A. General. This section describes the intent for each of the city’s residential zones. These intent statements may be used to guide the interpretation of the regulations associated with each zone.

B. RC Residential Conservancy Zone – One Dwelling Unit per Four Acres. The RC residential conservancy zone is intended primarily to provide for low-intensity single-family residential uses with characteristics of an agricultural environment; provided, that the agricultural uses are secondary to the single-family uses. These areas allow for a lifestyle similar to that of rural areas that includes allowance of farm animals and streets without sidewalks. This zone is intended to protect areas with significant environmental constraints or values from impacts typically associated with urban levels of development while allowing low-intensity development designed to minimize impacts on the natural environmental features designated for conservation.

Public improvements required within the RC zone will be less than is normally required for the higher intensity residential zones within the city.

This zone shall only be applied in areas designated as residential conservancy on the comprehensive plan. This zone shall allow one dwelling unit per four acres minimum lot area.

C. R-1 Residential Zone – One Dwelling Unit per Acre. The intent of the R-1 residential zone is to provide areas for estate-type residential development on large lots. This zone would normally be located in the areas particularly suited for such development.

Appropriate development standards required of other urban areas shall be required to serve this zone.

D. R-5 Residential Zone – Five Dwelling Units per Acre. The R-5 single-family residential zones are intended to create a living environment of optimum standards for single-family dwellings. It is further intended to achieve development densities of four to five dwelling units per net acre. This zone will provide for the development of single-family detached dwellings and for such accessory uses as are related, incidental and not detrimental to the single-family residential environment.

E. R-7 Residential Zone – Seven Dwelling Units per Acre. The R-7 single-family residential zones are intended to create a living environment of optimum standards for single-family dwellings. It is further intended to achieve development densities of five to seven dwelling units per net acre. This zone will provide for the development of single-family detached dwellings and for such accessory uses as are related, incidental and not detrimental to the residential environment.

F. R-10 Residential Zone – 10 Dwelling Units per Acre. The R-10 residential zones are intended to permit some increase in population density in those areas to which this classification applies by permitting single-family dwellings and duplexes on a minimum size lot while at the same time, by means of the standards and requirements set forth in this chapter, maintaining a desirable family living environment by establishing minimum lot areas, yards and open spaces. A related consideration is to provide a transition between single-family areas and other intensive designations or activities which reduce the suitability for single-family uses.

G. R-16 Residential Zone – 16 Dwelling Units per Acre. The R-16 zone is intended to provide for medium density multiple-family residential development as designated in the comprehensive plan, and is further intended as a residential zone of single, duplex and multiple-family residences, except as specifically provided elsewhere in this chapter.

H. R-20 Residential Zone – 20 Dwelling Units per Acre. The R-20 zone is intended to provide for multiple-family residential development and is further intended as a residential zone primarily of multiple-family residences, except as specifically provided elsewhere in this chapter. A related consideration is to make it possible to more efficiently and economically design and install all physical public service facilities in terms of size and capacity to adequately and permanently meet needs resulting from a defined intensity of land use.

I. Except as specifically provided in the city code, no business or commercial use shall be allowed in a residential district of the city that does not have a city of Auburn business license. (Ord. 6525 § 6, 2014; Ord. 6245 § 5, 2009.)