This district is intended for medium density residential uses and to provide for [a] variety in housing types as well as for those public and semi-public uses and accessory uses as may be necessary or are normally associated with residential surroundings. Professional offices and certain other uses needed in the community may be permitted in appropriate locations by means of a conditional use permit.

(Code 1972, § 30-47; Code 1992, § 30-47; Ord. of 10-24-1989)

In the R-3 Multiple-Family Residential District, structures to be erected, or land to be used, shall be for one or more of the following uses:

(1)

Single-family dwellings, including a family and up to two unrelated individuals per unit.

(2)

Two-family dwellings, including a family and up to two unrelated individuals per unit.

(3)

Townhouses, including a family and up to two unrelated individuals per unit.

(4)

Multiple-family dwellings, including a family and up to two unrelated individuals per unit.

(5)

Planned housing developments subject to the special regulations of section 42-164, including a family and up to two unrelated individuals per unit.

(6)

Owner occupied boardinghouse with not more than four boarders, with a conditional use permit.

(7)

A single-family owner-occupied dwelling which, as an accessory use, offers no more than five bedrooms for short-term transient occupancy for compensation and where food service for resident guests is limited to breakfast only with a conditional use permit.

(8)

Public buildings to consist of fire, police and rescue squad stations, schools, recreational facilities and libraries. Private buildings to consist of schools, recreational facilities and libraries, with a conditional use permit.

(9)

Churches and other places of worship.

(10)

Assisted living facilities and group homes of eight or fewer individuals, as exempted by Code of Virginia, § 15.2-2291.

(11)

Family day homes serving one through five children. Family day homes serving six through 12 children with a conditional use permit.

(12)

Rest homes or housing for not more than four elderly or handicapped individuals who are physically capable of responding to emergency situations without personal assistance, with a conditional use permit.

(13)

Clubs and lodges, except where activities embrace a service customarily carried on within a business district, with a conditional use permit.

(14)

Parks and playgrounds.

(15)

Professional offices with not more than five employees, with a conditional use permit.

(16)

Minor home occupations. Major home occupations with a conditional use permit.

(17)

Off-street parking and loading.

(18)

Signs in accordance with the sign ordinance in article XXIV, signs.

(19)

Public utilities, such as poles, lines, distribution transformers, pipes, meters and other facilities, necessary for the provision and maintenance of public utilities, including water and sewerage facilities; pumping and regulatory stations; substations; communications antennas; amateur radio towers. Communications monopoles with a conditional use permit.

(20)

Accessory buildings, such as separate garages or carports, workshops, toolsheds and greenhouses; provided, that garages or other accessory buildings, such as carports, porches and stoops attached to the main building, shall be considered part of the main building; provided further, that no accessory building shall be closer than three feet to any property line or located within any easement or right-of-way.

(21)

Condominiums, including a family and up to two unrelated individuals per unit.

(22)

Home adult day care center caring for not more than three individuals not related by blood or marriage, with a conditional use permit.

(23)

Construction trailers on active construction sites.

(24)

Child day care centers, with a conditional use permit.

(25)

Portable storage containers, in accordance with section 42-662.

(26)

Urban agriculture in accordance with section 42-663.

(Code 1972, § 30-48; Code 1992, § 30-48; Ord. of 6-20-1989; Ord. of 10-24-1989; Ord. of 4-3-1990; Ord. of 12-17-1991(1); Ord. of 9-1-1992; Ord. of 6-2-1998; Ord. of 12-7-1999; Ord. No. 2000-2, 4-18-2000; Ord. No. 2004-4, 9-7-2004; Ord. No. 2007-1, 4-3-2007; Ord. No. 2008-6, 12-2-2008; Ord. No. 2012-6, § 30-48, 6-19-2012; Ord. No. 2012-10, § 30-48, 11-20-2012; Ord. No. 2016-1, 2-23-2016; Ord. No. 2017-7, 9-12-2017; Ord. No. 2018-5, 9-11-2018)

(a)

The minimum lot area for a single-family dwelling shall be 10,000 square feet.

(b)

The minimum lot area for a two-family dwelling and other permitted nonresidential uses shall be 12,500 square feet.

(c)

The minimum lot area for a multiple-family dwelling shall be 15,625 square feet and density of development shall not exceed the ratio of ten dwelling units per gross acre.

(d)

Special regulations for townhouses are contained in article XX.

(e)

For permitted uses utilizing individual sewage disposal systems, the required area for any such use shall be approved by the health official. The administrator may require a greater area, if considered necessary by the health official.

(Code 1972, § 30-49; Code 1992, § 30-49; Ord. of 6-20-1989)

Structures shall be located 30 feet or more from any street right-of-way, or, in the event that buildings are already constructed on the same side of the street in the block, no new structure shall be closer to the street right-of-way line than a distance equal to the average of the distance to the street right-of-way of all existing structures in the same block on the same side of the street. This shall be known as the setback line. See article XVII for special setback regulations pertaining to the widening of highways and streets. See section 42-15 for special regulations pertaining to structural projections into the minimum required setback. Parking lots shall have a minimum setback of 15 feet from any street right-of-way.

(Code 1972, § 30-50; Code 1992, § 30-50; Ord. No. 2002-2, 3-5-2002; Ord. No. 2020-4, 1-12-2021)

(a)

The minimum lot width at the setback line and street line shall be 80 feet for a single-family dwelling, 100 feet for a two-family dwelling and other permitted nonresidential uses, and 125 feet for a multiple-family dwelling.

(b)

All structures in this district shall be located on the lot with the front of the structure facing the front lot line. Where permitted, multiple buildings on a single lot may be arranged in accord with approved site plans.

(c)

The full facades of individual units within a two-family dwelling shall be varied by changed front yard setbacks. Variation in setback shall be at least three feet.

(Code 1972, § 30-51; Code 1992, § 30-51; Ord. of 6-20-1989; Ord. of 6-2-1998; Ord. No. 2012-6, § 30-51, 6-19-2012; Ord. No. 2015-1, 4-28-2015)

(a)

The minimum side yard for each main structure shall be a minimum of ten feet or side lot line easement width, whichever is greater.

(b)

Each main structure shall have a rear yard of 20 feet or more.

(c)

Accessory structures shall have a side and rear yard of three feet or more.

(d)

The front yard shall contain a minimum of 20 percent greenspace or landscaped area. For duplexes for individual sale, the greenspace or landscaped area in the front yard shall be maintained at a ratio of 20 percent for each dwelling unit on each lot. For this purpose, corner lots shall be deemed to contain a minimum of 20 percent greenspace or landscaped area in each yard fronting a public street.

(e)

Sidewalks and curb and gutter shall be required on both sides of the public streets for all new streets and for all multifamily residential development. In lieu of sidewalks and curb and gutter, an owner or developer shall provide a paved multi-use trail a minimum of ten feet in width connecting to the street right-of-way adjoining other properties and to each lot within the development for single-family, duplex or townhouse development or at least the length of the total street frontage connecting to the right-of-way adjoining other properties and to each apartment or condominium unit within the development by a hard surface connection.

(f)

Handicap ramps shall be allowed to encroach in all yards if the following criteria are met:

(1)

The encroachment by the ramp must be the minimum necessary to accomplish safe access;

(2)

The ramp must meet the current edition of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code and the Town of Christiansburg Code; and

(3)

The minimum size of a building entry landing associated with the ramp shall meet Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code requirements. The maximum building entry landing size shall be six feet by six feet.

(g)

Structural projections into minimum required yards shall be permitted in accordance with section 42-15.

(Code 1972, § 30-52; Code 1992, § 30-52; Ord. of 6-20-1989; Ord. No. 2002-2, 3-5-2002; Ord. No. 2007-1, 4-3-2007; Ord. No. 2010-9, 12-21-2010; Ord. No. 2012-6, § 30-52, 6-19-2012; Ord. No. 2015-1, 4-28-2015; Ord. No. 2020-4, 1-12-2021)

Buildings may be erected up to 35 feet in height from street grade or lot grade at setback line, whichever is greater; except, that:

(1)

A public or semi-public building, such as a school, church, library or hospital, may be erected to a height of 60 feet from grade; provided, that required front, side and rear yards shall be increased one foot for each foot in height over 35 feet.

(2)

Church spires, belfries, cupolas, monuments, water towers, chimneys, flues and flagpoles shall be exempt from this section.

(3)

Parapet walls may be up to four feet above the height of the building on which the walls rest.

(4)

No accessory building which is within ten feet of any property lot line shall be more than one story high.

(5)

Accessory buildings shall not exceed the main structure in height, except that when the accessory building is located at a lower ground elevation, then the elevation of the roofline of the accessory building shall not be higher than the elevation of the roofline of the main structure, but not to exceed two stories in height.

(Code 1972, § 30-53; Code 1992, § 30-53; Ord. of 12-17-1991(2))

The following special provisions shall apply to corner lots:

(1)

Of the two sides of a corner lot, the front shall be deemed to be the shorter of the two sides fronting on streets.

(2)

The side yard on the side facing the side street shall be 30 feet or more for both main and accessory buildings, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.

(3)

Each corner lot shall have a minimum width at the setback line and the street line measured to the Pi of a radius where a radius exists of 125 feet.

(Code 1972, § 30-54; Code 1992, § 30-54; Ord. of 11-20-1987, § (a); Ord. No. 2020-4, 1-12-2021)

The purpose of this section is to allow for single unit ownership of either unit of a two-family dwelling which has a common vertical wall separating the two units.

(1)

Area. Minimum lot area for two-family structures shall be 12,500 square feet with each single dwelling unit having a lot area of at least 6,250 square feet.

(2)

Setback. Same as for other buildings.

(3)

Frontage. Same as for other buildings, except that the minimum lot width at the street line and at the setback line for each single unit of a two-family dwelling shall be 50 feet.

(4)

Yards. Same as for other buildings, except that for two-family dwellings in which either single unit is individually owned there shall be no side yard setback required on the interior or common property line. Exterior side yard setback shall be based upon the width of the lot at the setback line for the entire two-unit structure.

(Code 1972, § 30-55; Code 1992, § 30-55; Ord. of 6-20-1989; Ord. of 11-21-1989)

(a)

The development, or project, shall be designed to promote harmonious relationships with surrounding adjacent and nearby developed properties, particularly in larger developments, or projects where more than one building is involved, and to this end may employ such design techniques as may be appropriate to a particular case, including use of building types, orientation, spacing and setback of buildings, careful use of topography, maintenance of natural vegetation, location of access points, recreation areas, open spaces and parking areas, grading, landscaping and screening.

(b)

No apartment building shall contain more than 12 dwelling units and no more than three apartment buildings shall be contiguous.

(c)

No apartment building shall be located closer than 15 feet from a private drive, access road or open common parking area, whether oriented to the front, sides or rear of the buildings, except that parking areas may be located within five feet and private drives may be located within ten feet of any blank or windowless wall.

(d)

More than one apartment building may be located on the lot, provided a minimum distance of 25 feet shall separate any two buildings, or groups of apartment buildings, from any other abutting use or building type.

(e)

At least 400 square feet of commonly usable open space shall be provided for each dwelling unit. Such space shall be of such location and dimensions as to provide for outdoor living, patios, pools, lawns, play areas, walks, wooded areas and the like, but not including driveways and parking areas.

(f)

Where community refuse containers are provided as accessory uses to apartment developments, such containers shall be conveniently located for pickup vehicle access and completely screened from view by means of a fence or wall with outside landscaping and an appropriately designed gate which can be latched open and closed.

(g)

Each apartment dwelling unit shall contain at least 600 square feet of livable floor area, exclusive of garages, carports, cellars, basements, attics, open porches, patios or breezeways, except that up to ten percent of the units may be constructed with less floor area than this minimum.

(h)

Apartment development requiring ingress and egress to a public street shall meet all the requirements of the town subdivision ordinance.

(i)

Parking lots shall have a minimum setback of 15 feet from any street right-of-way.

(j)

Structural projections into minimum required yards shall be permitted in accordance with section 42-15, provided all other requirements of this section are met.

(Code 1972, § 30-56; Code 1992, § 30-56; Ord. of 6-20-1989; Ord. No. 2002-2, 3-5-2002; Ord. No. 2020-4, 1-12-2021)

(a)

Within an R-3 Multiple-Family Residential District, as a conditional use or in conjunction with an application for conditional zoning for R-3 Residential, and in order to encourage improved housing design, variety in housing types and best use of topography, a site plan shall be submitted for a planned housing development, together with a subdivision plan, if required by this chapter or chapter 40, and such other descriptive material or proffers as may be necessary to fully determine the development, even though such development does not comply in all respects to the dimensional requirements of the R-3 District, provided:

(1)

One or more major features of the development, such as unusual natural features, yard spaces, open spaces and building types and arrangements, are such as to justify application of this section rather than a conventional application of the other regulations of the R-3 District.

(2)

Materials submitted, drawings, descriptions, proffers and the like are sufficiently detailed to ensure compliance with the intent of this section.

(3)

The project itself, or a larger project of which it is a part, is of sufficient size in the location proposed as to permit development of an internal environment, which, if different from designs otherwise permitted in the R-3 District, will not adversely affect existing and future development in the surrounding area.

(4)

The overall dwelling unit density shall not exceed 20 dwelling units per gross acre.

(5)

The development is designed to promote harmonious relationships with surrounding adjacent and nearby developed properties, and, to this end, may employ such design techniques as may be appropriate to a particular case, including use of building types, orientation and spacing and setback of buildings, careful use of topography, maintenance of natural vegetation, location of recreation areas, open spaces and parking areas, grading, landscaping and screening.

(6)

Provision satisfactory to the planning commission and approved by the town attorney shall be made to ensure that nonpublic areas for the common use and employment of occupants, but not in individual ownership by such occupants, shall be maintained in a satisfactory manner without expense to the general taxpayer.

(b)

Procedures and general standards for approval of an application under this section shall be the same as those for a conditional use permit or for conditional zoning as described in article I, as the case may require.

(Code 1972, § 30-57; Code 1992, § 30-57; Ord. No. 2012-10, § 30-57, 11-20-2012; Ord. No. 2015-2, 9-8-2015)