[Amended 6-20-2007]
The purpose of this article is, within rural areas of Camden,
to maintain the rural, natural, and scenic qualities of the Town and,
within developing areas, to provide for flexibility in the design
of open space residential development.
[Amended 6-20-2007]
Open space residential developments proposed under the terms
of this article shall meet all requirements of this article, unless
otherwise noted. The uses of the land shall not differ from the uses
permitted in the district in which the development is located. "Buildable
land" is all land except land within street rights-of-way, wetlands
as defined in this chapter, 100-year floodplains, water bodies, or
sustained slopes in excess of 20%. Modifications of space and bulk
provisions shall not be construed as granting variances to relieve
hardship.
A. Within the Rural-1 District:
(1)
The total number of dwelling units shall not exceed one unit
per 60,000 square feet.
[Amended 11-2-2021]
(2)
Each lot within the subdivision shall contain a minimum of one
acre of buildable land.
(3)
Lots and/or dwelling units shall be laid out so that, on average,
they encompass (or, in the case of dwelling units not on individual
lots, occupy) no more than two acres of buildable land per lot or
dwelling unit, and so that at least 60% of the parcel remains as open
space and not otherwise assigned to individual dwelling units or any
other structures.
[Amended 11-2-2021]
(4)
Minimum road frontage shall be 75 feet. However, no individual
lot or dwelling unit shall have its required frontage on a public
road existing at the time of application for development or gain its
access from such a road.
(5)
No building or structure shall be located within 25 feet of
any property line.
(6)
Neither shore frontage nor setbacks from the normal high-water
marks of water bodies shall be reduced below the minimum otherwise
required in the district.
(7)
Dwelling units may be clustered within a single building or series of attached units. In these cases, the provisions of this Subsection
A shall apply, with the following exceptions and additions:
[Amended 11-2-2021]
(a)
No building shall contain more than six dwelling units and no
more than an average of four units per building for the development
as a whole; and attached dwellings shall include no more than six
dwelling units in any single series, and no more than an average of
four per series for the development as a whole.
(b)
In addition to dwelling units, the project may also contain
common ownership structures to support the development dwelling units,
including but not limited to a common house or building, water and
septic buildings, and land use support buildings such as barns and
equipment storage.
B. Within the Rural-2 District:
(1)
The total number of dwelling units shall not exceed one unit
per 60,000 square feet.
[Amended 11-2-2021]
(2)
Each lot within the subdivision shall contain a minimum of 30,000
square feet of buildable land.
(3)
Lots and/or dwelling units shall be laid out so that, on average,
they encompass (or, in the case of dwelling units not on individual
lots, occupy) no more than 1 1/2 acres of buildable land per
lot or dwelling unit, and so that at least 50% of the parcel remains
as open space and not otherwise assigned to individual dwelling units
or any other structures.
[Amended 11-2-2021]
(4)
Minimum road frontage shall be 50 feet. However, no individual
lot or dwelling unit shall have its required frontage on a public
road existing at the time of application for development or gain its
access from such a road.
(5)
No building or structure shall be located within 25 feet of
any property line.
(6)
Neither shore frontage nor setbacks from the normal high-water
marks of water bodies shall be reduced below the minimum otherwise
required in the district.
(7)
Dwelling units may be clustered within a single building or series of attached units. In these cases, the provisions of this Subsection
B shall apply, with the following exceptions and additions:
[Amended 11-2-2021]
(a)
No building shall contain more than six dwelling units and no
more than an average of four units per building for the development
as a whole; and attached dwellings shall include no more than six
dwelling units in any single series, and no more than an average of
four per series for the development as a whole.
(b)
In addition to dwelling units, the project may also contain
common ownership structures to support the development dwelling units,
including but not limited to a common house or building, water and
septic buildings, and land use support buildings such as barns and
equipment storage.
C. Within the Coastal Residential District:
(1)
The total number of dwelling units shall not exceed one unit
per 30,000 square feet if the property is served by public sewerage,
or one unit per 60,000 square feet if the property is served by one
on-site wastewater disposal system.
(2)
Each lot within the subdivision shall contain a minimum of 10,000
square feet of land if served by public sewerage, or a minimum of
30,000 square feet of buildable land if the property is served by
on-site wastewater disposal systems.
(3)
Lots and/or dwelling units shall be laid out so that, on average,
they encompass (or, in the case of dwelling units not on individual
lots, occupy) no more than 1 1/2 acres of buildable land per
lot or dwelling unit, and so that at least 33% of the parcel remains
as open space and not otherwise assigned to individual dwelling units
or any other structures.
[Amended 11-2-2021]
(4)
Minimum road frontage shall be 50 feet. However, no individual
lot or dwelling unit shall have its required frontage on a public
road existing at the time of application for development or gain its
access from such a road.
(5)
No building or structure shall be located within 25 feet of
any property line.
(6)
Neither shore frontage nor setbacks from the normal high-water
marks of water bodies shall be reduced below the minimum otherwise
required in the district.
(7)
Dwelling units may be clustered in a single building or a series of single family attached units, in which case the provisions of this Subsection
C shall apply, with the following exceptions and additions:
[Amended 11-2-2021]
(a)
Attached dwellings shall include no more than six dwelling units
in any single series, and no more than an average of four per series
for the development as a whole.
(b)
In addition to dwelling units, the project may also contain
common ownership structures to support the development dwelling units,
including but not limited to a common house or building, water and
septic buildings, and land use support buildings such as barns and
equipment storage.
D. Within the Village and Village Extension Districts, dwelling units
may be clustered on individual lots, within a single building, or
within a series of attached buildings.
(1)
If the open space residential development is of individual lots
for single-family detached or two-family dwellings and lots and/or
dwelling units are laid out so that, on average, at least 20% of the
parcel remains as open space outside of the lots and not otherwise
assigned to individual dwelling units and at least 20% of the open
space is buildable land:
(a)
The total number of dwelling units shall not exceed one unit
per 10,000 square feet, plus a 20% incentive bonus; however, no individual
lot shall be less than 5,000 square feet (example: 200,000 square
foot parcel = 20 lots plus 20% bonus = 24 total), provided that any
lot not served by a public sewer or other approved community sewage
collection and treatment system shall contain at least 20,000 square
feet;
(b)
Each lot shall have at least 50 feet of frontage on an approved
way, either existing or proposed;
(c)
Front yard setbacks shall not be reduced by more than 50%;
(d)
Side yard setbacks shall together contain a total of at least
20 feet;
(e)
Neither shore frontage nor setbacks from the normal high-water
marks of water bodies shall be reduced below the minimum otherwise
required in the district.
(2)
If the open space residential development is of individual lots
for single-family detached or two-family dwellings and lots and/or
dwelling units are to be laid out so that, on average, at least 10%
of the parcel remains as open space outside of the lots and not otherwise
assigned to individual dwelling units and at least 20% of the open
space is buildable land:
(a)
The total number of dwelling units shall not exceed one unit
per 10,000 square feet, plus a 10% incentive bonus; however, no individual
lot shall be less than 5,000 square feet (example: 200,000 square
foot parcel = 20 lots plus 10% bonus = 22 lots total), provided that
any lot not served by a public sewer or other approved community sewage
collection and disposal system shall contain at least 20,000 square
feet;
(b)
Each lot shall have at least 63 feet of frontage on an approved
way, either existing or proposed;
(c)
Front yard setbacks shall not be reduced by more than 25%;
(d)
Side yard setbacks shall together contain a total of at least
23 feet;
(e)
Neither shore frontage nor setbacks from the normal high-water
marks of water bodies shall be reduced below the minimum otherwise
required in the district.
(3)
If the development does not include creation of individual lots
for single-family detached or two-family dwellings:
(a)
The parcel of land proposed for development shall contain a minimum gross lot area of 100,000 square feet; provided, however, that the minimum lot area per dwelling unit described in Subsection
D(1)(a) above shall be met and the parcel shall have a minimum of 150 feet of frontage on an approved way, existing or proposed;
(b)
No building or structure shall be located within 25 feet of
any property line;
(c)
The minimum distance between principal buildings on the same
lot shall be equivalent to the height of the taller structure;
(d)
No structure shall contain more than six dwelling units and
no more than an average of four dwelling units per structure for the
development as a whole, and attached dwellings shall include no more
than six dwelling units in any single series and no more than an average
of four per series for the development as a whole;
(e)
Neither shore frontage not setbacks from the normal high-water
marks of water bodies shall be reduced below the minimum otherwise
required in the district.
In addition to other standards of this chapter and of Chapter
235, Subdivision of Land, individual building lots shall be laid out to achieve the following objectives (which are listed in order of priority, as it is recognized that some may conflict with others on a given site):
A. Within the Rural-1 and Rural-2 Districts:
(1)
Where on-site wastewater disposal is to be used, on suitable
soils for subsurface wastewater disposal;
(2)
Below elevation 500 feet;
(3)
In a manner that maximizes as part of the required open space
the amount of undisturbed, contiguous wildlife habitat;
[Amended 6-20-2007]
(4)
In a manner that maximizes as part of the required open space
the amount of contiguous, usable area for agriculture or woodlot production;
(5)
Such that all buildings are located along the edges of open
fields or within adjacent woodlands;
[Amended 6-20-2007]
(6)
In locations least likely to block or interrupt scenic vistas,
as seen from the public roadway.
B. Within the Coastal Residential District:
(1)
Where on-site wastewater disposal is to be used, on suitable
soils for subsurface wastewater disposal;
(2)
In a manner that preserves existing vegetation and other landscape
features adjacent to public roadways;
(3)
In a manner that maximizes the amount of contiguous open space;
[Amended 6-20-2007]
(4)
In a manner that preserves existing scenic vistas as seen from
public roadways;
(5)
In a manner that minimizes the length of roadways, public utility
lines, and other infrastructure within the proposed development.
C. Within the Village and Village Extension Districts:
[Amended 6-20-2007]
(1)
Where on-site wastewater disposal is to be used, on suitable
soils for subsurface wastewater disposal;
(2)
In a manner that minimizes the length of roadways, public utility
lines, and other infrastructure within the proposed development;
(3)
In a manner that maximizes the amount of contiguous open space;
(4)
To provide planting, landscaping, fencing, and screening to
buffer the development from, and integrate it with, the character
of any surrounding development;
(5)
In locations where buildings will not interfere with the solar
access of other properties.