§ 6.8. RSL Residential senior living district.

6.8.1.

RSL district scope and intent. The RSL district is established to provide locations for the development of appropriate housing for the population ages fifty-five (55) and older, as further described in section 3.1.9 of this chapter. In order to ensure that older Bartow County residents can live in housing appropriate to their specific needs, the following regulations are designed to facilitate development which addresses the decreasing mobility, changing health, and distinct consumer preferences of the older adult market. These uses shall not be established as a precedent for any other residential or nonresidential district.

6.8.2.

Definitions.

A.

Housing facility means individual housing units designed for senior adults ages fifty-five (55) and older which may or may not include or provide any type of supportive services such as transportation, medical care, food preparation, and the like. Said housing facility may include, but not be limited to, fee simple condominium, townhouse, patio home, and the like.

6.8.3.

Use regulations. Within the RSL district, land and structures shall be used in accordance with standards herein. Any use not specifically designated as a permitted use in this section shall be prohibited.

A.

Permitted uses. Structures and land may be used for only the following purposes:

1.

Housing facility, as defined herein.

6.8.4.

Application requirements. A concept plan shall be submitted with the application for rezoning to the RSL district, which shall include, but not be limited to, parking, utility location, and setback design for the proposed development. The concept plan shall be subject to the development regulations of the City of Cartersville. The zoning administrator shall have the discretion to vary any and all development standards set forth in section 6.8.5 below up to a maximum of thirty (30) percent.

6.8.5.

Development standards.

A.

Height regulations. Single-family residential detached buildings shall not exceed a height of thirty-five (35) feet or two and one-half (2½) stories, whichever is higher; single-family residential attached buildings shall not exceed a height of forty-five (45) feet or three and one-half (3½) stories, whichever is higher.

B.

Minimum lot area per dwelling unit:

1.

Single-family detached: Three thousand (3,000) square feet.

2.

Single-family attached: One thousand six hundred (1,600) square feet.

C.

Maximum density:

1.

Single-family detached: Six (6) units per gross acre.

2.

Single-family attached: Ten (10) units per gross acre.

D.

Minimum lot frontage. Thirty-five (35) feet for single-family detached, except for cul-de-sac lots, which shall be twenty (20) feet. All other uses shall be twenty (20) feet.

E.

Minimum lot width. Thirty-five (35) feet for single-family detached, except for cul-de-sac lots which shall be twenty (20) feet. All other uses shall be twenty (20) feet.

F.

Minimum lot depth: Eighty (80) feet.

G.

Minimum development area: Five (5) acres.

H.

Minimum heated floor area: One thousand (1,000) square feet.

I.

Setbacks:

1.

Front yard setback: Ten (10) feet.

2.

Side yard setback: Ten (10) feet for single-family attached as measured from the end of each row, and two and one-half (2½) feet for single-family detached, as measured from any part of the structure (including any over-hang).

3.

Rear yard setback: Twenty (20) feet.

J.

Landscape buffer requirement. A ten-foot wide buffer is required along property lines as designated common space which abuts a single-family district or use to provide a visual screen in accordance with section 4.17 of this chapter.

K.

Accessory use, building and structure requirements. See section 4.9 of this chapter.

L.

Other required standards.

1.

A mandatory owners association must be formed and incorporated which provides for building and grounds maintenance and repair, insurance and working capital. Said association must also include a declaration and bylaws, including rules and regulations. The declarations and bylaws shall not be enforced by the city. The declarations and bylaws shall, at a minimum, regulate and control the following: private roads, animals, signs, exterior items such as fences, lawn ornaments and restrictions or removal of landscape areas and buffers, building improvements, outside storage, overnight parking of vehicles, decorations, trash collection, restrictions on all units being occupied by persons aged fifty-five (55) and older as defined by the Fair Housing Act as may be amended from time to time and accessory buildings and structures, or the like. It shall be the responsibility of the homeowners' association to enforce the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions, rules, and regulations.

2.

Principal structures on lots within the RSL district shall have a minimum of fifty (50) percent finish product on the exterior walls of the buildings consisting of brick, stone, hard-coat stucco, or fiber cement siding.

3.

A metal panel exterior finish product shall not be allowed on metal buildings exceeding one hundred fifty (150) square feet in gross floor area constructed or placed on lots within the RSL district.

4.

No more than six (6) units may be attached side by side.

5.

Required buffers may be included within required setbacks, however, in such case that the required buffer is greater than the required setback, the required buffer shall be adhered to. Additionally, necessary private utilities and/or access drives may be allowed through, over or across a landscaped border.

6.

No fewer than three (3) dwelling units in a row shall be allowed.

7.

Required parking shall be two (2) spaces per dwelling unit. Parking in driveways shall be allowed to count as one (1) space towards the parking requirement.

8.

Building lots shall have frontage on a private drive, public right-of-way, or common driveway. A common driveway shall be used to access a maximum of four (4) lots or six (6) units. A common drive shall be placed in a minimum of a twenty-four-foot unobstructed corridor.

9.

A minimum ten (10) percent of overall property shall be set aside for open space.

6.8.6.

Other regulations. The headings below contain additional, but not necessarily all, provisions applicable to the RSL district.

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Fair Housing Act in 42 U.S.C. 3601-3631.

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City of Cartersville Landscaping Ordinance.

•

City of Cartersville Sign Ordinance.