(A) Intent.
(1) The A-1: Agricultural District is intended to encompass those areas which are presently used primarily for agriculture.
(2) It is further intended to preserve and protect prime agricultural land from indiscriminate and undesirable encroachment by, and conversion to, urban uses; provided that, such limited residential uses as will not detract from the crop producing capability of the land, may be permitted; and, further provided, that certain commercial and industrial uses having a particular need to locate away from high density urban areas, may, after due consideration of their environmental and economic impact, be permitted.
(B) Conditions of use.
(1) On a farm, as defined, any use listed as “agricultural” shall be exempt from all regulations of this chapter, except applicable regulations set forth in the Floodplain District, and except the following conditions relating to accessory uses;
(2) No accessory use shall occupy more than 25% of the land area of a farm or lot, nor shall the appraised value of land, buildings and improvements occupied by an accessory use exceed 25% of the value of the farm or lot, including all improvements thereto;
(3) Animal rearing and feeding operations shall be carried on in strict accord with the requirements of the state’s Department of Natural Resources;
(4) The keeping of domestic livestock on a lot used principally for residential purposes shall be limited as follows:
Type of Animal | No. of Animals Per Acre
|
Horses and cattle | 2 |
Sheep, goats, swine, alpacas, chickens | 4 |
NOTES TO TABLE: For the purposes of this chapter, miniature pigs, as regulated by § 90.13 of the of code of ordinances, shall not be considered swine. | |
(5) A minimum of one acre is required to keep domestic livestock. No stabling, grazing or tethering area for such livestock shall be located closer than 100 feet from any residential dwelling on a neighboring property;
(6) A mobile home, as defined herein, may be used as a principal dwelling on a farm, or as an accessory dwelling, housing a farm employee; however, except as may be allowed by a conditional use permit, no mobile home shall be used as a dwelling on a non-farm lot; and
(7) A farmstead in existence at the time of adoption of this chapter may be severed from a farm and thereafter used for residential purposes; provided that, there is included one acre of land per dwelling unit with side and rear yards as required for one- and two-family dwellings.
(C) Permitted uses. The following uses are allowed in the A-1: Agricultural District:
(1) Agriculture;
(2) Single-family homes;
(3) Public parks, open spaces and recreational facilities;
(4) Educational and religious facilities;
(5) Home occupations;
(6) Accessory buildings and uses;
(7) Agriculture businesses; provided, the parcel is over five acres in size;
(8) Plant nurseries;
(9) Commercial orchards; and
(10) Forestry.
(D) Conditional use permit. The following uses may be allowed in the A-1: Agricultural District upon approval of a conditional use permit by the Zoning Board of Adjustment:
(1) Cemeteries; and
(2) Communication towers.
(E) Lot requirements for non-farm dwellings.
(1) Area. The minimum site area for a one- or two-family dwelling on a non-farm lot shall be two acres.
(2) Soil type.
(a) Seventy-five percent of the required minimum area of the building site shall be made up of one or more of the following soil classifications, as identified in the report of the “Soil Survey of Jasper County, Iowa”, as published by the U.S.D.A. Soil Conservation Service:
1. 20-D;
2. 24-D;
3. 120-D;
4. 162-D;
5. 163-C;
6. 179-D;
7. 273-C;
8. 488-D; and
9. 570-D.
(b) Variance from the soil classification requirement may be granted by the Board of Adjustment.
(F) Size regulations. See § 158.030 Residential Zoning Districts’ Size and Density Regulations Table.
(2011 Code, § 34.04010) (Ord. 2189, passed 4-10-2012; Ord. 2373, passed 4-20-2020; Ord. 2411, passed 4-4-2022)