The following regulations shall apply to all R-3 Districts.
The following principal uses are permitted as of right in the R-3 District:
A. 
Multiple-family dwellings.
B. 
Two-family dwellings.
C. 
Churches or similar places of worship, parish houses, convents and community houses.
D. 
Public and private schools.
E. 
Firehouses.
F. 
Public parks, playgrounds and other municipal recreational uses.
G. 
Public libraries and museums.
H. 
Child and infant day-care centers.
[Added 4-27-2005 by L.L. No. 9-2005]
The following special uses may be permitted or denied subject to special use review under Article XIX of this chapter:
A. 
Disturbance on a wetland or watercourse area of any class or in a wetland or watercourse buffer area as defined in this chapter.
Accessory uses in the R-3 District shall be limited to the following:
A. 
Garages containing not more than one parking space for each dwelling unit.
B. 
Private swimming pools, tennis courts and other private health or recreational facilities for the use of residents and not serving the general public.
C. 
Permitted home occupations.
D. 
Accessory parking and loading.
E. 
Buildings for lawn care and property maintenance.
F. 
Fallout shelters.
G. 
Dish antennas and permitted accessory towers.
H. 
Small wind energy facilities and wind measurement towers subject to the requirements of the Town of Rotterdam Wind Energy Facility Law.[1]
[Added 10-8-2008 by L.L. No. 10-2008]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 269, Wind Energy Facilities.
The maximum building height shall be three stories, not exceeding 40 feet.
[Amended 12-26-1990 by L.L. No. 26-1990]
The minimum total lot area shall be 20,000 square feet, except that buildings or structures with more than four bedrooms shall increase the total lot area by a minimum of 3,000 square feet for each additional bedroom over four, with a minimum lot width of 100 feet.
Lot coverage shall not exceed 45%.
A. 
Front yard depth shall be 30 feet.
B. 
Side yard width shall be not less than 20 feet.
C. 
Rear yard depth shall be not less than 25 feet, except that a private garage may be built five feet from the rear and side property line.
D. 
Increased yard depth. In reviewing every multiple-family project development plan, the Planning Board shall consider the yards and proposed screening of parking, common open space and buildings and may require provision of a yard depth up to twice the applicable yard requirements listed above, where such greater yard depth is necessary to preserve neighborhood character and property values.
A. 
Access. Every multiple-family development shall have safe and direct access to a major street or arterial.
B. 
Utilities. No multiple-family development proposal shall be considered unless adequate public water supply and sufficient sewage disposal facilities are available. No certificate of occupancy shall be issued until all dwelling units are connected to approved and functioning common water and sewage disposal facilities.
C. 
Common open space. Not less than 15% of the gross acreage of the site shall be composed of land which is permanently dedicated to common open space. In reviewing the development plan, the Planning Board may require that up to 30% of the gross acreage of the site be permanently dedicated to common open space and to natural areas where such area is needed to preserve sensitive land, to maintain neighborhood character or to create needed recreational facilities.
D. 
Maintenance of common open space. The multiple-family development plans shall include such provisions for the ownership and maintenance of all common open space and natural areas as are reasonably necessary to ensure their continuity, care, conservation, maintenance and operation and to ensure that remedial measures are available to the Town if such property is permitted to deteriorate or is changed in use from that permitted.
E. 
Landscaping. All portions of every multiple-family development which are not used for locations of buildings, structures, parking, circulation roadways, sidewalks, preserve areas or similar purposes shall be suitably landscaped and permanently maintained with plantings of trees and shrubbery, as approved by the Planning Board as part of the site plan, so as to minimize erosion and stormwater runoff and harmoniously blend such uses with the residential character of the development and neighborhood.
F. 
Buffer yards. Except where a required yard abuts a public street or roadway, every exterior yard shall be screened with evergreen landscape plantings at least six feet in height and/or with natural vegetation, trees and shrubbery in a manner which effectively screens the multiple-family use from adjoining lots or parcels.
G. 
Pedestrian circulation. Sidewalks and pathways shall be designed so as to provide safe and convenient access between buildings and recreation facilities, parking, loading areas and public transportation stops.
H. 
Planning Board consideration. The Planning Board reserves the right to raise any other related questions and to impose requirements or conditions as may be appropriate and proper in achieving the intent of these design standards.
Off-street parking requirements applicable in the R-3 District are set forth in § 270-149 of this chapter.