The trend toward smaller houses has become a social movement. People are choosing to downsize the space they live in, simplify, and live with less. People are embracing this life philosophy and the freedom that accompanies the smaller more economical house lifestyle. The residential cottage district is intended to provide single-family individual cottages and micro-planned/pocket developments with construction of small single-family cottages.

(Ord. of 12-3-2018)

1.

The construction of single-family cottages as allowable by current building codes not to exceed 1000 square feet in size on a minimum of one acre of land.

2.

Additionally, RTC will allow for the construction of single-family cottages as allowable by current building codes in groups as a micro-planned/pocket development with a density of eight units per acre with a minimum of six cottage units not to exceed 12 cottages units per cluster.

(Ord. of 12-3-2018)

1.

Site plan approval by the planning commission and the mayor and council is required. Site lots should be designed and laid out in a clusters and shall have a central common area (see illustration).

2.

Lots. Each cottage shall be located on its own lot of record, and subdivision plat approval shall be required in accordance with the City of Dawsonville Regulations. All other land areas within the micro-development shall be under common ownership.

3.

Clusters shall consist of six to 12 cottage units. There shall be a minimum separation between clusters of 50 maintained in an undisturbed buffer.

4.

Streets. All streets within a micro-planned development shall be built to city specifications as provided in the city development regulations and dedicated to the city.

5.

Parking. Insofar as practicable, common parking areas comprised of pervious pavement shall be provided with walkways to a central common area as well as to each cottage. Parking facilities shall be grouped with no less than three spaces each. Minimum parking required shall be two per cottage unit.

6.

All structures must be either site built or industrialized (modular) homes and placed on a permanent foundation. Structures shall not be placed in a way which would block the occupants' view of the central common area.

7.

Privacy between cottage units: Dwellings shall be designed so that no window peers into the living space of adjacent dwellings closer than 30 feet apart. This may be accomplished by:

a.

"Nesting" dwellings with open and closed sides: the open side may have windows facing its own side or rear yard, while the closed side may have high windows, translucent windows, or skylights to bring in ample light while preserving privacy.

8.

Open space/green space. The site shall be at a minimum 50 percent greenspace for micro-planned developments. Each unit shall have 300 square feet of private open space and a minimum of 3,000 square feet of common area open space. Additionally, At least 75 percent of the dwelling units of each cluster shall abut the common open space; and all of the dwelling units shall be within 60 feet walking distance measured from the nearest entrance of the dwelling along the shortest safe walking route to the nearest point of the common open space. The common open space shall have dwellings abutting at least two sides.

9.

Buffers. A 50-foot undisturbed buffer shall be required along the property lines where a residential cottage micro-planned development abuts a zoning district other than RCT.

10.

Amenity areas such as a community center, central gazebo, playgrounds, etc. are required.

(Ord. of 12-3-2018)

1.

Commercial uses.

2.

Industrial uses.

3.

Animals, which individually or in numbers, create a nuisance by noise, smell, unsanitary or visual effects. Animals such as dogs and cats are permitted when their number in relation to area does not create a nuisance to neighbors. Kennels for the breeding of any animal for sale are prohibited. Pet fowl or birds may be kept in cages under the same provisions. No swine are permitted. Horses are prohibited on lots less than three acres.

4.

Any use not permitted in accord with the terms hereof.

(Ord. of 12-3-2018)