(A) This district shall be allowed as a conditional zoning district.
(B) Minimum size. An RPD shall be located on a site containing at least five contiguous acres.
(C) Septic system and repair areas and water systems may be in common areas, provided that appropriate measures are taken to ensure maintenance through a homeowner’s association. System designs must be obtained and approved from the Surry County Environmental Health Department.
(D) Design, lot, and density requirements.
(1) Notwithstanding the development standards set out in this subchapter, RDP districts shall be exempt from the minimum lot size requirements and side property line setbacks of this subchapter except for those within a watershed area and outstanding resource watershed area, provided the developmental standards and other requirements herein are met. The minimum lot size requirements of RPD shall be not less than 10,000 square feet provided that, the overall density of dwelling units shall not exceed one lot/acre and provided that, 25% of the total project remains in open space.
(2) Lots in an RPD district shall either front upon a public street or a private street as described and conditioned in above, or common open space which adjoins either a public or private street as provided for above.
(3) Subdivisions within RPD shall be subject to the provisions and declarations of the North Carolina Unit Ownership Act, if applicable, and such documents shall be submitted as part of the plat review process.
(4) Applications for an RPD shall include an acceptable open space preservation plan delineating areas to remain in open space.
(E) Lot requirements. Each lot or space shall be subject to the lot sizes and overall density limits listed above. The following criteria shall be used to determine the location of each lot.
(1) Development should be buffered from direct view by a vegetative buffer, or an earth berm constructed to reflect the topography of the surrounding area or located out of sight on slopes below existing ridge lines.
(2) Each lot shall be located to minimize the visual impact of the development.
(3) Each lot shall not include wetlands, transition areas and floodplains.
(4) Each lot shall not include areas with excessive slopes of greater than 20%.
(5) Roadways shall follow existing contours to minimize the extent of cuts and fills.
(6) The minimum common open space shall be contiguous, with allowed breaks at roads/streets.
(F) On-site inspection. Prior to the submission of a request for RPD, the developer shall schedule a mutually convenient time to walk the property with the Subdivision Administrator, Local Ordinance Officer, and Health Department representative.
(1) The purpose of this visit is to familiarize staff with the property’s special features, and to provide them an informal opportunity to offer guidance to the applicant regarding the tentative location of the building lots, open space areas, buffering requirements and street locations.
(2) Prior to scheduling the on-site visit, the applicant shall have prepared a preliminary site or sketch plan that shall show the basic concept of meeting the clustering and open space preservation section and other requirements set forth herein.
(Ord. passed 4-17-2023)