Chapter 200 — Zoning and Land Use, Article 5 — Special and Overlay Districts
Towne Center Overlay
Chapter 200. Zoning and Land Use Article 5. Special and Overlay Districts Overlay Towne Center Overlay Purpose The intent and purpose of this overlay and the TC Districts is to enable and support the implementation of the following policies:
That the Towne Center is the focal point for the City of Snellville as established in the City’s Livable Centers Initiative Town Center Plan, The Towne Center @ Snellville master plan, and the Comprehensive Plan.
That growth in the Towne Center will occur through the redevelopment of existing commercial properties and that this requires different regulations from development on vacant land.
That the Towne Center should support economic growth and vitality in the City of Snellville.
That the Towne Center should have a distinct physical design and sense of place.
That the design of buildings, landscaping, streets, and public spaces should be coordinated in order to contribute to the Towne Center’s sense of place.
That the Towne Center should serve people of all ages and allow residents to remain in the community as they age.
That interconnected networks of streets should be designed to disperse traffic, reduce the length and number of car trips, and create a pedestrian-friendly area where alternatives to driving are viable transportation options.
That high-quality and aesthetically compatible housing should be provided to accommodate different needs in the community.
That the quality-of-life in existing nearby neighborhoods should be preserved and protected.
That a range of useable civic spaces including parks, squares, playgrounds, and preserved environmentally sensitive areas, should be distributed throughout the Towne Center.
That the harmonious and orderly redevelopment of the Towne Center should be secured through these regulations.
Applicability Towne Center Districts This section applies to all TC Districts TC-MU and TC-R .
Other Districts This section applies to all other zoning districts within the Towne Center Overlay.
Relationship to Underlying Zoning When this overlay’s requirements differ from those of the underlying zoning district or elsewhere in this UDO, the requirements of this overlay will apply.
Variances The Board of Appeals may consider variances to the requirements of the Towne Center Overlay and any TC Districts within it.
Variances may only be granted to permit a practice that is not consistent with a specific provision of these regulations but is justified by their purpose.
Variances relating to a physical element or numeric measurements must be based upon credible submitted evidence demonstrating that:
Use Provisions Allowed Use See Sec. 206-2 Allowed Use Table for allowed uses, except as otherwise required by paragraph B below.
Exception On all sites, except those zoned TC-R or TC-MU, all commercial sales and service must be conducted within enclosed permanent structures and there may be no unenclosed displays of merchandise except for outdoor dining or temporary Towne Center Outdoor Sales.
Building Standards Architectural Standards See Sec. 201-4 Enhanced Architectural Standards .
Building Types Building type requirements apply in this overlay and the following types are allowed, except in a TC Districts, where the building type standards of the TC District apply:
Space limits Applicability This subsection applies to all sites, except sites zoned a TC District.
Space Limit Standards The following standards apply:
Front yards may exceed maximum distances listed above upon request of GDOT or the Gwinnett County DOT and with approval of the Director.
Front and Side Street Yards Elevations Front and side street yards may not be higher than 24 inches above the adjacent public sidewalk for a minimum distance of 15 feet from the nearest edge said sidewalk, unless existing topographical considerations render this requirement unreasonable Blocks See Sec. 401-3.2 for block standards.
Driveways Applicability This subsection applies to driveways, including those serving as alleys, but not to required new streets.
Number The maximum number of driveways allowed on a site may not exceed an amount equal to one driveway for every 300 feet of total street frontage or fraction thereof.
Sidewalks and Driveways All sidewalk materials must continue across driveways.
Design of Parking Structures Applicability This subsection applies to all parking structures as either principal or accessory uses.
General Requirements
Storefront Street Requirements When a parking structure abuts a storefront street, it must conform to one or more of the following along such street except at pedestrian or vehicle access points :
Non-Storefront Street Requirements When a parking structure abuts a street that is not a storefront street, it must conform to one of the following along such street except at pedestrian or vehicle access points :
Inter-parcel Access See Sec. 401-3.4.H Inter-parcel Access .
Vehicle Access and Parking Locations Off-street parking for the following building types must be accessed from alleys:
Permitted parking locations are determined by the building type standards of Sec. 201-2 Building Types . When multiple buildings exist on a site, the standards apply to each building independently. When a building is located on the interior of a block and does not abut a public or private street and is screened from view by an intervening conforming building, the Board of Appeals may grant a variance to the parking location restrictions.
No off-street parking lot fronting a required storefront street sidewalk may exceed 120 feet in width measured at the back of the required sidewalk without an intervening building. The required intervening building must have a minimum width of and depth of 30 feet.
Fences and Walls Applicability of Citywide Wall and Fence Standards
when applied to this overlay and “nonresidential district” means “nonresidential use” when applied to this overlay.
Retaining Walls Retaining walls must be made of finished poured concrete and must be faced with stone, brick or smooth true hard coat stucco.
Commercial Uses Commercial uses must conform to the following additional requirements:
Landscaping and Screening Applicability
Yard Landscaping
Parking Lot Landscape Strips
brick; stone; cast-stone; split-faced block; or true hard coat stucco over standard concrete masonry blocks.
Storefront Street Requirements Except for properties zoned TC-MU as of 10-26-2021, the following additional requirements apply to the portions of lots abutting storefront streets see Sec. 102-2. Defined Terms of Article
Except as provided in paragraph C below, curb cuts and driveways are not be permitted along any storefront street when vehicular access may be provided from an alternative street located immediately adjacent to a contiguous property.
Two curb cuts are permitted along a storefront street for motel/hotel/extended stay hotel patron access.
Miscellaneous Provisions Alcoholic Beverage Licensing The distance and measurement requirements for alcoholic beverages, which are either sold or offered for sale by licensed establishments as set forth in subsections 6-5 a through e of the City of Snellville Alcoholic Beverage Ordinance Ordinance No. 2004-04, adopted Jan. 10, 2005 do not apply in this overlay.
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CI Civic/Institutional
CI Civic/Institutional Purpose Dimensional Standards This district is intended to provide a location for important buildings and services that are essentially non-commercial or not primarily profit-motivated in nature and that often serve as community landmarks. Examples of the uses and buildings included in this district are community meeting halls, libraries, post offices, schools, child care centers, religious buildings, significant medical facilities serving the city, public buildings and uses, museums, and cultural facilities.
Use Provisions See Sec. 206-2 Allowed Use Table .
Site Development Standards Lot Standards Ⓐ Area Ⓑ Width See Chapter 200 Article 7 Site Development All lots: 5,000 sf. min. 50 ft. min.
for parking and loading, buffer and screening, landscaping, tree ordinance, lighting, signs, Lot Coverage and utility requirements. Ⓒ All lots: 90% max.
Building Types No building type requirements apply in CI.
Architectural Standards See Sec. 201-3 General Architectural Standards .
Inter-parcel Access See Sec. 401-3.4.H Inter-parcel Access .
Sec. 201-1.
Building Placement Bulk and Mass Building Setbacks Building Height Ⓐ Front: 0 ft. min. Ⓐ Height: 5 stories max. 1 Ⓑ Side interior : 5 ft. min. Note 1 No building may exceed 3 stories when a lot Ⓒ Side street : 0 ft. min. abuts a residential district.
Ⓓ Rear: 10 ft. min.
District Application CI districts may only be applied in three general situations:
Larger public or institutional uses that need sites greater than 1 acre and are intended to serve the city and its surrounding areas should have convenient access to State routes or other major thoroughfares except for elementary and middle schools ;
Smaller civic uses less than 1 acre or those with less impact or intended to serve neighborhoods may be designated at prominent places and intersections intentionally planned for such uses within neighborhoods and otherwise at the entrance or edges of neighborhoods.
At locations generally indicated on maps in the Comprehensive Plan or recommended in its narrative.
Application Requirements Each application of a CI district to a site must adopt a site plan as a condition of zoning. Substantial variation from the approved plan, as determined by the Director, require City Council approval. The City Council may allow a phased plan of compliance for existing nonconforming sites.
FH Flood Hazard District
FH Flood Hazard District Purpose The purpose of this appended district is to apply to properties which are subject to occasional flooding or inundation by floodwaters, and which require special regulations for the protection of such properties and their improvements from hazards and damage which may result from floodwaters, and for the protection of public health and safety. Provisions Sec. 403-4 Floodplain Protection also apply.
Use Provisions Principal Permitted Uses Any use permitted in the primary district to which this district is appended, subject to provisions of Sec. 403-4 Floodplain Protection . The intent of the regulations within this section is to limit the use of land contained within a floodplain. Notwithstanding the uses permitted for any applicable zoning district which apply to the property, no building or structure or land may be used or occupied other than in conformance with this section, and no building or structure or part thereof may be erected, constructed, reconstructed, moved or altered except in conformity with this section when such lands fall within or are affected by a floodplain.
Uses Permitted in the Floodplain Within a floodplain, only the following uses are allowed:
Site and Lot Standards All of the site and lot standards of the primary district to which this district is appended must be complied with except as otherwise specified below, subject to any modifications or changes provided for in Sec. 403-4 Floodplain Protection .
Lot Area Restrictions All concept plans, site plans, preliminary plats, and final subdivision plats with all or portions of the land area contained within the floodplain, or contiguous to the floodplain, must comply with the following, as applicable:
Federal Flood Insurance Program Flood studies and maps depicting flood-prone areas have been prepared as part of the flood insurance study prepared for the City of Snellville as conducted by FEMA and Federal Insurance Administration arm of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Flood Damage Protection Ordinance was adopted as a result of these studies.
The floodway boundary and floodway maps published as a result of these studies are adopted by reference as part of this UDO and must be used to determine the boundaries of flood hazard areas described in this section.
Article 6. Use Provisions Table of Contents
Use Classification.............................................................................................................................200-141 Allowed Use Table ..........................................................................................................................200-144 Residential Uses...............................................................................................................................200-162 Public/Institutional Uses .............................................................................................................200-170 Commercial Uses .............................................................................................................................200-184 Industrial Uses..................................................................................................................................200-210 Agriculture .........................................................................................................................................200-215 Accessory Uses .................................................................................................................................200-216 Temporary Uses...............................................................................................................................200-238
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