West Haven City Zoning Code
A-1 ZONE
AGRICULTURAL
§ 157.230 PURPOSE AND INTENT.
The purpose of the A-1 Zone is to designate farm areas which are likely to undergo a more intensive urban development, to set up guidelines to continue agricultural pursuits, including the keeping of farm animals, and to direct orderly low-density residential development in a continuing rural environment.
(Prior Code, § 16.02) (Ord. 2-92, passed - -1992; Ord. 10-2021, passed 2-17-2021; Ord. 05-2022, passed 3- -2022)
§ 157.231 AGRICULTURE PREFERRED USE.
Agriculture is the preferred use in Agricultural Zone A-1. All agriculture operations shall be permitted at any time, including the operation of farm machinery, and no agricultural use shall be subject to restriction because it interferes with other uses permitted in the Zone.
(Prior Code, § 16.04) (Ord. 2-92, passed - -1992)
§ 157.232 PERMITTED USES.
(A) Accessory buildings or uses customarily incidental to any permitted or conditional use;
(B) Agriculture; agricultural experiment stations; apiaries; aviaries; and aquariums;
(D) Cemeteries; child day care, convalescent, or rest home;
(E) Churches, synagogues, or similar buildings used for regular religious worship;
(G) Fruit or vegetable stands for produce grown on the premises only;
(H) Golf courses, except miniature golf course;
(J) Greenhouses and nurseries, limited to sale of materials on premises and with no retail shop operations;
(K) Household pets;
(L) Parking lot accessoroes to uses allowed in this Zone;
(M) Private parks, playgrounds, or recreation areas, but not including privately-owned commercial amusement businesses;
(O) Public buildings; public parks; recreation grounds and associated buildings; public school; and private educational institution having a curriculum similar to that ordinarily given in public schools;
(Q) Single-family dwellings;
(R) Sugar beet loading or collection stations;
(S) Temporary buildings or uses incidental to construction work (see § 157.239); and
(T) School bus parking.
(Prior Code, § 16.06) (Ord. 2-92, passed - -1992; Ord. 02-2006, passed 2-1-2006; Ord. 03-2021, passed 2-3-2021)
§ 157.233 PERMITTED USE REQUIRING TWO ACRE MINIMUM LOT AREA.
Two-family dwellings are permitted.
(Prior Code, § 16.08) (Ord. 2-92, passed - -1992)
§ 157.234 PERMITTED USES REQUIRING FIVE ACRE MINIMUM LOT AREA.
§ 157.235 CONDITIONAL USES.
(A) Animal hospitals or clinics; and dog breeding, dog kennels, or dog training schools, on a minimum of two acres and not exceeding ten dogs of more than ten weeks old, per acre, at any time; provided, any building or enclosure for animals shall be located not less than 100 feet from a public street and not less than 50 feet from any side or rear property line;
(B) Greenhouses and nurseries limited to the sale of plants, landscaping materials, fertilizer, pesticide and insecticide products, tools for garden and lawn care, and the growing and sale of sod;
(C) Private parks, playgrounds, or recreation grounds and buildings not open to the general public and to which no admission charge is made, but not including privately-owned commercial amusement businesses;
(D) Private equestrian training and stable facilities on a minimum of five acres of land and at a density of not more than ten horses per acre;
(E) Public equestrian training and stable facilities on a tract of land with a minimum of ten acres in area and at a density of not more than five horses per acre;
(F) Public utility facilities, including, but not limited to, substations, culinary water treatment and/or storage facilities developed by a public agency meeting the requirements of §§ 157.655 through 157.662 as well as the standards of the state. Wastewater treatment or disposal facilities are excluded;
(G) The slaughtering, dressing, and marketing on a commercial scale of chickens, turkeys, or other fowl, rabbits, fish, frogs, or beaver in conjunction with the hatching and raising of such animals on farms having a minimum area of five acres;
(H) The overnight parking of not more than one vehicle other than an automobile, light truck, or recreational vehicle of not more than 24,000 pounds net weight, on property of not less than one acre in area and upon which the operator has his or her permanent residence; provided that the vehicle is parked at least 50 feet from a public street; and
(I) The storage and use of light construction equipment, such as a backhoe, front end loader, or up to a ten-wheel truck for off-premises contract work by the owner or resident of the property.
(Prior Code, § 16.12) (Ord. 2-92, passed - -1992; Ord. 03-2021, passed 2-3-2021)
§ 157.236 SITE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS.
Site Development
|
Permitted and Conditional Uses
|
Permitted Uses Requiring Two- and Five-Acre Minimum
|
Building height, single family dwelling Minimum Maximum | One story 35 ft. | One story 35 ft. |
Building height, accessory | See West Haven Zoning Code § 157.605, Accessory Structures | See West Haven Zoning Code § 157.605, Accessory Structures |
Minimum lot area | 20,000 sq. ft. | 2 acres, 5 acres |
Minimum lot width | 150 ft. over 40,000 sq. ft. 125 ft., 20,00 to 40,000 sq. ft. | 150 ft. |
Minimum yard setbacks Front Rear
Main building Side Dwelling Other main building Side, facing street corner lot Dwelling | Not less than 30 ft. back from the edge of the dedicated and/or projected road right-of-way where that right-of-way abuts the affected property See West Haven Zoning Code § 157.605, Accessory Structures 30 ft. See West Haven Zoning Code § 157.605, Accessory Structures 10 ft. with total width of two side yards not less than 24 ft. 20 ft. each side See West Haven Zoning Code § 157.605,Accessory Structures 20 ft. | Not less than 30 ft. back from the edge of the dedicated and/or projected road where right-of-way abuts the affected property See West Haven Zoning Code § 157.605, Accessory Structures 30 ft. See West Haven Zoning Code § 157.605, Accessory Structures 20 ft. each side See West Haven Zoning Code § 157.605, Accessory Structures 20 ft. |
(Prior Code, § 16.14) (Ord. 2-92, passed - -1992; Ord. 03-2021, passed 2-3-2021; Ord. 18-2022, passed 9-7-2022; Ord. 15-24, passed 5-15-2024)
§ 157.237 SUBDIVIDING LOTS IN A PLATTED SUBDIVISION.
In order to subdivide any existing lot in a platted subdivision in an A-1 Zone, the parcel to be subdivided must:
(A) Contain not less than 80,000 square feet before the proposed division; and
(B) The density cannot be increased beyond that of the then-existing Zone.
(Prior Code, § 16.16) (Ord. 2-92, passed - -1992; Ord. 14-2015, passed 8-5-2015; Ord. 10-2021, passed 2-17-2021)
§ 157.238 SIGN REGULATIONS.
§ 157.239 REGULATIONS FOR TEMPORARY STORAGE UNITS, CONTAINERS, AND STRUCTURES.
(A) Temporary storage units, containers, or structures will not be allowed in this Zone except for temporary new construction sites with a valid current building permit issued by the city. Temporary storage units, containers, or structures must be removed within 30 days of completion or abandonment of construction or permit expiration, whichever comes first.
(B) Temporary storage units, containers, or structures may be used for moving and are allowed on a hard surface in a Residential Zone for up to 14 days for the outgoing resident and an additional 14 days for the incoming resident.
(C) (1) Temporary storage units, containers, or structures may be used for remodeling projects in established neighborhoods for a period of up to 120 days if placed in the driveway of a residence and up to six months if placed behind a home, solid fence, outbuilding, or other obstruction as to obscure the view of the unit, container, or structure from the road.
(2) A valid current building permit is required.
(3) Permanent use of these temporary storage units, containers, or structures shall not be allowed in any Residential or Agricultural Zone on lots of less than one acre. One storage unit may be allowed per acre with a land use permit, which shall include a site plan and any required building permits.
(4) A temporary storage unit, container, or structure shall be placed on a hard surface such as gravel, road base, concrete, or asphalt. Note, the maximum number of temporary storage units, containers, or structures is one unit per two acres, then one per additional acre with a conditional use permit.
(5) The storage container must be placed behind a home, solid fence, outbuilding, or other obstruction as to obscure the view of the unit, container, or structure from the road.
(D) The city has no obligation or responsibility to research and enforce an applicant’s property’s existing private covenants, conditions, or restrictions prohibiting the use of temporary, or permanent use of, storage units, containers, or structures. It is the exclusive responsibility of a property owner to research and have full knowledge and understanding of those private covenants, conditions, or restrictions that run with, and are attached to, his or her property. By submitting an application to the city for a permanent or temporary storage unit, container, or structure, the applicant is certifying that he or she has full knowledge and understanding of those private covenants, conditions, or restrictions that run with his or her property and have a full understanding of whether those items prohibit the use of temporary or permanent storage units, containers, or structures.
(E) All tractor trailers on an agricultural, residential, or commercial parcel shall be licensed and registered with the state and must be actively used. Trailers not involved in a construction project that remain in a fixed location over 30 days shall be subject to fines, impoundment, and removal by the city.
(Prior Code, § 16.30) (Ord. 23-2020, passed 6-17-2020; Ord. 10-2021, passed 2-17-2021; Ord. 29-2021, passed 7-21-2021)
§ 157.240 ENFORCEMENT AND FINES.
(A) Enforcement and fines. Upon a determination that a violation exists, the Code Enforcement Officer, or his or her designee, will contact the owner and shall require such owner to halt, eradicate, destroy, remove, or otherwise cure the violation within 48 hours, or such later time as the Code Enforcement Officer, or his or her designee, may determine.
(B) Pre-existing conditions. In the instance of an existing storage unit, container, or structure that has been established for a permanent use, the owner shall have a pre-existing right, shall be a legally nonconforming use, and shall not be required to come into compliance with the new requirements adopted July 21, 2021. The following conditions do however apply to any such unit(s) as of the adoption of the original ordinance on April 10, 2020:
(1) Residential and Agriculture Zones. Temporary storage units, containers, or structures shall not be allowed in any Residential or Agricultural Zone on lots of less than one acre. The storage container must be placed behind a home, solid fence, outbuilding, or other obstruction as to obscure the view of the unit, container, or structure from the road.
(2) Commercial and Manufacturing Zones. A temporary storage unit, container, or structure shall not be allowed in any Commercial or Manufacturing Zone on lots of less than one acre. It must be placed on a hard surface such as gravel, road base, concrete, or asphalt, and made to look like the main structure on the property, including the use of similar building materials and colors.
(C) Temporary storage units. If the temporary storage unit, container, or structure is moved or otherwise modified, the property owner would have to comply to all requirements under the current ordinance.
(Prior Code, § 16.30.010) (Ord. 23-2020, passed 6-17-2020; Ord. 29-2021, passed 7-21-2021)