CHAPTER 2

GENERAL PROVISIONS

200      Zoning Districts Established

201      Supplemental Districts Established

202      Official Zoning map Established

203      District Boundary Description and Interpretation

204      Limitation on Land Use

205      Division of Lots

206      One Single-Family Dwelling Per Lot of Record

220      Height Exceptions

230      Lot Area and Width Exceptions

240            Yards

250      Reserved

260      Platting Requirement

270      Reserved

280      Reserved

290      Code of Ethics

SECTION 200            ZONING DISTRICTS ESTABLISHED

The Zoning Districts set forth below are hereby established.  The District Symbol is in the column to the left.

AG       Agriculture District

RE       Residential Estate District

RS-1    Residential Single-Family Low Density District

RS-2    Residential Single-Family Medium Density District

RS-3    Residential Single-Family High Density District

RD       Residential Duplex District

RTH     Residential Multi-Family Townhouse District

RM      Residential Multi-Family District

RMH   Residential Mobile Home Park District

OL       Office Light District

OM      Office Medium District

CS       Commercial Shopping Center District

CG       Commercial General District

CH       Commercial High Intensity District

IL         Industrial Light and Research/Development District

IM       Industrial Moderate District

IH        Industrial Heavy District

SECTION 201            SUPPLEMENTAL DISTRICTS ESTABLISHED

201.1   Supplemental Districts Established

The supplemental districts set forth below are hereby established.  The district symbol is in the column to the left.

PUD    Planned Unit Development (see Chapter 8)

201.2   Flood Hazard Area maps Adopted  

The Owasso Planning Commission shall adopt by resolution Flood hazard Area maps prepared by the City Engineer, or as prepared by the US Corps of Engineers or the Federal Emergency Management Agency and confirmed by the City Engineer, or as prepared by a registered professional engineer and certified by the City Engineer, for each river, creek, or tributary within a recognized flood hazard area.  The adoption of the Flood Hazard Area maps is essential for the protection of health, safety and general welfare of the public. Such Flood Hazard Area Maps shall be made available for public inspection in the office of the Floodplain Manager.  The following requirements shall be met before a zoning clearance permit or building permit is issued within a flood hazard area as depicted on said Flood Hazard Area Maps:

(A)       Permitted uses within the flood hazard area shall be those uses permitted in the respective general use district, provided that after the effective date of this code any building constructed, reconstructed, moved or altered shall have the lowest floor at least one (1) foot above the elevation of the 100-year frequency flood as recorded on the appropriate adopted Flood Hazard Area map.

(B)       Permitted uses shall conform to the bulk and area requirements of the use district in which located.

The boundaries of the Flood Hazard Area Maps may be amended by resolution of the Owasso City Council on recommendation from the Owasso Planning Commission so as to maintain uniformity with the purposes of this code upon finding that:

(A)       A flood control project of the federal, state, county, or city government, or a private person, has substantially altered the boundaries of the flood hazard area.

(B)       Flood data compiled subsequent to the adoption of the Flood Hazard Area Maps indicated that the boundaries of the flood hazard areas should be adjusted, or,

(C)       Proposed improvements, such as channel improvements, or flood retention reservoirs, will substantially alter the boundaries of the flood hazard areas and the actual construction of said improvements has been assured by the submission and acceptance of the bond.

Proposed amendments to the adopted Flood Hazard Area Maps that do not originate in the City Engineer's office but are made as a formal request to the Planning Commission shall be transmitted in writing to the City Engineer for a review and recommendation.  Upon a finding by the City Engineer that proposed amendment of Flood Hazard Area Maps meets one of the three conditions listed above, he shall certify in writing and shall furnish to the Planning Commission two (2) copies of the amended boundaries, including the elevations of the 100-year flood, for adoption by the Planning Commission and approval by the City Council.  If the proposed amendment does not meet one of the conditions listed above, the City Engineer shall deny the proposal in writing and furnish the Planning Commission a copy of his findings.

SECTION 202            OFFICIAL ZONING MAP ESTABLISHED

The locations and boundaries of the various districts as defined herein shall be established by ordinance and shall be shown and delineated on the Official Zoning Map of the City of Owasso, Oklahoma.  The Official Zoning Map shall be maintained by the City of Owasso through its duly appointed representative and may be divided into parts, and such parts may be separately employed for identification purposes when adopting or amending the Official Zoning Map or for any reference to the Official Zoning Map.

SECTION 203            DISTRICT BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION AND INTERPRETATION

District boundary lines shall be described by legal description or by a map.  When a legal description is used, the boundary line shall be deemed to extend to the centerline of abutting streets and shall be so designated on the Official Zoning Map.  When a map is used, district boundary lines shall be established by dimensions, property lines, recorded lot lines, or the centerline of abutting street, alley, or railroad right-of-way, as the same were of record at the time of adoption.  In all cases where there is doubt as to the exact location of district boundary lines, the same shall be determined by the Board of Adjustment.

SECTION 204            LIMITATION ON LAND USE

No land or building shall be used and no building, structure, or improvement shall be made, erected, constructed, moved, altered, enlarged, or rebuilt which is designed, arranged or intended to be used or maintained for any purpose or in any manner except in accordance with the use, height, area, yard, space and other requirements established in the district in which such land, building, structure or improvement is located, except as provided by Chapter 10, Nonconformities. 

Nothing in this code shall be deemed to require a change in the plans, construction, or designated use of any building, where a building permit was lawfully issued prior to the effective date of this code, and pursuant to such permit, construction is diligently carried to completion.  Upon completion, such building or use shall be deemed nonconforming and may continue as regulated by Chapter 10, Nonconformities.

SECTION 205            DIVISION OF LOTS

A lot shall not hereafter be divided into two or more lots, unless all lots resulting from such division conform to all the applicable regulations of the zoning district in which it is located.  When a new lot, resulting from a lot split, is non-conforming with this code, it shall be attached to another lot in order to become conforming.

SECTION 206            ONE SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLING PER LOT OF RECORD

Not more than one residential structure may be constructed on a lot in a RE, RS, or RD district except in the case of a lot which is within an approved Planned Unit Development.

SECTION 220            HEIGHT EXCEPTIONS

The following structures shall not be subject to the height limitations of the district in which they are located: Antennas, belfries, chimneys, cupolas, domes, elevators, penthouses, flagpoles, monitors, smokestacks, spires, cooling towers and ventilators, provided they are not intended for human occupancy.

SECTION 230            LOT AREA AND WIDTH EXCEPTIONS

The lot area and width requirement of Zoning Districts shall not apply to public utilities.

SECTION 240            YARDS

240.1 Compliance with Yard requirements

Except as otherwise provided, required yards shall be open and unobstructed from the ground to the sky.

240.2   Permitted Yard Obstructions

Obstructions are permitted in required yards as follows:

(A)       Cornices, canopies, eaves and similar architectural features may project into a required yard.

(B)       Fire escapes may project into a required yard.

(C)       Fences, hedges, plant materials and walls may be located in any yard provided that on any corner lot on which a front and side yard is required, no wall fence, sign, structure, or any plant growth which obstructs sight lines at elevations between two (2) and six (6) feet above the crown of the adjacent roadway shall be placed or maintained within a triangle formed by measuring from the point of intersection of the front and exterior side lot lines a distance of 25 feet along said front and side lot lines and connecting the points so established to form a "sight triangle" on the area of the lot adjacent to the street intersection.  Fences and walls within yards shall not exceed the city height of eight (8) feet.  Any fence or wall which projects into or encloses a required front yard shall not exceed a height of four (4) feet.  The Board of Adjustment, as a Special Exception, may modify these limitations.

(D)       Signs which are permitted in residential districts may be located within any yard which is bounded by a public street.

(E)       In the RS Residential Districts, a detached accessory structure may be located in a required rear yard provided (1) the structure or structures do not cover more than 20 percent of the area of the minimum required rear yard and, (2) the total gross floor area for any accessory building or buildings located in the rear yard, required rear yard, and or both, shall not exceed 750 square feet.  (The Board of Adjustment upon application, and after notice and public hearing, may grant a special exception of E (2) above.)

(F)       Swimming pools, hot tubs, tennis courts, patios, satellite dishes, and protective shelters shall be located in the rear yard and shall have a minimum setback of ten (10) feet from any side yard or rear lot lines.  However, the Board of Adjustment may, upon application and after public hearing, permit the aforementioned accessory uses in the front yard provided; (1) the minimum front yard requirement is adhered to, and (2) a minimum setback of ten feet from any side lot line is met.

(G)       Mobile home hitches.

(H)       Carports by Special Exception requiring Board of Adjustment approval.

(I)        Customary accessory structures, such as clotheslines, barbecue pits, and playground equipment.

240.3   Use of Yards in R District

No inoperative or unlicensed motor vehicles shall be parked or stored within a yard in R Districts.  No vehicle shall be parked except on pavement.

SECTION 250            RESERVED

SECTION 260            PLATTING REQUIREMENT

For the purposes of providing a proper arrangement of streets and assuring the adequacy of open spaces for traffic, utilities, and access of emergency vehicles, commensurate with the intensification of land use customarily incident to a change of zoning, a platting requirement is established as follows:

For any land that has been rezoned upon application of a private party, no building permit shall be issued until that portion of the tract on which the permit is sought has been included within a subdivision plat or replat, as the case may be, submitted to the Planning Commission for their review and recommendation, approved by the City Council, and filed in the office of the County Clerk where the property is situated. 

SECTION 270            RESERVED

SECTION 280            RESERVED

SECTION 290            CODE OF ETHICS

The Mayor or any member of the City Council, Planning Commission, or Board of Adjustment, to whom some private benefit, direct or indirect, financial or otherwise, may come as a result of a public action concerning this code, shall not be a participant in that action.  The possibility, not the actuality, of a conflict shall govern.  The individual experiencing a conflict of interest shall declare his interest, abstain from voting on the matter, and refrain from any deliberations on the matter.  The individual shall not discuss the matter with a fellow official.