The following table provides descriptions of the character of each Z District (zoning district):

   TABLE 1

   ZONING DISTRICT DESCRIPTIONS

   A.   Z1 Agricultural District: Z1 Agricultural District primarily consists of agricultural land with related residential and scattered wetlands, woodlands, on and off street trails and 2-lane highways.

 

 

   B.   Z2 Sub-Urban District: Z2 Sub-Urban District primarily consists of detached, single family residential, open lawns, occasional corner store and/or corner office, neighborhood and community parks, greenways, on and off street trails, interconnected streets and multilane thoroughfares with sidewalks.

 

 

   C.   Z3 General Urban District: Z3 General Urban District consists of a mix of houses, townhomes, small, multiple-flat residential, small retail buildings, corner stores, home offices, neighborhood parks, playgrounds, miniparks, small surface parking lots and interconnected streets with sidewalks.

 

 

   D.   Z4 Multi-Use District: Z4 Multi-Use District consists of a mixture of retail, office, lodging and multi-family residential uses in a mixture of building types, sizes and assemblages with interconnected, landscaped surface parking lots and sidewalks, community greens, plazas, greenways, interconnected streets and multilane thoroughfares with sidewalks.

 

 

   E.   Z5 Central Business District: Z5 Central Business District consists of multi-story, mixed and single use commercial block buildings, townhouses, multiple-flat residential, lodging and civic buildings; predominantly attached buildings, parking garages, town squares, plazas, pocket parks and an interconnected street grid.

 

 

   F.   Z6 Industrial District: The purpose of the Z6 Industrial District is to promote the management and preservation of existing industrial facilities within Mason City as well as the development and management of new ecologically responsible, sustainable employment centers with interconnected streets and sidewalks.

 

 

   G.   Z7 Specific Use District: Z7 Specific Use District consists of specific, single uses including college campuses, hospitals and medical centers that primarily function independently from other districts. There are multiple Z7 Districts, reflecting different forms and functions.

 

 

(Ord. 10-003, 1-19-2010, eff. 7-1-2010; amd. 2017 Code)

The zoning form and function table (section 12-8-3, table 2 of this chapter) establishes the permitted and conditional forms and functions allowed in the Z Districts. If not specifically permitted or conditional, the form or function is prohibited in that Z District. New development associated with the allowed uses will be subject to the following review and approval process:

   A.   P - Permitted subject to administrative site plan compliance approval. This use is a permitted use within the appropriate zoning district. An applicant or developer should consult each zoning district to determine setback and building placement standards as well as chapters 16, "Zoning Standards", and 7, "Development Review Process", of this title.

   B.   P1 - Permitted subject to commission site plan compliance approval with notification to neighbors and public hearing. As part of this process, the applicant or developer will be required to meet the conditions and standards of chapter 7, "Development Review Process", of this title. An applicant or developer should consult each zoning district to determine setback and building placement standards as well as chapter 16, "Zoning Standards", of this title.

      1.   All owners of property within a three hundred fifty foot (350') radius shall be sent notice of the hearing by first class mail at least ten (10) days prior to the commission's hearing and at least one (1) public notice sign will be posted on the subject property.

      2.   Landowners will be given notice of the time and place of the commission's public hearing.

   C.   P2 - Permitted subject to commission and City Council site plan approval with notification to neighbors and commission public hearing. As a part of this process, the applicant or developer will be required to meet the conditions and standards of chapter 7, "Development Review Process", of this title. An applicant or developer should consult each zoning district to determine setback and building placement standards as well as with chapter 16, "Zoning Standards", of this title.

      1.   All owners of property within a three hundred fifty foot (350') radius shall be sent notice of the hearing by first class mail at least ten (10) days prior to the commission's hearing and at least one (1) public notice sign will be posted on the subject property.

      2.   Landowners will be given notice of the time and place of the commission's public hearing.

   D.   C - Conditional use, subject to board approval. Any landowner or his designated agent may file an application for a conditional use as provided for in this title in the zoning district in which the land is located. All applications must follow the provisions of chapter 5, "Zoning Board Of Adjustment", of this title. (Ord. 10-003, 1-19-2010, eff. 7-1-2010; amd. 2017 Code)

TABLE 2
ZONING FORM AND FUNCTION TABLE

 

 

(Ord. 19-9, 6-18-2019; amd. Ord. 20-10, 11-3-2020; Ord. 21-5, 6-1-2021; Ord. 22-3, 3-1-2022; Ord. 22-13, 11-15-2022)

   TABLE 3

   BUILDING DISPOSITION

   A.   Edge Yard: Types - freestanding house, mansion apartment, duplex/two-flat, multiple-flat, freestanding commercial/retail/service building, office, lodging, civic, civic support, educational, automotive, agricultural and industrial.

A building that generally occupies the interior of its lot with setbacks on all sides. For residential applications, the front yard is intended to be visually continuous with the yards of adjacent buildings. For nonresidential building types, the first tier (front lot) is comprised of landscaping and pedestrian pavements and, in some cases, limited accessory parking, while portions of the second tier (middle lot) and third tier (back lot) can be used for accessory surface parking.

   B.   Side Yard: Types - side yard/zero lot line house, duplex/two- flat, corner store or corner office, inn and hotel.

A building that occupies one (1) side of the lot with the setback to the other side. A shallow frontage setback defines a more urban condition. If the adjacent building is similar with a blank side wall, the yard can be quite private. If a side yard house abuts and shares an unpierced party wall with a neighboring side yard house, the type is known as a duplex. Energy costs are reduced by sharing a party wall in this disposition. For nonresidential building types, portions of the second tier and all of the third tier (back lot) can be used for accessory surface parking.

   C.   Split Yard: Types - duplex/two-flat, townhouse, commercial/retail/service and office buildings.

A building that occupies the boundaries of its lot from side to side leaving the front and rear of the lot as open yard. This is a more urban yard type, as it provides an open, landscaped frontage along the thoroughfare. For residential applications, the front yard is intended to be visually continuous with the yards of adjacent buildings. The rear yard can be secured for privacy by combinations of plantings, fences and accessory structures. For commercial applications, it provides a greener, landscaped frontage with opportunities for outdoor patio seating and dining, and accessory surface parking within the third tier.

   D.   Rear Yard: Types - townhouse, live/work building, multiple- flat, mixed use block building, commercial/retail/service, office and civic buildings.

A building that occupies the full frontage, leaving the rear of the lot as the sole yard; however, traditional downtown buildings may occupy the entire lot. This is a very urban type as the continuous facade steadily defines the public thoroughfare. The front facade may be articulated for functional purposes such as recess entries or window bays. In its residential form, the rear of the building includes a garage (attached or detached) as in the row house. For its commercial form, the third tier can be used for accessory surface parking.

(Ord. 10-003, 1-19-2010, eff. 7-1-2010; amd. 2017 Code)

   A.   Off Street Parking: Off street parking shall be provided as outlined in table 4 of this section for all new development, or for all changes in function or major improvement or expansion that results in an increase in occupant load or gross floor area resulting in additional required parking. (Ord. 13-13, 4-2-2013)

   TABLE 4

   REQUIRED PARKING TABLE

 

Notes:

   1.    For office and retail functions, parking requirements are expressed as maximums.

   2.    The larger dimension shall be applied for nonresidential uses abutting residential uses.

(Ord. 15-10, 9-15-2015; amd. 2017 Code)

   B.   Shared Parking: Minimum or maximum effective parking in a development with two (2) or more distinct forms or functions shall be determined utilizing the appropriate shared parking factor in table 5 of this section.

      TABLE 5

      SHARED PARKING FACTOR

 

 

A 20,000 square foot mixed use building in the Z4 District has 10,000 square feet of office on the upper floor and 10,000 square feet of retail at street level. Follow the steps below to determine the amount of parking and subsequent efficiency resulting from sharing.

Step 1: Locate site's district and function from table 4, "Required Parking Table", of this section.

      TABLE 4

      REQUIRED PARKING TABLE