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Adams County Unincorporated
City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 17

30 RURAL SETTLEMENT DISTRICT-RS

§ 17.30.010 Purpose.

The purpose of the rural settlement zoning district is to provide an area for mixed residential, multifamily residential, commercial, agricultural and light manufacturing/industrial uses in existing unincorpo-rated communities consistent with the goals and policies of the Adams County comprehensive plan. This district retains and enhances established neighborhoods, as well as providing guidance to the development of new areas, making them compatible and consistent with existing development.
This district will be applicable in small, compact, isolated, rural community centers that primarily exist to provide convenience goods and services to residents of the surrounding rural area. The rural settlement district is a “general use” district and will be utilized in those rural centers where a mixture of land uses (i.e., commercial, manufacturing/industrial, residential, and multifamily residential) is the established development pattern.
Manufacturing/industrial uses allowed shall be of a type and scale that are compatible with the overall character of the community, and do not result in excessive noise, smoke, odor or other nuisances. Commercial uses allowed shall be of a type and scale to be primarily patronized by local residents.
The RS designation is utilized for lands that are removed from established communities within the county and that have the following characteristics:
A. 
Public water is available or can be obtained prior to occupancy; however, public sewer systems are not usually available;
B. 
Adjacent existing established neighborhoods where primary use is rural;
C. 
Response times for emergency services are not as low as in the rural areas.
The types of activities allowed may include single-family residences, multifamily residences, home occupations, agricultural activities including some agritourism uses, the keeping of livestock, and limited commercial and limited industrial uses.
(Ord. O-01-05 § 2 (part); Ord. O-02-25 § 1 (Exh. A))

§ 17.30.020 Development standards.

New lots and structures and additions to structures subject to this section shall comply with the dimensional standards as set forth in Tables 17.30.020-1 and 17.30.020-2.
Table 17.30.020-1 Rural Settlement Dimensional Standards
Water and Sewer Combinations
Minimum Lot Area (square feet)
Maximum Density1
Minimum Lot Width
Individual water supply and individual sewer system
43,560
One unit per acre
25% of lot depth
Public water supply and individual sewage system
21,780
Two units per acre
Public water supply and community sewage system
7,000
Three units per acre
Public water supply and municipal (or sewer district) public sewer system
7,0002
Four units per acre
1.
Calculated based upon the gross area of the site.
2.
A minimum lot area of six thousand square feet applies when fifteen percent of the site is dedicated to common open space. Common spaces may include but are not limited to shared outdoor recreational areas for multifamily residential uses.
Table 17.30.020-2 Rural Settlement Setbacks, Lot coverage and Building Height1
Maximum lot coverage:
Lot coverage bonus: In the RS district, additional 15% lot coverage is allowed; provided, that at least 20% of the total lot area is dedicated exclusively to landscaping, greenery and open space
65%
Maximum building height
45 feet
Minimum setbacks1,2
Front and street setbacks3
Designated classified road (arterial or collector)
25 feet from planned edge of right-of-way or easement
Roads with a right-of-way or vehicular access easement more than 60 feet in width
Turnaround or cul-de-sac
Local access or private road
50 feet from planned centerline
Interior side setback
Primary structure
10 feet from property line
Accessory structure
5 feet from property line
Rear setback
Right-of-way or vehicular access easement
Same as front setback
Adjoining lot
10 feet from property line
1.
Additional restrictions may apply within the airport safety overlay (see Chapter 17.40).
2.
Special setbacks may apply to all lots neighboring an agricultural district (See Chapter 17.42).
3.
When there is no right-of-way, the front setback shall be twenty feet from the front property line.
(Ord. O-01-05 § 2 (part). Formerly 17.30.030; Ord. O-02-25 § 1 (Exh. A))

§ 17.30.030 Rural settlement (RS) district use chart.

The uses set out in Table 17.30.030-1 are examples of uses in Rural Settlement zone. The appropriate review authority is mandatory.
•
“P”—Uses allowed subject to approval of applicable permits.
•
“R/A”—Uses permitted upon review and approval as set forth in Section 17.85.020.
•
“C”—Conditional uses which may be permitted subject to approval of a conditional use permit as set forth in Section 17.85.030.
•
“X”—Or uses not listed are specifically prohibited.
Where there are special use standards or restrictions for a listed use, the applicable code section(s) in Chapter 17.69, Special Uses and Standards, or other applicable chapter is noted in the “Special Standards” column.
Table 17.30.030-1 Rural Settlement District Use Chart
 
RS
Special Standards
1. Residential
 
 
a. Accessory Dwelling Unit
R/A
17.69.020
b. Single-Family Dwelling
P
17.76.070
c. Duplex Dwelling
P
 
d. Multifamily Dwelling
P
 
e. Accessory Structure, Residential
P
17.69.010
f. Home Business Exempt
P
 
g. Home Business Major
R/A
17.69.200
h. Home Business Minor
R/A
17.69.200
i. Planned Residential Development
R/A
 
j. Manufactured/Mobile Home Park
R/A
17.69.210
k. Assisted Living Facility
C
 
l. Convalescent Home/Nursing Homes
C
 
m. Family Day Care Centers
P
17.69.220
n. Group Care Facility
C
 
o. Farm Labor Housing
C
17.69.050
2. Commercial Uses
 
 
a. Roadside Farm Stand
R/A
17.69.110
b. Commercial Kennels
R/A
17.69.170
c. Hobby Kennels
P
17.69.170
d. Commercial Uses Supporting Agricultural Resource Uses
P1
 
e. Agricultural Market
C
17.69.110
f. Nursery, Commercial/Retail/Wholesale
C
 
g. Farmers’ Market
P
17.69.110
h. Farm Equipment Sales/Service
C
 
i. Bakery, Retail
P
 
j. Arts and Crafts, Antique Sales
P
 
k. Commercial Kitchen
P
 
l. Food Trucks
P
17.69.310
3. Services
 
 
a. Churches or Places of Worship
R/A
17.69.090
b. Clinic, Outpatient (Medical, Dental, Etc.)
C
 
c. Community Club, Grange, Lodge
R/A
17.69.090
d. Community Center
C
17.69.090
e. Equestrian Facility
C
17.69.150
f. Educational Facilities
C
 
g. Preschool, Nursery School
C
17.69.220
h. Animal Hospital, Clinic or Veterinary, Large (Domestic, Livestock and Other Farm Animals)
C
17.69.180
i. Animal Hospital, Clinic or Veterinary, Small (Domestic Pets Only)
C
17.69.180
j. Rodeo Grounds
C
 
k. Warehousing, Storage
C
 
l. Accessory Special Event Center, Minor
P
17.69.330
m. Accessory Special Event Center, Major
C
17.69.330
4. Public Service and Facilities
 
 
a. Fire/Police Station
P
 
b. Government Uses and Structures
P
 
c. Municipal Buildings
P
 
d. Municipal Shop/Maintenance Buildings
C
 
e. Utility Uses and Structures
C
 
f. Wastewater Treatment Facilities
P
 
5. Resource Activities
 
 
a. Agricultural
P2
 
b. Mineral Extraction, Crushing, Screening, Etc.
C
17.69.280
c. Mineral Stockpiling, On-Site and Off-Site
C
17.69.280
d. Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing
C
17.69.280
1.
Commercial uses supporting resource uses, such as packing, first stage processing and processing which provides value added to resource products, potato and onion storage buildings, mint stills, temporary grow structures, accessory uses including but not limited to scaling and weigh operations, temporary crew quarters, storage and maintenance facilities, disposal areas, and other uses involved in the harvesting of agricultural products.
2.
Agriculture including: floriculture, horticulture, general farming, dairy, the raising, feeding and sale or production of poultry, livestock, furbearing animals, honeybees, animal sales yards, nursery stock and floral vegetation and other agricultural activities and structures accessory to farming or animal husbandry.
(Ord. O-02-25 § 1 (Exh. A))

§ 17.30.040 Project description and association documents.

A written explanation of the design concept, planned features of the development, measures taken to meet the purposes of this chapter, the proposed sequence and timing of development, the provisions of ownership and management when developed, and covenants or other controls which might influence the development, operation or maintenance of the settlement shall be submitted with the site plan. An outline of the documents of the owners’ association, by-laws, deeds, covenants and agreement governing ownership, maintenance and operation of the settlement shall be submitted with the binding site plan. Settlement covenants shall include a provision whereby unpaid taxes on all property owned in common shall constitute a proportioned lien on all property of each owner in common. The county may require that it be a third-party beneficiary of certain covenants with the right, but not the obligation, to enforce the same.
(Ord. O-02-25 § 1 (Exh. A))

§ 17.30.050 Zoning site plan.

A. 
A zoning site plan is required for all new rural settlement developments and expansions, and shall include:
1. 
All information required on a preliminary plat;
2. 
The location of all existing and proposed structures;
3. 
The location of all existing and proposed designated zoning boundaries;
4. 
A detailed landscape plan indicating the location of existing vegetation to be retained, the location of vegetation landscaping structures to be installed, the type of vegetation by common name and/or tax-onomic designation, and the installed and mature height of all vegetation;
5. 
Schematic plans and elevations of proposed building(s) with samples of all exterior finish material and colors, the type and location of all exterior lighting, signs and accessory structures;
6. 
Utility, street and stormwater drainage plans that indicate the facilities, layout and capacities necessary to serve the entire settlement;
7. 
Inscriptions or attachments setting forth the limitations and conditions of development; and
8. 
The provisions ensuring the development will be in conformance with the site plan.
(Ord. O-02-25 § 1 (Exh. A))