The density/intensity and dimensional standards of this section apply to all development in Residential zoning districts unless otherwise expressly stated in this chapter. These are "base" standards, not guarantees that stated maximums can be achieved on every site. Other regulations of this chapter or site-specific conditions may further limit development on a site.

¹ Side yard setback requirements shall be rounded off to the nearest foot by the City official, with fractions of 0.50 or less rounded down and 0.51 or greater rounded up.

7.2.1

GENERAL.

a.

Purpose. The alternative development options of this section allow for variety in development standards while maintaining the overall character of a single-dwelling neighborhood. These options have several public benefits:

1.

They allow for development which is more sensitive to the environment and the preservation of rural and agricultural areas;

2.

They allow for the preservation of open and natural areas;

3.

They provide opportunities for on-site, private recreational areas;

4.

They promote opportunities for affordable housing;

5.

They promote energy-efficient development.

b.

General. The alternative development options listed in this section are allowed by-right in those zoning district that permit the subject use or structure type, unless otherwise expressly stated. The development must comply with all of the applicable development standards of this section and with all other use and development standards of the base zoning district unless those standards are expressly superseded by the standards in this section.

7.2.2

SINGLE-FAMILY ATTACHED DWELLING UNITS (TOWNHOUSES OR ROWHOUSES).

a.

Lot Width, Lot Area, Building Coverage and Density. Single-family attached dwellings shall be exempt from the lot width and lot area standards of the underlying zoning district, but shall not be exempt from the maximum density standards.

b.

Setbacks. No interior side setback is required on the "attached" side of a lot containing single-family attached dwelling units. The front, side, and rear setback standards shall apply around the perimeter of a single-family attached housing development.

c.

Number of Attached Units. In the R-1B district no single structure may contain more than 6 units. In the R-2 district, no single structure may contain more than 8 units.

7.2.3

CLUSTER DEVELOPMENT. A cluster development is a residential subdivision in which the lots are allowed to be smaller (in area and width) than otherwise required for the underlying, base zoning district, but in which the overall density cannot exceed the maximum density limit for the underlying zoning district. Under the cluster development option, a subdivision can contain no more lots than would otherwise be allowed for a conventional subdivision in the same zoning district, but the individual lots within the development could be smaller than required in a conventional subdivision. Smaller lot sizes within a cluster development are required to be offset by a corresponding increase in common open space.

a.

Conflict With Other Regulations. If there is a conflict between the cluster development standards of this section and any other requirement of this chapter, the standards of this section shall control. Otherwise, a cluster development is subject to all other applicable requirements of this chapter.

b.

Where Allowed. Cluster developments are allowed in all zoning districts in which residential development is allowed.

c.

Approval Procedure. Review for compliance with the standards of this section shall occur during the subdivision platting process.

d.

Density. A cluster development is subject to the maximum density requirements of the base zoning district.

e.

Lot Size. There is no set minimum lot size (area or width) requirement within a cluster development. Individual lot sizes must be adequate to meet all required density and development standards. Minimum lot sizes may be established by the City during the subdivision plan approval process.

f.

Setbacks and Building Separations. The minimum setback standards of the base zoning district apply along the perimeter of a cluster development. All detached structures within a cluster development must be separated by a minimum distance of 10 feet.

g.

Common Open Space.

1.

Minimum Requirement. Common open space is required within a cluster development to ensure that the overall density within the development does not exceed the maximum density allowed by the underlying zoning district. Common open space must be provided in an amount at least equal to the difference between (1) the actual, average lot area per dwelling unit within the cluster development and (2) the required lot area per dwelling unit for conventional development within the underlying base zoning district.

2.

Use of Common Open Space. Common open space must be set aside and designated as an area where no development will occur, other than project-related recreational amenities or passive open space areas. The City may require that up to 50 percent of required common open space be useable open space, if deemed necessary to ensure adequate recreational amenities for residents of the development.

The density/intensity and dimensional standards of this section apply to all development in nonresidential (Commercial and Manufacturing) zoning districts unless otherwise expressly stated in this chapter. These are "base" standards, not guarantees that stated minimums or maximums can be achieved on every site. Other regulations of this chapter or site-specific conditions may further limit development on a site.

¹  Where a side or rear lot line coincides with a side or rear lot line of a Residential zoning district, a setback of at least 30 feet shall be provided. In addition, a landscape buffer is required according to Section 34.21 of the Code of General Ordinances of the City of Beloit.

²  The maximum height restrictions in these zoning districts may be exceeded if reviewed and approved in accordance with the Conditional Use Permit procedures of this chapter.

7.4.1

LOT AREA. Lot area refers to the horizontal land area within lot lines. No building shall be converted so as to conflict with, or further conflict with, the lot area requirements of the zoning district in which such building is located. No building permit or development approval may be issued for a lot that does not meet the minimum lot area requirements of this chapter unless otherwise expressly stated in this chapter.

a.

Utilities using land or an unoccupied building covering less than 1,000 square feet of site area are exempt from the minimum lot area standards of this chapter, provided that they shall be subject to design review by the Zoning Officer.

b.

See Section 9.4 for regulations governing residential and nonresidential use of nonconforming lots.

7.4.2

LOT WIDTH. For rectangular or square shaped-lots, the width of a lot shall be measured at the narrowest point within the first 30 feet of lot depth in back of the required front setback. For irregular shaped lots, lot width shall be calculated as the average width of the front and rear property lines, rounded to the next highest whole number.

7.4.3

DENSITY. Density refers to the number of dwelling units for each acre of land. Density is calculated by dividing the number of dwelling units on a lot by the area (in acres) of the lot on which the dwelling unit is located. The number of dwelling units allowed on a site is based on the presumption that all other applicable standards will be met. If the maximum density standard conflicts with the minimum lot area standard, the more restrictive standard shall control. The maximum density established for a district is not a guarantee that such densities may be obtained, nor a justification for adjusting other dimensional or development standards.

7.4.4

SETBACKS. Setbacks refer to the unobstructed, unoccupied open area between the closest exterior wall of a structure and the property line of the lot on which the structure is located, except as modified by the standards of this section. Setbacks must be unobstructed from the ground to the sky except as otherwise expressly stated in this chapter.

a.

Features Allowed Within Any Setback. The following features may be located within any required setback to the extent indicated:

1.

Awnings and canopies, provided that gas station-type and similar canopies shall be set back at least 10 feet from all lot lines;

2.

Steps that are necessary for access to a permitted building or for access to a zoning lot from a street or alley;

3.

Chimneys projecting 24 inches or less into the setback;

4.

Arbors and trellises;

5.

Recreational equipment and clothes lines;

6.

Flag poles; and

7.

Fences, and walls, subject to Section 8-300. (Am. #3355)

b.

Features Allowed Within Front and Street Side Setbacks. The following features may be located within any required front or street side setback to the extent indicated:

1.

Bay windows projecting 3 feet or less into the setback;

2.

Overhanging eaves and gutters projecting 3 feet or less into the setback; and

3.

Fuel, air, and water pumps in conjunction with automobile service stations, provided they shall be set back at least 20 feet from all lot lines.

c.

Features Allowed Within Rear Setbacks. The following features may be located within any required rear setback to the extent indicated:

1.

Open off-street parking spaces, provided they are set back at least 5 feet from all lot lines;

2.

Balconies;

3.

Fallout shelters;

4.

Open porches;

5.

Bay windows projecting 3 feet or less into the setback;

6.

Overhanging eaves and gutters projecting 3 feet or less into the setback, provided that such features shall be setback at least 18 inches from all lot lines;

7.

Recreational equipment and clothes line.

d.

Features Allowed Within Interior Side Setbacks. The following features may be located within any required interior side setback to the extent indicated:

1.

Overhanging eaves and gutters projecting for a distance of up to one-half the required setback; and

2.

Fuel, air, and water pumps in conjunction with automobile service stations, provided they shall be set back at least 15 feet from the side lot line.

e.

Setbacks for Uses Without Buildings. When a lot is to be occupied for a permitted use without buildings, the front and side setbacks required for such lot shall be provided and maintained unless otherwise expressly stated in this chapter, except that side setbacks shall not be required on lots used for garden purposes without buildings or structures nor on lots used for public recreation areas.

f.

Setback Averaging in Residential Districts. In residential districts where 50 percent or more of a block face is occupied by residential structures, the following setback averaging exceptions may be applied:

1.

Where setbacks vary in a block face, the required setback from a street shall be the average setback of existing residential structures in that block on the same side of the street.

2.

If a residential dwelling unit is to be built where dwelling units exist on only one abutting lot, the (street) setback of the new dwelling unit need be no greater than that of the existing dwelling unit on the adjoining lot.

3.

If a residential dwelling unit is to be built where dwelling units exist on both abutting lots, the street setback shall not be required to be greater than the average setback of the existing dwelling units on the adjoining lots.

4.

The dwelling unit (average) setbacks of this paragraph shall also apply to accessory structures.

g.

Setback Averaging in Nonresidential Districts. The following standards and exceptions shall apply in nonresidential zoning districts.

1.

If more than 50 percent of the frontage on one side of a street between intersecting streets is occupied by structures, new structures shall be allowed to locate between the average setback of such existing structures and the minimum setback required by the underlying zoning district.

2.

If a block face between intersecting streets is zoned partially Residential and partially nonresidential, the front setback standard of the most restrictive residential district that exists on block face shall be applied to the entire block face.

3.

If a building is to be built where there are existing buildings on one side only, the front setback of the new building need be no greater than that of the next adjoining existing building. If a building is to be built where there are existing buildings on both sides, the front setback shall not be required to be greater than the average setback of the adjacent buildings.

7.4.5

HEIGHT.

a.

Measurement. Height refers to the vertical distance from curb level, or its equivalent, opposite the center of the front of a building to:

1.

The highest point of the underside of the ceiling beams in the case of a flat roof;

2.

The deck line of a mansard roof; and

3.

The mean level of the underside of the rafters between the eaves and the ridge of a gable, hip, or gambrel roof.

Where no curb level has been established, the height of a building may be measured from the mean elevation of the finished lot grade at the front of the building.

b.

Exceptions. Zoning district height limits do not apply to church sanctuaries, steeples, belfries, cupolas, spires, domes, monuments, wireless communication tower structures, radio/TV broadcast towers, windmills, flagpoles, chimneys, radio/television receiving antennas or chimney flues. Height limits also do not apply to any bulkhead, elevator, water tank, or to any similar structure or necessary mechanical appurtenance extending above the roof of any building if such structure does not occupy more than 33 percent of the area of the roof.