17.86.090 Convenience stores.
A. Purpose and Intent. It is a goal of the city to allow for the establishment of small-scale, low impact, locally oriented and easily accessible commercial enterprises near or within residential areas to serve the day-to-day needs of neighborhood residents and to promote walking, biking, and other forms of nonmotorized transportation for local trips. The standards in this section are intended to ensure convenience stores will serve persons who live or work in nearby neighborhoods, and who will normally not need a vehicle to get to the market. The standards are aimed to ensure such stores offer adequate food and supplies to attract customers who would otherwise drive to a large supermarket. Limits on hours and alcohol sales and other provisions are necessary to guard against such stores from becoming a nuisance to the neighborhood.
B. Standards. The following standards shall apply to all convenience stores:
1. Maximum Size. Gross floor area shall not exceed four thousand five hundred square feet per business. Floor area for any accessory residential use shall not be counted toward the allowed store floor area.
2. Height, Setback, and Lot Coverage. Convenience stores shall comply with the height, setback, and coverage requirements for the underlying zone, except that stores in residential zones shall comply with standards for the C-N zone.
3. Loading and Deliveries. One curbside or off-street loading space shall be provided per business. Loading and deliveries shall be allowed only between the hours of eight a.m. and nine p.m.
4. Hours of Operation. Convenience stores shall open for business no earlier than seven a.m. and shall close no later than ten p.m., and close no later than eight p.m. in residential zones, unless otherwise specified by use permit.
5. Alcohol Sales. Convenience stores within residential zones may sell beer and wine but shall be prohibited from selling distilled spirits of any kind.
6. Performance Standards. Convenience stores shall comply with Article 3 (Regulations and Standards Applicable to All Zones). In addition, all exterior trash enclosures, outdoor storage, heating or cooling equipment, refrigerators, and similar equipment shall be visually screened, and located and/or designed to avoid noise, odor, glare, or vibration impacts to neighboring properties.
7. Architectural Review. Convenience stores shall be compatible with neighboring structures in terms of scale, massing, architectural style or character, colors and materials, access, exterior lighting, and landscaping.
8. Required Findings. In acting to approve a convenience store in a residential zone, the review authority shall be required to make the following findings:
a. That the convenience store is located on a site that is of sufficient size to accommodate the use proposed and any required site improvements;
b. That the property will be developed and used in a manner that encourages and supports pedestrian, bicycle, and other forms of nonmotorized vehicle access by customers; and
c. That the convenience store will not result in any adverse public health, safety, and general welfare impacts and in particular, that noise, traffic, lighting, odor control, and litter control impacts are sufficiently addressed. (Ord. 1650 § 3 (Exh. B), 2018)