Polk City City Zoning Code

   Agricultural Districts are intended and designed to preserve agricultural areas, primarily located on the fringe of the developed areas, until such time as these areas are rezoned in conformance with the Comprehensive Plan for development. In addition, land designated as conservation reserve or open space on the Comprehensive Plan should be retained in the A-1 District to prevent premature or inappropriate development. It is intended that the district shall not be used indiscriminately to permit any use that could potentially be detrimental to the public health, welfare, and safety of the community. No temporary buildings, trailers, tents, portable or potentially portable structures shall be used for dwelling purposes.

   1.   A-1 Agricultural District. The A-1 District is intended and designed to provide and preserve the agricultural and rural use of land until such time as these areas are rezoned in conformance with the Comprehensive Plan for development.

   2.   Principal Permitted Uses. Principal permitted uses for agricultural districts are as follows:

 

      A.   Animal Production.

         (1)   Animal feedlots are permitted for concentrated feeding of animals within a confined area.

         (2)   No more than one animal will be permitted for every three acres of property that is available for animal production, up to a maximum of 200 total head of animals.

         (3)   No animals, animal feedlots or buildings quartering animals shall be located within 1,000 feet of any residential or commercial zoning district.

         (4)   No feedlots or building in which animals are quartered shall be located closer than 200 feet to any pre-existing dwelling, church, school or place of business on abutting property.

         (5)   No feeding of garbage or offal to swine or other animals shall be permitted.

      B.   Roadside Stands.

         (1)   Roadside stands are seasonal structures that are temporary in nature and are less than 200 square feet in size. Nurseries and garden centers are not considered roadside stands.

         (2)   Roadside stands may have one non-lighted sign on the premises not to exceed 48 square feet in area. The sign shall not be placed in public right-of-way.

         (3)   Roadside stands shall require P & Z and Council approval of a temporary site plan.

         (4)   Roadside stands shall require a peddler’s permit, if applicable.

   4.   Accessory Uses. The following accessory uses are permitted in agricultural zoning districts:

      A.   Customary accessory uses and structures incidental to the permitted principal uses.

      B.   Agricultural accessory buildings and structures to house agricultural equipment or permitted livestock, excluding buildings and structures used for animal confinement, subject to the following:

         (1)   Minimum setback for any agricultural accessory building or structure shall be at least 25 feet from all property lines.

         (2)   Pole buildings are permitted for agricultural accessory buildings.

      C.   Private garage or carport.

      D.   The home office of a physician, dentist, artist, attorney, architect, engineer, teacher, or other member of a recognized profession, in said person’s bona fide and primary residence; provided that not more than one assistant shall be regularly employed therein and no colleagues or associates shall use such office and not more than one half the area of one floor shall be used for such office. It is not the intention of this paragraph to include dance studios, music studios, beauty parlors or barber shops, or uses usually referred to as customary home occupations.

      E.   The taking of boarders or the leasing of rooms by a resident family, provided the total number of boarders and roomers does not exceed two per building.

      F.   Temporary buildings for uses incidental to construction work, which buildings shall be removed upon the completion or abandonment of the construction work.

   5.   Accessory Structures. Accessory structures may be constructed in agricultural lots as permitted in Section 165.06 of this chapter.

   6.   Site Development Regulations.

 

   7.   Platting.

      A.   Plats of Subdivision shall not be approved in the A-1 zoning district.

      B.   Plats of Survey submitted in accordance with Chapter 170 may be approved provided there shall be no more than one split of land, whether said splits are simultaneous or consecutive. Further splitting of land shall require a Plat of Subdivision and are not permitted in the A-1 District.

   8.   Off-Street Parking. Off-Street parking shall be provided as required by Section 165.18 for all agricultural districts.

   9.   Site Plans. Site plans shall be required for all uses in all agricultural districts except single family and two-family residential dwellings and agricultural uses. See Chapter 157 for Site Plan requirements.

   10.   All territory which is annexed to the City shall be considered as lying within the A-1 Agricultural District until such classification has been changed by amendment in accordance with the provisions of this Zoning Ordinance.

   11.   Exceptions. See Section 165.16 for exceptions to the agricultural zoning district regulations.