The following standards shall be considered the minimum requirements of all multi-family developments.
(A) General standards.
(1) Each multi-family dwelling unit shall be located on a well-drained site and shall be graded to allow surface water to be removed from the site.
(2) In reference to sewage disposal, solid waste disposal, water supply and general health standards, State Laws and Rules for Sanitary Sewage Collection, Treatment and Disposal or any other rules and regulations adopted by the District Health Department shall apply.
(3) Multi-family dwelling units shall not be located within the 100-year flood area unless the requirements of Chapter 152, adhered to by the county, are met.
(4) Land-disturbing activities and removal of vegetation should be minimized to reduce soil erosion and stormwater runoff.
(B) Lot and building requirements.
(1) In developments where individual septic tank systems are used, the layout of the multi-family dwelling units shall be designed in accordance with standards and regulations of the State Commission of Health Services and the Pasquotank, Perquimans, Camden, Chowan District Health Department.
(2) In developments where municipal or private sewer systems are employed, multi-family developments shall be designed according to the following schedule:
Type of Dwelling Unit | Units Per Gross Acre |
Single-family, attached - one story | 8 |
Single-family, attached - two story | 14 |
Single-family, attached - mixed one and two story | 12 |
Garden apartment - two story | 16 |
(3) All multi-family dwelling units shall be located at a minimum of 40 feet from the right-of-way of any existing state maintained highway or road. For units located on newly constructed internal streets, the minimum setback shall be as follows:
(a) Thirty feet from collectors;
(b) Twenty five feet from local access streets; and
(c) Twenty feet from cul-de-sacs and private drives.
(4) All multi-family unit buildings shall be located a minimum of 20 feet from any other building within the development and ten feet from any parking area or court. The minimum setbacks from property lines shall be 20 feet on the back of the building and ten feet on the side or end of the building.
(5) The maximum building height shall be two stories or 35 feet.
(6) All structures shall be built in conformance with the State Building Code.
(C) Streets and parking.
(1) Street construction. All newly constructed streets and driveways in a multi-family development shall be constructed according to the current Subdivision Roads: Minimum Construction Standards of the Division of Highways, State Department of Transportation, with the following modifications.
(a) Cul-de-sacs shall have a maximum length of 600 feet measured from the corner to the center of the turning circle.
(b) There shall be no direct access from an individual dwelling unit to a collector street.
(2) Private drives. Private drives are allowed to connect common parking areas and groups of multi-family units to public streets. These drives shall be constructed to the same standards as public streets and have a minimum pavement width of 16 feet. Parking shall not be allowed except where parking bays are provided. Dead ends are not allowed: a T-turnaround shall be provided for drives of less, than 100 feet in length; a 70-foot diameter cul-de-sac is required for longer drives.
(3) Street signs. It is the responsibility of the developer to install street signs at the intersections of streets and on those named private drives within his or her development.
(4) Parking areas. Each single living unit shall have off street parking for two vehicles. All common parking areas shall be paved and constructed to the same standards as streets. Additional parking for recreational vehicles, boats and the like, may be required by the Planning Board.
(5) Maintenance. For rental property, the maintenance of the streets and parking areas shall be the responsibility of the owner. For sale property, the maintenance of streets and common parking areas shall be the responsibility of a property owner’s association.
(D) Utility requirements.
(1) Sanitation. Water supply, sewage disposal, solid waste disposal and general maintenance shall meet the requirement of the District Health Departments State Laws and Rules for Sanitary Sewage Collection, Treatment and Disposal or any other rules and regulations adopted by the District Health Department.
(2) Electrical service. All electrical service and connections shall meet the standards of the North Carolina Electrical Code, as enforced by the County Building Inspector.
(3) Area lighting. All streets and parking areas shall be illuminated from sunset to sunrise with a minimum light of approximately 7,000 lumens (175 watts) spaced 350 feet apart.
(E) Sediment control, stormwater management, and drainage requirements.
(1) Standards. The standard for sediment control and stormwater management shall be the County Soil Conservation Service and any applicable state regulator adhered to by the county. Project site drainage requirements shall be determined by the Albemarle Soil and Water Conservation District, and where applicable, the District Health Department.
(2) Maintenance. For rental property, the maintenance of stormwater management and drainage devices shall be the responsibility of the owner. For sale property, the maintenance of these devices shall be the responsibility of a property owner’s association.
(F) Fire safety.
(1) Where all water mains are six inches or larger shall have fire hydrants no greater than 1,000 feet apart. All hydrants shall be standard type with one four and one-half inch and two two and one-half inch openings and all threads shall be national standard. The lowest opening of the hydrants shall be 12 inches above the ground level of the final grade. Hydrants shall meet specifications of the County Water System.
(2) All multi-family dwellings shall have smoke detectors of the approved type.
(3) All dwelling units within multi-family dwellings shall be separated by fire resistant construction in accordance with the State Building Code.
(Ord. passed 12-16-1985)