The purpose of the recreational residential district, RCR, is to acknowledge the existence of small-lot, waterfront subdivisions platted prior to the October 1, 1968 adoption of Zoning Regulations in Southampton County. The district regulations are intended to permit the development of existing vacant parcels and the redevelopment of residences should they be destroyed in these existing subdivisions. This district only applies to platted lots that were in existence prior to October 1, 1968 and are bound by both existing rights-of-way and a water body that meets the definition of "waters of the United States" as defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. This section does not apply to any properties not within a platted subdivision in existence on October 1, 1968.

(Ord. of 12-15-14)

In the recreational residential district, RCR, structures to be erected or land to be used shall be for one (1) or more of the following uses:

(1)

General agriculture, farming and forestry, including tilling the soil, raising of crops, truck gardens, field crops, orchards or nurseries for growing or propagation and harvesting of plants, turf, trees and shrubs and in general uses commonly classed as general agriculture and including use of heavy cultivating and tree harvesting machinery, spray planes and irrigating machinery, but not the commercial raising, commercial slaughtering or processing of animals or poultry.

(2)

Detached single-family dwellings.

(3)

Modular home as herein defined.

(4)

Bed and breakfast inn with a conditional use permit.

(5)

Camps, day or boarding, church camp, scout camp or similar camp involving permanent commercial or noncommercial facilities, with a conditional use permit.

(6)

Camping area or campgrounds for tents and tent campers, travel trailers or other recreational vehicles with a conditional use permit.

(7)

Churches and Sunday schools, rectories, parish houses, convents and monasteries, temples and synagogues and cemeteries accessory thereto.

(8)

Country inn with more than four (4) guest rooms with a conditional use permit.

(9)

Facilities and structures necessary for rendering public utility service, including poles, wires, transformers, telephone booths and the like for electrical power distribution or communication service, and underground pipelines or conduits for electrical, gas, sewer, or water service, but not including buildings, treatment plants, water storage tanks, pumping or regulator stations, major transmission lines, storage yards and sub-stations which are permitted with a conditional use permit.

(10)

Home occupation, urban.

(11)

Marina or yacht club with a conditional use permit.

(12)

Public or governmental buildings and uses, including schools, fire stations (volunteer or otherwise), parks, parkways, playgrounds and public boat landings except those which have been approved as a part of the subdivision plan, with a conditional use permit.

(13)

Restaurant with a conditional use permit

(14)

School bus passenger shelter without advertising.

(15)

Yard sale or garage sale for disposal of used household items, provided such sales are not held more frequently than twice a year on the same lot, are not conducted for more than three (3) days, and include items assembled only from households in the immediate neighborhood.

(16)

Accessory buildings and uses, including, but not limited to, accessory private garages, accessory farm buildings and other structures, servants or caretakers quarters, temporary family health care structures, as prescribed by §15.2-2292.1 of the 1950 Code of Virginia, as amended, guest houses, boathouses, swimming pools, accessory storage and accessory off-street parking and loading spaces and accessory nonilluminated or indirectly illuminated signs as follows:

(a)

A name plate or directional sign, limited in area to two (2) square feet, to identify the owner or occupant of a dwelling or building.

(b)

A sign limited in area to thirty-two (32) square feet for identification of a permitted home occupation.

(c)

No trespassing or no hunting signs, without limitations on number or placement, limited in area to two (2) square feet.

(d)

A sign, limited in area to twelve (12) square feet advertising products raised or made on the premises.

(e)

A sign, limited in area to thirty-two (32) square feet for identification of a farm or estate or a subdivision or its occupants.

(f)

A sign, limited in area to thirty-two (32) square feet, for a church bulletin board or identification of permitted public or semi-public uses, wildlife reservations, recreational uses, or clubs.

(g)

Temporary nonilluminated signs, limited in area to four (4) square feet, directing the way to premises which are for sale or rent.

(h)

A temporary, nonilluminated sign, limited in area to thirty-two (32) square feet, advertising real estate for sale or lease or announcing contemplated improvements of the real estate on which it is placed.

(i)

A temporary sign, limited in area to thirty-two (32) square feet, erected in connection with new construction work and displayed on the premises only during such time as the actual construction work is in progress.

(j)

Temporary signs at appropriate locations, on or off the premises, for direction of the traveling public, truck deliveries and employees to an activity or event, a church, school, historic place, subdivision or community, a construction site or excavation, airport, or other center of employment or visitor center or recreation facility in an isolated area of the county, limited in area to thirty-two (32) square feet and subject to approval of location, design, and wording, by the administrator. This permitted sign is not intended as an ordinary advertising device.

(k)

Temporary nonilluminated paper signs.

(Ord. of 12-15-14; Ord. of 12-21-15(7))

Except as provided elsewhere in this chapter, the minimum lot area for permitted uses shall be six thousand two hundred fifty (6,250) square feet.

(Ord. of 12-15-14)

Except as provided elsewhere in this chapter, structures shall be at least thirty-five (35) feet from any street, except that where an addition is planned to an existing nonconforming structure, such addition may extend or project into the required front yard provided such addition does not extend or project any closer to the street right-of-way than the original structure and provided that such addition does not exceed fifty (50) percent of the gross floor area of the existing structure.

(Ord. of 12-15-14)

(a)

Except as provided elsewhere in this chapter, the minimum lot frontage shall be fifty (50) feet.

(Ord. of 12-15-14)

Except as provided elsewhere in this chapter, the minimum lot width shall be fifty (50) feet.

(Ord. of 12-15-14)

(a)

Side setback. The minimum side yard for each main structure shall be ten (10) feet and the total width of the two (2) required side yards shall be twenty (20) feet or more.

(b)

Rear setback. Each structure shall have a rear yard setback of thirty-five (35) feet or more except if the rear yard abuts the waters edge or the seawall structure, no such setback shall be required.

(c)

Main structure. Each main structure shall have a rear yard of thirty-five (35) feet or more.

(Ord. of 12-15-14)

Buildings in the RCR district may be erected up to thirty-five (35) feet in height; except, that:

(1)

A public or semi-public building such as a school, church, library or general hospital may be erected to a height of sixty (60) feet from grade; provided, that required front, side and rear yards shall be increased one (1) foot for each foot in height over thirty-five (35) feet.

(2)

Church spires, belfries, cupolas, monuments, water towers, chimneys, flues, flagpoles, and television antennae and radio aerials less than one hundred twenty-five (125) feet in height, are exempt. Parapet walls may be up to four (4) feet above the height of the building on which the walls rest.

(3)

No accessory building which is within twenty (20) feet of any party lot line shall be more than one (1) story or fifteen (15) feet in height.

(Ord. of 12-15-14)

(a)

Of the two (2) sides of a corner lot in an RCR district, the front shall be deemed to be the shortest of the two (2) sides fronting on streets.

(b)

The minimum side yard on the side facing the side street shall be thirty-five (35) feet for both main and accessory building.

(c)

Landscaping of corner lots shall be limited to plantings, fences or other landscaping features of no more than three (3) feet in height within the space between the setback line and the property line on the street side of the lot.

(Ord. of 12-15-14)