[Ord. No. 2030-26, 2-3-2026]
3-5-1. Purpose. The purpose of the R-3 District is to provide for the protection of existing single-family residential areas and the development of new areas at a low to medium population density with apartments, duplexes, townhouses, and condominiums not exceeding four units per building.
3-5-2. Additional district standards.
(A) Table 3-1 establishes how uses are permitted or permitted as a conditional use in the R-3 District.
(B) In addition to the standards established in §
3-2 above, the provisions of this section shall apply to development in the R-3 District:
(1) Apartments, duplexes, townhouses, condominiums, and other residential uses that are not detached single-family dwellings: there shall not be more than four units per building.
(2) Accessory buildings shall only be located in the rear yard and shall be set back a minimum of five feet from the rear lot line and eight feet from the side lot line.
3-5-3. Special standards for townhouses or condominiums.
(A) As part of any zoning amendment to allow for townhouses or condominiums, the Planning Commission and City Council shall determine that the proposed townhouses or condominiums are designed in such a manner as to be in harmony with the character of the surrounding neighborhood. Where conditions are attached by the Planning Commission or City Council, they shall be included as part of any building permit that is issued for the townhouse or condominium. If variance approval is involved, the Board of Adjustment shall not grant such exception except with the conditions attached by the Planning Commission or City Council, but the Board may add conditions in granting approval.
(B) It is the intent of this ordinance that townhouses or condominiums in areas where they are or may be permitted:
(1) May be appropriately intermingled with other types of housing;
(2) Shall not form long, unbroken lines of row housing; and
(3) Shall constitute groupings making efficient, economical, comfortable and convenient use of land and open space and serving the public purposes of zoning by means alternative to conventional arrangements of yards and building areas.
(C) In line with the general considerations above, the following site plan and design criteria are established:
(1) Not more than six contiguous townhouses or condominiums shall be built in a row with the same front line, and not more than 12 townhouses or condominiums shall be contiguous. In groups of townhouses or condominiums consisting of more than six units, the required difference in front line shall be a minimum of three feet.
(2) Minimum width for the portion of the lot on which a townhouse or condominium is to be constructed shall be 20 feet.
(3) Minimum lot area shall be 2,000 square feet.
(4) No portion of a townhouse or condominium or accessory structure in or related to one townhouse or condominium complex shall be closer than 20 feet to any portion of a townhouse or condominium or accessory structure related to another townhouse or condominium complex, or to any building outside the townhouse or condominium area.
(5) Each townhouse or condominium shall be constructed on its own lot.
(6) No side yards shall be required except at the unattached ends of a townhouse complex or condominium, in which case the minimum width shall be 10 feet. Minimum depth of front yards shall be 20 feet.
(7) Each townhouse or condominium shall have on its own open yard containing not less than 400 square feet, reasonably secluded from view from streets or from neighboring property. In condominium or townhouse developments not subdivided into individual lots, an open yard space with a minimum area of 400 square feet that is reasonably secluded from view from streets or from neighboring property shall be provided contiguous to, and for the private use of, the occupants of each dwelling unit.
(8) Off-street parking shall be provided at the rate of two spaces per townhouse or condominium unit. An off-street parking space shall not be more than 100 feet by the most direct pedestrian route from a door of the dwelling unit it is intended to serve, and may include enclosed garage spaces that are attached to the dwelling unit.
(9) In townhouses or condominium developments with a total area greater than five acres, at least 20% of the total area shall be devoted to common open space, exclusive of parking area or accessory buildings. Such common open areas may include recreational facilities. Provisions satisfactory to the City Council and approved by the City Attorney shall be made to assure that common open areas for the use and enjoyment of occupants of townhouses or condominiums shall be maintained in a satisfactory manner without expense to the general taxpayer. In addition, the developer of a townhouse or condominium development or homeowners' association created by the developer by recorded covenants and restrictions shall preserve for the owners and occupants of the development such lands set aside for open areas, parks, or recreational use and the common off-street parking spaces established for the development.
(10) Story and building height requirements shall be in accordance with those specified for the district in which the townhouse or condominium is located.