1.   Intent. This district is intended to provide for a variety of multi-family residential areas where public utilities and services are available and to encourage a suitable living environment through the promotion of public health, safety, and welfare. Medium and high population density neighborhoods are recognized and provided for by varying the minimum bulk regulations. Criteria such as topography, soil types, access, traffic load on streets, schools, utilities, recreation, and other public facilities shall be taken into consideration when the lot area requirement is established for the various multi-family residential areas of the City.

2.   Permitted Uses. The following uses are permitted in the R-2 District:

   A.   Single-family detached dwellings.

   B.   Multi-family dwellings. (as per Bulk Regulations described in Subsection 5 of this section.)

   C.   Home occupations in compliance with Section 165.23(12) of this chapter.

   D.   Keeping of Hens.  The keeping of hens within R-2 Districts shall be allowed upon the following conditions:

      (1)   A maximum of six chickens (hens only) shall be allowed for egg production only. The slaughter of chickens is prohibited.

      (2)   Chickens shall be contained within a secure enclosure sufficient in size and construction to humanely accommodate the chickens and prohibit the escape of chickens from the enclosure.

      (3)   Within each enclosure there shall be a chicken coop sufficient in size and construction to humanely accommodate the chickens and secure them from the elements and predators. Construction of the coop must be of like finished material (e.g., no bare boards, unpainted or unfinished plywood, Masonite, chip board, etc.) No tarps may be used in the construction or maintenance of the coop.

      (4)   The chickens shall be cooped up from dusk until dawn.

      (5)   The chicken enclosure shall be restricted to the backyard of the lot and shall not be situated in the front yard or either of the side yards.

      (6)   The chicken enclosure shall be set back at least 10 feet from each lot line and at least 20 feet from the dwelling on the lot and the dwellings on adjoining lots.

      (7)   If the occupant of the lot desiring to keep hens on the premises is not the owner of the lot, the occupant shall secure the written consent of the property owner to the keeping of hens on the property, which written consent must be filed with the City Clerk.

      (8)   The keeping of hens within R-2 Districts shall be permitted only if there is but one single-family dwelling on the lot. Should the use of the lot be expanded to accommodate more than one single- family dwelling, chickens shall not be allowed on the lot.

3.   Accessory Uses. Uses of land or structure customarily incidental and subordinate to a permitted use in the R-2 District include, but are not limited to:

   A.   Private garages and the rental of no more than four private garage units per site, each rental unit containing no more than 300 square feet.

   B.   Parking lots.

   C.   Raising and keeping of animals and fowl, but not on a commercial basis or on a scale objectionable to neighbors; the keeping or raising of pigs, sheep, goats, cattle, horses, or fowl is prohibited except on premises containing two acres or more and except within an enclosure at least 150 feet from any lot lines or residences now existing or hereafter erected.

   D.   Public and private recreational facilities.

   E.   Temporary buildings for uses incidental to construction work. Such buildings shall be removed upon the completion or abandonment of the construction work.

4.   Special Exceptions. Certain uses may be permitted in the R-2 District subject to specific conditions and requirements intended to make them compatible with and acceptable to adjacent uses. Such uses include, but are not limited to:

   A.   Nursery schools.

   B.   Public or private utility substations, relay stations, etc.

   C.   Churches

   D.   Publicly owned and operated buildings and facilities.

   E.   Public schools and private schools with a curriculum similar to public schools.

   F.   Lodging houses, dormitories, fraternities, and sororities.

   G.   Bed and breakfast houses.

   H.   Health care facilities.

   I.   Home occupations not meeting the approval of the Zoning/Building Administrator under Section 165.23(12) of this chapter.

   J.   Family group homes.

5.   Bulk Regulations. The following requirements shall provide for light and air around permitted residential uses and buildings in all “R” Districts:

 

Minimum lot width requirements shall not apply to multi-family dwellings on adjoining lots under the same ownership provided all the dwellings are a minimum sixteen feet in distance from each other. The minimum lot width shall be 30 feet for zero-lot line structures. Further, townhomes, condominiums, duplexes, cooperative or any other forms of zero-lot line structures which utilize shared walls as part of the structure shall be exempt from the minimum side yard bulk regulations as to their attached or semi-detached components provided all of the following conditions are met:

   A.   Common walls shall be fireproof as per the Universal Building Code. No openings in common walls shall be permitted per State Code.

   B.   In the case of multi-family dwelling units, the division of the lot of parcel into two parcels shall be done in such a manner as to result in one single-family dwelling unit being located on either side of the common boundary line with the common wall being on the common boundary line.

   C.   Each dwelling unit shall have separate access and utility service.

   D.   Before the issuance of a development permit, there shall be filed on record with the Jones County Recorder binding covenants or declarations detailing the respective dwelling unit owners’ responsibilities and liabilities with regard to repair and maintenance of common walls and other common aspects of the structure. Those covenants or declarations shall ensure adjoining property owners reciprocal 10-foot-wide maintenance easements to provide access to maintain the common walls located upon common boundary lines. In addition, the covenants or declarations shall provide a mechanism for the owners of the dwelling units to address common issues of concern such as landscaping, exterior appearance, and type of roofing. The covenants or declarations may simply provide for the formation of a homeowners’ association to address such common issues.

6.   Off-Street Parking. See Section 165.23(8)(A).

7.   Off-Street Loading. See Section 165.23(8)(B).

8.   Signs. See Sections 165.23(9) and (10).

9.   Vehicles - Trailers. Automotive vehicles or trailers of any kind or type without current license plates shall not be parked or stored on any lot other than in completely enclosed buildings. No automotive vehicle or trailers of any kind shall be parked or stored on any lot in this district in a required front yard except when parked on a designated hard surfaced driveway. No vehicle of any kind shall be parked on public or private property so as to create a safety hazard with pedestrian or vehicular traffic.