The Multifamily Residential District is intended to provide for medium to higher density residential development. This district functions as a buffer or transition between major streets, non-residential areas, or higher density residential areas and lower density residential areas. Density in this district does not ordinarily exceed fifteen (15) units per gross acre but can reach a maximum of twenty-five (25) units per gross acre if special fire protection requirements are observed (see Section 15.8).

A building or premise shall be used only for the following purposes:

The following specific uses shall be permitted when granted in accordance with Section 25:

Minimum lot area shall be the equivalent of two (2) times the total floor area of the building, but not less than the following: five thousand (5,000) square feet for a two-family dwelling and nine thousand (9,000) square feet for a multiple-family dwelling.

Minimum lot width shall be sixty (60) feet for a two-family dwelling, seventy-five (75) feet for a multiple-family dwelling.

Minimum front yard shall be fifteen (15) feet. Minimum rear yard depth shall be fifteen (15) feet.

Minimum side yard width shall be the equivalent of one (1) foot for each three (3) feet or fraction thereof of building height, except that no side yard shall be less than five (5) feet wide for any residential use nor less than twenty-five (25) feet wide for any school or church.

When buildings exceed one (1) story in height, an automatic sprinkler system shall be installed in accordance with existing fire codes and each unit shall have two (2) points of entry or exit.

Two and one-half (2.5) off-street parking spaces shall be provided per unit. Required parking may not be provided within the required front yard. Other off-street parking spaces regulations are set forth in Section 20.

Every dwelling unit in a multifamily complex shall be located within two hundred fifty (250) feet of a refuse facility, measured along the designated pedestrian and vehicular travel way. There shall be available at all times at least six (6) cubic yards of refuse container per thirty (30) multifamily dwelling units. For complexes with less than thirty (30) units, no less than four (4) cubic yards of refuse container shall be provided. Each refuse facility shall be screened from view on three (3) sides from persons standing at ground level on the site or immediately adjoining property, by an opaque fence or wall of wood or masonry not less than six (6) feet nor more than eight (8) feet in height or by an enclosure within a building. Refuse containers shall be provided and maintained in a manner to satisfy city public health and sanitary regulations. Each refuse facility shall be located so as to provide safe and convenient pickup by refuse collection agencies.

Border fencing of wood or masonry of not less than six (6) feet in height nor more than eight (8) feet in height shall be installed by the builder at the time of construction of any multifamily complex, along the property line on any perimeter not abutting a public street or right-of-way. This fence shall be maintained throughout the existence of the multifamily complex by the owner of the complex.

Whenever densities of greater than fifteen (15) units per acre are present, each building in the development shall contain an automatic sprinkler system to be installed at the time of construction, and thereafter operated in accordance with currently applicable fire safety codes.

In addition, each unit in any multi-story design, regardless of density, shall be provided with two (2) points of entry and exit with each providing separate access to places of safety in the event of fire or other emergency.