Calculation of Minimum Contiguous Buildable Lot Area
5.3. CALCULATION OF MINIMUM CONTIGUOUS BUILDABLE LOT AREA
5.3.1 Area
A. When calculating buildable lot area, a buildable lot shall be determined by the following criteria:
1. In R20 and R20M residential zoning districts, if the lot is served by public sewer, a minimum buildable lot area shall be required which is at least 10,000 square feet of contiguous buildable land exclusive of land unsuitable for development as defined in Section 6.8.1 of this Ordinance, and the lot meets all other dimensional requirements of this ordinance.
2. In R20 and R20M residential zoning districts, if the lot is not served by public sewer, a minimum buildable lot area shall be required which is at least 20,000 square feet of contiguous buildable land exclusive of land unsuitable for development as defined in Section 6.8.1 of this Ordinance, and the lot meets all other dimensional requirements of this ordinance.
3. In non-residential and planned development zoning districts, a buildable lot area shall be required whereby at least 50% of the lot’s square footage is composed of contiguous buildable land, exclusive of land unsuitable for development as defined in Section 6.8.1 of this Ordinance, and the lot meets all other dimensional requirements of this ordinance.
4. In all other residential zoning districts, if the lot is served by a public sewer, a minimum buildable lot area shall be required which is at least 20,000 square feet of contiguous buildable land, exclusive of land unsuitable for development as defined in Section 6.8.1 of this Ordinance, and the lot meets all other dimensional requirements of this ordinance.
5. In all other residential zoning districts, if the lot is not served by a public sewer, a minimum buildable lot area shall be required which is at least 30,000 square feet of contiguous buildable land, exclusive of land unsuitable for development as defined in Section 6.8.1 of this Ordinance, and the lot meets all other dimensional requirements of this ordinance.
5.3.2 Frontage
A. Minimum street frontage for lots fronting entirely on cul-de-sacs, shall be thirty (30) percent below the frontage requirements of Table 1. For cul-de-sacs, frontage shall be measured at the street line.
B. In no case shall the lot measure less than seventy (70) percent of the required minimum lot width between the rear of the front yard and the frontage.
5.3.3 Yards
A. Ordinary structural projections of window sills, cornices, overhangs, stairways, and other ornamental features may extend up to three (3) feet into a required yard setback area.
B. Where a lot is situated between two (2) lots, each of which has a main building within twenty-five (25) feet of its side lot line which projects beyond the established front yard line and was so maintained since May 26, 1987, the front yard requirements on such lot shall be the average of the front yards of said existing buildings. The front yard of such lot shall not be less than fifteen (15) feet.
C. For the purposes of side yard regulations, residential dwellings with common party walls shall be considered as one (1) building occupying one (1) lot. Any such building shall have double the side yard that is required in the applicable district.
D. All shelters for household pets are allowable no closer than ten (10) feet to a property line. All other animal shelters, excluding bird shelters, must be kept a minimum of twenty (20) feet from a property line.
E. No part of a yard, or other open space, or off-street parking or loading space required or in connection with any building for the purpose of complying with this Ordinance, shall be included as part of a yard, open space, or off-street parking or loading space similarly required for any other building.
F. No yard or lot existing at the time of passage of this Ordinance shall be reduced in dimension or area below the minimum requirements set forth herein or to add to the non-conformance, if any. Yards or lots created after the effective date of this Ordinance shall meet at least the minimum requirements established by this Ordinance.
G. Lots of Record in an R-20 Zone are entitled to a ten (10) foot side yard.
5.3.4 Buffers
A. No structure shall be located within a jurisdictional wetland or buffer as defined in Section 1.4 Definitions of the Rules and Regulations Governing the Administration and Enforcement of the Fresh Water Wetlands Act, as amended, without obtaining a permit from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM).
B. No structures shall be erected in a non-residential zone within one hundred (100) feet of a residential zone.
5.3.5 Height The maximum height set forth in Table I shall not include mechanical devices, mechanical penthouses and parapets as determined by the Official and in no instance, shall the number of building stories exceed three (3), excluding basement level story, defined as at least fifty (50) percent below grade, on average, as determined by the Official.