(a) Intent. It is the intent of the City, in the creation of the R-4a Two-Family Urban Residence District, to provide for areas of high density similar to the R-4 District, with the provision for two-family residence areas where two-family dwellings now exist or may be desired in the future. Cluster subdivisions are a permitted, conditional use in this District.
(b) Permitted Uses.
(1) In an R-4a District, no building or land shall be used or changed in use, and no building shall be located, erected or structurally altered, unless otherwise provided herein, except for one or more of the following uses:
A. Single-family residences.
B. Two-family residences.
C. Schools and other public uses.
D. Churches.
E. Customary accessory uses.
(2) The following uses shall be deemed conditional uses in an R-4a District and shall be permitted as provided in Chapter 1264:
A. Cluster subdivisions, as provided in Chapter 1278.
B. Golf courses, except miniature courses and practice driving ranges operated for commercial purposes.
C. Institutions.
(Ord. 66-103. Passed 12-19-66; Ord. 99-45. Passed 9-22-99.)
D. Wireless telecommunications towers and related wireless telecommunications facilities.
(Ord. 99-46. Passed 10-24-99.)
(c) Prohibited Uses.
(1) Uses or processes which would affect an extensive area or be contrary to the public health and welfare in the City are prohibited in this and all other zoning districts. Prohibited uses include, but are not limited to, bituminous concrete manufacturing facilities, commonly known as "asphalt plants".
(Ord. 98-87. Passed 3-1-99.)
(2) No building or structure, except a principle residence, shall be built or erected on any vacant lot within the district.
(Ord. 2009-51. Passed 7-27-09.)
(3) A storage unit facility used or intended for storage of personal property other than property of the current lawful residents or owners of the principal residences thereon.
(Ord. 2022-5. Passed 11-21-22.)
(d) Building Height. No building or structure in an R-4a District shall exceed thirty feet in height except as otherwise provided in this Zoning Code.
(e) Lot Area, Width and Yard Requirements.
(1) Lot area and width.
A. Each single-family dwelling or other building permitted herein shall be located on a lot having an area of not less than 9,100 square feet and a width of not less than seventy feet.
B. Each two-family dwelling permitted herein shall be located on a lot having an area of not less than 16,900 square feet and a width of not less than eighty-five feet.
(2) Yards. Yards of the following minimum depths shall be provided for all lots in an R-4a District, unless otherwise permitted by this Zoning Code:
A. Front and rear yards. Each single-family residence shall have a front yard of not less than thirty feet and a rear yard of not less than forty feet. Each two-family residence shall have a front yard of not less than thirty-five feet and a rear yard of not less than thirty-five feet.
B. Side yards. Each lot or parcel of land occupied by a single-family residence shall be provided with two side yards, the sum of which shall be not less than sixteen feet in width and neither of which shall be less than eight feet. Each lot or parcel of land occupied by a two-family residence shall be provided with two side yards, the sum of which shall be not less than thirty-five feet in width and neither of which shall be less than fifteen feet.
(f) Permitted Signs. The provisions of Chapter 1274 shall be in force and effect in the R-4a District.
(g) Off-Street Parking and Loading Requirements. The provisions of Chapter 1276 shall be in force and effect in the R-4a District.
(h) Density Limitation. The residential density shall not exceed 3.9 families per acre excluding street rights of way.
(Ord. 66-103. Passed 12-19-66.)
(i) Supplemental Regulations.
(1) Living area. The living area of a dwelling unit (DU) for determining space standards means the total floor area, measured at the outside enclosing wall of the dwelling, exclusive of any basement, garage, breezeway, storage areas (external to livable area), or any type of porch or balcony. It shall include such areas as may be located on upper floors and which are directly connected to the livable ground floor area by permanent stairway. For one and two-family dwellings, the livable area shall be measured from the exterior face of the enclosing walls and from the center of the common walls.
Dwelling Unit Type | Livable Area (sq. ft. per DU) | |
Single Floor | Multi-floor | |
Single-family dwelling | 1,200 | 1,600 |
Two-family dwelling | 1,000 per DU | 1,400 per DU |
(2) Garages. All residences and dwelling units shall include an enclosed garage (either attached or detached) of not less than 200 square feet in area and ten feet in width. (Ord. 90-52. Passed 11-19-90.)
(3) Driveways. Driveways shall be hard-surfaced with a minimum width of ten feet extending from the garage entrance to the street. Any driveway that travels through the City right-of-way shall do so within the boundary lines of the property it serves.
(Ord. 2011-83. Passed 11-21-11; Ord. 2020-35. Passed 10-26-20.)
(4) Architectural design. In subdivisions, no residence shall be constructed or placed on any sublot having substantially the same exterior appearance as the residence constructed on either sublot adjacent thereto as determined by the Chief Building Inspector.
(5) Enforcement. Regulations contained in this section shall be enforceable in all R-4a Districts, whether in existing subdivisions or elsewhere, from and after the date of this subsection.
(Ord. 90-52. Passed 11-19-90.)