R-A: Residential - Agricultural Zoning Guide for Fayetteville
The R-A: Residential - Agricultural district in Fayetteville is established to protect agricultural land and natural resources while preventing the wasteful scattering of urban development. This designation maintains a very low residential density of one-half unit per acre and requires a minimum lot size of 2 acres for both residential and nonresidential developments.
Purpose of the R-A District
The R-A: Residential - Agricultural district is intended to manage the orderly transition from rural to urban land uses. The regulations are designed to conserve the municipality's tax base, provide opportunities for affordable housing in a rural setting, and protect the scenic attractiveness and open space of Fayetteville [Section 161.03].
Permitted and Conditional Uses
Uses within the R-A: Residential - Agricultural district are categorized as either permitted "by right" or requiring a "conditional use permit" from the Fayetteville Planning Commission.
Allowed Uses (By Right)
The following use units are permitted by right in the R-A: Residential - Agricultural district:
- Unit 1: City-Wide Uses by Right: Includes field crop farms, fisheries, forests, and essential public services like fire hydrants and sidewalks [Section 162.01].
- Unit 3: Public Protection and Utility Facilities: Includes equipment such as electric regulating stations and pressure control stations [Section 162.01].
- Unit 6: Agriculture: Standard farming operations and agricultural services [Section 162.01].
- Unit 7: Animal Husbandry: Includes animal farms for show or breeding, and livestock services like animal hospitals or training [Section 162.01].
- Unit 8: Single-Family Dwellings: Detached residential homes [Section 162.01].
- Unit 9: Two-Family Dwellings: Duplexes and two-family structures [Section 162.01].
- Unit 37: Manufactured Homes: Permitted in both manufactured home parks and as individual units within the R-A district [Section 163.09].
- Unit 41: Accessory Dwellings: Secondary residential units located on the same lot as a principal dwelling [Section 162.01].
- Unit 43: Animal Boarding and Training: Facilities for the supervision and training of animals [Section 162.01].
- Unit 46: Short-Term Rentals: Type 1 short-term rentals are allowed by right [Section 161.03].
Conditional Uses
The following uses may be allowed in the R-A: Residential - Agricultural district if approved by the Fayetteville Planning Commission:
- Unit 2: City-Wide Uses by Conditional Use Permit: Includes airports, bed and breakfasts, campgrounds, and community recycling drop-off facilities [Section 162.01].
- Unit 4: Cultural and Recreational Facilities: Includes churches, libraries, museums, and public or private schools [Section 162.01].
- Unit 5: Government Facilities: Main facilities for government agencies [Section 162.01].
- Unit 20: Commercial Recreation, Large Sites: High-traffic outdoor facilities such as amusement parks or race tracks [Section 162.01].
- Unit 24: Home Occupations: Businesses conducted within a dwelling unit, subject to specific operational standards [Section 163.08].
- Unit 35: Outdoor Music Establishments: Businesses providing amplified music in outdoor settings [Section 163.10].
- Unit 36: Wireless Communications Facilities: Towers and related equipment for telecommunications [Section 163.13].
- Unit 42: Clean Technologies: Facilities for fabricating products that reduce environmental impacts [Section 162.01].
Development Standards
Development in the R-A: Residential - Agricultural district must adhere to specific spatial and bulk requirements to maintain its rural character.
| Standard | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Maximum Density | 0.5 Units per Acre [Section 161.03] |
| Minimum Lot Width | 200 Feet [Section 161.03] |
| Minimum Lot Area (Residential) | 2 Acres [Section 161.03] |
| Minimum Lot Area (Nonresidential) | 2 Acres [Section 161.03] |
| Lot Area Per Dwelling Unit | 2 Acres [Section 161.03] |
| Front Setback | 35 Feet [Section 161.03] |
| Side Setback | 20 Feet [Section 161.03] |
| Rear Setback | 35 Feet [Section 161.03] |
| Maximum Building Height | No limit, but see height exceptions [Section 161.03] |
Height and Setback Exceptions
While there is no fixed maximum height limit for the R-A: Residential - Agricultural district, any building exceeding one story must provide an additional setback from the boundary line of any adjacent residential district. This additional setback must be equal to the difference between the total height of that portion of the building and the height of a one-story structure [Section 161.03].
Prohibited Uses and Restrictions
The Fayetteville Unified Development Code generally prohibits any use not explicitly listed as permitted or conditional within the R-A: Residential - Agricultural district. Specific prohibited elements include:
- Commercial/Industrial Nuisances: Uses that cause significant noise, odor, or dust that would be incompatible with a residential-agricultural environment are generally restricted to industrial zones [Section 161.31].
- Pole Signs in Specific Contexts: While pole signs are allowed in the R-A district for agricultural or permitted businesses, they are prohibited in several other residential districts [Section 174.10].
- Wasteful Scattering: Any development that promotes sprawl or inefficient use of public funds for infrastructure is contrary to the intent of the R-A district [Section 161.03].
Sections Cited
- Chapter 161: Zoning Regulations
- Section 161.03: District R-A, Residential-Agricultural
- Section 161.31: District I-2, General Industrial
- Chapter 162: Use Units
- Section 162.01: Establishment/Listing
- Chapter 163: Use Conditions
- Section 163.08: Home Occupations
- Section 163.09: Manufactured and Mobile Homes
- Section 163.10: Outdoor Music Establishments
- Section 163.13: Wireless Communications Facilities
- Chapter 174: Signs
- Section 174.10: On-Site Freestanding Signs