(1)

[Defined.] A single-family attached dwelling forming part of a series of attached dwellings with property lines and the required fire walls separating each dwelling or a detached single-family home.

(a)

Townhouse sublot. A lot approved by the planning commission consisting of land fronting on an improved street or having access to an improved street by way of a commonly owned lot held in common ownership by the owners of the townhouse sub-lots which fronts on an improved street and land containing not less than the minimum required lot area for a single-family townhouse dwelling except when a portion of the required minimum lot area per unit has been set aside for commonly used and commonly owned open space and the overall density of the development site does not exceed the allowable density based on the minimum required lot area per dwelling for the zoning district in which the land is located.

(b)

[Uses.] Townhouses, as defined above, shall be used for purposes of single-family residences only and shall be developed in accordance with the following regulations:

1.

Townhouse lot and area regulations:

a.

A townhouse development parcel shall consist of land suitable to be subdivided into a minimum of two townhouse sublots capable of meeting the minimum requirements of the district in which the development is located.

b.

Maximum density. The minimum area of land per unit in a townhouse development shall be 3,000 square feet provided all other requirements of this section are met.

c.

Minimum square feet per unit. The minimum living space within a townhouse unit shall be 900 square feet per unit, excluding utility spaces, heating rooms, porches, garages or carports.

d.

Minimum sublot width. The minimum width of a townhouse sublot shall be 20 feet.

e.

Distance between structures. No portion of a townhouse building or accessory structure in or related to one townhouse building shall be closer than 25 feet to any portion of another townhouse building or accessory structure related to another townhouse building or to any building outside the townhouse site except for between detached single-family homes, which must be a minimum of five feet from each interior property line resulting in ten feet between structures.

f.

A minimum of 45 percent of any townhouse development will be previous post development. Green space is to be maintained by a homeowner's association which shall be established by restrictive covenant on the land or by other means acceptable to the planning commission.

g.

The density of the project shall not be more than 12 units per acre.

h.

There shall be a 20-foot green space set back around the perimeter of the development.

2.

The design standard for a townhouse shall be as follows:

a.

The design shall comply with regulations of the historic commission except the structure may be built on grade and brick may be used on the facade.

b.

A townhouse building shall not contain more than four townhouse units built in a row.

c.

The facade of each unit shall be different from its adjacent facade with not more than two like facades appearing in any one townhouse building.

d.

No more than two units in a series of four shall have the same front building setback line.

e.

Signs, lights, landscaping, fences and accessory building shall meet all historic commission standards.

3.

Townhouse fire walls shall be required:

a.

Fire walls between units. Fire walls between each townhouse unit shall be not less than two-hour rating and shall be constructed in conformance to the building codes of the state fire marshal for structures built on property lines, whichever is more restrictive.

b.

Fire walls between groups of units. Each townhouse development shall be divided into groups of not more than four units each with each group separated by a fire wall of not less than four-hour rating, constructed in conformance with the building codes of the town, extending three feet above the roof and 18 inches beyond the outside face of the building or five feet along the face of the building each side of the fire wall, except that roof and wall penetration by the fire wall may be omitted when units are offset by not less than five feet in each direction and facing materials are noncombustible.

4.

Townhouse parking regulations are as follows:

a.

The number of required parking spaces per unit shall be no less than two and one-half spaces per unit except a detached single-family home parking requirement shall be no less than two spaces per unit.

b.

All parking facilities shall be adequately and properly drained and constructed to the standards for parking in the Town of Abita Springs.

(c)

[Utility services.] Utility services shall be made available to each townhouse and shall be installed underground. Water, electrical, sewerage, storm drainage and telephone shall be considered utility services. In addition, cable TV and gas may also be provided and shall be required to be installed underground.

(d)

[Existing developments.] Nontownhouse developments existing at the time of the passage of these regulations shall not qualify for conversion to townhouse conversion and subdivision of townhouse sublots unless constructed to meet the requirements of these regulations as they apply to required fire walls.

(e)

[Dumpsters and refuse receptacles.] All dumpsters and any permanently placed refuse receptacles shall be located a minimum of 50 feet from any adjacent property zoned or used as residential, townhouse, condominium or multifamily or used for a purpose permitted in such a district. The location of and access to dumpsters or any other refuse receptacles shall be reviewed and approved by the zoning board.

(Ord. No. 271, 7-26-04; Ord. No. 318, 3-26-07; Ord. No. 352, §§ 1—3, 9-15-2009)