Whitney City Zoning Code
§ 14.02.011 "MF-1
Multifamily residential district - 1.
(a)
General purpose and description.
The "MF-1" district is intended to provide for medium density residential development. This district functions as a buffer or transition between major streets, nonresidential areas or higher density residential areas and lower density residential areas. Density in this district is not to exceed fifteen (15) per acre.
(b)
Use regulations.
(1)
A building or premises shall be used only for the following purposes:
(A)
Three (3) or more single-family attached dwelling units, provided that no more than seven (7) dwelling units are attached in one continuous row or group and provided that no dwelling unit is constructed above another unit.
(B)
Multifamily dwelling (apartment building).
(C)
Nursing and convalescent homes.
(D)
Accessory buildings and uses, customarily incident to the above uses and located on the same lot therewith, not involving the conduct of a retail business.
(E)
Other uses as listed in section 14.02.022 of this article.
(2)
The following specific uses shall be permitted in an MF-1 district, when granted in accordance with section 14.02.023:
(A)
Country club or golf courses and related uses such as driving ranges but not including similar forms of commercial amusement such as miniature golf.
(B)
Museum, library, or art gallery.
(C)
Post office.
(D)
Radio, television, or microwave tower.
(E)
Other uses as listed in section 14.02.022 of this article.
(c)
Height regulations.
No building shall exceed thirty-five (35) feet. When buildings exceed one (1) story in height, an automatic sprinkler system shall be installed in accordance with existing fire codes and each unit shall have two points of entry or exit.
(d)
Area regulations.
(1)
Size of yards.
(A)
Front yard.
There shall be a front yard having a required depth of not less than twenty-five (25) feet as measured from the front property line. Accessory buildings shall be located not less than sixty (60) feet from the front property line.
(B)
Side yard.
There shall be a side yard on each side of the lot having a width of not less than ten (10) feet. There shall be ten (10) feet separation between buildings without openings (windows) and fifteen (15) feet between buildings with openings. A side yard adjacent to a side street shall not be less than twenty-five (25) feet. No side yard for allowable nonresidential uses shall be less than twenty-five (25) feet. If a side yard is adjacent to a single-family zoning district, then subsection (D) below shall apply.
(C)
Rear yard.
There shall be a rear yard with a depth of not less than twenty (20) [feet.]
(D)
There shall be a total of sixty (60) feet setbacks from the adjacent property line for buildings in excess of one (1) story in height when a MF-1 district is adjacent to a district zoned for single-family use.
(2)
Size of lot.
(A)
Lot area.
Each lot shall have a minimum three thousand (3,000) square feet per dwelling unit, not to exceed fifteen (15) dwelling units per gross acre. A maximum density of twenty (20) units per acre shall be permitted in accordance with the enhanced fire protection provisions of subsection (h) below.
(3)
Minimum dwelling size.
The minimum floor area of any single-family attached dwelling unit shall be seven hundred fifty (750) square feet, exclusive of garages, breezeways, and porches.
(4)
Lot coverage.
In no case shall more than forty percent (40%) of the total lot area be covered by the combined area of the main buildings and accessory buildings.
(e)
Parking regulations.
Two and one-half (2.5) off-street parking spaces shall be provided per unit. Required parking may not be provided within the required front yard. Off street parking spaces shall be provided in accordance with the requirements set forth in section 14.02.024.
(f)
Refuse facilities.
Every dwelling unit in a multifamily complex shall be located within two hundred fifty (250) feet of a refuse facility, measured along the designated pedestrian and vehicular travel way. There shall be available at all times at least six (6) cubic yards of refuse containers per thirty (30) multifamily dwelling units, for complexes with less than thirty (30) units, no less than four (4) cubic yards of refuse containers shall be provided. Each refuse facility shall be screened from view on three sides from persons standing at ground level on the site or immediately adjoining the property, by an opaque fence or wall of wood or masonry not less than six (6) feet or more than eight (8) feet in height or by an enclosure within a building. Refuse containers shall be provided and maintained in a manner to satisfy city public health and sanitary regulations. Each refuse facility shall be located so as to provide safe and convenient pickup by refuse collection agencies.
(g)
Border fencing. Border fencing of wood or masonry of not less than six (6) feet in height shall be installed by the builder at the time of construction of any multifamily complex, along the property line on any perimeter not abutting a public street or right-of-way. This fence shall be maintained throughout the existence of the multifamily unit by the owner of the unit.
(h)
Fire protection requirements.
When a builder/developer exercises the option for higher density provided by subsection (d)(2)(A), each building constructed to these standards shall contain an automatic sprinkler system to be installed at the time of construction, and thereafter operated in accordance with current applicable fire safety codes. In addition, each unit in any multistory design, regardless of density, shall be provided with two points of entry and exit with each providing separate access to places of safety in the event of fire or other emergency.
(Ordinance 2020-12 adopted 7/20/2020)