Agenda - Planning Commission - 04/04/1995

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THE ZONING REPORT Page Four retain the single bufferyard to be located on either lot or shared between them. But most retain zone yards to regulate spacing of build- ings between adjoining uses and lots. These are the 'modifiCations we've found in zoning codes that have adopted the Kendig model: --- Reduce the number of land use classifica- tions~ from eleven to about five or six. Several classifications in the model are combined for uses in several classes but with.different de- velopment 'densities. Uses sorted to a single class each are single-family residential, recrea- tion, light industry and commercial. A modified five-class Iand use s~rs. tem~' summary, could be: Class h single-family resi- dential, individual mobile homes, t~vo-family res- idential, group homes and open space uses; Class II: multi-family residential, dormitories, fraternities, rooming-boarding h~uses, mobile home parks; Class III: institutional uses, offi- ces, 'general commercial; Class tV: high way commercial, light industry; and Class ¥: heavy industry, mining and junkyards. --- Change the classifications from land uses to zones. The tables of classifications then match the zoning of the proposed land use with the zohing of adjoining uses and vacant lots. The change applies to by-right uses not assign- ed a bufferyard type in the zone district use list and to conditional uses not assigned a buf- feryard type listed with the standards of ap- proval for the use. --- Reduce the number of bufferyard types, from twelve in the model code to about six. Generally, heavier buffers required in the mod- el code for more intensive uses are combined in enacted codes. For the heavier' buffers in the model code, the. options that allow narrow- er bufferyards and a lesser number of plants if fences and walls are installed become the re- quired bufferyard in enacted codes. --- Reduce the number of options per buffer- yard type, with some bufferyards having only one option available to the developer. The op- tions of wider bufferyards with less plants in the model Code are deleted, retaining the op- tion allowing a narrower and less denSe buffer- yard if a fence is provided. --- Lot width is added as a determinant of the bufferyard type. Smaller lots can provide narrower buffers and less plants. --- Delete the table of proposed uses that adjoin existing vacant lots. The remaining table matches the zone of the proposed use with the zone of the adjoining developed or vacant lots. --- Assign special buffers to certain inten- sive uses~ The special buffer is not assigned in the table of proposed and existing uses or zones. It is an extra-wide buffer with fencing and a large density of plants. Uses requiring the buffer are major heavy uses such as smelt- ing and ore processing, oil and gas refineries, asphalt and concrete mixing, mining, explosives manufacturing and animal products processing. --- Reduce the number of plant species list- ~ to a much smaller number of locally com- mon non-nuisance plants from Kendig's compre- hensive list of species. --- Modify the rules of' installation. These are some the rules modified: The first develop- er of two adjoining lots provides the full buf- feryard width and number of plants. The sec- ond developer has no additional requirement. This rule applies with only a single table of zones for proposed and existing uses and va- cant lots. If one of the lots was developed be- fore enactment of the new bufferyard system, the second developer must provide the buffer- yard. width and number of plants required be- tween the two uses. If the requirements appear excessive, they can be modified or reduced. Th.e total amount of bufferyard to be provided is capped at 10% of lot area. Codes allow administrative waivers from the bufferyard regulations by an authorized staff official if providing the required bufferyards is impractical or difficult for existing develop- ments proposing redevelopment, remodeling, change in use or floor area expansion. No ex- isting buildings need be removed or parking areas removed to accommodate buffers other- wise required. Waivers can aisc be sought for tracts whose terrain or other site features make the required buffers ineffective. · March 24, 1995 issue