The purpose of this Article is to establish and describe a series of general and overlay zoning districts in which the use of land, separation and height of structures, intensity of development, sign limitations, parking requirements and other development factors will be regulated in accordance with the Bossier City-Parish Comprehensive Plan.

For this Article's purpose, all land and water areas in the Bossier City/Parish Metropolitan Planning Area are divided into the zoning districts listed in the table below:

4.2.1

Residential Districts.

A.

Residence-Agricultural (R-A) District.The R-A Residence-Agricultural District is composed mainly of non-subdivided lands that are vacant or in agricultural or forestry uses, with some dwellings and accessory uses. Any future land development would be of a rural residential character and intended for areas in the MPC boundaries in which utilities necessary for urban or suburban development are not readily available. Multi-lot residential subdivisions within the R-A District shall be comprised of lots that are a minimum of 2 acres in area with the intent of allowing the raising or keeping of farm animals and livestock. The type of animals and livestock shall be governed by the subdivision covenants and restrictions.

B.

Residential Estate (R-E) District. The R-E Residential Estate District is intended to provide for single-family residential development consistent with a fully-serviced suburban environment. Development in the R-E district is expected to have a neighborhood orientation with parks, schools, religious institutions and related neighborhood public facilities located in or near the development.

C.

Residential Low Density (R-LD) District. The Residential Low Density District is primarily intended to provide for the compact development of single-family dwellings on medium- and small-sized lots. Development should be in close proximity to all public services and facilities, especially parks, schools and recreational facilities. Special attention should be given to landscaping and site development. Special provisions of this district permit dwellings with no side yards to accommodate attached single-family dwellings.

D.

Residential Medium Density (R-MD) District. The Residential Medium Density District is composed mainly of areas containing a mixture of single-family, two-family and multiple-family dwellings. Development should be in close proximity to all public services and facilities, especially parks, schools and recreational facilities.

E.

Residential High Density (R-HD) District. The Residential High Density District is intended to establish areas for the development of high density multiple-family dwellings and group living quarters situated in or near the downtown area. This district shall be located near an arterial street for proper access. Due to the higher density and taller buildings that are characteristic of development in the R-HD district, careful attention to site and building is expected to assure that all development is compatible.

F.

Residential Single-Family Manufactured Home (R-MHS) District. The Residential Single-Family Manufactured Home (R-MHS) District is primarily intended to provide for the development of single-family manufactured homes or modular homes on lots of medium size. Development should be in close proximity to available public services and facilities. The R-MHS District shall be developed utilizing the same development requirements of the R-LD District and Article 11: Subdivision and Land Development.

G.

Residential Manufactured Housing Park (R-MHP) District. This district is composed mainly of areas containing manufactured home sites arranged on a large tract, usually under a single ownership and designed to accommodate manufactured housing units. The R-MHP district also provides a location for the placement of those mobile homes that, due to their age of construction, are not classified under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) standards as "manufactured homes" and may not comply with current building, electrical, plumbing or housing codes and for those manufactured homes that are less than 20 feet wide. In addition, the district provides for a limited number of commercial and service uses, which may be included as a part of a residential development project to serve its residents.

4.2.2

Business Districts.

A.

Business, Commercial Office (B-1) District. The Commercial Office District is generally intended to function as a medium-intensity district for office and medical uses. It is intended to prevent strip commercial development by allowing office uses but not allowing other commercial uses. The district allows freestanding office buildings, research facilities and clinics as well as office parks. The district is intended to be located only along collector or arterial Streets.

B.

Limited Business (B-2) District. The purpose of the Limited Business District is to provide for commercial retail and service uses intended to serve a neighborhood or the entire community but, due to the size limitations of structures, would have a limited impact on traffic or nearby neighborhoods.

C.

General Business (B-3) District. The General Business District is intended to provide commercial areas for a wider range of retail goods and services that satisfy all needs of the City, Parish and region. Located at or near the convergence of major freeways and arterials, locations of the B-3 districts should be placed for the convenience of all residents of the area. To protect the abutting and surrounding residential areas, certain restrictions are placed on the intensity of uses, and emphasis is placed on standards for lighting, buffering, parking, and location of access roads.

D.

Downtown Business (B-4) District. The Downtown Business District is created to control and guide the attractive development of commercial uses in Bossier City's original downtown area and to provide dimensional standards that will encourage construction of a compact, pedestrian-oriented "main street" commercial environment.

E.

Interchange Business (B-5) District. The Interchange Business District is intended to permit development of service uses relating to expressway interchanges or near other major arterial intersections, particularly at the edge of Bossier City and within the Bossier Parish portion of the jurisdiction. It is designed to make conveniently available at certain access points food, fuel, lodging, and motor vehicle services to the thoroughfare user, while avoiding general retail and service development.

4.2.3

Industrial Districts.

A.

Light Industrial (I-1) District. The purpose of the Light Industrial District is to provide for the development of most types of industrial firms. The district is designed primarily for industrial service, warehousing, and wholesaling uses. Requirements of the district protect adjacent nonresidential and other industrial uses in the district.

B.

Heavy Industrial (I-2) District. The Heavy Industrial District is intended to provide for intense or heavy industries. It is designed for manufacturing and production industries, particularly those having external effects that could impact less intense adjacent uses.

4.2.4

Special Purpose Districts.

A.

Riverfront Development (RFD) District. The purpose of the Riverfront Development District is to provide for complementing recreational and commercial uses that take advantage of the Red River riverfront's scenic characteristics, convenient location, and proximity to existing commercial activities.

B.

Racetrack (RT) District. The Racetrack District is created to provide a highly limited range of uses that accommodate the racetrack complex, supporting services associated with racing, and gaming activity allowed by state law.

C.

Air Base Buffer—North (A-1) District. The North Airbase Buffer District is established to limit uses and development within and near the north-northwest approach to Barksdale Air Force Base to those activities that reflect land uses recommended in the most current Air Installation Compatible Use Zone (AICUZ) Study. The recommended land uses in the AICUZ Study are uses that are less sensitive to aircraft activities and that will not hamper flight operations.

D.

Air Base Buffer—South (A-2) District. The South Air Base Buffer District is established to restrict development within and near the south-southeast approach to Barksdale Air Force Base, which is an undeveloped area having no existing or planned municipal services.

Overlay districts provide the means for superimposing certain additional requirements upon the general zoning districts, established and described in this Article, without disturbing the requirements of the underlying general zoning districts. The following overlay districts are created:

4.3.1

Gateway Overlay District (GW-OD). The Gateway Overlay District is created to enhance the visual character of gateways into Bossier City that link the Interstate 20 interchanges to major focal points of the community. It is intended to ensure that land development adjacent to gateways occurs in a manner that is compatible with the use of the transportation corridor while minimizing traffic hazards and congestion.

4.3.2

National Cyber Research Park Overlay District. The National Cyber Research Park Overlay District Guidelines and Regulations are intended to serve as a guide for optimal growth and development; ensuring that it is a continuing asset to the City of Bossier City and Bossier Parish, LA. The Master Plan for this area promotes a concept of new innovative development that advances technology, progress and research. The guidelines contained in Article 5 of this Code, are minimum criteria to ensure proper development while encouraging a campus-type setting that incorporates a variety of land uses and promotes excellence in design, aesthetics and construction. These guidelines also protect tenants from undesirable and improper uses that will detract from the purpose of the National Cyber Research Park (NCRP).

Proposed development will create outdoor spaces, pedestrian pathways and streetscapes as well as create uniformity in development and high quality architectural and environmental uses.

(Overlay District boundaries and site maps are available in the MPC office.)

4.3.3

Barksdale Boulevard Redevelopment Overlay District (B-BROD). The purpose of the Barksdale Boulevard Redevelopment Overlay District (B-BROD) is to preserve and improve the economic vitality of the corridor, preserve its commercial character, enhance its visual appeal, improve motorist and pedestrian safety, and encourage new investment and redevelopment with the B-BROD.

(Overlay District boundaries and site maps are available in the MPC office.)

The zoning districts and their respective boundaries are graphically shown on the Zoning Map, and said map is made part of this Code by reference and on file in the Office of Zoning Administration. All planned unit developments and planned building groups previously adopted under Bossier City Ordinance No. 33 of 1978 and Bossier Parish Ordinance No. 783 of 1978 shall be adopted by reference and made part of this Code.

4.4.1

District Boundaries. Except where specifically shown by dimension or otherwise on the Zoning Map, the boundaries of districts are lot lines or other property lines, the centerlines of streets or alleys or such lines extended, railroad rights-of-way, natural boundary lines such as watercourses, and the municipal corporate limit lines. In separate tracts not subdivided and in non-subdivided property, the zoning boundary lines may follow section or quarter-section lines or may be determined by scaling.

4.4.2

Interpretation of Boundaries. Questions concerning the exact location of any district, planned unit development or planned building group boundary shall be determined by the Executive Director.

4.4.3

Expansion of Area Jurisdiction and Annexation. In the event that the jurisdictional boundary for this Code expands, such new territory shall be in the R-A district classification until changed in accordance with the Amendment procedure set forth in Section 3.9. Territory hereafter annexed to the City of Bossier City shall retain its existing zoning district classification until changed in accordance with the Amendment procedure set forth in Section 3.9.