§ 32.07. Yards.

(a)

No yard or other open space provided about any building for the purpose of complying with the regulation of this ordinance shall be considered as providing a yard or open space for any other building or structure.

(b)

In any case where a set-back line, building line or official plan line has been established the required yards on the street frontage of lots shall be measured in accordance with such lines and in no case shall the provisions of this ordinance be construed as permitting any structure to extend beyond such line.

(c)

Garages, carports and other accessory buildings may be attached to and have a common wall with the main building, or, when located as required by this ordinance, may be connected thereto by a breezeway.

(d)

Fireplaces, air conditioning units and similar architectural or utility features and eaves, but not including any flat wall or window surface, may extend into any required yard a distance not to exceed two feet and in no case more than one-half of the width of any required side yard.

(e)

Uncovered porches, or stairways, fire escapes or landing places may extend into any required front or rear yard a distance not to exceed six feet and into any required side yard a distance not exceeding one-half of the width of the side yard required for the lot.

(f)

In any "R" District where fifty percent or more of the building sites in any one block or portion thereof in the same district, have been improved with buildings, the required front yard shall be of a depth equal to the average of the front yards of the improved building sites, to a maximum requirement of that specified for the district but in no case less than sixteen feet. Where adjoining lots are improved with buildings, the front yard required for a vacant building site shall be the average of the front yards of the adjoining lots.

(g)

In case a dwelling is to be located so that the front yard or rear yard thereof faces any side lot line, such dwelling be located not less than ten feet from such lot line. The shorter street frontage of a corner lot shall be considered the front of the lot.

(h)

In the case of a corner lot adjacent to a key lot in any district, the setback on the street side of the corner lot within twenty feet of the side line of the key lot shall be equal to the front yard required on the key lot, and a clear five foot rear yard shall be maintained on the corner lot. A key lot has a side line which is the rear line of a corner lot.

(i)

In "R" districts, fences in side and rear yards shall not exceed six feet in height. Height shall be measured from the natural grade of the underlying surface area to the top of the fence material. Fences in front yards shall be constructed in such a manner as not to create a solid visible barrier. The surface area of the fence is to be open so passersby can view activity on the other side of the fence for not less than thirty percent of the surface area per square foot.

Fences in side or rear yards adjacent to alleys shall provide on each lot one recessed bay measuring not less than four by six feet and usable for storage of garbage and trash containers. Doors and gates in fences or walls adjacent to streets or alleys shall be so constructed as not to swing into or otherwise obstruct any such street or alley. Such bays shall be required in "C" and "M" districts; said bays shall measure not less than ten by ten feet, set at an angle not to exceed thirty-five degrees from the direction of traffic, and shall be enclosed or screen fenced.

(j)

In any full block of lots the front yards may be varied so that: the required yard depth is not reduced more than five feet, the average of all lots equals the required yard depth and corner lot yards are not reduced.

(k)

Nothing contained in the general provision shall be deemed to reduce special yard requirements as set forth in the regulations for any "R" or "B" district.

(l)

Yards required for residential buildings that may be permitted on use permit shall be as required for the particular district or for R-4 districts, whichever yard requirements are greater.

(m)

All outdoor storage or equipment areas fronting on a public right-of-way or customer parking area shall be screened from view by a six foot high wall made of masonry or masonry pilasters and wood or similar decorative materials. Living vegetation may also be utilized provided the types of shrubbery used are of a fast growing variety and will grow into a solid barrier within three years of installation. All walls or fencing fronting a public right-of-way wall shall be placed in back of required landscaped areas.

(n)

Walls and fences in interior side or rear yards-where a commercial or industrial development is adjacent to residential property, a six foot high solid masonry or wooden wall shall be constructed along all common property lines. Otherwise, walls and fences not visible from the public right-of-way are not limited to a material type.

(o)

All walls and fences as set forth in the above sections (m) and (n) that are proposed to exceed the six foot height limitation shall be required to obtain a minor use permit.