City of Hamilton - Planning & Economic Development

Commercial and Mixed Use

Commercial Zone Summary

The Commercial and Mixed Use Zones are currently on hold. The proposed Commercial and Mixed Use Zones cannot go forward until the Urban Hamilton Official Plan has been approved and is in effect. The Urban Hamilton Official Plan is currently under appeal with the Ontario Municipal Board.

On July 9, 2009 City of Hamilton Council adopted the new Urban Hamilton Official Plan. The plan is currently under Ministerial review. Included in the Official Plan are new policies for Commercial and Mixed Use designations. These policies seek to preserve existing commercial areas and enhance opportunity for mixed use development throughout the City.

The new Commercial Zones implement the Official Plan policies for Commercial and Mixed Use areas. The following table summarizes the seven Commercial Zones and the permitted uses and design criteria for each:

C1 - Local Commercial Zone

•	A small shopping area that provides convenience retail sales and services to the surrounding residential neighbourhood.

•	Typical Land Uses: small grocery store, hair salon, coffee shop, and personal services, office, and residential dwellings.

•	Building Types: Small scale, stand alone commercial structures, plazas, and multi-storey structures with residential uses permitted above the ground floor.

•	Maximum Gross Floor Area of 1000 square metres and a Maximum Height of 2 storeys.

C2 - District Commercial Zone

•	A primarily retail/service commercial area that serves surrounding neighbourhoods and communities.

•	Typical Land Uses: Large supermarkets, household goods, restaurants, offices, personal services, and residential uses permitted above the ground floor.

•	Building Types: A variety of commercial building types and site layouts including one-storey commercial structures and multi-storey structures with office and residential uses located above the first floor.

•	Maximum Gross Floor Area of 10,000 square metres per unit and a Maximum Height of 4 Storeys.

C3 - Mixed Use Commercial Zone

•	A larger pedestrian oriented shopping and mixed use area serving the surrounding neighbourhood and a larger community, or city wide clientele.

•	Typical Land Uses: Supermarkets, restaurants, offices, hotels, clothing stores, personal services, and residential that are compatible with the area’s mixed-use character.

•	Building Types: Single purpose commercial structures, office buildings, multi-storey residential structures or multi-storey mixed use buildings.

•	No Maximum Gross Floor Area for commercial uses, a Maximum Height of 6 storeys.

C4 - Mixed Use High Zone

•	A larger pedestrian oriented shopping district serving the surrounding neighbourhood and a larger community, or city wide clientele.

•	Typical Land Uses: Supermarkets, restaurants, offices, hotels, clothing stores, personal services, and residential that are compatible with the area’s mixed-use character.

•	Building Types: Single purpose commercial structures, office buildings, multi-storey medium density residential structures or multi-storey medium density mixed use buildings.

•	No Maximum Gross Floor Area for commercial uses, a Minimum Building Height of 7.5 metres.

C5 - Mixed Use Area Zone

•	A moderately sized pedestrian oriented shopping area that provides a full range of retail sales and services to the surrounding neighbourhood.

•	Typical Land Uses: Areas where a mixture of small scale commercial uses and residential uses is appropriate including, office, personal services, restaurant, retail and residential uses.

•	Building Types: Single purpose commercial structures, office buildings, multi-storey low rise residential structures or mixed use low rise buildings.

•	Maximum Height of 3 storeys.

C6 - Arterial Commercial Zone

•	An auto oriented, primarily non-retail commercial area, characterized by larger lots, parking and a wide range of commercial uses serving community, citywide or regional markets.

•	Typical Land Uses: Warehouses, automobile retail and service uses, building supply uses, restaurants (drive thru permitted as an accessory use), banquet halls, and commercial recreation.

•	Building Types: A variety of building types and site layouts, including single storey commercial and/or warehouse structures with extensive surface parking and loading areas, and multi-storey buildings.

C7 - Mixed Use Buildings Zone

•	A pedestrian predominant area characterized by mixed use buildings serving the local neighbourhood at a pedestrian scale.

•	Typical Land Uses: Small scale grocery store, drug store, coffee shop, offices, hotels, small scale retail, personal services, and multi-storey medium density mixed use structures. Drive-through will not be permitted as an accessory use.

•	Building Types: Multi-storey mixed use low rise buildings. Non-residential uses typically occupy the street front and residential uses prohibited on the ground floor.

•	Minimum Height of 2 storeys with a Maximum Height of 3 storeys.

Draft Commercial and Mixed Use Zoning Information

•	Definitions The Definitions outline the terms used within the new Commercial Zones to help create a clear understanding of what each term means in the new zones.

•	General Provisions The General Provisions include any other provisions that are not already covered in the zone and that apply to all zones. For Commercial and Mixed Use Zones the only new General Provision is for Drive Through Facilities.

•	Parking Requirements The Parking Requirements outline the minimum parking requirements for the uses listed within the new Commercial zones. This section also includes a new parking reduction provision that is important to many businesses.

Please refer to the Rural Zones for information on Commercial Uses in the rural area.

•	Special Exceptions Special Exceptions are additional regulations for specific properties. This may mean that additional uses are permitted/prohibited or that there are additional regulations that apply to a property.

•	Holding Provisions A Holding Provisions is an additional regulation for specific properties. The Holding Provision requires certain steps to be taken before any development can occur.

•

Public Consultation
The Commercial and Mixed Use Zones were presented to the public at seven different Public Information Centres in early 2010. Staff is currently revising the proposed Zones in accordance with the comments received during the Public Information Centres.

If you would like to discuss the zones with staff members, please contact Shannon McKie by email or phone 905-546-2424 Ext. 7491.

Popular Links

Commercial and Mixed Use