The agricultural (AG) zone is established to provide areas in which agricultural or agricultural business pursuits can be encouraged and supported within the Town. The AG zone is designed and intended to preserve existing large parcels of land currently in agricultural or agricultural business use intermixed with low density residential uses to protect an important part of the village atmosphere of the Town.

The allowable permitted, accessory, and conditional uses in the AG zone are specified in section 10-7A-2. A use is prohibited in the AG zone if it is designated as "not permitted" in section 10-7A-2.

A.

As per section 10-7A-2, restaurants are a permitted use in the AG zone, subject to the following:

1.

No more than one restaurant is permitted on any agriculturally zoned parcel.

2.

Restaurants are not permitted on agriculturally zoned parcels which are smaller than ten acres in size.

3.

A restaurant in the AG zone must have frontage on a dedicated street.

(Ord. No. 2023-07, § 2, 8-9-2023)

A.

Lot area: The minimum area of any lot or parcel in the AG zone is five acres.

B.

Lot width: The minimum average width of any lot or parcel in the AG zone is 200 feet.

C.

Lot frontage: Each lot in the AG zone must have frontage on a dedicated street, a publicly approved street, an approved private street, or an approved private lane, and the frontage must be at least 60 feet wide.

D.

Slope: No building, structure, excavation, or fill is allowed on any natural grade of 30 percent or more, unless it is specifically allowed under section 10-15B-9.A.

(Ord. No. 2023-07, § 2, 8-9-2023)

A lot that was created before the December 1992 adoption of this title is eligible for a building permit notwithstanding any nonconformity with the requirements of lot area, width, or frontage in section 10-10-3.

A.

Front setback: A lot or parcel in the AG zone must have a front setback of at least 30 feet. Any structure taller than 26 feet, or with a gross area of greater than 3,000 square feet must be setback from the front of the property by at least 100 feet.

B.

Side setback: A lot or parcel in the AG zone must have a side setback of at least 20 feet.

C.

Side setback; corner lots: In any corner lot or parcel in the AG zone, the side setback that is contiguous to the street or lane must be at least 30 feet.

D.

Rear setback: A lot or parcel in the AG zone must have a rear setback of at least 20 feet.

(Ord. No. 2023-07, § 2, 8-9-2023)

The following may encroach into any required setback:

A.

A fence or wall that complies with the requirements of this title and all other applicable codes or ordinances;

B.

Landscape elements, including trees, shrubs, and other plants; and

C.

A necessary appurtenance for utility services.

A.

For any portion of a building or structure located on a normal lot in the AG zone, the maximum building height is 26 feet, except for processing facilities, warehouses or similar storage structures, associated with the agricultural use of the land, which may be a maximum of 35 feet tall. For any portion of a building or structure located on a high-visual impact lot, the maximum building height is 21 feet.

B.

The height of any structure is measured from the uniform, natural, or cut grade as provided under section 10-15A-5. A chimney on a structure is excluded from the height calculation only if it is five feet wide or less.

C.

A structure in the AG zone cannot have more than two stories.

D.

No building in the AG zone can have a gross area of more than 5,000 square feet, except for processing facilities, warehouses or similar storage structures associated with the agricultural use of the land, which can have a gross area of up to 8,000 square feet.

E.

The maximum floor area of a restaurant in the agricultural zone is 4,000 square feet.

(Ord. No. 2023-07, § 2, 8-9-2023)

The minimum distance between any buildings or structures on the same lot or parcel of land shall be as determined by the Fire Marshal. Clustering of buildings is encouraged where practicable, to maintain the overall open character of the agricultural zone. No more than five percent of the area of any agricultural parcel may be given to building floor area.

(Ord. No. 2023-07, § 2, 8-9-2023)

All development in the AG zone must be consistent with the standards of chapter 18 of this title.

Each lot or parcel in the AG zone must have, on the same lot or parcel of land, off-street parking spaces sufficient to comply with chapter 23 of this title. Required parking spaces may not be provided in any required setback.

A.

Natural hazard: No permanent structure may be permitted or constructed if the construction would put real or personal property or individuals at unreasonable risk of harm or injury from natural, geologic, or topographic hazards including but not limited to landslides, floods, or excessive soil erosion. In addition to compliance with provisions of the state building code governing standards to meet the maximum foreseeable risk of such hazards, a person who develops, improves, manages, or owns such property shall safeguard the property and the general public from unreasonable risk of harm or injury from such natural hazards.

B.

Utilities: All utilities, including but not limited to water, sewer, electrical, telephone, fiber-optic lines, and cable TV, shall be placed underground.

C.

Geotechnical report: A geotechnical report describing the stability and suitability of a lot or parcel for development must be submitted and approval given prior to the issuance of any excavation permit, pursuant to chapter 15B of this title.

A.

Mechanical devices: Air conditioners, heating, cooling and ventilating equipment, propane tanks, swimming pool pumps and heaters, and all other mechanical devices must be screened from the surrounding properties and streets or lanes, and must be operated so that the noise does not exceed the applicable sound control levels under the Town ordinances. Facilities for the operation of alternate energy systems must be designed according to the standards in chapter 15E of this title.

B.

Storage: A required front or side setback may not be used to park or store any motor vehicle or vehicle accessory such as a camper shell, trailer, recreational vehicle, boat, motorcycle, or other wheeled accessory or conveyance.

C.

Screening: The property owner shall screen from public view or from surrounding properties the permanent outdoor storage of any new or used material including, but not limited to, lumber, auto parts, household appliances, pipe, drums, machinery or furniture.

D.

Wildlife corridors: The AG zone is comprised primarily of the greenbelt and Virgin River areas of the canyon valley. Much of the wildlife living in Zion Canyon depend on the river and the greenbelt for their survival. The Planning Commission may reasonably restrict the use of fences and walls within the AG zone to maintain adequate wildlife corridors for access from the foothills to the river valley.