§ 154.03 GENERAL USE ZONING DISTRICTS.

   (A)   Residential districts established. The housing types described in this section are defined in Table 154-1.

      (1)   R-A Residential Agriculture District. The R-A Residential District designates a district in which the principal use of land is for active agricultural use or rural residential purposes, characterized by single-family detached homes on very large parcels in a rural or agricultural setting. The overall gross density ranges from 0.10 units per acre (ten-acre minimum lot size) for Agricultural areas to 0.20 units per acre (five-acre minimum lot size) for Rural Residential areas, as shown on the City Comprehensive Land Use Plan Future Land Use Map. 

      (2)   R-20A Single-Family Residential District. The R-20A Residential District designates properties used principally for low-density residential purposes, characterized by single-family detached homes on relatively large lots. The overall gross density is 2.2 units per acre or less (20,000 square feet minimum lot area). Residential development in this district generally will not have access to the city water and sewer facilities.

      (3)   R-20 Single-Family Residential District. The R-20 Residential District designates properties used principally for low-density residential purposes, characterized by single-family detached homes on relatively large lots. The overall gross density is 2.2 units per acre or less (20,000 square feet minimum lot area).

      (4)   R-13 Medium Density Residential District. The R-13 District designates properties used principally for medium density residential purposes, characterized by single-family detached homes. The overall gross density is typically 3.2 units per acre or less (13,500 square feet minimum lot area).

      (5)   R-12 Medium Density Residential District. The R-12 District designates properties used principally for medium density residential purposes, characterized by single-family detached homes. The overall gross density is typically 3.6 units per acre or less (12,000 square feet minimum lot area).

 

Table 154-1 - Housing Types
The following housing types are established to provide a common terminology for housing in the city. All drawings are for illustrative purposes only.
Single- Family Detached	Zero Lot Line Detached	Semi-Attached House	Upper-Story Residential Attached	Multiplex Attached	Townhouse Attached	Multi-Family Attached
A dwelling unit located on a single lot with private yards on all four sides	A dwelling unit located on a single lot with private yards on three sides. The unit has only a single side yard comprising the equivalent of two side yards of a single-family detached house.	Two attached single-family units located on two lots that share a common wall along the lot line, providing for fee-simple ownership	A residential dwelling unit located on a floor above a nonresidential use	Two to four attached dwelling units in a single structure on a single lot. The two units can be located on separate floors or side-by-side	Five to ten attached single-family units located on separately owned lots where the units are lined up in a row and share side walls, individual units can be mixed vertically	Ten or more units are referred to as condominiums or apartments. Multi-family can vary in height from two to four stories (or higher subject to conditions); individual units can be mixed vertically

 

      (6)   R-10 Medium Density Residential District. The R-10 District designates properties used principally for medium density residential purposes, characterized by single-family detached homes. The overall gross density is typically 4.3 units per acre or less (10,000 square feet minimum lot area).

      (7)   R-7 Medium Density Residential District. The R-7 District designates properties used principally for medium density residential purposes, characterized by single-family detached homes. The overall gross density is typically 6.2 units per acre or less (7,000 square feet minimum lot area).

      (8)   R-M Multi-Family Residential District. The R-M District is established as a district in which the principal use of land is for high-density residential purposes, characterized by single-family detached homes, zero lot line detached homes, semi-attached homes, multiplex attached homes, townhouse attached homes, condominiums, multi-family attached homes and upper-story attached homes. Residential densities range from six to 12.5 dwelling units per acre.

      (9)   R-MH Manufactured Home Residential District.

         (a)   The R-MH District is established as a district in which the principal use of land is for manufactured homes.

         (b)   This district is intended for the location of manufactured homes on land under common ownership (e.g., manufactured home parks) or for the creation of individual lots, each for the placement of a manufactured home, within a planned manufactured home community.

         (c)   The overall gross density is typically 8.7 units per acre or less (5,000 square feet minimum lot area).

         (d)   In addition to all other requirements of the code applicable to manufactured housing, all manufactured homes located in the R-MH District shall be subject to the regulations and standards pursuant to Chapter 155.

   (B)   Business districts.

      (1)   N-B Neighborhood Business.

         (a)   The N-B District is established as a mixed-use district where compact development, comprised of commercial retail, service, office and residential uses are integrated vertically and horizontally with adjacent residential uses, businesses and neighborhoods.

         (b)   The overall gross residential density ranges from three to ten units per acre for neighborhood mixed use areas to four to 15 units per acre for city center mixed use areas, as shown on the City Comprehensive Land Use Plan Future Land Use Map.

         (c)   The regulations of this district are indented to assure compatibility and interconnection with neighboring uses.

         (d)   Developments within the NB District are recommended to follow the Conditional Zoning District process (see § 160.12) to demonstrate consistency with the Comprehensive Land Use Plan’s City Center and Neighborhood Mixed Use land use categories, especially in terms of types of uses, building heights, floor area ratios and integration with and protection of surrounding uses.

      (2)   H-C Highway Commercial.

         (a)   The H-C District is established to allow commercial development for retailing of goods and services, and providing offices and personal services on major highways and other thoroughfares in the community. Because these commercial uses are subject to the public view which is a matter of important concern to the whole community, they should provide a pleasing appearance, ample parking, controlled traffic movement and suitable landscaping.

         (b)   For those uses that may require use of property outside of the principal buildings, special use provisions are generally required in order to maintain and promote a healthful environment for the business community.

         (c)   Further, open storage and accessory buildings may be specifically limited in scope.

      (3)   O&I Office and Institutional.

         (a)   The O&I District is established as a transition district in which the principal use of land is for services, offices and institutional types such as medical facilities, clinics, churches and other compatible uses within a transitional area.

         (b)   Because these uses are subject to the public view, which is a matter of important concern to the whole community, they should provide a pleasing appearance, ample parking, controlled low volume traffic movement and suitable landscaping. Open storage is prohibited.

   (C)   Industrial districts.

      (1)   L-I Light Industrial.

         (a)   The L-I District is established as a district in which the principal use of land is intended for warehousing, shipping facilities, light manufacturing, assembly operations and wholesaling activities which have little or no adverse impact upon adjoining residential, business and industrial properties.

         (b)   The L-I District is intended to provide appropriate locations for light industrial uses

in areas that would otherwise be adversely impacted by general or heavy industrial uses.

         (c)   Other land uses allowed within the L-I District should be limited to those uses that support light industrial uses. Generally, retail, service and heavy commercial uses should be avoided in the L-I District.

      (2)   H-I Heavy Industrial District.

         (a)   The H-I District is established as a district in which the principal use of land is intended for enterprises engaged in a wide range of fabricating, manufacturing, processing, creating, repairing, renovating, painting, cleaning or assembly of goods, merchandise or equipment and related support retail and service uses which may not be compatible with certain light industrial uses or surrounding residential or business uses.

         (b)   This district is intended to allow a higher density of manufacturing and warehousing operations, and which may create less desirable appearance and more environmental pollution than uses in the L-I District.

         (c)   These uses by their nature are more intense, may create nuisances and should be placed in outlying locations on large tracts of land where the operations involved do not detract from the development potential of nearby property, or alternatively, within the AICUZ Overlay District where the uses would not adversely affect neighboring uses or be affected by the potential noise and safety impacts of Cherry Point operations.

Table 154-2 City Zoning District and Land Use Plan Compatibility Matrix

Zoning District

R-A

R-20A

R-20

R-13

R-12

R-10

R-7

R-M

R-MH

N-B

H-C

O&I

L-I

H-I

M-R

GS

Min. Lot Size:

5-10 ac

20,000 sf

20,000 sf

13,000 sf

12,000 sf

10,000 sf

7,000 sf

8,000 plus 2,000/ du>1

5,000

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Future Land Use Category

Density (du/ acre)

Intensity

Agriculture

0.10

X

Bus/Office

-

FAR 2.5

X

X

C

C

C

C

City Center/ Mixed

4.0 to 15.0

FAR .50 + .10 each additional story

X

C

C

High Density Res.

6.0 to 12.5

X

X

C

C

Industrial

-

FAR 2.5

X

X

C

Institutional/Public Facility

-

FAR 1.5

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

X

C

C

C

C

Low Density Res.

2

X

X

Med. Density Res.

2.0 to 6.0

X

X

X

X

X

X

C

Military

X

Nat Forest

C

C

C

Neighborhood/Mixed

3.0 to 10.0

FAR .40 + .10 each additional story

X

C

C

Rural Residential

0.20

X

X

Parks and Rec.

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

X

X = Consistent

C = Conditionally consistent

Blank = Not consistent

FAR = Floor area ratio

 

   (D)   Other districts.

      (1)   M-R Military Reservation. The M-R District is intended to accommodate the military installations under the authority of the planning and zoning jurisdiction of the city. The purpose of the MR zone is to meet the purpose and intent of G.S. § 160D-702 by providing zoning coverage to the entire corporate area while providing adequate zoning protection for properties that are presently held by the military, but might be declared surplus or otherwise privatized in the future. The M-R District will permit by right traditional military uses and functions/uses supportive of the military mission.

      (2)   G-S Governmental Services. The G-S District is established as a district in which the principal use of land is for governmental services. The services may include city-owned and operated facilities including offices, parks, playgrounds, training grounds, utility plants and the like. In addition, these services may include county-owned and operated facilities such as offices, schools, playgrounds, parks, training grounds, utility plants and the like. Because these facilities are subject to public view, which is a matter of important concern to the whole community, they should provide a pleasing appearance, ample parking and suitable landscaping.

(Ord. passed 7-25-2011; Ord. 21-O-04, passed 6-28-2021)