§ 9-218.2. C-2 highway commercial district.

(a)

In the C-2 highway commercial district, no building or premises shall be used and no building shall be hereinafter erected or structurally altered, unless otherwise provided in this chapter, except for one or more of the following uses;

(1)

Any use permitted in residential district.

(2)

Funeral homes.

(3)

Interior decorators.

(4)

Radio and television repair shop.

(5)

Health spa.

(6)

Letter shops and printing establishments.

(7)

Auditoriums, convention centers and community centers.

(8)

Union hall.

(9)

Banks and financial institutions.

(10)

Government buildings such as city halls, police stations, fire stations.

(11)

Wholesale plant nursery (retail).

(12)

Antiques.

(13)

Appliance store.

(14)

Art supplies.

(15)

Bakeries.

(16)

Camera and photographic supplies.

(17)

Convenience stores.

(18)

Grocery stores.

(19)

Hobby shops.

(20)

Hardware.

(21)

Florist or gifts.

(22)

Jewelry.

(23)

Leather goods and luggage.

(24)

Musical instruments.

(25)

Pharmaceuticals.

(26)

Sporting goods.

(27)

Toys.

(28)

Wearing apparel (clothes).

(29)

Barber and beauty shops.

(30)

Catering.

(31)

Dance and musical studios.

(32)

Delicatessens.

(33)

Dry cleaning.

(34)

Photographic studio.

(35)

Restaurants.

(36)

Shoe repair.

(37)

Small loan agencies, travel agencies, employment offices, newspaper offices (but not printing or circulation).

(38)

Professional/business offices, medical/dental clinics including real estate.

(39)

Private clubs and lodges.

(40)

Schools, libraries.

(41)

House of worship.

(42)

Cluster developments consisting of individual retail stores or other planned unit developments.

(43)

U.S. Post Office substation.

(44)

Child day care facilities.

(45)

Auto parts and accessories.

(46)

Feed.

(47)

Seasonal produce.

(48)

Pest control.

(49)

Public and semi-public utilities offices.

(50)

Art galleries.

(51)

Utility collection offices.

(52)

Ice cream shops.

(53)

Law offices.

(54)

Architecture of engineering offices.

(55)

Accountant offices.

(56)

Insurance offices.

(57)

Other professional offices.

(58)

Inn or guest houses of ten guestrooms or less.

(59)

Dwelling units located above the first floor designed for business use.

(60)

Farmers market.

(61)

Parks and playgrounds.

(62)

Sports and gymnasium.

(63)

Athletic fields.

(64)

Medical clinics.

(65)

Business college or business schools operated as a business enterprise.

(66)

Department store.

(67)

Indoor recreation establishments (bowling alleys, skating rinks and movie theaters, performing theaters).

(68)

Instruction of fine arts.

(69)

Physical culture and health establishments.

(70)

Enclosed plumbing, electrical and home building supply, showrooms and sales centers with associated assembly progress.

(71)

Radio and television studios.

(72)

Snowball stands.

(73)

Mixed-use centers, including residential uses provided they do not exceed 20 percent of the developed floor area of all structures located in the district.

(74)

Automotive service stations, provided there are not more than two pump islands and provided open spaces are not used for storage, display or sale or used or wrecked automobiles or equipment.

(b)

Approval of the Abita Springs Historical Commission shall be required as provided by the ordinance of the Town of Abita Springs as to compliance with the following:

(1)

All architectural requirements, rules, regulations and/or ordinances of the residential historical district which shall apply to this district.

(2)

All landscape requirements as required by the residential commercial overlay ordinance shall also apply to this district.

(c)

The setback requirements provided for in the commercial/residential overlay ordinances shall apply to this district. These requirements may be mitigated by the designation of other green spaces subject to the approval of the Abita Springs Planning Commission.

(d)

No multifamily allowed.

(e)

No mobile home, modular home or trailer shall be located within the C-2 commercial district.

(f)

Drainage study. Property owner/developer may be required by the town engineer, if he determines the volume or velocity of water flow is increased onto adjacent private or town property or a development, to provide a drainage study on property to be developed and present this study for review to the town engineer at the expense of the owner/developer.

(g)

The minimum lot size shall be 90 feet front on a public street by 120 feet deep.

(h)

No building shall be constructed in a commercial area of a height in excess of 35 feet.

(i)

Parking lot areas and landscape requirements.

(1)

Parking.

One space for each 300 square feet of building.

Handicap spaces are located for convenience near the entrance or handicap ramp. Signs are to be posted for restricted parking.

(2)

Entrance and parking facility

i.

Entrance from highway or streets must be asphalt or concrete;

ii.

Parking lots eight spaces or less may be loose aggregate with asphalt or concrete driveways;

iii.

Parking lots with over eight spaces must be asphalt or concrete;

iv.

In that portion of the C-2 district which is described as being 300 feet in depth on each side along the right-of-way line of Harrison Street from its intersection with Abita Louisiana Highway 59 to its intersection with St. Tammany Trace parking shall only be allowed in the rear of the primary commercial building and along each side thereof. Such parking shall not extend on the sides of the building past the front of the building facing the street. This limitation on parking shall not affect those properties on Harrison Street which are on the corners of either Louisiana Highway 59 or Louisiana Highway 36. An exception of this parking requirement maybe granted by the zoning commission on property situated on the corner of any street and Harrison Street upon a finding that such exception will:

a.

Enhance the safety of traffic at the intersection; or

b.

Improve the health of trees protected under the ordinances of Abita Springs; or

c.

Improve the flow of traffic in the area.

d.

setbacks in front and side will be at ten feet unless adjacent to residential district then 20 feet.

v.

In the instance of commercial buildings with a minimum of three individual units, the planning and zoning commission may permit those building to front a common area, rather than directly on the street. Such may be permitted based on a finding that such development:

a.

Conforms to the aesthetics of the surrounding area; and,

b.

Does not otherwise cause a detrimental impact on parking safety, drainage or traffic flow; and,

c.

Improves the health of trees protected under the ordinances of the city.

(3)

Drainage. Permanent storm drainage must be provided according to construction specifications, and approved by the town, as not to free-flow onto adjacent properties or public streets.

(4)

Safety features.

Buffers are required at all points which abut or adjoin properties, highway intersections or streets.

Barriers, protective bumpers, curbing and directional markers are required in lots with more than 20 parking spaces.

Lighting shall provide for the safety, comfort and convenience of patrons.

Lighting shall be designed to minimize light spill-over onto adjacent spaces.

Lights shall be hooded or shielded so the light source is not visible to adjacent, more restrictive, residential districts.

Lights must dim to half power a maximum of two hours after close of business.

Fencing between C-2 and residential districts is required and must be wooden fencing at least six feet high, to run the entire length of the property dividing the zones.

(5)

Maintenance. All parking and loading facilities shall be maintained to be free of refuse, debris and other accumulated matter.

(6)

Landscaping.

a.

Trees (protected trees). No base prep within the drip line of the tree. The tree shall be surrounded by curbing. Curbing shall not sever roots greater than two inches in diameter or penetrate natural grade of drip line of tree.

Type "A" trees include all hard woods indigenous to the area such as oak, maple, cedar, cypress, birch, pine, pecan, etc.

Type "B" trees include ornamental species such as crepe myrtle, dogwood, redbud, laurel, magnolia, sweet olive, gardenia, lasianthus, native fringe, etc.

b.

Buffers; greenbelts. Buffers or green belt areas (between highway and parking lot, and sideline setbacks) shall require one class "A" tree every 25 feet as well as groundcover such as turf or other vegetative cover. All trees six inches in diameter or larger must be preserved at time of clearing. Also, class "B" trees are to be planted every 25 feet in this area.

c.

Interior planting. Interior planting parking areas containing more than eight spaces are required to provide for ground water recharge, water run-off, irrigation, shade, and to reduce heat and glare reflected from paved areas. Also to help purify the air. These areas must be planted with a minimum of one tree per 2,000 square feet (approx. five spaces) along with vegetative ground cover as well as shrubs and ornamentals.

(Ord. No. 250, 4-14-03; Ord. No. 255, 8-19-03; Ord. No. 318, 3-26-07; Ord. No. 433, 10-16-2012)