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Sec. 1. Rural-agricultural district (RA). Statement of purpose. The purpose of the rural-agricultural district is to provide areas within the city for the development of very low density residential uses while protecting the rural character of these portions of the city. Within the rural-agricultural district the retention of active agricultural uses is encouraged. Development which occurs within the district should be sensitive to the rural nature of the district and should preserve open space and agricultural land to the maximum extent possible. Applicability. The standards of the rural-agricultural district shall apply to all land shown on the "Official Zoning Map, City of Lewiston" as being located within a rural-agricultural district. Permitted uses. In a rural-agricultural district, any new building or structure which is constructed, any existing building or structure or part thereof which is used, altered or enlarged and any parcel of land, whether in whole or in part, may be used for one or more of the following: Agricultural uses including the gardening and farming of field crops, row crops, orchards, truck gardens, plant nurseries, pastures and fields with all land, buildings and structures, equipment and machinery necessary thereto including the storage of farm equipment in other than required front setback areas; The keeping of farm animals, poultry, fur bearing animals and other nondomestic animals; The agricultural use of manure, fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides in accordance with the provisions of article XII in conjunction with an agricultural operation; The processing, handling or storage of agricultural products produced on the premises of an agricultural operation; Farm stands for the retail sales of farm products of which at least 50 percent, by total dollar sales, must be produced on the premises; Farm dwellings on the premises of an agricultural operation; Single-family detached dwellings on individual residential lots; Mobile homes on individual residential lots; Religious facilities including churches, synagogues and other houses of worship, rectories and parsonages, and church-affiliated community purpose facilities; (10) Forest management and timber harvest activities in accordance with the standards of article XII; (11) Cemeteries; (12) Family day care homes; (13) Kennels or veterinary hospitals; (14) Home occupations; ---PAGE BREAK--- (15) Accessory buildings, structures and uses; (16) Single-family cluster developments; (17) In-law apartments in accordance with the standards of article XII. Conditional uses. In a rural-agricultural district, any new building or structure which is constructed, any existing building or structure or part thereof which is used, altered or enlarged and any parcel of land, whether in whole or in part, may be used for one or more of the following uses only after the issuance of a conditional use permit in accordance with article X of this Code: Single-family attached dwellings in accordance with the standards of article XIII; Mixed single-family residential developments in accordance with the standards of article XIII; Reservoirs, pumping stations, standpipes or other water supply uses involving facilities located on or above the ground surface; Transformer stations, high voltage power transmission lines, substations, telephone exchanges, microwave towers or other public utility or communications use; Earth material removal; Airports or heliports; Campgrounds; Public or private facilities for nonintensive outdoor recreation; Group care facilities; (10) Small day care facilities; (11) Day care centers; (12) Municipal buildings and facilities; (13) Nursing or convalescent homes. Space and bulk standards. Any building, structure or use of land or the creation of new lots within the rural-agricultural district shall conform with the following requirements: TABLE INSET: ! " ! " ! " " " " % ---PAGE BREAK--- " & ' " ' " # " ' ' ' " ' " ' ' " ' # " ' ' ! ' ! ' " ' " ' $ ' ' $ ' Additional standards. Any building, structure or use of land within the rural-agricultural district shall comply with the following standards: The general standards of performance of article XII shall apply. Modifications (ie. relaxation of standards) of setbacks, yards, maximum lot ---PAGE BREAK--- coverage ratios, maximum impervious surface ratios, minimum open space ratios, and maximum building height as contained in subsection may be granted by the board of appeals, planning board, staff review committee and the code enforcement official pursuant to articles V, VII, VIII, IX, and XIII of this Code. (Ord. No. 89-3, 4-7-89; Ord. No. 89-11, 9-15-89; Ord. No. 90-3, 5-17-90; Ord. No. 90-10, 10-4-90; Ord. No. 91-8, 10-3-91; Ord. No. 92-27, 11-19-92; Ord. No. 97-7, 9-11-97; Ord. No. 98-6, 7-2-98; Ord. No. 98-7, 9-10-98; Ord. No. 00-27, 1-11-01)