§ 5.04. Commercial Uses.
Airfield. The landing field of an airport.
Airport. A tract of land or water that is maintained for the landing and takeoff of airplanes and for receiving and discharging passengers an cargo, with provisions for terminals, hangars, refueling and repair facilities, passenger accommodations and emergency management. An airport may also have hotels, restaurants, bars, rental car agencies and other commercial/office facilities.
Airstrip. A runway without normal airbase or airport facility.
Animal hospital. A place where small household pets are given medical treatment and short-term pet boarding areas inside a building.
Bakery, minor. A place for baking and selling baked goods. Also known as bakeshop.
Bank (financial institution). An establishment for the custody, loan, exchange or issue of money, for the extension of loans and for facilitating the transmission of funds. Other similar financial institutions are savings and loan institutions, credit unions and finance companies.
Bed and breakfast inn. A house or building, and any portion thereof, utilized in providing short-term lodging and meals for which compensation is received. The owner/operator of the inn shall live on or immediately adjacent to the premises.
Boarding house. A house which accommodates two or more individuals for residency on a long-term basis (at the least a month-to-month basis). A boarding house is not the same as a dwelling unit, as defined in this Ordinance.
Broadcast studio. An establishment which engages in recreational, commercial or other information relay services through the use of electronics, radio waves and other methods approved by the Federal Communications Commission. Such facilities may include film and sound recording studios, radio stations, television studios, telegraph offices and other similar establishments.
Business or professional office. A building or structure where the administrative, executive, human resources/personnel and professional staff of a business or office are accommodated to carry out their respective duties. Such a business or office may include but is not limited to the professions of architecture, bookkeeping/accounting, business administration, dentistry, engineering, financial planning, insurance, internal medicine, law, real estate, surveying and other professions.
Business support service. A place of business which provides support services primarily to business or professional offices/services including but not limited to photocopying, office equipment, stationery supplies, laundry and/or cleaning, computer and office equipment repairs and similar services.
Campground. A group of buildings or structures, on a site of ten (10) acres or more, for recreational or vacation uses, including but not limited to campsites to pitch tents or to park recreational vehicles/travel trailers, cottages, playgrounds, dining areas with picnic tables, grills and trash-cans, rest-rooms and other similar facilities.
Car wash. A commercial establishment which engages in washing/cleaning automobiles and light vehicles. Such a facility may be automated or it may employ individuals to perform the necessary services manually.
Clinic. A facility providing medical, psychiatric or surgical services for sick or injured persons exclusively on an outpatient basis.
Commercial parking. Parking space, area or structure for the temporary parking of automobiles which is designed and built to generate income/profit for its owner.
Commercial school. A private, profit-oriented business which provides educational/instructional services in the arts, business, crafts, trades and other professions and vocations.
Convenience store. A one-story retail establishment, with less than two thousand (2,000) square feet of gross floor area, which sells food, beverages and other household goods and products. Such an establishment may engage in the incidental sale of vehicle fuel, vehicle oil and vehicle accessories, but it shall not engage in any vehicle repair activities, as defined in this Ordinance.
Day care center. A licensed facility, other than a residence, which provides day care on a regular basis to more than six (6) children or elderly, disabled or infirm persons.
Day care home. A licensed service, operated from a dwelling by its resident, which provides day care on a regular basis to six (6) or less children or elderly or infirm persons.
Entertainment, indoor. A commercial establishment which provides spectator entertainment within an enclosed building. Such may include movie theaters, playhouses and other similar facilities.
Entertainment, outdoor. A commercial establishment providing spectator entertainment in open or partially enclosed/screened facilities. Such may include sports arenas, racing tracks, drive-in theaters, amusement parks and other similar facilities.
Funeral home. A building or part thereof used for human funeral services. The practice of cremation is not permitted. A funeral home may contain space and facilities for the following:
A.
The embalming and the performance of other services used in preparation of the deceased for burial.
B.
The performance of autopsies and other surgical procedures.
C.
The storage of caskets, urns and other supplies.
D.
Space for the storage of funeral vehicles.
E.
A chapel as an incidental use.
Garage, repair. A place of business where major and minor vehicle repairs are carried out, as defined in this Ordinance. All major vehicle repair work shall be performed entirely within an enclosed building. Vehicles shall not be parked with the intention of sale. Inoperative vehicles shall not be permanently stored on the premises.
Garden center or nursery. An area where plants, trees, shrubs and the like are grown for transplanting, for use as stocks for budding and grafting, or for sale. A nursery may be comprised of buildings, greenhouses, outdoor display areas or storage areas for containers, fertilizer, ornaments, mulch, potting soil, small gardening tools, gardening equipment, seeds, and other such commodities.
Gasoline service station. A commercial establishment which sells fuel, lubricants, and parts/accessories for vehicles. Such facilities may also sell food items and beverages. A gasoline service station may perform minor vehicle repairs as defined in this section. Vehicles shall not be parked with intentions of sale, and inoperative vehicles shall not be permanently stored on the premises. All gasoline storage tanks and structures shall comply with the requirements of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) and the City of Midfield.
General retail, enclosed. The retail sales of goods and services, otherwise undefined in this section, including, but not limited to: food, clothing, home furnishings, appliances, automobile parts and supplies, video sales/rental, gifts, flowers/plants, hardware, specialty items, jewelry, sporting goods, antiques and similar retail commodities.
General retail, unenclosed. The retail sales of goods and services otherwise undefined in this section, conducted partially or fully outdoors. Such sales may occur as sidewalk sales, flea markets, outdoor food services and similar activities.
Grocery store/super market. A retail establishment, [two thousand] (2,000) square feet or larger in floor area, which sells food items, beverages, household supplies, personal care items, magazines, automobile maintenance supplies, a deli and bakery products, and other household items. No vehicle repairs/maintenance or the sale of automotive fuel shall be permitted in such establishments.
Home occupation. A business, profession, occupation or trade which is conducted for income/profit. Such an occupation shall be located entirely within the living area of a dwelling and shall function as an incidental activity of its residents. Such an activity shall not alter the exterior of the building or the property or affect the residential character of the neighborhood in which it is located. The buildings, structures, and/or premises shall not be altered in any manner for home occupation activities; and no noise, odor or other form of nuisance shall be generated.
Home improvement center. A place of business which sells construction and building materials, yard and garden supplies, tools and appliances, and other such commodities retail or wholesale.
Hotel. A facility that provides lodging and, usually, meals, entertainment, and various personal services to the public. Such accommodations shall be provided on a daily or weekly basis to nine (9) or more guests. Such a facility may include restaurants, meeting rooms, banquet rooms, gift shops, pools, spas, recreational facilities, bars, lounges, and other similar uses. The sale of alcoholic beverages is permitted for on-premise consumption only.
Manufactured (mobile) home sales. A lot or tract of land used for the display and sale of manufactured (mobile) homes.
Medical support service. A place of business such as a pharmacy, medical/surgical supply store and similar facilities which offer medical support services to individuals, medical practitioners, clinics and hospitals, and others who may require such services.
Mini-warehouse. A structure (or group of structures) used for the storage of non-volatile, non-toxic and non-explosive commodities. The facility shall not be used for retail or wholesale operations. The owner of such a facility may be permitted to hold periodic auctions to dispose of commodities stored by an individual (lessee) and not reclaimed.
Motel. A building or group of buildings/structures that functions as a hotel, and in which the rooms are directly accessible from an outside parking area.
Open-air market. An unenclosed area where arts, crafts, produce, discount or used goods are sold, such as a produce market, farmers market, flea market or similar operation.
Personal service. An establishment such as a barber shop, beauty shop, cosmetic studio, laundromat, indoor exercise and fitness center, tanning salon, shoe repair shop, travel agency, locksmith, interior decorator, formal wear rental store and other similar facilities which offer personal services.
Printing establishment, minor. An establishment that provides blue printing, copying, printing, engraving and reproduction services for profit. Such an establishment shall not exceed [two thousand five hundred] (2,500) square feet in floor area.
Recreation. A commercial establishment providing recreational or sports activities to participants, including bowling alleys, billiard parlors, video game centers, ice and roller skating rinks, driving ranges, miniature golf courses, conventional golf courses, swimming pools, tennis courts and other commercial recreational and sports activities.
Restaurant, fast food. A public eating place where food and drink are prepared and served for carry-out, delivery, and/or on-site consumption.
Restaurant, standard. A public eating place where food and drink are prepared and served. Such a facility may be indoors and/or outdoors.
Shopping center. A group of shops located on a lot with shared parking and other common facilities such as restrooms, all under a common ownership or management authority.
Studio. A place of work for an artist, photographer, musician, filmmaker, craftsman, or other such professional where instruction, display, production and retail sales of products is carried out on the premises.
Truck stop. A commercial establishment which may contain a restaurant, delicatessen, a gift shop, provisions for the incidental sale of gasoline, including diesel fuel, designated areas for the temporary parking of large trucks/rigs, including overnight parking, and the sale of vehicle equipment, motor oil and other vehicle accessories. Such a facility may also engage in minor vehicle repairs, as defined in this ordinance; however, the facility/premises shall not be used for the permanent storage of the types of equipment mentioned above. There shall be no storage of inoperable vehicles or vehicles offered for sale on these premises.
Vehicle repair, major. A commercial establishment in which repairs and maintenance of vehicles, including painting, body work, rebuilding of engines or transmissions, upholstery work, fabrication of parts and similar activities, are carried out within an enclosed building.
Vehicle repair, minor. A place of business where sales, installation and servicing of mechanical equipment and parts, including audio equipment and electrical work, lubrication, tune-ups, wheel alignment, tire balancing, brake and muffler work, battery charging and/or replacement, and similar activities, are carried out.
Vehicle sales or rental. A commercial establishment which sells or rents automobiles, light trucks, travel trailers, recreational vehicles, boats and motorcycles, and provides parking, storage, maintenance, servicing and repair of such vehicles. All servicing and repair work shall be performed within an enclosed building, except washing and waxing of such vehicles which may be performed outdoors.