(A)
The following residential districts are hereby established: A-5, R-20, R-15, R-10, RM-10, R-8, RM-8, R-6 and RM-6. The purpose of each residential district is to secure for the persons who reside there a comfortable, healthy, safe and pleasant environment in which to live, sheltered from incompatible and disruptive activities that properly belong in non-residential districts.
(1) The A-5 Agriculture District is designed to secure the agricultural integrity of the areas so classified and to allow for low-density single-family development on five-acre minimum lots. The uses encouraged in this district are primarily agricultural or forestry related. Residential developments of five units or more shall comply with the cluster subdivision provision outlined in § 153.145. For the A-5 Agriculture District, in promoting the general purposes of this chapter, the specific intent of this district is:
(a) To encourage the conservation of the area's existing agricultural and forestry resources and to promote the further expansion of these land-related resources;
(b) To prohibit non-agricultural and non-forestry-related commercial and industrial use of the land and to prohibit any other influx of uses likely to render it undesirable for farms and low-density development;
(c) To encourage the sensitive incorporation of low-density single-family or multi-family development into an agricultural and forested area in an effort to maintain rural character and conserve valuable lands; and
(d) To discourage any use which, because of its character or size, would create requirements and cost for public services, such as police and fire protection, water supply and sewerage, substantially in excess of such requirements and cost if the district were developed solely for single-family purposes.
(2) The R-20 Rural Residential District is designed to accommodate low-density single-family dwellings with 20,000 square feet minimum lots that may not be serviced with town sewer service or multi-family dwellings that are serviced with town sewer. For the R-20 Residential District, in promoting the general purposes of this chapter, the specific intent of this district is:
(a) To encourage the construction of and the continued use of the land for low density single-family or multi-family dwellings;
(b) To encourage the preservation of the rural character of the land;
(c) To prohibit commercial and industrial use of the land and to prohibit any other influx of uses likely to render it undesirable for low density development;
(d) To discourage any use which, because of its character or size, would create requirements and cost for public services, such as police and fire protection, water supply and sewerage, substantially in excess of such requirements and cost if the district were developed solely for single-family dwellings;
(e) To encourage the discontinuance of existing uses that would not be permitted as new uses in this district; and
(f) To encourage development to take place in a manner that promotes a healthy environment.
(3) The R-15 Residential District is designed to accommodate low-density single-family dwellings with 15,000 square feet minimum lots. For the R-15 Residential District, in promoting the general purposes of this chapter, the specific intent of this district is:
(a) To encourage the construction of and the continued use of the land for single-family dwellings;
(b) To prohibit commercial and industrial use of the land and to prohibit any other use which would substantially interfere with development or continuation of single-family dwellings in the district;
(c) To encourage the discontinuance of existing uses that would not be permitted as new uses in this district;
(d) To discourage any use which would generate traffic on minor streets other than normal traffic to serve residences on those streets; and
(e) To discourage any use which, because of its character or size, would create requirements and costs for public services, such as police and fire protection, water supply and sewerage, substantially in excess of such requirements and costs if the district were developed solely for residential purposes.
(4) The R-10 Residential District is designed to accommodate medium-density single-family dwellings with 10,000 square feet minimum lots. For the R-10 Residential District, in promoting the general purposes of this chapter, the specific intent of this district is:
(a) To encourage the continued use of the land for residential purposes;
(b) To prohibit commercial and industrial use of the land and to prohibit any other use which would substantially interfere with development or continuation of single- and multi-family dwellings (see R-10A) in the district;
(c) To encourage the discontinuance of existing uses that would not be permitted as new uses in this district;
(d) To discourage any use which would generate traffic on minor streets other than normal traffic to serve residences on those streets; and
(e) To discourage any use which because of its character and size would create requirements and costs for public services, such as police and fire protection, water supply and sewerage, substantially in excess of such requirements and costs if the district were developed solely for residential purposes.
(5) The RM-10 Residential District is designed to accommodate single-, two- and multi-family dwellings with the same lot sizes and density as allowed in the R-10 Residential District. In promoting the general purposes of this chapter, the general intent of this district is the same as the R-10 Residential District.
(6) The R-8 Residential District is designed to accommodate single-family dwellings with a minimum 8,000 square feet lot for one unit and 4,000 square feet for each additional unit; multi-family density maximum is approximately 10.6 units per acre (based on a five-acre tract). For the R-8 Residential District, in promoting the general purposes of this chapter, the specific intent of this district is:
(a) To encourage the continued use of the land for residential purposes;
(b) To prohibit commercial and industrial use of the land and to prohibit any other use which would substantially interfere with development or continuation of residential uses in the district;
(c) To encourage the discontinuance of existing uses that would not be permitted as new uses in this district;
(d) To discourage any use which would generate traffic on minor streets other than normal traffic to serve residences on those streets; and
(e) To discourage any use which because of its character or size would create requirements and costs for public services such as police and fire protection, water supply and sewerage, substantially in excess of such requirements and costs if the district were developed solely for residential purposes.
(7) The RM-8 Residential District is designed to accommodate single-, two- and multi-family dwellings with the same lot sizes and density as allowed in the R-8 Residential District. In promoting the general purposes of this chapter, the general intent of this district is the same as the R-8 Residential District.
(8) The R-6 Residential District is designed to accommodate single-family dwellings with 6,000 square feet minimum lots for one dwelling unit and 2,000 square feet required for each additional unit. For the R-6 Residential District, in promoting the general purposes of this chapter, the specific intent of this district is:
(a) To encourage continued use of the land for residential purposes and certain compatible non-residential uses;
(b) To prohibit commercial and industrial use of the land; to prohibit any other use which would substantially interfere with the development or continuation of residential structures in the district;
(c) To encourage the discontinuance of existing uses that would not be permitted as new uses in the district; and
(d) To discourage any use which because of its character or size would generate traffic or require municipal services substantially in excess of traffic and services that would exist if the district were developed solely for residential uses.
(9) The RM-6 Residential District is designed to accommodate single-, two- and multi-family dwellings with the same lot sizes and density as allowed in the R-6 Residential District. Manufactured homes and manufactured home parks are also permitted and shall be subject to the standards described in § 153.113. In promoting the general purposes of this chapter, the general intent of this district is the same as the R-6 Residential District.
(C) The provisions of this chapter shall not affect property used for bona fide farm purposes within the Town's extraterritorial jurisdiction; provided, however, this chapter shall apply to the use of farm property for nonfarm purposes. The provisions of G.S. § 160D-903 shall control whether the use of property is for "bona fide farm purposes," and the provisions of such section are incorporated herein by reference as if set forth herein verbatim.
(Ord. passed 4-9-2013; Ord. 2021-03, passed 6-8-2021)