This District is intended to protect and encourage agricultural uses of land by controlling indiscriminate development of urban-type uses. Residences are permitted on large lots with wide frontage, but residential subdivisions are not permitted, except as provided in § 152.04(d) (of the Area Subdivision Control Code). Generally, the Prime Agriculture District is located where the soil types are most conducive to agricultural operations. All types of agricultural uses or uses akin to agricultural operations are permitted, either outright or by special exception, depending upon their impact upon neighboring uses.
(A) Permitted uses.
(1) Agricultural use;
(2) Single-family dwelling;
(3) Manufactured home;
(4) Applicable special exceptions set forth in § 153.014;
(5) Applicable contingent uses set forth in § 153.065;
(6) Accessory uses set forth in § 153.066;
(7) Temporary uses set forth in § 153.067; and
(8) A farmstead lot of not less than one acre with yard requirements the same as those required for a single-family dwelling located in the A-2 Agriculture District.
(B) Other requirements for the A-1 District.
(1) Lot and area, ground floor area, height, lot width, lot coverage, and front, side, and rear yard requirements are set forth in Figure 1.
(2) See § 153.015 for front yard or setback and additional yard requirements.
(3) Additional height requirements are set forth in § 153.021.
(4) Off-street parking space requirements are set forth in § 153.024.
(6) See § 153.016 for fence requirements and yard exceptions.
(C) Method for reclassifying an A-1 District to an A-2 District for subdivision purposes.
(1) If an applicant for a residential subdivision of land, as set forth in the Subdivision Code proposed to be located in an area covered by an A-1 District, can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Plan Commission that such land is actually located in an area having primarily Group III and/or Group IV Soils in accordance with the criteria and findings in the National Cooperative Soil Survey prepared by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service in cooperation with the Purdue Experimental Station and the County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Plan Commission may then initiate an amendment to this chapter on its own motion in order to cause the area proposed to be subdivided to be reclassified on the zone map to the A-2 District; provided, that certain other requirements have been met by the applicant:
(a) The county road from which access is gained to the proposed subdivision is paved properly in accordance with the standards of the County Highway Department, or the applicant may pave such road at his or her expense;
(b) The plan for off-site drainage proposed meets the approval of the County Drainage Board of Commissioners, and the expense of the drainage will be borne by the subdivider (three-year bond); and
(c) The site is located in a woods or in an area topographically or otherwise unfit for agricultural operations.
(2) The general criteria of soils of the county that have the best potential for homesites:
(a) Do not flood or pond;
(b) Moderately well-drained, well-drained, or excessively drained;
(c) Slopes of 2% to 12%;
(d) Bedrock deeper than 60 inches; and
(e) Have an acceptable soil analysis.
(3) Criteria of soils included in prime farmland map units of the county that do not qualify as prime farmland and that have the best potential for homesites:
(a) A soil that has an unfavorable texture and growing season for agronomic crops;
(b) A soil that has an inadequate and/or independable water supply in the upper 40 inches of the soil; or the water table is not maintained or cannot be managed so that all of the soil horizons within 40 inches have adequate available water for plant growth during the cropping season; and
(c) Soil that has coarse or moderately coarse texture in the surface and subsoil.
(Ord. passed - -1996)