Williams Bay City Zoning Code
ARTICLE 4
Density and Intensity Standards
§ 390-0401 Purpose.
This article regulates the development potential of all property within the jurisdiction of this chapter in order to protect and enhance the desired community character of the Village of Williams Bay. The purpose of this article is to indicate the maximum permitted density (for residential projects) and maximum permitted intensity (for nonresidential projects) of development on any given site within the jurisdiction of this chapter.
§ 390-0402 Intent.
This article is intended to implement the goals and objectives in the Village of Williams Bay Comprehensive Plan. Many of the Village's goals are difficult to address using conventional zoning techniques, particularly those that rely on minimum lot area requirements to establish maximum permitted residential densities to establish the character of nonresidential developments. Such approaches provide for minimum flexibility and/or the needless destruction of sensitive natural resources.
§ 390-0403 Approach.
The approach to regulating density and intensity that is employed by this article addresses both the development potential of a given lot as well as the goal of preserving sensitive natural resources located on the site.
§ 390-0404 Natural resources site evaluation.
A.
Purpose. An important goal of the Village of Williams Bay is to protect natural resources that are sensitive to disruption caused by development and/or other land use activities. These resources include floodways, floodplain areas, flood fringe, shorelands, wetlands, lake shores, steep slopes, and woodlands. These resources serve important functions that may be lost in the absence of correct mitigation approaches when these areas are subject to development and/or other land use activities. In many instances, these functions cannot be provided as well by other natural or man-made features. Specific broad categories of such functions include the protection and enhancement of air, surface water, ground water, and soil quality; habitat provisions and diversification; aesthetic diversification; and buffering effects.
B.
Natural Resources Site Evaluation Worksheet. This worksheet is intended to determine which areas of a site may be considered natural areas requiring protection and preservation and which areas are most suited for development.
Figure 390-0404: Natural Resources Site Evaluation Worksheet | ||
|---|---|---|
Step 1: Determine the Gross Site Area (GSA) of the Site | ||
A. | Total site area as determined by site survey | _____ acres |
B. | Sum up areas located within proposed street rights-of-way and within the proposed boundaries of public facilities designated in the Village's Comprehensive Plan and/or required for dedication per subdivision regulations | _____ acres |
C. | Sum up land that, although part of the same parcel, is not contiguous to or is not accessible from the road network proposed to serve the project | _____ acres |
D. | Sum up land that is proposed for a different development option or a different zoning district | _____ acres |
E. | Sum up areas covered by navigable waters (lakes and streams) | _____ acres |
F. | Add up Rows B through E | _____ acres |
G. | Subtract Row F from Row A (Row F - Row A) = Gross Site Area (GSA) | _____ acres |
Step 2: Determine the Required Resource Protection Area (RPA) of the Site: | ||
H. | Portion of gross site area containing floodways | _____ acres |
I. | Portion of gross site area containing floodplain areas | _____ acres |
J. | Portion of gross site area containing flood fringes | _____ acres |
K. | Portion of gross site area containing wetlands | _____ acres |
L. | Portion of gross site area containing lake shores | _____ acres |
M. | Portion of gross site area containing woodlands | _____ acres |
N. | Portion of gross site area containing steep slopes | _____ acres |
O. | Add up Rows H through N = Required Resource Protection Area (RPA) | _____ acres |
Step 3: Determine the Net Developable Area (NDA) of the Site: | ||
P. | Subtract Row O from Row G (Row G [GSA] - Row O [RPA]) = Net Developable Area (NDA) | _____ acres |
Q. | Multiply Row P by the maximum gross intensity or density allowable in the zoning district to calculate maximum development potential for the site | _____ acres |
§ 390-0405 Instructions for determining density and intensity.
This article, in conjunction with the density and intensity regulations included in Article 2, contains the standards that determine the maximum amount of development permitted on any given site. There are inherent differences between residential and nonresidential land uses. Therefore, residential and nonresidential development is regulated differently in this article.
A.
The following instructions apply to both residential and nonresidential development:
(1)
Consult the Village's Comprehensive Plan for policies applicable to the subject property, particularly the Future Land Use and Transportation Maps.
(2)
Consult the Village's Official Map for planned capital facilities and dedication requirements that may affect the subject property, including schools, parks, stormwater management facilities, and street improvements.
(3)
The amount and type of development any given site may contain is directly related to the zoning district in which the site is located. The current zoning designation as depicted on the Village's Official Zoning Map should be compared with the description of that district provided in Article 2.
(4)
The effect of protected natural resources on the development potential of the subject property should be evaluated. A Natural Resources Site Evaluation Worksheet (see Figure 390-0404 above) should be completed for the site. All resources listed should be identified on the subject property, and the total area of the property (in acres) covered by those resources [resource protection areas (RPA)] should be determined, as should the gross site area (GSA) and the net developable area (NDA) of the subject property.
B.
The following instructions apply only to residential development:
(1)
Determine the types of dwelling units allowed on the subject property by checking the zoning district in Article 2. Section 390-0306 provides detailed descriptions and regulations for each dwelling unit (land use) type.
(2)
Determine the maximum gross density allowed on the site. The maximum gross density, per the zoning district of the subject property (see Article 2), should be noted and used in step (4) below.
(3)
Determine the maximum number of units allowed on the site. The maximum gross density, identified in step (3), above, multiplied by the gross site area calculated in step (2), above, equals the maximum number of dwelling units permitted on the subject property under the selected development option within the zoning district of the subject property. The ability to actually develop this number of dwelling units on the subject property is not guaranteed by the provisions of this section. Inefficient site design, poor property configuration, and other factors may result in a lower number of units actually fitting on the site.
(4)
Check the minimum lot area (MLA) requirement of the subject property (refer to § 390-0114 for a definition). The MLA must be greater than or equal to than the lot size requirement for the type of dwelling unit proposed for the project in step (1), above. If the proposed MLA is smaller than the lot size requirement given in step (1), then a larger lot size must be proposed or a different dwelling unit type with a smaller lot size requirement must be selected [in which case, it may be advantageous to repeat steps (1) through (5) using a different dwelling unit type].
C.
The following instructions apply only to nonresidential development:
(2)
Check the minimum lot area requirement against the gross site area present on the subject property as determined under the natural resources site evaluation in § 390-0405A(4), above. If the GSA is less than the MLA required by the zoning district, then additional property must be acquired. In other words, the GSA must be greater than or equal to the MLA.
(3)
Check the minimum landscape surface ratio (LSR) requirement (refer to Article 9) against the required resource protection area (RPA) present on the subject property. The LSR should be multiplied by the GSA used in step (2) above. The resulting product is the area of the site that must be permanently protected as green space. This area should be compared with the required RPA on the subject property as determined under the natural resource site evaluation in § 390-0405A(4), above. If the area of the site containing sensitive natural resources exceeds the area of permanently protected landscape surface required, then more floors could be added to the proposed building in order to approach maximum development potential on the site. In other words, if the RPA is greater than the LSR, the use of more floors may permit the development of more floor area on the subject property.
(4)
Check the maximum building size (MBS) requirement indicated in Article 2. If the MBS given is smaller than the proposed building size calculated in step (5) above, then a smaller building must be proposed, or the use of additional buildings may be considered.