PICKENS COUNTY UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS ORDINANCE Organization of the Ordinance Article 1. Article 2. Article 3. Article 4. Article 5. Article 6. Article 7. Adoption, Applicability and Interpretation This Article sets out the legal basis for the Unified Development Standards Ordinance and its broad purposes, describes the lands to which and circumstances under which the Ordinance applies, and describes how the Ordinance is to be interpreted when certain words or phrases are used or uncertainty of meaning may exist. General Development District This Article defines the General Development District (GDD) in the County and identifies the specific area the GDD applies. Standards for Certain Uses The purpose of Article 3 is to provide land use and development standards for specific uses that will then be applicable to sites throughout the Pickens County. The standards listed in this article are over and above those regulations set forth elsewhere in this ordinance. Lot and Building Standards This Article sets out the standards that control the size of lots, the placement of buildings and structures on a lot, and the intensity of development on a lot. Conventional Subdivisions, Open Space Subdivisions and Master Planned Developments This Article presents the different ways that land can be subdivided and developed, ranging from conventional subdivisions, to open space subdivisions where green space and natural features are preserved by reducing lot sizes, to master planned developments which allow a wider variety of housing types in a well-planned mixed-use environment while also preserving green space and natural features. Off Street Parking and Loading Standards This Article presents the minimum standards for automobile parking for all land uses in the county, including design and construction standards, and for truck loading areas. Sign Standards This Article provides for the types of signs that may be placed on a property, and regulates such characteristics as their size, types, number, and placement. Pickens County UDSO: December 15, 2008 TOC-i
Organization of the Ordinance Article 8. Article 9. Buffers The purpose of this Article is to improve the aesthetic qualities of the county and to protect and preserve the appearance, character and value of its neighborhoods and business areas by: (1) Providing for quality and consistency in the design of landscaping and screening. (2) Providing for the separation of incompatible types of land use. Performance Standards This article sets out the standards designed to prevent industrial, commercial, and other certain non-residential land or buildings from being used or occupied in any manner so as to create a dangerous, injurious, noxious, or otherwise objectionable or hazardous condition. Article 10. Project Design Standards This Article sets out the minimum requirements and standards for construction of subdivisions and other land development projects, including general principles of design and layout and requirements for such public facilities as streets and certain utilities. Article 11. Land Development Activities This Article contains the requirements that apply to carrying out the land development process, including site grading and land disturbance activities; addressing flood hazard areas; the installation of streets, drainage facilities and certain public utilities; and building construction. Article 12. Procedures and Permits Article 13. Appeals This Article describes the process through which a land use permit may be approved on a property, the approval process for construction of subdivisions and other land development projects, and the procedures for amendments to the text of this ordinance This Article describes the process for addressing unusual situations or unique problems that may arise from the strict interpretation or enforcement of this Development Standards Ordinance, including appeals from an administrative decision, for a special exception, for unique hardships restricting reasonable use of a property, and for relief from flood damage prevention restrictions. Article 14. Grandfathered Development This Article sets out the provisions that protect uses, structures, lots and signs that lawfully existed prior to the adoption of this Code or a subsequent amendment, but no longer conform to the new regulations. The primary intent of the treatment of nonconformity is to allow continuation of these uses, structures, lots and signs until the end of their useful life, while encouraging conformance to the new regulations when it becomes reasonable. Article 15. Administration and Enforcement This Article sets out the structure for administering and enforcing this Development Standards Ordinance, including the responsibilities and procedures of the various enforcement officers in carrying out enforcement activities. TOC-ii Pickens County UDSO: December 15, 2008
Organization of the Ordinance Article 16. Glossary of Defined Terms This Article is a glossary of all definitions specifically used in the text of this Development Standards Ordinance. Pickens County UDSO: December 15, 2008 TOC-iii
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PICKENS COUNTY UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS ORDINANCE Table of Contents page Article 1. Article 2. Article 3. Adoption, Applicability and Interpretation Sec. 101 Purpose of Article 1...1-1 Sec. 102 Title and authority...1-1 Sec. 103 Purpose and intent...1-1 Sec. 104 General applicability...1-2 Sec. 105 Exemptions.... 1-4 Sec. 106 Interpretation...1-5 General Development District Sec. 201 Purpose of Article 2...2-1 Sec. 202 General Development District (GDD) boundary defined....2-1 Sec. 203 Applicable regulations....2-1 Standards for Certain Uses Sec. 301 Purpose of Article 3...3-1 DIVISION I. Standards...3-1 Sec. 302 Hazardous Waste and Nuclear Waste Disposal Sites....3-1 Sec. 303 Motorized Vehicle Tracks (commercial)....3-1 Sec. 304 Mining and Extraction Operation...3-2 Sec. 305 Gun Clubs, Skeet Ranges, Outdoor Firing Ranges...3-2 Sec. 306 Stockyards, Slaughter Houses, Feedlots, Kennels and Livestock Auction Houses....3-3 Sec. 307 Golf Courses....3-3 Sec. 308 Certain Public Service Uses...3-4 Sec. 309 Large Scale Projects....3-4 Sec. 310 Major Subdivisions....3-6 Sec. 311 Wireless Communication Facilities...3-7 Sec. 312 Tattoo Facilities...3-14 Sec. 313 Manufactured Home Parks....3-15 DIVISION II. Standards for Uses Requiring Annual Operating Permits....3-17 Sec. 314 Sexually Oriented Businesses....3-17 Sec. 315 Salvage, junk and scrap yards....3-25 DIVISION III. Airport District Restrictions...3-29 Sec. 316 Airport district....3-29 Sec. 317 Airspace Zones... 3-29 Sec. 318 Height Restrictions...3-29 Sec. 319 Land Use and Safety Zoning....3-30 Sec. 320 Airport Zone Use Restrictions... 3-30 Sec. 321 Non-Conforming Uses....3-30 Sec. 322 Variances.... 3-31 Pickens County UDSO: December 15, 2008 TOC-v
DIVISION IV. Prohibited Uses... 3-32 Sec. 323 Designated uses not allowed.... 3-32 Article 4. Lot and Building Standards Sec. 401 Purpose of Article 4.... 4-1 Sec. 402 Lot and building definitions.... 4-1 Sec. 403 Minimum lot frontage.... 4-5 Sec. 404 Residential lot area.... 4-5 Sec. 405 Nonresidential density and lot area... 4-6 Sec. 406 Minimum lot size on septic tank.... 4-6 Sec. 407 Minimum lot width... 4-7 Sec. 408 Minimum setbacks; principal buildings.... 4-8 Sec. 409 Minimum setbacks; accessory buildings and structures.... 4-8 Sec. 410 Lakeshore Setbacks... 4-9 Sec. 411 Setbacks along non-delineated right-of-ways... 4-9 Sec. 412 Setbacks for the replacement of non-conforming structures... 4-10 Sec. 413 Projections into setback (yard) area... 4-10 Sec. 414 Building and structure heights... 4-10 Article 5. Conventional Subdivisions, Open Space Subdivisions and Master Planned Developments Sec. 501 Purpose of Article 5.... 5-1 Sec. 502 Minor and major subdivisions; defined.... 5-1 Sec. 503 Subdivision activity.... 5-2 Sec. 504 Conventional subdivisions.... 5-2 Sec. 505 Open space subdivisions... 5-3 Sec. 506 Master planned development option (MPD).... 5-4 Sec. 507 Quality development standards... 5-8 Sec. 508 Conservation easements... 5-11 Sec. 509 Owner s association... 5-11 Article 6. Off Street Parking and Loading Standards Sec. 601 Purpose of Article 6.... 6-1 Sec. 602 Off-street parking; when required.... 6-1 Sec. 603 Number of parking spaces required.... 6-1 Sec. 604 Shared parking.... 6-4 Sec. 605 Off-site Parking... 6-6 Sec. 606 Design requirements for parking lots... 6-6 Sec. 607 Improvement of parking areas.... 6-8 Sec. 608 Off-street loading... 6-9 Article 7. Sign Standards Sec. 701 Purpose of Article 7.... 7-1 Sec. 702 Definitions related to sign standards.... 7-1 Sec. 703 Applicability and conformance... 7-3 Sec. 704 Prohibited signs... 7-4 Sec. 705 Permitted signs... 7-4 Sec. 706 Development standards.... 7-9 Sec. 707 Sign measurement.... 7-10 Sec. 708 Application for a sign permit.... 7-10 TOC-vi Pickens County UDSO: December 15, 2008
Sec. 709 Administration....7-11 Sec. 710 Illustrations... 7-12 Article 8. Article 9. Buffers Sec. 801 Purpose of Article 8...8-1 Sec. 802 Location of Buffers....8-1 Sec. 803 Determination of requirements....8-1 Sec. 804 Buffer specifications...8-1 Sec. 805 Outside storage on non-residential lots...8-2 Sec. 806 Containers and dumpsters....8-3 Sec. 807 Fences and walls - appearance....8-3 Sec. 808 Berms...8-3 Sec. 809 Use of buffers...8-3 Sec. 810 Installation and maintenance of plant materials...8-3 Sec. 811 Buffer Requirements...8-5 Sec. 812 Buffer Standards...8-6 Performance Standards Sec. 901 Purpose of Article 9...9-1 Sec. 902 Vibration....9-1 Sec. 903 Fire and explosives....9-1 Sec. 904 Noise....9-1 Sec. 905 Air pollution...9-3 Sec. 906 Odor....9-3 Sec. 907 Glare....9-3 Sec. 908 Fumes, vapors, and gases....9-3 Sec. 909 Heat, cold, dampness or movement of air....9-3 Sec. 910 Toxic matter....9-3 Sec. 911 Exterior illumination....9-3 Sec. 912 Compliance guarantee....9-4 Article 10. Project Design Standards Sec. 1001 Purpose of Article 10...10-1 Sec. 1002 Standards incorporated by reference... 10-1 Sec. 1003 Interpretation of standards....10-1 Sec. 1004 Design exceptions and field changes....10-2 Sec. 1005 General design standards...10-2 Sec. 1006 Required improvements....10-5 Sec. 1007 Guarantee in lieu of completed improvements....10-6 Sec. 1008 Survey Monuments...10-8 Sec. 1009 Easements...10-8 Sec. 1010 Streets....10-9 Sec. 1011 Minimum maintenance roads... 10-25 Sec. 1012 Private residential access....10-26 Sec. 1013 Street signs, traffic signs and striping....10-29 Sec. 1014 Street Lights... 10-29 Sec. 1015 Driveway and Development entrances...10-29 Sec. 1016 Deceleration lanes and turn lanes....10-31 Sec. 1017 Sidewalks.... 10-32 Sec. 1018 Location of utilities and street cuts.... 10-33 Pickens County UDSO: December 15, 2008 TOC-vii
Sec. 1019 Storm drainage.... 10-33 Sec. 1020 Public water system.... 10-36 Sec. 1021 Public sewerage system.... 10-36 Article 11. Land Development Activities Sec. 1101 Purpose of Article 11.... 11-1 Sec. 1102 Overview project construction.... 11-1 Sec. 1103 Site clearing and grading.... 11-3 Sec. 1104 Soil erosion and sedimentation control.... 11-4 Sec. 1105 Flood damage prevention.... 11-4 Sec. 1106 Installation of stormwater drainage facilities... 11-26 Sec. 1107 Installation of streets and utilities... 11-27 Article 12. Procedures and Permits Article 13. Appeals Sec. 1201 Purpose of Article 12.... 12-1 Sec. 1202 Definitions related to procedures... 12-1 Sec. 1203 Overview land development... 12-2 Sec. 1204 Application intake and processing.... 12-4 Sec. 1205 Land Use Approval... 12-4 Sec. 1206 Minor subdivisions... 12-10 Sec. 1207 Project approval... 12-10 Sec. 1208 Development plans.... 12-17 Sec. 1209 Development permit.... 12-20 Sec. 1210 Flood area development permit and certification requirements... 12-22 Sec. 1211 Driveway permit... 12-24 Sec. 1212 Final subdivision plat.... 12-24 Sec. 1213 Project approvals and establishment of vested rights... 12-29 Sec. 1214 Building permitting.... 12-30 Sec. 1215 Sign permitting and modifications.... 12-34 Sec. 1216 Text amendments... 12-34 Sec. 1217 Temporary suspension of permitting during application review.... 12-35 Sec. 1301 Purpose of Article 13.... 13-1 Sec. 1302 Appeals; general.... 13-1 Sec. 1303 Appeals of an administrative decision... 13-1 Sec. 1304 Special exception variances.... 13-2 Sec. 1305 Hardship variances.... 13-3 Sec. 1306 Flood protection variances.... 13-3 Sec. 1307 Process for granting an appeal... 13-5 Sec. 1308 Decisions final.... 13-7 Sec. 1309 Temporary suspension of permitting during appeals.... 13-8 Article 14. Grandfathered Development Sec. 1401 Purpose of Article 14.... 14-1 Sec. 1402 Nonconforming development; in general.... 14-1 Sec. 1403 Nonconforming uses... 14-1 Sec. 1404 Nonconforming structures.... 14-1 Sec. 1405 Nonconforming lots.... 14-2 Sec. 1406 Nonconforming signs.... 14-3 TOC-viii Pickens County UDSO: December 15, 2008
Article 15. Administration and Enforcement Sec. 1501 Purpose of Article 15...15-1 Sec. 1502 Schedules and fees....15-1 Sec. 1503 Administrative roles....15-1 Sec. 1504 Inspection and enforcement...15-2 Sec. 1505 Violation and penalties...15-5 Sec. 1506 Liability....15-5 Article 16. Glossary of Defined Terms Sec. 1601 Purpose of Article 16...16-1 Sec. 1602 Interpretation... 16-1 Sec. 1603 Definitions; general...16-1 Pickens County UDSO: December 15, 2008 TOC-ix
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