(A) The proposed zoning ordinance includes five residential districts instead of four which are in the present ordinance. The principal change consists of the proposal that a district be established which will contain the majority of large, old houses which may eventually be converted into three or more apartments. The existing zoning ordinance permitted such conversions and the erection of apartments in the "C" Residential Districts. The general characteristics of the residential districts are as follows.
(B) "S" Suburban Residence District. This district comprises the territory beyond the city limits which has not be proposed for industrial or business use. Within this district only single-family dwellings would normally be permitted. They would require building sites with minimum areas of 16,000 square feet and with minimum widths of 100 feet. This regulation would apply where public water supply and public sanitary sewers are not available. Where such utilities are both available the lot sizes could be reduced to 8,000 square feet with minimum widths of 66 feet. As the city expands beyond the city limits of the planning area utilities services will generally keep pace with development, which will permit the platting of lots in the 8,000 square foot category.
(C) "A" Residence District. The "A" Residence District would permit only single-family dwellings on sites with minimum areas of 8,000 square feet and minimum widths of 66 feet. These areas include newer developments. Much of the suburban area would actually correspond with the "A" District where utilities are available.
(D) "B" Residence District. This district has substantially the same requirements as the present "B" District. It is limited to single-family dwellings on sites with minimum areas of 6,000 square feet and minimum widths of 50 feet. The block by block reconnaissance indicates the wisdom of revising the coverage of this district. A comparison of the existing zone map with the development plan will indicate where some of the blocks now within the "C" District have been placed in the "B" District.
(E) "C" Residence District. This district would permit both single-family and two-family dwellings on lots with minimum areas of 6,000 square feet and minimum widths of 50 feet. The present zoning ordinance also permits conversion of large houses and the erection of apartments, but it is proposed that this provision be eliminated from the proposed zoning ordinance.
(F) "D" Residence District. This district corresponds substantially with the provisions of the existing "C" District, and permits apartments and the conversion of large houses. The block by block reconnaissance revealed several blocks which would logically fall into this category.
(G) Apartment dwellings. During the last decade the demand for apartments has become very great in cities of all sizes. Provisions have been developed in zoning ordinances to meet this contingency. The proposed revised zoning ordinance contains provisions setting up definite standards for the location of apartments and the provision of adequate open space around them, so as to avoid damage to neighboring property and to meet the demands for apartment living. Garden apartments, which include buildings which would not ordinarily exceed 2-1/2 stories in height and which would have well planned and developed open space around them, could be located as special exceptions in the "S" and "D" Residence Districts and in the "LB", and "GB" Business Districts. High rise apartments, that is, those which might be erected to heights of several stories provided that the sites would be large enough to ensure adequate open space about them, could also be permitted as special exceptions in the "S" and "D" Residence Districts and the "LB" and "GB" Business Districts. These provisions will meet the demands for apartments, but will make sure that their plans have been carefully worked out, have received the approval of the Board of Zoning Appeals, and that the public has had an opportunity to examine the plans and present their opinions at public hearings.