Planned unit developments, patio houses, and cluster developments are recognized as being desirable for the conservation and more efficient use of open space, utilities, energy, and public services than the conventional pattern of land development. In the best interest of the long-range development plans of the city, therefore, the planning commission is hereby empowered to make certain modifications to the provisions of this ordinance in order to encourage new and innovative approaches to land development. Such modifications shall permit flexibility of design and construction and provide for ways to enclose outdoor space as a useful extension of living areas in a manner consistent with the preservation of property values within established areas but shall not permit structures of use of land that might endanger health, safety, or natural drainage.

Any request for the establishment of a Planned Unit Development (PUD), or for the design of a patio house or cluster development that does not meet all of the requirements of this ordinance shall be considered an amendment and shall be administered and processed in accordance with the procedure set forth in Article XIII, Section 13.02.

To assure developments of the quality desired by the city, to establish an optimum living environment between indoor and outdoor living, and to provide for good design and use of proper materials in the structures and landscape design, the professional talents of state registered architects and/or landscape architects should be utilized in the design of PUDs, patio houses, and cluster developments.

10.031. Definitions.

(a)

Townhouse. A single-family dwelling unit which is part of a group of such units separated by common sidewalls, where each unit is on an individual fee-simple lot and shares up to two common sidewalls from ground to roof.

(b)

Townhouse project site. The entire parcel(s) of land for which individual townhouse units are proposed prior to the creation of any townhouse lots.

(c)

Townhouse development. A parcel of land on which is constructed twenty-five (25) or more townhouse dwellings, with each unit on its own fee-simple lot.

10.032. Design.

(a)

Not more than six townhouses can constitute a building.

(b)

Townhouses in a group shall be varied by materials, design, and/or setback so that no more than three dwelling units in a group will have the same or essentially the same architectural treatment.

(c)

Each townhouse project site must have a frontage on a public street.

10.033. Area, width, and yard regulations.

(a)

Dwelling-unit lot. When townhouse dwelling-units occupy their own lot, each townhouse dwelling-unit lot must be at least twenty (20) feet wide. Any townhouse development areas not included as part of a townhouse dwelling lot must be owned by a mandatory' homeowner association (or non-owner occupied equivalent).

(b)

Dwelling units per acre. There may be no more than twelve (12) dwelling-units per acre for any townhouse development, calculated based on the total townhouse project site. When a development contains other residential uses, this maximum density applies to the sum of all residential uses.

(c)

Front yard.

a.

A townhouse dwelling must be set back at least twenty-five (25) feet from a front property line, unless the zoning district in which it is located permits a lesser distance.

b.

Townhouses may be arranged to face onto a common-area. Such a common-area shall be provided for unobstructed access of emergency vehicles. With such an arrangement, the front yard requirement as part of the individual townhouse lot may be reduced to ten (10) feet.

(d)

Side yards. A townhouse dwelling unit must maintain a side yard setback of at least ten (10) feet on any side not attached to an adjacent townhouse dwelling unit.

(e)

Rear yard. A townhouse dwelling must be set back at least twenty (20) feet from a rear lot line.

10.034. Internal street standards.

(a)

Sidewalks are required on any side of an internal street that contains dwellings and/or connects to amenities and common-areas.

(b)

At least two points of vehicular access must be provided to streets external to the townhouse development.

(c)

Street connections or future street connections must be provided to adjacent properties likely to develop or redevelop.

(d)

Minor streets with twenty-two-foot road pavement must have signage indicating that on-street parking is prohibited.

10.035. Off-street parking.

(a)

Two off-street parking spaces shall be provided for each unit. These spaces can be in a garage, carport, or driveway accessed from the front or rear of the unit.

(b)

One additional space per every five units shall be provided for overflow off-street parking.

10.036. Utilities.

(a)

Public water and public sewer system connections are required for all townhouse dwelling uses.

(b)

Each dwelling unit of a townhouse dwelling must be metered separately. Each electricity meter, natural gas meter, and water meter must measure the delivery of utility service to no more than one dwelling unit of a townhouse dwelling.

(c)

All electrical, cable, and other utility lines in a town house development shall be placed underground.

10.037. Maintenance of common areas and amenities.

(a)

Common areas and amenities. A minimum of fifteen (15) percent of the site to be developed for townhouses shall be provided as common open space. Fifty (50) percent of the space shall be landscaped and well maintained with grass, trees and shrubbery. The remaining fifty (50) percent may be constructed as swimming pools, courts, activity areas, pedestrian walks, entrance features, recreation buildings, maintenance buildings for the common-areas, and other recreational uses.

(b)

Maintenance. A mandatory homeowner association (or non-owner occupied equivalent) is required and is responsible for owning, maintaining, and insuring amenity space and other common-areas. When provided, any homeowner association must include an affirmative declaration to be governed by the "Georgia Property Owners' Association Act" (POA) and the applicable previsions of O.C.G.A. § 44-3-220 et seq. Any association must annually assess each property owner an amount sufficient to maintain and replace infrastructure, as necessary. The association or equivalent is responsible for all repair, maintenance, operation, and management of private infrastructure, including roads, stormwater infrastructure, shared wastewater infrastructure, and required open space, as applicable. The association must also provide that the covenants automatically renew at the end of the 20-year term, unless 100 percent of the owners at that time vote that the covenants should not renew.

(Ord. of 12-9-25 § 2)