(a) Intent. The yards of multi-family buildings shall be related to the plan of the dwelling units with the building as well as to the yards. Buildings shall be arranged so as to assure privacy between adjacent buildings and intersecting wings of buildings, and from streets, parking spaces and recreation areas. In order to encourage more attractive arrangements of buildings and greater utilization of yards and the above objectives, regulations are established as described below.
(b) Definitions. The following definitions shall apply the terms used in this section:
(1) "Main Wall" means any exterior wall containing the principal windows of a living, dining, or sleeping room or rooms, and/or other windows.
(2) "Secondary Wall" means an exterior wall, other than a main wall, containing minor windows of a dining or sleeping room, or principal or minor windows of kitchen or bathrooms, or a blank surface.
(3) “Wall Unit” means that each vertical plane of a building shall be considered a separate wall in applying these yard regulations.
(4) "Overlapping Walls" means those portions of the exterior wall or walls, which are directly opposite when two buildings, parallel, or within thirty degrees of parallel, face each other across an open yard or space.
(5) "Single Development" means one multi-family building located on a lot which abuts a public street.
(6) "Group Development" means more than one multi-family building located on a zoning lot which may or may not be developed in the usual street and lot pattern.
(c) Schedule of Yard Dimensions. Multi-family buildings shall be designed, erected, altered, moved, maintained or used in accord with the following schedule of yard regulations, except front yard setbacks shall be in accord with Section 1309.32.
Building and Lot | Number of Stories | Minimum Yard Dimensions (Feet) |
(a) Main wall facing another main wall across an open yard (where walls overlap less than 50 ft.) | 1 2 3 | 40 45 50 |
(b) Main wall facing a secondary wall across an open yard (where walls overlap less than 50 ft.) | 1 2 3 | 34 38 42 |
(c) Secondary wall facing a secondary wall across an open yard (where walls overlap less than 50 ft.) | 1 2 3 | 25 28 31 |
The minimum distance between any two parallel walls which overlap more than fifty feet or extend unbroken for more than fifty feet parallel to a property line (or within fifteen degrees of parallel), as set forth in the above schedule, shall be increased not less than fifteen hundredths (0.15) times the number of feet the walls overlap or extend along a property line more than fifty feet.
The minimum width of a yard between any wall and a side or rear lot line shall be not less than one-half of the width established in the above schedule for the respective types of walls unless shown otherwise on the Zone Map where adjoining a Residential District.
(d) Use and Design of Yards. The required yards, set forth above, may be used for pedestrian walks, recreation areas, parking areas or driveways, however, accessory buildings or uses shall be located not less than set forth in the following schedule. Yards not occupied by any of the above accessory buildings and uses shall be fully developed with lawns and other landscape features.
Minimum Distance From Main Building (Feet) | From Side or Rear Lot Line of: | |||
Accessory Building or Use | Main Wall | Secondary Wall | One Family District | Apartment District |
Garage | 30 | 15 | 15 | 5 |
Driveway or parking area | 30 | 10 | 8 | 3 |
Walk | 15 | 5 | 3 | 3 |
Play area | 30 | 20 | 20 | 3 |
A parking area may be located in the required front yard setback, but not less than twenty-five feet from the front property line. Off-street parking facilities shall be provided not more than 200 feet from the building entrance used by each occupant.
(e) Approval of Development Plans. Development plans drawn to scale showing locations of buildings, yards, driveways, walks, parking and recreation areas and other site improvements for multi-family group developments shall be submitted to the Planning Commission, and until found to comply with adopted plans, codes and planning principles, and approved by the Commission, building permits shall not be issued. The drawing shall also show the surrounding streets and the nearest buildings on adjoining lots. The Commission may modify certain of the requirements if it finds that amenities such as privacy, light and openness are improved because of skillful design in the arrangement of buildings, landscaping or other site features and on the other hand, the Commission may require wider yards where an adjoining building is near a lot line and such features as fences and planting to further protect adjoining one or two-family residential developments. The Commission shall not decrease the yard requirements in order to allow the maximum number of units permitted in Section 1309.32 of this Zoning Ordnance. (Ord. 1961-103. Passed 12-29-61.)