The purpose of establishing planned Garden Apartment Districts shall be to encourage the logical and timely development of land for garden apartment purposes in accordance with the objectives, policies, and proposals of the Comprehensive Plan; to permit a variety of housing types which conform to the intent of the Comprehensive Plan; to assure the suitable design of the garden apartment in order to protect surrounding neighborhoods; to ensure that the said development will constitute a residential environment to sustained desirability and stability; and to minimize traffic congestion, overcrowding of the land, noise and glare, so as to lessen the danger to the public safety.
In the GA Garden Apartment District, the following regulations shall apply.
A building may be erected, altered or used, and a lot may be occupied or used, in whole or part, for any of the following uses and no other, provided that such uses comply with the district regulations below, and all other applicable sections of this Ordinance.
A. 
Uses Permitted By-Right.
1. 
Use C-3. Conservation/Recreation.
2. 
Use G-1b. Multifamily Building.
3. 
The following accessory uses on the same lot which are with and customarily incidental to any of the above permitted uses and as provided for in Article III herein:
a. 
Use A-2. Residential Accessory Structure.
b. 
Use A-5. Commercial Vehicles.
c. 
Use A-7. Fences and Walls.
d. 
Use A-8. Greenhouse, Agricultural.
e. 
Use A-12. No-Impact Home-Based Business.
f. 
Use A-13. Outdoor Storage and Waste Disposal.
g. 
Use A-15. Roadside Stand.
h. 
Use A-16. Swimming Pool.
i. 
Use A-17. Tennis/Sports Court.
j. 
Use A-19. Recreational Sporting Vehicle.
A. 
The following dimensional standards shall apply:
Residential Use Dimensional Requirements
Minimum Lot Area
The larger of 2 acre or 4,000 square feet per dwelling unit of any size
Minimum Lot Width
500 feet
Setbacks
Minimum setbacks required for principal structures. See Article XX: Supplementary Regulations, for allowed projections into setbacks and Article III: Use Regulations, for applicable minimum setbacks for accessory structures.
Front
60 feet
Sides
40 feet
Rear
40 feet
Setback between Buildings
The perpendicular distance measured in feet between parallel elements of buildings forming courts and courtyards shall not be less than 1 1/2 the height of the taller building, measured in feet.
Maximum Building Coverage
One-story buildings: 45%
Two-story buildings: 35%
Three-story buildings: 25%
Maximum Impervious Coverage
50%
Maximum Building Height
3 stories or 35 feet
A. 
The proposed development shall be constructed in accordance with an overall plan, and shall be designed as a unified architectural unit.
B. 
Parking areas shall be placed so as not to interfere with any recreation or service area and shall not be less than 20 feet from the property lines or ultimate rights-of-way lines.
C. 
Service areas for loading and unloading of delivery trucks or other vehicles as well as for the servicing of refuse and collection, fuel, and other services shall be provided. These shall be adequate in size and shall be so arranged that they can be used without blockage or interference with the use of accessways or parking areas.
D. 
Lighting facilities shall be required for the safety and convenience of garden apartment residents. Lights shall be arranged in a manner which will protect streets and neighboring properties from unreasonable glare or hazardous interference of any kind.
E. 
The Garden Apartment District shall have a permanent landscaped planting area of at least 10 feet in width designed for screening from view and access any use which is adjoining and contiguous to the district.
F. 
Recreation areas and facilities may be required by the Planning Commission where considered necessary for the comfort and convenience of residents within this district.
G. 
If the development of the garden apartments is to be carried out in stages, each stage shall be so planned that the foregoing requirements and intent of this chapter shall be fully complied with at the completion of any stage. The initial stage of development shall comprise a total floor area of not less than 15,000 square feet.
H. 
The developer shall assure the provision of required improvements by means of a proper completion guarantee in the form of a bond or deposit of funds or securities in escrow to cover the cost of the improvements. The work shall be performed in accordance with all requirements and the approved plans.