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Lawrenceville City Zoning Code

ARTICLE 5

- R-3 RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT

STATEMENT OF INTENT

This district is composed of certain high-density residential uses, where housing densities may range from eight or greater units per acre, as well as less intensive commercial operations which do not detract from the general residential character of the area. This district also contains certain open areas where similar development appears likely to occur in the future.

USE REGULATIONS

In [the] R-3 residential district, structures to be erected or used shall be for one or more of the following uses:


5-1.- Use by right.

5-1-1. Any use permitted in R-1 and R-2 residential districts.

5-1-2. Multiple-family dwellings.

5-1-3. Group homes (in compliance with state standards).

5-1-4. Day care centers (as provided by state law).

5-1-5. Townhouses (as provided under subsection 10-3-2).

5-1-6. Funeral homes.

5-1-7. Rooming and boarding.

5-1-8. Tourist homes.

5-1-9. Accessory buildings as defined; however, garages or other buildings such as carports, porches, and stoops attached to the main structure shall be considered part of the main building. An accessory building may comprise not more than 50 percent of the area of the main structure. An accessory building shall not be greater in height than the main structure. An accessory building shall be located behind and not closer than ten feet to the main structure. An accessory building may be no closer than five feet to any property line of an adjoining property owner.

5-1-10. Public utilities: poles, lines, distribution transformers, pipes, meters, and other facilities necessary for the provision and maintenance of public utilities, including water and sewer facilities.

5-1-11. Satellite dish antenna: Private noncommercial radio and television satellite dish antennas may be permitted to be constructed to a height not in excess of 20 feet only when installed at ground level, provided that such antenna shall be located behind the setback line of the main structure. All towers, antennas, guy anchorages or similar devices shall be at least three feet from any property line except on the side yard facing the side street the setback requirement shall be 25 feet. The installation of a ground or roof-mounted satellite dish antennas shall be permitted in accordance with the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.

5-2. - Use by special exception.

5-2-1. General hospitals.

5-2-2. Mobile home parks (only those listed regulations in section 10-3 replace or are in addition to those in this article). Note: Special exceptions may be granted by council for a planned mobile home park only in [the] R-3 zone, subject to compliance with specific conditions of section 10-3.

5-3. - Parking regulations.

Off-street parking shall conform with the regulations in article 9 of this ordinance. For multiple-family developments, townhouses and commercial uses, a landscaped area of at least six feet in width shall be maintained at all times between parking areas and any street right-of-way line or any lot zoned for R-1 or R-2 residential districts.

5-4. - Sign regulations.

The same as for [the] R-2 [residential district] except that the following is permitted:

5-4-1. On any lot with a business use, one sign not to exceed one square foot for each lineal foot of street frontage, with a maximum combined surface area of 25 square feet and a height not to exceed ten feet.

5-4-2. Signs attached to buildings may project up to four feet above the wall of the buildings.

5-4-3. Wall signs are permitted with a maximum combined surface of 25 square feet and are permitted on more than one wall only when each wall faces directly onto a public highway or where more than one wall has a public entrance to the building; service entrances at the rear of a building may have an identification sign not exceeding three square feet in area. No projecting wall signs shall be attached to a wall at a height of less than ten feet above the sidewalk or ground.

5-4-4. See section 10-4 for supplemental sign regulations.

5-5. - Area regulations.

5-5-1. For lots containing or intended to contain a single permitted use served by public water and sewer the minimum lot area shall be as follows:

(1)

Single-family and two-family dwellings shall conform with the area, width and frontage regulations of [the] R-2 residential district.

(2)

Townhouses shall conform to the regulations specified in section 3-2.

(3)

Multiple-family dwellings, other than townhouses, shall meet the following minimum lot area requirements plus 10,000 square feet for the first dwelling unit in the development:

Number
of Bedrooms
Plus Square Feet
Per Unit
Total Square Feet
One bedroom 1,200 11,200
Two bedrooms 1,400 11,400
Three bedrooms 1,800 11,800
Four bedrooms 2,000 12,000

 

5-5-2. Apartments and townhouses shall be served by public water and sewer.

5-5-3. Maximum lot coverage of all buildings shall be 50 percent or less.

5-6. - Setback regulations.

Buildings shall be located 35 feet or more from any street right-of-way which is 50 feet or greater in width, 60 feet or more from the centerline of any street right-of-way less than 50 feet in width. This shall be known as the setback line. No buildings shall be required to [be] set back from the street a distance greater than the setback line observed by the one or two existing buildings on the immediate adjoining lots on either side which is further removed from the street. Landscaping may be required for special exceptions within any established or required front setback area. The plans and execution must take into consideration traffic hazards.

5-7. - Frontage regulations.

The minimum lot width at the building line shall be 80 feet, plus ten feet for each additional permitted use. Lots and tracts of land must abut for a minimum of 25 feet upon a dedicated and approved street located within the town limits and maintained either by the town or the Virginia Department of Transportation.

5-8. - Yard regulations.

5-8-1. Single-family and two-family dwellings shall conform with the regulations for [the] R-2 residential district.

5-8-2. Townhouses shall conform to the requirements of subsection 10-3-2.

5-8-3. Multiple-family dwellings and other permitted uses shall have the following minimum yards:

Side. Each side yard shall be a minimum of 25 feet plus one foot for each foot of height over 25 feet.

Rear. Each main building shall have a minimum rear yard [of] 25 feet.

Interior. For dwelling groups, each multiple-family building shall be separated by 60 feet between facing living areas and 30 feet between exterior walls or corners of buildings placed at right angles (90 degrees) to one another. All interior yards shall be increased one foot for each additional foot of height over 25 feet.

5-9. - Height regulations.

5-9-1. Single-family and two-family dwellings shall comply with regulations for [the] R-2 residential district.

5-9-2. Townhouses shall comply with the regulations in subsection 10-3-2].

5-9-3. Multiple-family dwellings may be erected to a maximum height, from the first floor elevation of 35 feet.

5-9-4. Other buildings may be erected to a maximum height of 35 feet, except that:

(1)

Church spires, belfries, cupolas, monuments, municipal water towers, chimneys, flues, television antennaes, flagpoles, active solar collectors, wind generators and radio aerials are exempt. Parapet walls may be up to four feet above the height of the building on which the walls rest.

(2)

No accessory buildings shall be more than one story in height.

5-10. - Provisions for corner lots.

The side yard facing the side street shall be 35 feet or more from any street right-of-way which is 50 feet or greater in width, 60 feet or more from the center of any street right-of-way less than 50 feet in width. This shall be known as the side yard setback line.

5-11. - Screening regulations.

Screen planting shall be maintained for all uses in this R-3 [residential district], except for single-family and two-family dwellings, on all sides fronting on R-1 or R-2 residential districts.

5-12. - Site plan.

A detailed site plan will be required by the administrator for all uses prior to the issuance of a zoning permit unless otherwise provided for (see article 12 of this ordinance for an outline of site plan requirements).