Every part of a required yard shall be open to the
sky, except as otherwise authorized by this chapter and except ordinary
projections of sills, belt courses, window air-conditioning units,
chimneys, cornices and ornamental features, which may project to a
distance not to exceed two feet beyond the required minimum setbacks.
Within any zoning district, the least dimension of
a yard upon which the principal entrances or exits of a dwelling face
shall be 20 feet except VC, Village Center, which is 10 feet.
Open, unenclosed porches, platforms, patios or decks
not covered by a roof or canopy and which do not extend above the
level of the first floor of the building may extend or project beyond
the required minimum front and side yard setbacks not more than six
feet.
Where a right-of-way has been established for the
future widening or opening of a County, state or private road upon
which a lot abuts, then the depth of a front or side yard shall be
measured from the nearest boundary of the right-of-way to the nearest
point of the structure.
There shall be a front yard of at least 15 feet in
depth on the side road of a corner lot in any zoning district. The
Zoning Administrator shall be guided by the pattern of development
in the vicinity of the lot in question in determining which is the
side road.
Where dwelling units are erected above commercial
structures in commercial zoning districts, the minimum side yard requirements
shall be the same as required in the applicable zoning district regulations
for a commercial building.
For the purpose of the side yard regulations, a group
of commercial, residential or industrial buildings separated by common
walls shall be considered as one building.
The minimum depth of side yards for schools, libraries,
churches, community houses and other public and semipublic buildings
in residential zoning districts shall be 25 feet, except that, when
adjacent to a commercial or industrial zoning district, the minimum
side yard shall be as required in the Table of General Design Regulations
for the zoning district in which the building is located.[1]
In order to provide a clear view of intersecting roads
to the motorist, there shall be a triangular area of clear vision
formed by the intersecting roads or vehicular access drives. The size
of the triangular area shall be determined by the road classifications
as follows:
The triangular area shall be formed by a point on
each road center line located 20, 50 or 100 feet from the intersection
of the road center lines and a third line connecting the two points.[1]
Editor's Note: A diagram that visually illustrates
the provisions of this subsection is on file and open to public inspection
during regular business hours in the County Planning and Codes Administration
office.
On any portion of a lot that lies within the triangular
area, [2] nothing shall be erected, placed, planted or allowed to
grow in such a manner as to impede vision between a height of three
feet and 10 feet above the grade at the two road center lines. This
rule shall not apply to existing trees.
Editor's Note: A diagram that visually illustrates
the provisions of this subsection is on file and open to public inspection
during regular business hours in the County Planning and Codes Administration
office.
On a farm, the principal residence shall be considered
the principal building. If no dwellings are located on the farm, then
more than one principal building may be located on the farm, provided
that all minimum setback requirements are met for the zoning district
in which the lot is located.
Where a lot is used for a commercial or industrial
purpose, more than one principal building may be located on the lot,
provided that all minimum setback requirements are met for the zoning
district in which the lot is located.
In the event that a lot is to be occupied by a group
of two or more related buildings to be used for multifamily residential,
institutional, hotel or motel purposes, there may be more than one
principal building on the lot when such buildings are arranged around
a court having direct road access; provided, however, that the court
between buildings shall have a minimum width of 40 feet and such buildings
shall be no closer to each other than 15 feet.
A building or other improvements may be erected on
any lot which was of record prior to October 1, 1967, even if the
lot is a nonconforming lot, provided that the building or other improvements
comply with the applicable minimum yard requirements and all other
applicable provisions of this chapter.
The minimum yards, setbacks, parking spaces, open
space and lot areas required by this chapter for each and every building
existing at the time of passage of this chapter or for any building
hereafter erected shall not be encroached upon or considered as required
yard or open space for any other building.
Subdivision of existing lots is not permitted where
the subdivision would create any lots which do not comply with all
requirements of this chapter or where the subdivision would render
any existing structure on a lot nonconforming.