Appendix 709. General Residential District (GR).

Intent. It is the intent of this section that the General Residential District be established for medium-to-high density residential purposes. These areas need to be served with public water and sewer and have direct access to collector or arterial streets. These areas should be developed within the character of the natural surroundings to insure preservation of critical areas, to be compatible with the existing development and to discourage any encroachment of commercial, industrial or other uses capable of adversely affecting the charm and residential character of this district.

709.1 Permitted Uses:

(A)

Single-family dwellings, except mobile homes;

(B)

Duplex dwellings;

(C)

Multi-family dwellings;

(D)

Golf courses, provided the areas designated for golf course use shall not be used to calculate densities or impervious surface ratios;

(E)

Accessory uses;

(F)

Churches, synagogues, temples, and other places of worship subject to the provisions of Article 12;

(G)

Townhomes dwellings.

(Ord. No. 78-90, 12-11-90; Ord. No. 31-01, § 1, 6-19-01; Ord. No. 138-04, § 2(Att. 1), 2-1-05; Ord. No. 88-16, § 1, 11-1-16; Ord. No. 78-17, § 4, 9-19-17))

709.2 Special Requirements. Unless otherwise specified elsewhere in this ordinance, single-family and duplex dwellings shall meet the following requirements:

(A)

Single-Family and Duplex Dwelling Requirements:

1.

Building Coverage not to exceed thirty-five (35) percent of the lot.

(B)

Multifamily and Townhome Dwelling Requirements:

1.

Maximum Impervious Coverage not to exceed fifty (50) percent of the lot.

2.

Minimum Building Separation of 20 ft.

(Ord. No. 15-02, § 1, 2-19-02; Ord. No. 78-17, § 4, 9-19-17)

709.3 Reserved.

(Ord. No. 71-95, § 1, 10-3-95; Ord. No. 62-96, § 1, 5-21-96; Ord. No. 51-99, § 22, 12-7-99; Ord. No. 75-00, § 1, 8-1-00; Ord. No. 78-17, § 4, 9-19-17)

709.3.1 Oceanfront and Second Row Multi-Family Development. The following provisions shall apply to lots with less than one (1) acre that are located along the oceanfront or within the second row of properties adjacent to the oceanfront.

709.3.1 Oceanfront and Second Row Multi-Family Development. The following provisions shall apply to lots with less than one (1) acre that are located along the oceanfront or within the second row of properties adjacent to the oceanfront.

A.

Reserved.

B.

Reserved.

C.

Maximum Height: The building height shall not exceed one hundred twenty (120) feet above grade or the base flood elevation (BFE), whichever is greater, provided the requirements of all other applicable ordinances can be met, such as the Airport Height Ordinance.

D.

Unit density limits shown in Section 709.5 shall not apply to such development, provided that structures and parking area on such lots do not cover more that seventy (70) percent of the site.

E.

The maximum number of units that may be constructer on oceanfront or second row property under these provisions shall not exceed sixty (60).

(Ord. No. 18-02, § 1, 3-26-02; Ord. No. 78-17, § 4, 9-19-17)

709.4 Reserved.

(Ord. No. 78-17, § 4, 9-19-17)

709.5 Multi-Family and Townhome Density Limits:

Net Density: Gross lot area minus area in dedicated public streets.

	Minimum Lot Area Per Unit
Unit Type	1-Story	2-Story	3-Story	4-Story	5-Story or more
Efficiency units	2,000	1,435	1,410	1,240	1,013
1 bedroom	2,000	1,775	1,625	1,438	1,240
2 bedrooms	2,650	2,475	2,125	1,825	1,438
3 bedrooms	3,525	3,175	2,653	2,200	1,825
4 or more bedrooms	4,375	3,975	3,492	2,725	2,220

 

(Ord. No. 78-17, § 4, 9-19-17)

709.6 Conditional Uses:

(A)

Boarding homes, provided that:

1.

There shall be one thousand (1,000) square feet of land area for each rental room;

2.

Food service facilities shall accommodate only boarders of said establishment and their guests;

Where food is provided there shall be fifty (50) square feet of dining area for each rental room.

(B)

Publicly owned buildings, facilities, or lands, provided the review as required by Section 6-29-540 of South Carolina State Law is complete.

(C)

Publicly or privately owned utility substations or sub-installations, including water towers, provided the review as required by Section 6-29-540 of the South Carolina State Law has been completed.

(D)

Reserved.

(E)

Private educational facilities, nurseries or day care centers, provided that:

1.

Such uses must meet the minimum standards set forth for such facility by the Department of Social Services and other state departments;

2.

Reserved;

3.

A buffer strip may be required if deemed necessary in order to reduce the noise factor generated by the day care facility;

4.

Day/child care centers shall meet the requirements established in section 525.

(F)

Permanent overnight resident group care homes, nursing homes, provided that:

1.

Such uses must meet the minimum standards set forth for such facilities by the department of social services and other federal, state, and local departments which exercise jurisdiction over such facilities.

2.

Such use shall be housed in a permanent structure.

3.

Such uses shall have a minimum lot area of one (1) acre and meet the net density requirements set forth below:

Minimum Lot Area Requirements in Square Feet Per Room
Number of Beds Per Room	1-Story	2-Story	3-Story	4-Story	5-Story or more
1 bed	2,000	1,775	1,625	1,438	1,240
2 beds	2,650	2,475	2,125	1,825	1,438
3 beds	3,525	3,175	2,653	2,200	1,825
4 beds	4,375	3,975	3,492	2,725	2,220
5 or more beds	1,050/bed	950/bed	850/bed	650/bed	550/bed

 

4.

Such use shall meet the buffer requirements set forth below:

Twenty (20) feet of natural or re vegetated buffer along adjacent residential property lines; and,

Thirty (30) feet of natural or re vegetated buffer along adjacent commercial property lines; and,

Fifty (50) feet of natural or re vegetated buffer along adjacent industrial property lines; or, a minimum six (6) feet high privacy fence along all such adjacent property lines.

5.

Such uses shall be required to maintain a minimum outside recreational area of seventy-five (75) square feet per bed. Group care facilities may be required to place a fence around the recreation area when the planning staff determines that there is a safety concern.

6.

Group care homes and nursing homes shall be considered multi-family uses for the purposes of section 790.3. All requirements of section 709.3 shall be met.

(G)

Reserved.

(H)

Accessory living quarters in conformance with the requirements of Article V, Section 509.

(Ord. No. 67-88, 4-18-89; Ord. No. 36-94, § 1, 5-17-94; Ord. No. 57-96, § 1, 5-21-96; Ord. No. 137-97, §§ 5, 10, 12-2-97; Ord. No. 51-99, §§ 15, 21, 22, 12-7-99; Ord. No. 26-01, § 1, 3-20-01; Ord. No. 114-01, § 1, 9-4-01; Ord. No. 138-04, § 2(Att. 1), 2-1-05; Ord. No. 21-08, § 1, 2-19-08; Ord. No. 35-18, § 16, 5-1-18)

709.7 Special exceptions. Owing to their potential negative impact on the community, the following use may be approved as a special exception by the Board of Zoning Appeals:

(A)

Offices subject to the following conditions:

1.

That the special exception complies with all applicable development standards.

2.

That the special exception will be in substantial harmony with the area in which it is to be located.

3.

That the special exception will not be injurious to adjoining property.

4.

That the special exception will contribute to the economic vitality and promote the general welfare of the community.

5.

That the special exception will not discourage or negate the use of surrounding property for use(s) permitted by right.

6.

In granting a special exception, the Board of Zoning Appeals may impose such reasonable and additional stipulations, conditions, or safeguards as, in its judgement, will enhance the siting of the proposed special exception.

(Ord. No. 48-00, § 1, 5-16-00)

(B)

Bed and breakfast establishments (B&Bs) subject to the following conditions:

1.

That the special exception complies with all applicable development standards.

2.

That the special exception will be in substantial harmony with the area in which it is to be located.

3.

That the special exception will not be injurious to adjoining property.

4.

That the special exception will contribute to the economic vitality and promote the general welfare of the community.

5.

That the special exception will not discourage or negate the use of surrounding property for uses(s) permitted by right.

6.

In granting a special exception, the board of zoning appeals may impose such reasonable and additional stipulations, conditions, or safeguards as, in its judgement, will enhance the siting of the proposed special exception.

(Ord. No. 87-01, § 1, 7-10-01)

709.8 Reserved.

(Ord. No. 78-17, § 4, 9-19-17)