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1. Big Sky Neighborhood (BSN) Overlay District:
A. Purpose: To preserve the large lots and open character of the Big Sky Neighborhood; to retain the rural personality of this unique location; and to encourage agrarian uses through more flexible standards to maintain, protect, and enhance land use and livability.
B. Map:
(1) Boundary Map:
C. Residential Standards:
(1) Setbacks:
(a) New residential buildings, additions to existing residential buildings, and detached outbuildings greater than 500 square feet or 15 feet in height shall be subject to the following setback standards:
i. Front setbacks as measured from the property line shall be 35 feet minimum, 85 feet maximum, and within five feet of the average setbacks of the adjacent properties.
ii. Side and rear setbacks shall be a minimum of 20 feet from the property line.
(b) Detached outbuildings with an area of up to 500 square feet and height less than 15 feet may have a reduced sides and rear setbacks of 10 feet from the property line.
(2) Enclosed Garage: Dwelling units, including each unit of a duplex, shall have an enclosed garage with an interior dimension of at least 20 feet wide by 20 feet long.
(3) Entrances To Residential Units: Front doors of residential units shall face the street.
(4) Two-Family Dwelling Standards: Duplexes in the BSN overlay district shall be subject to the specific design criteria as per Section 11-06-03.1.B and agricultural and setback standards described in paragraph D, below.
(1) Allowed Uses: The keeping of livestock, small animals, and similar or related agricultural uses are allowed in the BSN district subject to the regulations of this section.
(2) Minimum Lot Area For Large Animals: A minimum lot area of one-half acre is required for large animals as defined.
(3) Animal Reserve Area: A minimum area of one-half acre is required for the keeping and care of two animal units. Stables, paddocks, barns, and similar structures may be counted as part of the reserve area, but structures other than those related to the care of animals shall not be counted as part of the reserve area.
(4) Minimum Lot Area And Location For Small Animals: No minimum lot area is required for keeping small animals. All animal units and small animals shall be kept behind the front of the principal dwelling.
(5) Animal Density Standards:
(a) The maximum animal density shall be two animal units per one-half acre of reserve area. Additional reserve areas must be added in one-half- acre increments to calculate the allowed number of animal units allowed on a particular parcel.
(b) The keeping of chickens in conjunction with the keeping of large animals is an exception to animal density standards. Up to six mature chickens may be kept simultaneously in addition to the large animals allowed per lot based on the density standard.
(6) Definitions:
(a) Small animals include rabbits, poultry, geese, ducks turkeys, domestic birds and game birds, excluding such birds as are caged and housed in the dwelling and other animals deemed as such by the Director and not raised for commercial purposes. FFA, 4-H and other student projects are not considered commercial purposes.
(b) Large animals include horses, mules, donkeys, llamas and cows.
(c) One animal unit equals the following:
i. One each of horse, mule, donkey, llama or cow.
ii. Two mature sheep or goats.
iii. 12 mature chickens or ducks.
iv. 6 mature geese or turkeys.
v. 10 mature rabbits.
(d) Concentrated feeding area is that part of a site in which animals are raised or kept in the reserve area. A concentrated feeing area may include any feeding or holding operation where animals are concentrated in an area that is:
i. Not normally used for pasture or growing crops in which animal waste may accumulate; or
ii. Any trough or similar feeding apparatus.
(7) Setbacks And Enclosures:
(a) Concentrated feeing areas and buildings housing animals shall be located behind the front of the principal dwelling. Buildings for housing animals must also comply with the setback standards for the Big Sky Neighborhood Overlay.
(b) Livestock shall be kept within enclosures such that said livestock is prevented from encroaching on, and/or damaging, neighboring properties, fences or vegetation; or public streets. Enclosures may include fences, corrals, barns, pens, etc.
(8) Best Management Practices (BMPs): To protect surface and ground water quality and to avoid any adverse impact to wells, irrigation ditches, and other beneficial uses. A BMP is defined as a practice or combination of practices which are the most effective, practicable means of preventing or reducing the amount of pollution generated by non-point sources to a level compatible with water quality goals. The following BMPs must be met.
(a) Fencing: Enclose one or more areas on the site with a permanent fence or structure to function as a barrier to livestock and other animals as needed in order to prevent access to and protect streams, canals, and ditches from trampling, erosion and contamination.
(b) Filter Strips For Streams, Canals And Ditches: Maintain a gently sloping strip of ground over vegetation to filter runoff from that portion of the site occupied by animals. Filter strips shall distribute waste matter uniformly across the high end of the strip and allow waste to flow through and across the strip; promote the filtering of nutrients, runoff water, and other materials through the grass in a manner in which they are absorbed by the soil, an ultimately taken up by the plants.
(c) Runoff Control System: Employ a combination of practices to prevent animal waste runoff to surface water and adjacent properties. Practices may include diversion of runoff from the lot, roof runoff systems, lot shaping, settling basins, and filter strips or buffer areas.
(d) Liquid And Solid Waste Management System: Employ a system for managing liquid and solid waste in a manner that:
i. Ensures fecal matter and other solid wastes do not create or promote nuisances, odors and disease-carrying insects and animals; and
ii. Does not degrade air, soil, or water resources: The appropriate system will typically include the frequent spreading of liquid and solid waste, composting of manures, and off-site disposal.
(e) Additional BMPs shall be required if those listed above are shown to be ineffective. If a resident does not properly maintain or utilized BMPs, then the resident shall immediately cease the keeping of animals as defined in this ordinance. The owner or resident can consult the following agencies for additional technical assistance:
i. Ada Soil Conservation District.
ii. Natural Resources Conservation Service.
iii. Idaho Soil Conversation Commission.
iv. University of Idaho Extension Service.
v. Boise City Public Works Department.
2. Sycamore Neighborhood (S) Overlay District:
A. Purpose: To preserve and encourage land use and development that is consistent with the semi-rural, agricultural character and lifestyle of the Sycamore neighborhood, while promoting the public health, safety, and general welfare of present and future residents of the neighborhood and Boise City.
B. Map And Boundaries:
(1) Boundary Map:
C. Specific Standards:
(1) Setbacks: In the S overlay district, excluding lots fronting on 39th, Catalpa, and Taft Streets, the required setback for buildings and parking areas on vacant or undeveloped lots is determined by the average setback of the principal building on the two adjoining lots abutting the same street. In no case will the required setback be less than 20 feet or greater than 40 feet. Additions to existing buildings in the S overlay district are also subject to this setback standard.
(2) Agricultural Standards: The keeping of livestock, small animals, and similar or related agricultural uses in the S overlay district shall be subject to the generally applicable use standard of Section 11-06-07.4.D, and the standards in this Section. Where the standards of this section conflict with the generally applicable standards, this Section shall control.
(a) Allowed Uses: The keeping of livestock, small animals,and similar or related agricultural uses are allowed subject to the regulations of this section.
(b) Minimum Lot Size: A minimum lot or parcel size of 21,780 square feet (one-half acre) is required for large animals as defined in this section.The area of the lot or parcel used for any human dwelling shall be included when computing the one-half acre minimum lot size needed to qualify for large animals.
(c) Animal Reserve Area: A minimum animal reserve area of 10,890 square feet (one-quarter acre) is required for the keeping and care of large animals. Stables, paddocks, barns, and similar structures may be counted as part of the reserve area, but structures other than those related to the care of animals shall not be counted as part of the reserve area.
(d) Area For Small Animals: No minimum lot area is required for keeping small animals as defined in this section, although small animals are subject to the animal density standards. All small animals as defined shall be kept behind the front of the principal dwelling.
(e) Animal Density Standards:
i. The maximum animal density for large animals shall be one animal unit per one-quarter acre of reserve area.The reserve area shall be used to calculate the allowed number of large animals allowed on a particular parcel.For reserve areas larger than one-quarter acre, the one animal unit: one-quarter acre ratio shall be applied to determine the allowed number of animals. Shared reserve areas on adjacent lots may be added to the owner's reserve area to calculate the number of large animals allowed on the owner's lot.
ii. The maximum animal density for small animals shall be one animal unit per one-quarter acre of land area behind the front of the principal dwelling.The area used for calculating the allowed number of small animals shall not include land occupied by any building not used for housing said animals.For areas of land different from one-quarter acre, the one animal unit: one-quarter acre ratio shall be applied to determine the allowed number of animals.
iii. The keeping of chickens in conjunction with the keeping of large animals is an exception to animal density standards. Up to six chickens may be kept simultaneously and in addition to the large animals allowed per lot based on the density standard.
iv. No more than one rooster shall be kept on any single parcel, regardless of the size of the parcel.
(f) Site Plan: As deemed necessary, the Director may require the owner or resident to submit a site plan, subject to approval, for the purpose of determining the amount of land available on a particular site for the keeping of animals pursuant to the standards of this section.
(g) Setbacks For Concentrated Feeding Areas, Buildings, And Pasture And Reserve Areas: Concentrated feeding areas and buildings housing animals shall be located behind the front of the principal dwelling and a minimum of ten feet from all property lines. Fully enclosed buildings must comply with the setback standards for the base zone and, therefore, may in some cases be set back less than ten feet from the property line.Pasture or reserve areas shall be located behind the front of the principal dwelling, and may otherwise be located at the side and rear property line.
(h) District Perimeter Setback: Animal reserve areas for large animals shall be set back a minimum of 30 feet from any residential lot located outside the S district.
(i) Enclosures Required: Livestock shall be kept within enclosures that prevent animals from encroaching on neighboring properties or public streets. Enclosures may include fences, corrals, barns, pens, etc.
(j) Best Management Practices: The owner or resident shall utilize Best Management Practices (BMPs) to protect surface and ground water quality and to avoid any adverse impact to wells and other beneficial uses. A BMP is defined as a practice or combination of practices that are the most effective, practicable means of preventing or reducing the amount of pollution generated by non-point sources to a level compatible with water quality goals. Any owner or resident intending to keep livestock and other animals pursuant to this section shall implement the following BMPs:
i. Fencing: Enclose one or more areas on the site as needed with a permanent fence or structure to function as a barrier to livestock and other animals to prevent access to and protect streams, canals, and ditches from trampling, erosion, and contamination.
ii. Filter Strips For Streams, Canals, And Ditches: Maintain a gently sloping strip of ground cover vegetation to filter runoff from the portion of the site occupied by animals.Filter strips shall distribute waste matter uniformly across the high end of the strip and allow waste to flow through and across the strip and shall promote the filtering of nutrients, runoff water, and other material through the grass so that they can be absorbed by the soil and ultimately taken up by the plants.
iii. Runoff Control System: Employ a combination of practices to prevent animal waste runoff to surface water and adjacent properties. Practices may include diversion of runoff from the lot, roof runoff systems, lot shaping, settling basins, and filter strips or buffer areas.
iv. Liquid And Solid Waste Management System: Employ a system for managing liquid and solid waste in a manner that: a) ensures fecal matter and other solid wastes do not create or promote nuisances, odors and disease-carrying insects and animals, and b) does not degrade air, soil, or water resources. The appropriate system will typically include the frequent spreading of liquid and solid waste, composting of manures, and off-site disposal.
v. Additional BMPs: Additional BMPs shall be required if those BMPs listed above are shown to be ineffective.The owner or resident can consult the following agencies for additional technical assistance:Ada Soil Conservation District Natural Resources Conservation Service (Home*A*Syst/Farm*A*Syst Program), Idaho Soil Conservation Commission, The University of Idaho Extension Service, and the Boise Public Works Department.
(k) Periodic Assessment: At three-year intervals the residents and property owners in the S District and the Director shall assess the impact and effectiveness of the standards of this section in protecting residents and owners of the district and those outside the district from unwanted impacts.