(a) Lots. The following regulations shall govern the design and layout of lots.
(1) The lot arrangement and design shall be such that all lots will provide satisfactory building sites that can accommodate a structure and required setbacks in the applicable zoning district. The lots shall be more or less rectangular in form; triangular, elongated, or other shapes that restrict its use as a building site shall be avoided to the maximum extent feasible.
(2) All lots shall conform to, or exceed, the requirements of the site development standards for the applicable zoning district.
(3) In case of unusual soil conditions or other factors which may impair the health and safety of the neighborhood in which a subdivision may be located, upon the recommendation of the appropriate Board of Health or the City Engineer, the Planning Commission may require larger lot widths and sizes, as deemed necessary.
(4) No lot shall have an average depth that is more than two and one-half times its average width. Where extraordinary and unnecessary hardship may result from strict compliance with this regulation, the Zoning Administrator, in consultation with the City Engineer, may vary this requirement.
(5) All side lot lines shall be at right angles to street lines and radial to curved street lines except where the Planning Commission determines that a variation to this rule will provide a better street and sublot layout.
(6) Lot lines at street intersections shall be rounded with a minimum radius of 25 feet.
(7) On curved streets the arc of the front lot line or a rear lot line shall be not less than 60 percent of the required width at the building line.
(8) Every lot shall have access to it that is sufficient to afford a reasonable means of ingress and egress for emergency vehicles as well as for all those likely to need or desire access to the property in its intended use.
(9) Each lot shall front on an improved, dedicated street. Lots may abut a private street in accordance with Section 1129.07.
(10) Typically, panhandle lots or through lots shall be discouraged and may only be approved if necessitated by unique features or other special physical conditions as deemed necessary by the Planning Commission. These lots shall meet the requirements established for the applicable lot type in Section 1115.01(d).
(11) Through lots abutting an arterial street and fronting on a local street within a subdivision shall be of sufficient depth so as to provide for a minimum rear setback of 70 feet. Within this setback, a 20-foot buffer strip shall be reserved abutting the arterial street for the planting of screening. This screening shall include dense vegetative plantings incorporating trees and/or shrubs of a variety which shall be equally effective in winter and summer. Trees and/or shrubs shall be adequately spaced to form a solid, continuous visual screen within three years after the initial installation. At a minimum, at the time of planting, the spacing of trees shall not exceed 12 feet on center, and the planting pattern shall be staggered. Shrubbery shall be more closely spaced.
(12) For subdivisions located within three miles of the corporate limits of the City, the developer or subdivider shall comply with the criteria listed in Table 1129-1. Except in case of unusual soil conditions or other factors which may impair the health and safety of the neighborhood in which a subdivision may be located, upon the recommendation of the appropriate Board of Health or the City Engineer, the Planning Commission may require larger lot widths and sizes, as deemed necessary.
Type of Development | Minimum Width at Building Line | Minimum Lot Sizes [1] |
Single-Family | 60 feet | 6,500 square feet |
Two-Family | 80 feet | 10,800 square feet |
Multi-family (3 or more dwelling units) | 80 feet | 4,350 per dwelling unit |
Commercial | 100 feet | 20,000 square feet |
Industrial | 200 feet | 2 acres |
NOTE: [1] These regulations are based on the provision of group water and/or sewer facilities. If proposed subdivisions are based on individual water and/or sewer facilities, the minimum lot size shall be that which will be approved by the appropriate Board of Health for individual water and/or sewer facilities except that in no case shall lots be smaller for subdivisions located within three (3) miles of the corporate limits of the City that are permitted in Table 1191.04. | ||
(13) Setbacks Outside of the City of Wooster's Corporation Boundary. Where the subdivided area is not under zoning control and is to be used for residential purposes, the average front building setback shall not be less than 30 feet from the right of way of the street or thoroughfare upon which the lots front. Restrictions requiring greater setbacks than the above may be required for commercial and industrial uses and for residential uses along arterial and collector streets as determined by the Planning Commission.
(b) Blocks. The following regulations shall govern the design and layout of blocks.
(1) The arrangement of blocks shall be such as to conform to the street planning criteria set forth in Section 1129.07 and shall be arranged to accommodate lots and building sites of the size and character required for the zoning district as set forth in this code.
(2) When a parcel is too small to be laid out economically for the use intended and would result in fractional or odd shaped lots, the Commission may request the developer to include adjoining unsubdivided land so a complete block may be planned and developed as a unit.
(3) Subdivisions for single-family residential uses shall be designed with blocks of sufficient width to permit two tiers of lots of appropriate depth, except where an interior street parallels a limited access highway, arterial street, or railroad right-of-way. Such blocks shall have a minimum length of 800 feet and a maximum length of 1,500 feet. In reviewing the subdivision plat, the Planning Commission can modify these requirements for blocks that will be located adjacent to nonresidential uses or where there are unusual topographic or natural features.
(4) Irregularly shaped blocks, those intended for cul-de-sac or loop streets, and those containing interior parks or playgrounds, may be approved if properly designed and located and if the maintenance of interior public spaces is covered by agreements.
(5) Blocks that will contain multi-family dwellings or nonresidential uses shall be adequate to accommodate the building sites and provide the yards, setbacks, service drives, off-street parking and other required facilities, and shall be designed for unit development and not necessarily according to the typical lot and street pattern.
(6) Where blocks are over 750 feet in length or at the end of a cul-de-sac, pedestrian ways having a minimum right-of-way or easement of 30 feet shall be required for access to schools, playgrounds or bus stops, or to other public facilities where convenient pedestrian circulation has not been provided by sidewalks and or streets. The Planning Commission may eliminate or lessen the requirements of this subsection based on the following: the existing sidewalk network in the area; topographic and/or other natural constraints; and other similar circumstances.
(Ord. 2018-009. Passed 5-7-18.)