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THE ZONING REPORT Page Eight "C-2 District Regulations (General Retail and Highway Oriented Commercial Districts) "Statement of Intent. The 'C-2' District is in- tended to provide for major retail shopping areas (other than shopping centers in 'C-4' Dis- tricts) outside the downtown area. These dis- tricts include as well much of the strip com- mercial property existing along the major streets and highways of the city. The uses per- mitted are intended to accommodate both the general retail consumer and the needs and services of the automobile traveIing consumer. "C-3A District Regulations. (Central Business District Support Commercial District) "Statement of Intent. The 'C-3A' District is intended to provide for medium to high intensi- ty pedestrian and auto oriented office, retail, commercial, mixed-use (commercial/residential) development in support of the downtown core and would also serve the entire metropolitan area. It is intended this district not be mapped outside the downtown area. "C-3 District Regulations. (Central Business District Commercial Districts) "Statement of Intent. The 'C-3' District is in- tended to accommodate large office concentra- tions and the great variety of retail stores and related activities which occupy the prime area within the central business district, and which serve the entire metropolitan area. 'C-3' areas are characterized by high intensity and large bulk development. It is intended that this dis- trict not be mapped outside the downtown area. "C-4 District Regulations (Shopping Center Commercial Districts) "Statement of Intent. The 'C-4' District is in- tended to provide for the development of shop- ping centers. For the purpose of this section, the term 'shopping center' shall mean a plan- ned retail and service area under single owner- ship, management, or control characterized by a concentrated grouping of stores and compati- ble uses, with various facilities designed to be used in common, such as ingress and egress roads, extensive parking accommodations, etc. "Since shopping center developments, wheth- er large or small, have a significant effect upon the Comprehensive Plan for the develop- ment of the City, extensive authority over their development is retained by the City Council and the Plan Commission. Many mat- ters relating to the shopping center's design, its potential for success or failure and its ef- fect upon surrounding neighborhoods must be considered by the Council and Commission in order to reasonably be assured that the area will not eventually become blighted. It is fur- ther intended that in the event of an appli- cant's failure to construct a shopping center in accordance with a reasonable time schedule the City Council shall enact the necessary leg- islation to reclassify the area to another clas- sification consistent with the surrounding neighborhood, in order that the property will not be sterilized from use. Such action would also, because of the reduction to commercial zoning in a given area, provide conditions whereby it could be reasonable for the Council to classify other areas in the vicinity for shop- ping center use." [Des Moines IAI IN THE NEXT FEW ISSUES . . . Next month, for November 18th, we discuss defining floor area, GFA, GLA and FAR as used in zoning codes. For December 16th, our topic is new ideas for density bonuses in PUDs. For January 20th, 1995: standards for vari- ances and special exceptions. For February 24th: siting and orientation of buildings on lots. For March: new concepts in buffer yards and screens in zoning and subdivision codes. We m~ke every effort to present accurate in- formation and sound opinion in this report. However, we do not guarantee results, accu- racy, or assume liability for errors, omissions, or for information you may act upon. This pub- lication does not purport to be engaged in the practice of law or give legal advice, but is the opinion of the editor and publisher solely as a professional urban planner. October 21, 1994 issue