Land Development Code :: Back to Table of Contents

Section 1205.07    District 4: Historic Residential Neighborhood

  1. Purpose
    This District is established to preserve and protect the residential neighborhoods in
    the city's historic district. These neighborhoods, while containing some multi-family
    and single-family attached units, are dominated by a significant number of historic
    detached homes with relatively shallow setbacks and yard depths. Densities are
    relatively high, with lot sizes generally less than 30,000 square feet. There are strong
    connections and easy accessibility to the Village Core; however, increasing traffic
    congestion is a growing detriment to the quality of life in this District's residential
    neighborhoods. There are few environmental constraints on new development, but
    there also are few potential development areas. The regulations contained in this
    District are intended to permit compact residential densities, including multi-family
    residential uses, while assuring compatibility with existing residential neighborhoods
    and their historic character and strengthening this District's linkages with the Village
    Core. Potential traffic impacts from new developments will be scrutinized as part of
    the development approval process.

  2. Uses By-Right
    1. Residential:
      1. Family day care homes, small (1-6 children).
      2. Residential group homes for up to five handicapped or elderly people.
      3. Single-family, detached subject to the restrictions in (d)(4) of this
        section.

    2. Institutional/Civic/Public:
      1. Public park or recreation areas, including multipurpose trails.
      2. Public recreational facilities, indoor or outdoor.
      3. Essential public utility and public services installations, including bus
        shelters and bus stops, but not including water towers, power
        generating stations, transfer stations, or outdoor storage.

    3. Accessory Uses: See Section 1206.03.

  3. Conditional Uses
    The following uses shall be conditionally permitted in District 4 subject to meeting
    all applicable requirements set forth in this section and Section 1206.02, "Conditional
    Uses."
    1. Residential:
      1. Assisted living.
      2. Duplexes.
      3. Model homes.
      4. Multi-family.
      5. Residential group homes for the handicapped or elderly (from 6 to 8
        people).
      6. Single-family, attached.
      7. Townhomes.

    2. Commercial/Retail:
      1. Bed and breakfast inns.
      2. Private-membership recreational facilities or clubs.

    3. Institutional/Civic/Public:
      1. Cemeteries.
      2. Places of religious worship, including churches and synagogues.
        Religious schools and day care centers may be permitted as accessory
        uses within the same structure as the principal conditional use.
      3. Public, non-profit, or private cultural facilities, including but not
        limited to libraries and museums.
      4. Public safety and emergency services, including police or fire stations
        and emergency medical services.
      5. Schools, public or private -- preschool, elementary, secondary, or postsecondary -- including
        dormitories.

    4. Accessory Uses:
      1. Shared driveways for dwellings.
      2. See Section 1206.03.

  4. Property Development/Design Standards
    In addition to compliance with all applicable standards set forth in Chapter 1207,
    "Zoning Development and Site Plan Standards," development in District 4 shall
    comply with all of the following development/design standards (all standards are
    minimums unless otherwise noted):
    1. Maximum Net Density:
      1. Single-Family Detached: 4 dwelling units per acre unless the net
        density of a proposed development exceeds 150% of the net density
        of the residential development within 600 feet of a proposed
        development, excluding vacant parcels. In such case, while the
        maximum net density is 4 dwelling units per acre, the proposed
        development shall be a Conditional Use subject to procedures of this
        Code.
      2. Duplexes: 4 dwelling units per acre.
      3. Single-Family Attached: 6 dwelling units per acre.
      4. Townhomes: 8 dwelling units per acre.
      5. Multi-Family: 12 dwelling units per acre.

    2. Permitted Mix of Residential Uses per Development: Within any one
      residential development project in District 4, no more than 25% of the total
      number of housing units in the development shall be single-family attached
      and/or multi-family units.

    3. Open Space: In addition to compliance with the standards and requirements
      governing open space set forth in Section 1207.05 of this Code, development
      in District 4 shall set aside a minimum of 25% of the gross land area for
      private open space.

    4. Minimum Lot Size:
      1. Single-family detached and duplex: 6,000 square feet.
      2. Single-family attached: 6,000 square feet.
      3. Townhomes: 2,500 square feet.
      4. Multi-family: 10,000 square feet.

    5. Minimum Lot Width:
      1. Single-Family Detached: 60 feet.
      2. Duplexes: 60 feet.
      3. Single-Family Attached: 20 feet.
      4. Townhomes: 24 feet.
      5. Multi-Family Uses: 150 feet.
      6. Non-Residential Uses: 150 feet.
      7. Lots Abutting Railroad Right-of-Way: In order to enable an increase
        in the rear yard setback and allow room for a landscaped buffer
        between the dwelling and the railroad right-of-way when a lot abuts
        and backs onto a railroad right-of-way, the minimum lot width may
        be reduced by not more than ten (10) percent provided the lot depth is
        at least two-hundred fifty (250) feet.

    6. Setbacks:
      Unless modified pursuant to Section 1203.08, "Minor Modifications," the
      minimum yard setbacks in District 4 shall be:
      1. Minimum Front Yard Setback:
        1. Residential Uses Except Multi-Family: 35 feet.
        2. Multi-Family Uses: 15 feet.
        3. Non-Residential Uses: Minimum of 1.5 times the maximum
          height of the principal building.
        4. Averaging shall be Required for Setbacks: Except for new
          residential development on lots fronting arterial roads, the
          front setback shall not differ by more than ten (10) percent
          from the average of the front yard setbacks existing on the
          two properties immediately adjoining the subject property,
          unless approved by the Architectural and Historic Board of
          Review. If one or more of the adjoining properties is vacant,
          the front yard setback shall be fifty (50) feet.
      2. Minimum Side Yard Setback:
        1. Single-Family Uses: 8 feet.
        2. Duplexes: 10 feet.
        3. Multi-Family Uses: 10 feet.
        4. Side-Facing Attached Garage: 25 feet.
        5. Other Accessory Structures: 4 feet.
        6. Corner Lots: 35 feet for street side not designated as "front."
      3. Rear Yard Depth:
        1. Principal Structure: 40 feet.
        2. Accessory Structure: 4 feet.
      4. Arterial Setbacks: See arterial setback and landscaping requirements
        in Section 1207.04(k), "Landscaping/Buffering."

    7. Maximum Number of Units per Structure:
      1. Single-Family Attached: 8 attached units per structure.
      2. Townhomes: 6 units per structure.
      3. Multi-Family: 12 units per structure.

    8. Maximum Structure Height:
      1. Single-Family Detached and Duplexes: 35 feet.
      2. Single-Family Attached and Townhomes: 35 feet.
      3. Multi-Family: 40 feet.
      4. Non-Residential: 40 feet.

    9. Building Siting and Orientation.
      The following building siting and orientation requirements shall apply to new
      development in District 4, except for new development with a front yard
      depth of 130 feet or more:
      1. Principal Residential StructuresCSingle-Family Detached &
        Duplexes.
        1. The main entrance(s) to the residence shall face the street.
        2. The front wall of the principal structure shall be parallel to
          the street or perpendicular to a radius of the curve of the street
          extended through the approximate center of the main mass, if
          the street is curved.
      2. Principal Residential StructuresCSingle-Family Attached,
        Townhomes, & Multi-Family.
        1. The entrance to at least one dwelling unit within each
          building shall face the street. (See Figure 6.)
        2. Each unit within a structure shall have its own front entryway
          to the outside.
        3. The front wall of the principal structure, or the front wall of at
          least one principal structure in a multi-building development,
          shall be parallel to the street or perpendicular to a radius of
          the curve of the street extended through the approximate
          center of the main mass, if the street is curved.
      3. Principal Residential Structures on Corner Lots.
        1. In general, the structure shall face one of the streets and not
          the corner.
        2. One side of the structure shall be designated the "front" and
          shall be subject to the requirements set forth in paragraph (A)
          or (B) above, and requirements regarding private walks and
          entryways set forth below in subsection (12).
      4. Private Garages.
        1. Doors of attached garages shall not face the street.
        2. Detached garages shall be located only in the rear yard.
        3. New development of a residential dwelling shall provide
          space for the storage of at least one car within an enclosed
          garage.
      5. Non-Residential Development.
        1. The main entrance to the principal structure shall face the
          street.
        2. The front wall of the principal structure shall be parallel to
          the street or perpendicular to a radius of the curve of the
          street extended through the approximate center of the main
          mass, if the street is curved.
        3. The main body of the principal structure shall be closest to
          the street.

    10. Architecture and Design Standards.
      See Architectural Design Guidelines located in Appendix D.

    11. Bufferyard Requirements for Lots Abutting a Historic Landmark. New
      development on lots that abut a historic landmark shall establish a bufferyard
      equivalent to or greater than "Bufferyard C" as set forth in Section 1207.04(g)
      of this Code. The bufferyard shall be established on the boundary that abuts
      the historic landmark.

    12. Private Walkway Entrances. All new development shall connect the front
      entrance of the principal structure to the sidewalk with a private connecting
      walkway surfaced with either concrete, brick, or stone, except where the front
      yard is greater than 60 feet.

    13. Driveway Curb Cuts.
      1. Single-Family Detached and Duplexes: No more than 1 driveway
        curb cut per lot.
      2. Single-Family Attached and Multi-Family: No more than 2 driveway
        curb cuts per development site.
      3. Non-Residential Uses: No more than 1 driveway curb cut per lot,
        except that when the lot is wider than 150 feet then no more than 2
        driveway curb cuts per lot.

    14. Location of Parking. In addition to the off-street parking requirements set
      forth in Section 1207.12 of this Code, off-street parking shall be located only
      to the side and rear of the principal building. Off-street parking shall not be
      allowed within the front setback area.

    15. Distance Between Residential Buildings.
      Structures containing either single-family-attached, townhomes, or multifamily
      dwelling units shall be separated from each other by a minimum of
      twenty (20) feet at their closest points.

    16. Pedestrian/Bicycle Pathways and Linkages:
      1. Provision shall be made in the design of all developments for nonvehicular
        circulation systems, including but not limited to sidewalks,
        pathways, and bikeways.
      2. Any amount of land set aside for trails in a development shall be
        credited toward either the public or private open space requirements
        set forth in this section and in Section 1207.05 of this Code.
      3. Sidewalks at least five (5) feet wide shall be provided on both sides
        of all streets in District 4, shall run parallel to the street within the
        right-of-way, and shall be separated from the curb by a planting strip
        at least five (5) feet in width.
      4. To the maximum extent feasible, provision shall be made in the
        design of developments for interconnections with existing or planned
        streets and pedestrian or bikeway systems on adjoining properties,
        unless the City determines that such interconnections would have
        adverse impacts on open spaces, wetlands, sensitive environmental
        areas, or other significant natural areas.

    17. (16) Environmental Standards
      See Section 1205.13, "Floodplain/Floodway Overlay."