The purpose of the residential district, R-2, is to provide for medium density residential use and variety in housing types together with those public and semi-public uses and accessory uses as may be necessary or are normally compatible with residential surroundings. In general, urbanization is planned and utilities and public services exist or are planned to be adequate for the type or types of development contemplated. An alternative to the basic area and dimensional regulations of this district may be employed to permit cluster development with the objective of improved use of the land and more economical provision of streets and utilities. Also, in conjunction with the provisions for conditional zoning as contained in article XIX, this district can be used to facilitate planned housing developments.

(Ord. of 6-18-90, § 19-6.1; Ord. of 12-19-05(2))

In a residential district R-2, structures to be erected or land to be used shall be for one (1) or more of the following uses.

(1)

Detached single-family dwellings.

(2)

Modular homes as herein defined.

(3)

Two-family dwellings, detached or semi-detached, subject to the special regulations of section 18-166 below.

(4)

Attached single-family dwellings (townhouses) subject to the special regulations of section 18-166 below, with a conditional use permit.

(5)

Multiple-family dwellings subject to the special regulations of section 18-167 below, with a conditional use permit.

(6)

Planned housing developments subject to the special regulations of section 18-165 below, with a conditional use permit.

(7)

Bed and breakfast inn or tourist home with a conditional use permit.

(8)

Rooming and boarding houses.

(9)

Clubs and lodges with a conditional use permit.

(10)

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

(11)

Convalescent homes, nursing homes or homes for the aged, and family care homes, with a conditional use permit.

(12)

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 substations which are permitted with a conditional use permit.

(13)

Home occupations, urban.

(14)

Hospital or clinic for humans with a conditional use permit.

(15)

Housing or dormitory facilities associated with schools, churches, and recognized nonprofit organizations, with a conditional use permit.

(16)

Nursery schools, kindergartens, child care centers, day nursery child day care centers or adult day care center with a conditional use permit.

(17)

Private schools, colleges or universities with a conditional use permit.

(18)

Professional offices, with a conditional use permit.

(19)

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.

(20)

Radio or television transmission or receiving station or tower less than one hundred twenty-five (125) feet in height; tower more than one hundred twenty-five (125) feet in height with a conditional use permit.

(21)

Recreational uses or facilities, commercially operated or for a private membership, such as golf courses, country clubs, game courts, swimming pools, archery range, and fishing or boating lakes, or similar activities, and accessory facilities, including sale of food, beverages, bait, incidentals, supplies and equipment, with a conditional use permit.

(22)

School bus passenger shelter without advertising.

(22.1)

Wireless communication facilities per section 18-427 of this chapter.

(23)

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.

(24)

Accessory buildings and uses, including, but not limited to, accessory private garages, an accessory dwelling unit per section 18-424(h)(8), and other structures, swimming pools, temporary family health care structures, as prescribed by §15.2-2292.1 of the 1950 Code of Virginia, as amended, 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 6-18-90, § 19-6.2; Ord. of 9-23-02(2); Ord. of 12-21-15(6); Ord. of 7-22-19, § 1)

Minimum lot area for individual or on-site sewage disposal systems is subject to health department requirements.

Lot width is measured at the building line.

(Ord. of 6-18-90, § 19-6.3; Ord. of 8-24-98)

Except as provided elsewhere in this chapter, structures shall be at least fifty (50) feet from any street right-of-way, except that where an addition is planned to an existing nonconforming structure, such an 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, except that permitted signs may be erected up to ten (10) feet from the street right-of-way. On a U.S. highway structures other than signs shall be set back at least one hundred (100) feet from the street right-of-way and on a primary highway at least seventy-five (75) feet.

(Ord. of 6-18-90, § 19-6.4; Ord. of 5-24-93)

Except as provided elsewhere in this chapter, the minimum lot frontage shall be twenty-five (25) feet.

(Ord. of 6-18-90, § 19-6.5)

Except as provided elsewhere in this chapter, the minimum lot width shall be one hundred (100) feet.

(Ord. of 6-18-90, § 19-6.6)

(a)

Side. The minimum side yard in an R-2 district for each main structure shall be ten (10) feet and the total width of the two (2) required side yards shall be twenty-five (25) feet or more.

(b)

Rear. Each main structure shall have a rear yard of twenty-five (25) feet or more.

(Ord. of 6-18-90, § 19-6.7)

Buildings in an R-2 district may be erected up to thirty-five (35) feet in height from grade; except, that:

(1)

The height limit of dwellings may be increased ten (10) feet and up to three (3) stories; provided, that there are two (2) side yards for each permitted use, each of which is ten (10) feet or more, plus one (1) foot or more of side yard for each additional foot of building height over thirty-five (35) feet.

(2)

A public or semi-public building such as a school, church, library or 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.

(3)

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.

(4)

No accessory building which is within ten (10) feet of any party lot line shall be more than one (1) story high. All accessory buildings shall be less than the main building in height.

(Ord. of 6-18-90, § 19-6.8)

(a)

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

(b)

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

(c)

Each corner lot shall have a minimum width at the setback line of one hundred (100) feet or more.

(d)

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 6-18-90, § 19-6.9)

(a)

Within an R-2 residential district with a conditional use permit in conjunction with an application for conditional zoning for residential R-2, and in order to encourage improved housing design, variety and flexibility in arrangement of housing types, preservation of natural vegetation and best use of topography, a site plan may be submitted for a planned housing development, together with a subdivision plan if required by this chapter or the subdivision ordinance, and such other descriptive material or proffers as may be necessary to fully determine the development, even though such development does not comply in all respects to the dimensional requirements of the R-2 district, provided:

(1)

One (1) or more major features of the development, such as unusual natural features, reduced yard spaces, planned open spaces, and varied building types and arrangements, are such as to justify application of this section rather than a conventional application of the other regulations of the R-2 district.

(2)

Materials submitted, drawings, descriptions, proffers and the like, are sufficiently detailed to assure compliance with the intent of this section.

(3)

The project itself, or a larger project of which it is a part, is of sufficient size in the location proposed as to permit development of an internal environment, which, if different from designs otherwise permitted, will not adversely affect existing and future development in the surrounding area.

(4)

The overall dwelling unit density for each section of the project does not exceed that permitted in the R-2 district for development of comparable housing types.

(5)

The development is designed to promote harmonious relationships with surrounding adjacent and nearby developed properties and to this end may employ such design techniques as may be appropriate to a particular case, including use of selected building types, orientation, spacing, and setback of buildings, careful use of topography, maintenance of natural vegetation, location of recreation areas, open spaces and parking areas, grading, landscaping and screening.

(6)

Provision satisfactory to the planning commission and approved by the county attorney shall be made to assure that nonpublic areas for the common use and employment of occupants, but not in individual ownership by such occupants, shall be maintained in a satisfactory manner without expense to the general taxpayer.

(b)

Procedures and general standards for approval of an application under this section and for changes in approved plans shall be the same as those for a conditional use permit as described in article XVIII or for conditional zoning as described in article XIX as the case may require, and for subdivisions under the subdivision ordinance.

(Ord. of 6-18-90, § 19-6.10; Ord. of 12-19-05(2)))

Cross reference— Subdivisions, Ch. 14.

(a)

The dwelling units and individual lots of a two-family dwelling or townhouse may be sold separately if separate utilities systems are provided and if separate lots for all dwelling units in a building are created at the same time and in conformance with the subdivision ordinance.

(b)

The following regulations shall apply to townhouses:

(1)

Overall project density shall not exceed twelve (12) dwelling units per acre exclusive of public rights-of-way.

(2)

A townhouse development or project shall consist of no less than three (3) and no more than eight (8) units contiguous to one another. A townhouse development or project containing twenty-five (25) or more dwelling units may include units designed as detached or semi-detached dwellings in accord with the development standards therefor but created as townhouses for the purposes of overall project density and right-of-way and property line setbacks.

(3)

The development or project shall be designed to promote harmonious relationships with surrounding adjacent and nearby developed properties and to this end may employ such design techniques as may be appropriate to a particular case, including use of building types, orientation, and spacing and setback of buildings, careful use of topography, maintenance of natural vegetation, location of recreation areas, open spaces, and parking areas, grading, landscaping and screening.

(4)

Each townhouse shall be erected or placed on a specifically designated land area or on a lot containing not less than two thousand (2,000) square feet. The remaining area (up to one thousand six hundred thirty (1,630) square feet) required to meet minimum project density shall be incorporated into useable and accessible common open space or spaces and/or private vehicular access or parking areas.

(5)

Each lot or designated land area containing a townhouse shall have a minimum width of sixteen (16) feet provided that the average width for all townhouses in a group shall be at least eighteen (18) feet and all townhouses except at the end of a row or group and those on corner lots or areas, shall occupy the full width of the lot or land area. No minimum depth is required.

(6)

No townhouse shall exceed three (3) stories and thirty-five (35) feet in height.

(7)

No townhouse shall be located closer than twenty-five (25) feet from any public right-of-way or project boundary nor within fifteen (15) feet from a private drive, access road or open parking area to the front or rear of such townhouse.

(8)

No more than four (4) abutting townhouses shall have uniform roof lines or the same setback. Variations in the setback of building faces shall be at least two (2) feet.

(9)

Side yard setback from a public right-of-way or from a private access road for corner units shall be at least twenty (20) feet.

(10)

A minimum distance of twenty-five (25) feet shall separate the end units of any two (2) groups or rows of townhouses, or any townhouse from any other abutting use or building type.

(11)

Each lot or land area containing a townhouse shall provide a private yard at least three hundred (300) square feet in area not including parking area and at least fifteen (15) feet in depth, enclosed visually by fences, walls or planting.

(12)

Each townhouse shall contain at least nine hundred (900) square feet of livable floor area, exclusive of garages, carports, cellars, basements, attics, open porches, patios or breezeways.

(13)

Provision satisfactory to the planning commission and approved by the county attorney shall be made to assure that nonpublic areas for the common use and enjoyment of occupants of townhouses, but not in individual ownership by such occupants, shall be maintained in a satisfactory manner without expense to the general taxpayer.

(14)

Required off-street parking space of two (2) spaces per dwelling unit may be provided on the lot or within one hundred fifty (150) feet of the lot.

(Ord. of 6-18-90, § 19-6.11)

Cross reference— Subdivisions, Ch. 14.

(a)

Overall project density shall not exceed twenty (20) dwelling units per acre, exclusive of public rights-of-way. Buildings must be three (3) stories in height if density is to exceed fifteen (15) dwelling units per acre.

(b)

The development or project shall be designed to promote harmonious relationships with surrounding adjacent and nearby developed properties, particularly in larger developments or projects where more than one (1) building is involved, and to this end may employ such design techniques as may be appropriate to a particular case, including use of building types, orientation, spacing and setback of buildings, careful use of topography, maintenance of natural vegetation, location of access points, recreation area, open spaces, and parking areas, grading, landscaping and screening.

(c)

The principal means of access to an apartment development or project containing more than twenty-four (24) dwelling units shall be from a thoroughfare of adequate physical and functional design to handle anticipated traffic needs. Secondary access to a local residential street will be permitted only in cases where there are overriding factors of health or safety for future residents of the project or where the arrangement and conditions of the minor streets are such that the projected increase in traffic will not substantially affect the use and enjoyment of the street by present or future residents.

(d)

No apartment building shall contain more than twelve (12) dwelling units and no more than three (3) apartment buildings shall be contiguous. This standard does not apply to housing for the elderly and handicapped.

(e)

No apartment building shall be located closer than fifty (50) feet from any public right-of-way nor within fifteen (15) feet from a private drive, access road or open common parking area whether oriented to the front, sides or rear of the buildings, except that parking areas may be located within five (5) feet and private drives may be located within ten (10) feet of any blank or windowless wall.

(f)

No garden apartment building shall be located closer than twenty-five (25) feet from a side or rear property line.

(g)

A minimum distance of twenty-five (25) feet shall separate any two (2) buildings or groups of apartment buildings from any other abutting use or building type.

(h)

At least four hundred (400) square feet of commonly useable open space shall be provided for each dwelling unit.

(i)

Where community refuse containers are provided as accessory uses to apartment developments, such containers shall be conveniently located for pick-up vehicle access and completely screened from view by means of a fence or wall with outside landscaping and an appropriately designed gate which can be latched open and closed.

(j)

Each garden apartment dwelling unit shall contain at least six hundred (600) square feet of livable floor area, exclusive of garages, carports, cellars, basements, attics, open porches, patios or breezeways, except that up to ten (10) percent of the units may be constructed with less floor area than this minimum.

(Ord. of 6-18-90, § 19-6.12)