17.56.010 Purpose.
While McMinnville recognizes the inevitable commercial growth taking place within the city and the ensuing change to the cityscape, it is committed to preserving the character and values of the city, thus continuing to make McMinnville an inviting place to live and work. This ordinance aims to diminish the negative aesthetic impacts of large-scale commercial development on the city.
Large commercial establishments typically locate at highly visible locations on major public streets. As a result of this, their design and layout determines much of the character and attractiveness of major streetscapes in the city. This ordinance is a response to concerns about the impact of large-format commercial establishments on McMinnville’s landscape. To date, much of the built commercial environment in McMinnville is largely defined by typical small-town characteristics: architectural variety, pedestrian scale and accessibility, substantial façade articulation, extensive glazing, and landscaping. The goals and standards of this chapter are intended to encourage large-scale commercial development that reflects McMinnville’s traditional design elements.
Specifically, the goals of this ordinance are to:
A. Establish standards which will ensure that large-scale commercial development in McMinnville is compatible with surrounding commercial and residential development.
B. Permit commercial development which is visually appealing with regard to site and building design.
C. Encourage large-scale commercial development to use energy-efficient building and layout designs.
D. Create a pedestrian-friendly environment within large-scale commercial developments.
E. Achieve reasonably sized parking areas enhanced with substantial landscaping and parking lot trees.