Rules for Building and Parking in Residential Areas

Access, Driveways and Off-Street Parking. The following standards of development shall apply to all residential development:The width, surface, and improvements of common driveways serving more than four but less than 20 residential units (including dwelling units and additional rental units) shall be constructed pursuant to the requirements established by the Fire Code relating to Fire Department access roads.For properties located within the Residential Zoning District that have vehicular access as of (date the ordinance is approved) that does not meet County standards for a public street, the Director may waive the requirements of KCC Section 8 4.5(a)(4), provided the vehicular access is constructed pursuant to the requirements established by the Fire Code relating to Fire Department access roads.For multi-family projects consisting of 20 or more residential units (including dwelling units and additional rental units) that abut or are adjacent to an existing street or road that meets County standards, the Director may waive the requirements of KCC Section 8 4.5(a)(4), provided the vehicular access serves a parking lot and is constructed pursuant to the requirements established by the Fire Code relating to Fire Department access roads.The right-of-way width, surface, and improvements of private streets shall be equivalent to County standards for public streets.A minimum of two off-street parking spaces per dwelling unit shall be provided. When off-street parking spaces serving more than one dwelling unit are provided in a parking area, the spaces shall be paved. For Guest Houses, one off-street parking space per Guest House shall be provided in addition to the required off-street parking for the primary dwelling unit. For elderly housing projects, the minimum off-street parking spaces may be one per three dwelling units. For multiple family dwelling units used primarily by visitors, tourists and transient guests, a minimum off-street parking space ratio of one and one-half (1.5) spaces per dwelling unit may be permitted by the Planning Director.No driveway shall be wider than 40% of the lot frontage on a public thoroughfare, except on the turn-around end of a cul-de-sac.Driveway connections to public streets shall conform to standards of design and construction established by the Department of Public Works.All parking areas serving more than two dwelling units shall be screened from public thoroughfares by a fence, wall or planting not less than four feet in height, provided that the screening height shall be lowered to the standard as required under the County Traffic Code or to the standards of the Department of Public Works, at street corners, driveway intersections, and other locations.All paved parking areas shall be set back from public right-of-way lines a minimum of five feet.Building Height.No single family detached or single family attached dwelling, or accessory structure shall be more than two stories above and one story below from the finished grade at the main entry, over 20 feet measured from the finished grade at the main entry to the highest exterior wall plate line, and over 30 feet to the highest point of the roof measured at each point along the building from the finished grade at the main entry. The finished grade at the main entry shall not be elevated more than a maximum of four feet from the existing grade. (See Figure 1)Figure 1.For the purpose of determining the number of stories in a single family detached dwelling, a loft shall be considered a story, except when the dwelling is constructed in a flood plain area. In a flood plain area a loft shall not be deemed a story for the story limitation purpose of Subsection (b)(1). Lower minimums may be imposed as a condition to a zoning permit to recognize topographic, light and air, privacy or architectural conditions of adjacent development or uses.No multiple family buildings, hotel or motel, shall be more than 10 feet higher than any residential building located within 30 feet of the building, or shall not exceed four stories nor exceed 40 feet from finished grade at each point along the building to the highest wall plate line. Gables and roof height shall not exceed 1/2 the wall height or 15 feet, whichever is less. The limits contained in this Section shall not apply to spaces containing mechanical equipment, such as elevator machinery and air conditioning units, but the spaces shall not exceed 15 feet above the highest wall plate line.Utilities and Services. The following standards of development shall apply to all residential development:Waste collection areas shall be provided for single family detached dwelling and common waste collection areas shall be provided for single family attached and multiple family dwelling units, according to standards established by the County Engineer. All waste collection areas shall be screened by a fence, wall or hedge from public thoroughfares when serving over two dwelling units.Where a Zoning Permit is issued providing for development at a density of 10 or more dwelling units per acre on a parcel, all electric distribution lines, telephone lines, gas distribution lines, cable television lines, and like facilities located within the parcel to be developed or leading into the parcel shall be installed underground unless the applicant demonstrates, and the Planning Commission determines on the basis of substantial evidence, that installation of any of the foregoing lines and facilities above ground will better protect scenic and environmental values.The following types of lines and facilities may be exempted from the requirements of this Section:Poles without overhead lines used exclusively for fire or police alarm boxes, lighting purposes or traffic control;Overhead wires attached to the exterior surface of a building by means of a bracket or other fixture and extending from one location on the building to another location on the same building;Equipment appurtenant to underground facilities, such as surface mounted transformers, pedestal mounted terminal boxes, and meter cabinets and concealed ducts, provided that the facilities shall be located and designed so as to harmonize with the area, and shall be appropriately screened and landscaped. In appropriate instances, all or part of the transformers and service terminals shall be flush with or below the surface of the ground at the point of installation.All residential development accessible to a public sewer shall provide for adequate sanitary sewer facilities in accordance with standards established by the Department of Public Works and the State Department of Health. In developments not accessible to public sewers, a private sewage disposal system shall be provided that meets the requirements of the Department of Public Works and the requirements of Chapter 57 of the Public Health Regulations of the State Department of Health.All residential development in districts permitting densities in excess of one dwelling unit per acre shall be served by a public water distribution system or a private system equivalent to public standards and specifications as established by the Department of Water.Public Access. The Planning Commission may require the dedication of adequate public access ways not less than six feet in width to publicly-owned land or waters and may require the preservation of all historic and archaeological sites, known or discovered on the parcel subject to development.