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Darien City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 17

42 Rm Multifamily Residential District

§ 17.42.010 Description and purpose.

[Prior code § 17.0310(1)]
This district is intended to permit development which has a higher density community character. The land use standards for this district permit single-family detached, twin house/duplex, two flats, town-houses, multiplexes, and apartments (four dwelling units or less) permitted by right, and mobilehome parks, mobilehome subdivisions; townhouses, multiplexes, and apartments (up to 12 dwelling units); and institutional residential developments permitted as a conditional use. Density and intensity standards for this district are designed to ensure that the RM district shall serve as a designation which preserves and protects the community character of its area. A variety of residential development options are available in this district, with a maximum gross density (MGD) of 12.0 dwelling units per net acre.
Rationale. This district is used to provide for the permanent protection of an area for those who want to live in a higher density residential environment and who retain enough land with their residence, or in their development, to ensure that the urban community character is maintained as long as the RM district designation is retained, regardless of how much development occurs within that area. As such, it is intended to provide the principal location for mixed residential development.

§ 17.42.020 List of allowable land uses.

[Prior code § 17.0310(2)]
A. 
Land uses permitted by right:
Single-Family: 11,000 square foot lot.
Twin house/duplex: 5,000 square feet per du
Townhouse: 3,600 square feet per du (four units or less).
Multiplex: 3,600 square feet per du (four units or less).
Apartment: 3,600 square feet per du (four units or less).
Selective cutting (per Section 17.08.060).
Passive outdoor public recreation (per Section 17.10.010).
B. 
Land uses permitted as special use:
Cultivation (per Section 17.08.010).
Active outdoor public recreation (per Section 17.10.020).
Public services and utilities (per Section 17.10.050).
Community living arrangement (one to eight residents) (per Section 17.10.070).
Community living arrangement (nine to fifteen residents) (per Section 17.10.080).
C. 
Land uses permitted as conditional use:
Single-Family: 8,000 square foot lot.
Two-flat: 8,000 square foot lot.
Townhouse: 3,600 square feet per du (up to 12 units).
Multiplex: 3,600 square feet per du (up to 12 units).
Apartment: 3,600 square feet per du (up to 12 units).
Institutional residential: 1,980 square feet per du (per Section 17.10.060).
Mobilehome development/park: 8,000 square foot lot (per Sections 17.06.030 or 17.06.040).
Clear cutting (per Section 17.08.070).
Indoor institutional (per Section 17.10.030).
Outdoor institutional (per Section 17.10.040).
Institutional residential: 1,980 square feet per du (per Section 17.10.060).
Community living arrangement (16 or more residents) (per 17.10.090).
Bed and breakfast establishments (per Section 17.12.120).
Group day care center (nine or more children) (per Section 17.12.130).
Boarding house (per Section 17.12.150).
D. 
Land Uses Permitted as Accessory Uses.
1. 
Land uses permitted by right:
Farm residence (per Section 17.20.030).
Detached garage or shed (per Section 17.20.040).
Family day care home (per Section 17.20.120).
2. 
Land uses permitted as special use:
Home occupation (per Section 17.20.110).
3. 
Land uses permitted as conditional use:
Intermediate day care home (per Section 17.20.130).
E. 
Land uses permitted as temporary uses:
Outdoor assembly (per Section 17.22.020).

§ 17.42.030 Regulations applicable to residential uses.

[Prior code § 17.0310(3); amended by Ord. 218, 2003]
For single-family and two-family dwellings, see the RD district.
A. 
Residential Density and Intensity Requirements.
1. 
Conventional development:
Minimum zoning district area: 40,000 square feet.
Maximum gross density (MGD): 12.0 du/acre.
Minimum landscape surface ratio (LSR): 50%.
Maximum building coverage: 40%.
2. 
Mobilehome park/development:
Minimum zoning district area: 10 acres.
Maximum gross density (MGD): 6.0 du/acre.
Minimum landscape surface ratio (LSR): 50%.
Maximum building coverage: 40%.
3. 
Institutional residential development:
Minimum zoning district area: 11,000 square feet.
Maximum gross density (MGD): 22.0 du/acre.
Minimum landscape surface ratio (LSR): 50%.
Maximum building coverage: 40%.
B. 
Residential Bulk Requirements.
1. 
Minimum lot area: 3,600 square feet per du.
2. 
Minimum lot width: 80 feet; 20 feet for townhouse on interior of row, 30 feet for townhouse on end of row.
3. 
Minimum street frontage: 50 feet.
4. 
Minimum setbacks: (Note Subsection (B)(5) of this section, along zoning district boundaries).
a. 
Front or street side lot line to house: 25 feet, 40 feet for a lot adjacent to a street with an officially mapped right-of-way equal to or exceeding 100 feet.
b. 
Front or street side lot line to garage: 25 feet, 40 feet for a lot adjacent to a street with an officially mapped right-of-way equal to or exceeding 100 feet.
c. 
Side lot line to house or garage: 20 feet or zero feet along common wall.
d. 
Total of both sides, lot lines to house/garage: 20 feet; zero feet along common wall.
e. 
Rear lot line to house or garage: 25 feet.
f. 
Side lot line to accessory structure: five feet from property line, five feet from alley.
g. 
Rear lot line to accessory structure: five feet from property line, five feet from alley.
5. 
Peripheral setback: See Section 17.68.100(D), Table B along zoning district boundary.
6. 
Minimum paved surface setback: five feet from side or rear; 10 feet from street.
7. 
Minimum dwelling unit separation: 40 feet or zero feet along common wall.
8. 
Maximum height of dwelling unit: 35 feet, greater with conditional use permit.
9. 
Maximum height of accessory structure: 18 feet.
10. 
Minimum of off-street parking spaces required: See section 17.06.010(D) (includes garage, drives, and all designated parking surfaces): three.
11. 
Minimum dwelling core dimensions: 24 feet by 40 feet.
12. 
Minimum roof pitch: 3: 12.
13. 
Minimum eave width: 18 inches.
C. 
Residential landscaping requirements: not applicable for single-family. See nonresidential landscaping requirements for multifamily residential.
D. 
Residential performance standards: (See Chapter 17.66).
E. 
Residential signage regulations: (See Chapter 17.62).

§ 17.42.040 Regulations applicable to nonresidential uses.

[Prior code § 17.0310(4)]
A. 
Nonresidential Density and Intensity Requirements.
Minimum zoning district area: 11,000 square feet
Minimum landscape surface ratio (LSR): 25%.
Maximum building size (MBS): na
B. 
Nonresidential Bulk Requirements.
1. 
Minimum lot area: 11,000 square feet.
2. 
Minimum lot width: 70 feet.
3. 
Minimum street frontage: 50 feet.
4. 
Minimum setbacks: (Note Subsection (B)(5) of this section, along zoning district boundaries).
a. 
Building to front or street side lot line: 25 feet, 40 feet for a lot adjacent to a street with an officially mapped right-of-way equal to or exceeding 100 feet.
b. 
Building to residential side lot line: 10 feet.
c. 
Building to residential rear lot line: 25 feet.
d. 
Building to nonresidential side lot line: 10 feet.
e. 
Building to nonresidential rear lot line: 25 feet.
5. 
Peripheral setback: See Section 17.68.100(D), Table B along zoning district boundary.
6. 
Minimum paved surface setback: five feet from side or rear; 10 feet from street.
7. 
Minimum building separation: 20 feet.
8. 
Maximum building height: 35 feet.
9. 
Minimum number of off-street parking spaces required on the lot: see parking lot requirements per specific land use in Chapters 17.06 through 17.24.
C. 
Nonresidential Landscaping Requirements (Nonresidential Multifamily).
1. 
Fifty landscaping points per 100 linear feet of building foundation.
2. 
Twenty landscaping points per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area.
3. 
Fifty landscaping points per 100 linear feet of street frontage.
4. 
One hundred landscaping points per 10,000 square feet paved area/20 stalls.
D. 
Nonresidential performance standards: (see Chapter 17.66).
E. 
Nonresidential signage regulations: (see Chapter 17.62).