The regulations set forth hereinafter this Section qualify or supplement, as the case may be, the district regulations appearing elsewhere in this Ordinance.

A.    In districts where public buildings, semi-public buildings, public service buildings, hospitals, institutional buildings, schools, and churches and similar places of worship are permitted, one (1) foot of additional height will be permitted for each one (1) foot of additional building setback provided.

B.    Chimneys, cooling towers, elevator headhouses, fire towers, grain elevators, monuments, stacks, stage towers or scenery lofts, tanks, water towers, ornamental towers and spires, church steeples, radio and television towers, or necessary mechanical appurtenances, which do not conflict with airport approach zones, may be erected to a height not to exceed 150 feet.

C.    Accessory buildings may be built in a side or rear yard, but such accessory buildings shall not be nearer than the main building to any front lot line. When any accessory building is constructed in a rear yard, it shall not encroach on any required utility easements and shall not be located any closer to the rear or side lot lines of the property than three (3) feet, except that where vehicular access to a garage is perpendicular to the alley line, a setback of at least ten (10) feet from the alley line shall be required. No accessory structure(s) shall cover more than thirty (30) percent of the total lot area. Accessory structure(s) shall not exceed 5,000 square feet, without the issuance of a Conditional Use Permit (CUP).

D.    Freight shipping containers, rail cars, semi-trailers boxes, metal storage containers, or any other similar shipping container shall not be used as an accessory building or for storage within any residential zone. The exception may be a storage container for moving or storing household goods during a remodel which may be located in the front yard or driveway for no more than 30 days. A permit is required from the city prior to the placement of the container at the cost established by City Council.

E.    No accessory building shall be constructed upon a lot until the construction of the main building has been actually commenced, and no accessory building shall be used for dwelling purposes.

F.    The setback line for yard requirements shall be determined by measuring the horizontal distance from the property line to the nearest architectural projection of the building, or as otherwise established by district regulations.

G.    On streets where a front yard more than that required by these regulations has been maintained for existing structures on lots having a frontage of 50% or more of the total frontage on one side of that portion of the street line between two (2) intersecting streets, there shall be maintained a front yard setback of not less than the average setback of the existing structures; provided, that these regulations shall not be interpreted to require a front yard setback of more than 50 feet.

H.    On streets where a front yard less than that required by these regulations has been maintained for existing structures on lots having a frontage of 50% or more of the total frontage on one side of that portion of the street line between two (2) intersecting streets, the front yard setback need not be greater than the average setback of the existing structures, provided that these regulations shall not be interpreted to permit a front yard setback of less than 20 feet.

I.     Open or lattice-enclosed fire escapes, fireproof outside stairways and balconies opening upon fire towers, and the ordinary projections of chimneys and flues into the rear yard may be permitted by the Zoning Administrator and/or the City Building Inspector for a distance of not more than three-and-one• half (31/2) feet provided the same are so placed as not to obstruct light and ventilation.

J.     For the purpose of the side yard regulations, a two (2)-family dwelling or a multiple-family dwelling shall be considered as one (1) building occupying one (1) lot.

K.    Temporary buildings and temporary construction signs that are used in conjunction with construction work may be permitted in any district during the period that the building is being constructed, but such temporary building and/or sign shall be removed upon completion of the construction work.

L.    No side yards are required where dwelling units are erected above commercial structures, and front, side, and rear yard requirements shall not apply to the interior walls of dwelling units established under the Kansas Apartment Ownership Act or under the Kansas Townhouse Ownership Act.

M.   Whenever the number of employees is restricted in connection with any use in the commercial districts, such maximum number applies only to employees principally engaged in processing, selling, or treating materials or products on the premises and not to employees engaged in delivery or off-site similar activities.

N.    Electronic communications towers shall be permitted in any commercial, industrial, or agricultural district providing the height of said towers do not conflict with any airport approach or landing zone or with any other ordinance, and providing that towers within 150 feet of a residential district shall not exceed 80 feet in height. (Also see Section 14, Wireless Communications Towers.)

O.    On a corner lot in any residential district, nothing shall be erected, placed, planted, or allowed to grow in such a manner as materially to impede vision between a height of two• and-one-half (2-1/2) and 12 feet above the centerline grades of the intersecting streets in the area bounded by the street lines of such corner lots and a line joining points along said street lines 90 feet from the point of the centerline intersection.

P.    In any district, more than one structure housing a permitted or permissible principal use may be erected on a zoning lot, provided that yard and other requirements of this Ordinance shall be met for each structure as though it were on an individual lot.

Q.    Every building hereafter erected or moved shall be on a lot adjacent to a public street, or with access to an approved private street, and all structures shall be so located on lots as to provide safe and convenient access for servicing, fire protection, and required off-street parking.

R.    Privately owned swimming pools, except children's small play “kiddie pools” as defined in Article V, Definitions, shall comply with all current City of Garden Plain and MABCD regulations.

S.    Major equipment such as semi-trailer, trucks, recreational vehicles, commercial vehicles, school buses, boats, boat trailers, travel trailers, pick-up campers or coaches, camping buses or converted trucks, and tent trailers shall not be stored in a residential district except within an enclosed building, or behind the front yard setback line.

i.     On a corner lot such equipment shall be kept back of the front yard setback lines on both street sides.

ii.    No such recreational equipment shall be utilized for living, sleeping or housekeeping purposes when parked on a residential lot or in any location not approved for such use.

T.    Conversion of a two-family or multiple-family structure to individually owned single• family dwelling units may be permitted subject to the requirements of the Subdivision Regulations, and to the following:

i.     An application for such unit conversion shall be filed for review and comment by City staff and the Planning Commission and approval by the Governing Body. Such application shall be accompanied by the following information as a minimum:

a.     A plot plan showing site and structure arrangements and proposed re-platting.

b.    A full legal description of the subject property, including legal descriptions of proposed individual properties after re-platting.

ii.    A description of proposed structural and utility alterations to provide for individual services and maintenance.

iii.   A description of proposed public access patterns, both vehicular and pedestrian.

iv.   A copy of protective covenants which shall be written to run with the land in which shall be specified methods for providing for maintenance of shared property and/or easements, responsibilities for shared expenses, and continued use of the property for specified purposes. Such covenants shall be written to provide for the long-term maintenance and use of the premises for residential purposes only, within the overall context of neighborhood development.

v.    Any other supplementary information as may be required to assess short- and long-term neighborhood impacts associated with the proposed conversion.

U.    The applicant for unit conversion shall submit with their application a consent agreement signed by 75 percent of all owners of property within 200 feet of the premises whereon the unit conversion is proposed.

i.     Where a two-family or multiple-family structure is converted to individually owned, single-family dwelling units, a separation of utility service lines and separate meters are required for each individually owned, single-family dwelling unit to a public utility line or to a utility line, private well, septic system, or lagoon which is located in an area of a lot or building that is owned by or accessible to a party legally responsible for maintenance of utility lines or systems on behalf of the owners of each converted single-family dwelling unit.

ii.    The Planning Commission and Governing Body shall not approve an application for conversion from a two-family or multiple-family structure to individually owned, single-family dwelling units where it is determined that an existing or proposed utility service line, private well, septic system, or lagoon exists or is proposed to exist in an area where the maintenance of said utilities would require entry into an individually owned dwelling unit.

iii.   All conversions of two-family or multiple-family structures to individually owned, single-family dwelling units are subject to all applicable City codes, including building permit application and inspection  procedures.

iv.   The above procedures and regulations are applicable even where the conversion does not require new construction.

v.    After reviewing a conversion application for compliance with all applicable City codes, the Zoning Administrator shall report to the Planning Commission and Governing Body all details of non-compliance with City codes.

V.    Before a permit can be issued for a new building or addition or accessory structure the property pins must be located, exposed, and marked on all corners to be verified by the City.

Except as otherwise specifically provided in other codes, ordinances, or resolutions, the following regulations shall apply to the construction of fences:

A.    Fence permits are required and shall be issued by the City.

B.    No fence shall be constructed in a front yard, except that fence installed upon public or parochial school grounds or in public parks and public playgrounds may be permitted by Conditional Use Permit (CUP) approved by the Planning Commission and Governing Body without any front yard limitation, providing the fence does not encroach on any required utility easements, cause any vision impairment for vehicles, or interfere with required public ADA accessibility in the rights-of-way.

C.    No fence shall be constructed which will constitute a traffic hazard and no permit shall be granted for the construction of a fence unless the Zoning Administrator or their designee has certified that the proposed fence will not constitute a traffic hazard.

D.    No fence shall be constructed in such a manner or be of such design as to be hazardous or dangerous to persons or animals.

E.    No person shall erect or maintain any fence which will materially damage the adjacent property by obstructing the view, shutting out the sunlight, or hindering ventilation, or any fence which shall adversely affect the public health, safety, and welfare.

F.    No fence, except fences erected upon public or parochial school grounds or in public parks and in public playgrounds, shall be constructed of a height greater than six (6) feet; provided, however, that the Planning Commission and Governing Body may, by exception, through an application for a variance, authorize the construction of a fence higher than six (6) feet if they find the public welfare is preserved.

G.    All fences shall conform to the construction standards of the building code and other applicable ordinances and resolutions.

H.    Fences shall be exempt from the provisions of SECTION 3 of this Article; however, the City retains the right to remove any fence for right-of-way purposes.

Building setback lines are hereby established for all arterial and collector streets, as shown on the adopted Major Street Plan in the Garden Plain Comprehensive Plan. The setback lines, as established in this section, shall be held to the minimum for the purpose of promoting the public health, safety, morals, order, convenience and economy in the process of development and shall conform with the following requirements:

A.    Arterial Streets. No building or structure which fronts or sides on an arterial street shall be located nearer to the centerline of the arterial street than the sum of the required front yard (in feet) plus fifty (50) feet, except as provided in SECTION 2 of this Article.

B.    Collector Streets. No building or structure which fronts or sides on a collector street shall be located nearer to the centerline of the collector street than the sum of the required front yard (in feet) plus forty (40) feet, except as provided in SECTION 2 of this Article.

C.    Corner Lots. All portions of a lot that adjoins a public street shall have a front yard setback.

A lot or group of lots, that were platted and recorded  in the office of the Sedgwick County Register of Deeds prior to the effective date of this Ordinance, may be used for any purpose permitted in the district in which it is located; provided, however, that no residential building permit shall be issued for construction of a residential structure that does not conform with the minimum yard and height requirements unless specifically authorized by the Planning Commission/Board of Zoning Appeals.

A canopy, marquee, or balcony may be permitted to "overhang a public right of way" in Districts C-1 and C-2 providing:

A.    The canopy, marquee, or balcony is constructed and maintained in accordance with the City Building Code and other applicable codes, ordinances, and resolutions.

B.    No portion of the canopy, marquee, or balcony, including supports, shall be less than eight (8) feet above the level of the sidewalk or other public way except as required by SECTION 1, Item M, above.

C.    The canopy, marquee, or balcony shall not extend beyond a point two (2) feet inside the curb line of a public street.

A.    Christmas Tree Sales.  Christmas tree sales in any business or industrial district for a period not to exceed 60 days. Display of Christmas trees need not comply with the yard and setback requirements of these regulations provided that no trees shall be displayed which would obstruct intersection sight distance requirements.

B.    Contractor's Office. Contractor's office and equipment sheds (containing no sleeping or cooking accommodations) accessory to a construction project and to continue only during the duration of such project.

C.    Real Estate Offices.  Real estate offices (containing no sleeping or cooking accommodations unless located in a model dwelling unit) incidental to a new housing development to continue only until the sale or lease of all dwelling units in the development.

D.    Carnivals and Circus’. A carnival or circus, but only in a C-1, C-2, I-1, or I-2 District; and then only for a period that does not exceed one (1) week. Such use need not comply with the front yard requirements, provided that structures or equipment that might block the view of operators of motor vehicles on the public streets shall conform to the requirements for the street intersection sight distance as defined by these regulations.

E.    Seasonal sales events and festivals. Seasonal sales events and festivals in any district subject to any special requirements of the Governing Body.

F.    Other special temporary uses as may be permitted by the Governing Body and under such conditions as they may require.

Wind energy conversion systems (WECS) may be permitted subject to the following requirements:

A.    The minimum distance from any lot line to any tower, pole or other support structure of the wind energy conversion system shall be established by the following minimum standards:

Roto Diameter (feet)              Setback Distance (feet)

       5                                                 100

       10                                              165

       15                                               220

       20                                              270

       25                                               310

       30                                              340

       35                                              365

       40                                              385

Intermediate rotor size distances shall be interpolated from the above values.

B.    The WECS shall not be located in any required yard.

C.    The WECS shall not cause interference to microwave communications or radio and television reception in the area. Noise levels measured at the lot line shall not exceed sixty (60) OBA in a residential zone.

D.    To limit climbing access to WECS tower, or other support structure, a six (6) foot high fence with locking portal shall be place around the WECS support or if a tower is utilized, the tower climbing apparatus shall be limited to no lower than twelve (12) feet from the ground or the WECS support may be mounted on a rooftop.

E.    All blades of a WECS shall be constructed of non-metallic substances. If the applicant can prove, in writing form, that no electromagnetic interference will result, a metal content of up to twenty-five (25) percent will be acceptable.

F.    The WECS shall be located in compliance with the guidelines of the Federal Aviation Regulations with regard to airport approach and clearance around VOR and DVOR stations.

G.    Height of the WECS shall not exceed the maximum height restriction in the zone where it is located by more than twenty (20) feet. The height of the WECS shall be measured at the center of the blade diameter.

H.    Data pertaining to the WECS' safety and structural integrity shall be certified by a licensed engineer and filed with the building permit application. The tower or support and top adapter shall meet the restrictions specified in the City's building code.

I.     The WECS, if interconnected to a utility system, shall meet the requirements for interconnection and operation as set forth in the electric utility's current service regulations applicable to WECS.

J.     A plot plan shall be submitted with the application for building  permit showing the proposed location and height of the WECS, fencing and all existing buildings within two hundred (200) feet of the exterior lot lines.

K.    The owner/operator shall provide covenants, easements or similar documentation to assure sufficient wind to operate the WECS unless adequate accessibility to the wind is provided by the site.

L.    The owner/operator shall certify that the WECS does not violate any covenants of record.

M.   The applicant shall provide a certificate of liability insurance. Annually the owner/operator shall present evidence to the zoning administrator that the liability insurance is still in effect.

Where joint driveways and joint garages were in existence prior to the passage of this ordinance, it shall be permissible to repair, reconstruct or enlarge joint garages and it is not necessary to conform to the provisions governing internal lot lines.

Notwithstanding any other provision of these regulations, none of the following utility or communication facilities shall be required to comply fully with the lot size requirements and bulk regulations of the zoning district in which they are located, except as may be determined by the Planning Commission and Governing body where a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) is required in certain districts.

A.    Communication structures.

B.    Electric and telephone substations.

C.    Gas regulator stations.

D.    Pumping stations.

E.    Water towers or standpipes.

No building or addition thereto shall be erected over or across any public sewer or utility line, nor upon any platted or recorded easement, unless permission is granted in writing by the respective party whose lines are involved.

In districts where mineral extraction is a permitted use, the following shall apply:

A.    In the case of open excavation, there will be required a substantial fence with suitable gates completely enclosing the portion of the property in which the excavation is located, and such fence shall be located forty (40) feet or more distance from the edge of such excavation.

B.    The slope of the material in such sand, gravel or other pit shall not exceed the normal angle of repose of such materials, and the plane of such angle of repose shall not come nearer than forty (40) feet to any property lines.

C.    In the case of a quarry or other excavation in rock, there will be required a substantial fence, with suitable gates at all points a distance of forty (40) feet or more from the face of any quarry walls.

D.    Rock crushers, cement plants or other crushing, grinding, polishing, or cutting machinery or other physical or chemical process for treating the product of such quarry may be prohibited.

E.    No such quarry shall be nearer than forty (40) feet to any property boundary line, street or highway right-of-way line.

Whenever any street, alley or other public right- of-way is vacated by official action of the Governing Body, any zoning districts adjoining each side of any such vacated street, alley or public way shall be automatically extended to the center of such vacated street or alley and all area included in such adjusted boundary shall then and thenceforth be subject to all regulations of the extended districts.

All new construction of residential units, relocation of residential units, manufactured housing and all other buildings that would generate sewage, shall be connected to a public sewer system where available, or provided with a   private system meeting the following requirements.

A.    All percolation rates shall be based on the standard test procedures and shall be the responsibility of the person applying for a permit.

B.    Septic tanks constructed of concrete, metal, concrete blocks or other material of similar nature, size of which shall be:

Two-bedroom home               1,000 gallons minimum

Three-bedroom home             1,250 gallons minimum

Four-bedroom home               1,500 gallons minimum

C.    All wastewater must run through septic tanks including laundry, kitchen, lavatory, etc.

D.    Individual laterals shall not be less than 90 feet or more than 100 feet in length. There shall be a separation of six (6) feet between laterals.

E.    Trench bottom and tile lines shall have a fall of two (2) to four (4) inches per 100 feet and shall be ten (10) inches in depth.

F.    Lateral lines shall be constructed for continual flow, or if desired, use of absorption fields will be accepted.

G.    Absorption field not less than 6 feet long, 4 feet wide, and not more than 6 feet deep, shall be available at the end of each lateral line. The last tile must lie in the absorption field with high rock below and above the tile with building or tar paper over the grade, and back fill of earth over paper, with an overfill of four to six inches for settlement.

H.    Owner is required to provide a sketch with percolation times to the County Health Department for evaluation and recommendations, prior to receiving a permit for construction of an individual sewage system.

Wireless communication and other telecommunications towers may be permitted through Conditional Use Permit (CUP) when reviewed and approved by the Planning Commission and Governing Body subject to such conditions as they may require subject to the following requirements:

A.    The minimum distance from any lot or property line to any tower, pole or other support structure shall be the total maximum height of the tower, pole or other support structure plus attached antennas.

B.    Anchors, guy wires and other accessory structures may not be located in any required yard.

C.    The tower, pole or other support structure shall not exceed the maximum height restriction in the zone where it is located by more than thirty (30) feet, unless technical data indicating a greater requirement for adequate reception is provided.

D.    Unauthorized access to the tower, pole or other support structure, including anchors and guy wires, shall be limited by provision of an immediately surrounding six (6) foot high fence with locking portal. Tower climbing apparatus shall be limited to no lower than twelve (12) feet from the ground.

E.    Telecommunications towers shall be located in compliance with the guidelines of the Federal Aviation Regulations with regard to airport approach and clearance around VOR and DVOR Stations.

F.    The tower or other support structure shall be designed to permit addition of antenna array for at least two additional service providers so as to limit the number of permitted structures in the zoning jurisdiction.

G.    Information certifying safety and structural integrity of the tower and other support structures shall be certified by a licensed engineer and filed with the permit application.

H.    When located within one thousand (1,000) feet of a residential district, the tract shall be appropriately landscaped to produce a visually pleasing appearance.

I.     An application for a permit to site a wireless telecommunications facility shall be accompanied by the following:

i.     A site development plan, including landscape provisions and topographic information.

ii.    A technical description of the tower and the reasons for its design and location.

iii.   An explanation of need for a separate tower as opposed to an existing facility.

iv.   Information establishing structural integrity and capacity for additional antenna array.

v.    Proof of ownership or authorization to use the proposed site.

vi.   Copies of any necessary easements.

vii.  A Certificate of liability insurance.

viii. An affidavit certifying that the space on the proposed tower will be made available to future users when technically feasible.

J.     The applicant shall also provide such other additional support information as may be determined by the City.

A.    Repair, remodeling, assembly, disassembly, storage or standing of any inoperable vehicle other than in an enclosed garage except in a district permitting and regulating such uses, is prohibited.

B.    A motor vehicle shall be determined as inoperable when it does not have a current state license plate or when it has a current state license plate but is disassembled or wrecked in part or whole and is unable to move under its' own power.

C.    Inoperable vehicles may be stored or may stand only in a legally conforming auto wrecking yard or in a fully enclosed storage structure in any district of these regulations.

Notwithstanding other provisions of these regulations, the Zoning Administrator is authorized to issue a zoning permit for various types of manufactured homes under the following provisions; except, that all such homes must meet the flood plain district requirements, and none may be replaced in a floodway overlay boundary.

A.    Wherever a manufactured home is moved from a zoning lot within a district in which it is a permitted use, another manufactured home meeting the requirements of the district may be moved onto the lot at any time; provided, such home shall be skirted or placed on a permanent-type, enclosed perimeter foundation.

B.    In the case of a lawful, non-conforming manufactured home use, such a move must take place within six months from the date that the previous manufactured home was moved off the lot, otherwise such use shall not thereafter be reestablished and, when so moved in, only residential-design manufactured homes are permitted as replacements which are on a permanent-type, enclosed perimeter foundation, unless a home meets the following criteria:

i.     A single-wide manufactured home meeting the HUD Code may replace an existing single-wide manufactured only when the latter has been destroyed or damaged by fire, tornado, flood or other disasters or act of God; however, no such home may be replaced in a designated floodway.

ii.    An existing tenant-owned manufactured home which has established its legal, non• conformity status as having been previously located on leased or rental space may be replaced by approval of a special use permit by the Board of Zoning Appeals; provided, that the replacement home is of a similar type or of improved quality.

iii.   In re-establishing such a home use, any non-conforming bulk regulations shall not be increased in non-conformity and no newly acquired land can be added to the zoning lot for placement of such a home.

C.    No manufactured home, or portion thereof, shall be moved onto any lot or parcel for storage or any other purpose than for a residence in any district and no such home shall be temporarily or permanently located in any district not otherwise permitting such homes. These provisions do not preclude the use of prefabricated mobile structures designed for offices in business or industrial districts, but not manufactured homes unless specifically permitted.

D.    In the event of disasters, such as fires, tornados, or floods, whereby expediency is an important factor, a manufactured home may be located temporarily in any district at the discretion of the Zoning Administrator with appropriate conditions attached and for a stated period of time.

E.    The Board of Zoning Appeals may approve a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for a manufactured home in the following circumstances:

i.     Where an unusual hardship is shown, such a home may be located as an accessory use on a lot or tract with an existing dwelling for a stated period of time.

ii.    Where such a home is requested temporarily, while building a site-built or modular home. Such a home must meet all applicable bulk regulations and the County Sanitary Code. In either circumstance, the time period may be extended upon request to the Planning Commission/Board of Zoning Appeals without further notice or fee, but in the case of a permit under subsection B, a showing of good faith progress on construction must be made.

F.    As an accessory use to a principal farm dwelling on agricultural land as defined herein, application may be made to the Planning Commission/Board of Zoning Appeals for a special use permit for locating a manufactured home with such an existing dwelling for additional assistance on the farm or ranch. No zoning permit is required; however, a certificate of compliance is necessary to determine the status of the land.

Outdoor storage of boats, recreational vehicles (RVs), trailers, and other similar equipment is permitted on the same lot with the mini-warehouses provided all such outside storage areas shall have a gravel surface and shall be enclosed with a six (6) foot security fence. Where the outdoor storage area adjoins a residential district there shall be a ten (10) foot landscaped buffer strip in addition to the required fencing. All outdoor storage areas shall be landscaped to preserve the general appearance of the facility.

In accordance with K.S.A. 12-764, for the purpose of single-family residential developments, development rights in such land use shall vest upon recording of a plat of such land. For all purposes other than single-family developments, the right to use land for a particular purpose shall vest upon the issuance of all permits required for such use by a city or county and construction has begun and substantial amounts of work have been completed under a validly issued permit.

In districts where Zero Lot Line Development is an allowed use, the following regulations shall apply:

A.    Zero lot line concept is where one (1) or two (2) family dwelling has one (1) exterior wall on or within one (1) foot of a side property line and the remaining side yard is double the normal side yard required by district regulations. Zero Lot Line Developments may be built under the following conditions:

i.     When submitted as part of a new subdivision plat or an amendment to an existing subdivision and each lot to be developed using the zero lot line concept is so designated showing which lot line is the zero lot line.

ii.    On an existing lot in a partially developed subdivision when submitted to and approved by the Garden Plain Planning Commission as a variance under Article XXIX of the Zoning Regulations.

B.    On any lot approved for the zero lot line concept by platting, re-platting or approval of the Garden Plain Planning Commission, the following stipulations shall apply:

i.     A maintenance easement of at least four (4) feet in width shall be provided and recorded on the property adjoining the designated zero lot line.

ii.    There shall be no door or window openings on the side of the house which is built on the zero lot line.

iii.   No portion of a roof, gutter or other part of the structure shall project past the zero-lot line and all roof drainage will be installed so as to keep all runoff water off the adjoining property.

iv.   If an owner or builder chose not to build on a designated zero lot line, the double side yard must still be observed.