[Amended 5-20-2008 by Ord. No. 137; 5-9-2011 by Ord. No. 149]
The height regulations, as prescribed in this
chapter, shall not apply to church spires, residential chimneys, agricultural
buildings, elevator/stair towers not exceeding 12 feet and temporary
amusement structures. Public buildings, hospitals or institutions
and churches, when permitted in a district, may be erected to a height
not exceeding 60 feet.
A.
Whenever a lot abuts upon a public alley, 1/2 of the
alley width shall be considered as a portion of the required yard.
B.
Within any residential district, the least dimension
of a yard upon which the principal entrances or exits of a multiple
dwelling face shall be 20 feet.
C.
Where more than one building is located on a commercial
lot, all such buildings shall have around them the open space required
for that district.
D.
In multiple-dwelling groups, walls containing main
window exposures or main entrances shall be oriented as to ensure
adequate light and air exposure; shall be so arranged as to avoid
undue exposure to nearby through-traffic ways or undue exposure to
concentrated loading or parking facilities; and shall be oriented
as to preserve visual and audible privacy between adjacent buildings.
Minimum yard depths for walls containing living room windows shall
be 1 1/2 feet per foot of building height, and minimum yard depth
for walls not containing living room windows shall be one foot per
foot of building height. In commercial areas, a group of buildings
may not be so arranged that any permanently or temporarily occupied
building is inaccessible by emergency vehicles.
E.
Where an official line has been established for the
future widening or opening of a street or major thoroughfare upon
which a lot abuts, then the depth of a front or side yard shall be
measured from such official line to the nearest line of the building.
F.
All buildings in commercial districts, when located
adjacent to a residential district, shall be set back an additional
15 feet, with fences and screen planting provided at the sides and
in the rear.
G.
On through lots, the required front yard shall be
provided on each street.
H.
Commercial district regulations for yards shall prevail
where a residence is built above a commercial structure.
I.
For side yard regulations, a group of business or
industrial buildings separated by common or party walls shall be considered
as one building occupying one lot.
J.
The minimum depth of side yards for those churches,
community houses and other semipublic buildings in residential districts
shall be 25 feet, except where a side yard is adjacent to a business
district, in which case the depth of that yard shall be as required
in that district.
K.
Preservation of existing building setbacks. In all
zones, on public ways, where, in the opinion of the Planning Commission,
the location of existing buildings and structures creates a clearly
defined setback line or front yard, a new building or structure may
be located in such a manner as to preserve the existing setback line,
even though such building or structure may not provide for the full
yard required herein.
A.
Purpose. The purpose of this section is to maintain land and water
quality by minimizing erosion and sedimentation and by restricting
or otherwise limiting development, excavation and vegetation removal
in areas with constrained or steep slopes.
B.
Areas of application. These provisions shall apply to all land within
the Town of Leonardtown with slopes of 15% or greater. For purposes
of this section, all areas in the Town where the slope of the land
is between 15% and 24% shall be defined as "constrained slopes." All
land where the slope of the land is 25% or greater shall be defined
as "steep slopes." These areas are associated primarily, but not exclusively,
with the streams and drainageways associated with Breton Bay. When
the provisions of this section are in conflict with the regulations
contained in Title 27 of the Annotated Code of Maryland, applicable
to portions of the Town located in the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area,
the more-restrictive provisions shall apply.
C.
Delineation of boundaries. Specific determination of steep slope
and constrained slope areas shall be made at the time of a development
proposal by the applicant for alteration or development for any properties
within the Town. Land area in each slope category shall be calculated
for all lands defined as steep or constrained slopes based on a topographic
map and field survey prepared by the applicant. The survey shall show
trees or tree clusters and two-foot contours, and shall be provided
by the property owner or applicant for development approval.
D.
Residential density allowance and transfer provisions.
(1)
The maximum density of residential development for those lands
defined as areas with constrained slopes (15% to 24%) shall be 70%
of the average density otherwise permitted in the underlying residential
or PUD-M Zoning District. No more than 50% or 1/2 the number of units
permitted based on the 70% density adjustment may be located on those
portions of the site defined as areas with constrained land. The remaining
units available for development after application of the density reduction
calculation may be constructed on those portions of the site where
slopes are less than 15% and are located outside the one-hundred-year
floodplain.
(2)
The maximum density of residential development for those lands
defined as areas with steep slopes (25% or greater) shall be limited
to 50% of the average density otherwise permitted in the underlying
residential or PUD-M Zoning District. All units available for development
after application of the density reduction calculation may be transferred
to buildable portions of the site (i.e., where slopes are less than
15% and outside the floodplain).
(3)
The net increase in density as a result of all density transfers
from portions of the site defined as constrained or steep slopes shall
not exceed 50% of the base density that would otherwise be allowed
on all portions of the site where slopes are less than 15% and are
not located in the floodplain.
(4)
Exception. Each lot-of-record established prior to the effective
date of this amendment shall be permitted to construct one dwelling
unit. No new lot shall be approved for development which is exclusively
on slopes of 25% or greater.
E.
Development standards.
(1)
Where slopes are 25% or greater, grading, vegetation removal,
site preparation and construction shall be prohibited, except where
necessary to provide access or utilities to buildable lots or lots
on slopes of 15% to 24% or less.
(2)
Land with slopes of 25% or greater shall be conserved and maintained
as open space. This may occur through private ownership through private
conditions, covenants and restrictions, through conservation easements
or other public or private nonprofit agency, subject to approval by
the Town Council.
(3)
At least half the constrained slope area (15% to 24%) shall
remain in, or be planted in, approved native vegetation. The existing
tree canopy shall be retained wherever possible and shall be considered
in meeting this standard.
Accessory buildings which are not a part of
the main building, although they may be connected by an open breezeway,
may be constructed in a rear yard.
A.
Detached
garages or carports. If the garage or carport will be larger than
100 square feet or has plumbing or electric, a building permit will
be required. Accessory structures or buildings may not be located
on a lot unless a principal structure exists on the property. When
a principal structure exists on the property, the location of the
detached structure must comply with the required setbacks of five
feet to the rear lot line and three feet to a side lot line. If the
structure is larger than one story, the setbacks will be increased
to 10 feet from the rear lot line and 10 feet from the side lot line.
Detached garages may not be larger than two stories, may not be located
in the required front yard setback, and shall be separated from all
other structures by a minimum of 10 feet. The structure and other
permitted obstructions combined may not occupy more than 30% of a
required side or rear yard (the area between the principal structure
setback line and the property line). Recorded easements, or location
within the Critical Area, may further restrict the location of a garage
or carport.
B.
Sheds
and gazebos. If the shed or gazebo will be larger than 80 square feet,
or have plumbing or electric, a building permit will be required.
The location of the structure must comply with the required setbacks
of five feet from the rear property line and three feet to a side
lot line and be separated from all other structures by 10 feet. A
shed or gazebo may not be located in the required front yard setback.
The structure and other permitted obstructions combined may not occupy
more than 30% of a required side or rear yard (the area between the
principal structure setback line and the property line). Recorded
easements, or location within the Critical Area, may further restrict
the location of a shed or gazebo. The maximum allowable height of
a shed or gazebo is one story.
C.
Unenclosed
decks. A building permit is required. The location of the structure
must comply with the required setbacks of five feet from the rear
property line and three feet from the side lot line. Recorded easements
may further restrict the location of a deck. (Enclosed decks must
comply with the principal dwelling setback requirements.)
D.
Fences.
(1)
All fences shall be subject to the following standards:
(a)
Fences may be erected right up to the property line; no setback
required unless located adjacent to a street. An exception to this
is when the fence placement would prevent the use of adjacent property
or prevent the safe use of a driveway. In these cases, the fence is
to be set back a minimum distance of one foot from the driveway or
property line.
(b)
Fences can be no more than three feet tall in the front yard
area. Fences in the front yard area must be of open construction.
A fence of open construction is one in which the ratio of the open
portion to the closed portion is at least 1:1 per foot.
(c)
Fences in the rear yard area and in the side yard area can be
no more than six feet tall. Fences in the rear yard and side yard
areas may be of open or closed construction. A fence of closed construction
is one in which the ratio of the closed portion to the open portion
is more than 1:1 per foot.
E.
Retaining walls.
(1)
A building permit shall be required for any retaining walls, as defined
in this chapter, over four feet in height. Plans may be required to
be prepared by a professional engineer registered in the State of
Maryland.
(2)
Applicability. The requirements of this section shall apply to the construction, installation, extension and replacement of all retaining walls, as defined in this chapter, of more than four feet in height, measured from the final grade at the lower side of the wall to the top of the wall, in all zoning districts, except as exempted in Subsection E(3), Exemptions below.
(3)
Exemptions. Retaining walls that meet the following requirements
shall be exempt from these standards:
(4)
Standards and requirements.
(a)
All retaining walls shall be located on private property and
shall be built with the consent of the property owner. The retaining
wall installer and/or property owner shall be responsible for correctly
locating property boundaries.
(5)
Inspection required. The applicant shall contact the appropriate
inspection agency to request a final inspection upon completion of
the retaining wall. If the inspector determines that the retaining
wall is constructed in accordance with the requirements of this chapter
and the approved retaining wall permit, a certificate of compliance
will be issued.
No sign, fence, wall, hedge, planting or other visual obstruction
erected, planted or maintained in a corner lot shall extend more than
three feet above street grade. This shall pertain to that part of
a corner lot included between the intersecting lines of the streets
and 25 feet back from that intersection.
 |
