A. Lot placement. All lots shall abut on a street or cul-de-sac. Generally, the depth of a residential lot shall not exceed three times the lot frontage. Some deviation from this provision may be permissible for topographical and drainage purposes, but not for the purpose of splitting a large tract into deeper than normal lots so that the provision of streets for proper access to lots can be avoided. Unusually deep lots, or numerous “pipe stem lots” (lots having less than 50- foot frontage, except for those 35-foot frontage on the circumference of the cul-de-sac) shall be discouraged.
B. Shape of lot. Lots shall be designed to provide suitable building sites and related yard areas. Reference is made to Figure 8-1 and 8-2, which illustrates the manner in which buildable area is defined by the topography of the adjacent area, namely, a water body. Generally, the depth-to-width ratio of a lot is 3.0 to 1.0, except when prevailing topographic or other natural conditions would so reduce the portion of the lot that can be used for a building site and accessory purposes as to make the lot unusable. The maximum depth-to-width ratio shall apply to such portion of the lot which is usable for building purposes. The Commission may deviate from these requirements where it seems the proposed shape of the lot is more appropriate to the site conditions. Consideration shall be given not only to topography, but also ponds, wooded areas, natural features, provisions for open spaces, savings on public improvements, and the advisability of a Planned Unit Development (P.U.D.).
C. Widths and areas of lots. Widths and areas of lots shall not be less than that provided in the City Zoning Ordinance for single-family dwellings for the district in which the subdivision is located.
D. Lot frontage. Each lot shall have frontage on a dedicated street or approved access easement. To the fullest extent possible, residential lots shall front on residential subdivision streets in such a manner as to provide neighborhood cohesiveness. Along arterial and collector streets, multiple access points shall be held to a minimum by utilizing common access to cross-easement driveways serving two or more individual lots.
E. Double frontage lots excluding corner lots. Double frontage lots shall be avoided. Such lots may be approved by the Commission where it is determined that such lots are essential to provide separation of residential development from certain streets such as arterial, collector (feeder), or other similar uses, and where subdivision lots abut commercial or industrial districts. Such lots shall be provided with a landscape buffer area ten feet in depth which will provide a visual screen and prevent vehicular access to one of the two frontages. Particular care shall be made to landscape the non-access frontage in a visually pleasing manner, and to ensure that the site triangle requirements are complied with. (See Figure 8-3.)
F. Corner lots. Corner lots shall be sufficiently larger than interior lots to allow maintenance of setback lines on both streets on which the lot abuts. Corner lots of residential subdivisions shall not have direct access to collector or arterial streets/roads.
G. Lot dimensions. Lot dimensions shall comply with the minimum standards in the Zoning Ordinance. The Commission may require that large lots not served by city utilities, be arranged so as to allow further subdivision and the opening of future streets where they would be necessary to serve all such potential resubdivided lots in compliance with the Zoning Ordinance and these regulations. In general, side lot lines shall be at right angles to the street lines (or radial to curving street lines) unless a variation from this rule will give better street or lot plan.
Depth and width of properties reserved or laid out for business, commercial, or industrial purposes shall be adequate to provide for all of the off-street parking and loading facilities required for the type of use and development contemplated, as established in the Zoning Ordinance.
Figures 8-3 and 8-4, illustrate a lot and frontage example to visually define the types of lots, and a visual representation of yard areas, setbacks, and right-of-ways, respectively.
H. Lot splits. A previously platted lot may be divided as a lot split by either metes and bound description or by replat. If said lot is to be divided by metes and bounds description, however, it may be so divided only one time and by only one new dividing lot line, and shall not again be divided without replatting. A lot to be divided more than one time or involving more than one new dividing line shall be considered a replat/subdivision and shall be subject to all procedures set out in this ordinance. However, lot splits that are transfers to adjoining property owners not creating a new building site are exempt from this requirement. (See § 3.01.B.2.)
(1980 Code, Ch. 154, § 4.12) (Ord. 2001-4, passed 3-27-2001)