A. 
It is the purpose and intent of this chapter to accommodate various types of unique and innovative housing forms which are usually based upon a concept of reducing the area of individually owned lots, and grouping such lots together to utilize the total space more efficiently within the subdivision by creating common open spaces, scenic and recreational areas, and other spaces which would compensate for the reduction of land area contained within the individually owned lot.
B. 
Specifically, this chapter is designed to allow the grouping of separately owned one-unit dwelling units into a group of townhouses in such a manner as to make efficient, economical, and aesthetically pleasing use of land so restricted that the same will be continually well maintained to preserve the health, welfare, safety, and convenience of the surrounding neighborhood and insure a reasonable amount of open space and architectural variety.
(Ord. 276 Exh. 1, 2024)
The following standards have been developed and apply to a variety of such attached and semi-detached single-unit housing forms including but not limited to townhouses or any other similar designation. All other provisions contained in the town zoning code are applicable to these types of housing forms unless specifically noted in this chapter.
A. 
No two townhouse dwelling units shall be served by the same interior or exterior stairway or by the same exterior door.
B. 
No townhouse lot shall contain an area of less than one thousand six hundred square feet and a minimum lot and building width of not less than twenty feet.
C. 
The minimum size of the site to be developed for townhouse units shall be five thousand square feet.
(Ord. 276 Exh. 1, 2024)
A detailed final landscape plan and final site improvement plan shall be submitted and approved by both the planning official and building official prior to the issuance of a building permit. Final approval shall include but not be limited to the following:
A. 
Conformance to the approved site plan;
B. 
Inclusion of appropriate plant materials;
C. 
All other requirements as set forth in Chapter 17.31.
(Ord. 276 Exh. 1, 2024)
In any townhouse division, architectural treatment shall be as follows: The facades of townhouses in a group shall be varied by changed front yard setbacks and variation in materials or design so that no more than two abutting townhouses will have the same front yard setback and the same or essentially the same architectural treatment of facades and roof lines.
(Ord. 276 Exh. 1, 2024)
A. 
Provisions satisfactory to the town council shall be made to assure that nonpublic areas and facilities for the common use of occupants of a townhouse development, but not in individual ownership of such occupants, shall be maintained in a satisfactory manner without expense to the general taxpayers of the town. To this end, the incorporation of an automatic membership owners’ association created under recorded land agreements will be required for the purpose of continuously holding title to such nonpublic areas and facilities, and levying assessments against each townhouse lot, whether improved or not, for the purpose of paying the taxes and maintaining such nonpublic areas and facilities, which may include but not be limited to recreational areas, off-street parking bays, private streets, sidewalks, street lights, and common open and landscaped area.
B. 
Such assessments shall be a lien superior to all other liens save and except tax liens and mortgage liens, provided the mortgage liens are first liens against the property encumbered thereby, subject only to tax liens, and secure indebtedness which are amortized in monthly or quarter-annual payments over a period of not less than ten years. Other methods may be acceptable if the same positively provide for the proper and continuous payment of taxes and maintenance without expense to the general taxpayers. The instrument incorporated by such provisions shall be approved by the town council and shall be recorded in the public records of the county if satisfactory to the town council.
C. 
In the event that this or a similar entity fails to maintain the common area in accordance with the landscaping plan approved by the town council, or should the entity fail to maintain the common area in a reasonable condition and state of repair, the determination of such failure to be made by the building official, the town council may, at its option through its own agents or by independent contractor, enter the common area for purposes of maintenance thereof, together with an additional charge of twenty-five percent of the costs for management fees, such costs to constitute a lien upon each and every lot in the project.
(Ord. 276 Exh. 1, 2024)
A. 
Townhouses may be arranged to face onto a common open area; such a common area shall be provided for unobstructed access of emergency vehicles.
B. 
Private Yard Area. Every lot containing a townhouse must provide a private yard of at least three hundred twenty square feet, oriented to either the building front, rear or side.
(Ord. 276 Exh. 1, 2024)
Each townhouse project site must have a frontage on a public street. Individual lots need not front a public or private street but may face upon common open areas.
(Ord. 276 Exh. 1, 2024)
All elements of the street system shall be designed in compliance with the town of West Yellowstone design standards.
(Ord. 276 Exh. 1, 2024)
The right-of-way width of public streets and private streets serving a group of townhouses and the improvements therein shall conform to all applicable town standards and requirements for such streets.
(Ord. 276 Exh. 1, 2024)
No townhouse shall be constructed to provide direct vehicular ingress or egress to any controlled access highway or major thoroughfare.
(Ord. 276 Exh. 1, 2024)
A. 
A minimum distance of fifty feet shall be maintained between all curb cuts. Not more than one curb cut shall be permitted per two townhouses. A minimum corner clearance shall be fifteen feet from property line at uncontrolled intersections and thirty feet from property line at controlled (either signed or signalized) intersections.
B. 
In no case shall any curb cut be permitted which, in the opinion of the building official, may cause an unsafe or hazardous driving condition.
(Ord. 276 Exh. 1, 2024)
All townhouses must be connected to public water and sewer lines, and all electrical and telephone lines in a townhouse development site shall be placed underground. Proper and adequate access for firefighting purposes and access to service areas to provide garbage and waste collection, and for other necessary services, shall be provided.
(Ord. 276 Exh. 1, 2024)
All buildings proposed to be constructed within any project containing private streets must be so arranged and located that firefighting apparatus can park and reach any building with a one-hundred-fifty-foot-long hose extending from such equipment. This one-hundred-fifty-foot hose length must be measured as the house is laid on the ground and may not be measured as the aerial radius from the parking equipment.
In addition, fire hydrants must be so located and provided within the project boundaries so that four hundred feet of fire hose, extending on the ground from the hydrant, can reach the furthermost part of any building within the boundaries of the project. Entrances to all buildings containing residential dwellings must be illustrated on the plat of any project containing private streets.
(Ord. 276 Exh. 1, 2024)
All buildings proposed to be constructed within any project containing private streets, and which contain residential dwelling units and have an overall length of three hundred feet or more, must be so designed to have one or more open unobstructed walkways through the building at ground level, having a width of not less than five feet each to allow ready access emergency services to each side of such buildings. In those instances where buildings are to be constructed over and across any private street, the unobstructed overhead clearance must not be less than fourteen feet, measured between the highest point of the private street paving under the structure and the lowest part of the building structure or associated parts thereof and suitable restrictions to this condition must be noted on the plat.
(Ord. 276 Exh. 1, 2024)
Townhouse developments shall provide fire hydrants on or adjacent to the area to be developed as required by the fire department. All construction shall comply with applicable building and fire codes as adopted by the town of West Yellowstone.
(Ord. 276 Exh. 1, 2024)