Stow is a City primarily consisting of single-family residences, most of which are owner- occupied. Single-family residences, being sensitive to adverse effects from other land uses, require high standards for use and location of principal and accessory buildings if the residential areas are to be maintained and remain quality places in which to live. Residential District Regulations are established to carry out the purpose, intent and basic planning objectives which are stated in Section 1143.02 and to achieve the following particular objectives:
(a) O Conservation District.
(1) Preserve and protect the values of distinctive geologic, topographic, botanic, historic, or scenic areas;
(2) Protect the ecological balance of an area;
(3) Conserve natural resources such as river valleys and tracts of forest land; and
(4) Reduce the problems created by intensive development of areas which have excessively high water tables, which are subject to flooding or which are topographically or otherwise unsuited for urban uses.
(b) R-1 Single-Family District. Provide areas of low density, single-family uses with a minimum lot size of 20,000 sq. ft., which are located predominately on the outer edge of the City, furthest from many services provided by City and other public agencies, and which conditionally permit clustered single family dwellings.
(c) R-2 Residence District. Provide areas for single-family uses at a slightly higher density, a minimum lot size of 16,000 sq. ft., which conditionally permit clustered single-family, two-family and multiple-family.
(d) R-3 Residence District. Provide areas for single-family uses at a higher density, a minimum lot size of 12,000 sq. ft., which conditionally permit clustered single- family, two-family and multiple-family dwellings, as well as boarding houses.
(e) R-B Residential Business District.
(1) Provide for the development of small office and business uses in selected locations on arterial streets which are primarily residential in character and not appropriate for general retail or commercial uses.
(2) Preserve architecturally or historically significant residential structures through their conversion to viable alternative uses in a manner compatible with the surrounding area.
(3) Discourage replacement of existing residential structures with new construction, while requiring that any new construction that does occur be compatible with the surrounding area.
(Ord. 2007-222. Passed 1-10-08.)