A. 
The purpose of the business districts is to implement certain objectives of the Town's Comprehensive Plan, which designates planned locations and desirable characteristics of future business development. Area generally shown for future commercial and industrial development in the Town's Comprehensive Plan is more specifically designated on the Town's Zoning Map as Houlton Town Center Mixed Use, Rural Mixed Use, and Business Park. The Traditional Commercial District includes areas which were zoned commercial prior to the adoption of this chapter and which may not be conducive to future business development.
B. 
The design standards and requirements set out in this article apply to all business districts unless more specific requirements are set forth elsewhere in this chapter.
Uses in each category of commercial district are either permitted, conditionally permitted or not allowed. See Zoning Ordinance text and Zoning Use Table.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The Zoning Use Table is included as an attachment to this chapter.
The following standards shall apply to all business uses, whether permitted or permitted with a conditional use permit:
A. 
Building construction specified in Chapter 80 of the Town of St. Joseph Code.
B. 
Design regulation specified in Chapter 81 of the Town of St. Joseph Code.
C. 
Roads, driveways, trails, erosion and sediment control and right-of-way constructions specified in Chapter 149 of the Town of St. Joseph Code.
D. 
Signs specified in Chapter 156 of the Town of St. Joseph Code.
E. 
Franchise architecture shall not be allowed.
F. 
Formula businesses shall not be allowed.
A. 
Loading. All business district development proposals shall contain a traffic plan with detailed landscaping, off-street parking layout, bicycle parking locations, drainage provisions and driveway locations. The following standards shall apply:
(1) 
Provision. Space for off-street unloading of vehicles with access to a public street or other public way shall be provided so that streets and sidewalks are free and unobstructed for vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
(2) 
Quantity. The Parking Table provides the parking spaces required. Any use not specifically named shall be assigned to the most appropriate classification as provided in Zoning Use Table. If an appropriate classification is not apparent, the Zoning Administrator may consult the most current version of the Parking Generation Manual by the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE). One loading space minimum is required for every 2,500 square feet of gross floor area of the building served. Establishments offering curb service to customers who remain in their vehicles shall provide at least five off-street parking spaces for each person employed to serve such customers. [Parking table below]
Use
Parking
AGRICULTURE
Animals
Aquaculture
Beekeeping
Livestock facility (less than or equal to 200 animal units)
Livestock facility of any size
Raising chickens, ducks, and fowl
Plants
Crop or forage production
Floriculture
Forest management
Sod or Christmas tree production
Wholesale nursery
Community garden
Community-supported agriculture (CSA food farm)
Nurseries for propagation of plants only
Greenhouse or nursery for retail plant sales
Minimum of 2 plus 1 space per 200 square feet of inside sales and display area, 1 space per 4,000 square feet of outdoor display area, 1 for each company vehicle, and 1 per employee on the largest shift
Greenhouse
Harvesting wild crops
Pick-your-own operations
RESIDENTIAL
Residences
Accessory buildings
Dwelling, single-family
2 spaces for each dwelling unit
Dwelling, secondary
2 spaces for each dwelling unit
Dwelling, two-family
2 spaces for each dwelling unit
Dwelling, multiple
2 spaces for each dwelling unit
Live-work units
1 space per unit under 2,500 square feet. For units larger than 2,500 square feet, 1 space required per 300 square feet of business area.
Temporary residence
2 spaces for each dwelling unit
Group Living
Community living arrangement (1 to 8 persons)
1 space for each 5 beds plus 1 space for each 3 employees on the largest shift
Community living arrangement (9 to 15 persons)
1 space for each 5 beds plus 1 space for each 3 employees on the largest shift
Community living arrangement (greater than 15 persons)
1 space for each 5 beds plus 1 space for each 3 employees on the largest shift
Foster home/adult family home
1 space for each 5 beds plus 1 space for each 3 employees on the largest shift
Residential care services/group home
1 space for each 5 beds plus 1 space for each 3 employees on the largest shift
COMMERCIAL MIXED USES
Animal Services
Kennel, commercial (5 acres or more)
1 space per 1,500 square feet
Veterinary clinic for domestic animals
3 person parking space per doctor plus 1 space per employee on the largest shift
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation
Adult establishment
1 space per 400 square feet
Artisan workshop
Athletic fields or sports courts
1 space per 4,000 square feet of outdoor playfield area, plus 1 space per acre of passive recreation area
Dance school, fitness center or similar indoor recreation facility
1 space per 4 persons
Drive in theater
1 space per 400 square feet
Game arcade
1 space per 400 square feet
Golf course
6 spaces per hole
Museum, gallery or similar cultural center
1 space per 400 square feet
Reception, meeting or community events center
1 space for each 5 seats
Recreation outfitter
1 space for each 150 square feet of net floor space
Single screen theater, movie, or performing arts stage
1 space for each 5 spaces
Day Care
Child care center (9 or more children)
1 space per employee on the largest shift plus 1 space per 10 children
Small group day care for children or adults (up to 8 children or adults)
1 space per employee on the largest shift plus 1 space per 8 children or adults
Food and Beverage Sales/Service
Bakery or deli
1 space per 150 square feet
Grocer or food cooperative
1 space per 500 square feet
Liquor store
1 space per 500 square feet
Roadside stand
Minimum of 5 spaces plus 1 space per employee on the largest shift
Sales of processed or preserved agricultural products and produce
1 space per square 500 feet
Specialty beverage tasting room with retail sales
1 space per square 500 feet and 1 space for each 2 employees on the largest shift
Tavern, cafe or restaurant
1 space per square 500 feet and 1 space for each 2 employees on the largest shift
Lodging
Boarding house
1 space per 2 guest rooms
Bed and breakfast
1 space per 2 guest rooms
Campground, private
1 per campsite
Campground, public
1 per campsite
Offices and Professional Services
Courier and messenger service
1 space per 300 square feet and 1 space for each 2 employees on the largest shift
Financial or investment institution
1 space per 300 square feet and 1 space for each 2 employees on the largest shift
Home health care service offices
1 space per 300 square feet and 1 space for each 2 employees on the largest shift
Innovation workspace
1 space per 300 square feet and 1 space for each 2 employees on the largest shift
Office - business or professional
1 space per 300 square feet and 1 space for each 2 employees on the largest shift
Technology, software and computer services
1 space per 300 square feet and 1 space for each 2 employees on the largest shift
Personal Services
Barber, salon, day spa or beauty shop
3 spaces per chair, plus 1 space per employee on the largest shift
Car wash
Dental clinic
5 spaces for each doctor
Funeral home
20 spaces for each viewing room
Laundromat
1 space per 400 square feet
Medical clinic
1 space for each doctor
Product Repair and Contractor Services
Automotive service, repair and towing
1 space for each regular garage employee on the largest shift plus 1 space per 500 square feet of floor area used for repair work
Contractor sales and service
1 space per 400 square feet
Maintenance and repair of goods and equipment
1 space per 400 square feet
Retail Sales
Artisan furniture or clothing and similar retail sales
1 space per 400 square feet
Automotive parts, accessories and tire stores
1 space per 400 square feet
Convenience store, with or without gasoline sales
1 space per 300 square feet
Dealerships (off-road, watercraft and implements)
1 space per 500 square feet
Drug store/pharmacy
1 space per 400 square feet
Farm market or other open-air agribusiness
1 space per 400 square feet of sales area, whether paved, grass or other suitable material
Garden center
1 space per 400 square feet plus 1 space per 1,000 square feet of outdoor sales area
Hardware supply store
1 space per square feet of sales area, whether paved, grass or other suitable material
Landscape supply and contracting business (plant or tree nursery)
1 space per 1,000 square feet
Notion, variety or gift shop
1 space per 400 square feet
Office supply, printing, photocopy and packaging and similar services
1 space per 400 square feet
Optical sales
1 space per 400 square feet
Miscellaneous Commercial
Agricultural business
1 space for each 2 employees on the largest shift
Home occupations, major
Shall not reduce the number of parking spaces available to a dwelling unit to less than 2
Home occupations, minor
Shall not reduce the number of parking spaces available to a dwelling unit to less than 2
Any building more than 5,500 square feet
1 space per 400 square feet
INDUSTRIAL/PRODUCTION
Manufacturing and Employment
Building construction services
1 space for each 2 employees on the largest shift
Cabinetry, cabinetmaking and counters
1 space for each 2 employees on the largest shift
Cut and sew apparel manufacturing
1 space for each 2 employees on the largest shift
Fruit and vegetable preserving and speciality food manufacturing/packaging - with the exception of animals
1 space for each 2 employees on the largest shift
Industry, light
1 space for each 2 employees on the largest shift
Microbrewery, or distillery with tap/tasting room
1 space per 150 square feet and 1 space for each 2 employees on the largest shift
Renewable energy production equipment, distribution and sales (wind, solar, and geothermal)
1 space for each 2 employees on the largest shift
Winery
1 space for each 2 employees on the largest shift
Warehousing, Storage & Distribution
Contractor storage yard
1 space per 1,500 square feet
Propane storage and distribution
1 space per 1,500 square feet
Seasonal storage
1 space per 1,500 square feet
Self-storage facility
1 space per 1,500 square feet
INFRASTRUCTURE
Utilities
Dam
1 space per 1,500 square feet
Electric-generating facility - small scale
1 space per 1,500 square feet
Irrigation and industrial water supply
1 space per 1,500 square feet
Mobile support structures and facilities
1 space per 1,500 square feet
Utility, minor
1 space per 1,500 square feet
Solar energy production, small scale
1 space per 1,500 square feet
Solar energy production, large scale
1 space per 1,500 square feet
Wind energy
1 space per 1,500 square feet
Wired and wireless communication/cable/transmission facility
1 space per 1,500 square feet
PUBLIC, CIVIC & INSTITUTIONAL
Assembly
Governmental, institutional, or non profit community use
1 space for each 5 seats
Club, lodge or meeting hall
1 space for each 5 seats
Churches/religious institution
1 space for each 5 seats
Educational Institutions and Services
Botanical garden or similar outdoor exhibits and scientific plant study
Interpretive and/or research center for historical, natural or social sciences
3.5 spaces per 1,000 square feet
Preschool
1 space per employee on the largest shift plus 1 space per 10 children
School (public or private)
4 spaces per classroom or office, 1 per 150 square feet of group seating area (auditorium, gymnasium, etc.)
Technical or trade school
4 spaces per classroom or office, 1 per 150 square feet of group seating area (auditorium, gymnasium, etc.)
Public Administration
Library
3.5 spaces per 1,000 square feet
Community center
1 space for each 5 seats
Parks, trails and open space
1space per acre of passive recreation area
Postal service
1 space per 800 square feet
Public safety
1 space per 800 square feet
Social Services and Nonprofit Organizations
Child and youth services
1 space per 400 square feet
Elderly and disabled services
1 space per 400 square feet
Family services (food, emergency, etc.)
1 space per 400 square feet
NOTES:
sf = Gross square footage of building area of the principal structure unless otherwise indicated
"—" = Not applicable
(3) 
Location. Off-street loading spaces shall be located on the same lot with the principal use requiring such space. No loading space shall be located within 30 feet of the nearest point of intersection of two streets or require any vehicle to back into a public street.
(4) 
Design. Each off-street loading space shall have a width of at least 12 feet, a length of at least 40 feet, and a vertical clearance of at least 15 feet. All loading berths shall be completely screened from residential properties by building walls or a uniformly painted solid fence, wall or door, or any combination thereof, not less than eight feet in height.
(5) 
Surfacing. All open-street loading berths shall be improved with a compacted gravel base not less than seven inches thick, surfaced with not less than three inches of asphalt or treated with some comparable all-weather material providing a hard, durable, dustless surface. Unless impractical and waived by the Town Engineer, all such areas shall be graded and drained to a point or points within the private lot such that no runoff shall exit the property into the public street.
(6) 
Repair and surface. No motor vehicle repair work or service of any kind shall be permitted in conjunction with any loading facilities that may be provided in any residential district.
(7) 
Utilization. No motor vehicle repair work or service of any kind shall be permitted in conjunction with any loading facilities that may be provided in any residential district.
B. 
Parking. In connection with every use, and provided at the time any use or building is erected, enlarged, extended, or increased, off-street parking stalls are required for all vehicles in accordance with the following:
(1) 
Access. Adequate driveway access to a public street shall be provided for each parking space. Aisles providing access to stalls shall be not less than 24 feet wide.
(2) 
Location. Parking locations are to be on the same lot as the principal use. No parking stall or driveway shall be closer than 25 feet to a residential district lot line or a street line opposite a residential district, except in residential districts.
(3) 
Size. The size of each parking space shall have a stall width of at least 10 feet, a stall length of at least 20 feet and vertical clearance of at least 6 1/2 feet.
(4) 
Delineation. Any off-street parking area under this section for five or more vehicles shall have the aisles and spaces clearly marked. Curbs or barriers shall be installed in parking lots that prevent the parked vehicles from extending over any adjoining lot line.
(5) 
Grading. All parking spaces shall be graded and drained so as to prevent the accumulation of surface water.
(6) 
Surfacing. All open off-street parking areas shall be surfaced with a dustless all-weather material or other appropriate impermeable surface material capable of carrying a wheel load of 4,000 pounds (normally, a three-inch blacktop on a compacted gravel base of not less than seven inches, or five inches of Portland cement, will meet this requirement).
(7) 
Design. Irregular or other creative parking layout designs may be required to prevent or minimize the undesirable appearance of large undifferentiated spaces.
(8) 
Setbacks. No part of a special purpose off-street parking facility shall extend closer to a street than 1/2 of the setback that would be required for a building on the premises. No part of a special purpose off-street parking facility shall encroach into setback areas. Screen plantings, decorative fences, walls or combination thereof shall be provided in setback area to protect and buffer adjacent properties.
(9) 
Handicapped parking requirements. The provisions of Wis. Stats., §§ 101.13, 346.503 and 346.56, and any Wisconsin Administrative Code sections adopted pursuant thereto are hereby adopted by reference and made applicable to all parking facilities constructed in the Town.
C. 
Adjustments to required parking.
(1) 
Purpose. The purpose of this subsection is to allow adjustments to the minimum number of parking spaces required to avoid constructing unneeded and excessive off-street parking facilities. Reducing the amount of excess off-street parking facilities is intended to provide for more cost-efficient site development, to eliminate constructing more impervious surface than necessary, to minimize stormwater runoff, to avoid construction of unnecessarily large stormwater management facilities, and to provide more landscape areas and open space on commercial and light industrial sites. To achieve these purposes, the Plan Commission may reduce the number of required off-street parking spaces in specific cases as described in this subsection.
(2) 
Adjustments. In all districts, the minimum number of required parking spaces may be adjusted by the Town Board, upon recommendation from the Plan Commission, on an individual basis. The petitioner for such an adjustment shall show to the satisfaction of the Plan Commission that adequate parking will be provided for customers, clients, visitors, and employees. The following provisions and factors shall be used as a basis to adjust parking requirements:
(a) 
Evidence that actual parking demands will be less than Zoning Code requirements. The petitioner shall submit written documentation and data to the satisfaction of the Plan Commission that the operation will require less parking than the Zoning Code requires.
(b) 
Availability of shared parking. The petitioner shall submit written documentation to the satisfaction of the Plan Commission that off-site shared parking spaces are available to satisfy the parking demand. When the reduction of parking spaces attributable to shared parking is requested, the petitioner shall submit written verification that such parking is available and shall include copies of any contracts, joint lease agreements, purchase agreements, and other such documentation to show that such shared parking can be accomplished. The Town Attorney shall provide an opinion designating the method by which the required shared parking shall be provided. The off-site shared parking spaces shall be clearly posted for the joint use of employees and/or tenants or customers of each respective use those spaces serve.
(c) 
Use of off-street parking for visitors. Available nearby on-street parking may be counted toward visitor parking needs. This may only be allowed when on-street parking spaces are within 250 feet of the entrance they are intended to serve.
(d) 
Use of alternative transportation. Upon demonstration to the Plan Commission that effective alternative transportation to the automobile will occur, the Plan Commission may reduce parking requirements. Alternative transportation may include, but is not limited to, bus transit, van pool operations, car pool/ride sharing and bicycles. Parking management plans/operations may also be used as a basis to reduce required parking. Parking management plans may include, but are not limited to, flexible working hours or shifts, preferential parking for car pools/van pools, transit/van pool fare subsidy, imposition of a charge for parking, and establishment of a transportation coordinator to implement car pool, van pool, and transit programs. Proposals for adjustments of parking requirements under this subsection shall show how the alternative transportation modes will be implemented, the permanency of such modes, extent of the program, the number of vehicles the mode will replace, and other pertinent information.
(3) 
Space to be set aside for reduced parking. The site plan for the commercial or light industrial use shall be designed to provide sufficient open space on the subject site to accommodate the additional parking spaces otherwise required by this section. Such open space shall be in addition to required yards, setbacks, driveways, private streets, loading, and service areas. Sufficient open space shall be provided which, if converted to parking spaces, would provide off-street parking to meet the full requirements of this section at the time of application.