The RM-3 Multiple Family Residential District is intended to serve the residential needs of families and single persons desiring greater density, apartment-type of accommodation with central services, as opposed to the residential pattern found in one and two family and low rise multiple family districts. The RM-3 District will provide sites for multiple dwelling structures adjacent to high traffic generators usually found in areas of large nonresidential development and sectors abutting major thoroughfares. The district is further designed to provide a zone of transition between high traffic generators and other residential districts.

   The following uses shall be permitted, subject to the limitations of this ordinance:

   A.   Multiple family dwellings of a low rise type, including but not limited to multiplexes, townhouses and apartments as regulated in the RM-2 district;

   B.   Multiple family dwellings at greater density, subject to the following:

      1.   All ingress to and egress from the site shall be directly onto a major or secondary thoroughfare, having an existing or planned right-of-way width of at least 86 feet, as indicated on the Master Road Plan;

      2.   The site shall be developed so as to service only the residents of the multiple family development and any accessory buildings, uses or services shall be solely for the use of residents. Uses considered herein as accessory uses include: parking structures, swimming pools, recreation areas, pavilions, cabanas and other similar uses;

   C.   Independent and limited assisted housing for the elderly, subject to the following:

      1.   Only ranch-type and/or apartment-type dwelling or rooming units shall be permitted;

      2.   The total area devoted to common areas shall equal not less than 35 square feet for each dwelling unit. The total area devoted to a dining room shall equal not less than 18 square feet for each seat.

(Ord. No. 278-A, §§ 12, 13, 4-17-90; Ord. No. 278-N, § 13, 8-1-95; Ord. No. 278-R, § 6, 8-20-96)

   The following uses and others similar to those cited in this article may be permitted by the Planning Commission, subject to the general standards of section 25.02 and the specific standards imposed for each use.

   A.   Churches, synagogues, mosques and places of worship, subject to the following:

      1.   Buildings of greater than the maximum height allowed in this district may be permitted, provided front, side and rear yards are increased above the minimum required yards by one foot for each foot of building height that exceeds the maximum height allowed;

      2.   All ingress to and egress from the site shall be directly onto a major or secondary thoroughfare having an existing or planned right-of-way width of at least 86 feet as indicated on the Master Road Plan;

      3.   Parking lot screening meeting the requirements for moderate intensity impacts shall be provided as required in section 24.01;

      4.   Such facilities may include related community centers, provided that such centers are limited to activities sponsored by church members only. Such facilities shall not be used as catering halls;

      5.   All buildings shall maintain minimum rear and side yard setbacks of at least 50 feet.

   B.   Business and service uses located within a high or mid rise apartment building for the convenience of its occupants, including news, tobacco or candy stands, personal service shops, restaurants, delicatessens and similar shops as may be appropriate from those permitted in the C-1 Local Convenience Business District, subject to the following:

      1.   At least 100 dwelling units shall be contained within the high or mid rise building or group of buildings on the site;

      2.   All such incidental business and service uses shall be located within the interior of the building, totally obscured from any exterior view, with no part thereof accessible to the general public or to tenants from any public or private street, sidewalk or walkway;

      3.   No sign or window display for such business or service uses shall be visible from a sidewalk, street or public or private way;

      4.   Such business or service uses shall cover an area not in excess of 50% of the total area of the first story; not in excess of 25% of the story immediately above the first story; and shall be prohibited on all other floors. Such uses shall not be permitted on the same story or floor as residential uses unless separated by a firewall.

   C.   Essential services needed to serve the immediate vicinity, provided that appropriate screening, as determined by the Planning Department, shall be required when abutting single family dwellings.

   D.   Public utilities as regulated by section 3.02(I). Wireless communication towers, antennas and related facilities shall be further subject to the provisions of section 28.18.

(Ord. No. 278-Y, § 6, 5-16-00)

   The following accessory uses shall be permitted:

   A.   Accessory building structures and uses, including community garages, utility sheds and maintenance buildings, community buildings and swimming pools not in excess of 60 feet in length which are part of the multiple family project as regulated by section 28.00;

   B.   Amusement devices as regulated by section 28.01.

   A.   The following minimum site area in square feet shall be required per dwelling unit for each multiple family unit type:

 

 

   B.   The area used for computing density shall be the total site exclusive of any public right-of-way of perimeter bounding roads.

   C.   The following area and height shall apply:

      1.   Maximum height of building:

         a.   In stories: None.

         b.   In feet: None.

      2.   Minimum yard setback in feet:

         a.   Front and street-side setbacks shall be measured from the centerline of each road right-of-way (R.O.W.) in accordance with the city's Master Road Plan, as specified in the following schedule, plus the height of the building:

            Distance from centerline:

 

   *   Freeways shall be measured from the established right-of-way line.

   **   In the case of private roads, the front yard setback shall be measured from the road easement of common usage line abutting the subject lot.

   If the existing right-of-way is greater than that shown on the Master Road Plan, the front yard setback (or street-side setback) as measured from the centerline of the right-of-way shall be equal to one-half of the actual right-of-way of the street plus the height of the building for all classes of roads. Parking may be permitted to occupy a portion of the required front yard setback, provided it does not encroach into the first 50 feet of the project front yard.

         b.   Side:

            (1)   Least one: See paragraph (D).

            (2)   Total of two: See paragraph (D).

         c.   Rear: See paragraph (D).

 

 

      5.   Plans presented which include a den, library or extra room shall be counted as a bedroom for the purpose of this ordinance.

   D.   The minimum project yards shall be equal to the height of the building, but in no instance shall any project yard setback be less than 50 feet. The minimum distance between any two buildings shall be regulated according to the length and height of such buildings and in no instance shall this distance be less than 30 feet. The formula regulating the required minimum distance between two buildings is as follows:

S equals LA plus LB plus 2 (HA plus HB), divided by 6

or

S=LA+LB+2(HA+HB)
   6

where:

   S   equals required minimum horizontal distance between any wall of building "A" and any wall of building “B” or the vertical prolongation of either.

   LA   equals total length of building "A." The total length of building "A” is the length of that portion or portions of a wall or walls of building "A" from which, when viewed directly from above, lines drawn perpendicular to building "A" will intersect any wall of building “B.”

   LB   equals total length of building "B." The total length of building "B" is the length of that portion or portions of a wall or walls of building "B" from which, when viewed directly from the above, lines drawn perpendicular to building "B" will intersect any wall of building "A."

   HA   equals height of building "A." The height of building "A" at any given level is the height above natural grade level of any portion or portions of a wall or walls along the length of building "A." Natural grade level shall be the mean level of the ground immediately adjoining the portion or portions of the wall or walls along the total length of the building.

   HB   equals height of building "B.” The height of building "B" at any given level is the height above natural grade level of any portion or portions of a wall or walls along the length of building "B." Natural grade level shall be the mean level of the ground immediately adjoining the portion or portions of the wall or walls along the total length of the building.

   E.   The City Planner may modify the parking setback requirements where uses of a nonresidential type (churches, schools, public facilities, etc.) abut one another, provided that in no instance shall the planner reduce the parking setback to less than ten feet.

(Ord. No. 278-A, §§ 14, 15, 4-17-90; Ord. No. 278-F, § 4, 8-8-90; Ord. No. 278-G, § 2, 9-18-90; Ord. No. 278-R, § 7, 8-20-96; Ord. No. 278-X, § 3, 4-6-99)

   A.   Recreation areas and facilities shall be provided to sufficiently meet the anticipated needs of the residents of the development. The minimum land area for recreation areas and developed facilities shall be provided at the following rates exclusive of all required front yard setbacks. Side and rear yard setback areas may be included if they serve a functional extension of a designated recreation area.

      Apartment: 500 square feet/dwelling unit.

      Multiplex: 400 square feet/dwelling unit.

      Townhouse: 300 square feet/dwelling unit.

   In determining the adequacy of any proposed recreation areas and facilities, the City Planner may consider the type of unit, the demographic characteristics of anticipated residents and their recreation needs and the proximity of nearby recreation facilities.

   Provision of separate adult and youth recreation areas is encouraged. Recreation facilities generally shall be provided in a central location and should be convenient to the community center. A location adjacent to the community center is preferable for efficient construction, use and maintenance of all facilities. In larger developments, however, recreation facilities may be decentralized or part of an approved open space area plan.

   Natural features occurring on the site may be counted towards meeting the open space requirement, provided that improvements are provided which allow for the passive recreation usage of any such areas.

   All recreation areas shall be clearly delineated on a site plan with said land irrevocably reserved for this use. In phased development, a land reservation and a cash deposit or letter of credit shall be required to guarantee the completion of said improvements, if not completed in phase I.

   B.   Driveway approaches, but not driveways, shall be permitted in the required front yards.

   C.   Parking shall not be permitted in the first 50 feet of the project front yard or within 25 feet of any building. Parking shall be permitted in 50% of the required project side and rear yards but not closer than 25 feet to the building unless enclosed in a garage. Parking in tandem is prohibited, except parking may be allowed in driveway approaches leading to individual garages where provided.

   D.   No roadway within the multiple family development shall extend more than 400 feet without a curve, turn or stopped intersection.

   E.   Parking areas and active use recreational areas shall be effectively screened from abutting one family development as provided in section 24.01.

   F.   All units shall be provided with an opportunity for access to cable television with emergency alert or override system capabilities.

(Ord. No. 278-F, § 5, 8-8-90; Ord. No. 278-R, § 8, 8-20-96; Ord. No. 278-JJJ, § 2, 1-16-24)