The purpose of these regulations shall be to
establish provisions for allowing a broader range of housing types
in certain existing or future districts within the City of Galax.
Generally these regulations, together with local subdivision regulations, shall act to control the development of single-family
attached dwelling units, designed and constructed so as to allow for
the sale or rental of individual lots and units thereon. Further,
the purpose of these regulations is to promote the orderly development
of this activity and to ensure that this activity is developed in
a harmonious manner with surrounding properties and consistent with
the general public safety and welfare.
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
TOWNHOUSE PROJECT
A land development project consisting of at least one townhouse
structure as defined below and all open space and amenities thereon,
if any.
TOWNHOUSE STRUCTURE
A main structure consisting of at least three horizontally
attached single-family dwelling units for the purpose of occupancy
and ownership, designed and constructed so as to allow for the sale
of individual dwellings, including the lot and appurtenances thereon.
TOWNHOUSE UNIT
An individual attached single-family residence within a townhouse
structure as defined above.
Townhouse structures shall be allowed by special
use permit in areas served by public water and sewage disposal systems,
provided that the location lies within the R-3 Districts as designated
by the Zoning Ordinance and Map.
Setback requirements for townhouse structures
shall conform to the established setback regulations of the district
in which the site is located.
A lot occupied by a townhouse unit shall contain
not less than 2,000 square feet.
Lot frontage, measured at the setback line for individual townhouse units, shall have an average minimum width of 20 feet for a townhouse structure, but in no case shall the frontage for a townhouse unit be less than 16 feet. Lot width for end units shall be adequate to provide side and rear yards as required by §Â
160-55.
The facades of each unit of a townhouse structure
shall be varied by changing front yard depth and utilizing variations
in materials or design, so that no more than three abutting townhouse
units have the same front yard depth or the same or essentially the
same architectural treatment of facades and rooflines.
Each townhouse unit shall have an unencumbered
access from a dedicated public street. This access shall have a right-of-way
of no less than 23 feet.
Townhouse projects shall have provisions for
at least two vehicular off-street parking spaces for each townhouse
unit.
Townhouse units shall be separated by a common
party wall designed to meet the fire protection requirements as set
forth in the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, as amended.