Within residential districts only, excepting group housing developments, no more than one principal building with its customary accessory buildings may occupy or be constructed upon any lot of record.

Cross reference— Buildings and building regulations, ch. 18.

No building shall be constructed after September 21, 1961, on a lot which does not have at least 30 feet of frontage on a publicly dedicated, accepted, and maintained street.

Cross reference— Streets, sidewalks and other public places, ch. 78.

For the purpose of this ordinance, all streets in the city are hereby divided into three classes:

(a)

Major streets.

(b)

Collector streets.

(c)

Residential streets.

The classification of each street in the city is as shown on the official zoning map of the city.

Cross reference— Streets, sidewalks and other public places, ch. 78.

In order to avoid individual hardship whenever reasonable and not in conflict with the general welfare of the city, and for the purposes herein outlined, the following provisions shall apply to all districts:

(64.1)

Nonconforming uses permitted. Except as herein specified, the lawful use of any building or land existing on September 21, 1961, may be continued although such use does not conform to the provisions of this ordinance.

(64.2)

Unsafe structures. Any structure or portion thereof declared unsafe by a proper authority may be restored to a safe condition.

(64.3)

Restoration. No nonconforming building or structure damaged to the extent of more than 75 percent of its assessed value for city tax purposes, shall be repaired or rebuilt except in conformity with the regulations of this ordinance.

(64.4)

Abandonment. Any nonconforming use after discontinuance for a period of one year shall not be reestablished except in conformity with the regulations of this ordinance.

(64.5)

Change to another nonconforming use. No nonconforming use shall be changed to another nonconforming use.

(64.6)

Changes. A nonconforming use of a building or land, once changed to a conforming use, shall not be permitted to revert to a nonconforming use.

(64.7)

Enlargement. No nonconforming use shall be enlarged or extended in any way except in conformity with the regulations of this ordinance.

Cross reference— Buildings and building regulations, ch. 18.

At the time of the erection of any type of building or structure hereinafter listed or at the time any such building or structure is enlarged or increased in capacity, there shall be provided for such new construction, enlargement or increased capacity only, off-street automobile parking or storage space in accordance with the following minimum requirements. Such space shall be provided with vehicular access to a street or alley.

(a)

Dwellings. One space per dwelling unit.

(b)

Roominghouses and boardinghouses; hotels. One space for each two bedrooms.

(c)

Places of public assembly; churches; fraternal organizations. One space for each four seats in the main assembly room.

(d)

Tourist rooms, tourist courts, or motels. One space for each bedroom.

(e)

Hospitals, convalescent homes, or similar institutions. One space for each two beds intended for patients, excluding bassinets.

(f)

Retail business. One space for each 200 square feet of retail floor area and one space of [for] each 400 square feet of upper level retail floor area.

(g)

Medical and dental offices and clinics. One space for each 100 square feet of office floor area.

(h)

Offices, including banks. One space for each 300 square feet of total floor area.

(i)

Automobile service stations. Two spaces for each gasoline pump plus three spaces for each grease rack or similar facility.

(j)

Wholesaling. One space for each two employees.

(k)

Industrial. One space for each two employees at maximum employment on a single shift.

(l)

Bus terminals. Two spaces for each loading and unloading bay.

(m)

Auto sales and repair. One space for each two employees at maximum employment on a single shift, plus two spaces for each 300 square feet of auto repair or maintenance space.

(n)

Shopping center. One parking space for each 150 square feet of total floor area.

(65.1)

Off-street parking within 400 feet of principal use. If vehicle parking or storage space required cannot be reasonably provided on the same lot on which the principal use is conducted, such space may be provided on other off-street property provided such space lies within 400 feet of the main entrance to such principal use. Such vehicle parking space shall be associated with the permitted use and shall not thereafter be reduced or encroached upon in any manner.

(65.2)

Combined parking spaces. The required parking space for any number of separate uses may be combined in one lot, but the required space assigned to one use may not be assigned to another use at the same time, except that one-half of the parking space required for churches, theaters or assembly halls whose peak attendance will be at night or on Sundays may be assigned to a use which will be closed at nights or on Sundays.

(65.3)

Size of off-street parking spaces. The area of each parking space shall contain not less than 200 square feet with appropriate dimensions for the parking of an automobile, exclusive of the access drives or aisles thereto and adequate off-street maneuvering areas.

(Res. of 9-21-2000)

Cross reference— Stopping, standing and parking, § 86-141 et seq.

Every building or structure used for business, trade, or industry, shall provide space as indicated herein for the loading and unloading of vehicles off the street or public alley. Such space shall have access to a public alley or if there is no alley, to a public street.

(a)

Retail business. One space ten feet by 25 feet for each 3,000 square feet of floor area or fraction thereof.

(b)

Wholesale and industry. One space ten feet by 50 feet for each 10,000 square feet of floor area or fraction thereof.

(c)

Bus and truck terminals. Sufficient space to accommodate the maximum number of buses or trucks to be stored or to be loading or unloading at the terminal at any one time.

Cross reference— Stopping, standing and parking, § 86-141 et seq.

Curb cuts shall in no case, except in residential districts, be greater than 30 feet in length nor closer than 20 feet to another curb cut.

The City of Fort Valley hereby adopts and incorporates by reference herein all provisions, including definitions contained therein, of the Georgia Condominium Act, Official Code of Georgia 44-3-70 et seq., now and as amended hereafter.

68.1

Condominium plat approval. Preliminary and final plat approval process shall be the same as that for subdivision plat approval.

68.2

Condominium zoning standards.

(a)

Lot requirement. Each condominium unit and its associated limited common area shall be considered equivalent to a "lot" as defined in this zoning ordinance and, as such, shall meet the minimum lot size requirement for the zoning district in which it is located.

(b)

Setback. Setback shall be measured from the outer edge of the unit and its associated limited common area and shall be consistent with minimum setback requirements for structures in the zoning district in which it is located.

68.3

Application of condominium regulations. The following rules and regulations shall apply to any application for a zoning permit to allow the development of a condominium with three or more units:

(a)

The condominium shall be developed to include condominium instruments that contain provisions for the following:

(1)

No more than 30 percent of the residential units may be leased to non-resident owners. For purposes of this provision, the term "leased" shall mean the regular occupancy of a unit by any person other than the owner or the owner's immediate family member which shall include grandparent, parent, child or sibling, regardless of whether the owner receives consideration from the person in exchange for occupancy of the unit

(2)

All leases, as the term "lease" is defined herein, of residential units shall be in writing in a form approved by the condominium association and include at a minimum that lessees are informed of and agree to abide by covenants, bylaws and rules of the association.

(3)

Non-resident owners shall submit copies of their leases to the condominium association and report the names of all non-owner residents to the condominium association.

(4)

The condominium association is authorized to and shall provide documents and other information to the City of Fort Valley upon request from any agency of the City of Fort Valley.

(Ord. No. 09-1217-67(2), 12-17-2009)