This district is intended to protect and preserve specific rural
resources or qualities including farmland, wetlands, significant wildlife
habitats, catchment areas for important drainage basins, water resources,
environmentally sensitive areas and natural recreational resources.
This district also covers portions of the County that have open space
with a rural character. This district is established to conserve these
open spaces in order to facilitate existing and future general farming
operations, conservation of water and forest resources and maintenance
of a distinctly rural environment. While the intent of this district
is generally similar to that of the A-5 Agricultural District, the
emphasis on long-range protection of rural resources in this district
is greater due to the specific characteristics or qualities of the
lands encompassed. Residential development should conform to the notion
that it possesses lesser priority than the maintenance of the district's
rural environment.
[Amended 5-17-2006]
Thirty-five feet, except:
A. The height limit for dwellings may be increased up to 45 feet and
up to three stories, provided there are two side yards for each permitted
use, each of which is 20 feet or more, plus one foot or more of side
yard for each additional foot of building height over 35 feet.
B. A public or semipublic building such as a school, church, or library
may be erected to a height of 60 feet from grade, provided that required
front, side and rear yards shall be increased one foot for each foot
of building height over 35 feet.
C. Church spires, belfries, cupolas, monuments, silos, barns, water
towers, chimneys, flues, flagpoles, and wireless support structures
are exempt. Parapet wall may be up to four feet above the height of
the building on which the walls rest.
[Amended 2-21-2018]
D. No accessory building which is less than 20 feet from any lot line
shall be more than one story high.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
E. All accessory buildings shall be less than the main building in height
except when located on a parcel of 10 acres or more.
[Amended 12-17-2003]
Any subdivision occurring in the RP-5 District shall conform
to the County's zoning and subdivision ordinances. Major and minor subdivisions, as defined herein, are not
permitted uses in this district.