202 East Main Street

Rockwell, NC 28138

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Fax: (704)279-0454

Zoning Districts

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Chapter 3 

ESTABLISHMENT OF ZONING DISTRICTS

Section 3.1 Introduction

In order to achieve the purpose of this Ordinance, the following zoning districts are herby established. In addition to the primary uses which are permitted by right or through the issuance of a conditional use permit, other uses include accessory uses, off-street parking and signs are permitted as listed in this Ordinance.

Section 3.2 Zoning Districts

General Zoning Districts are designated throughout the zoning jurisdiction and include numerous uses which are allowed by right subject to those uses meeting yard and height regulations. In addition, each zone allows for conditional uses which may be developed once a conditional use permit has been issued by the Town Board. The following zoning districts are herby established:

3.2.1 R-1 Single Family Residential District

This district is established to provide areas for low-density residential or agricultural purposes. Minimum lot size will depend on the provision of public water and sewer facilities.

Single family dwellings are permitted in this zoning district. In addition, a limited number of nonresidential uses are allowed in this district which are not permitted in other residential districts contained in this Ordinance. Some of these uses, which could potentially have a substantial effect upon adjoining properties, are subject to the issuance of a conditional use permit by the Town Board.

3.2.2 R-2 General Residential District

The R-2 Residential District is established primarily as a residential district for the location of single-family and multi-family dwellings along with their customary accessory uses so as to establish areas where development patterns can be somewhat more dense. In most cases, public or community water and/or sewer is available.

In addition to single family dwelling units, duplexes and multi-family dwellings are permitted along with a limited number of home occupations and public and private community uses. In order to ensure that multi family developments are well planned and compatible with adjoining residential uses, density levels of developments in excess of six (6) units per acre are allowed subject to the issuance of a conditional use permit by the Town Board. Some uses, such as manufactured homes, and non-residential uses require the issuance of a conditional use permit by the Town Board.

3.2.3 O-I Office and Institutional District

This zone is intended to accommodate a variety of office and related light commercial uses. In addition, this district can create areas to serve as transitional buffers between residential districts and commercial or industrial areas. Unlike other commercial zoning districts, the number and type of retail uses permitted is limited. In addition, this district allows single family residential dwellings on a permitted basis. The primary purpose of this zone, however, is to accommodate existing and new commercial areas as herein described, rather than to create new residential communities.

3.2.4 B-1 Neighborhood Business District

This district is designed primarily for local retail business centers designed to serve relatively small trading areas in developed or developing portions of the Rockwell area. As a result, the list of commercial establishments allowed in this district is more limited than in other Business zones. The standards designed for these business areas are designed to promote sound, permanent business development and to protect abutting and surrounding residential areas from undesirable aspects of nearby commercial development.

Any area so zoned shall be at a location which conveniently serves the trading area population and does not create or expand problems associated with traffic volumes or circulation. Any B-1 area shown on the Official Zoning Map must contain a contiguous area of at least three acres.

3.2.5 B-2 Central Business District

This district is established as the centrally located trade and commercial service area of Rockwell. The regulations of this district are designed to encourage the continued use of land for community trade and commercial service uses and to permit a concentrated development of permitted uses while maintaining a substantial relationship between the intensity of land uses and the capacity of utilities and streets.

3.2.6 B-3 General Business District

The purpose of this district is to provide a wide array of primarily retail and personal service uses to a large trading area for persons residing in and/or traveling through the Rockwell area. Such uses shall be located and designed in such a manner so as to promote aesthetics, the safe and efficient movement of traffic, and to not unduly burden adjoining thoroughfares. Given the large traffic volumes generated by uses located in such a district, any area so zoned shall have access onto an arterial or collector highway.

3.2.7 I Industrial District

This district is designed primarily for general commercial and industrial land uses, including manufacturing, processing and assembling of goods, product distribution faculties, and a broad variety of specialized commercial and industrial operations. The large majority of industrial uses are allowed by right. However, certain industrial uses which could potentially have a significant effect on the environment or public utilities, significantly increase traffic volumes on adjoining roads, or otherwise significantly impact adjoining properties shall be allowed only after a conditional use permit has been issued by the Town Board.

3.2.8 R-A Residential-Agricultural

The R-A District includes areas which consist of large tracts of vacant or developing land in transition. The district allows for a mix of residential and light commercial development. The regulations for this district are designed to allow for a mix of uses until a distinct land use pattern develops. More intense commercial uses are allowed only after a conditional use permit has been issued by the Town Board.

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