Fort Worth Zoning Ordinance § 4.900 NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL RESTRICTED (“ER”) DISTRICT.
§ 4.900 NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL RESTRICTED (“ER”) DISTRICT.
(a) Purpose and intent. The purpose of the neighborhood commercial restricted (“ER”) district is to provide areas for neighborhood serving limited commercial, institutional and office uses. Alcoholic beverage sales are prohibited.
(b) Uses.
(1) Generally. In the neighborhood commercial restricted (“ER”) district, no building or land shall be used and no building shall be hereafter erected, reconstructed, altered or enlarged, nor shall a certificate of occupancy be issued, except in accordance with the use tables in Chapter 4, Articles 6 and 8 and the supplemental use standards of Chapter 5.
(2) Limitations on commercial development in “ER” district.
a. The sale of alcoholic beverages shall not be permitted in the “ER” district.
b. All business shall be conducted wholly within an enclosed building.
c. No drive-in or curb services shall be permitted unless approved through special exception.
(c) Property development standards. The minimum dimension of lots and yards and the height of buildings in the neighborhood commercial restricted (“ER”) district, shall be as shown in the accompanying table.
Neighborhood Commercial Restricted (“ER”) District
Neighborhood Commercial Restricted (“ER”) District
Business/tenant size | 5,000 square feet maximum gross floor area per tenant; exterior entrances are required for each tenant; special exception required for each business in excess of 5,000 square feet.
Building size | 10,000 square feet maximum gross floor area; special exception required for building in excess of 10,000 square feet.
Building lot coverage | 30% maximum
Front yard* | 20 feet minimum
Rear yard* |
Adjacent to A or B residential district | 5 feet minimum, however where a residential supplemental setback applies and the building exceeds 20 feet in height, the building setback must equal the height of the building
Adjacent to all other districts | 5 feet minimum
Side yard* | Interior lot
Adjacent to A or B residential district | 5 feet minimum adjacent to residentially zoned lot; none otherwise; if provided, side yard must be 3 feet minimum; however where the building exceeds 20 feet in height and a residential supplemental setback applies, the building setback must equal to the height of the building
Adjacent to all other districts | 5 feet minimum
Corner lot** | None required unless through lot, then 10 feet minimum required
Height | 35 feet maximum; for any part of a building that exceeds 20 feet in height and a residential supplemental setback applies per § 6.300, the building setback must equal the height of the building; see § 6.100
Notes:
* Additional setback may be required (see Chapter 6, Development Standards, § 6.300, Bufferyard and Supplemental Building Setback).
** May be subject to projected front yard (§ 6.101(f))
(d) Other development standards. Development in the neighborhood commercial restricted (“ER”) district may be subject to a variety of general development standards in Chapter 6, and the following provisions.
(1) Off-street parking and loading. For further details, other uses and loading areas see Chapter 6 Development Standards, Article 2, Off-Street Parking and Loading, § 6.200.
a. Limited to passenger automobiles only.
b. The restrictions in § 6.202(f) shall apply to all auxiliary parking.
1. Parking shall not be permitted in the required front yard (setback) if the required front yard of the building faces any portion of a required front yard of an “A” or “B” residential district or the front yard of the building is adjacent to the front yard of an “A” or “B” residential district. The remainder of the yard must be landscaped.
2. Retail buildings require one space per 250 square feet. Office or professional buildings require one space per 400 square feet. A curb or bumper shall be placed along the perimeter of the parking area to prevent vehicles from extending into the required front yard, into an abutting alley, beyond the property line or from damaging the walls or shrubs screening it from residential property. The required front yard shall not be graveled or hard-surfaced, but shall be maintained as open or landscaped green space. A sidewalk shall be constructed to City specifications abutting the front line of the parking lot and between the lot and the property line of the nearest intersecting commercial street.
(2) Landscaping and buffers adjacent to “A” or “B” residential zoning district.
a. Screening trees must be provided within the buffer area along the property line adjacent to an “A” or “B” district. Trees must be spaced no more than 25 feet apart. Fifty percent of these trees must be evergreen.
b. A minimum six-foot screening fence is required along the property line adjacent to an “A” or “B” district. Allowed screening fence materials are limited to masonry or wrought iron fence with landscape screening; smooth concrete, wood, vinyl or metal fences are not permissible types. See Chapter 6, Development Standards, Article 3.
(3) Signs. See Chapter 6, Development Standards, § 6.400 Signs.
a. No freestanding or roof signs are permitted.
b. Signs shall be fastened flat against the wall.
c. No sign shall be illuminated.
d. The sign shall cover no more than 15% of the area of the wall or facade, including doors and windows, on which the sign is placed, and shall not extend above the roof line or parapet wall of the building.
(4) Metal buildings. The exterior metal walls of the front and any sides of a building facing a public street that will be constructed with metal cladding as the primary siding material shall not be constructed with exposed fasteners on more than 50% of the building. All buildings with metal siding shall have at least two exterior architectural features for articulation, such as front porches, gables, awnings or other exterior siding materials. Each metal siding shall not be considered an architectural feature. These features shall not apply to large retail stores.
(Ord. 20159-04-2012, § 1 (Exh. A), passed 4-3-2012)