Rural retreats and rural resorts shall comply with the following standards.
(A) Parcel size. The minimum lot area of rural resorts and retreats shall comply with division (K)(1) of this section.
(B) Separation requirement. When not located within a planned unit development, rural retreats shall be appropriately sited so as not to infringe on the character of any existing residential use or the natural topography of the area.
(C) Setbacks. All new buildings, active recreational areas, parking, and lighted areas shall meet the requirements of division (K)(3) of this section.
(D) Access. A dedicated easement or strip of land that is a minimum of 30 feet wide shall be provided to the site from a public road that has a minimum 18-foot wide travel portion width that consists of an all-purpose paved material.
(1) For any establishment that is not located on a state maintained road, a copy of the deed establishing the ingress/egress easement shall be provided to the Planning Director. The deed shall demonstrate that the easement may be used to support the establishment.
(2) Entrances and exits from the state maintained road shall provide safe ingress and egress from roads, and shall be channeled to prevent unrestricted access to and from the premises.
(E) Appearances. All structures used in conjunction with the resort/retreat conference shall be designed and constructed to mimic the outward appearance of single-family residences, garages typically found on single-family residential lots in the county, and/or barns common to the county. Exterior materials not commonly found in use on residential buildings in the county and highly reflective materials shall not be permitted.
(F) Water and sewer. The establishment shall be served by public water and sewer if located within a Highway Business District. Otherwise, the establishment shall be served by a public or private water system and a private wastewater collection and treatment system.
(G) Open space. A minimum of 75% of the site shall remain as open space.
(1) Recreational uses customarily incidental and subordinate to the rural resort or retreat permitted in the open space area may include: swimming pools and related facilities, boating facilities, tennis and other sports courts, equestrian facilities, picnic areas, golf courses and related facilities, ballfields, children’s play equipment and passive recreation facilities. Driveways and parking areas supporting these recreational facilities may also be located in the open space area.
(2) On-site recreation facilities shall be used only by employees, trainees, or conferees.
(H) May be open to public. These establishments may be open to the general public for patronage.
(I) Outdoor events. Outdoor events (e.g., weddings, receptions, parties, concerts) or similar activities conducted for compensation shall be permitted only upon application for a temporary zoning permit from the Zoning Enforcement Officer, who may impose conditions regarding hours of operation, volumes of amplified music, type and intensity of outdoor lighting, traffic control measures, and similar health, safety, and welfare matters.
(J) Sales on-site. No products shall be sold on-site except for those that are clearly incidental and integral to and necessary to the comfort and convenience of resort visitors, including pro shops, personal necessities shops, and gift shops.
(K) Additional standards. Rural retreats and resorts shall comply with the following additional requirements in addition to the general standards identified above. Where there is a conflict between these standards and the general standards controlling the development of rural resorts and retreats, these standards shall control.
(1) Intensity/character. The minimum lot area shall be as follows.
Use | Size of Lot (Minimum) | Nos. of Guest Rooms | *Average Daily Users |
Level I – Rural Retreat, small scale | 10 acres | Up to 20 rooms | Up to 100 users |
Level II – Rural Retreat, medium scale | 20 acres | 21-40 rooms | >100 and up to 150 users |
Level III – Rural Retreat, large scale | 30 acres | 41-60 rooms | >150 and up to 200 users |
* Average daily users include employees and the trainees and conferees the conference and training center is designed to accommodate. Service trips, which are trips made to the facility for the purpose of delivering food, supplies, and related material, are in addition to the average daily users. | |||
(2) Size of use.
(a) Area. The restaurant and banquet facilities on premises shall not exceed 20% of the total floor area of the rural retreat or resort.
(b) Outdoor storage. No outdoor storage shall be permitted. This shall include materials, equipment, parts, supplies, waste (except in approved waste containers), and similar items. Approved waste containers shall be located in the rear of the building and be completely screened from public view.
(3) Yard standards. The minimum required yards shall be as follows.
(a) Level I – Rural Retreat: 150 feet minimum from all lot lines.
(b) Level II – Rural Retreat: 200 feet minimum from all lot lines.
(c) Level III – Rural Retreat: 250 feet minimum from all lot lines.
(4) Landscaping/buffering/screening.
(a) Landscaping/screening shall meet the requirements of § 155.172.
(b) Driveways shall not be located within a required buffer yard area except as minimally necessary to access the site.
(5) Roads/access. There shall be no more than two points of access to a rural retreat or resort. This requirement shall not preclude an additional access for emergency vehicles only.
(6) Parking.
(a) General. Parking and loading shall be provided as required by § 155.050.
(b) Screening. All parking and storage for retail areas shall be screened from adjoining properties used or zoned for residential or agricultural purposes. If existing topography and natural vegetation does not provide an adequate visual barrier, selective screening may be required.
(7) Exterior lighting standards. Pole-mounted exterior lighting. The maximum height of pole-mounted exterior lighting shall be 25 feet.
(a) Shielded lighting/light element. Fully shielded lighting fixtures shall be used in all areas. The light element (lamp or globe) of a fixture shall not extend below the cutoff shield.
(b) Hours of operation. All exterior lighting shall be extinguished from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., except for exterior lighting that is determined necessary for security purposes.
(c) No lighting shall be directed onto adjacent property. Floodlights or other high-intensity lighting shall be prohibited.
(1996 Code, § 155.035) (Ord. passed 12-4-2006) Penalty, see § 155.999