum permitted FAR is 0.5. The NC zone implements the Neighborhood Commercial (NC) land use designation in the General Plan.
C.
Highway Commercial (HC). The HC zone is intended to provide for a full range of retail, service, and office uses to serve the daily and occasional needs of residents, workers, and visitors. The HC zone is applied only along major corridors to ensure that a diversity of commercial uses is available within convenient locations. Permitted uses include general retail, personal services, professional offices, restaurants, gas and service stations, hotels and motels, and other similar commercial uses. Single-family homes are not permitted in the HC zone. The maximum permitted FAR is 0.5. The HC zone implements the Highway Commercial (HC) land use designation in the General Plan.
D.
Regional Commercial (RC). The RC zone is intended for the development of regional shopping centers and accompanying uses that are visible from a regional standpoint, such as near freeways and major arterials. The RC zone is applied in the southern end of the City along Mountain Avenue and 7th Street near the entrance to I-10. Permitted uses include department stores, home furnishings and appliance stores, apparel stores, specialty retail stores, and restaurants. Development within this zone should address the freeway as well as arterial roadways through attractive building façades in order to establish an attractive gateway into the City. The maximum permitted FAR is 0.5. The RC zone implements the Regional Commercial (RC) land use designation in the General Plan.
E.
Office/Professional (OP). While office uses are supported in all commercial designations, the OP zone is intended to provide for areas to be used predominantly for professional and administrative offices, supporting retail, and related uses. This zone is found predominantly around San Antonio Hospital to allow for medical-related office uses compatible with the hospital and nearby residential areas. Mixed office and commercial uses are supported as well. The maximum permitted FAR is 0.5. The OP zone implements the Office/Professional (OP) land use designation in the General Plan.