Grimes City Zoning Code

The A-1 Agricultural District is intended and designed to preserve the agricultural resources and agricultural lands within the City that are not expected to develop into urban uses in the immediate future.

1. 1.
   Principal Permitted Uses. Only the uses of structures or land listed in this section are permitted in the A-1 District.

   1. A.
      Agriculture and the usual agricultural buildings and structures including raising of livestock and poultry, and grain storage and grain drying facilities; excluding feed lots and poultry farms.
   2. B.
      Single-family (non-farm) dwellings.
   3. C.
      Churches, chapels, temples, and similar places of worship.
   4. D.
      Public and parochial schools, elementary and secondary, and other educational institutions.
   5. E.
      Forests and wildlife preserves.
   6. F.
      Private riding stables.
   7. G.
      Cemeteries, including mausoleums.
   8. H.
      Kennels for the raising, breeding and boarding of dogs or other small animals, provided that all buildings, including exercise runways, be at least two hundred (200) feet from all property lines.
   9. I.
      Nurseries, greenhouses and truck gardens.
   10. J.
       Publicly owned parks, playgrounds, golf courses, and recreation areas.
   11. K.
       Private noncommercial recreational areas and centers, including country clubs, swimming pools, golf courses and riding stables, but not including automotive race tracks, miniature golf courses, drive-in theaters and similar commercial uses.
   12. L.
       Public water supply and sewage treatment facilities.
   13. M.
       Electrical and natural gas transmission and regulating facilities.
2. 2.
   Special Use Permits. The following uses may be permitted in the A-1 District subject to approval by the Board of Adjustment after notice and public hearing. In its determination upon the particular use at the location requested, the Board shall consider whether the proposed location, design, construction and operation of the particular use adequately safeguard the health, safety and general welfare of persons residing or working in adjoining or surrounding property. In addition, if the planned facility is the construction of a public or private sanitary landfill, solid waste disposal facility, or a facility to compost yard waste, the Board of Adjustment shall determine whether or not a permit has been issued for the construction of the facility as required by Iowa law by the Department of Natural Resources, the Environmental Protection Commission, and/or any other appropriate governmental agency. In addition, the Board of Adjustment shall require that an operational manual be submitted with the Application for Special Use Permit, and that the public or private sanitary landfill, solid waste disposal facility, and/or compost facility complies with all requirements adopted by the Environmental Protection Commission at Iowa Administrative Code Chapters 567-100 through 567-105 (1990), which are hereby adopted and incorporated herein. Copies of these Iowa Administrative Code chapters are on file with the Clerk for public inspection. The uses subject to the above provisions include the construction or enlargement of the following:

   1. A.
      Mink and chinchilla farms and ranches.
   2. B.
      Publicly owned or private aircraft landing fields or airports.
   3. C.
      Mining and extraction of minerals and raw materials, including sand and gravel, subject to prior approval of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources of any such operation located in or on the flood plain of any river or stream.
   4. D.
      Public or private sanitary landfills and solid waste disposal facilities.
   5. E.
      Feed lots and poultry farms.
   6. F.
      Private gun clubs, skeet-shooting ranges and similar uses.
   7. G.
      Any public building erected and used by any department of a township, County, State, or the Federal government, not previously allowed as a principal permitted use.
   8. H.
      Any compost facility to be used for the composting of yard waste. Yard waste is defined as grass clippings and tree or bush branches or leaves. The definition of yard waste does not include materials used in co-composting such as sludge, manure or paunch.

   Application for a special use permit under the terms of this section shall be accompanied by evidence concerning the feasibility of the proposed request and its effect on surrounding property and shall include a site plan defining the areas to be developed for buildings and structures, the areas to be developed for parking, the locations of driveways and the points of ingress and egress, including access roads where required, the location and height of walls, the location and type of landscaping, the location, size and number of signs and the manner of providing water supply and sewage treatment facilities. A facility designed in whole or part to co-compost as defined by Chapter 9-14 shall not be a permitted use or special use under A-1 district regulations. In the event a special use permit is granted under the terms of this section, any change thereafter in the approved use or site plan shall be resubmitted and considered in the same manner as the original proposal.

3. 3.
   Permitted Accessory Uses. The following accessory uses are permitted in the A-1 District.

   1. A.
      Uses of land or structures customarily incidental and subordinate to one of the permitted principal uses, unless otherwise excluded.
   2. B.
      Private garage or carport.
   3. C.
      One mobile home utilized as living quarters for persons employed on a farm.
   4. D.
      Home occupations as permitted in and as limited by Section 12-5-12 of this chapter.
   5. E.
      The taking of boarders or the leasing of rooms by a resident family, provided the total number of boarders and roomers does not exceed three (3) per building.
   6. F.
      Temporary buildings, including mobile homes or trailers, for uses incidental to construction work, which buildings shall be removed upon the completion or abandonment of the construction work.
   7. G.
      One board sign not to exceed fifty (50) square feet in area referring to the construction, lease, hire, or sale of a building, premises, or lots, which sign shall refer to property on which the sign is located, and shall be removed as soon as the premises are sold or leased or construction completed.
   8. H.
      Institutional bulletin boards.
   9. I.
      Roadside stands for the sale of products grown on the premises.
   10. J.
       Signs, not exceeding ten (10) square feet in area, identifying the premises or indicating the product grown or material and equipment used on the premises.
   11. K.
       Satellite receiving antenna mounted on the ground in the rear yard or attached to principal building facing rear yard at a height no greater than the peak of the roof, not to exceed a maximum height of fifteen (15) feet. The mounting of the antenna shall be in accordance with the City Building Code. The height of the antenna shall be measured vertically from the highest point of the antenna when positioned for operation, to the bottom of the base which supports the antenna. Satellite receiving antenna mounted on a trailer or vehicle may be allowed in rear yard for a period not to exceed fifteen (15) days.
   12. L.
       Solar collectors mounted on the ground in the rear yard or attached to principal building facing front, side or rear yard at a height no greater than the peak of the roof of the principal structure. The mounting of the solar collectors shall be in accordance with the City Building Code. If required, solar access easement may be obtained from adjoining property owner in accordance with the State statutes.
   13. M.
       Wind generator mounted on the ground in the rear yard, in accordance with the City Building Code and in accordance with existing or hereafter adopted ordinances of the City.
4. 4.
   Bulk Regulations. See Section 12-12-1 for minimum requirements subject to the modifications contained in Section 12-19-1.
5. 5.
   Minimum Width Regulation. The minimum dimension of the main body of the principal building shall not be less than twenty (20) feet.
6. 6.
   Perimeter Foundation Requirement. A permanent perimeter foundation, meeting the City Building Code standards, is required for all principal buildings.
7. 7.
   Off-Street Parking and Loading. Spaces for off-street parking and loading shall be provided in accordance with the provisions of Section 12-15-4 and 12-15-5.
8. 8.
   Site Plans. Site plans shall be required in accordance with the provisions of Section 12-17-1 for all uses permitted in this district except for the following: 1) single-family dwellings and 2) agriculture and the usual agricultural buildings and structures including raising of livestock and poultry, and grain storage and grain drying facilities; excluding feed lots and poultry farms.

Effective on: 1/1/1901