§ 154.201 STANDARD ZONING DISTRICTS AND STANDARD ZONING DISTRICT CATEGORIES.
   For the purpose of this code, all areas within the jurisdiction of this code are hereby divided into standard zoning districts, as shown in Table 154.201.1. The categories are listed in increasing order of intensity. Likewise, the districts within the categories are also listed in increasing order of intensity.
   (A)   Conservation Districts.
      (1)   Limited Agricultural (LA) District. This district is intended to permit development of a highly rural community character. The land use standards for this district permit extremely low density single-family residential development at a density of one dwelling unit for every 35 gross acres, as well as a limited variety of agricultural and agricultural support land uses. Density and intensity standards for this district are designed to ensure that development which requires even a minimum of urban services does not occur until such services are available. As such, the Limited Agricultural (LA) District shall either serve as a designation which preserves and protects agricultural activities indefinitely, or as a "holding zone" which provides for an interim land use (agriculture) that will easily permit further development (with rezoning to another district) at the appropriate time.
      (2)   Floodway District. Refer to Chapter 155, Floodplain Management Standards.
      (3)   Flood Fringe Overlay District. Refer to § 155.004 regarding regulating development in floodplain areas.
   (B)   Residential Districts.
      (1)   Countryside Residential (CSR) District. This district is intended to permit development which has a countryside community character. Unlike the case for the Limited Agricultural (LA) District, the land use standards for this district permit primarily single-family detached residential development and a variety of related institutional land uses, and are not oriented to a wide range of agricultural activities. Density and intensity standards for this district are designed with the assumption that urban services (particularly sewer and water) will not be made available and that such facilities will be provided on-site. The Countryside Residential (CSR) District shall serve as a designation which preserves and protects the countryside community character of its area while serving as a transition between highly rural agricultural areas and more developed urban areas. A variety of residential development options are available in this district, with a maximum gross density (MGD) of one dwelling unit for every five gross acres for conventional development or one dwelling unit for every two and one-half gross acres for cluster development. This district is generally mapped in areas of low agricultural production/potential but where the extension of urban services would be difficult and not cost-effective.
      (2)   Low Density Residential (LDR) District. This district is intended to permit development which primarily has a detached, single-family community character. Density and intensity standards for this district are designed to ensure that the Low Density Residential (LDR) District shall serve as a designation which preserves and protects the residential community character of its area. Residential development with a maximum gross density (MGD) of seven dwelling units per gross acre is available within this district.
      (3)   Medium Density Residential (MDR) District. This district is intended to permit development which has a medium density community character. The land use standards for this district permit single-family detached homes, twin-houses and duplexes by right and related institutional land uses. Density and intensity standards for this district are designed to ensure that the Medium Density Residential (MDR) District shall serve as a designation which preserves and protects the community character of its area. A variety of residential development options are available in this district, with a maximum gross density (MGD) of nine and one-half dwelling units per gross acre.
      (4)   High Density Residential (HDR) District. This district is intended to permit development which has a high density community character. The land use standards for this district permit single-family detached homes, twin houses, duplexes, two flats, townhouses, multiplexes, and apartments permitted by right and related institutional land uses. Density and intensity standards for this district are designed to ensure that the High Density Residential (HDR) District shall serve as a designation which preserves and protects the community character of its area. A variety of residential development options are available in this district, with a maximum gross density (MGD) of 16 dwelling units per gross acre.
   (C)   Nonresidential Districts.
      (1)   Neighborhood Office (NO) District. This district is intended to permit high quality office, institutional, and residential land uses at an intensity compatible with the older portions of the city predominately developed with large homes which are desirable to maintain, where traffic volumes and adjacent land uses dictate the transition of these areas to certain nonresidential uses. The desired neighborhood character of the development is attained through landscape surface area ratio (LSR) requirements, and by restricting the maximum building size (MBS).
      (2)   Planned Office (PO) District. This district is intended to permit high quality office and institutional land uses at an intensity compatible with the overall community character of the city. Significant areas of landscaping are required in this district to ensure that this effect is achieved. In order to ensure a minimum of disruption to adjacent residential development, no development within this district shall take direct access to a local residential street or a residential collector street.
      (3)   Neighborhood Commercial (NC) District. This district is intended to permit small-scale commercial development which is compatible with the desired overall neighborhood community character of the area in general, and with adjacent residential development in particular. The desired neighborhood community character of the development is attained through landscape surface area ratio (LSR) requirements, and by restricting the maximum building size (MBS). Significant areas of landscaping are required in this district to ensure that this effect is achieved.
      (4)   Planned Commercial (PC) District. This district is intended to permit large- and small-scale commercial development which is compatible with an overall high quality community character, particularly along the Highway 20 corridor. Accordingly, the district standards are crafted to work in conjunction with the requirements of the Highway 20 Corridor Overlay District, § 154.303. A wide range of office, retail, and service land uses are permitted within this district, but with extremely limited outdoor activities and operations. In order to ensure a minimum of disruption to adjacent residential development, no development within this district shall take direct access to a local residential street or a residential collector street.
      (5)   General Commercial (GC) District. This district is intended to permit both large- and small-scale commercial development at intensities which provide significant incentives for infill and new development. To accomplish this effect, the minimum required landscaped surface area ratio (LSR) is lower than that required in the Planned Commercial District. A wide range of office, retail, and entertainment land uses are permitted within this district, including those with outdoor activities. In order to ensure a minimum of disruption to adjacent residential development, no development within this district shall take direct access to a local residential street or a residential collector street.
      (6)   Downtown Commercial (DC) District. This district is intended to permit both large- and small-scale downtown commercial development at an intensity which provides significant incentives for infill development, redevelopment, and the continued economic viability of existing development. Accordingly, the district standards are crafted to work in conjunction with the requirements of the Historic District set forth in Chapter 151. A wide range of office, retail, and lodging land uses are permitted within this district. Consistent with existing development patterns, no requirements for on-site landscaping or parking are required in this district for permitted uses. This district is strictly limited to the central city.
      (7)   Planned Industrial (PI) District. This district is intended to permit both large- and small-scale industrial, research and development, and office at an intensity which is consistent with the overall desired character of the community. Beyond a relatively high minimum landscape area ratio (LSR), the primary distinguishing feature of this district is that it is geared to indoor activities which are not typically associated with high levels of noise, soot, odors and other potential nuisances for adjoining properties. In order to ensure a minimum of disruption to adjacent residential development, no development within this district shall take direct access to a local residential street or a residential collector street.
      (8)   Light Industrial (LI) District. This district is intended to permit both large- and small-scale industrial and office development at an intensity which is consistent with existing transition and urban intensity development. The primary distinguishing feature of this district is that it is geared to indoor industrial activities which are not typically associated with high levels of noise, soot, odors and other potential nuisances for adjoining properties. To ensure a minimum of disruption to adjacent residential development, no development within this district shall take direct access to a local residential street or a residential collector street.
      (9)   Heavy Industrial (HI) District. This district is intended to permit both large- and small-scale industrial and office development at an intensity which provides ample incentive for infill and new development. This district is designed to permit a very wide variety of industrial uses which may occur both indoors and outdoors, including certain land uses which are permitted in no other zoning district because of their potential to create nuisances for adjoining properties. In order to ensure a minimum of disruption to adjacent residential development, no development within this district shall take direct access to a local residential street or a residential collector street.
(Ord. O-05-04, passed 4-11-05; Am. Ord. O-06-32, passed 10-23-06)