§ 5-60. R-ZT Single Family Residence Zero Lot Line/Townhouse District.

(Prior to January 2005).

This district is intended to provide areas for the development of moderate density residential uses and structures in moderately spacious surroundings. It is intended that these districts be located in the urban and suburban portions of Gwinnett County where a protected environment suitable for moderate-density residential use can be provided, as well as in established moderate-density residential areas as a means to ensure their continuance. The use of this district is also appropriate on a smaller scale in the suburban portions of the County as a transitional zone between low-density residential districts and commercial districts, industrial districts, or major transportation arteries, or other uses that are not compatible with a low-density residential environment. In fulfilling the intent of this district, the townhouse concept may be used which permits the construction of single-family dwellings immediately adjacent to one another without side yards between the individual units and which units may or may not be structurally connected. The intent of this district may also be fulfilled by the use of the Zero Lot Line concept, which permits the construction of detached single-family dwellings on lots without a side yard requirement on one side of the lot. This concept permits better use of the entire lot by compacting the usual front, rear and side yards into one or more internal gardens which may be completely walled in or screened.

5-60.1  Within the R-ZT Single Family Residence Zero Lot Line/Townhouse District, the following uses are permitted:

A.

Zero Lot Line Single Family Detached Dwellings.

B.

Townhouses.

C.

Single Family Detached Dwellings.

D.

Customary Home Occupations (provided the building lot is a minimum of 60 feet in width and 7,200 square feet in area).

5-60.2  Within the R-ZT Single Family Residence Zero Lot Lot/Townhouse District, the following requirements shall be met:

A.

Maximum density shall not exceed 8 units per acre for attached dwelling units and 6 units per acre for detached dwelling units.

B.

Minimum lot width for Zero Lot Line or single family detached units - 40 feet. Minimum lot width for townhouse attached units - 22 feet. Zero Lot Line or single family detached lots shall maintain a minimum road frontage of 20 feet. Townhouse lots shall maintain a minimum road frontage of 15 feet.

C.

Minimum front yard depth shall be 20 feet.

D.

Minimum side yard depth - None for townhouses except that on corner lots the minimum side yard of the corner side shall be 20 feet. Zero lot line lots shall have a 0 foot side yard on one side and a minimum of 10 feet on the opposite side. Single family detached units shall have a minimum 5 foot side yard on each side.

E.

Minimum rear yard depth - When abutting an R-75 or R-100 district, the rear yard shall be equal to the required buffer plus an additional 5 feet. However, the rear yard setback shall not be less than 25 feet.

F.

Maximum height - 35 feet or two and one-half stories.

G.

Provide two or more off-street parking spaces per dwelling unit.

H.

Provide sidewalks adjacent to interior streets, excluding cul-de-sac turnarounds.

I.

Maximum allowable paved parking in the front yard (excluding walkways and required sidewalk) is 45 percent.

J.

Provide a minimum 40-foot building setback adjacent to exterior streets. The setback may be reduced to 30 feet if a berm, landscaping, fence or wall is provided adjacent to the exterior street(s).

K.

A maximum of eight dwelling units shall be allowed in each row of townhouses. When an end unit of a townhouse row does not side on a street, an open space or court of at least 20 feet in width shall be provided between it and the adjacent row of townhouses, and this open space shall be divided between the two immediately adjacent townhouse lots as to property or lot lines.

L.

Where townhouse lots and dwelling units are designed to face upon an open or common access court rather than upon a street, this open court shall be a minimum of 40 feet in width and said court shall not include vehicular drives or parking areas.

M.

Townhouses shall be constructed up to side lot lines without side yards, and no windows, doors, or other opening shall face a side lot line except that that the outside wall of end units may contain such openings.

N.

Zero Lot Line dwellings shall be constructed against the lot line on one side of a lot, and no windows, doors, or other openings shall be permitted on this side. The access for exterior maintenance shall be assured through a perpetual wall maintenance easement of 5 feet in width as necessary

O.

A minimum of a two-hour rated firewall shall be required between each attached dwelling unit. A four-hour rated fire-wall shall be required between every fourth attached dwelling unit. Firewalls shall be constructed in accordance with applicable building codes of Gwinnett County

5-60.3   All R-ZT Amendments to be Conditional Zoning Amendments. All R-ZT Single Family Residence Zero Lot Line/Townhouse amendments to the Official Zoning Map shall be conditional amendments. In addition to any other conditions that may be imposed by the Board of Commissioners pursuant to the provisions for conditional zoning in this Unified Development Ordinance, a concept plan showing the approximate location of all buildings, walls, fences, property lines, landscaping, parking areas and uses and any other features deemed appropriate by the Board of Commissioners as a result of the above concept plan review and public hearing, shall be included as part of the amendment, and the use of the property for its zoned purposes shall be conditioned on said concept plan.

5-60.4   Concept Plan Review. The purpose of the concept plan review is to encourage logic, imagination, innovation and variety in the design process and ensure the soundness of the proposed development and its compatibility with the surrounding area. The Director of Planning and Development shall review plans for compliance with concept plan review criteria. The recommendations of both the Director of Planning and Development and the Planning Commission shall be transmitted to the Board of Commissioners.

5-60.5   Required Exhibits. The following exhibits shall be prepared by design professionals, such as planners, engineers, architects or landscape architects and submitted to the Department of Planning and Development. No application for an R-ZT district shall be accepted for processing without these required exhibits.

A.

A location map indicating existing zoning on the site and the adjacent areas.

B.

A concept plan drawn no smaller than one inch equals 100 feet, including the following information:

1.

Lot lines and setbacks;

2.

Location, shape, size and height of existing and proposed buildings, decorative walls and elements and entrance features;

3.

Topography with contour intervals no greater than 20 feet;

4.

Lakes, ponds and floodplains and the sources of floodplain data;

5.

Stormwater detention areas;

6.

Existing and proposed landscaping;

7.

Recreation facilities (if applicable);

8.

Stages of development, if any;

9.

Location of off-street parking.

C.

Floor plans and elevations of all typical units and any other structures such as recreation buildings.

D.

Information indicating the following:

1.

Gross and net acreage (see definition of net density);

2.

Lot sizes (dimensions and square footage);

3.

Building heights and stories;

4.

Building coverage for each lot;

5.

Amount of common open space in square feet (if applicable);

6.

All tree areas to be retained or added;

7.

Parking facilities;

8.

Such other architectural and engineering data as may be required to evaluate the project.