Georgetown City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XXI
Height, Area and Bulk Requirements
§ 230-153 Combined-use buildings. [1]
Where more than 25% of the total floor area of any building in a commercial district is used for dwelling purposes in a building which may also contain nonresidential uses, the minimum height, area, and bulk requirements for residential development applicable in the district in which such building is located shall apply subject to the side yard modification for mixed uses contained elsewhere in this article. Where 25% or less of the total floor area of such building is used for dwelling purposes, the building shall be subject to the height, area and bulk requirements applicable to nonresidential buildings in the district.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Sections 1 through 13 of this article, which immediately preceded this section, were deleted 1-8-1992 by Ord. No. 92-001. See now the Table of Height, Area and Bulk Requirements located at the end of this chapter.
§ 230-154 Modification of height regulations.
The following modification of height regulations will apply in all districts with approval of the Planning Commission:
A.
Except within an area defined as an Airport Approach Zone by the Federal Aviation Agency, the height limitations of this article shall not apply to:
(1)
Belfries.
(2)
Chimneys.
(3)
Church spires.
(4)
Conveyors.
(5)
Cooling towers.
(6)
Elevator bulkheads.
(7)
Fire towers.
(8)
Flag poles.
(9)
Ornamental towers and spires.
(10)
Private and/or commercial radio and television towers 150 feet and less.
(11)
Public monuments.
(12)
Smoke stacks.
(13)
Stage towers or scenery lofts.
(14)
Tanks.
(15)
Transmission lines and their supporting elements, except in the HD Historic District, where all aerial wires (electric, telephone, cable television, etc.) and supporting poles shall be removed no later than 10 years from the date of passage of this chapter.
B.
Except within an area defined as an Airport Approach Zone by the Federal Aviation Agency, churches and temples may be erected to a height not exceeding 75 feet when the required side and rear yards are each increased by at least one foot for each one foot of additional building height above the height regulations for the district in which the building is located.
C.
Exceptions to height limits, institutional uses. Public and private institutional uses, including government buildings, hospitals, schools, and other similar structures, as determined by the Town Manager or designee, may be built to a maximum of 55 feet, including roof-mounted structures, provided that the front, side, and rear setback requirements shall each be increased by one additional foot for each five feet that the structure exceeds the height limit established for the applicable zoning district.
[Added 1-23-2019 by Ord. No. 2018-06]
§ 230-155 Lot area requirements.
The following lot area will apply in all districts as noted:
A.
If a current owner acquired title to a lot by means of a deed or instrument which was of record prior to the application of any zoning regulations and restrictions governing width of lots and lot area per family as to the premises, and if such lot does not conform to the requirements of such regulations and restrictions, the provisions of such lot area per family and lot width regulations and restrictions shall not operate to prevent the owner of such lot from erecting a single-family dwelling.
[Amended 9-12-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-03]
B.
Requirements for lot area per family do not apply to dormitories, fraternities, sororities and other similar living quarters which are accessory to a permitted use in an ED Education District.
C.
In an HC Highway Commercial District, UB1 Urban Business District, UB2 Neighborhood Business District or UB3 Professional Business District, the requirements of lot area per family do not apply to rental units in a hotel, motel or motor lodge or bed-and-breakfast inn.
D.
Two rooms of a detached single-family dwelling may be rented separately without any additional requirements of lot area per family, provided that off-street parking receives full compliance.
§ 230-156 Yard and open space requirements.
The following yards and open space will apply in all districts as noted:
A.
Where these regulations refer to side streets, the Town Manager shall be guided by the pattern of development in the vicinity of the lot in question in determining which of the two streets is the side street.
B.
Every part of a required yard shall be open to the sky, except as authorized by this chapter, and except ordinary projections of sills, belt courses, chimneys, cornices and ornamental features which may project to a distance not to exceed 24 inches into a required yard. Window air-conditioning units may project a distance not to exceed 36 inches.
C.
More than one main building may be located upon a lot or tract in the following instances. The provisions of this exception shall not be construed to allow the location or erection of any building or portion of a building outside of the buildable area of the lot.
§ 230-157 Front yard requirements.
The following front yards will apply in all districts as noted:
A.
On through lots, the required front yard shall be provided on each street.
B.
There shall be a front yard of at least 15 feet on the side street of a corner lot in any district, except HD or UB1 Districts.
C.
On a street or road with existing buildings having a front yard setback that is less than that required in the district, any new or relocated building may have a front yard setback that is equal to the average setback of those existing buildings located on the same side of the street or road and being within 300 feet of the new or relocated building. Any vacant lot shall be calculated as having the required setback for the district.
§ 230-158 Side and rear yard requirements.
The following side yards and rear yards will apply in all districts as noted:
A.
For the purpose of the side yard regulations, a group of business or industrial buildings separated by common or party walls shall be considered as one building occupying one lot.
§ 230-159 Corner visibility.
The following corner visibility will apply in all districts as noted:
A.
No sign, fence, bush, tree, other planting, landscaping or wall extending to a height in excess of three feet above the established street grade shall be erected or maintained within the area of a corner lot that is included between the lines of the intersecting streets and a straight line connecting them at points 25 feet in distance from the intersection of the street lines.
§ 230-160 Accessory structures; handicapped ramps.
[Amended 9-12-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-03]
The following accessory buildings and structures will apply in all districts as noted:
A.
Except as herein provided, no accessory building shall project beyond a required yard line along any street.
B.
Filling station pumps and pump islands may occupy the required yards; provided, however, that they are not less than 20 feet from property lines.
C.
Any fence or wall for residential use, no more than four feet in height, may project into or enclose any required front or side yard to a depth from the street line equal to the required depth of the front yard. Any fence, hedge or wall for residential use may project into or enclose other required yards, provided that such fences, hedges and walls do not exceed a height of six feet. This height limit does not apply to fences or walls used for industrial screening or tennis courts. Every such fence must be approved by the Town Manager.
D.
Permitted accessory storage of a boat, boat trailer or camp trailer shall not be conducted in a front yard.
E.
Detached garages or accessory buildings, larger than 180 square feet of area, may be constructed in a rear yard with setbacks as required in each district.
F.
Handicapped ramps, installed or added in order to provide access to handicapped persons, which project into any applicable setback requirement, may be submitted to the Town Manager for administrative review and approval, without fee and without the need for a formal variance. An applicant dissatisfied with the decision of the Town Manager may appeal to the Board of Adjustment without fee.
§ 230-161 Modification of frontage requirements.
[Added 1-8-1992 by Ord. No. 92-001]
Minimum street frontage may be reduced on culs-de-sac or dead end streets, provided that the minimum front yard setback is extended from the point where the minimum lot width of 60 feet is achieved and total lot area exceeds 10,000 square feet as approved by the Planning Commission.
§ 230-162 Building fronts to face roadway.
[Added 1-8-1992 by Ord. No. 92-001]
The front or entrance of main buildings located within all districts shall face toward a state maintained roadway or Town maintained street as determined by the Planning Commission, except within professional or business complexes approved by the Planning Commission.
§ 230-163 Subdivision lot area.
[Added 12-16-1992 by Ord. No. 93-001]
Any residential lot created after the adoption of this section, within a major subdivision in the Town, as that term is defined by Chapter 194, Subdivision of Land, as amended, and located within 200 feet of an existing major subdivision in the Town, shall have a minimum lot area either equal to the average lot area of all residential lots located within the adjoining major subdivision, or as required by the applicable district regulations, whichever is greater.