General zoning districts are designated throughout the zoning jurisdiction and include numerous uses that are allowed by right subject to those uses meeting yard and height regulations. In addition, some zones allow for uses subject to prescribed standards. The following general zoning districts are hereby established.
(A) R-25 Rural Residential District. This district is intended to accommodate very low density residential and agricultural uses in fringe areas of the zoning jurisdiction that generally are non-intensely developed. This district is established to accommodate very low-density development where public utilities are nonexistent or partially existent, and to accommodate greater densities where services are present, therefore, density levels are variable to the existence of the facilities. The continuance of agricultural operations is encouraged within this district.
(B) R-15 Single-Family Residential District. This district is established to provide areas consisting primarily of single-family residences located in both urban and suburban settings. Generally, public water and sewer are available or are readily available. Permitted residential uses consist solely of single-family residences and the minimum lot size shall be 15,000 square feet. In addition to single-family residences, a limited number of private and public community uses are allowed.
(C) R-10 Residential District. This district is established to provide primarily for single-family residences. The minimum lot size for single-family dwellings on a use by right basis is established at 10,000 square feet. These areas are served by water and sewer. Certain public and private community facilities are also allowed.
(D) R-8 Residential District.
(1) This district is established to accommodate single-family dwellings on 6,000 minimum square foot lots and two-family dwellings on 12,000 minimum square foot lots. These districts are located where water and sewer are present. The district accommodates both one- and two-family residences.
(2) A limited number of private and public community uses are allowed or may be allowed where certain criteria specified in this chapter are met.
(E) RMF Residential Multi-Family District. This district is intended primarily as a residential district for the location of detached single-family dwellings, two-family dwellings and multi-family dwellings along with their customary accessory uses so as to establish areas where development patterns are somewhat more dense than surrounding areas. A limited number of private and public community uses are allowed.
(F) RO Residential Office District. This district allows for one-, two- and multi-family residential uses and certain commercial, office and institutional uses which would create an area convenient for both residential and employment purposes. In certain areas this district is also established to provide a transition between purely residential areas and primarily commercial areas. In order to enhance the district’s residential character, the R-O District for purposes of this chapter is deemed a residential district. This classification does require screening and buffering from all new uses in adjacent commercial and industrial districts. Small offices, certain community facilities and one and two-family residences are permitted by right.
(G) O-I Office Institutional District. This district is established to allow for a wide variety of offices, certain commercial uses having minor impacts, certain community facilities, professional and medical service and certain institutions. Single-family residences are permitted, but unlike the R-O Zone, the emphasis of this zone is on nonresidential uses. This zone may also be established in certain areas to provide an orderly transition between residential areas and more intensive commercial uses.
(H) N-B Neighborhood Business District.
(1) This district is designed primarily for local business centers for retailing of merchandise such as groceries, drugs, and household items and for furnishing certain personal, business and professional services. Unlike some of the other commercial zones, this district is established to serve local neighborhoods and other relatively small trading areas. The standards established for these business areas are designed to promote sound, permanent business development and also to protect abutting or surrounding residential areas from undesirable aspects of nearby business developments. These districts are located at accessible places with respect to traffic circulation in order to conveniently serve the trading population and to promote the grouping of several places of business at locations so designated. Since this district is established to provide for small neighborhood oriented businesses, limitations on gross floor areas are established for certain uses. A Neighborhood Business District is typically a relatively small area but shall consist of at least two lots in separate ownership or at least two acres regardless of ownership.
(2) Unlike the CB District, off-street parking, landscaping and yard requirements are established for the NB District.
(I) C-B Central Business District. The purpose of this district is to permit concentrated development of a wide variety of retail establishments, personal services and professional and non-professional offices. In light of the concentrated amount of a development normally found in a downtown area, yard regulations are minimal. Given the lack of space for off-street parking, this requirement has also been eliminated.
(J) CBT Central Business Transitional District. The purpose of this district is to permit concentrated development of a wide variety of retail establishments, personal services and professional and non-professional offices. Like the Central Business District, yard regulations are minimal. However, unlike the Central Business District, off-street parking standards must be met for all uses permitted in the district. The number of off-street parking spaces required for uses in the Central Business Transitional District is less than that for other Business and Commercial Districts since land size limitations restrict parking area availability. Land in this district exhibits some of the same characteristics as land within the Central Business District, but is generally not developed in the same concentrations as the Central Business District.
(K) G-B General Business. The purpose of this district is to provide an array of retail, wholesale and service uses to serve the entire community and with access to the uses being primarily by automobile. The districts are located along major arterial and collector streets and adjacent to the Central Business District in order to have a minimal effect on residential neighborhoods.
(L) H-B Highway Business. The purpose of this district is to provide an array of highway-oriented retail, wholesale and service uses to serve the entire community and with access to the uses being primarily by automobile. The districts are generally located along major arterial and collector streets in order to have a minimal effect on residential neighborhoods.
(M) P-B Planned Business. The purpose of this district is to promote orderly and aesthetic commercial development along major highways and entranceways in the Lincolnton area.
(N) GMC General Manufacturing and Commercial. This district is designed primarily for general commercial and industrial land uses, including manufacturing, processing and assembling of parts and products; distribution of products at wholesale outlets, retail outlets; transportation terminals; various public and utility uses; and a broad variety of specialized commercial and industrial operations.
(O) GI General Industrial. This district is designed primarily for general and heavy commercial and industrial land uses, including outdoor storage.
(P) ROS Residential Office Single-Family. This district is established to accommodate both single-family residential uses and other light office and institutional uses in older areas of the city that have developed in a manner that includes those uses. It is important that areas zoned ROS exist in harmony with adjacent established single-family areas. Like the OR District, the ROS District is a residential district. This classification requires screening and buffering from all new uses in adjacent commercial and industrial districts.
(Prior UDO, § 6.2) (Ord. passed - - ; Ord. passed 6-29-2023) Penalty, see § 153.999