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City of Lancaster, WI
Grant County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
A. 
Establishment. The following zoning districts are hereby established:
[Amended 11-17-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-05]
R-A
Residential-Agriculture District
R-1
Single-Family Residential District
R-2
One- and Two-Family Residential District
R-3
Multifamily Residential District
C-1
General Business District
C-2
Central Business District
I
General Industry District
CON
Conservancy District
U
Utility and Government Use District
PUD
Planned Unit Development District
BIPD
Business and Industrial Park District
B. 
District boundaries. The boundaries of these districts are hereby established as shown on a map titled "Zoning Map, City of Lancaster, Wisconsin," which accompanies and is part of this chapter. Such boundaries shall be construed to follow corporate limits; U.S. Land Survey lines; lot or property lines; center lines of streets, highways, alleys, and easements; or such lines extended, unless otherwise noted on the Zoning Map.
C. 
Vacation. Vacation of public streets and alleys shall cause the land vacated to be automatically placed in the same district as the abutting side to which the vacated land reverts.
D. 
Annexations. Annexations to the City subsequent to the effective date of this chapter shall be temporarily placed in a zoning district as determined by the Plan Commission. Within three months of the filing of the petition, the Plan Commission shall evaluate and recommend a permanent district classification to the Common Council.
E. 
Zoning Map. The Zoning Map adopted as part of this chapter shall bear upon its face the attestation of the City Clerk/Treasurer and shall be available to the public in the office of the Zoning Administrator. The Zoning Map shall be updated annually to reflect any zoning changes. Zoning changes shall be effective immediately upon publication.
A. 
Purpose. The purpose of the R-A District is to provide a district which permits agriculture, animal husbandry, and forestry within the City until such time as the land is needed for more intensive development.
B. 
Permitted uses.
(1) 
Agriculture, animal husbandry, and forestry (SIC Major Groups 01, 02, 08 and 09).
(2) 
Stands for the sale of agricultural products, provided that such products are raised on the premises.
(3) 
Public parks and playgrounds.
(4) 
Home occupations (permitted).
[Added 11-17-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-05]
C. 
Conditional uses.
(1) 
One-family dwellings.
(2) 
Elementary and secondary schools, public, parochial, and private.
(3) 
Churches and cemeteries.
(4) 
Utilities.
(5) 
Home occupations (conditional).
(6) 
Professional home offices.
(7) 
Bed-and-breakfast lodging (SIC Major Group 70).
D. 
Prohibited structures. No home less than 24 feet in width and 24 feet in length shall be allowed.
E. 
Dimensional requirements.
(1) 
Minimum lot width: 150 feet.
(2) 
Minimum lot area: one acre per family. All residential structures shall have a minimum lot area as if located in an R-1 District concerning new subdivision construction.
(3) 
Minimum yards.
(a) 
Street: 50 feet.
(b) 
Side: 50 feet.
(c) 
Street side: 50 feet.
(d) 
Rear: 50 feet.
(4) 
Maximum building height: 35 feet.
(5) 
All principal structures shall have a pitched roof with 3.5 feet of rise for every 12 feet of run.
F. 
Guidelines for number of farm animals allowed in a pasture.
(1) 
Continuous pasturing for the season:
(a) 
Rough or wooded pasture: three acres per animal.
(b) 
Open pasture: two acres per animal.
(c) 
Rotation grazing: one acre per animal.
(d) 
Pastures should be fertilized in the spring and fall according to industry standards.
A. 
Purpose. The purpose of the R-1 District is to provide a residential district for primarily single-family homes on large lots.
B. 
Permitted uses.
(1) 
One-family dwellings.
(2) 
Public parks and playgrounds.
(3) 
Home occupations (permitted).
(4) 
Day-care facilities.
C. 
Conditional uses.
(1) 
Elementary and secondary schools.
(2) 
Churches and cemeteries.
(3) 
Utilities.
(4) 
Two-family dwellings.
(5) 
Home occupations (conditional).
(6) 
Professional home offices.
(7) 
Bed-and-breakfast lodging (SIC Major Group 70).
(8) 
One- and two-unit condominiums.
[Added 2-20-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-01]
D. 
Prohibited structures. No home less than 24 feet in width and with less than 1,050 square feet per dwelling shall be allowed.
[Amended 11-17-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-05]
E. 
Dimensional requirements.
(1) 
Minimum lot width: 75 feet in new subdivisions and construction; 60 feet in areas identified below in Subsection E(6).
(2) 
Minimum lot area.
(a) 
One-family: 9,000 square feet in new subdivisions and construction; 7,200 square feet in areas identified below in Subsection E(6).
(b) 
Two-family: 5,000 square feet per dwelling unit.
(c) 
All residential structures shall have a minimum lot area as if located in an R-1 District concerning new subdivision construction.
(3) 
Minimum yards.
(a) 
Street: 25 feet.
(b) 
Side: an aggregate of 20 feet for both sides and no single side yard less than eight feet.
(c) 
Street side: 20 feet.
(d) 
Rear: 25 feet.
(4) 
Maximum building height: 35 feet maximum.
(5) 
All principal structures shall have a pitched roof with 3.5 feet of rise for every 12 feet of run.
(6) 
The following areas of the Original Plat of the City of Lancaster shall allow a minimum lot width of 60 feet and a minimum lot area of 7,200 square feet:
(a) 
Ryland's Addition.
(b) 
Reed's Addition.
(c) 
Heberlein Addition.
(d) 
Burt's Addition.
(e) 
Clarke's Subdivision.
(f) 
Schmitts Addition.
(g) 
Phillips Addition.
(h) 
All those areas of the City of Lancaster as set forth in the 1918 Grant County Atlas.
A. 
Purpose. The purpose of the R-2 District is to provide a residential district which permits both single-family homes and duplexes. The district permits the division of older, larger, single-family homes into two units.
B. 
Permitted uses.
(1) 
Those uses permitted in the R-1 District.
(2) 
Two-family dwellings.
(3) 
Renting of rooms, provided that there are not more than two boarders or lodgers not members of the family.
(4) 
Day-care facilities.
C. 
Conditional uses.
(1) 
Elementary and secondary schools.
(2) 
Churches and cemeteries.
(3) 
Rest homes, nursing homes, and homes for the aged.
(4) 
Children's nurseries and day-care centers.
(5) 
Group homes.
(6) 
Home occupations (conditional).
(7) 
Professional home offices.
(8) 
Utilities.
(9) 
Bed-and-breakfast lodging (SIC Major Group 70).
(10) 
Renting of rooms with three boarders or lodgers not members of the family.
(11) 
One- and two-unit condominiums.
[Added 2-20-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-01]
D. 
Prohibited structures. No home less than 24 feet in width and with less than 1,050 square feet per dwelling shall be allowed.
[Amended 11-17-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-05]
E. 
Dimensional requirements.
(1) 
Minimum lot width: 60 feet.
(2) 
Minimum lot area: 7,200 square feet. All residential structures shall have a minimum lot area as if located in a R-1 District concerning new subdivision construction.
(3) 
Minimum yards.
(a) 
Street: 25 feet.
(b) 
Side: an aggregate of 20 feet for both sides and no single side yard less than eight feet.
(c) 
Street side: 20 feet.
(d) 
Rear: 25 feet.
(4) 
Maximum building height: 35 feet.
(5) 
All principal structures shall have a pitched roof with 3.5 feet of rise for every 12 feet of run.
A. 
Purpose. The purpose of the R-3 District is to provide a residential district for multifamily dwelling units.
B. 
Permitted uses.
(1) 
Those uses permitted in the R-1 and R-2 Districts.
(2) 
Multifamily dwellings.
(3) 
Children's day care and nurseries.
C. 
Conditional uses.
(1) 
Elementary and secondary schools.
(2) 
Churches and cemeteries.
(3) 
Rest homes, nursing homes, and homes for the aged.
(4) 
Group homes.
(5) 
Home occupations (conditional).
(6) 
Professional home offices.
(7) 
Utilities.
(8) 
Mobile home parks.
(9) 
Bed-and-breakfast lodging (SIC Major Group 70).
(10) 
One- and two-unit condominiums.
[Added 2-20-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-01]
D. 
Prohibited structures. No home less than 24 feet in width and with less than 1,050 square feet per dwelling shall be allowed.
[Amended 11-17-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-05]
E. 
Dimensional requirements.
(1) 
Minimum lot width: 60 feet.
(2) 
Minimum lot area.
(a) 
One-family or two-family: 7,200 square feet.
(b) 
Multiple dwelling units with three or more units:
[1] 
Efficiency units: 2,000 square feet per dwelling unit.
[2] 
One-bedroom units: 2,500 square feet per dwelling unit.
[3] 
Two-bedroom units: 3,000 square feet per dwelling unit.
[4] 
Three-bedroom units: 3,500 square feet per dwelling unit.
(c) 
All residential structures shall have a minimum lot area as if located in a R-1 District concerning new subdivision construction.
(3) 
Maximum building height: 35 feet maximum.
(4) 
Minimum yards.
(a) 
Street: 25 feet.
(b) 
Side: an aggregate of 20 feet for both sides and no single side yard less than eight feet.
(c) 
Street side: 20 feet.
(d) 
Rear: 25 feet.
(5) 
All principal structures shall have a pitched roof with 3.5 feet of rise for every 12 feet of run.
A. 
Purpose. The purpose of the C-1 District is to provide a business district which permits commercial development outside the Central Business District.
B. 
Permitted uses.
(1) 
General merchandise stores (SIC Major Group 53).
(2) 
Food stores (SIC Major Group 54).
(3) 
Apparel and accessory stores (SIC Major Group 56).
(4) 
Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores (SIC Major Group 57).
(5) 
Eating and drinking places (SIC Major Group 58).
(6) 
Miscellaneous retail (SIC Major Group 59, except fuel and ice dealers SIC Major Group 598).
(7) 
Finance, insurance and real estate services (SIC Major Groups 60 to 67).
(8) 
Personal services (SIC Major Group 72).
(9) 
Business services (SIC Major Group 73).
(10) 
Miscellaneous repair services (SIC Major Group 76) except for repair of automobile equipment, agricultural equipment or other large pieces of equipment which require truck delivery.
(11) 
Motion pictures (SIC Major Group 78).
(12) 
Health services including use of helipad connected with hospital use (SIC Major Group 80).
(13) 
Legal services (SIC Major Group 81).
(14) 
Education services (SIC Major Group 82).
(15) 
Social services (SIC Major Group 83).
(16) 
Museums, art galleries, and botanical and zoological gardens (SIC Major Group 84).
(17) 
Membership organizations (SIC Major Group 86).
(18) 
Miscellaneous services (SIC Major Group 89).
(19) 
Public administration (SIC Major Groups 91 to 97).
(20) 
Residential use above a first floor permitted business use.
(21) 
Communications (SIC Major Group 48).
C. 
Conditional uses.
(1) 
Building materials, hardware, garden supply and mobile home dealers (SIC Major Group 52).
(2) 
Automobile dealers and gasoline service stations (SIC Major Group 55).
(3) 
Fuel and ice dealers (SIC Major Group 598).
(4) 
Establishments for repair of automobile equipment, agricultural equipment or other large pieces of equipment which require truck delivery (SIC Major Group 76).
(5) 
Amusement and recreation services, except motion picture (SIC Major Group 79).
(6) 
Utilities.
(7) 
Car washes (SIC Major Group 75).
(8) 
Construction contractors (SIC Major Groups 15, 16 and 17).
(9) 
A first floor residential use in a building with a permitted business use.
(10) 
Highway-oriented transportation service businesses (SIC Major Group 75).
(11) 
Mini storage buildings and warehousing units (SIC Major Group 42).
D. 
Dimensional requirements.
(1) 
Minimum lot width: 60 feet.
(2) 
Minimum lot area: 15,000 square feet.
(3) 
Minimum yards.
(a) 
Street: 25 feet.
(b) 
Side: 10 feet.
(c) 
Street side: 10 feet.
(d) 
Rear: 25 feet.
(4) 
Maximum building height: 35 feet maximum.
A. 
Purpose. The purpose of the C-2 District is to provide a district for businesses located downtown which permits common wall construction and commercial development on smaller lots or assemblages.
B. 
Permitted uses.
(1) 
Those specified uses in the C-1 District.
C. 
Conditional uses.
(1) 
Those conditional uses in the C-1 District.
D. 
Dimensional requirements.
(1) 
Minimum lot area: no minimum requirements.
(2) 
Minimum lot width: no minimum requirements.
(3) 
Minimum yards.
(a) 
Street: no minimum requirements.
(b) 
Side: no minimum requirements.
(c) 
Street side: no minimum requirements.
(d) 
Rear: no minimum requirements.
(4) 
Maximum building height: 50 feet.
[Added 9-18-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-03]
A. 
Purpose and intent. The purpose of the BIPD District is to provide lands for and encourage the development of technological/industrial parks which will accommodate certain light industrial, technological, professional offices and other similar activities. Building massing should be sensitive to human scale. High standards of architecture, landscaping and site planning are encouraged. Aesthetic goals of the district include a park-like appearance, good architecture, clean uses, and avoiding large areas of parked trucks and equipment. These areas should be developed so as to recognize the impact on surrounding or adjacent development and contribute to the overall image of the community. Compatibility with adjacent land uses and zoning is required. It is the intent of this district to:
(1) 
Provide a planned business and industrial park environment.
(2) 
Assure control over the physical and visual design of the City's employment areas.
(3) 
Provide flexibility to respond to the needs of local business without adversely impacting adjacent development or neighborhoods.
(4) 
Provide for major development opportunity for economic development prospects.
B. 
Permitted and conditional uses. The following are types of uses that are permitted in this district without a conditional use permit:
(1) 
Administrative, executive, and business offices. No retail except by conditional use permit and if it is an ancillary to the primary use.
(2) 
Professional offices for accounting, architectural, engineering, law, etc.
(3) 
Research and development offices.
(4) 
Warehousing/distribution facilities including corporate sales offices of 50,000 square feet or less. Larger allowed by conditional use permit.
(5) 
Light manufacturing.
(6) 
Light industrial.
(7) 
Other uses by conditional use permit.
C. 
Dimensional requirements.
(1) 
Minimum lot area: one acre.
[Amended 12-16-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-03]
(2) 
Minimum lot width: 100 feet.
(3) 
Minimum lot depth: no requirement.
(4) 
Minimum setbacks.
(a) 
Street: 25 feet.
(b) 
Sides: 10 feet.
(c) 
Rear: 25 feet.
[1] 
Special condition for Arrow Ridge Business Park lots west of Roosevelt Street: A vegetative buffer is required between uses in the business and industrial park and other land uses such as residential. No development other than landscaping is allowed within the required rear yard setbacks.
(5) 
Maximum building height: 35 feet. Applications for buildings higher than 35 feet will trigger a conditional use permit process. The height must conform with all federal aviation standards to be considered.
(6) 
Lot coverage: 85% impervious surface (maximum); 15% green space (minimum). Impervious surfaces are defined as roads, streets, sidewalks and other paved areas, buildings (excluding overhangs), decks, terraces, and patios, incidental outside storage or any other material that would prevent water from percolating into the ground.
D. 
Conditional uses.
[Amended 11-17-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-05]
(1) 
Private wastewater treatment plants associated with any permitted uses, subject to the conditions in § 434-78.
(2) 
Wastewater pretreatment facilities associated with any permitted use, subject to the conditions in Article IX and any such additional requirements from § 434-78 that the Zoning Administrator or Plan Commission shall require upon review of an application under Article IX.
E. 
Plans and specifications. All plans submitted are required to conform with Chapter 430, Commercial, Industrial and Institutional Development, of the City of Lancaster Code.
(1) 
No buildings, fence, wall, sign, advertising device, roadway, loading facility, outside storage facility, parking area, site grading, planting, landscaping, facility or plant for industrial waste or sewage disposal, nor any other improvement, shall be commenced, erected or constructed, nor shall any addition thereto or change or alteration therein be made (except to the interior of a building), nor shall any change in the use of any premises be made, until the plans and specifications therefor, showing any nature, kind, shape, heights, materials, color scheme, lighting and location on the lot of the proposed uses or change in the use of the premises, shall have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Zoning Administrator. A copy of plans and specifications as finally approved shall be filed permanently with the Zoning Administrator. The Zoning Administrator shall have the right to refuse to approve any such plans or specifications or proposed use of the premises for any reason which the Zoning Administrator, in his sole discretion, may deem in the best interests of the park and the owners or lessees or prospective owners or lessees of other properties therein.
(2) 
Construction and alteration of all improvements in the park shall be in accordance with the requirements of all applicable building, zoning and other codes and regulations.
(3) 
No site shall be less than one acre in area.
[Amended 11-17-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-05]
(4) 
No spoil excavated or dug on the park premises shall be removed from the area of the park, and if the owner of any lot has any excess of such spoil excavated during construction, it shall be deposited at such location within the park as the Zoning Administrator shall in writing designate. However, the owner of the lot from which such spoil is removed shall not be responsible for the leveling thereof on any area so designated for depositing the excess spoil beyond or outside of the boundaries of the owner's lot. Spoils which are not needed in the park may be removed upon the written approval of the Zoning Administrator on a case by case basis.
(5) 
Architectural review by the Zoning Administrator will take into account the appearance of all buildings, parking areas and storage areas as viewed from U.S. Highway 129, Lincoln Avenue, County A, and Elm Street.
F. 
Development standards.
(1) 
Signage.
(a) 
Signs may be attached to the building or monument signs. No pole or freestanding signs shall be permitted.
(b) 
Tenant identification signs shall be located near entries to the building and shall be in scale with the design of the building and entryway.
(c) 
Only one monument sign per street frontage of the development shall be allowed. If a business has a corner lot two signs will be permitted. With approval of the Zoning Administrator, additional signs will be allowed when they are for informational purposes such as "Truck Entrance," "Shipping/Receiving Entrance," etc. Additional signs should conform to MUTCD Sign Standards. Most informational signs have an average size of 24 inches by 30 inches.
(d) 
Monument signs displaying the tenants' names shall be limited to 85 square feet per face and 15 feet in height.
(e) 
Wall signs displaying the tenant's name shall be limited to 85 square feet.
(f) 
All signage shall be set back a minimum of five feet from any right-of-way or lot line.
(g) 
Signs may be internally or externally illuminated. If signs are externally illuminated, the applicant and/or property owner shall provide documentation showing that the exterior illumination does not create glare on residential properties, adjacent rights-of-way, or adjacent properties.
(h) 
No rotating or flashing signs will be permitted.
(2) 
Parking and vehicular access. All present and future vehicular parking, including trucks, trailers, employee and visitor parking, shall be provided on the premises and shall comply with all the provisions of the applicable Lancaster City zoning regulations. No on-street parking will be permitted. All parking areas are to be paved and to provide dust-free, all-weather surfaces. No parking areas may be within the building setback lines, with the following two exceptions:
(a) 
Office employee and visitor parking may be permitted within the side yard setback, subject to approval of the Plan Commission. Infringement on the rear yard setback requirement will only be allowed on internal lots within the business park. Parking is allowed in the front of building. Encroachment on the front setback will be considered with a conditional use permit.
(b) 
Lots bounded by more than one road may have parking areas within the building setback lines along roads other than the one on which the building fronts, subject to approval of the Plan Commission. Whichever way the building faces will determine the front yard setback requirements.
(3) 
Building facade and building design.
(a) 
Twenty-five percent of the front facade of all buildings shall consist of nonmetallic surfaces, including but not limited to wood, stone, rock, brick, or glass. Twenty-five percent of all other facades shall consist of nonmetallic surfaces such as wood, stone, rock, brick, or glass. Except for front facades, side walls designed to be expandable shall be exempt from the requirement until such time as the wall is no longer designed for or expected to be expanded. Expandable side walls need to be indicated on the site plan in order to be exempt from the above requirements.
[Amended 12-16-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-03]
(b) 
All elevations of the building shall be designed in a consistent and coherent architectural manner.
(c) 
All electrical and air conditioning structures, including towers and air handling units, regardless of location and whether on the roof or otherwise, shall be concealed by landscaping or by decorative screening materials which form an integral part of the design.
(d) 
No building shall be resurfaced without approval of the Plan Commission.
(4) 
Landscaping.
(a) 
The front yard setback area of each site shall be landscaped with an effective combination of street trees, trees, ground cover and shrubbery. Similar landscaping is encouraged in all setback areas that are unpaved areas not utilized for parking.
(b) 
Undeveloped areas proposed for future expansion shall be maintained in a weed-free condition. As required by the City of Lancaster ordinances, all grass must be mowed to less than 12 inches in height. In the Arrow Ridge Business Park, an exclusion will be made for agricultural crops.
(c) 
Areas used for parking shall be landscaped and/or fenced in such a manner as to interrupt or screen said areas, not 100% opaque, from view from access streets and adjacent properties. Fence materials need to be approved by the Plan Commission. Plant materials used for this purpose shall consist of linear or grouped masses of shrubs and/or trees approved by the Director of Public Works.
(5) 
Loading and outside storage.
(a) 
All dumpsters shall be screened with material in the same architectural style as the building on the property. Dumpsters shall be screened from all residential areas, rights-of-way or adjacent properties. No refuse collection areas are permitted between a frontage street and building line.
(b) 
Loading bays shall also be screened but can be screened with any combination of walls, berms, and/or landscaping.
(c) 
The incidental storage of all outside materials shall be screened from all residential properties, rights-of-way, or adjacent property. The type of screening shall be in the same architectural character as the building on the property, or with a combination of walls, berms, and/or landscaping.
(d) 
Street side loading shall be allowed provided the loading dock is set back a minimum of 70 feet from the street right-of-way line. Said loading area must be screened from view from adjacent streets with materials approved by the Zoning Administrator.
[Amended 12-16-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-03]
(e) 
All outdoor storage and loading docks shall be visually screened. No storage or loading docks shall be permitted between a frontage street and the building line.
[Amended 12-16-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-03]
(f) 
No materials, supplies or products shall be stored or permitted to remain on the premises outside a permanent structure without the prior written consent of the Zoning Administrator.[1]
[1]
Editor’s Note: Former Subsection F(5)(g), which prohibited accessory structures, and which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 10-16-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-12.
(6) 
Maintenance.
(a) 
Each lot owner shall at all times keep his premises, buildings, improvements and appurtenances in a safe, clean, neat and sanitary condition and shall keep all grass, trees, and shrubbery in good appearance at all times and shall comply with all laws, ordinances and regulations pertaining to health and safety. Each lot owner shall provide for the removal of trash and rubbish from his premises. If lot owner fails to comply with these requirements, the City will perform the work and assess a charge normal to the activity.
(b) 
During construction, it shall be the responsibility of each lot owner to ensure that construction sites are kept free of unsightly accumulations of rubbish and scrap materials and that construction materials, trailers, shacks and the like are kept in a neat and orderly manner. Proper erosion control during construction shall be maintained.
(c) 
The lot owner and prime contractor(s) shall control soil and water loss so as to prevent damage to other properties and structures in the industrial park and beyond.
G. 
Performance standards. Any use in the Lancaster Industrial Park shall comply with the following regulations:
(1) 
Noise.
(a) 
At no point on the industrial park boundary nor beyond property lines of individual lots within the district shall the sound level of any individual operation or level exceed the limits shown in the following table:
Frequency
(cycles per second)
Maximum Sound Level
(decibels)
0 to 75
70
75 to 150
67
150 to 300
59
300 to 600
52
600 to 1,200
46
1,200 to 2,400
40
2,400 to 4,800
34
Over 4,800
32
(b) 
Frequencies and sound levels shall be measured with an octave band analyzer and sound level meter which comply with the standards prescribed by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
[Amended 11-17-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-05]
(c) 
All noise shall be so muffled or otherwise controlled as not to become objectionable due to intermittence, duration, beat frequency, impulse character, periodic character or shrillness.
(2) 
Air contaminants. No smoke, soot, ash, dust, cinders, dirt, noxious or obnoxious acids, fumes, vapors, odors, toxic or radioactive substance, waste or particulate, solid, liquid or gaseous matter shall be introduced into the outdoor atmosphere alone or in any combination, in such quantities and of such duration that they would interfere with the safe and comfortable enjoyment of life or property or any use permitted in this industrial park. The limits on emission for particular contaminants shall be determined and enforced as provided for under § NR 154.02, Wis. Adm. Code.
[Amended 11-17-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-05]
(3) 
Liquid and solid waste. Any disposal of wastes on the property shall be done in such a manner that it will conform to the regulations of this section. No wastes shall be discharged into a storm sewer or roadside ditch or drainage area except clear and unpolluted water. All liquid waste shall be in conformance with Chs. ATCP 93, SPS 381 to 385 and NR 400 to 499, Wis. Adm. Code.
(4) 
Electrical emission. There shall be no electrical emission beyond the property line which would adversely affect any other use or adjacent property owners to the industrial park.
(5) 
Glare and heat. There shall be no reflection or radiation, directly or indirectly, or glare or heat beyond the property line if it would constitute a nuisance, hazard or be recognized by a reasonable person as offensive; provided, however, that nothing in this subsection shall prohibit night illumination of a property within the district.
(6) 
Vibration. There shall be no operation or activity which would cause ground-transmitted vibrations in excess of the limits set forth below beyond the boundary of this industrial park, under any conditions, nor beyond the property line if it would adversely affect any other use within the industrial park:
Frequency
(cycles per second)
Maximum Permitted Displacement Along Subdivision Boundaries
(inches)
0 to 10
0.0008
10 to 20
0.0005
20 to 30
0.0002
30 to 40
0.0002
40 and over
0.0001
A. 
Purpose. The purpose of the I District is to provide a district exclusively for industry, warehousing and commercial activities requiring outside storage of equipment or vehicles. Such uses are generally considered incompatible with residential use, and new residences are not permitted in the General Industry District.
B. 
Permitted uses. Except as provided in Subsection C(2) and (3) of this section, the following uses are permitted in this district:
(1) 
Agricultural services (SIC Major Group 07).
(2) 
Construction contractors (SIC Major Groups 15 to 17).
(3) 
Manufacturing (SIC Major Groups 20 to 39) under 50,000 square feet floor area.
(4) 
Transportation, communication, electric, gas and sanitary services (SIC Major Groups 40 to 49).
(5) 
Wholesale trade (SIC Major Groups 50 to 51).
(6) 
Building materials, hardware, garden supply and mobile home dealers (SIC Major Group 52).
(7) 
Automobile dealers and gasoline service stations (SIC Major Group 55).
(8) 
Fuel and ice dealers (SIC Major Group 598).
(9) 
Establishments for repair of automobile equipment, agricultural equipment or other large pieces of equipment which require truck delivery (SIC Major Group 76).
(10) 
Amusement and recreation services, except motion pictures (SIC Major Group 79).
(11) 
Utilities.
(12) 
Highway-oriented transportation service businesses (SIC Major Group 75).
C. 
Conditional uses.
[Amended 4-19-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-04]
(1) 
Mining (SIC Major Groups 10 to 14).
(2) 
Private wastewater treatment plants associated with any of the permitted uses in Subsection B of this section, subject to the conditions in § 455-78.
(3) 
Wastewater pretreatment facilities associated with any of the permitted uses in Subsection B of this section that constitute a structure separate from the principal structure, subject to the conditions in Article IX and any such additional requirements from § 455-78 that the Zoning Administrator or Plan Commission shall require upon review of an application under § 455-78.
(4) 
All those permitted and conditional uses in the C-1 General Business District as set forth in § 455-20B and C.
D. 
Dimensional requirements.
(1) 
Minimum lot area: one acre.
(2) 
Minimum lot width: 100 feet.
(3) 
Minimum yards.
(a) 
Street: 25 feet.
(b) 
Side: 10 feet.
(c) 
Street side: 15 feet.
(d) 
Rear: 25 feet.
(4) 
Maximum building height: 35 feet.
E. 
Special conditions for Lancaster Industrial Park.
(1) 
Permitted uses. Subsection B(1), (3) and (5) of this section.
(2) 
Conditional uses.
(a) 
Private wastewater treatment plants associated with any permitted uses, subject to the conditions in § 434-78.
(b) 
Wastewater pretreatment facilities associated with any permitted use, subject to the conditions in Article IX and any such additional requirements from § 434-78 that the Zoning Administrator or Plan Commission shall require upon review of an application under Article IX.
(3) 
Plans and specifications.
(a) 
No buildings, fence, wall, sign, advertising device, roadway, loading facility, outside storage facility, parking area, site grading, planting, landscaping, facility or plant for industrial waste or sewage disposal, nor any other improvement, shall be commenced, erected or constructed, nor shall any addition thereto or change or alteration therein be made (except to the interior of a building), nor shall any change in the use of any premises be made, until the plans and specifications therefor, showing any nature, kind, shape, heights, materials, color scheme, lighting and location on the lot of the proposed uses or change in the use of the premises, shall have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Zoning Administrator. A copy of plans and specifications as finally approved shall be filed permanently with the Zoning Administrator. The Zoning Administrator shall have the right to refuse to approve any such plans or specifications or proposed use of the premises for any reason which the Zoning Administrator, in his sole discretion, may deem in the best interests of the park and the owners or lessees or prospective owners or lessees of other properties therein.
(b) 
Failure of the Zoning Administrator to act upon the plans and specifications submitted within 30 days after submission shall constitute an approval of such plans.
(c) 
Construction and alteration of all improvements in the park shall be in accordance with the requirements of all applicable building. zoning and other codes and regulations.
(d) 
No site shall be less than one acre in area.
(e) 
No spoil excavated or dug on the park premises shall be removed from the area of the park, and if the owner of any lot has any excess of such spoil excavated during construction, it shall be deposited at such location within the park as the Zoning Administrator shall in writing designate. However, the owner of the lot from which such spoil is removed shall not be responsible for the leveling thereof on any area so designated for depositing the excess spoil beyond or outside of the boundaries of the owner's lot. Spoils which are not needed in the park may be removed upon the written approval of the Zoning Administrator on a case by case basis.
(4) 
Development standards.
(a) 
A scale drawing of any sign, trademark or advertising device to be used on any lot or the exterior of any building or structure shall be submitted to the Zoning Administrator in triplicate for the written approval by the Zoning Administrator. Normally, the occupant's trademark and/or trade name may be displayed on the building in the manner in which it is generally used by the occupant.
(b) 
All present and future vehicular parking, including trucks, trailers, employee and visitor parking, shall be provided on the premises and shall comply with all the provisions of the applicable Lancaster City zoning regulations. All parking areas are to be paved and to provide dust-free, all-weather surfaces. No parking areas may be within the building setback lines, with the following two exceptions:
[1] 
Office employee and visitor parking may be permitted within the front yard setback lines subject to approval of the Zoning Administrator; and
[2] 
Lots bounded by more than one road may have parking areas within the building setback lines along roads other than the one on which the building fronts, subject to approval of the Zoning Administrator.
(c) 
Buildings.
[1] 
The front facade and street side facades shall be brick, stone, architectural concrete panels, architectural metal, architectural wood and/or glass. Unfaced concrete block, structural concrete, prefabricated metal siding, and the like are prohibited from such facade areas. The use of these materials elsewhere shall only be in a manner approved by the Zoning Administrator.
[2] 
All elevations of the building shall be designed in a consistent and coherent architectural manner.
[3] 
All electrical and air conditioning structures, including towers and air handling units, shall be concealed by landscaping or by decorative screening materials which form an integral part of the design of the site, except that electrical and air conditioning structures, including towers and air handling units, located upon any roof shall be visually screened or concealed from the ground by an integral part of the building.
[Amended 10-15-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-05]
(d) 
Landscaping.
[1] 
The front yard setback area of each site shall be landscaped with an effective combination of street trees, trees, ground cover and shrubbery. All unpaved areas not utilized for parking shall be landscaped in a similar manner. The entire area between the curb and a point 10 feet in back of the front property line shall be landscaped, except for any access driveway in said area. Notwithstanding the above, the entire area between the right-of-way and the building setback line of any property fronting on U.S. Highway 61 shall be densely landscaped with a combination of landscape plantings and earth berming to create an effective visual screen on all use areas with the exception of the building facade.
[2] 
Side and rear yard setback areas not used for parking or storage shall be landscaped utilizing ground cover and/or shrubs and trees. Consult Director of Public Works before planting trees.
[3] 
Undeveloped areas proposed for future expansion shall be maintained in a weed-free condition and shall be landscaped if required by the Zoning Administrator.
[4] 
Areas used for parking shall be landscaped and/or fenced in such a manner as to interrupt or screen said areas from view from access streets, freeways and adjacent properties. Plant materials used for this purpose shall consist of linear or grouped masses of shrubs and/or trees.
(e) 
No loading shall be allowed which is directly visible from U.S. Highway 61. Street side loading shall be allowed provided the loading dock is set back a minimum of 70 feet from the street right-of-way line. Said loading area must be screened from view from adjacent streets with materials approved by the Zoning Administrator.
(f) 
All outdoor storage shall be visually screened from access streets, U.S. Highway 61 and adjacent property. Said screening shall form a complete opaque screen up to a point eight feet in vertical height but need not be opaque above that point. Outdoors storage shall be meant to include parking of all company-owned and operated motor vehicles, with the exception of passenger vehicles. No storage shall be permitted between a frontage street and the building line.
(g) 
Refuse collection areas. All outdoor refuse collection areas shall be visually screened from access streets, U.S. Highway 61 and adjacent property by a complete opaque screen. No refuse collection areas shall be permitted between a frontage street and the building line.
(h) 
No materials, supplies or products shall be stored or permitted to remain on the premises outside a permanent structure without the prior written consent of the Zoning Administrator.
(i) 
No building shall be painted, repainted, stuccoed or be surfaced with any material unless and until the Zoning Administrator approves the color and/or material in writing.
(j) 
Occupants of the park shall not cause or make any excessive noise, odors, harmful sewage or vibration that is objectionable to other occupants and that would conflict with the purposes and restrictions of the park and shall not create or maintain a nuisance. Each occupant must provide for trash disposal from his building.
(k) 
No rubbish may be burned on the premises within the park except in an incinerator especially constructed and designated for this operation and approved by the Fire Chief and the Wisconsin Department of Commerce.
(l) 
Architectural review by the Zoning Administrator will take into account the appearance of all buildings, parking areas and storage areas as viewed from U.S. Highway 61.
(5) 
Maintenance.
(a) 
Each lot owner shall at all times keep his premises, buildings, improvements and appurtenances in a safe, clean, neat and sanitary condition and shall keep all grass, trees, and shrubbery in good appearance at all times and shall comply with all laws, ordinances and regulations pertaining to health and safety. Each lot owner shall provide for the removal of trash and rubbish from his premises. If lot owner fails to comply with these requirements, the City will perform the work and assess a charge normal to the activity.
(b) 
During construction, it shall be the responsibility of each lot owner to ensure that construction sites are kept free of unsightly accumulations of rubbish and scrap materials and that construction materials, trailers, shacks and the like are kept in a neat and orderly manner. Proper erosion control during construction should be maintained.
(c) 
The declarant agrees to maintain all undeveloped land owned by it within the park in a manner compatible with the provisions of this section.
(d) 
The lot owner and prime contractor(s) shall control soil and water loss so as to prevent damage to other properties and structures in the industrial park and beyond.
(6) 
Performance standards. Any use in the Lancaster Industrial Park shall comply with the following regulations:
(a) 
Noise.
[1] 
At no point on the industrial park boundary nor beyond property lines of individual lots within the district shall the sound level of any individual operation or level exceed the limits shown in the following table:
Frequency
(cycles per second)
Maximum Sound Level
(decibels)
0 to 75
70
75 to 150
67
150 to 300
59
300 to 600
52
600 to 1,200
46
1,200 to 2,400
40
2,400 to 4,800
34
Over 4,800
32
[2] 
Frequencies and sound levels shall be measured with an octave band analyzer and sound level meter which comply with the USA Standards prescribed by the United States of America Standards Institute.
[3] 
All noise shall be so muffled or otherwise controlled as not to become objectionable due to intermittence, duration, beat frequency, impulse character, periodic character or shrillness.
(b) 
Air contaminants. No smoke, soot, flash, dust, cinders, dirt, noxious or obnoxious acids, fumes, vapors, odors, toxic or radioactive substance, waste or particulate, solid, liquid or gaseous matter shall be introduced into the outdoor atmosphere alone or in any combination, in such quantities and of such duration that they would interfere with the safe and comfortable enjoyment of life or property or any use permitted in this industrial park. The limits on emission for particular contaminants shall be determined and enforced as provided for under § NR 154.02, Wis. Adm. Code.
(c) 
Liquid and solid waste. Any disposal of wastes on the property shall be done in such a manner that it will conform to the regulations of this section. No wastes shall be discharged into a storm sewer or roadside ditch or drainage area except clear and unpolluted water. All liquid waste shall be in conformance with Chs. ATCP 93 and SPS 381 to 385 and § NR 125.01, Wis. Adm. Code.
(d) 
Electrical emission. There shall be no electrical emission beyond the property line which would adversely affect any other use or adjacent property owners to the industrial park.
(e) 
Glare and heat. There shall be no reflection or radiation, directly or indirectly, or glare or heat beyond the property line if it would constitute a nuisance, hazard or be recognized by a reasonable person as offensive; provided, however, that nothing in this subsection shall prohibit night illumination of a property within the district.
(f) 
Vibration. There shall be no operation or activity which would cause ground-transmitted vibrations in excess of the limits set forth below beyond the boundary of this industrial park, under any conditions, nor beyond the property line if it would adversely affect any other use within the industrial park:
Frequency
(cycles per second)
Maximum Permitted Displacement Along Subdivision Boundaries
(inches)
0 to 10
0.0008
10 to 20
0.0005
20 to 30
0.0002
30 to 40
0.0002
40 and over
0.0001
A. 
Purpose. The purpose of the CON District is to provide a district for protection of natural resources, park and outdoor recreation uses, preservation of scenic resources, and protection of archaeological or natural features. The intent of the district is to restrict all structures in such district to only those necessary for the maintenance or operations of permitted uses.
B. 
Permitted uses.
(1) 
Agriculture, animal husbandry, and forestry uses (SIC Major Groups 01, 02, 08 and 09).
(2) 
Public or private owned open space.
(3) 
Scenic, historic, or scientific areas.
(4) 
Public parks and playgrounds.
C. 
Dimensional requirements.
(1) 
Minimum lot area: one acre.
(2) 
Minimum lot width: 150 feet.
(3) 
Minimum yards.
(a) 
Street: 25 feet.
(b) 
Side: 10 feet.
(c) 
Street yard: 10 feet.
(d) 
Rear: 25 feet.
(4) 
Maximum building height: 35 feet.
[Amended 11-17-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-05]
A. 
Purpose. The purpose of the U District is to provide a district for public utilities, government uses, communication, or transportation uses and the necessary buffer areas to assure public health, safety, and general welfare. Uses specifically permitted in the Utility District (U) include, but are not limited to, wastewater treatment plants, airports, and solid waste disposal sites.
B. 
Permitted uses.
(1) 
Transportation, communication, electric, gas and sanitary services (SIC Major Groups 40 to 49).
(2) 
Agriculture, animal husbandry, and forestry (SIC Major Groups 01, 02, 08 and 09).
(3) 
Government uses (SIC Major Groups 91 to 96).
C. 
Conditional uses.
(1) 
Mining (SIC Major Groups 10 to 14).
D. 
Dimensional requirements. There are no specific dimensional requirements. Each district area designated on the Zoning Map shall be determined by the specific needs of the utility plus the provision of adequate buffer areas as determined by the Planning Commission as necessary to assure public health, safety, and general welfare.
A. 
Purpose. The purpose of the Planned Unit Development District is to allow a greater degree of flexibility in the design, siting and form of ownership where deviation from use or dimensional requirements would provide either better use of a site or better quality commercial or residential development. Deviations include permitting more than one principal building or use per lot. Planned unit developments must be in full compliance with all requirements of this chapter and other regulations of the City of Lancaster, except where specific deviations are requested in the application, granted by the Common Council and recorded in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
B. 
Submittal requirements. In addition to the normal information required for a zoning permit, PUD applications shall be accompanied by the following:
(1) 
An accurate development plan of the project area at a scale of not less than one inch equals 20 feet showing the location and size of all proposed and existing principal and accessory buildings, building entrances, public and private drives, parking facilities, and walkways.
(2) 
A landscape plan showing existing and proposed vegetation.
(3) 
A description of the number, type and size of residential dwelling units, if any.
(4) 
A description of the form of ownership (i.e., whether the project is rental or condominium) and a description of who will manage and maintain common spaces.
(5) 
A proposed developer's agreement between the City and the developer setting forth the parties respective obligations and duties.
C. 
Recordation. The Common Council may require the applicant to record documents pertaining to conditions of approval, management or maintenance with the Grant County Register of Deeds as a prerequisite to issuance of a conditional use permit.
D. 
Changes in the PUD development plans. No changes in the PUD development plans as approved by the Common Council shall be permitted unless specifically approved under the provisions of this chapter.
E. 
Standards for reviewing PUDs. The Common Council shall review the development plans and other pertinent information and base its approval, rejection or conditional approval on the following guidelines:
(1) 
Walls containing entrances and windows shall be so oriented as to ensure adequate light and air exposure.
(2) 
Each building shall have adequate access for emergency vehicles.
(3) 
The overall density of any residential project shall not exceed 20 dwelling units per acre.
(4) 
Where there are deviations from dimensional requirements, developers shall provide landscaped buffers to compensate for the deviation.
(5) 
Deviations from yard dimensional requirements for lot lines abutting R-1, R-2 or R-3 Residential Zones shall not be permitted.
(6) 
Compatibility with nearby uses.
(7) 
Adequate street access and capacity to accommodate the proposed development.
(8) 
Adequate water, storm sewer and sanitary sewer service.
(9) 
An acceptable developer's agreement between the developer and the City.
F. 
Approval of the application and maintenance of records. The complete file of the application, minutes of all deliberations, and specific conditions of approval shall be maintained by the Zoning Administrator as a record of the rules and requirements for each PUD District. The motion of approval or conditional approval of a PUD by the Common Council shall include by reference all of the submitted materials specified in Subsection B and such submitted documents shall become part of this chapter.