SECTION 9
DISTRICTS AND BOUNDARIES THEREOF

Subsections:

9.01    Purpose

9.02    Boundaries and Map

9.03    Annexation

9.04    Boundary Line

9.05    General Conditions

9.06    Map Appended

9.07    Overlay Districts

9.01 Purpose

In order to implement the city of Litchfield Park general plan policies to accommodate compatible, accessible mixtures of land use in a village context where persons may reside, shop, engage in community activities, work and play in close proximity; classify, regulate, and restrict the location of business, trades, industries, residences and other land uses, and the location of buildings designed for specific uses; to regulate and limit the height and bulk of buildings thereafter erected, reconstructed, or structurally altered; to regulate and limit the intensity of the use of lot areas, and to regulate and determine the area of yards, courts and other open spaces within and surrounding such buildings, the city of Litchfield Park, Arizona is hereby divided into eighteen “districts.” The use, heights and area regulations are set forth for each district and said districts shall be known as:

RE

Residential Estate

R1

Low Density Residential

R1-15

Low Medium Density Residential

R1-8

Medium Density Residential

R1-6

High Medium Density Residential

RC (Cluster)

High Density Residential

MFL

Low Density Multifamily Residential

MFM

Medium Density Multifamily Residential

MFH

High Density Multifamily Residential

PH

Patio Home Residential

RT

Resort

NC

Neighborhood Commercial

CS

Community Commercial

RS

Regional Commercial

I

General Industrial

OS

Open Space

PD

Planned Development

PF

Public Facilities

HPOD

Historic Preservation Overlay District

(Ord. 04-91 § 1 (part))

9.02 Boundaries and Map

The boundaries of these districts are shown upon the map or supplementary maps and made a part of this code, which map is designated as the “Litchfield Park Zoning Map.” The zoning map and all notations, references and other information shown thereon were fully set forth and described herein, which zoning map is attached hereto and made a part of this code by reference and any supplementary zoning map adopted by ordinance shall become a part of this code by reference as though fully set forth herein.

9.03 Annexation

a.    All territory which may hereafter be annexed to the city of Litchfield Park, Arizona shall automatically continue Maricopa County zoning designations for a period not more than six months. Within such six-month period, a map amendment shall be adopted establishing city zoning.

b.    As part of any application for annexation to the city, the property owners of the territory proposed to be annexed shall submit an agreement to waive claims for diminution in value as set forth in Section 3.07. (Ord. 07-134 § 1 (part); Ord. 04-91 § 1 (part))

9.04 Boundary Line

Whenever any street, alley, or other public way is vacated by official action of the council, the zoning districts adjoining each side of such street, alley or public way shall be automatically extended to the center of such vacation and all area included in the vacation shall then and henceforth be subject to all appropriate regulations of the extended districts.

9.05 General Conditions

Except as hereinafter provided:

a.    No building shall be erected, converted, enlarged, reconstructed, or structurally altered, nor shall any building or land be used except in conformity with use, height, area, and parking regulations in the district in which the building or land is located.

b.    The minimum yards and other open spaces, including lot area per family, required by this code for each and every building existing at the time of passage of this code, or for any building hereafter erected, shall not be encroached upon or considered as yard or open space requirements for any other building; nor shall any lot area be reduced beyond the district regulations of this code.

c.    Every building hereafter erected or structurally altered shall be located on a lot as herein defined and in no case shall there be more than one main building on one lot, except as otherwise provided.

d.    No accessory building shall be leased, subleased, or rented, separate and apart from the main building and no main building shall be leased, subleased, or rented, separate and apart from an accessory building.

e.    No lot may be resubdivided into smaller lot or lots.

f.    No farm livestock may be kept on any residential lot.

g.    Housepets may be kept in reasonable number and so long as they do not constitute a nuisance in the neighborhood.

h.    No business or professional offices may be maintained on residential lots or in the residences thereon unless the office is determined to be a home occupation. A group home for the handicapped is permitted so long as the group home is operated in accordance with applicable federal and state law and this code.

i.    Signs may be displayed under restrictions set forth in the ensuing section applying to residential districts.

j.    Any store, warehouse, or repair shop activity is prohibited on any residential lot.

k.    Only an entire lot together with improvements thereon may be rented to a single family. Occupancy of trailers, recreational vehicles, or vans is prohibited on any residential lot. (Ord. 97-42 § 1 (part))

9.06 Map Appended

Appended to this code is a map of the city of Litchfield Park appropriately marked to designate the various zoning districts.

9.07 Overlay Districts

Site plan approval is required for developments located in overlay districts.

a.    Regulations pertaining to the base, or underlying district, and general conditions set forth in Section 9.05, shall apply to uses, lots or portions of lots included within an overlay district unless specifically modified in the map amendment or by condition of zoning.

b.    Additional requirements may be established to further the purposes of the overlay district.

c.    Historic preservation overlay district development proposals shall observe architectural themes, structural scale and building massing consistent with other properties in the district. Use permit approval may, in appropriate circumstances, be granted as an incentive for property owners’ consent to be included in the district. (Ord. 04-91 § 1 (part))