A. The front yard setback in all land use districts, including the unzoned district, shall be a minimum of 20 feet from the front property line or 50 feet from the center of the right-of-way or easement of the fronting road, whichever is greater. If the fronting road is classified as an urban arterial or rural arterial, the distance from the center of the right-of-way or easement shall be increased to 55 feet and 60 feet, respectively.

B. Exceptions.

1. Front yard setback may be reduced to 10 feet if parking area is accessed from the rear of the lot, or if enclosed parking area is recessed or aligned to provide at least 20 feet to edge of property line.

2. If commercial use, setback may be reduced to zero feet as required to accommodate half-width right-of-way requirements, so long as garage doors are not located along the facade. To utilize this exception a survey prepared by a licensed surveyor must be submitted at the time of permitting to validate front property line. Building and fire code requirements may supersede this exception.

3. Features such as porches, stoops, decks, balconies, fire escapes, and exterior stairways may encroach up to 50 percent into front setback identified in subsection A of this section, provided such features are open sided.

4. Projections such as bay windows, masonry clad chimneys, cornices, canopies, eaves, sills, and other architectural features may extend up to three feet into the required setback.

5. In an area of prior development where at least 50 percent of existing surrounding front yard setbacks within a 300-foot radius of the site are less than currently required, an exception of up to 50 percent of the standard setback may be allowed, so long as the following criteria are met:

a. Enclosed parking area is recessed or aligned to provide at least 20 feet to edge of property line.

b. The reduction will not be materially detrimental to public health, or injurious to property in the vicinity or district in which the property is located.

c. The reduction will not detract from livability or appearance or a residential area, or character of a nonresidential area.

d. The reduction will not adversely affect significant natural, scenic, historical, cultural, open space or energy resources.

e. The reduction will not materially compromise the goals and policies of the Comprehensive Plan, or the spirit of this chapter.

6. Public art, flagpoles and signs not subject to front yard setback requirements. [Ord. 17-077 § 1, 9-12-17; Ord. 15-039 § 3, 3-24-15.]