This district is composed of those areas of the township whose principal use is and ought to be rural density single-family residential and/or farming. The regulations of this district are designed to allow low density residential land use as well as to conserve, stabilize, enhance, and develop farming and related resource utilization activities, to minimize conflicting uses of parcels, lots, buildings and structures detrimental to or incompatible with these activities, and to prohibit uses of parcels, lots, buildings, and structures which require streets, drainage, and other public facilities, and services of a different type and quantity than those normally required by these activities. The district, in preserving areas for agricultural uses, is also designed to prevent proliferation of residential subdivision and urban sprawl.

(Ord. of 7-22-2013, § 12.01; Ord. of 6-4-2014, § 12.01)

The following buildings and structures and uses of parcels, lots, buildings, and structures are permitted in this district:

(1)

A single-family dwelling.

(2)

An open space development where a minimum of 50 percent of the total buildable area is permanently preserved as dedicated open space in accordance with sections 36-718 and 36-726 and density does not exceed the standards set forth in section 36-718(e)(1).

(3)

Farms and farming operations including a riding academy or stable.

(4)

A parcel may be used for the maintenance of animals, not as part of a farm or farm operation and not for the purpose of commercial production of farm products, but incidental to the use of a parcel principally for single-family residential purposes and further subject to the following standards:

a.

The following standards establish the number of non-farm animals permitted.

1.

One horse (equine) or cow (bovine), or three pigs or hogs (swine), or six sheep or goats (ovine) or similar animal shall be permitted for each one acre.

2.

Poultry, rabbits, and similar animals may be kept in addition to the animals noted above. All setback, fencing, and maintenance standards found below apply.

b.

There shall be adequate fencing, or other restraining device, for the purpose of maintaining animals. Fencing for animal pens including fencing for chicken coops shall meet the required setbacks of this district.

c.

Structures housing animals shall meet all required setbacks of this district.

d.

The refuse and wastes resulting from the maintenance of animals shall be controlled upon the premises, and shall be cared for or disposed of within a reasonable time so as to minimize hazards of health and offensive effects upon neighboring people and uses.

e.

All feed and other substances and materials on the premises for the maintenance of animals shall be stored so as to not attract rats, mice or other vermin.

(5)

A parcel may be used for the raising or growing of plants, trees, shrubs and nursery stock. Any building or structure located on a parcel used for such purpose shall be secondary and incidental for such raising or growing of such products and may be used only for the storage of equipment and materials necessary for such raising or growing on such site or on parcels under the same ownership used for the same purpose. Unless in conformance with section 36-157(18); no retail sales of products shall take place on the site. Landscape supply yards and/or contracting facilities and storage yards shall not be allowed as part of such operation. Trucks, trailers, or other equipment not used for such on site operation shall not be allowed.

(6)

Pick your own agricultural products including berries and similar products.

(7)

Farm market/roadside stand.

(8)

Public and private recreation areas, such as forest preserves, game refuges, recreation parks and reservations, and similar public and private use of low intensity use.

(9)

Public and private conservation areas and structures for the development, protection, and conservation of open space, watersheds, water, soil, forest, and wildlife resources.

(10)

A parcel may be used for the growing, stripping, and removal there from of sod provided that said lot or portion thereof shall be reseeded after stripping by Fall of the year in which it was stripped so as to prevent actual or potential erosion by water or wind.

(11)

Distribution lines and structures of essential services, not including buildings, when located within an existing public or utility right-of-way and repeater buildings of a telephone utility company when location is approved by the township planning commission.

(12)

A sign, only in accordance with the regulations specified in article XXVI of this chapter.

(13)

An accessory use, building, or structure.

(14)

A two-family dwelling.

(15)

Home occupation.

(16)

Family child care homes, adult foster care family homes, foster family homes and foster family group homes.

(Ord. of 7-22-2013, § 12.02; Ord. of 5-14-2014(1); Ord. of 6-4-2014, § 12.02)

The following buildings and structures and uses of parcels, lots, buildings, and structures are permitted in this district subject to obtaining a conditional use permit as provided in article XXVII of this chapter:

(1)

An open space development where less than 50 percent of the total buildable area is permanently preserved as dedicated open space in accordance with sections 36-718 and 36-726 or density exceeds the standards set forth in section 36-718(e)(1).

(2)

The removal of soil, sand, gravel, and other materials. See section 36-700.

(3)

A public or private park, camping ground, golf course, golf driving range, club, hunting lodge, garden nursery, commercial greenhouse, and livestock auction yard subject to the following:

a.

No building shall be located within 100 feet of any property line.

b.

Facilities such as licensed restaurants and bars may be permitted when occupying an integral part of the main structure.

c.

Golf fairways, swimming pools, tennis courts, and similar uses shall be located not less than 35 feet from any property line.

(4)

A community or governmental building.

(5)

An airport.

(6)

A sanitary land fill site.

(7)

A public or private nursery school, primary or secondary school, business school, college, and university.

(8)

A hospital, nursing home, or sanitarium.

(9)

A church, synagogue, cathedral, mosque, temple, or other building used for public worship or a cemetery.

(10)

A veterinarian or animal clinic and kennels.

(11)

Essential services, as provided for in section 36-65.

(12)

Farm labor housing as an accessory use to a farm comply with all state, county, and local health, building, and zoning regulations.

(13)

A public utility structure and rights-of-way or easement.

(14)

A radio and television broadcasting and receiving antenna.

(15)

A woodworking shop involved in the making of cabinets, furniture, and similar products from wood, but not including a sawmill.

(16)

Landscape nurseries, greenhouses, and landscaping businesses with retail facilities may be permitted where the nature of the business will not negatively impact adjacent nonagricultural uses, and provided the business does not pose an environmental hazard. Landscaping businesses may include operations necessary to install and maintain plant materials off site, including storage of trucks for transportation of plants, soils, and other landscaping materials. Such equipment may consist of trucks not exceeding 12 yards capacity, flatbed trailers only for hauling small equipment and necessary landscape products, and other necessary equipment such as tractors, skid loaders small front end loaders, and tree moving equipment. In addition, a landscaping/nursery operation may include other decorative manmade materials such as wood chips, crushed stone, boulders, or mulch. Structural features such as fountains, garden pools, statues, and benches shall also be considered part of a landscaping operation, but only if provided in combination with live plant material. Artificial plant materials shall not be counted toward meeting the requirements for landscaping. Construction equipment or road maintenance equipment is not considered to be a part of nursery and/or landscaping operations. The following regulations shall apply to all landscape nurseries and landscape businesses the AR district:

a.

The following yard and setback requirements shall apply:

1.

Lot area. Not less than ten acres in area.

2.

Lot width. Not less than 300 feet in width.

3.

Front yard setback. 85 feet.

4.

Side yard setback. Each side yard setback shall not be less than 50 feet, except in the case of a corner lot, where the side yard on the road or street side shall not be less than 60 feet.

5.

Rear yard setback. Not less than 50 feet.

b.

A permanent vegetative buffer with a minimum width of 20 feet shall be established around the periphery of the landscaping operation. Such vegetative buffer shall be completed before the date of issuance of a certificate of occupancy and shall thereafter be maintained with permanent plant materials. See section 36-706 for planting materials.

(17)

Gun clubs, subject to the following:

a.

Individual ranges, areas containing more than one range, or the entire property shall be enclosed with a minimum six-foot chainlink fence with two strands of barbed wire stretched on arms sloping inward from the top of the fence. Range fencing shall enclose the range proper, backstop, side walls, or greenbelt, shotfall area for shotgun ranges, firing line, ready areas, and any other area in which a person might unwittingly subject himself to reasonable hazard.

b.

No-trespassing or danger signs designating the hazard, not less than two square feet nor more than four square feet in area and spaced not more than 200 feet apart, shall be posted on the upper portion of the fence enclosing the range. The sign shall also be posted at each gate and other entry.

c.

Trap, skeet or other shotgun ranges shall be placed such that the firing positions are not less than 900 feet from the nearest property line in the direction of fire. No backstop is required for such shotgun ranges.

d.

All outdoor pistol and rifle ranges shall be provided with a secondary backstop and a primary bulletstop immediately behind the target line. The primary bulletstop shall consist of inclined steel plates with sand pits, or heavy timbers backed with earth. The steel plates shall be backed with sand or other sound deadening material. The secondary backstop shall be constructed of earth and shall be of sufficient height to subtend an angle of not less than six degrees above the horizontal when viewed from the firing line, and shall be equal to or greater than its distance from the firing line plus the width of the firing line. This backstop may be a natural rise of ground if free of stone and exposed rock and lying entirely within the fenced area. Alternative construction affording equivalent protection and noise reduction may be allowed on petition to the planning commission.

e.

In addition to the primary and secondary backstops, all outdoor pistol and rifle ranges shall be enclosed on the remaining three sides by a dense greenbelt of bushes, brush or trees not less than ten feet in height and not less than 200 feet in width. As an alternative to the greenbelt, an earthwork may be constructed such that the top of the earthwork subtends an angle on not less than six degrees from the horizontal when viewed from any point on the firing line, or not less than ten feet in height, whichever is greater. In case of the earthwork, the 200 feet distance between the firing line and the property line shall be maintained. Alternative construction affording equivalent protection and noise reduction may be allowed on petition to the planning commission.

f.

Indoor firing ranges shall be constructed in such a manner as to provide sound reduction and to prevent stray shots from leaving the range area in hazardous directions. In this interest all construction plans for initial construction, major alteration and subsequent new construction shall be approved by the planning commission and building inspection department.

(18)

Bulk feed and fertilizer outlets.

(19)

Bed and breakfast operations.

(20)

Sawmills.

(21)

Commercial communications apparatus subject to the provisions of section 36-720.

(22)

Agriculture/tourism business, subject to the provisions of section 36-730.

(23)

Group child care homes.

(24)

Marihuana establishments and facilities, subject to the standards of section 36-738, including:

a.

Growers, excluding Medical Class C, Recreational Class C, and Medical Class B.

(Ord. of 7-22-2013, § 12.03; Ord. of 5-14-2014(1); Ord. of 6-4-2014, § 12.03; Ord. No. 19-66, § C, 11-12-2019)

The following regulations shall apply in all AR—Agriculture Districts:

(1)

Lot area. No building or structure shall be established on any lot less than five acres in area.

(2)

Lot width. The minimum lot width shall be 150 feet.

(3)

Lot coverage. The maximum lot coverage shall not exceed ten percent.

(4)

Yard and setback requirements.

a.

Front yard. Not less than 50 feet from the right-of-way line.

b.

Side yards. Least width of either yard shall not be less than 30 feet; except in the case of a corner lot where the side yard on the road or street side shall not be less than 60 feet.

c.

Rear yard. Not less than 50 feet.

The requirements of this subsection (4) shall apply to every lot, building, or structure.

(5)

Height. Except as otherwise provided in article IV of this chapter, the following height requirements shall apply in this district:

a.

No dwelling or non-farm building or structure shall exceed a height of three stories or 40 feet.

b.

No general and specialized farm buildings and structures shall exceed a height of 75 feet.

(6)

Required off-street parking. As required in article XXV of this chapter.

(7)

Performance standards. As required in article XXIV of this chapter.

(8)

Preservation of environmental quality. As specified in section 36-704.

(9)

Supplemental regulations. As required in article XXIV of this chapter.

(Ord. of 7-22-2013, § 12.04; Ord. of 6-4-2014, § 12.04)