Commercial Zoning in Burlington Washington

Burlington Washington is a city that welcomes commercial growth. There is currently a large supply of commercially zoned land available within the city limits of Burlington WA. Burlington has five different commercial zoning classifications. B-1 (Business District), C-1 (General Commercial), C-2 (Heavy Commercial), M-1 (Industrial), and BP (Business Park).

B-1 Business District – The primary focus of the district is to preserve the existing central business district of the city and provide for its revitalization and expansion. Because of the intensive retail orientation, auto service stations, outdoor sales yards and drive-in businesses are discouraged from locating in this district.

The intent and objective of this classification and its application is to set apart that portion of the city which forms the center for financial, commercial, governmental, professional, and cultural activities all of which have common or similar performance standards in that they represent types of enterprises involving the rendering of services, both professional or to the person, or on-premises retail activities. This zone encourages leisure shopping and provides amenities conducive to attracting pedestrian shoppers.

C-1 General Commercial – The intent and objective of this classification and its application is to provide for the location of a grouping of uses which are considered compatible uses having common or similar performance standards in that they represent types of enterprises involving the rendering of services, both professional or to the person, or on-premises retail activities. This zone represents the prime commercial designation for small to moderate scale commercial activities and should be developed in a manner which is consistent with and attracts pedestrian oriented activities. This zone encourages leisure shopping and provides amenities conducive to attracting shoppers.

C-2 Heavy Commercial – The intent and objective of this classification and its application is to provide for the location of and grouping of enterprises which may involve some on-premises retail service but with outside activities and display or fabrication, assembling, and service features. This zone is intended to accommodate uses which are oriented to automobiles either as the mode or target of producing the commercial service. The uses enumerated in this classification are considered as having common or similar performance standards in that they are heavier in type than those uses permitted in the more restrictive commercial classifications.

M-1 Industrial – An M-1 district shall provide a use district for manufacturing, warehousing and distribution operation which require little or no retail contact with the general public. The industrial zone is intended to provide for general manufacturing and processing and grouping of industrial enterprises which possess common or similar characteristics and performance standards involving manufacturing, assembling, fabrication and processing, bulk handling of products, large amounts of storage and warehousing, outdoor storage, processing and other related uses.

While other uses may be sited within this zone, permits for such uses should not be issued if such uses will discourage use of adjacent sites for industry, interrupt the continuity of industrial sites, or produce traffic in conflict with the industrial uses.

BP Business Park – The purpose of this chapter is to respond to modern trends in business park development by providing a suitable area for industrial, professional office, service and commercial uses within a planned, well managed site with high quality development standards, through a contract rezone and site plan approval process.

It is also the intent of this district to allow flexibility with regard to development standards and uses if the flexibility results in an atmosphere of quality architectural, site and landscape design. This district may be applied to any site within the city which is zoned business, commercial or industrial or designated as appropriate for business park development in the comprehensive plan.