A.

Intent. The intent of the Agricultural Business (AB) zoning district is to maintain, encourage and promote agriculturally related business endeavors on appropriate lands within the community. Such endeavors properly located and regulated serve to support and enhance the viability of agriculture as an economic activity.

B.

Uses. The following uses are allowed in the Agricultural Business (AB) zoning district, unless a more specific use is listed as a conditional use in this district, or a more specific use is listed as a permitted or conditional use in another district:

1.

Permitted uses.

a.

Retail or distribution of horticultural products and services.

b.

Retail or distribution of agricultural products and services.

c.

Veterinarian services.

d.

Poultry and/or egg production.

e.

Only one single-family dwelling may be permitted on a parcel zoned Agricultural Business (AB). Single-family dwelling shall only be occupied by the owner or manager of said business provided such dwelling has been approved by the Planning Commission and Town Board.

f.

Retail service and sales establishments of agricultural or horticultural commodities occupying a minimum 1,200 square feet of gross first floor area. Roadside stands must comply with the size requirement set forth in RCO 18-01.08(A)121.

g.

Undeveloped natural resources and open space areas.

h.

Transportation, utility, communication, government owned structures and businesses or other uses required by law.

2.

Conditional uses (subject to the regulations specified in RCO 18-10.11).

a.

Community based residential facilities.

b.

Agriculture or horticulture related experimental laboratories.

c.

Wholesale horticultural or agricultural related products and services.

d.

Agricultural or horticultural machinery sales and service.

e.

Livestock auction facilities.

f.

Governmental, institutional, religious or nonprofit community uses.

g.

Transportation, communication, or utility, uses not required by law.

h.

Pipeline, electric transmission, or drainage uses.

i.

Warehousing or transfer related services of agricultural or horticultural commodities.

j.

Additional business activities as approved by the Town Board.

3.

Accessory uses (subject to the regulations specified in RCO 18-01.09(C).

a.

Outbuilding(s) for the storage of common supplies, provided they are identified in a Town-approved site plan.

b.

Uses incidental to and on the same lot as the principal use.

C.

Site plan. All parcels in the Agricultural Business (AB) zoning district are required to submit a site plan to the Planning Commission and Town Board for approval. Such plans must follow the requirements set forth in RCO 20-01.00, Site Plan/Landscaping Development and Design Standards.

D.

Dimensional regulations.

1.

Lots.

a.

Minimum area: Five acres.

b.

Minimum frontage: 250 feet.

2.

Setback regulations.

a.

Unless otherwise shown on a recorded subdivision plat or certified survey map, the following minimum setback regulations shall apply to all lots in the Agricultural Business (AB) zoning district.

b.

The setback of an accessory structure shall be no less than 1.25 times of the height of the accessory structure to allow for an adequate fall zone.

c.

Setbacks on existing lots of records as of (the date of adoption of ordinance) without buildings shall meet the setback requirements listed above.

d.

Setbacks of existing lots of record as of (the date of adoption of ordinance) with existing or prior buildings shall be not less than the setbacks of existing or prior buildings, and shall be approved by the Town Board.

3.

Height regulations.

a.

Principal structure: Thirty-five feet maximum, except as provided in RCO 18-01.09, General Provisions.

b.

Accessory building: Forty feet maximum, except that an accessory building may be increased to more than 100 feet when the setback equals or is greater than 1.25 times the height of the structure or accessory building.

4.

Number of structures.

a.

Only one principal structure shall be located on a parcel zoned Agricultural Business District (AB).

E.

Building size.

1.

Minimum size of a principal structure shall be 1,200 square feet of first floor area or as approved by the Town Board.

2.

Maximum floor area ratio: 75 percent of the site. The minimum green space shall be 25 percent of the site.

F.

Parking. Parking shall conform to the requirements set forth in RCO 18-05.00, Off-Street Parking.

G.

Signs. Signage shall meet the requirements as set forth in RCO 18-04.00, Sign Code.

H.

Animal control. Any keeping of animals on an Agricultural Business District zoned parcel shall be in compliance with RCO 18-12.00, Animals.

I.

Manure storage. The size and location of a manure storage system shall be provided in the site plan and shall comply with all other county, state, and federal regulations.

J.

Water distribution plan.

1.

The size and location of a water system shall be provided in the site plan.

2.

The location and size of any storage tanks shall be provided in the site plan.

K.

Nuisance and noise control. All operations conducted within the Agricultural Business District shall be in compliance with RCO 10-01.00, Public Nuisance Ordinance, and RCO 10-02.00, Noise.

L.

Other requirements.

1.

All businesses conducted within the Agricultural Business (AB) District who employ employees shall meet all local, state, and federal regulations concerning employee safety, welfare, and protection. This includes, but is not limited to, legally required egress, ingress, accessibility, provision of bathrooms, fire escapes, emergency lighting and fire extinguishers.

2.

All businesses conducted within the Agricultural Business (AB) District and open to the public shall meet all local, state, and federal building code, fire code, and sanitary code regulations prior to occupancy.

3.

Outside refuse bins shall be located behind the principal structure and screened from view by use of solid screening or opaque fencing material. Plastic or wooden slats through cyclone fencing shall not be deemed sufficient.

4.

Rooftop mechanical equipment shall be screened from view. Any HVAC ground equipment shall be located behind a principal structure or screened from view.

5.

Building appearance shall be complementary to a neighboring zoning district.

6.

Exterior lighting shall be contained within the Agricultural Business (AB) zoned parcel, excepting a maximum of one foot candle of the total illumination may spill over into adjacent properties.

7.

A minimum of 25 percent green space shall be required for parcels zoned Agricultural Business (AB).

8.

Where a side or rear lot line in an Agricultural Business (AB) district coincides with a side or rear lot line in any adjacent residential district, a barrier/berm shall be provided along such side or rear lot line not less than 15 feet in depth and shall contain landscaping and vegetation to provide an effective screen. Such screening shall consist of a landscaped area at least six feet wide, planted with a mixture of deciduous and evergreen shrubs and shall be an effective visual barrier. All trees shall be a minimum of 1½-inch diameter at base when planted. All barrier/berm vegetation shall be maintained in good condition. Any dead vegetation shall be replaced within 12 months.

9.

Any improvements or alterations to a business or structure in the Agricultural Business District shall require prior approval by the Planning Commission, Zoning Administrator, and Board along with the required permits and fees.

10.

The business hours of the operation shall be approved by the Town Board.

11.

All business, service repair, storage, or merchandise display shall be conducted wholly within an enclosed building, except for off-street automobile parking and off-street loading, unless otherwise approved by the Town Board.

(Ord. No. 2015-1, 4-6-2015)