§ 30-90. Civic zones.

(a)

General.

(1)

Civic zones dedicated for public use shall be required for each community unit and designated on the new community plan as civic space (CS) and civic building (CB). Property designated as a civic zone must also be assigned to a transect zone.

(2)

Civic space zones are public sites permanently dedicated to open space.

(3)

Civic zone types shall be established based upon the adjacent transect zone pursuant to Table 10. If more than one transect zone is adjacent, the greatest frontage length shall control the designation.

(4)

Civic building zones are sites dedicated for buildings operated by not-for-profit organizations dedicated to education, religion, government, transit and municipal parking, or for a use approved by the town council.

(5)

If a civic zone occupies more than 20 percent of the pedestrian shed, it is subject to the creation of a special district.

(6)

Parking for civic zones shall be calculated per the standards of Tables 16 and 17. On-street parking available along the frontage lines that correspond to each lot shall be counted toward the parking requirement of the proposed civic space or civic building on the lot. The required parking may also be provided within one-quarter mile of the site that it serves. Civic parking lots may remain unpaved if graded, compacted, landscaped and maintained as to remain free from any weeds, grass, or other vegetative growth within any area that any vehicle may travel.

(b)

Civic zones specific to T1 and T2 Zones. Civic buildings and civic spaces within T1 Natural and T2 Rural Zones shall be permitted only when approved by the town council when the regulating plan is approved.

(c)

Civic space (CS) specific to T3 through T5 Zones.

(1)

Each pedestrian shed shall assign at least five percent of its urbanized area to civic space.

(2)

Civic spaces shall be designed as generally described in Table 2 and Table 10.

(3)

Those portions of the T1 Natural Zone that occur within a development project or parcel shall be part of the civic space allocation and shall conform to the civic space types specified in Table 2 and Table 10.

(4)

Each pedestrian shed shall contain at least one main civic space. The main civic space shall be within 800 feet of the geographic center of each pedestrian shed, unless topographic conditions, pre-existing thoroughfare alignments or other circumstances prevent such location; in such case, the distance of the main civic space from the geographic center may be relocated up to 960 feet from the geographic center of the pedestrian shed. A main civic space shall conform to one of the types specified in Table 10b, 10c, or 10d.

(5)

The town shall accept dedication of the main civic space of each pedestrian shed.

(6)

Within 800 feet of every lot in residential use, one of the following shall be provided:

a.

A civic space designed and equipped as a playground. A playground shall conform to Table 10e.

b.

A civic space designed and equipped as a green or a plaza that does not exceed one acre.

(7)

Each civic space shall have a minimum of 50 percent of its perimeter fronting a thoroughfare, except for parks, community gardens, and playgrounds.

(8)

Civic spaces may be permitted within special districts but may not exceed 50 perfect of the special district.

(d)

Civic buildings (CB) specific to T3 through T5 Zones.

(1)

The owner shall covenant to construct a meeting hall or a third place in proximity to the main civic space of each pedestrian shed.

(2)

Civic building sites shall not occupy more than 20 percent of the area of each pedestrian shed.

(3)

Civic building sites should be located within or adjacent to a civic space, or at a terminated vista.

(4)

Civic buildings shall be subject to the standards of article VI of this chapter.

(5)

Civic buildings are permitted within special districts.

(e)

Specific to parks. Turfgrass area and grass fields shall be planted or managed with appropriate low care and drought tolerant grasses that are mown to a high cut height or left uncut to provide a grass meadow.

(f)

Specific to greens. Turfgrass area shall be planted or managed with appropriate low care and drought tolerant grasses that are mown to a high cut height.

(g)

Specific to squares. Turfgrass area shall be carefully graded, leveled, and planted with sod.

(Code 2003, § 31-16; Ord. No. 13-04, § 1(exh. A), 2-21-2013)