The purpose of this article is to ensure the most appropriate
development and improvement of each building site within the City
and to protect the owners of the buildings erected thereon against
such improper use of surrounding building sites as will depreciate
the value of their property, to guard against the erection thereon
of poorly designed or proportioned structures and structures built
of improper or unsuitable materials; to obtain harmonious color schemes;
to ensure the highest and best development of said property; to prevent
haphazard and inharmonious improvement of building sites; to secure
and maintain proper setbacks from streets, and adequate free spaces
between structures; and in general to provide adequately for a high
type and quality of improvement in said property and thereby to enhance
the values of investments made by purchasers of building sites therein
and buildings erected thereon.
[Amended 6-22-2004 by Ord. No. 9-2004]
A garage may be erected upon each building site, not exceeding 18 feet in width and 22 feet in length. In no event shall the dimensions of the garage exceed 396 square feet. The garage should be located at least two feet from the driveway side lot line and five feet from the rear lot line, except when deemed impractical or an undue hardship by the Building Committee. Under no circumstances shall a garage be erected that extends beyond the building line of the adjoining property. No shed, shack or lean-to may be erected against the garage or residential unit or on any other portion of the building site, except that tool sheds may be permitted. The plan and location of any structure to be erected is first to be submitted to the Building Commissioner for a written permit before construction is started. The plan shall be required to show the location of the garage upon the lot and to show that the material used shall conform to the color, type, size and design of all similar materials used in the construction of the residential unit of said lot. No garage shall be erected which violates the maximum lot coverage requirements contained in Chapter
22, Zoning, of the City Code.
A side drive may be installed and constructed of concrete, or
asphalt, solid type, and shall conform to the grade of the existing
ground. No vehicles are to be parked on any part of the lots except
that part designated for driveways and/or garages; that part of the
lots designated for driveways and garages shall not be used for parking
of any vehicles until and unless finished with concrete or asphalt
as hereinbefore stated. A concrete curb may be installed down the
middle of the driveway, of the following dimensions: four inches in
height by four inches wide. Curb shall be formed and poured as one
unit, and shall be feathered from four inches to zero at a point where
it reaches the front of the house. The curb shall be secured by steel
bars driven into the ground at least one foot at a reasonable distance
between iron rods to ensure no side motion of the curb. If the curb
is installed on one side of the driveway only, it shall be installed
wholly on that owner's property; if the curb is simultaneously installed
by both owners on the property line, then each shall give the other
written consent and approval.
A vestibule, not more than one story in height, which shall
not extend beyond the confines of the present front or rear stoop,
may be erected by any owner of any residential unit, only if the owner
of the attached, adjacent dwelling unit shall simultaneously erect
a similar vestibule of the same design and construction; provided,
however, that no such vestibule may be erected unless and until the
plans therefor shall have first been approved in writing by the Building
Committee. This shall not apply to duplex units not symmetrical in
front appearance.
No trailer, tent, shack, barn or other outbuilding may be erected
or maintained on a building site, other than a garage.
A perpetual easement over the lot line on which a party wall
is built is hereby granted for the purpose of repair and maintenance
of the front and rear exterior walls, together with any existing or
future roof overhang, eaves, gutters, etc., and for the right to maintain
any roof, overhang, eaves and gutter which may encroach beyond the
lot line on which the party wall is built. Where two-story additions
occur, each owner shall have the right to place a ladder in the adjoining
back yard to maintain the building along the party lot line.
[Amended 3-12-2002 by Ord. No. 1-2002; 8-13-2002 by Ord. No. 6-2002; 8-8-2006 by Ord. No. 9-2006; 10-26-2010 by Ord. No. 13-2010; 11-22-2011 by Ord. No. 6-2011; 6-10-2014 by Ord. No. 5-2014]
(A) The exterior of all duplex residential structures, including windows,
casements, treatments, awnings, doors, roofs, siding, trim, and any
other component visible from the exterior of the structure, shall
be uniform in color, appearance and shall require joint and simultaneous
treatment by the owners of both residential units comprising the structure.
The intent and purpose of the foregoing restrictions is to establish
and maintain an outward appearance of one home unit under single ownership.
(B) Notwithstanding the foregoing, new roofs shall have reasonable similarity
as determined by the Building Commissioner. Architectural shingles
may be used on the same duplex as three-tab shingles, provided the
color of the architectural shingles matches the color of the three-tab
shingles.
(C) The color of the windows must be identical. A window may be three
inches higher or wider than the window it is replacing.
(D) In the event two owners cannot agree on the color or appearance of
the exterior, the Building Committee shall act as arbitrator for the
two owners. The owners shall abide by the Building Committee's decision,
or alternatively, the owners may return to the original color combination.
(E) Replacement siding is allowed on the driveway side and rear of any
duplex, but such siding must match existing colors of the owner and
house neighbor.
(F) Only duplexes are allowed to install replacement siding on the owner's
part of the whole house, without the owner of the other part of the
single structure doing the same, but such siding must match the color
of the owner of the other half.
[Added 10-10-2006 by Ord.
No. 12-2006]
Upon application and payment of $15, an applicant is permitted
to have on his property a storage pod, or any similar temporary structure
used for the storage of articles by persons residing or moving into
the property, for a period not to exceed 30 days. No extensions, above
and beyond the 30 days provided for in this section, shall be permitted.
No storage pod, or any portion of that structure, shall be placed
within 15 feet of the front yard property line. For purposes of this
section, the front yard property line shall mean the curbline separating
the street and the property.