News Flash

Ordinance Proposal: Amending Chapter 155 to Add Low Density Flex Residential Zoning District

Summary: The City of Apple Valley is proposing to amend the City's zoning chapter to add the "LDF" (Low Density Flex) residential zoning district.  The zoning code amendments would include permitted, conditional, and permitted accessory uses, and area requirements for the new residential zoning district, consistent with the City's proposed Comprehensive Plan's "LDF" designation.  Once a city adopts a comprehensive plan or amendments, it needs a means of attaining the development goals in the plan.  These proposed zoning amendments are the means for implementing the goals set forth in the comprehensive plan's "LDF" designation, which is to have future uses that would consist of residential dwellings that are compatible to complement the character of the surrounding residential uses, while taking into consideration the development opportunities and constraints of a property.

The proposed zoning amendments would allow for a variety of housing types that would include one-family detached dwellings, two-family dwellings, detached one-unit townhomes, and attached townhomes at a density of 3-8 units per acre.  No building would exceed two stories or 35 feet in height,  which is consistent with the current single-family, two-family, and "M-1, "M-2", "M-3", and "M-4" multi-family zoning districts.

The distinction of this proposed zoning district from other typical residential zoning districts are:

• Only one-family and two-family dwellings may be constructed on parcels directly abutting existing one-or two-family dwellings.
• The density may be increased in areas not directly abutting existing one- and two-family dwellings as long as the overall density does not exceed eight (8) units per acre.

The proposed zoning amendments would also allow the current permitted, conditional and accessory uses listed in the "R" (One-Family Residential) with the exception of accessory unit dwellings.