(a)

A yard is an open space on the same lot as a building; except as provided herein it is unoccupied and unobstructed by a structure. Yard width or depth is the shortest horizontal distance from a lot line to the main building.

(b)

A front yard is the area from one side lot line to the other side lot line and between the wall of the building nearest the street on which the lot fronts and the line of that wall extended and the front street line of the lot. A front yard line is a line parallel to the street and as far back from the street as required in this ordinance. The terms "front yard line" and "building line" are synonymous.

(c)

A rear yard is the area from one side lot line to the other side lot line and from the rear line of the building nearest the rear lot line extended and the rear lot line. The rear yard is always on the opposite end of the lot from the front yard.

(d)

A side yard is the area situated between the building and the side line of the line of the lot extending through the front yard line to the rear yard line. Any line not a rear line or a front line shall be deemed a side line.

(e)

On corner lots (lots abutting on two or more streets at their intersection) the front yard shall face the shortest street dimension of the lot except that if the lot is square or almost square, i.e., has dimensions in a ratio of from 3:2 to 3:3, then the front yard may face either street.

(f)

Lot width means the horizontal distance between the side lines of the lot measured at right angles to the depth. Buildable width is the width of lot left to be built upon after the side yards are provided.

(g)

Frontage means the distance along a street line from one intersecting street to another or from one intersecting street to the end of a dead-end street. Lot frontage is the width of a lot measured along a street.

(h)

Center line of a street is a line halfway between the street lines.

(i)

A separate tract is a parcel of land or a group of contiguous parcels of land under one ownership on the effective date of this ordinance.

(j)

The main building is the building occupied by the primary use.

(k)

Lot area is the area contained within the property lines of individual parcels of land shown on a subdivision plot or required by this Chapter, excluding any existing or designated future street right of way.

(l)

Building line is a line parallel to the front street line, between which line and the front street line no part of a building shall project, except as otherwise provided in this Chapter. A building line established by a recorded plat shall govern.

(m)

Street line is the dividing line between the street and the lot.

(n)

Lot depth is the mean horizontal distance from the front street line to the rear line of a lot.

(Ord. No. 3437, § 1, 9-15-97)

(Ord. No. 3295, § 5, 3-4-96; Ord. No. 3465, § 1, 2-16-98)

(a)

On corner lots in the R-1, R-2 and R-3 Districts, there must be a front and rear yard having a depth as described and set forth herein Section 4.2. Building on corner lots where interior lots have been platted on side streets shall provide a side yard adjacent to the side street of not less than 15 feet, provided this regulation may not be so interpreted as to reduce the buildable width of a corner lot of record at the time of passage of Ordinance No. 3466 to less than 65 per cent of the total width of such lot, and provided further that the minimum side yard regulations in Section 4.2 must be observed. Accessory buildings on corner lots, where interior lots have been platted on side streets, shall not project beyond the front yard line established on the side street, provided this regulation shall not reduce the buildable width to less than 20 feet.

(b)

Where a frontage is divided among districts with different front yard requirements the deepest front yard shall apply to the entire frontage.

(c)

Where a lot is in a C or an M District and is next to an R District the side or rear yard required in that R District must be provided along the boundary line.

(d)

In the C and M Districts there may be more than one commercial or industrial building on a lot provided that the required yards be maintained around the group of buildings.

(e)

Dwelling uses, except hotels, locating in C and M Districts must provide the yards required in the R-3 District.

(f)

Except as provided in Section 2.3, there may be two or more related residential, hotel, motel or institutional buildings on a lot in the R-3 District; provided that:

(a)

The required yards be maintained around the group of buildings, and

(b)

Buildings that parallel, or that are within 45 degrees of being parallel, be separated by a horizontal distance that is at least equal to the height of the highest building.

(g)

Those parts of existing buildings that violate yard regulations may be repaired and remodeled but not reconstructed or structurally altered.

(Ord. No. 3466, § 1, 2-16-98)

(a)

On separate tracts the required side yard may be reduced to ten per cent of the tract width but not less than five feet in the R-A and R-1 Districts and three feet in all other districts.

(b)

On separate tracts the required rear yard may be reduced to 20 per cent of the tract depth.

(c)

Where, on the effective date of this ordinance 40 per cent or more of a frontage was occupied by two or more buildings, then the front yard is established in the following manner:

(1)

Where the building furthest from the street provides a front yard not more than ten feet deeper than the building closest to the street, then the front yard for the frontage is and remains an average of the then existing front yards.

(2)

Where this (1) is not the case and a lot is within 100 feet of a building on each side then the front yard is a line drawn from the closest front corners of these two adjacent buildings.

(3)

Where neither (1) nor (2) is the case and the lot is within 100 feet of an existing building on one side only, then the front yard is the same as that of the existing adjacent building.

(d)

Sills, belt courses, cornices and ornamental features may project only one foot into a required yard.

(e)

Open fire escapes, fireproof outside stairways and balconies opening upon fire towers, and the ordinary projections of chimneys and flues into a rear yard for a distance of not more than 3½ feet when so placed as to not obstruct light and ventilation, may be permitted by the Building Inspector.

(f)

Terraces which do not extend above the level of the ground (first) floor may project into a required yard provided these projections be distant at least two feet from the adjacent side lot line.

(g)

No side yards are required for dwellings that are erected above commercial and industrial structures.

(h)

If side yards are provided where not required (in C and M Districts) they must be at least five feet wide.