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Town of Ithaca, NY
Tompkins County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
The purpose of the High Density Residential Zone is to maintain the residential character of certain areas of the Town, to provide a buffer or transition from the less dense residential areas of the Town to areas where multiple residences or commercial activities may be permitted, to provide for more affordable housing, and to encourage more intense development where there is infrastructure already in place to support such development.
Only the following buildings or uses are permitted as a matter of right in a High Density Residential Zone:
A. 
A one-family dwelling to be occupied by no more than:
(1) 
One family, or
(2) 
One family plus no more than one boarder, roomer, lodger, or other occupant.
B. 
A two-family dwelling consisting of a principal dwelling unit and an internal or attached accessory dwelling unit, provided that:
[Amended 12-11-2017 by L.L. No. 20-2017]
(1) 
The principal dwelling unit is occupied by no more than one family plus no more than one boarder, roomer, lodger or other occupant;
(2) 
The accessory dwelling unit is occupied by no more than one family; and
(3) 
The applicable requirements of § 270-219.6 (Accessory dwelling units) are met.
C. 
Publicly owned park or playground including accessory buildings and improvements.
D. 
Any municipal or public utility purpose necessary to the maintenance of utility services except that substations and similar structures shall be subject to the same setback requirements as apply to residences in the district in which the substations or similar structures are constructed.
E. 
Day-care homes, family day-care homes and group family day-care homes.
F. 
Community residence.
G. 
Small wind energy facilities, subject to the limitations on small wind energy facilities set forth in § 270-219.4.
[Added 8-11-2008 by L.L. No. 13-2008]
The following uses are permitted in a High Density Residential Zone, but only upon receipt of a special permit for same from the Planning Board in accordance with the procedures set forth in this chapter:
A. 
Church or other places of worship, convent and parish house.
B. 
Cemetery and the buildings and structures incident thereto.
C. 
Public, parochial and private schools, public library, public museum, day-care center, nursery school, and any institution of higher learning including dormitory accommodations.
D. 
Fire station or other public building necessary to the protection of or the servicing of a neighborhood.
E. 
Golf course, driving range or miniature golf course.
F. 
Clinic and nursing or convalescent home, provided that no building so used shall be within 100 feet from any street or within 150 feet of the lot line of any adjoining owner.
G. 
Clubhouse or lodge, provided that no building so used shall be within 100 feet from any street or within 150 feet of the lot line of any adjoining owner.
H. 
Bed-and-breakfast facilities providing no more than two bedrooms for transients, unless the size of the lot on which the facility is located is at least 30,000 square feet, in which event up to four bedrooms may be used for transients.
I. 
Adult care facility.
J. 
Child day-care center.
The following accessory buildings or uses are permitted as of right in a High Density Residential Zone:
A. 
Off-street garage or parking space for the occupants, users and employees in connection with uses permitted in this article, but subject to provisions of § 270-227 of this chapter.
B. 
Where the principal use is as a one- or two-family dwelling, private swimming pool, tennis courts, and other similar recreational facilities for the principal private use of the occupants of the dwelling.
C. 
Up to three accessory buildings other than a garage, all such accessory buildings in the aggregate not to exceed a total footprint of 800 square feet in size unless the lot is three acres or larger, in which event the aggregate area of the accessory buildings may not exceed a total footprint of 2,000 square feet. A building occupied by a detached accessory dwelling unit shall count towards the square footage limits of this Subsection C.
[Amended 12-11-2017 by L.L. No. 20-2017; 3-13-2023 by L.L. No. 7-2023]
D. 
A temporary building for commerce or industry, where such building is necessary or incidental to the development of a residential area. Such buildings may not be continued for more than one year except upon receipt of a special approval from the Board of Appeals.
E. 
The keeping of household pets in a dwelling unit or other location adjacent to or accessory to a dwelling unit (e.g., outside doghouse, etc.) provided that no more than three household pets shall be kept outside of dwelling units unless a greater number is authorized by special approval of the Zoning Board of Appeals.
F. 
(Reserved)[1]
[1]
Editor’s Note: Former Subsection F, which set forth signs as a permitted accessory use, was repealed 8-7-2017 by L.L. No. 12-2017.
G. 
Home occupations, subject to the limitations on home occupations set forth in § 270-219.2.
[Added 2-12-2007 by L.L. No. 1-2007]
H. 
Amateur radio facilities, subject to the limitations on amateur radio facilities set forth in § 270-219.3.
[Added 8-13-2007 by L.L. No. 7-2007]
I. 
Small wind energy facilities, subject to the limitations on small wind energy facilities set forth in § 270-219.4.
[Added 8-11-2008 by L.L. No. 13-2008]
J. 
A detached accessory dwelling unit, provided that:
[Added 12-11-2017 by L.L. No. 20-2017]
(1) 
The accessory dwelling unit is occupied by no more than one family; and
(2) 
The applicable requirements of § 270-219.6 (Accessory dwelling units) are met.
K. 
Short-term rental uses, subject to the limitations on short-term rental uses set forth in § 270-219.7.
[Added 12-29-2021 by L.L. No. 16-2021]
[1]
Editor’s Note: Former § 270-80, Accessory buildings and uses authorized by special approval only, as amended 2-12-2007 by L.L. No. 1-2007, was repealed 12-11-2017 by L.L. No. 20-2017.
[Amended 12-11-2017 by L.L. No. 20-2017; 3-13-2023 by L.L. No. 7-2023]
In High Density Residential Zones, no building shall be erected, altered, or extended to exceed 38 feet in height from the lowest interior grade or 36 feet in height from the lowest exterior grade, whichever is lower. No structure other than a building shall be erected, altered, or extended to exceed 30 feet in height. A building occupied by a detached accessory dwelling unit shall not exceed one story and 20 feet in height, except buildings constructed prior to the effective date of Local Law No. 20 of the Year 2017 may exceed these two parameters as long as the building height is not subsequently increased beyond that existing on the effective date of said local law. Other accessory buildings shall not exceed 20 feet in height.
In High Density Residential Zones yards of at least the following dimensions are required:
A. 
Front yard: Not less than the average depth of the front yards of buildings on lots immediately adjacent. However, the front yard depth shall not be less than 25 feet or need it be greater than 50 feet.
B. 
Rear yard: Not less than 30 feet in depth.
C. 
Side yards: Each not less than 10 feet in width.
[Amended 8-13-2012 by L.L. No. 11-2012]
D. 
Greater yards: Notwithstanding the foregoing, any special yard requirements for specific uses or buildings set forth elsewhere in this chapter shall, if more restrictive, supersede the above yard provisions.
E. 
Accessory buildings.
[Amended 8-13-2012 by L.L. No. 11-2012; 12-11-2017 by L.L. No. 20-2017]
(1) 
Buildings occupied by a detached accessory dwelling unit. Such buildings must be located in a rear yard, be at least 20 feet from any side lot line, and be at least 15 feet from a rear lot line.
(2) 
All other accessory buildings (except garages, and except woodsheds meeting the requirements of Subsection G below) may not occupy any open space other than a rear yard.
(3) 
Accessory buildings (including garages, woodsheds, and buildings occupied by a detached accessory dwelling unit), in the aggregate, may occupy not more than 40% of the thirty-foot rear yard setback required by Subsection B above.
(4) 
Accessory buildings (except for garages and buildings occupied by a detached accessory dwelling unit) shall be not less than three feet from any side or rear lot line. Any accessory building, other than a garage or a building occupied by a detached accessory dwelling unit, on a corner lot shall be not less than five feet from the rear lot line.
F. 
Garages: An attached or detached garage may occupy any yard provided that it shall be no less than 25 feet from the front property line, no less than 10 feet from a side line, and no less than 30 feet from a rear line. All detached garages in the aggregate shall not exceed a total footprint of 780 square feet in size. Detached garages shall be included in the calculations of accessory buildings that, in the aggregate, may not occupy more than 40% of any required rear yard. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following shall apply:
[Added 8-13-2012 by L.L. No. 11-2012; 3-13-2023 by L.L. No. 7-2023]
(1) 
In one of the side yards, a one-story garage, either attached to the principal building or separate therefrom, may be no less than seven feet from a side line which is not a street line. In the rear yard, a one-story detached garage may be no less than five feet from any side or rear lot line.
(2) 
A one-story detached garage that serves dwellings on two separate lots may be built across a common lot line with a party wall by mutual agreement between adjoining property owners, provided that there is at least one garage bay on each lot, and further provided that the garage meets the front property line setback requirement above.
(3) 
Where the average natural slope of a lot exceeds 8% rise or fall directly from the street line, a one-story detached garage capable of housing not in excess of two cars may be located in the front or side yard not less than five feet from said street line upon receiving a special approval from the Board of Appeals.
G. 
Woodsheds: A woodshed which has no more than 100 square feet in floor area and the highest point of which is no more than 10 feet above ground level may occupy a side yard, provided that the total storage space of all woodsheds in a side yard shall not be more than 1,000 cubic feet. A woodshed in a side yard shall be not less than three feet from any side lot line.
[Added 8-13-2012 by L.L. No. 11-2012]
H. 
Swimming pools: Private swimming pools allowed for one- or two-family dwellings per § 270-79B may not be located in a front yard, and must be at least 15 feet from any side lot line or rear lot line, as measured from the edge of the pool structure.
[Added 4-11-2022 by L.L. No. 6-2022]
The maximum building area shall not exceed 25% of the lot area. Projections described in § 270-224 are not to be included in computing the percentage.
Lots in High Density Residential Zones shall meet the following minimum requirements:
A. 
Minimum lot area shall be at least 9,000 square feet; and
B. 
Minimum width at the street line shall be 60 feet; and
C. 
Minimum width at the maximum required front yard setback line (50 feet from the street line) shall be 75 feet; and
D. 
Minimum depth from the highway right-of-way shall be 120 feet.
[Amended 5-13-2019 by L.L. No. 3-2019]
In the case of publicly owned properties and properties of universities, colleges, cemeteries, or other private institutions located in High-Density Residential Zones, which comprise at least six acres in area and are traversed by interior roads or driveways, the front, side, and rear yard requirements set forth above shall apply only along the exterior public street frontages and along boundaries with adjacent properties where lot ownership is not identical. Notwithstanding the provisions in § 270-226, publicly owned properties and properties of universities, colleges, cemeteries, or other private institutions located in High-Density Residential Zones may have more than one principal building on a lot.
Parking requirements shall be as set forth in Article XXVII.