For the purpose of this Ordinance, the City of Russellville is hereby divided into the types of districts designed as follows:

This district exists for the development of large lot, low density residential areas. The use of land and buildings with such areas is therefore limited to a single-family detached dwellings and such accessory uses as generally support and harmonize with such low density districts.

USE REGULATIONS

Permitted Uses:

• Single-family detached dwellings.

• Accessory structures.

• Residential gardens.

• Essential utility services (for delivery of utility services) including water, sewer and sewer lift stations, gas, telephone, cable and electrical substations or distribution systems.

• Class A Manufactured Homes as defined under the criteria of Section 31.32 and 31.33 and Modular Homes as defined by Section 31.40, subject to review of the Compatibility Review Committee as provided in Section 44.1 below.

Uses Permitted by Special Exception:

• Public parks and playgrounds including accessory facilities.

• Home occupations.

• Semi-public land uses.

• Family day care.

• Buildings for municipal, county, state, or federal use, including those for public owned and operated utilities, golf courses and country clubs, including accessory facilities.

Prohibited Uses:

• Class B and Class C Manufactured Homes and all other uses not specifically permitted or permitted by Special Exception.

SPACE AND HEIGHT REGULATIONS

(Ord. No. 2004-114, §§ 3, 4, 11-14-04)

This district exists for the protection of areas that have been and are being developed predominantly for medium density single-family dwellings. Accordingly, the use of land and buildings within such areas is limited to single-family detached dwellings and to such accessory uses as generally support and harmonize with these medium-density residential districts.

USE REGULATIONS

Permitted Uses:

• Any use allowed as a permitted use in the R-1 District.

• Buildings for municipal county, state or federal use, including those for publicly-owned and operated utilities.

Uses Permitted by Special Exception:

• Public parks and playgrounds including accessory facilities.

• Home occupations.

• Semi public land uses.

• Family day care.

• Buildings for municipal, county, state, or federal use, including those for public owned and operated utilities, golf courses and country clubs, including accessory facilities.

Prohibited Uses:

• Class B and Class C Manufactured Homes and all other uses not specifically permitted or permitted by Special Exception.

SPACE AND HEIGHT REGULATIONS

(Ord. No. 2004-114, § 5, 11-15-2004)

This district exists for the protection of areas that have been and are being developed predominantly for medium to high density single-family dwellings (yard size not less than nine thousand (9,000) sq. ft.), but in which multi-family dwellings are also permitted. Accordingly, the use of land and buildings within such areas is limited to single-family detached dwellings and medium density multi-family dwellings, and to such non-residential uses as generally support and harmonize with a medium density residential area.

USE REGULATIONS

Permitted Uses:

• Any use allowed as a permitted use in the R-2 District.

• Apartment dwellings, cluster dwellings, condominium dwellings, garden apartment dwellings, multi-family dwellings, patio dwellings, townhouse dwellings, and two-family dwellings.

• Single-family dwellings, multi-family dwellings, two-family dwellings, accessory structures, gardens, playgrounds, and parks.

Uses Permitted By Special Exception:

• Semi-public land uses.

• Golf courses and country clubs, including accessory facilities.

• Home occupations.

• Buildings for municipal, county, state, or federal use, including those for public owned and operated utilities.

• Kindergartens.

• Family day care.

• Nursing Homes.

• Funeral homes.

Prohibited Uses:

• Class B and Class C Manufactured Homes and all other uses not specifically permitted or permitted by Special Exception.

SPACE AND HEIGHT REGULATIONS

Minimum Lot Size:

• Single family detached dwellings—9,000 square feet.

• Apartment dwellings, condominium dwellings, multiple-family dwellings, townhouse dwellings—First unit 9,000 square feet, each additional unit, 1,500 square feet.

• Two-family dwellings—10,500 square feet.

Minimum required lot width at building line:

• Single family detached dwellings—seventy (70) feet.

• Class A Manufactured Homes or Modular Homes—ninety (90) feet.

• Apartment dwellings, condominium dwellings, multiple-family dwellings, patio dwellings, townhouse dwellings—one hundred (100) feet.

(Ord. No. 2004-114, § 6, 11-15-2004)

The MH-1, Manufactured Home District is established in furtherance of the finding of the Russellville City Council that properly designed and operated Planned Manufactured Home Communities promote the safety and health of residents of such communities and provide a suitable and much needed accommodation for affordable housing without unduly impacting land values in areas where (a) existing or planned housing is not compatible with Manufactured Homes or Modular Homes or (b) where the City, in the exercise of its authority to regulate land use, finds location of Manufactured or Modular housing undesirable.

USE REGULATIONS

Permitted Uses:

• Planned Manufactured Home Community Facilities.

• Accessory structures and infrastructure necessary for the operation of the Community to provide for placement of Class A and Class B Manufactured Homes and modular homes.

• Class A and Class B Manufactured Homes and Modular Homes Placed in Compliance with the Provisions of this Ordinance.

• Residential gardens.

• Essential utilities.

Uses by Special Exceptions:

• Public parks and playgrounds including accessory facilities.

• Home occupations.

• Semi-public land uses.

• Buildings for municipal, county, state, or federal use, including those for public owned and operated utilities, golf courses and country clubs, including accessory facilities.

Prohibited Uses:

• Class C Manufactured Homes and all other uses not specifically permitted or permitted by Special Exception.

SPACE AND HEIGHT REGULATIONS

Any proposed development of a Planned Manufactured Home Community shall be considered in accordance with a site plan submitted for review and approval of the Planning Commission. At a minimum, the site plan should meet all preceding regulations and include provisions for the following:

a.

There is hereby created a Compatibility Review Committee to be comprised of five (5) members, including the Building Official of the City of Russellville, a Russellville resident designated by the Mayor, a member of the Russellville City Council designated by the Council, a member of the Russellville Planning Commission designated by the Commission and the Fire Marshal of the City.

b.

Placement of Manufactured Homes and Modular Homes in zoning districts in which said homes are listed among permitted uses and proposed site-built homes to be located in areas where the home is not subject to existing subdivision covenants or deed restrictions relating to aesthetic compatibility, shall be subject to the following provisions in addition to the requirements of Sections 81.0 and 82.0 below:

1.

The applicant for a building permit for a manufactured or modular home will submit a set of drawings reflecting the appearance of the dwelling, the size, shape and location of the lot on which it is to be placed, a site plan for the location of the dwelling, and information concerning the roof, siding and foundation material and any accessory structures (porches, garages, decks, etc.) to be attached to the dwelling.

2.

Upon receipt of an application for a building permit and the information required by subsection (b)(1) above, with respect to placement of a Class A, Class B Manufactured Home or Modular Home in a zoning district in which it is a permitted use, the Building Official will schedule a meeting of the Compatibility Review Committee to be held within fourteen (14) days for the purpose of determining compatibility of the proposed placement of the manufactured or modular home.

3.

The Compatibility Review Committee will review the information submitted by the applicant, together with applicable information related to the surrounding homes and neighborhood where the dwelling is to be placed to determine whether the dwelling is aesthetically compatible with the existing neighborhood and surrounding homes.

4.

If the Committee finds the dwelling to be compatible with the surrounding homes and its proposed neighborhood, the Building Official will record the finding of compatibility and, if all other requirements for issuance of a building permit are met by the application, a permit shall be issued.

5.

If the dwelling is found to be incompatible with surrounding homes or its proposed neighborhood, the incompatibility shall be recorded by the Building Official and the building permit shall be denied.

6.

Any aggrieved person may appeal any adverse ruling with respect to compatibility as provided in Section 96.0.

7.

In no event shall the Committee impose compatibility standards, development standards or architectural standards for Class A Manufactured Homes or Modular Homes different than those placed on site-built single family dwellings.

(Ord. No. 2004-114, § 7, 11-15-2004)

The purpose of the B-1 District is to provide for the most frequent daily needs of residents of an immediate neighborhood. The district is intended to apply to areas where selected establishments may be appropriately located with more restrictive provisions for light, air, and open space. The B-1 District is not intended for use by major or larger scale commercial or service establishments. Orientation to, and compatibility with, adjacent residential neighborhoods to be served is critical.

USE REGULATIONS

Permitted Uses:

• Neighborhood retail stores and markets, including the following types of stores: food, furniture, household and hardware, radio and television, drug and sundries, jewelry and gifts, florist, sporting goods, pet shops, mobile offices, and similar types.

• Neighborhood services including the following types: dry cleaning and laundry pickup stations, barber and beauty shops, shoe repair, offices, gasoline stations where no auto repairs are made, theaters, and similar services.

• Outdoor advertising signs and sign structures, as regulated under Section 72.0, Article VII.

• Temporary placement of Class A or Class B Manufactured Homes or Modular Homes for use as necessary quarters for a lone night watchman at a construction site, provided that:

a.

a Building Permit has been issue for the site;

b.

a construction office MH Permit is secured from the building inspector (upon payment of a twenty-five dollars ($25.00) fee); and

c.

the Permit shall expire on the date a Certificate of Occupancy is issued (in no event to exceed eighteen (18) months).

Uses Permitted by Special Exception:

• Gasoline stations where no major repair work is done.

• Restaurants.

• Funeral homes.

• Nursing homes.

• Temporary placement of Class A or Class B Manufactured Homes or Modular Homes for business occupancy for a period not to exceed twelve (12) months subject to such additional conditions as the Zoning Board of Adjustment may determine are necessary to protect the public interest.

Prohibited Uses:

• Auto repair.

• Laundry and dry clearing plants.

• Manufacturing.

• Cabarets.

• Night Clubs, whether or not operated by non-profit organizations.

• Motels or motor courts.

• Open-lot sales for used cars or Manufactured Homes, used or new.

• Drive-in cafes or restaurants.

• Roller skating rinks.

• Bowling alleys.

• Curb markets and fruit markets and fruit stands.

• Class A, Class B, or Class C Manufactured Homes or Modular Homes, except as permitted for construction offices or temporary office use (by special exception).

• Planned Manufactured Home Communities.

• Any use prohibited as a B-2 District.

• All other uses not specifically permitted or permitted by Special Exception.

SPACE AND HEIGHT REGULATIONS

The B-2 district provides for the orderly development and expansion of the City's business district, encouraging the discontinuance of non-conforming uses and a minimum of traffic and parking congestion. The district also provides comparison shopper's good, convenience goods and services, specialty goods, amusements, and services for less than a city-wide market. The primary purpose of these functions is retail trade. In addition, the district provides locations for small businessmen with a city-wide market who cannot operate in the downtown area.

USE REGULATIONS

Permitted Uses:

• Any use permitted in the B-1 District

• Any lawful retail use, service or wholesale business not specifically restricted or prohibited, provided that not over fifty percent (50%) of the establishment's floor area is used for warehousing purposes.

• Parking lots.

• Hotels.

• Offices.

• Banks.

• Public buildings.

• Major auto repair.

• Business signs.

• Printing plants.

• Clubs and fraternal organizations.

• Mortuary or funeral homes.

• Places of amusement and assembly.

• Automobile sales and service.

• Bus terminals and taxicab stands.

• Storage plants.

• Warehousing.

• Gasoline service stations.

• Veterinarian hospitals and kennels.

• Outdoor advertising signs.

• Churches, or similar places of worship.

• Restaurants.

• Mobile offices and similar types of business.

Uses Permitted by Special Exception:

• Dry cleaning and laundries.

• Nursing homes.

• Manufacturing incidental to a retail business where articles are sold at retail on the premises and are not specifically prohibited herein.

• Temporary placement of Class A or Class B Manufactured Homes or Modular Homes for business occupancy for a period not to exceed twelve (12) months subject to such additional conditions as the Zoning Board of Adjustment may determine are necessary to protect the public interest.

Prohibited Uses:

• Stockyards.

• Live animal or poultry sales.

• Ice plants.

• Coal yards.

• Lumber yards or mills.

• Auto wreckage storage or junkyards.

• Gasoline, oil and alcohol storage above the ground in excess of five hundred (500) gallons.

• Junk and scrap paper, rag storage and baling.

• Stone and monument works.

• Residential use.

• Class A, Class B, or Class C Manufactured Homes or Modular Homes, except as permitted for Construction Office or Temporary Office Use (by Special Exception).

• Any use prohibited in a M-1 Industrial District.

SPACE AND HEIGHT REGULATIONS

This district serves several functions. It provides for the orderly development of the central business district, encouraging the discontinuance of non-conforming uses and a minimum of traffic and parking congestions. The district also provides comparison shopper's goods, convenience goods and services, specialty goods, amusements, and services. The primary purpose of these functions is a mix of retail trade, entertainment, arts and amusements, and supporting activities, including residential dwelling units, to provide a safe, healthy, economically viable downtown district.

USE REGULATIONS

Permitted Uses:

• Any lawful retail use, service, or wholesale business not specifically restricted or prohibited, provided that not over fifty percent (50%) of the establishment's floor area is used for warehousing purposes.

• Parking lots.

• Hotels.

• Offices.

• Banks.

• Public buildings.

• Business signs.

• Clubs and fraternal organizations.

• Places of amusement and assembly.

• Bus terminals and taxicab stands.

• Gasoline service stations.

• Veterinarian hospitals.

• Churches, or similar places of worship.

• Restaurants and similar types of businesses.

Uses Permitted by Special Exception:

• Dry cleaning and laundries.

• Manufacturing incidental to a retail business where articles are sold at retail on the premises and are not specifically prohibited herein.

• Residential uses occupying upper floor of multi-story buildings provided the structure meets all applicable local ordinances and codes.

Prohibited Uses:

• Stockyards.

• Live animal or poultry sales.

• Kennels.

• Ice plants.

• Coal yards.

• Lumber yards or mills.

• Auto wreckage storage or junkyards.

• Automobile storage not associated with a temporary event or inside of a museum.

• Gasoline, oil and alcohol storage above the ground in excess of five hundred (500) gallons.

• Junk and scrap paper, rag storage and baling.

• Stone and monument works.

• Class A, Class B, or Class C Manufactured Homes or Modular Homes.

• Manufacturing and outdoor storage or bulk storage of goods.

SPACE AND HEIGHT REGULATIONS

Downtown Overlay District:

Within an area established by ordinance, design guidelines shall be adopted and enforced as a special overlay district. Within this district, all provisions of the B-3 Downtown Business District, or other appropriate base zoning district, shall be enforced; and, the additional requirements for character of buildings found in the "Downtown Design Guidelines, Russellville, Alabama" shall provide for the character of development of structures fronting on public right of way. The design guidelines shall be included in Appendix A: Downtown Design Guidelines, Russellville, Alabama and any administrative manual produced and reprinted by the City of Russellville.

Appendix A: Downtown Design Guidelines, Russellville

The area of downtown Russellville falling under these guidelines incorporates the historic commercial center of the community. This is a primarily commercial, institutional, and civic area, with some residential properties adjacent. The area shall be divided into a Downtown Overlay District in which only the provisions related to color schemes shall be enforced and a Focused Development District in which all provisions shall be enforced.

Boundaries are described as follows: Begin at the intersection of Green Avenue and Tuscaloosa Street; thence east along Tuscaloosa Street to the Norfolk southern Railroad; thence north along the railroad to Cotaco Street; thence west along Cotaco Street to Green Avenue; thence south along Green Avenue to Tuscaloosa Street and the point of beginning. This area shall be known as the Downtown Overlay District.

Begin at the intersection of Green Avenue and Montgomery Street; thence east along Montgomery Street to the Norfolk southern Railroad; thence north along the railroad to Lauderdale Street; thence west along Lauderdale Street to Green Avenue; thence south along Green Avenue to Montgomery Street and the point of beginning. This area shall be known as the Focused Development District.

Design Review Committee.

Within the Downtown Overlay District, prior to the issuance of any permit for exterior construction or renovation, the design of building facades and signage shall be reviewed by a Design Review Committee (DRC). The purpose of the DRC is to review new development and redevelopment of buildings to ensure continued quality and character of downtown buildings in Russellville. The DRC shall ensure that new construction or renovation occurs in accordance with the specifications of these Downtown Design Review Guidelines and shall issue a certificate of appropriateness for all exterior features of buildings and signs that are visible from the public right-of-way.

The Design Review Committee shall consist of five members appointed by the Mayor. Three members shall represent staff of the City of Russellville with expertise in local codes and ordinances related to building construction and renovation. Staff members shall serve in an ex-officio capacity. Two members shall be appointed from residents of Russellville with knowledge of the district, its history and architecture, or other expertise appropriate for the review of proposed development in the Overlay District. Each of the two resident members shall serve a four year term, except that the initial terms of the first appointed members shall be staggered such that no individual's term expires in the same year.

Materials.

Two rules of thumb are useful to keep in mind, on the issue of materials and their substitutes. The Arm's Length Rule tells us that substitute materials are allowed if they are indistinguishable when viewed within a couple of feet. This is because people often touch a building, and it must feel solid and heavy.

The Eyes Only Rule is similar; substitute materials are acceptable if they are indistinguishable from a distance of ten feet or more. Some materials may function perfectly, with detail that cannot be discerned from a distance.

In general, the front building facade should be of one dominant material. Occasionally, one or two others may be used as accent treatments. The preferred building materials include:

• Brick.

• Cement composite board material, such as Hardy-plank.

• Stone.

• Pre-cast stone.

Vinyl and aluminum siding should not be allowed on front facades, but are acceptable on rear and side elevations which when they are not visible from the street. Cinderblock masonry may not be visible as a finish material. Similarly, wood siding is discouraged due to its low quality. Trim details may be either wood or high- quality vinyl material. Columns, railings, and other exterior trim may be of wood, wood composites, fiber cement board, cast iron, or other material as approved by the Design Review Committee.

Building Construction.

Composition: All buildings should adhere to the three basic divisions of a commercial facade: a roof which is typically flat with a parapet and decorative cornice; a middle area defined by upper story windows which are vertical and regularly spaced; and a first floor with elements of a storefront, including a bulkhead, display windows, and a transom.

New construction and rehabilitation should avoid long unrelieved expanses of wall along the street. Window openings should be vertically proportioned and placed symmetrically on the facade. They should be slightly recessed from the surface, and be defined by sills, lintels, or decorative surrounds. Window frames, moldings, and cornices provide most of the detail. The basic principle of historic storefronts is to make it as transparent as possible by using as much glass as possible. The use of transom windows above the display windows increases daylight inside the store. Entrances are usually recessed. A lintel or cornice is used to separate the storefront from upper floors.

Materials: Brick is the historical and preferred exterior treatment. New materials should relate to the historic materials in terms of texture, scale, color, and composition. Buildings should utilize the same materials as those on former and existing buildings. Inappropriate materials include plywood, composition panel, plastic, imitation brick or stone, vinyl or synthetic siding, sheet metal, and stone veneer. Neither stucco nor concrete block impart the same scale or texture as brick.

Design Guidelines.

General Principle: The design of a storefront shall be compatible with the character of existing and former buildings.

Dimensions: The storefront shall be built to the dimensions of the original frame. Two stories are preferred.

Cornice or Lintel: A cornice or lintel shall be provided above the storefront in order to separate it from the upper facade, and to provide a signboard for the business.

Viewing Zone: The "viewing zone" of the storefront shall have a minimum of 50% clear glass (excluding entries) for commercial uses, and no more than 30% may be reflective or tinted glass. Storefronts shall be glazed up to the lintel or cornice, and shall be safety glass.

Entrances: The Main Entrance shall be recessed at least three feet from the front plane of the building, in order to emphasize the entryway, accommodate the swing of the door, and provide protection from the elements. The floor of the recessed entrance shall be ceramic tile or terrazzo.

Doors: The main entry door shall be wood or metal with a panel of clear safety glass.

Materials: Storefronts shall be constructed of high quality, durable materials, such as wood, cast iron, structural metal, and glass. The bulkhead panels below the display windows should be made of wood panels, stone slabs, or ceramic tile. Brick may be used for narrow vertical piers if appropriate to the design. Corrugated metal, panels, aluminum or vinyl siding, synthetic stucco, plywood siding, glass block, and concrete block shall not be used in storefronts. Storefronts shall not be decorated with half-timbering, shingles, pent roofs, or other pseudo-historic materials or treatments.

Colors: Colors shall adhere to historical color palettes and coordinate with building materials and features. Unpainted brick should remain unpainted. Painted brick should be painted. Colors should blend and complement other features of the building and along the street. Sample color palettes encouraged are Sherwin Williams Arts & Crafts Exterior Palette, Sherwin Williams Classical/Colonial, and Sherwin Williams Victorian Exterior Palette. Unlike other provisions that apply only within the Focused Development District, colors shall adhere to historical color palettes throughout the Downtown Overlay District.

Orientation/Alignment: Orientation of new construction should match that of existing adjacent buildings. Facades should face the same direction as neighboring buildings. The similar heights of buildings should be emphasized by the alignment of cornices and/or horizontal bands.

New buildings should conform to setbacks of surrounding buildings. New buildings should create a continuously walled frontage parallel to the street. New designs should creatively draw on important characteristics of former and surrounding buildings.

The design of new buildings should complement existing architecture. Replicate original canopies and balconies. Original materials, detail, shape, outline, and roof height should be retained.

Enclosed canopies are not appropriate.

A distinctive feature of commercial buildings is their roofline. In downtown most commercial buildings have flat roofs and parapets which often display corbelled brick work or other ornate detail. The ornamental cornice at the top of the facade gives the building a "finished" look. The repetition of cornices along the street creates a horizontal line which visually unifies the block.

Reconstruction of a cornice should be based on documentation of the historic treatment.

Commercial Buildings.

Maintaining a healthy downtown commercial component is critical. Determining the right amount, mix, and location for retail is always a difficult challenge facing a community. Some general principles to keep in mind:

Always integrate residential use within commercial areas.

It is focused and mixed with, or adjacent to, civic space.

• Street-level shop fronts should be at least 50 percent glazing, with a floor to ceiling height of at least 11 feet.

• Buildings should always include a functional second story of either office or residential use, or be at least 18 feet high, to create a good streetscape.

• Sidewalks should be wider than in purely residential areas; at least ten feet wide, up to an additional ten feet for outdoor dining.

• Chain and big-box retailers will conform to architectural, urban design, and streetscape standards.

Building placement and orientation should emphasize the relationship to the street. That is, the primary entrance and most elaborate architectural details should face front. Corner buildings should front the larger street, but both street- facing facades should be given design attention.

A maximum building height of three stories or 55 feet should not be exceeded. Towers, belfries, cupolas, and other non-habitable architectural features may exceed height limits. Of more importance is a minimum height; one story buildings should have a front facade at least 18 feet high, which may be achieved with a parapet wall. The ground floor should be at least 11 feet tall, of which nine feet should be glazing. Buildings should be placed on the front property line/ sidewalk, but may recede as much as ten feet to make room for outdoor dining along the sidewalk.

Awnings, colonnades, and balconies may extend out from the front facade, to create a shelter over the sidewalk.

Awnings are typically canvas over a metal framework. They may extend four feet out from the building facade. A colonnade is metal or wooden awning supported by columns, and may extend to within one foot the width of the sidewalk. Balconies are similar to column- supported colonnades but are flat, functioning as outdoor space for the upper story. They are a minimum of six feet deep but are recommended to extend to one foot of the sidewalk edge. They shall have a railing four feet high, and may be partially protected with an awning.

Civic Buildings.

A hallmark of traditional towns is mixed use, but the often for- gotten side of this is civic use. Far beyond the inclusion of public open space, civic uses can be a true unifying factor in a community.

Architectural design need not be elaborate, but these buildings should be located in a prominent location, typically fronting onto a public square, green, or other open space; or alternatively, at a prominent intersection or terminated vista. Civic uses are generally given greater flexibility regarding setback requirements, height limitations, and so forth.

Such uses include town halls, schools, churches, fire and police facilities, post offices, libraries, and the like.

Residential.

Including living options is critical to keeping a downtown active throughout the day. Successful downtowns include multiple housing options. Allowing numerous housing formats, plans, and price points makes development more secure by expanding the market, and serves the community by meeting the needs of all residents. Typical arrangements include:

• Active adult and retirement communities are very appropriate; they should be physically well integrated into the street fabric, not set apart and isolated.

• Outbuildings are secondary structures on a lot at the rear along an alley, they create versatility by providing space not only for parking, but affordable rental apartments.

• Live/work buildings are a residential configuration in which the first floor is designed and built to commercial standards, giving the owner the possibility of converting the space to office or shop use. It is an excellent way to transition from downtown to a quiet residential area. They are not raised above street level, but are built flush to the side- walk to meet commercial access standards.

• Apartments above commercial helps ensure a lively and safe downtown even at night. It is affordable and convenient, and helps diversity the income of property owners.

Historic Building Treatment.

The standards below are the foundation for historic downtowns across the nation. Russellville may eventually seek a historic district in which these guidelines will be requirements for preservation, rehabilitation, restoration, and reconstruction. These standards should be adhered to for all reconstruction and renovation of historic buildings. They may be used in conjunction with additional incentives for redevelopment.

The Secretary of the Interior Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.

1.

A property shall be used for its historic purpose or be placed in a new use that requires minimal change to the defining characteristics of the building and its site and environment.

2.

The historic character of a property shall be retained. The removal of historic materials or alteration of features and spaces that characterize a property shall be avoided.

3.

Each property shall be recognized as a physical record of its time, place, and use. Changes that create a false sense of historical development, such as adding conjectural features or architectural elements from other buildings, shall not be undertaken.

4.

Most properties change over time; those changes that have acquired historic significance in their own right shall be retained and preserved.

5.

Distinctive features, finishes, and construction techniques, or examples of craftsmanship that characterize a historic property shall be preserved.

6.

Deteriorated historic features shall be repaired rather than replaced. Where the severity of deterioration requires replacement of a distinctive feature, the new feature shall match the old in design, color, texture, and other visual qualities.

7.

Chemical or physical treatments, such as sandblasting, that cause damage to historic materials shall not be used. The surface cleaning of structures shall be undertaken using the gentlest means possible.

8.

Significant archeological resources affected by a project shall be protected and preserved. If such resources must be disturbed, mitigation measures shall be undertaken.

9.

New additions, exterior alterations, or related new construction shall not destroy historic materials that characterize the property. The new work shall be differentiated from the old and shall be compatible with the massing, size, scale, and architectural features to protect the historic integrity of the property and its environment.

10.

New additions and adjacent or related new construction shall be undertaken in such a manner that if removed in the future, the essential form and integrity of the historic property and its environment would be unimpaired.

Signs.

General Intent: The intent of regulating signs that are visible from public frontage is to ensure proper dimensioning and placement with respect to existing or planned architectural features, to maintain or improve public safety, to maintain or improve the aesthetic character of the context in which they are located, and to provide legible information for pedestrians, not just drivers. The intent of the following guidelines is to give a sense of the style of signage to be found in Russellville.

I. Prohibited Signs.

No sign shall be erected which makes use of flashing lights or exposed light bulbs, projection, movement of either the lettering or the sign itself, or any other animation.

II. Illumination.

Signs may be lit externally with a shielded light source directed solely at the sign, or with internal halo lighting

III. Temporary Signs.

Temporary signs of all types may be approved for a 30-day period only.

Sign Type: Address.

a.

Address Sign numerals applied to retail, office, residential, or institutional buildings shall be between four and six inches tall.

b.

Address signs shall be easily visible by using colors or materials that contrast with their background.

c.

Address signs shall be constructed of durable materials.

d.

The address sign shall be attached to the front of the building in proximity to the principal entrance or at a mailbox.

Sign Type: Awning.

a.

The following variations of awnings, with or without Sign bands, are permitted: Fixed or retractable awnings, shed awnings, dome awnings.

b.

Other awning types may be permitted by warrant.

c.

Signage shall be limited to the valance of the awning or the vertical portion of a dome awning.

d.

No portion of an awning shall be lower than eight (8) feet clearance, or seven (7) feet by warrant.

e.

Awnings shall be a minimum of four feet in depth. Awnings approved by Warrant for seven feet clearance may be a minimum of three feet in depth.

f.

Awnings shall not extend beyond the width of the building, nor encroach above the roofline or the story above.

g.

The Valance height shall not exceed 12 inches.

h.

Awning signs shall contain only the business name, logo, and/or street address.

i.

Letters, numbers, and graphics shall cover no more than seventy percent (70%) of the valance area.

j.

Awning signs shall not be internally lit or backlit.

Sign Type: Band.

a.

One Band Sign permitted on each facade.

b.

Band Signs shall include only letters, background, lighting, and an optional logo. Information shall consist only of the name and/or logo of the business. Band Signs shall not list products, sales, promotional or contact information.

c.

The following construction types are permitted:

i.

Cut-out Letters. Letters shall be individually attached to the wall or on a separate background panel, and shall be externally illuminated.

ii.

Flat Panel. Letters shall be printed or etched on same surface as the background, and affixed to the wall.

iii.

Channel Letters. Each letter shall have its own internal lighting element, individually attached to the wall or separate background panel. The letter shall be translucent, or solid to create a backlit halo effect.

d.

Band Signs shall not project above the roofline.

e.

Band Signs may be illuminated from dusk to dawn.

f.

Electrical raceways, conduits and wiring shall not be exposed. Internal elements shall be contained within the sign assembly or inside the wall.

Sign Type: Blade.

a.

Blade signs may be double-sided.

b.

Businesses shall be permitted one blade sign businesses that have a secondary frontage shall be permitted one additional blade sign on that facade.

c.

Blade signs shall not encroach above the roofline nor above the bottom of a second story window.

d.

Text and graphics on the Blade Sign shall be limited to the name and/or logo of the business. Slogans, address labels, operating hours and contact information are not permitted.

Sign Type: Nameplates.

a.

Nameplates shall consist of either a panel or individual letters applied to a building wall within ten feet of an entrance to the building.

b.

One Nameplate shall be permitted per address.

c.

Nameplates shall not exceed three square feet.

d.

Nameplates shall be constructed of durable materials.

Sign Type: Outdoor Display Case.

a.

Each outdoor display case shall not exceed six (6) square feet.

b.

Outdoor display cases may be externally or internally illuminated.

c.

Outdoor display cases shall not be attached to shop front windows.

Sign Type: Sidewalk/Sandwich.

a.

Sidewalk signs shall consist of freestanding, double-sided temporary signs placed at the entrance to a business in a primarily pedestrian environment.

b.

Sidewalk signs shall be removed at the close of business each day.

c.

One (sidewalk sign shall be permitted for each business.

d.

Sidewalk signs shall not exceed 42 inches in height or 26 inches in width.

e.

Sidewalk signs shall be moved inside during high winds or other w weather conditions that might pose e a hazard to public safety.

Sign Type: Window.

a.

Only the following window sign types shall be permitted:

i.

Vinyl applique letters applied to the window. Appliques shall consist of individual letters or graphics with no visible background.

ii.

Letters painted directly on the window.

iii.

Hanging signs from the ceiling behind the window.

iv.

Neon signs.

v.

Door signs applied to or hanging inside the glass portion of an entrance doorway.

b.

Window signs shall not interfere with the primary function of windows, which is to enable passersby and public safety personnel to see through windows into premises and view product displays.

c.

Window signs shall be no larger than twenty-five percent (25%) of the total area of the window onto which they are applied.

d.

Window signs may list services and/or products sold on the premises, or provide phone numbers, operating hours or other messages, provided that the total aggregate area of these messages not exceed the limit provided above.

(Ord. No. 2016-017, 9-6-2016)

This district is intended for industrial uses which are not offensive to nearby commercial or residential uses, and for business uses which generally support and are integrated with these industrial uses, to prevent further development of residences from being established under strongly adverse conditions and to conserve the supply of industrial land.

USE REGULATIONS

Permitted Uses:

• Light industrial operations not obnoxious, offensive or detrimental to neighboring property by reason of dust, smoke, vibration, noise, odor, or effluents, and including the following types of business or industry: ice cream plants and creameries; cold storage plants, textile mills, ice plants; bottling and central distribution plants; baking plants; dyeing plants; dry cleaners and laundries; mortuary or funeral homes; mobile offices; and similar types of industries.

Uses Permitted by Special Exception:

• Any manufacturing use not specifically prohibited herein, including quarters for night watchmen and caretakers for a specific industry.

• Temporary placement of Class A or Class B Manufactured Homes or Modular Homes for business occupancy for a period not to exceed 12 months subject to such additional conditions as the Zoning Board of Adjustment may determine are necessary to protect the public interest.

Prohibited Uses:

• Slaughter house.

• Stockyard.

• Bag cleaning.

• Bailer and tank works.

• Central mixing plant for cement, mortar, plaster, or paving materials.

• Curing, tanning or storage of hides.

• Distillation of bones, coal, tar, or wood.

• Fat rendering.

• Forge plant.

• Manufacturing of acetylene, acid, alcohol, ammonia bleaching powder, brick, pottery, terra cotta or tile, concrete block, candles, disinfectants, dyestuffs, fertilizers, illuminating or heating gas including storage, paint, turpentine, varnish, soap, and tar products.

• Wool pulling or scouring.

• Junk yards.

• Cotton waste reclaiming.

• Similar types of plans or operations.

• Class A, Class B or Class C Manufactured Homes or Modular Homes except as permitted for Construction Offices or Temporary Office Use.

• Any use prohibited in M-2 District.

SPACE AND HEIGHT REGULATIONS

This district is for heavy industrial activities which may be offensive or incompatible, if located near commercial or residential uses and for limited business uses which support or are compatible with these heavy industrial activities.

USE REGULATIONS

Permitted Uses:

• Any industrial use, except those which in the opinion of the Building Inspector would cause noise, smoke, gas, vibration, fumes, dust, or other objectionable conditions that would affect a considerable portion of the City.

Uses Permitted by Special Exception:

• Any industrial use subject to conditions and safeguards as the Board of Adjustment may require to preserve and protect any portions of the City which otherwise could be adversely affected.

• Temporary placement of Class A or Class B Manufactured Homes or Modular Homes for business occupancy for a period not to exceed twelve (12) months subject to such additional conditions as the Zoning Board of Adjustment may determine are necessary to protect the public interest.

Prohibited Uses:

• Residences and apartments, excepting quarters for a watchman or custodian and his family.

• Class A, Class B, or Class C Manufactured Homes or Modular Homes, except as permitted for Construction Offices, quarters for a watchman or custodian and his family (Class A or Class B Manufactured Home only) or as Temporary Office Use (by Special Exception).

SPACE AND HEIGHT REGULATIONS

The purpose of this zone is to protect public health, safety, and general welfare; to protect persons, private and public property from the hazards of flood water inundation, and to protect the community from costs which are incurred when urban development occurs in flood plains. The area subjected to flood hazard will be conserved for open land uses, agricultural uses, recreational areas and other uses which do not require extensive buildings within the flood plain.

USE REGULATIONS

Permitted Uses:

• Agricultural uses and crop production.

• Wildlife refuges, including game preserves.

• Sanctuaries and forest reserves.

• Watershed conservation area and reservoirs.

• Public outdoor recreation, including miniature golf, amusement parks, and drive-in theater.

• Open storage usages and parking areas.

• Cemeteries and aircraft landing strips.

• Quarries such as sand, gravel, stone, topsoil, and barren pits.

• Earth and sanitary landfills.

Prohibited Uses:

All uses not specifically permitted in this District are prohibited.

SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS:

No permanent building or structure, except for agricultural uses, shall be constructed in the flood plains and conservation district, unless permitted under the following terms: (1) When specifically approved by the Planning Commission as an exception to these regulations under the conditions herein listed, and after a public hearing before the City Council, the following may be permitted; (2) Permanent building structures associated with the uses permitted provided that the first floor level shall be at or above an elevation of the flood of record plus two (2) feet, and that such construction shall not impede the flow of flood waters nor increase the hazard of flooding either upstream or downstream; (3) Earth fill or other materials may not be used to raise the elevation of the land, unless the fill proposed does not restrict the flow of water and unduly increase flood height and hazard, as determined by the City Council upon recommendation by the Planning Commission based upon an engineering report prepared by a licensed engineer at the expense of the landowner; (4) Development of natural resources and extraction of raw materials such as rock, gravel, and sand; all provided that the following minimum conditions shall be complied with:

a.

No excavation shall approach nearer than three hundred (300) feet to any residential district; 100 feet to any major traffic street; or nearer than 60 feet to any other street.

b.

Side slope of the excavation shall be no steeper than two horizontal to one vertical and a vegetative cover of such slopes shall consist of a short perennial drought resistant grass which will permit the establishment of a good sod cover.

c.

Filing with the City Clerk of a restrictive covenant providing that no foreign matter such as rubbish, car bodies, refuse, etc., shall be deposited within the excavation area. Such covenant shall be approved as to form by the City Attorney, binding upon the applicants, their heirs, successors, or assigns.

d.

A performance bond shall be required in such an amount and for such length of time as may be determined by the City Council to be necessary to guarantee excavation in accordance with the provisions set forth above, and provided further that the City Council may, at its discretion and in such manner as is consistent with the public health, safety, and welfare, modify or waive any of the conditions if it can be clearly demonstrated that such conditions are not required to protect public health, safety, convenience, and general welfare.

SPACE AND HEIGHT REGULATIONS

The purpose of this district is to provide for the continuing operation of agricultural, foresting, recreational, and other open space activities. Low density residential development is also permitted.

USE REGULATIONS

Permitted Uses:

• General farming including horticulture, dairying, apiaries, livestock and poultry farming, fish hatcheries, and other similar enterprises and uses.

• Accessory buildings and uses customarily incidental to the above stated uses.

• Any use permitted or permitted by special exception in an R-1 Residential District, subject to all district requirements of an R-1 District.

• Outdoor advertising structures, provided however, that any such use shall be conditional as follows: Within sixty (60) days from the time that the zoning map of the City of Russellville shall be amended to cause outdoor advertising structures that have been originally erected in an AG-1 AGRICULTURAL District to fall within any Residential zoning district, such structures shall be removed by the owner.

• Class A and Class B Manufactured Homes as defined under the criteria of Section 31.32 31.33 and 31.34 and Modular Homes as defined by 31.40, subject to review of the Compatibility Review Committee as provided in Section 44.1 above.

Uses Permitted by Special Exception:

• Aircraft landing fields, hangars, and associated equipment.

• Cemeteries.

• Golf courses and country clubs.

• Swimming pools.

• Recreational buildings of a public or semi-public land use.

• Public utilities.

Prohibited Uses:

• Class C Manufactured Homes and all other uses not specifically permitted or permitted by Special Exception.

SPACE AND HEIGHT REGULATIONS

(Ord. No. 2004-114, § 8, 11-15-2004)