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,
while providing areas for sensitive, rural residential development
to coexist with agricultural and natural resources so as to cause
minimal impact on the surrounding areas. This district is established
to conserve open space resources while facilitating low-intensity
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 and RP-5 Districts,
there is a greater emphasis on the integration of rural residential
uses with the long-range protection of agricultural and natural resources
in this district. Residential development in this district should
be designed to minimize the fiscal, economic, environmental and infrastructure
impacts on surrounding properties and on the County as a whole.
[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.
Any subdivision occurring in the R-5 District shall conform
to County's zoning and subdivision ordinances. Major and minor subdivisions, as defined herein, are permitted
uses in this district.