(A) Introduction. Residential development shall be defined as the development of one residence on property that is not going to be subdivided for further developments. These standards have been created to preserve and enhance a safe, pleasant living environment for the people of the county. It is intended to provide a variety and mix of dwelling types.
(B) Permitted uses.
(1) Single-family dwelling;
(2) Estate Residential;
(3) Multi-Family Residential;
(4) Accessory building and uses incidental to the use permitted, located on the same lot;
(5) Temporary construction building; and
(6) Home occupation.
(C) Residential standards.
(1) Signs intended to be seen outside lot lines:
(a) Business signs, except for home occupation are not permitted;
(b) No sign shall project beyond the lot line, or hinder or obstruct sight lines in the adjacent roadway. Further, no sign shall be placed so as to hinder or obstruct any pedestrian path; and
(c) No sign shall be larger than 32 square feet.
(2) Fences, walls, and hedges, notwithstanding other provisions of this master plan, fences, walls, and hedges may be permitted in any yard or along the edge of any yard, providing that driveway entrances are not shielded by fences, walls and hedges in such a way as to obstruct the view of a driver entering a public road from the driveway and not to obstruct vision of public right-of-way traffic and/or obstruct any pedestrian path.
(4) Maximum building height shall not exceed two and one-half stories or 35 feet.
(5) Minimum ground level square footage (excluding open porches, terraces and garages):
(a) Single story: 650 feet;
(b) Two story: 1,050 feet;
(c) Tri-level (basement and first level): 1,250 feet; and
(d) Story and one-half: 975 feet.
(D) Restrictions for permitted uses. Only single-family detached dwelling units are permitted.
(1) For all side yards, when the structure is in excess of two stories, for each story over the second, the total side yard shall increase by at least ten feet.
(2) Lighted areas shall be placed in such a way that they do not infringe upon the rights of adjacent property owners.
(3) Areas for parking shall not be closer than ten feet from the nearest lot line.
(E) Restrictions. Not more than 25% of the structure shall be used for nonresidential purposes.
(1) Site design and community impacts:
(a) Road hierarchy is how roads surrounding the site are used to connect the site to its surroundings. Connecting the development directly to a major highway is discouraged as a safety hazard due to traffic congestion, as cars exit or enter the new development. Entrance on a paved county road is preferred. Entrance on a gravel county road is mandatory.
(b) Sidewalks allow workers to move freely throughout the development without having to walk to the street making the area safer.
(c) The conservation of energy allows business owners to save money and saves local energy companies the cost of expansions. Energy saving provides the entire community the benefits of lower pollution and should be encouraged.
(d) Landscaping provides a more attractive setting for industries, can reduce summer heating costs and provides wildlife habitat. Buffering between conflicting land uses is required.
(e) Parking lights make industrial areas safer at night and lower risks of robbery.
(f) Higher quality roads and parking make developments more attractive.
(g) Buffering or screening of industrial areas to adjacent land uses is required if the adjacent land use is residential or recreational, and is highly encouraged for other conflicting land uses.
(h) Employing local labor by using county workers so more money is brought into their community and commuting costs can be lowered is strongly encouraged.
(i) The use of products made in the county increases economic activity and can lead to new jobs in the county and is therefore strongly encouraged.
(2) Context and environmental impacts:
(a) Subdivisions (and other land uses) built adjacent to conflicting land uses can cause decreasing land values, create possible safety hazards to residents and are generally not in the public interest. Buffering is required between industrial and residential or recreational uses and encouraged between other land uses.
(b) Developments built in isolated areas cost more in infrastructure and transportation costs and should be discouraged.
(c) Close proximity to fire and police services allows better services at less public cost and therefore is strongly encouraged.
(d) Close proximity to schools and medical facilities allows better services at less public cost and therefore is strongly encouraged.
(e) Close proximity to commercial developments (must be drug store, grocery store, department store or convenience store) allows easier access to every day needed items and reduces traffic.
(f) Proximity to industries and major employers allows a quicker travel time to work and less traffic.
(g) Close access to power, gas and water lines provides more efficient use of limited public resources and therefore is strongly encouraged.
(h) Close access to roads makes the site easier to get to and eliminates the need for new access roads to be built and maintained.
(i) Erosion control measures should be provided on hillsides to prevent the loss of ground and reduce pollution.
(j) Developments that enhance, not reduce, forest lands should be encouraged.
(k) Prime farm land should not be built upon except as a last resort to preserve the value of crop production.
(BC Ord. passed 1-22-2003; BC Ord. passed 3-26-2003; BC Res. 2007-28, passed 7-17-2007) Penalty, see § 155.999