When looking to purchase a home, oftentimes one must decide the type of lifestyle that they would like to live. They must choose whether to live in a metropolitan area close to city services and amenities, or they may choose to live in a more rustic setting with open fields and less traffic. No matter which lifestyle you choose, this decision is influenced by the concept of Density. Density is a term that refers to the number of dwelling units per acre of land developed. All zoning ordinances designate a preferred density based on the zoning district and location in which dwellings are to be built. Density is most commonly seen as a municipal legislative policy as it is used in connection with a town or city growth management plan.
In general, urban areas tend to have a higher population and density rate, while more rural areas are subject to lower populations and lower density.
Furthermore, density and land acreage are linked together. For example, the lower the zoning designation, the higher the density allowed. Alternatively, the higher the zoning designation, the lower the density allowed. To put it in perspective, if a one acre residential property is zoned R-5, and the minimum lot size to build is 5,000 square feet, then this district would allow approximately 9 dwellings on this site (43560/5000=8.7 units). Subsequently, cities and towns base their density preferences on adopted long range development plans.
What are Zoning Setbacks?
Have you ever wondered why some houses and structures or closer to property lines than others? And why some buildings are farther away from a street than other parts of town? Well, this is largely due to zoning setbacks. A setback is the minimum distance all buildings and structures must be placed, or “setback” from a property line or street right-of-way. Setbacks apply to residential and non-residential buildings, as well as accessory structures such as storage sheds, cell towers and utility devices. Setbacks can vary based on the type of lot that is being built upon and the zoning district in which the property is located. Generally, in more densely populated areas, setbacks tend to be smaller as opposed to more rural areas, where setbacks can be larger.
In many instances, especially non-residential uses, the type of street or thoroughfare can influence the size of setbacks. Commercial property that fronts on a major thoroughfare will have a larger setback to help manage vehicular traffic and anticipate future street widening projects. The overall intent of using setbacks is to establish a process for the orderly development of property and to ensure that certain City and County policies are adhered to, such as density and aesthetics. There are times when proposed building plans and construction is in conflict with regulated setbacks. In these instances, property owners and developers must seek a variance from local Boards of Adjustment to encroach in these setback areas.
The key thing to remember about setbacks is that they are a reflection of the development policy of your city or county, since zoning ordinances are adopted by Town Councils and County Commissioners. Thus whether you live in a downtown metropolitan area or you live in a rustic country side, setbacks can influence how buildings and structures are placed on your property, as well as impact the value of your lot.
The term Zoning has been around our society for many years, starting around 1916. And many people reference this term when discussing land and development. But what is Zoning? Zoning is the adoption, implementation and enforcement of local land use regulations that are used to manage and control development within a muncipality's zoning jurisdiction. Zoning is based on the principle of allowing certain developments and land uses within specific "Zones", thus came the word zoning. These zones are established by local zoning ordinances or Unified Development Ordinances (UDO's), and are visually identified by zoning maps.
Zoning regulations attempt to manage development and encourage compatible land uses by controlling such things as:
Depending on how your community grows, zoning laws can be very proactive or they can react as the need arises. In any event, zoning will continue to be a tool local governments use to plan for the future growth of its boundaries.
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