Sec. 6.7. Cluster Subdivision

6.7.1. Purpose

To encourage innovation in residential subdivisionClosed All divisions of a tract or parcel of land into two or more lots, building sites, or other divisions for the purpose of sale or building development (whether immediate or future) or any division of land involving the dedication of a new street or a change in existing streets. design, cluster subdivisionsClosed All divisions of a tract or parcel of land into two or more lots, building sites, or other divisions for the purpose of sale or building development (whether immediate or future) or any division of land involving the dedication of a new street or a change in existing streets. shall be permitted providing for more efficient layout of lots, streets, and utilities, for the preservation of open spaceClosed Areas of a development that allow for light, air, wildlife habitat, and for scenic and recreational use. Also included are areas designed to enhance the privacy or general appearance of a development. Private open space is open space that is owned by a corporation, individual, or house owners association. Public open space is open space owned by a governmental jurisdiction. and recreation areas, and for the protection of unique site features and scenic vistas.

6.7.2. Minimum Site Area

The minimum acreage required for a cluster subdivisionClosed All divisions of a tract or parcel of land into two or more lots, building sites, or other divisions for the purpose of sale or building development (whether immediate or future) or any division of land involving the dedication of a new street or a change in existing streets. shall be two acres.

6.7.3. Maximum Density

The maximum densityClosed The number of dwelling units per gross acre, excluding accessory residences or dwelling units, or any other exclusion within this Ordinance. shall not exceed the maximum densityClosed The number of dwelling units per gross acre, excluding accessory residences or dwelling units, or any other exclusion within this Ordinance. permitted in the base district.

6.7.4. Housing Types

A variety of housing types shall be permitted in a Cluster SubdivisionClosed All divisions of a tract or parcel of land into two or more lots, building sites, or other divisions for the purpose of sale or building development (whether immediate or future) or any division of land involving the dedication of a new street or a change in existing streets. in accordance with Sec. 7.1, Housing Types.

6.7.5. Open Space

A. The subdivisionClosed All divisions of a tract or parcel of land into two or more lots, building sites, or other divisions for the purpose of sale or building development (whether immediate or future) or any division of land involving the dedication of a new street or a change in existing streets. shall include the minimum required common open spaceClosed Areas of a development that allow for light, air, wildlife habitat, and for scenic and recreational use. Also included are areas designed to enhance the privacy or general appearance of a development. Private open space is open space that is owned by a corporation, individual, or house owners association. Public open space is open space owned by a governmental jurisdiction. as referenced below.

District

Open SpaceClosed Areas of a development that allow for light, air, wildlife habitat, and for scenic and recreational use. Also included are areas designed to enhance the privacy or general appearance of a development. Private open space is open space that is owned by a corporation, individual, or house owners association. Public open space is open space owned by a governmental jurisdiction.

RS Districts

See paragraph 6.3.1A

RU Districts

See paragraph 6.4.1

RC Districts

See paragraph 6.5.1A

 

B. Additional Open SpaceClosed Areas of a development that allow for light, air, wildlife habitat, and for scenic and recreational use. Also included are areas designed to enhance the privacy or general appearance of a development. Private open space is open space that is owned by a corporation, individual, or house owners association. Public open space is open space owned by a governmental jurisdiction.

1. Reductions in lot areaClosed The total area within the lot lines of a platted lot. in exchange for equal amounts of common open spaceClosed Areas of a development that allow for light, air, wildlife habitat, and for scenic and recreational use. Also included are areas designed to enhance the privacy or general appearance of a development. Private open space is open space that is owned by a corporation, individual, or house owners association. Public open space is open space owned by a governmental jurisdiction. on a one-to-one basis shall be provided in addition to the open spaceClosed Areas of a development that allow for light, air, wildlife habitat, and for scenic and recreational use. Also included are areas designed to enhance the privacy or general appearance of a development. Private open space is open space that is owned by a corporation, individual, or house owners association. Public open space is open space owned by a governmental jurisdiction. requirements referenced in paragraph A above.

2. For duplex lots where the duplex housing type is allowed only in a cluster subdivisionClosed All divisions of a tract or parcel of land into two or more lots, building sites, or other divisions for the purpose of sale or building development (whether immediate or future) or any division of land involving the dedication of a new street or a change in existing streets., the lot reduction/additional open spaceClosed Areas of a development that allow for light, air, wildlife habitat, and for scenic and recreational use. Also included are areas designed to enhance the privacy or general appearance of a development. Private open space is open space that is owned by a corporation, individual, or house owners association. Public open space is open space owned by a governmental jurisdiction. calculation referenced in paragraph B.1 above shall be based upon the conventional lot size of a detached single-familyClosed A residential use consisting of one dwelling unit per lot of record. As described in Sec. 7.1, Housing Types, includes: single-family detached house; zero lot line house; traditional house; or attached house. Not to include manufactured housing. lot for the zoning district.

3. For the townhouseClosed A building made up of three or more attached dwelling units (except when otherwise allowed) where each unit is on an individual lot and the units are lined up in a row and share side walls. or detached rowhouse housing type, the required open spaceClosed Areas of a development that allow for light, air, wildlife habitat, and for scenic and recreational use. Also included are areas designed to enhance the privacy or general appearance of a development. Private open space is open space that is owned by a corporation, individual, or house owners association. Public open space is open space owned by a governmental jurisdiction. shall be at least 20% of the gross area of the developmentClosed Pursuant to NCGS 160D-102, any of the following: a. The construction, erection, alteration, enlargement, renovation, substantial repair, movement to another site, or demolition of any structure. b. The excavation, grading, filling, clearing, or alteration of land. c. The subdivision of land as defined in G.S. 160D-802. d. The initiation or substantial change in the use of land or the intensity of use of land..

C. Open spaceClosed Areas of a development that allow for light, air, wildlife habitat, and for scenic and recreational use. Also included are areas designed to enhance the privacy or general appearance of a development. Private open space is open space that is owned by a corporation, individual, or house owners association. Public open space is open space owned by a governmental jurisdiction. in a clustered subdivisionClosed All divisions of a tract or parcel of land into two or more lots, building sites, or other divisions for the purpose of sale or building development (whether immediate or future) or any division of land involving the dedication of a new street or a change in existing streets. shall be established in accordance with Sec. 7.2, Open Space.

6.7.6. Perimeter Treatment

Property on the edge of cluster developmentsClosed Pursuant to NCGS 160D-102, any of the following: a. The construction, erection, alteration, enlargement, renovation, substantial repair, movement to another site, or demolition of any structure. b. The excavation, grading, filling, clearing, or alteration of land. c. The subdivision of land as defined in G.S. 160D-802. d. The initiation or substantial change in the use of land or the intensity of use of land. shall be developedClosed Pursuant to NCGS 160D-102, any of the following: a. The construction, erection, alteration, enlargement, renovation, substantial repair, movement to another site, or demolition of any structure. b. The excavation, grading, filling, clearing, or alteration of land. c. The subdivision of land as defined in G.S. 160D-802. d. The initiation or substantial change in the use of land or the intensity of use of land. in one or more of the following ways:

A. Set aside as open spaceClosed Areas of a development that allow for light, air, wildlife habitat, and for scenic and recreational use. Also included are areas designed to enhance the privacy or general appearance of a development. Private open space is open space that is owned by a corporation, individual, or house owners association. Public open space is open space owned by a governmental jurisdiction. that includes a bufferClosed A portion of property designated to mitigate impacts between land uses or transportation routes, or to protect water features from pollutants. with an opacityClosed The surface area of a fence, wall or buffer that is impenetrable to light when viewed perpendicularly to the plane of the fence, wall or buffer. of 20%, as set forth in Article 9, Landscaping and Buffering. Projects that are exempted from providing a project boundary bufferClosed A portion of property designated to mitigate impacts between land uses or transportation routes, or to protect water features from pollutants. per paragraph 9.4.1H are exempt from providing the Perimeter Treatment described in paragraph 6.7.6.

B. If an alleyClosed A strip of land, either publicly or privately owned, that is set aside primarily for vehicular service access to the rear or side of properties otherwise abutting on a street. is provided along the perimeter with joint access provided to property not part of the subject subdivisionClosed All divisions of a tract or parcel of land into two or more lots, building sites, or other divisions for the purpose of sale or building development (whether immediate or future) or any division of land involving the dedication of a new street or a change in existing streets.:

1. Lots adjacentClosed Property abutting directly on the boundary of, touching, or sharing a common point. to, and accessing the alleyClosed A strip of land, either publicly or privately owned, that is set aside primarily for vehicular service access to the rear or side of properties otherwise abutting on a street., can be plattedClosed A map, chart or plan of a tract or parcel of land which is to be or which has been, subdivided. with cluster subdivisionClosed All divisions of a tract or parcel of land into two or more lots, building sites, or other divisions for the purpose of sale or building development (whether immediate or future) or any division of land involving the dedication of a new street or a change in existing streets. dimensional requirements. 

2. The required project boundary bufferClosed A portion of property designated to mitigate impacts between land uses or transportation routes, or to protect water features from pollutants. or a vegetative screeningClosed A three-dimensional structure that provides vegetative façades, either freestanding or mounted to a wall. per paragraph 9.7.2C, Evergreen Hedges, whichever is greater, shall be provided along the side adjacentClosed Property abutting directly on the boundary of, touching, or sharing a common point. to properties not part of the subdivisionClosed All divisions of a tract or parcel of land into two or more lots, building sites, or other divisions for the purpose of sale or building development (whether immediate or future) or any division of land involving the dedication of a new street or a change in existing streets.. Intrusions into the bufferClosed A portion of property designated to mitigate impacts between land uses or transportation routes, or to protect water features from pollutants. or screeningClosed The use of plant materials and other landscape or architectural elements used separately or in combination to obscure views. are allowed to provide access to the alleyClosed A strip of land, either publicly or privately owned, that is set aside primarily for vehicular service access to the rear or side of properties otherwise abutting on a street..

C. Be plattedClosed A map, chart or plan of a tract or parcel of land which is to be or which has been, subdivided. as single-familyClosed A residential use consisting of one dwelling unit per lot of record. As described in Sec. 7.1, Housing Types, includes: single-family detached house; zero lot line house; traditional house; or attached house. Not to include manufactured housing. or two-familyClosed A residential use consisting of two individual dwelling units on a single lot of record. This definition does not include a single-family dwelling with an accessory dwelling unit. residential lots as follows:

1. When adjacentClosed Property abutting directly on the boundary of, touching, or sharing a common point. to, or directly across a public right-of-wayClosed A strip of land acquired by reservation, dedication, prescription or condemnation and intended to be occupied by a street, trail, rail corridor, or public utility. from, property that is not a cluster subdivisionClosed All divisions of a tract or parcel of land into two or more lots, building sites, or other divisions for the purpose of sale or building development (whether immediate or future) or any division of land involving the dedication of a new street or a change in existing streets. or is a conventional lot within a cluster subdivisionClosed All divisions of a tract or parcel of land into two or more lots, building sites, or other divisions for the purpose of sale or building development (whether immediate or future) or any division of land involving the dedication of a new street or a change in existing streets., then the lot shall be plattedClosed A map, chart or plan of a tract or parcel of land which is to be or which has been, subdivided. with conventional subdivisionClosed All divisions of a tract or parcel of land into two or more lots, building sites, or other divisions for the purpose of sale or building development (whether immediate or future) or any division of land involving the dedication of a new street or a change in existing streets. dimensional requirements.

2. When adjacentClosed Property abutting directly on the boundary of, touching, or sharing a common point. to, or directly across a public right-of-wayClosed A strip of land acquired by reservation, dedication, prescription or condemnation and intended to be occupied by a street, trail, rail corridor, or public utility. from, property that is a cluster subdivisionClosed All divisions of a tract or parcel of land into two or more lots, building sites, or other divisions for the purpose of sale or building development (whether immediate or future) or any division of land involving the dedication of a new street or a change in existing streets., and the adjacentClosed Property abutting directly on the boundary of, touching, or sharing a common point. property is open spaceClosed Areas of a development that allow for light, air, wildlife habitat, and for scenic and recreational use. Also included are areas designed to enhance the privacy or general appearance of a development. Private open space is open space that is owned by a corporation, individual, or house owners association. Public open space is open space owned by a governmental jurisdiction. or is a lot with reduced dimensional requirements due to clustering provisions of this or previous ordinances, then the lot can be plattedClosed A map, chart or plan of a tract or parcel of land which is to be or which has been, subdivided. with cluster subdivisionClosed All divisions of a tract or parcel of land into two or more lots, building sites, or other divisions for the purpose of sale or building development (whether immediate or future) or any division of land involving the dedication of a new street or a change in existing streets. dimensional requirements.