The UC District recognizes the mixed-use character of major urban corridors, including traditional arterials such as 6th Street and Main Street, as well as emerging mixed-use corridors. These corridors sometimes accommodate a combination of residential, commercial, and office uses. In many cases, these streets were traditional residential corridors, and include houses that are converting to nonresidential use. Design standards maintain their character as important urban streets. Some uses in the UC District will require development above normal standards in order to assure compatibility with surrounding uses.
Regulator
1-Family Detached
1-Family Attached
(Note 1)
Duplex
Townhouse
(Note 1)
Multi-Family
(Note 2)
Other Permitted Uses
Site area per housing unit (square feet)
In conventional development
4,400
2,200
2,200
2,500
1,500
In planned developments
4,000
2,000
2,000
2,000
1,000
Minimum lot area
In conventional development
4,400
4,400
4,400
2,500
9,500
5,000
In planned developments
4,000
4,000
4,000
2,000
9,500
5,000
Minimum lot width (feet)
In conventional development
40
20
40
25
80
40
In planned unit developments
40
20
40
20
80
40
Minimum yards (feet) (Note 3)
Front yard
25
25
25
25
25
25
Side yard (Note 1)
5
5
5
5
10
5
Street side yard
25
25
25
25
25
15
Rear yard*
20% of lot depth
20% of lot depth
20% of lot depth
20% of lot depth
25
25
Maximum height (feet)
35
35
35
35
45
35
Floor area ratio
NA
NA
NA
NA
0.80
0.50
Maximum amount of total parking located in street yard
NA
NA
NA
NA
50%
50%
*
The required rear yard area is calculated as 20% of the lot depth times the lot width. Provided that this minimum area is maintained, a portion of a residential structure may come as close as 10 feet to a rear lot line.
Note 1: Single-Family Attached Townhouse Development.
Regulators are shown on a per-unit basis. Side yard setbacks are indicated for detached building walls.
Note 2: Multifamily Development.
The minimum side yard setback increases by one foot for each one foot in height above 35 feet, up to a maximum height of 45 feet.
Note 3: Zero Lot Line and Single-Family Attached Development.
Within a common development, one interior side yard may be equal to zero for single-family detached residential use if:
1.
The normal side yard setback requirement must be maintained adjacent to any lot with an existing structure not within the common development; or not otherwise designated for zero lot line use.
2.
An easement for maintenance of the zero lot line facade is prepared by the developer and filed with the Seward County Register of Deeds, the City Clerk, and the Building Official at the time of application for a building permit.
Note 4: Flexible Yard Setbacks in Planned Districts.
The Planning Commission and City Council may vary required minimum setbacks in planned districts. However, the setback from the front facade of a garage to any public or private street right-of-way (including the boundary of sidewalks) must be at least 20 feet.
Note 5: Setbacks along Urban Corridors.
Normal minimum setback is 25 feet. Front yard setback may be reduced to 15 feet if:
1.
No parking is placed within the street yard.
2.
The entire street yard area is landscaped, with the exception of driveways to parking areas or pedestrian accesses to the principal building on the site.
This setback flexibility shall not be applied on any street designated as a major arterial by the City's Comprehensive Development Plan without the specific approval of the City's Public Works Director.
In order to maintain the fine-grained character of major mixed-use corridors in Seward, the following design standards shall apply to any office or commercial use developed within the UC District:
A. 
No single building shall have a building coverage area that exceeds 10,000 square feet without approval of a conditional use permit, as set forth in § 410-44.3.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
B. 
No street-facing facade may have a continuous length of 50 feet or over without an offset in the building elevation equal to a dimension of at least five feet.
C. 
Window area on each street-facing facade shall be equal to at least 20% of the area of that facade.
D. 
Exterior materials shall be brick, stone, wood clapboard, or other exterior materials typical of exterior building materials in common use in Seward's residential districts or Central Business District.
E. 
The dominant roof form shall be a pitched or gabled roof with a minimum roof slope equal to one foot of vertical height to every three feet of horizontal distance. Permitted roof materials may include asphalt shingles, slate or simulated slate shingles, standing seam metal, or other similar roof materials.
F. 
Each site design shall provide a clear and safe method of pedestrian circulation along the street right-of-way and between the street right-of-way and a principal customer entrance of the business.