The regulations and districts as herein established have been prepared in consonance with the Comprehensive Plan. The regulations are designed to lessen the congestion in the streets; to secure safety from fire, panic and other dangers; to insure adequate light and air; to prevent the overcrowding of land, to avoid undue concentration of population; to facilitate the adequate provision of transportation, circulation, water, sewerage, schools, parks, and other public requirements. They have been made with reasonable consideration, among other things for the character of the district, and its peculiar suitability for the particular uses specified; and with a view to conserving the value of buildings and encouraging the most appropriate use of land through the City.

Zoning Districts are designated for defining use districts on the Zoning District Map. The use, height, and area regulations for these Districts, as set out in Articles 6 and 7 herein, are uniform in each district. The districts established herein shall be known as:

This District is intended to provide a location for principally undeveloped land situated on the fringe of an urban area and used for agricultural purposes, but may become an urban area in the future. Generally, the “AG”, Agricultural District, will be near development; therefore, any agricultural activities conducted in the District, should not be detrimental to urban land uses. The types and intensity of uses permitted in this District shall encourage and protect agricultural uses until urbanization is warranted and the appropriate change in district classification is made.

The “RE”, Residential Estate Zoning District is designed to promote and encourage a suitable environment for family life on approximately one-half acre and larger parcels of land used only for suburban style single-family homes and their community services and facilities.

This District is considered to be the proper zoning classification for large lot developments, 12,000 square feet or greater, for single-family dwelling use. The District is intended to be composed of single-family dwellings, together with public schools, churches, parks, drainage facilities and access required by the allowed density.

The R-2 District is slightly less restrictive than the RE or R-1 Districts by allowing lots of 10,000 square feet or greater. The principal use of the land is for single-family dwellings and related recreational, religious and educational facilities normally required to provide an orderly and attractive residential area.

The R-3 Single-Family Residential District is designed to provide for a suitable residential environment for single-family residents on parcels of land of 8,400 square feet or larger.

The R-4 District is intended for single-family residential use having a minimum area of 7,200 square feet.

This Apartment Dwelling District is intended to be comprised of attached dwellings for two or more families with a maximum density of eighteen (18) dwelling units per acre.

The C-1 Commercial District provides for retail types of land uses to be located in appropriate areas serving a neighborhood or several neighborhoods and designed as a retail center. Uses are contained wholly within a building or structure.

The HO Highway Oriented District provides for office, retail, and limited service uses to be placed in districts adjacent to IH 35E to service local and regional needs.

The C-2 District concentrates business, warehouse and service activities not normally located within retail service centers. Uses may have incidental open storage or outside sales of merchandise.

The I - Industrial District provides for a wide range of commercial and industrial uses, all of which should be comparatively nuisance-free. The District specifically excludes residences on the basis that the mixture of residential use and public services and facilities for residences with those for industry is contrary to the purpose of these regulations.

The Planned Development District is intended to provide for integrating uses allowed in various districts with appropriate regulations, and to permit greater flexibility in the use and design of land and buildings on sites where modification of specific provisions of this Code is not contrary to its intent and purpose of the Comprehensive Plan and will not be harmful to the surrounding neighborhood.

The Ranchette Estate District is designed to promote and encourage a suitable environment for family life on approximately three-quarter (3/4) acre and larger parcels of land used only for suburban style single-family homes, with related equestrian, livestock and agricultural uses and their community services and facilities.

This Prefix provides regulations for use of land in designated floodplain areas as shown on FEMA mapping.

Adoption.

The boundaries of zoning districts set out herein are delineated upon a zoning map of the City, adopted as part of this Ordinance as fully as if the same were set forth herein in detail in Appendix C to Ordinance 21-052, which is incorporated herein and, dated as effective from the date of its adoption herein.

One original of the Zoning Map shall be filed in the office of the City Secretary and labeled as “Exhibit “A.” This copy shall be the official Zoning Map and shall bear the signature of the Mayor and attestation of the City Secretary. This copy shall not be changed in any manner. In case of any question, this copy, together with amending ordinances, shall be controlling.

An additional copy of the original Zoning Map shall be placed in the office of the City Secretary. The copy shall be used for reference and shall be maintained up-to-date by posting thereon all subsequent amendments. Reproductions for informational purposes may be made of the official Zoning Map.

Rules of Construction.

The district boundary lines shown on the Zoning Map are usually along streets, alleys, property lines, or extensions thereof. Where uncertainty exists as to the boundaries of districts as shown on the Zoning Map, the following rules shall apply:

The planned development districts established prior to adoption of this Ordinance are shown on the Zoning Map and set forth in Appendix A hereto.

Editor’s note–Planned development districts are listed in section 5.6.2. Appendix A is not printed herein.