A. DESIGN STANDARDS. General design requirements, as set forth below and/or as may be supplemented by additional considerations promulgated by the City and approved by City Council, shall be addressed:

1. Residential Design Standards. Neighborhood or individual lot layouts shall consider functional and visually-appealing features that contribute to residential livability and community sustainability appropriate to the district classification. Design solutions should address compatibility at the neighborhood, block and individual lot perspectives.

a. Architectural themes. Masonry, stucco and horizontal, treated siding materials are preferred, with tile roofs in varied roofline treatments. Porches or deeply-shaded eaves are encouraged.

b. Variety. Colored elevations shall illustrate that a minimum of three (3) different elevations are provided in each block face. Developments of forty (40) dwelling units or more should offer a minimum of five (5) different elevations. Two-story homes are discouraged on corner lots, on more than three (3) consecutive lots, or on lots abutting major or minor arterials (unless additional open space is provided).

c. Street appearance. Landscaping plans establish street tree themes – recommended minimum two (2) trees, plus shrubs per lot. Garage fronts should not predominate; they should be recessed and/or constitute less than fifty (50) percent of the residential facade.

d. Residential streets. Designs discourage through traffic, reduced street paving widths may be considered where off-street guest parking bays are installed.

B. No person, firm or corporation shall strip, excavate or otherwise remove topsoil for sale or for use other than on the premises from which the same shall be taken (except in connection with the construction or alteration of a building on such premises and excavation or grading incidental thereto).

C. Every dwelling shall be located and maintained on a lot as defined herein.

D. No space needed to meet the width, yard, area, coverage, parking or other requirements of this Ordinance for a lot or building may be sold or leased away from such lot or building.

E. No parcel of land which has less than the minimum width and area requirements for the zone in which it is located may be cut off from a larger parcel of land for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of building or development as a lot.

F. Every part of a required yard shall be open to the sky and unobstructed except for accessory buildings in a rear yard and except as otherwise permitted herein.

G. No lot shall be divided in such a way that any division of such a lot shall contain more dwelling units than are permitted by the zoning regulations of the district in which such lot is situated.

H. On an interior lot, in any Residential District, having no access to an alley and where the garage or carport is not attached to the main building, required side yards shall be maintained.

I. No building shall be erected and no existing building shall be moved, altered, added to or enlarged, nor shall any land be used, designed, or intended for any purpose, or in any manner other than is included among the uses as permitted in the district in which located (provided that any building may be moved off any lot).

J. No building shall be erected, nor shall any required open space be encroached upon or reduced, except in conformity to the yard, lot areas, open space, building location, and off-street parking regulations designated for the district in which it is located.

K. No yard or other space on one lot shall be considered as providing yard or open space for a building on any other lot.

L. A mobile home, recreational vehicle, or similar vehicle shall not be considered a dwelling unit, nor occupied as such, unless located in a recreational vehicle or mobile home park or mobile home subdivision. A mobile home, recreational vehicle, or similar vehicle shall be prohibited as a facility for any non residential use permitted in this Ordinance, except as an office when construction is on going on a site.

M. Any enclosed or roofed porch shall be considered a part of the main building in the determination of the size of yard or lot coverage.

N. A portal may encroach into the side yard setback and will not be counted as part of the main building in the determination of the size of yard or lot coverage.

O. Where two (2) or more lots are used as a building site and where main buildings cross lot lines, then the entire area shall be considered as one (1) lot, except that the front of the parcel shall be determined to be the front of the individual lots as originally platted or laid out.

P. In all zones which require a front yard, no obstruction to view in excess of three (3) feet in height shall be placed on any corner lot within a triangular area formed by the street property lines and a line connecting them at points thirty three (33) feet from the intersection of the street lines, except trees pruned high to permit unobstructed vision for automobile drivers; and pedestal type identification signs and pumps at gasoline service stations.

Q. Mechanical equipment, including but not limited to heating/cooling equipment, pool pumps, electrical equipment and motors directly related to the primary use of the property, shall be restricted from locating in the front yard. (Am. Ord. 20-1469, passed 7-13-20)