§ 4.01. AR - Agricultural/Residential District

4.01.01. Description: The AR - Agricultural/Residential Districtis intended to retain the open character of the land. This district is primarily designed for those areas on the periphery and within Santa Fe which have soils most suitable for agricultural production. Agricultural activities are frequently associated with noise, odors, dust, aerial chemical spraying, and other activities generally incompatible with urban life. However, agriculture forms a vital segment of both the Texas and local economy. Therefore, it is the purpose of the AR - District to provide areas of low density development to accommodate land uses within a district which will have the least negative impacts on agriculture. Developmental standards within the AR - District are designed to provide for a high quality of life while effectively reducing the need for extensive urban infrastructure and associated public facilities. The regulatory provisions of this district are aimed at achieving the goals, objectives and policies identified in the Santa Fe Comprehensive Plan.

4.01.02. Uses Permitted by Right: Please see Appendix 4F Zoning District Matrix, at the end of this Section of the Ordinance.

4.01.03. Conditional Uses: Please see Appendix 4F Zoning District Matrix, at the end of this Section of the Ordinance.

4.01.04. Area Regulations: For a comprehensive review of area regulations pertaining to all zoning districts, please see Appendix 4E Lot Area and Standards Matrix, at the end of this Section of the Ordinance.

A.

Lot Area: A lot located in the AR - Agricultural Residential District shall have not less than ten thousand (10,000) square feet of area where public water and sewer are available or one-half (½) acre elsewhere or as approved by the Galveston County Health Department.

B.

Lot Width: A lot located in the AR - Agricultural Residential District shall have not less than eighty (80) feet of width as measured at the front and rear building setback line.

C.

Lot Depth: A lot located in the AR - Agricultural Residential District shall have not less than one hundred (100) feet of depth.

D.

Front Yard: Each lot in an AR - Agricultural Residential District shall have a front yard building line setback of not less than twenty-five (25) feet.

E.

Rear Yard: Each lot in an AR - Agricultural Residential District shall have a rear yard building line setback of not less than fifteen (15) feet.

F.

Side Yard: Each lot in an AR - Agricultural Residential District shall have side yard building line setbacks of not less than ten (10) feet on each side. Any exterior side yard building line setback shall be not less than fifteen (15) feet. Exception: Any exterior side yard building line setback adjacent to a lot facing the side street shall be increased to match the front yard building line setback required for that adjacent lot.

G.

Density: One (1) dwelling unit per lot or tract and two (2) accessory apartments (see 4.01.06 below).

H.

Lot Coverage: Structures on an AR - Agricultural Residential District lot shall not cover more than twenty (20) percent of the lot. Exception: Structures on an AR - Agricultural Residential District lot one-half (½) acre or less in size may cover up to forty (40) percent of the lot.

I.

Height: No structure on an AR - Agricultural/Residential District lot shall exceed thirty-five (35) feet in height, except non-habitable agricultural structures such as silos and similar structures and radio frequency communications structures.

4.01.05. Signs: No lot located in this zoning district may have more than one (1) sign. No sign may exceed twenty (20) square feet in area. No sign may exceed five (5) lineal feet on any side. All signs shall be constructed in accordance with specifications provided by the Santa Fe Zoning Officer. (Note limits established by Section 5.03 "Home Occupations" and by Article 7, "Outdoor Advertising Sign Regulation".)

4.01.06. Encroachment by Accessory Structures: Accessory structures may encroach on the rear yard set backs of any lot where the rear lot line abuts a dedicated alley; but in no case shall such structure be located closer than five (5) feet from such rear property line. In addition, unattached non-dwelling unit accessory buildings or structures less than fifteen (15) feet in height, as measured from the adjacent grade to the highest point of any portion of such building or structure, may be located in a required rear yard within a residential district, provided they are set back not less than ten (10) feet from any rear lot line.

Primary and Accessory Structure Restrictions: The following additional restrictions are placed on primary and accessory structures:

A.

No primary or accessory structures or other obstructions, including but not limited to, decks, pools, paving, landscaping structures, fountains or trees, shall be erected or planted on any utility or drainage easement.

B.

Connecting breezeways shall not exceed eight (8) feet in width at the eaves and must be provided with fire stopping in accordance with building codes.

C.

Eaves of primary buildings shall not project into building line setbacks more than two (2) feet; eaves of accessory buildings shall not project into the required building line setback more than one and one-half (1½) feet.

D.

Chimneys, fireplaces, bay or bow windows and similar architectural features of primary and accessory buildings shall not reduce the minimum yard building line setback by projecting into or over such yard setbacks.

4.01.07. Occupancy of Accessory Apartments Limited: The initial occupancy of Accessory Apartments shall be limited to relatives of the occupant of the main dwelling unit not greater than the third degree of consanguinity and the second degree of affinity. Upon vacancy by the original occupant(s), the relationship restriction is removed and the Accessory Apartment may be rented.

(Ord. No. 17-2006, § 2, 11-9-06; Ord. No. 04-2007, 3-8-07; Ord. No. 14-2007, 5-24-07; Ord. No. 20-2007, § 1, 7-26-07; Ord. No. 08-2013, § 1, 4-25-13)