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Oakland City Zoning Code

§ 59-51

RA-MD-1 Multiple-Family Residence Zone.

[Added 9-21-1983 by Ord. No. 83-Code-990; amended 11-1-1989 by Ord. No. 89-Code-171]
A. 
Principal uses and building permitted:
(1) 
Multiple-family dwellings, which may be one building or a group of buildings on a single lot, provided that no multiple-family dwelling or dwellings may be erected on a lot of less than four acres.
(2) 
All uses permitted in the RA-1, RA-2 and RA-3 Residential Zones.
B. 
Accessory uses and buildings permitted and required in the RA-1 and RA-2 Residential Zones.
C. 
Design and construction requirements.
(1) 
Sewers. No multiple dwelling structures may be constructed unless such structures can be connected to an available public sewer system or a package sewer treatment plant that has received the necessary approvals of the proper agencies.
(2) 
Building coverage. Multiple dwelling units shall not cover more than 15% of the area of the lot upon which they are constructed.
(3) 
Parking. Sufficient parking shall be provided for all multiple dwelling structures so as to provide two off-street parking spaces for each dwelling unit. Each garage space may be counted as an off-street parking space. All garage facilities shall be under lock and key and accessible only to occupants of the specific building in which they are located. No exterior clotheshanging, washing and/or drying facilities shall be permitted.
(4) 
Site lighting. Interior roads, driveways, private thorough-fares, parking areas, building entranceways and pedestrian walks shall be provided with sufficient illumination to minimize hazards to pedestrians and motor vehicles utilizing the same and shall, where necessary, be shielded to avoid glare to occupants of buildings and adjoining areas. Lighting shall be so arranged as to reflect away from any adjoining properties.
(5) 
Television antennas. No external television antennas shall be permitted.
(6) 
Relationship of buildings. The distance between all buildings housing multiple-dwelling units shall not be less than 30 feet. Where possible, the design layout of the proposed multiple-dwelling building units shall be such that the front of one structure does not face the rear of another structure. Buildings shall also be designed to take advantage of the natural terrain. The front facade and all setbacks of any structure shall be varied to maintain a deviation of set offs between adjacent units.
(7) 
No building containing multiple-dwelling units shall be closer to any public road than 30 feet.
(8) 
Landscaping. All outdoor areas shall be suitably landscaped, and interior roads, driveways, private thorough-fares, parking areas and pedestrian walks shall be provided with shade trees which are of appropriate size and character as shall be approved by the Shade Tree Commission. Open space adjacent to buildings and border strips along the sides of pedestrian walks shall be graded and seeded to provide a solid patch of grass or other plant material. Approaches to multiple-dwelling structures and entrance areas shall be provided with trees and attractively shrubbed. Areas not used for buildings, terraces, driveways and parking spaces shall be planted with an all-season ground cover and shall be landscaped in accordance with an overall plan and in keeping with the natural surroundings. A buffer area of at least 50 feet in width shall be provided along any one-family-residential-boundary-line zone. Within any such buffer area, no building, structures or loading areas or other use of the land shall be permitted, except that the Planning Board may permit driveway, parking and access to streets, walks or driveways therein, if necessary, but in no case less than 25 feet from any adjoining lot line. Any such buffer area, if wooded, shall remain undisturbed or otherwise effectively planned to screen the development from surrounding uses.
(9) 
Prohibited uses. All uses, other than strictly residential uses, are prohibited.
(10) 
Building size and density. No more than eight multiple-dwelling units shall be contained in any one building. Multiple-dwelling units shall be constructed at a density of not greater than 14 units per acre.
(11) 
Unit size. The maximum floor space for each dwelling unit shall be 850 square feet. Each unit shall contain a complete kitchen, toilet facilities, bathing and washing facilities and shall be soundproofed against noise from other occupants residing in the building. All dwelling units shall be one-bedroom units.
(12) 
Garbage facilities. Exterior garbage containers shall be so located as to efficiently service all apartments, but shall be clustered so as to have a minimum number of areas. All such areas shall be provided with sufficient screening on all sides by wood or other similar material so as to prevent access to the same by animals, which said screen shall be at least six feet in height and designated so as to harmonize with the other architectural elements on the site. Garbage containers shall be a minimum of 25 feet away from all property lines.
(13) 
Multiple-dwelling units shall be limited to first and/or second floors. No structure shall exceed two occupied stories in height or 28 feet, excluding basements and/or cellars which shall be for storage or utilities only.
(14) 
Architecture and construction. The architecture employed shall not be aesthetically incongruous with the surrounding area. The exterior of accessory structures shall harmonize architecturally with and be constructed of materials of a like character to those used in other principal structures.
(15) 
Air-conditioning. Air-conditioning unit space shall be integrated into the structure and shall not be placed in window casements.
(16) 
Electrical and related utilities. All electrical, telephone and cable utilities shall be placed underground.
(17) 
Metering. All external water- and gas-metering devices shall be placed at the rear of the building.
(18) 
Cable television facilities. Central cable television facilities shall be made available, and the installation of cable lines to structures shall be the responsibility of the developer.
(19) 
External decks or balconies shall have fully enclosed opaque railings.
(20) 
Maximum impervious coverage shall not exceed 40%.
[Added 7-23-2008 by Ord. No. 08-Code-572]