(a) General Purposes. In addition to the general objectives of this Chapter (13.10.120) the residential districts are included in the Zoning Ordinance in order to achieve the following purposes:
1. To provide areas of residential use in locations and at densities consistent with the County General Plan.
2. To preserve areas for primarily residential uses in locations protected from the incompatible effects of nonresidential land uses.
3. To establish a variety of residential land use categories and dwelling unit densities which provide a choice of diversified housing opportunities consistent with public health and safety.
4. To achieve patterns of residential settlement that are compatible with the physical limitations of the land and the natural resources of the County and that do not impair the natural environment.
5. To ensure adequate light, air, privacy, solar access, and open space for each dwelling unit.
6. To maximize efficient energy use and energy conservation in residential districts, and to encourage the use of locally available renewable energy resources.
7. To provide adequate space for off-street parking of automobiles.
8. To provide areas of residential use consistent with the capacity of public services, the Urban Services Line and Rural Services Line and the reserve capacity policy of the Local Coastal Program Land Use Plan for tourist services. To minimize traffic congestion and avoid the overloading of utilities by preventing the construction of buildings of excessive size in relation to the land around them.
9. To protect residential properties from nuisances, such as noise, vibration, illumination, glare, heat, unsightliness, odors, dust, dirt, smoke, traffic congestion, and hazards such as fire, explosion, or noxious fumes.
(b) Specific “RA” Residential Agricultural District Purposes. To provide areas of residential use where development is limited to a range of non-urban densities of single-family dwellings in areas outside the Urban Services Line and Rural Services Line; on lands suitable for development with adequate water, septic system suitability, vehicular access, and fire protection; with adequate protection of natural resources; with adequate protection from natural hazards; and where small-scale commercial agriculture, such as animal-keeping, truck farming and specialty crops, can take place in conjunction with the primary use of the property as residential.
(c) Specific “RR” Rural Residential District Purposes. To provide areas of residential use where development is limited to a range of nonurban densities of single-family dwellings in areas having services similar to “RA” areas, but which are residential in character rather than agricultural due to the pattern of development and use in the area and/or the presence of constraints which would preclude the use of the property for agriculture.
(d) Specific “R-1” Single-Family Residential District Purposes. To provide for areas of predominantly single-family residential development in areas which are currently developed to an urban density or which are inside the Urban Services Line or Rural Services Line and have a full range of urban services, or are planned for a full range of urban services.
(e) Specific “RB” Single-Family Ocean Beach Residential District Purposes. To accommodate single family dwellings on existing lots of record in the vicinity of the cliffs and the ocean beach; where lots abut on and obtain access from a street which is generally parallel to both the beach and the cliff, and which has an elevation of not more than 20 feet above sea level; and where either the seaward right-of-way line of the street or the seaward boundary line of the lots on the ocean side of the street abut open beachlands which are unobstructed to the mean high tide line.
(f) Specific “RM” Multi-Family Residential District Purposes. To provide for areas of residential uses with a variety of types of dwellings in areas which are currently developed to an urban density or which are inside the Urban Services Line or Rural Services Line and have a full range of urban services. (Ord. 560, 7/14/78; Ord. 653, 10/17/60; Ord. 839, 11/28/62; Ord. 1092, 6/8/65; Ord. 1418, 5/25/69; 1891, 6/19/73; 3186, 1/12/82; Ord. 3344, 11/23/82; 3432, 8/23/83; 3501, 3/6/84; 4346, 12/13/94; 4406, 2/27/96; 4416, 6/11/96; 4496-C, 8/4/98)