Final answer:
The maximum square footage that can be built on a 350 × 250-foot lot with 20% coverage zoning restriction is 17,500 square feet, which is calculated by taking 20% of the total lot area.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the maximum square footage that can be built on a 350 × 250-foot lot with a zoning restriction that allows 20% lot coverage, we first calculate the total area of the lot:
Total area of the lot = length × width = 350 feet × 250 feet = 87,500 square feet.
Since the zoning permits only 20% coverage of the lot:
Maximum allowable coverage = 20% of total area = 0.20 × 87,500 square feet = 17,500 square feet.
Therefore, the maximum square footage for a structure on this lot is 17,500 square feet. It is pertinent to note that this calculation only addresses the lot coverage and not the building's height, which is restricted to five stories. The actual usable square footage could be significantly more, depending on the building design within the five-story height limit.
Zoning regulations, such as the ones described, play a crucial role in city planning, ensuring that buildings conform to community standards and promote public welfare, which includes managing sunlight and airflow between structures.