Churchill City Zoning Code
ARTICLE III
District Regulations
§ 304-9 Zoning districts.
The Borough is divided into the districts stated on Table 201,[1] as shown by the district boundaries on the Zoning Map.
[1]
Editor's Note: Table 201 is included as an attachment to this chapter.
§ 304-10 District boundaries.
District boundaries shown on the Zoning Map[1] which follow the lines of roads, streams and transportation rights of way shall be deemed to follow their center lines. The vacation shall not affect the location of such district boundaries. When the Zoning Officer cannot definitely determine the location of a district boundary by such center lines, by the scale of dimensions stated on the Zoning Map, or by the fact that it clearly coincides with a property line, he shall refuse action and the Zoning Hearing Board, upon appeal, shall interpret the location of the district boundary with reference to the scale of the Zoning Map and the purposes set forth in all relevant provisions of this chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: The Zoning Map is on file in the borough office.
§ 304-11 Permitted uses.
[Amended 9-11-2023 by Ord. No. 771]
The permitted uses for each district are shown on Table 201. Uses not specifically listed in the table shall be authorized as a conditional use in the C-2 Commercial Zoning District only where the applicant can establish compliance with the criteria contained in § 304-31.
§ 304-12 Conditional uses.
§ 304-13 Lot and yard requirements.
The minimums for lot area, width of lot, depth of front and rear yard and lot area per family for each district shall be as shown on Table 201.
A.
Lots which abut on more than one street shall provide the required front yards along every street.
B.
All structures, whether attached to the principal structure or not, and whether open or enclosed, including porches, carports, balconies and platforms in excess of five feet above basic grade level, shall not project into any minimum front, side or rear yard.
C.
Any lot of record existing on the effective date of this chapter and then held in separate ownership of adjoining lots may be used for the erection of a structure conforming to the use regulations of the district in which it is located, even though its area and width are less than the minimum requirements of this chapter.
D.
Nonresidential structures or uses in any district shall not be located or conducted closer to any lot line of any lot in any R District than the distance specified in the following schedule:
Use | Minimum Buffer Yard Abutting R District (feet) |
|---|---|
Off-street parking spaces and access drives for nonresidential uses | |
Churches, schools, public or semipublic structures | 50 |
Recreational facilities, research laboratories and all other nonresidential structures | 100 |
Multiple-dwelling structure | 40 |
NOTE: Buffer yards shall have walls, earth mounds, trees or shrubs as may be needed to screen the use from adjacent properties and to assure a clear separation of nonresidential uses from any residential areas. |
E.
Any portion of a lot once counted as a yard or as lot area per family in compliance with the area requirements of this chapter shall not be counted again as required yard or lot area per family for another structure.
F.
The required front yard may be reduced on any lot adjacent to one or more lots which have nonconforming front yards, provided that the reduced front yard shall have a depth no less than 1/2 the sum of the depth of the front yards on each side of the lot.
G.
No structure or use of land which has nonconforming yards may be enlarged or expanded in any manner which will further reduce the minimum dimension of such nonconforming yard.
H.
One and only one principal structure, together with permitted accessory structures, may be located on any lot, except that two or more principal structures may be permitted only after approval and recording of a land development plat as required by law.
§ 304-14 Height regulations.
[Amended 11-16-2020 by Ord. No. 755]
No single-family dwelling, two-family dwelling or townhouse shall exceed three stories or 35 feet in height. No multiple-family dwelling shall exceed five stories or 55 feet in height. Unless otherwise specifically provided for in Article V, no structure for any use shall exceed 70 feet in height, and no structure for any use may exceed 35 feet in height unless every required front, side and rear yard is increased one foot for every foot in height above 35 feet.
§ 304-15 Exterior wall surfaces.
Exposed exterior walls of structures shall be composed of brick, stone, glass, metal or marble with wood used for trim only, except as provided herein.
A.
Wood may be used for exposed, exterior walls for residential structures of three stories or less.
B.
Council may approve alternative materials if, and only if, such material is determined to be equal or superior in quality and aesthetic character compared to approved materials.
C.
An addition to an existing structure which is nonconforming with respect to this section may be constructed in conformance with the materials of original construction of the existing portion of the structure with approval by the Zoning Officer.
§ 304-16 Fences.
A fence may be erected into any required side or rear yard if the fence is no more than six feet in height for residential uses. A fence which is at least 50% open as to construction and which is no more than three feet high may be erected in any required residential front yard. A fence must be erected so that its finished side, if any, faces the street or abutting property.
A.
A chain link fence not more than 10 feet in height may be erected in any required yard for schools, playgrounds or parks.
B.
A fence of the chain link type no more than 10 feet high may be erected in any required yard for nonresidential uses or commercial uses. A solid fence no more than 10 feet high may be erected in any required commercial or industrial yard with the approval of the Zoning Officer.
§ 304-17 Exterior lights.
Exterior lights, where provided, shall be so placed and shielded to ensure that no light shines directly on any adjacent residential property, that reflected glare shall not exceed 0.25 footcandle when measured on any adjacent property, and no light shall diminish the visibility of vehicular traffic. Exterior light standards shall not exceed a height of 24 feet. No lights of any kind shall be placed or erected which diminish the character of a residential neighborhood.