(A) Useable land. All minimum lot size requirements and site requirements shall be based on the amount of useable land. USEABLE LAND is defined as the entire amount of land extending to each property line on the north, south, west and on the east to the rear lot line, which is the first line of stable vegetation west of the high water mark.
(B) Lot dimensions. All parcels shall have a minimum width of 50 feet except as outlined in § 153.051(D).
(C) Lot area.
(1) The minimum building site shall be 15,000 square feet.
(2) The minimum building site for a duplex shall be 20,000 square feet.
(D) Density. For any multi-family, cottage courts, cluster homes, or hotel development, the maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) shall be up to 0.40 with the following exceptions.
(1) Increase the minimum required side yard setbacks by two feet on each side, the FAR shall be up to 0.45; and
(2) Provide a dedicated/recorded five-foot public easement along a side property line for public access to the Atlantic Ocean, the FAR shall be up to 0.50.
(E) Exceptions. Where a lot or parcel of land has an area of less than the above required minimum area and was of record on June 14, 1983, such lot may be occupied by one single-family dwelling, provided the minimum side, front and rear requirements are complied with as set forth in § 153.101.
(F) Lot coverage.
(1) Maximum allowable lot coverage by principal use, all accessory structures, vehicular circulation areas and parking - 55% west of the vegetation line. (For exceptions see § 153.082.)
(2) In no case shall there be more than two main buildings and permitted accessory structures on a lot.
(3) Soils classified as wetlands shall be factored into lot coverage calculation based on the following schedule:
(a) If the lot is composed of less than 25% of its total area in wetland soils, then 75% of that area classified as wetlands may be used in calculating lot coverage;
(b) If the lot has between 25% to 50% of its total area in wetland soils, then 50% of that area classified as wetlands may be used in calculating lot coverage;
(c) If the lot has between 50% to 75% of its total area in soils classified as wetlands, then 25% of that area classified as wetlands may be used in calculating lot coverage;
(d) If the lot has 75% or more of its total area classified as wetlands, none of that area classified as wetlands may be used in calculating lot coverage.
(4) Permeable pavement lot coverage calculations.
(a) The use of permeable paving systems, including porous concrete, porous asphalt, concrete grid pavers, permeable interlocking concrete pavers, and plastic reinforcing grids for parking spaces, drive aisles and vehicular circulation areas, shall allow for a reduction in the calculated lot coverage. Plastic reinforcing grids shall be limited to low-density applications with low traffic speeds. Examples include, but are not limited to, parking stalls in commercial parking lots, overflow parking areas, utility access, emergency vehicle and fire access lanes, and loading areas. Material to fill the open cells of the pavement system types shall consist of open graded fine aggregate, open graded washed aggregate, sod turf grasses native to the southeast coastal environment and exhibit medium to high permeability rates. All permeable paving systems shall comply with the criteria of the North Carolina Division of Water Quality Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual (current edition). The following calculated reductions are allowed:
1. Porous concrete without washed stone base - 40% reduction.
2. Porous concrete with at least six inches of washed stone base - 60% reduction.
3. Porous asphalt, concrete grid pavers, permeable interlocking concrete pavers, and plastic reinforcing grids with at least four inches of washed stone base - 40% reduction.
4. Porous asphalt concrete grid pavers, permeable interlocking concrete pavers, and plastic reinforcing grids with at least seven inches of washed stone base - 60% reduction.
5. The pavement section shall consist of the surface course or layer for infiltration, a bedding course (as required), an aggregate storage layer, and a woven geotextile fabric layer to prevent clogging.
6. Edge restraints shall be provided on all concrete grid pavers, permeable interlocking concrete pavers, and plastic reinforcing grids to confine the pavement installation. The pavement surface course structural properties shall be designed to withstand the applied vehicular loading pursuant to the specified application.
(b) In no case shall the total area that is occupied and obstructed by any structure above the ground, including but not limited to parking and drive aisles:
1. Exceed 65% of the area of the lot for lots of 15,000 square feet or greater.
2. Exceed 60% of the area of the lot for lots less than 15,000 square feet.
(G) Drainage/stormwater runoff. All development is required to follow the provisions in § 153.070.
(H) Land disturbance. See § 153.071.
(Am. Ord. 01-02, passed 2-28-01; Am. Ord. 05-12, passed 8-8-05; Am. Ord. 06-05, passed 4-10-06; Am. Ord. 12-17, passed 8-13-12; Am. Ord. 14-24, passed 2-9-15; Am. Ord. 14-28, passed 3-9-15; Am. Ord. 18-4, passed 6-14-21; Am. Ord. 19-6, passed 1-10-22)