Johnstown Town City Zoning Code
ARTICLE IV
Minimum Area/Dimensional Requirements
§ 84-11 Schedule of regulations.
The minimum area and dimensional requirements applicable for properties in each zoning district is set forth on the Schedule of Area/Dimensional Requirements attached to, and made part of, this chapter as Appendix B.
§ 84-12 Additional area regulations.
Reduction of lot area. No lot area shall be reduced below the district requirements of this chapter.
Corner lot. All corner lots shall provide a front and rear yard which is designated by the owner in the application for a building permit. A side yard along a street shall be a minimum of 25 feet. Nothing in this regulation shall be so interpreted as to reduce the building width of a corner lot and of record at the time of the passage of this chapter to less than 24 feet.
Visibility at street corners. On a corner lot in any district where a front yard is required, no fence, wall, hedge or other structure or planting more than three feet in height shall be erected, placed or maintained so as to obstruct visibility of vehicular traffic within the triangular area formed by the intersecting street right-of-way lines and a straight line joining said lines at points 20 feet distant from the point of intersection, measured along said lines.
Transition yard requirements. Where the side or rear yard of a lot abuts a side or rear yard of a lot in a district more restrictive by reason of setbacks, there shall be provided along such abutting line or lines a side or rear yard equal in depth to that required in the more restricted district.
Projecting architectural features, terraces, porches, fire escapes.
Windowsills, belt courses, cornices, eaves and other customary architectural features shall not project more than two feet into any required yard.
A deck not to exceed 30 inches above grade or paved terrace that are unroofed and without walls or other enclosures not to exceed six feet in height shall not be considered as part of a building in the determination of yard sizes or lot coverage. Such deck or terrace is restricted to not less than 10 feet from side or rear lot line.
In determining the percentage of building coverage or the size of yards for the purpose of this chapter, enclosed porches open at the side but roofed shall be considered a part of the building.
An open stairway may extend into any required yard not more than seven feet provided that such open stairway shall not be closer than six feet at any point to any lot line.
Unenclosed entrance steps, stairways or ramps providing access to the first story of a building may extend into any required yard a distance not to exceed eight feet and shall not be closer than six feet at any point on any side lot line.
Pools. A pool shall not be considered an accessory structure, but shall only be placed in side or rear lots. A pool shall maintain a ten-foot setback from side and rear property lines and in the case of a corner lot, shall be placed no closer to the side property line than the principle building would be allowed in that particular district. A pool shall also maintain a ten-foot setback from any primary or accessory building.
Walls, fences and hedges. The yard requirements of this chapter shall not prohibit any necessary retaining wall nor any fence, wall or hedge permitted by Town law in any zoning district under the following provisions.
Location. A fence, wall or hedge shall be no closer to any front lot line than six inches and shall comply with visibility at street corners as provided in this article. No hedge shall be allowed to overhang the lot line.
Orientation. The finished side of new and replacement fences must face surrounding properties. All supporting posts and cross-members must face the lot on which a new or replacement fence is located.
Height.
Fences in front yards may be up to four feet in height. Side and rear yards fences may be up to six feet in height.
§ 84-13 Additional height requirements.
Chimneys, spires, etc. The height limitations of this chapter shall not apply to barns, silos and other farm buildings, belfries, church spires, cupolas, penthouses and domes which are not used for human occupancy. Such features, however, shall be erected only to such height as is necessary to accomplish the customary purpose for which they are intended.
Through lots. On through lots 120 feet or less in depth, the height of a building may be measured from the grade of either street. On through lots more than 120 feet deep, the height regulations and basis of height measurement for the street permitting the greater height shall apply to a depth of not more than 120 feet from that street.
Exceeding height limits. Chimneys, water towers, mechanical appurtenances, flag poles, monuments, transmission towers and cables, radio, small wind energy systems, television and telephone antenna or towers and similar structures exceeding the zone height limitation are subject to site plan review.