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Lincoln City Zoning Code

ARTICLE IV

Dimensional Requirements

§ 260-21 Definitions.

The following words, terms and phrases, as used in this article, shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
AREA
Lot area. The minimum total area within the boundaries of a lot, excluding any street right-of-way, reported in square feet.
CVR
Maximum lot building coverage. That portion of the lot that is or may be covered by buildings, accessory buildings, and pools.
DISTRICT
The zoning district.
FAR
Maximum floor area ratio. The total floor area of the building divided by the total lot area. The total floor area does not include basements or floor area below the grade plane.
FRONT
Front setback. The minimum distance between the front lot line and a line parallel to the front lot line and is required for all lot lines separating the lot from a street right-of-way, reported in feet.
HEIGHT
Building height. The maximum vertical distance from the grade plane to the top of the highest point on the roof. This highest point excludes spires, chimneys, flagpoles and the like, which are regulated in § 260-28. The grade plane represents the average of finished ground level adjoining the building at all exterior walls. (See Article II, Definitions.)
REAR
Rear setback. The minimum distance between the rear lot line and a line parallel to the rear lot line, reported in feet.
SIDE
Side setback. The minimum distance between a side lot line and a line parallel to the side lot line, reported in feet.
USE
The primary use on the lot.
[Amended 3-18-2008 by Ord. No. 07-19]
WIDTH
Lot width. The minimum horizontal distance between the side lines of a lot measured at right angles to its depth along a straight line parallel to the front lot line at the minimum front setback line. In the case of a lot fronting on more than one street, the lot line with the shortest frontage on a street shall be the front lot line. Reported in feet.

§ 260-22 Residential districts.

[Amended 3-18-2008 by Ord. No. 07-19]
District
Use
Area
Width
Front
Rear
Side
Cover
Height
RA-40
Single-family
40,000
150
40
75
35
15%
35
Other use
40,000
150
40
75
35
15%
35
RS-20
Single-family
20,000
120
30
50
25
20%
35
Other use
20,000
120
30
50
25
20%
35
RS-12
Single-family
12,000
100
25
45
20+ (a)
20%
35
Other use
12,000
100
25
45
20+ (a)
20%
35
RL-9
Single-family
9,000
75
25
40
15+ (b)
25%
35
Two-family
12,000
100
25
40
15+ (b)
25%
35
*Affordable two-family
10,500
75
25
40
15+ (b)
25%
35
Other use
9,000
100
25
40
15+ (b)
25%
35
RG-7
Single-family
7,000
60
20
35
10+ (c)
25%
35
Two-family
8,500
70
20
35
10+ (c)
25%
35
Multifamily
7,000+ (d)
60+ (e)
20
35
10+ (c)
25%
45
*Affordable two-family
7,000
60
20
35
10+ (c)
25%
35
*Affordable three-family
8,500
70
20
35
10+ (c)
25%
45
Other use
7,000
60
20
35
35
25%
35
Legend:
(a)
Plus five feet for every 10 feet of building height over 25 feet.
(b)
Plus four feet for every 10 feet of building height over 25 feet.
(c)
Plus three feet for every 10 feet of building height over 25 feet.
(d)
Square feet plus 1,500 square feet for each family unit over one.
(e)
Plus 10 feet for each family unit over one.
*
To qualify for an affordable housing density bonus, a minimum of one unit must be classified as an affordable housing unit.

§ 260-23 Business and manufacturing districts.

District
Area
Width
Front
Rear
Side
FAR
Height
BL-0.5
10,000
100
25
25
25
0.5
50
ML-0.5
30,000
250
50
40
40
0.5
75
MG-0.5
40,000
250
50
40
40
0.5
75
Additional. BL use shall be at least 50 feet from residential or commercial recreation zoning boundary district. If this distance is not feasible or unduly burdensome, a suitable buffer may be substituted, subject to review by the Zoning Enforcement Officer. ML use shall be at least 100 feet from Residential or Commercial Recreation Zoning District. MG use shall be at least 100 feet from Residential or Commercial Recreation Zoning District.

§ 260-24 Commercial recreation districts.

[Amended 9-15-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-10]
District
Area
Width
Front
Rear
Side
Cover
Height
FAR
CR1
40,000
250
40
40
40
5.0%
25
0.050
CR2
40,000
250
75
75
40
8.5%
60
0.120
A. 
Additional. The following additional conditions shall apply in a CR2 Commercial Recreational District as set forth in that certain map or plan entitled "Lincoln Greyhound Park Proposed Zoning Amendments" which said map or plan is attached hereto, made a part hereof and incorporated herein by reference.[1]
(1) 
As presented on said map or plan, in Zone "A": Only commercial off-street parking as an accessory use and outdoor recreation by special use permit shall be allowed. Any and all other uses and accessory uses are specifically prohibited.
(2) 
As presented on said map or plan, in Zone "B": Permitted uses, uses allowed by special use permit and accessory uses shall be allowed except that gambling or gaming uses as set forth in § 260-13D are specifically excluded.
(3) 
As presented on said map or plan, in Zone "C": Permitted uses, uses allowed by special use permit and accessory uses shall be allowed.
[1]
Editor's Note: The Lincoln Greyhound Park Zoning Map is included at the end of this chapter.
B. 
CR2 use height restriction of 60 feet is an absolute restriction and there is not a height modification available under § 260-28.
C. 
All new buildings in commercial recreation districts are subject to development plan review. This review shall also consider:
(1) 
Shielding parking areas from the street and adjacent lots by use of natural elements.
(2) 
Maximizing the amount of land left in its natural state.

§ 260-25 Village commercial mixed use districts.

District
Use
Area
Width
Front
Rear
Side
Cover
Height
VCMU
Single-family
7,000
60
20
35
10+ (c)
25%
35
Two-family
8,500
70
20
35
10+ (c)
25%
35
Multifamily
7,000+ (a)
60+ (b)
20
35
10+ (c)
25%
35
*Affordable two-family
7000
60
20
35
10+ (c)
25%
35
*Affordable three-family
8,000
70
20
35
10+ (c)
25%
35
Other use
7,000
60
20
35
35
25%
35
Legend:
(a)
Square feet plus 1,500 square feet for each family unit over one.
(b)
Plus 10 feet for each family unit over one.
(c)
Plus three feet for every 10 feet of building height over 25 feet.
*
To qualify for an affordable housing density bonus, a minimum of one unit must be classified as an affordable housing unit.

§ 260-26 Corner lots, through lots, and irregular shaped lots.

A. 
Corner lots.
(1) 
The minimum front setback shall be the required setback on all lot lines separating a lot from a street right-of-way.
(2) 
The remaining setbacks shall be equal to half of the sum of the rear setback and side setback for that district.
B. 
Through lots.
(1) 
The minimum front setback shall be the required setback on the lot line with the shortest frontage on a street right-of-way separating a lot from a street right-of-way. In the case of a through lot that fronts on a developed and undeveloped street right-of-way, the front lot line shall be the lot line that separates the lot from the developed street right-of-way.
(2) 
The lot line opposite and most distant from the front lot line shall be the rear lot line. Any lot line other than a front or rear lot line shall be side lot lines (maximum of two side lot lines per lot), excluding irregular shaped through lots.
(3) 
Irregular shaped through lots shall have a front setback in accordance with Subsection B(1) of this section. The remaining lot lines shall have the minimum setback equal to the setback requirement of that common lot line on the adjacent lot.
C. 
Triangular lots.
(1) 
The front setback shall be the required minimum setback from the lot line separating a lot from a street right-of-way.
(2) 
The side setback shall meet the requirement for that district and run parallel to the side lot lines.
(3) 
The rear setback shall be defined as following a radius of the minimum rear setback requirement from the point of intersection of the side lot lines.
D. 
Irregular shaped lots.
(1) 
The front setback shall be the required minimum setback from all lot lines separating a lot from a street right-of-way.
(2) 
The remaining lot lines shall have a minimum setback equal to the setback requirement of that common lot line on the adjacent lot.

§ 260-27 Height modification.

A. 
Roof structures permitted above maximum height.
(1) 
The following roof structures are permitted above the maximum height as specified in the preceding tables, provided that the total area of all such structures is not more than 1/3 of the total roof area:
(a) 
Fire or parapet walls.
(b) 
Steeples.
(c) 
Structures for housing elevators and elevator shafts.
(d) 
Stairways.
(e) 
Skylights.
(f) 
Roof-mounted flagpoles, but shall not be more than 15 feet above the highest point on the roof.
(2) 
The following roof structures are permitted above the maximum height as specified in the preceding tables, provided that the total area of all such structures is not more than 1/3 of the total roof area, and that such structures shall be set back from the edge of the roof a minimum of one foot for every foot by which they extend above the roof:
(a) 
Heating and air-conditioning equipment.
(b) 
Ventilating fans.
(c) 
Chimneys or roof-mounted smokestacks, but shall not be more than 40 feet above the highest point on the roof.
(d) 
Solar collectors.
(e) 
Storage tanks for water.
(f) 
Residential use of television, radio or satellite dish antennas less than 1,200 square inches or masts, but shall not be more than 15 feet above the highest point on the roof.
(g) 
Other similar equipment required to operate and maintain a building.
B. 
Height restrictions for freestanding structures other than buildings.
(1) 
Silos for agricultural uses shall not exceed 75 feet in height. This height limit applies to both attached and freestanding silos.
(2) 
Freestanding flagpoles shall not exceed the height of any existing permitted principal building on the lot by more than 15 feet.
(3) 
Freestanding smokestacks.
(a) 
Are not permitted in residential or commercial recreation zones;
(b) 
Are not permitted on vacant lots;
(c) 
In BL, ML and MG Zones, shall not exceed a height of 40 feet over any permitted principal building on the lot.
(4) 
Freestanding television antennas, radio antennas, masts, satellite dishes and similar structures for residential use shall not exceed the height of any existing permitted principal building on the lot by more than 15 feet.
(5) 
Lights used to illuminate parking areas shall not exceed a mounting height of more than 20 feet in all districts.
(6) 
Freestanding telecommunications towers shall not exceed 150 feet.
(7) 
Where telecommunications antennas or related equipment intended for the receiving or transmitting of commercial telecommunication signals is attached to an existing structure, such facilities shall be exempt from the height limitations of this chapter, provided that such antennas or related equipment:
(a) 
Are not higher than 15 feet above the highest point of the structure;
(b) 
Comply with all applicable Federal Communications Commission and Federal Aviation Administration regulations; and
(c) 
Comply with all building codes and other applicable requirements.

§ 260-28 Yard exceptions.

The space between a lot line and the minimum front, side or rear setback shall be open and unobstructed, with the following exceptions:
A. 
Ordinary projections of windowsills, cornices and other ornamental features may extend up to one foot into the space between the required setbacks and the lot line.
B. 
In a residential district, a permitted accessory structure may be placed in an area bounded by the front yard and a line six feet from the side and rear lot lines. Such an accessory structure shall not exceed more than 15 feet in height, nor have an area greater than 500 square feet. Any larger accessory structure shall not be in the area between the lot lines and the setback lines, and shall not intrude into the front yard. The front yard is the area bounded by the street right-of-way, a line parallel to the street at the closest point of the building to the street right-of-way, and the side lot lines.
C. 
Landscape features such as trees, fences, shrubs, and terraces may be placed in any setback area. Such features are restricted by § 260-29.
D. 
Signs as permitted in Article VI, Signs, may be placed in any setback area. Such signs are restricted by § 260-29.
E. 
In BL, ML, and MG Districts, an outdoor telephone booth may be located in any setback area.
F. 
Handicapped access ramps may be located in any required setback area.
G. 
Swimming pools, in a residential district, must be in the rear yard of property. Pools can be placed a minimum of six feet off rear and side property lines. Pools or the yard area surrounding pools must be enclosed by a nonclimbable fence, which has a height of no less than six feet.

§ 260-29 Vision clearance at corners.

In all districts, at any street intersection, no building, structure or sign shall be erected and no vegetation shall be maintained above a height of three feet in the triangle formed by the two street lines and a third line joining points on the street lines 20 feet from the intersection. Poles not exceeding 12 inches in outside diameter, designed for the support of lights, utilities, and signs, may be erected in this triangle.

§ 260-30 Screening and fencing of refuse collection areas.

All commercial and manufacturing uses, and residential uses of four dwelling units or more, shall provide trash and/or garbage collection areas enclosed on at least three sides by a solid wall, opaque fence or compact planting screen of at least five feet in height, if such area is not within an enclosed building or structure. Such collection areas shall be kept clean and well maintained.