Section 175-112 SITE PLAN REQUIREMENTS - TOWNHOUSES.


All townhouses shall comply with the following regulations:

 

A.  Area regulations shall be as follows:

 

      1. Minimum lot size for townhouse construction: twenty thousand (20,000) square feet.

      2. Minimum lot area per dwelling unit: two thousand five hundred (2,500) square feet.

 

B.  Minimum width shall be as follows:

 

      1. Minimum lot width for development: one hundred twenty-five (125) feet at setback line.

      2. Minimum lot width per townhouse unit: twenty (20) feet.

 

a. In the case of a lot at the end of a row of townhouses, the lot width shall be forty (40) feet.

           b. For corner lots at street intersections, the minimum lot width shall be fifty (50) feet.

 

C.  Minimum yard requirements shall be as follows:

 

1. Front yard: forty (40) feet from the road right-of-way line.  Required parking may be located in a front yard, but not closer than ten (10) feet to the ultimate street right-of-way and not closer than ten (10) feet to any townhouse unit.

 

      2. Rear yard: forty (40) feet for each townhouse dwelling.

 

3. Side yard: twenty (20) feet for each end unit; thirty (30) feet for each corner lot at street intersections. When a townhouse abuts an R-1, or R-2 District, the side yard shall be thirty-five (35) feet.

 

D.  Maximum building height shall be as follows:

 

      1. Two and one-half (2) stories, but not to exceed thirty-five (35) feet.

 

E.  Minimum parking space shall be as follows:

 

      1. There shall be two (2) off-street parking spaces for each townhouse unit.

      2. An off-street parking space shall be a minimum of ten by twenty (10 x 20) feet.

      3. No parking space shall be located closer than ten (10) feet to any townhouse unit.

 

F.  Other regulations for all townhouse construction:

 

     1. There shall be no more than eight (8) townhouse units constructed in a continuous series.

 

2. Each dwelling shall be separated by a noncombustible party wall going through the roof, with a fire resistance of not less than two (2) hours duration.

  

      3. Each townhouse shall front on a public or private street approved by the town.

 

4. Concrete curb and gutters shall be installed along both sides of all new streets within the development.  However, should a new street act as a boundary for townhouse developments, curb and gutter need only be installed on the side of the street adjacent to the development.

 

5. Walkways of four (4) feet in width, constructed of concrete or brick, shall be installed from parking areas to all townhouse structures served by such parking areas.

 

6. The radii of cul-de-sac shall be at least fifty (50) feet.  No more than twenty-five (25) dwelling units shall be located on any cul-de-sac.

 

7. Accessory buildings are not permitted, except that on any lot there may be an enclosed storage shed not exceeding seven (7) feet in height nor exceeding ten (10) feet in length by ten (10) feet in width.

 

8. A ten-foot easement along the side and rear of each townhouse structure shall be provided in addition to the side yard in all townhouse developments.

 

9. Variation in townhouse design.  The facades of dwelling  units in a townhouse structure shall be varied by changed  front yards of not less than three (3) feet and variation  in materials and design so that not more than four (4) abutting units will have the same front yard depth and the  same or essentially the same architectural treatment of  facades and rooflines. Balconies and roofed porches may encroach up to five (5) feet into the front yards.

 

10.  As determined by the Planning Commission and approved of by  the Town Council, parking, as shown on the site plan, may  be permitted in the rear of properties and access to such spaces may be permitted over an alley.

 

G. Special regulations for townhouse developments of one (1) acre and over.  For townhouse developments of one (1) acre or more, the following regulations shall apply in addition to those previously noted:

 

1. Parking areas shall be set back at least thirty (30) feet from property lines of the development.

 

2. There shall be provided twenty-five hundredths (0.25) square feet of usable open space (not including parking or driveway areas) devoted to recreational use for every one (1) square foot of gross residential floor area.  This space shall take the form of parks or play areas, etc. Usable open space shall not include front, rear or side yard areas of individual townhouse units.

 

      3. Management of open space:

 

a. All open space shall be preserved for its intended purpose as expressed in the final site plan.

 

b. Should the units be for rental purposes, the developer or rental agent shall be responsible for maintenance and management of open space.

 

c. Should the units be for sale, there shall be an establishment of a nonprofit association, corporation, trust or foundation of all individuals or corporations owning residential property within the planned development to ensure the maintenance of open spaces.

 

d. When the development is to administer open space through an association, nonprofit corporation, trust or foundation, said organization shall conform to the following requirements:

 

[1] The developer must establish the organization prior to the sale of any lots and/or units.

[2] Membership in the organization shall be mandatory for all residential property owners, present or future, within the planned community, and said organization shall not discriminate in its members or shareholders.

[3] The organization shall manage all open space and recreational and cultural facilities, shall provide for the maintenance, administration and operation of said land and improvements and any other common land within the planned community and shall secure adequate liability insurance on the land.

[4] The organization shall conform to the Condominium Act, Code of Virginia 1950, as amended.

 

       4. The horizontal distance between groups of townhouses shall be:

 

a. Two (2) times the average height of the two (2) groups of townhouses for front or rear walls facing front or rear walls.

b. One and one-half (1 1/2) times the average height for front or rear walls facing side walls.

          c.  Equal to the height of the highest building for side walls facing side walls.

 

5.  Access and service shall be provided in the front of each townhouse.  Parking may be provided on the lot, as  carports, as an integral part of the townhouse or a  joint parking facility for a group of townhouses with  such deed restrictions as are necessary to determine ownership and maintenance of common parking facilities and methods of assigning charges for maintenance, snow  removal and repairs.

 

6. Usable open space devoted to recreational use as herein required shall be designed for use by tenants of the development and shall be improved and equipped by the developer in accordance with plans submitted and approved by the Town Planning Commission.

 

7.  Screening shall be provided of sufficient height and density to screen the site from adjoining residential districts whether R-1 or R-2.  A planting plan specifying type, size and location of existing and proposed planting material shall be submitted with the application for the permit.  Screening shall be at least six (6) feet in height.

 

       8. Parking facilities:

 

a.  Required parking spaces shall be provided on the same lot as the building served or within three  hundred (300) feet of property.  All parking shall be off-street.

 

b.  All access drives shall be at least fifteen (15) feet from any building on the lot and from exterior lot lines.

 

c.  Parking areas shall not be designed or located so as to require or encourage cars to back into a public street in order to leave the lot.

 

d.  Entrance and exit ways to parking areas shall have a minimum width of twelve (12) feet for each lane of traffic entering or leaving the site, but shall at no time exceed thirty (30) feet in width at the point of intersection with the street.

 

(Ord. No. Z-1-98 Amended “d” 8-14-98-Effective Upon Passage)

 

e.  All dead-end parking lots shall be designed to provide sufficient back-up area for the end stalls of the parking area.

 

f.  All access ways and parking areas shall be paved  with a hard surface, a double-surface treatment or concrete covering.

 

g.  Entrance and exit ways and interior access ways shall be designed so as to prevent the blocking of vehicles entering or leaving the site.

 

h.  Any other requirements deemed necessary by the Planning Commission or Town Council for the public safety shall be complied with.

 

      9.  Drainage:

 

a.  A storm runoff and drainage system shall be  installed by the developer in accordance with  sound engineering practice so as to adequately drain the project site, to adequately dispose of all runoff and drainage away from the project site  and so as not to permit excess flow of water across streets or adjoining properties.  Plans for such drainage systems shall be submitted with the application for the permit and shall be subject to approval by the Town Engineer, who may request assistance from other agencies.

 

b. All provisions of existing town ordinances and regulations regarding storm drainage shall be complied with.

 

10.  Lighting:  Lighting for buildings, access ways and parking areas shall be so arranged as not to reflect toward public streets or cause any annoyance to building occupants or surrounding property owners or residents.

 

11.  Storage of trash and rubbish: Exterior storage areas for trash and rubbish shall be well screened on three (3) sides with evergreen plantings, and trash shall be contained in vermin-proof containers. Interior storage areas for trash and rubbish shall at all times be kept in an orderly and sanitary fashion.

 

12.  Site plan review and approval: Site plans shall be reviewed by the Planning Commission and approved or rejected by the Town Council.  Such plans shall be drawn in accordance with Article XIII.