Section 3. Rural 2 District (RU-2)

A. Purpose

The Rural 2 District includes lands that are distant from the village area, and/or to which public water and sewer lines are not expected to be extended within the next ten years, and/or that have large tracts of land intact, suitable for woodland production, farming, and unbroken wildlife habitat. The purpose of this district is to allow residential development that is compatible with the character and traditional use of rural lands, including extensive areas of field and woodland, and that does not impose an undue burden on the provision of municipal services.

B. Permitted Uses

The following uses are permitted in the Rural 2 District:

The following resource protection uses:

(1) Uses listed in Section 1 of this Article, Natural Resource Protection District, paragraph B

The following resource production uses:

(2) Agriculture
(3) Timber harvesting

The following residential uses:

(4) Single family dwellings
(5) Two-family dwellings
(6) Open space residential developments that meet the standards of Article IX
(7) Cottages

The following municipal and institutional uses:

(8) Family cemeteries, as defined by state law (13 MRSA §1142), covering no more than one-quarter of an acre of land, a description of which is recorded with the Town Clerk or with the Knox County Registry of Deeds

The following commercial uses:

(9) Outdoor storage of boats, provided the screening standards of Article X, Part II, Section 3(5) are met.
(10) Storage within barns or similar accessory structures existing as of the date of adoption of this Ordinance

The following utility uses:

(11) Essential services
(12) Road construction

The following accessory activities:

(13) Accessory uses
(14) Home occupations
(15) Homestay

C. Uses Permitted as Special Exceptions

The following uses may be permitted only upon approval as special exceptions in accordance with the appropriate provisions of this Ordinance:

The following resource production uses:

(1) Extraction of mineral resources
(2) Clear cutting

The following municipal and institutional uses:

(3) Cemeteries
(4) Municipal uses
(5) Quasi-public facilities, provided no structures are involved

The following commercial uses:

(6) Clinics for animals

The following recreational uses:

(7) Golf courses and other outdoor recreational facilities, including commercial outdoor recreation and the rental of nonmotorized sports equipment, but excluding games and activities common to amusement parks

The following industrial uses:

(8) Agricultural products processing plants, except in shoreland areas
(9) Tradesmen's shops

The following utility uses:

(10) Public utilities

D. Prohibited Uses

Uses not allowed as permitted uses or special exceptions are prohibited within this district.

E. Standards

(1) The standards of performance of Article X, Parts I and II, shall be observed.
(2) The following space and bulk standards shall apply:
a. Lots that are part of residential subdivisions approved by the Planning Board after the date of adoption of this Ordinance shall comply with the terms of Article IX, Open Space Zoning; except that subdivisions for which completed applications have been submitted to the Planning Board prior to the date of adoption of this Ordinance shall be subject to the regulations in effect at the time of their submission
b. For all other lots, the following space and bulk standards shall apply:

(3) Screening
Nonresidential uses abutting a residential use or a district other than a business or industrial district shall provide screening in accordance with the standards in Article X, Part II, Section 3, of this Ordinance.

(4) Shoreland Area
Properties within shoreland areas shall comply with the additional standards set forth in Article X, Part I, Section 1, of this Ordinance.

(5) High Elevation Areas
Notwithstanding the lists of permitted uses and uses permitted as special exceptions in this district and the space and bulk standards of this district, properties located more than 500 feet above mean sea level shall comply with the standards of Article X, Part I, Section 2, of this Ordinance.

(6) Historic Areas
Properties within historic areas shall comply with the additional standards set forth in Article X, Part I, Section 3 of this Ordinance.