Shenandoah County Unincorporated
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VII
Townhouses
§ 165-33 Area regulations.
§ 165-34 Minimum lot width.
A.
Minimum lot width for development shall be 125 feet at setback line.
§ 165-35 Minimum yard requirements.
A.
The front yard shall be 40 feet from road right-of-way line. Required parking may be located in a front yard, but not closer than 10 feet to the ultimate street right-of-way.
B.
The rear yard shall be 40 feet for each townhouse dwelling unit.
C.
The side yard shall be 10 feet for each end unit; 20 feet for each corner lot at street intersections.
§ 165-36 Maximum building height.
Maximum building height shall be 2 1/2 stories but not to exceed 35 feet.
§ 165-37 Other regulations for all townhouse construction.
A.
Each dwelling unit shall be separated by a noncombustible party wall going to the roof, with a fire resistance of not less than two hours duration.
B.
Each townhouse and/or townhouse parking area shall front on a dedicated public street, meeting State Department of Highways and Transportation and County standards, or on a private way or access easement, at least 30 feet in minimum width, which is to be maintained by owners or owners of such townhouse or townhouses or an association of property owners.
C.
Concrete curb and gutter shall be installed along both sides of all new streets within the development. However, should a new street act as a boundary for townhouse developments, curb and gutter need only to be installed on the side of the street adjacent to the development.
D.
Sidewalks of at least four feet in width, constructed of concrete, asphalt or brick shall be installed from parking areas to all townhouse structures served by such parking areas.
E.
The radius of culs-de-sac shall be at least 50 feet. No more than 25 dwelling units shall be located on any cul-de-sac.
F.
Accessory buildings are not permitted, except that on any lot there may be an enclosed storage shed not exceeding seven feet in height, and not exceeding ten by ten (10 x 10) feet in area.
G.
All townhouse developments must be connected to a public water and public sewer system.
H.
A ten-foot easement along the side and rear of properties shall be provided in addition to yard requirements in developments of under three acres.
§ 165-38 Variation in townhouse design.
The facades of dwelling units in a townhouse structure shall be varied by changed front yards of not less than two feet and variation in materials and design so that not more than four abutting units will have the same front yard depth or the same architectural treatment of facades and roof lines.
§ 165-39 Site plan review and approval required.
A site plan drawn and submitted in accordance with Article XIV is required.
§ 165-40 Special regulations for townhouse developments of three acres and over.
For townhouse developments of three acres or more, the following regulations shall apply in addition to those previously noted:
A.
There shall be provided twenty-five hundredths (0.25) square foot of open space (not including parking or driveway areas) devoted to recreational use for every one square foot of gross residential floor area. This space shall take the form of parks or play areas, etc., and shall not include front, rear or side yard areas of individual townhouse units.
B.
Management of open space.
(1)
All open space shall be preserved for its intended purpose as expressed on the site plan.
(2)
There shall be established a nonprofit association, corporation, trust or foundation of all individuals or corporations owning residential property within the development to ensure the maintenance of open spaces or other facilities.
(3)
When the development is to administer open space and other facilities through an association, nonprofit corporation, trust or foundation, said organization shall conform to the following requirements:
(a)
The developer must establish the organization prior to the sale of any property.
(b)
Membership in the organization shall be mandatory for all residential property owners, present or future, within the development.
(c)
The organization shall manage all open space and recreational and cultural facilities, shall provide for the maintenance, administration and operation of said land and improvements and any other land within the development and shall secure adequate liability insurance on the land.
(4)
Should the units be for rental purposes, the developer or rental agent shall be responsible for maintenance and management of open space.
C.
Parking shall be provided on the lot as carports or as an integral part of the townhouse, or a joint parking facility for a group of townhouses with such deed restrictions as are necessary to determine ownership and maintenance of common parking facilities and methods of assigning charges for maintenance, snow removal and repairs.
D.
Open space devoted to recreational use as herein required shall be designed for use by tenants of the development and shall be improved and equipped by the developer in accordance with approved plans.
E.
Screening shall be provided of sufficient height and density to screen the site from adjoining residential districts if other than R-3 Districts. A plan specifying type, size and location of existing and proposed material shall be submitted with the application for the permit.
F.
Parking facilities.
(1)
Required parking spaces shall be provided on the same lot as the building served or on a joint facility in the development.
(2)
All access drives shall be at least 15 feet from any building on the lot and from exterior lot lines.
(3)
Parking areas shall not be designed or located so as to require or encourage cars to back into a street in order to leave the lot.
(4)
Entranceways and exitways to parking areas shall have a minimum width of 12 feet for each lane of traffic entering or leaving the site but shall at no time exceed 30 feet in width at the street line.
(5)
All dead-end parking lots shall be designed to provide sufficient back-up area for the end stalls of the parking area.
(6)
All accessways and parking areas shall be paved with a double surface treatment or concrete covering.
G.
Drainage. A storm runoff and drainage system shall be installed by the developer so as to adequately dispose of all runoff and drainage away from the project site, and so as not to permit excess flow of water across streets or adjoining properties. Plans for such drainage systems shall be submitted with the application for the permit.
H.
Lighting. Lighting for buildings, accessways and parking areas shall be so arranged as not to reflect toward public streets or cause annoyance to building occupants or surrounding property owners or residents.
I.
Exterior storage areas for trash and rubbish shall be well screened on three sides and contain verminproof containers. Interior storage areas for trash and rubbish shall at all times be kept in an orderly and sanitary fashion.