§ 154.080 AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION DISTRICT (A-1).
   (A)   Intent. The Class “A-1” District is intended to preserve the land best suited for agricultural production by protecting prime agricultural lands in farmable tracts from the encroachment of scattered residential, commercial and industrial development; to promote efficiency and economy in the delivery of public services by restricting non-farm development in unincorporated areas of the county and to encourage development in areas where services are provided or can efficiently be provided.
   (B)   Principal uses. The following principal uses shall be permitted in a Class “A-1” District:
      (1)   Any customary agricultural use;
      (2)   Single-family dwellings at a maximum density of two dwellings per quarter-quarter section;
      (3)   Sanitary landfills, such to approval by the state’s Department of Natural Resources and the County Board; provided that, no such use or structure shall be located closer than 1,320 feet to any Class “R” District or platted residential subdivision or dwelling other than that of the lessee or owner of the site; and
      (4)   Construction and demolition waste disposal sites, subject to approval of the state’s Department of Natural Resources and the County Board.
   (C)   Conditional uses. The following conditional uses shall be permitted in a Class “A-1” District, when authorized in accordance with the requirements of §§ 154.175 through 154.185 of this chapter:
      (1)   Commercial composting facilities, subject to approval of the state’s Department of Natural Resources standards and administrative rules;
      (2)   Essential governmental structures and uses, when operating requirements necessitate locating in the district; provided that, the premises upon which such use is erected shall be appropriately landscaped, screened and maintained so as to be in harmony with the general appearance of the surrounding area, and not objectionable as to noise, odor, vibration or other disturbances;
      (3)   Transformer stations, booster stations, utility stations and radio or television transmitter and towers, and broadcasting stations, when operating requirements necessitate locating in the district; provided, there is no yard or garage for service or storage, or any building for general administrative or sales offices; and, further provided that, the premises upon which such use is erected shall be appropriately landscaped, screened and maintained so as to be in harmony with the general appearance of the surrounding area, and not objectionable as to noise, odor, vibration or other disturbances. The minimum lot area and setback may be waived by the Board only on finding that the waiver will not create a detrimental effect on adjacent properties;
      (4)   Sewage disposal facilities, subject to approval by the state’s Department of Natural Resources; provided that, no such structure shall be located closer than 750 feet to any Class “R” District or platted residential subdivision or dwelling other than that of the lessee or owner of the site;
      (5)   Commercial stables, riding academies and clubs; provided that, not more than one animal and its immature offspring per acre of pasture for the first two acres of pasture and two animals per each additional acre of pasture shall be permitted; and, further provided that, no such structure shall be located closer than 50 feet to any property line, nor closer than 25 feet to any dwelling on the site. The area devoted to such uses shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition, and shall be maintained so as drainage will not affect the health and safety of adjacent property owners;
      (6)   Commercial kennels and veterinary hospitals or clinics; provided that, no such structure or exercising runway shall be located closer than 200 feet from any Class “R” District or platted residential subdivision or dwelling other than that of the lessee or owner of the site;
      (7)   Churches and other places of worship, including parish houses and Sunday school buildings;
      (8)   Cemeteries, including mausoleums and crematories; provided that, no such mausoleum and crematory shall be located closer than 200 feet from any property line; and, further provided that, any new cemetery shall contain an area of five acres or more;
      (9)   Public schools and colleges, and private schools and colleges having equivalent curriculum;
      (10)   Day care nurseries and nursery schools; provided that, for each child there shall be a minimum of 35 square feet of usable floor space, exclusive of wash rooms, toilets, kitchens and hallways; and, further provided that, for each child there shall be a minimum of 100 square feet of usable outdoor play space, which space shall be confined to the rear yard of the property and be completely enclosed by a fence;
      (11)   Mines, quarries, sand and gravel pits, portable sawmills and related facilities required for obtaining, processing, storing and transporting minerals, raw materials and timber at their point of origin, subject to approval of the state’s Natural Resources Council and the state’s Department of Natural Resources; provided, the no such use shall be located closer than 500 feet from any Class “R” District or platted residential subdivision, or dwelling other than that of the lessee or owner of the site. Any such use existing at any time prior to the adoption of this chapter may be reopened, expanded or extended, and continue to operate; provided that, where any part of the operation is closer than the distance specified above, the operation may be extended parallel to such other uses, but such extension shall not become closer than such other uses. Where any such use is closer than 25 feet to a street, and has a depth of greater than 30 feet, and the side adjacent to the street has a slope steeper than two feet horizontally for each foot of depth, a fence, retaining wall, embankment or other suitable protective barrier approved by the County Engineer shall be constructed along that portion of the excavation parallel to the street;
      (12)   Private light plane landing strips including crop dusting strips, when laid out and operated in accordance with all applicable regulations of the Federal Aviation Agency and when situated on a site containing not less than 30 acres;
      (13)   Temporary establishments or enterprises involving large assemblages of people or automobiles including, but not limited to, carnivals, circuses, rodeo grounds, show rings, livestock auction barns and yards, music festivals, sports festivals and similar uses;
      (14)   Bed and breakfast homes, subject to the provisions of § 154.065 of this chapter;
      (15)   Rural enterprise businesses, subject to the provisions of § 154.061 of this chapter;
      (16)   Demolition rubble waste disposal sites; and
      (17)   Grading and excavating when development exceeds 5,000 square feet on a site containing 14 to 30% slopes and/or when development exceeds 1,000 square feet on a site containing 30 to 50% slopes, subject to the provisions of § 154.066 of this chapter.
   (D)   Accessory uses. The following accessory uses shall be permitted in a Class “A-1” District:
      (1)   Accessory uses and structures normally incidental and subordinate to one of the permitted principal or conditional uses, unless otherwise excluded;
      (2)   Agricultural buildings and structures including dams, equipment sheds, outbuildings and other buildings, structures or erections which are primarily adopted for use for agricultural purposes;
      (3)   Private recreational facilities including swimming pools, tennis courts and other recreational facilities commonly accessory to a dwelling;
      (4)   Private parking facilities including garages, carports and other parking spaces;
      (5)   Private stables, kennels and other structures for raising and keeping animals and fowl; provided that, not more than one animal and its immature offspring per acre of pasture for the first two acres of pasture and two animals per each additional acre of pasture shall be permitted; and, further provided that, no such structure shall be located closer than 50 feet to any property line, nor closer than 25 feet to any dwelling on the site. The area devoted to such uses shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition, and shall be maintained so as drainage will not affect the health and safety of adjacent property owners;
      (6)   All-weather school bus shelters permitted in the front yard subject to the provisions of §§ 154.051 and 154.052 of this chapter;
      (7)   Bathhouses, tool or storage sheds and non-habitable playhouses when located in the rear yard;
      (8)   Fences, walls and hedges, subject to the provisions of §§ 154.051 and 154.052 of this chapter;
      (9)   Display signs, outdoor advertising signs and billboards subject to the provisions of §§ 154.120 through 154.125 of this chapter;
      (10)   Home occupations and home professional offices, subject to the provisions of § 154.060 of this chapter; and
      (11)   Roadside stands for the sale of agricultural produce grown on the site, but only when adequate off-street parking is provided.
   (E)   Off-street parking and loading. Off-street parking and loading spaces shall be provided in accordance with §§ 154.100 through 154.105 of this chapter for permitted principal and conditional uses in a Class “A-1” District.
   (F)   Height requirement. No maximum height is established for buildings and structures in a Class “A-1” District; however, attention shall be directed to the equipment limits of the various fire protection jurisdictions in respect to stream heights and elevation assistance, and the obligation of any designer to accommodate these limitations in the design of any building.
   (G)   Setback requirements. The setback requirement for dwellings and structures in a Class “A-1” District shall be as follows:
 
Use
Setback Requirement
Front
Rear
Side
Side Street, Corner Lot
Churches, schools, other public or institutional buildings
50’
40’
40’
40’
Single-family dwelling
40’
30’
10’
30’
Other permitted structures and uses
50’
40’
40’
40’
 
   (H)   Lot size and coverage requirements. The minimum lot size and maximum lot coverage for uses in a Class “A-1” District shall be as follows, except as provided in § 154.047 of this chapter:
 
Use
Minimum Lot
Area
Width
Churches, schools, other public or institutional buildings
2 acres
200’
Single-family dwelling
45,000 sq. ft.
150’
Other permitted structures and uses
2 acres
175’
 
(Ord. passed - -2010)