For the purposes of this ordinance, the City of Rockford is divided into the following zoning districts:

A.

Boundaries. The boundaries of the districts listed in Table 2-1 are hereby established as shown on the City of Rockford Zoning Ordinance Map, which is part of this ordinance.

B.

Interpretation. Where uncertainty exists with respect to the boundaries of the various districts as shown on the zoning map, the following rules shall apply:

1.

Boundaries indicated as approximately following the center lines of streets, highways, alleys, or established recreational trails shall be construed to follow such center lines.

2.

Boundaries indicated as approximately following platted lot lines or city limits shall be construed as following such lot lines or city limits.

3.

Boundaries indicated as following railroad lines shall be construed to be the midpoint between the main tracks.

4.

Boundaries indicated as parallel to or extensions of features indicated in Section 2.2 B.1. through B.3. shall be so construed. Distances not specifically indicated on the zoning map shall be determined by the scale of the map.

5.

Boundaries following the shoreline of streams, lakes, or other bodies of water shall be construed to follow such shoreline, and in the event of change in the shoreline shall be construed as moving with the actual shoreline. Boundaries indicated as approximately following the centerline of streams, rivers, canals, or other bodies of water shall be construed to follow such centerlines.

6.

Where physical or natural features existing on the ground differ from those shown on the zoning map, or in other circumstances not covered by this section, the zoning administrator shall interpret the district boundaries.

A.

Vacated Land. Whenever all or part of a street, alley, or other public way is vacated, it shall automatically become a part of the district to which it attaches. If a vacated area is bordered by two different districts, the area shall be divided along a line halfway between them and attached to the abutting zone, unless the City Council shall otherwise designate.

B.

Annexed Land. Whenever any area is annexed to the City of Rockford, the subject property shall be zoned R-1, Low Density Residential, until such time as a rezoning to another district is initiated in accordance with the procedures of Chapter 17.

A lot or parcel shall not contain more than one principal use or more than one principal building. There shall not be more than one dwelling per lot, unless expressly permitted by this ordinance for duplexes, multiple-family dwellings, or otherwise. Groups of multiple-family buildings, commercial establishments, or industrial buildings which are determined by the zoning administrator to be a principal use collectively may be permitted, based on one or more of the following considerations:

A.

individual buildings share common parking areas;

B.

access to the buildings/uses is provided via shared access drives or streets;

C.

buildings are under single ownership; or

D.

individual activities support one another (such as auto dealership/vehicle repair or a convenience store/restaurant/gas station).

A.

Intent. Every potential use cannot be addressed in this ordinance. Therefore, each district provides for "similar uses" referencing this section.

B.

Request for Determination. Requests for a use not specifically addressed in any zoning district shall be submitted to the zoning administrator for review based on the following standards:

1.

A finding has been made by the zoning administrator that the proposed use is not listed as a permitted or special use in any zoning district.

2.

If the use is not addressed in this ordinance, the zoning administrator shall select the use which most closely approximates the proposed use, using criteria such as: the nature of the use; conformance with the purpose of the zoning district in which the similar use is permitted; aesthetic and traffic characteristics; and potential nuisance effects (noise, vibration, dust, smoke, odor, glare, hours of operation, etc.).

3.

Once a similar use is determined, the proposed use shall comply with any conditions and review procedures applicable to that use, including rezoning (if applicable) and compliance with the specific use requirements of this ordinance, as applicable.

4.

If the zoning administrator determines a proposed use is not similar to any use listed in the ordinance, the applicant may petition for an amendment, as governed by this ordinance, to permit the use.

5.

The determination as to whether a proposed use is similar in nature and class to another permitted or special use within a district shall be considered an interpretation of the use regulations, not a variance applying to a particular situation. The Planning Commission shall be notified of such interpretation for future reference and may initiate an amendment of the ordinance to include the use as an allowed use in the district.