Section 4Zoning districts

4-1. Establishment of Districts. In order that the purposes of this ordinance as defined in section 1 may be accomplished, there are hereby established within the City of Ashburn zoning districts identified as follows:

4-1.1. R-20 single-family residential district. The purpose of this district is to provide single-family residential areas with minimum lot sizes of 20,000 square feet, said areas being protected from the depreciating effects of small lot development and excessive density and from the encroachment of uses which are incompatible to a desirable residential environment.

4-1.2. R-12 single-family residential district. The purpose of this district is to provide single-family residential areas with minimum lot sizes of 12,000 square feet, said areas being protected from the depreciating effects of small lot development and excessive density and from the encroachment of those uses which are incompatible to a desirable residential environment.

4-1.3. R-8 residential district. The purpose of this district is to provide residential areas with a minimum lot size of 8,000 square feet, said areas being protected from uses which are incompatible to a desirable residential environment.

4-1.3A. R-8-M residential district. The purpose of this district is to create an area, that in addition to conventional housing, allows manufactured housing as a matter of right in a conventional subdivision. Lots in this district must have a minimum of 8,000 square feet. These districts shall be protected from the encroachment of incompatible uses which are detrimental to a sound residential environment.

4-1.4. M-R multiple residential district. The purpose of this district is to provide orderly development of higher density residential areas for one-, two- and multi-family dwellings, with minimum lot sizes of 6,000 square feet, said areas being protected from the encroachment of those uses which are incompatible to a desirable residential environment.

4-1.5. R-P residential professional district. The purpose of this district shall be to create an area in which residential, limited business, professional, educational, and institutional uses can be compatibly mixed while maintaining a healthful living environment for the residents of the district and at the same time preventing the development of blight and slum conditions. The minimum lot size in this district shall be 6,000 square feet.

4-1.6. MHP manufactured housing park district. The purpose of this district is to provide for the development of property that is suitably located and planned for manufactured housing park use. Property developed in this district is to remain in single ownership for rental or leasing purposes only. Manufactured housing parks shall be developed only in strict accordance with the manufacturing housing park provisions of this ordinance.

4-1.7. N-C neighborhood commercial district. The purpose of this district shall be to provide and protect convenient areas for neighborhood shopping facilities consisting of a wide variety of sales and service.

4-1.8. G-C general commercial district. The purpose of this district shall be to provide for and encourage the proper grouping and development of uses which include a wide variety of sales and services that will best accommodate the needs of the city and the traveling public in order to reduce highway traffic congestion, traffic hazards, and blight along the public streets of the city.

4-1.9. D-C downtown commercial district. The purpose of this district shall be to provide a higher density commercial development which will include a wide variety of sales which should locate in the central business district.

4-1.10. C-A adult commercial district. The purpose of this district shall be to provide a reasonable location within the community for the development of adult-oriented businesses including adult entertainment establishments.

4-1.11. WLI wholesale-light industrial district. The purpose of this district shall be to provide and protect areas for those wholesale and light industrial uses which do not create excessive noise, odor, smoke, dust, and which do not possess other objectionable characteristics which might be detrimental to surrounding neighborhoods, or to the other uses permitted in the district.

4-1.12. H-I heavy industrial district. The purpose of this district shall be to provide and protect areas for those industrial uses which cannot comply with the regulations of the WLI district.

4-2. Zoning Map and Major Thoroughfare Plan.

The boundaries of each district are shown on a map entitled "Official Zoning Map of Ashburn, Georgia." The classification of streets (local and collector streets and principal and minor arterials) within Ashburn, Georgia, are shown on a map entitled "Major Thoroughfare Plan, Street and Road Classifications, Ashburn, Georgia." Both maps shall be dated and certified by the mayor and city clerk of the City of Ashburn, and said maps and all explanatory matter thereon accompany and are hereby made a part of this ordinance.

Accurate copies of the "Official Zoning Map of Ashburn, Georgia," and the "Major Thoroughfare Plan, Street and Road Classifications, Ashburn, Georgia," shall be on file in the office of the zoning administrator at all times. Said map shall accurately show all map amendments made in accordance with the provisions of this ordinance, and the date when said amendments became effective. It shall be the duty of the zoning administrator to see to it that the "Official Zoning Map of Ashburn, Georgia," and the "Major Thoroughfare Plan, Street and Road Classifications, Ashburn, Georgia," displayed in his office are kept up-to-date and accurately show all amendments.

4-3. Interpretation of Zoning District Boundaries. When uncertainty exists with respect to the location of boundaries of any zoning district as shown on the "Zoning Map of Ashburn," the following rules shall apply:

4-3.1. Unless otherwise specifically indicated, where district boundaries are indicated on the zoning map as approximately following the centerline of a street right-of-way, highway, railroad right-of-way line, stream bed, or river bed, such centerlines shall be interpreted to be such district boundaries.

4-3.2. Boundaries indicated as approximately following platted lot lines shall be interpreted as following such lot lines.

4-3.3. Where district boundaries are indicated on the zoning map as approximately following the corporate limit lines, then such corporate limit lines shall be interpreted to be such district boundaries.

4-3.4. Where district boundaries are indicated on the zoning map as being set back from the centerline of a street right-of-way, road, highway, railroad, stream, or river, and parallel thereto, then such district boundaries, unless otherwise specifically indicated, shall be interpreted as being at the scaled distance from the centerline of such street, road, highway, railroad, stream, or river as being parallel thereto.