The purpose of this chapter is to establish certain basic development
requirements. These are minimum standards which must be met to assure
land use compatibility and promote public health, safety and welfare.
(Ord. 2011-29 § 5 (Att.
B))
A.
Variable
Yard Requirements. The hearing examiner, after a public hearing held
by the hearing examiner, may establish a building line along certain
streets throughout certain zones or throughout certain natural areas,
other than the setback requirements as established herein, when it
is found that to do so will protect public health, welfare and safety;
B.
Front
Yard. Where any front yard is required, no building, structure, satellite
dish, stationary play equipment or clothes lines shall be hereafter
erected, altered, or placed so that any portion thereof shall be nearer
to the front property line than the distance indicated by the depth
of the required front yard, except:
1.
Eaves,
cornices, belt courses, and similar ornamentation may project over
a front yard not more than two feet;
2.
An
open or enclosed porch shall be considered part of a building in the
determination of the front yard setback and lot coverage;
3.
Where
two contiguous corner lots, or two lots separated only by an alley,
form the entire frontage between two parallel streets and there is
erected a solid six-foot fence, permitted accessory buildings may
be located not closer than five feet from the property line along
the street on which there is a solid six-foot fence. This reduced
setback shall not apply to garages or accessory buildings higher than
10 feet;
4.
Where
two contiguous corner lots form the entire frontage between two parallel
streets, the front yard along the common flanking street shall be
reduced to 15 feet. This reduction shall not apply to garages that
are accessed from the flanking street;
5.
Within
the R-1S, R-1, R-2, R-3, and R-1P districts, where the front yard
of a lawfully existing structure is less than that required for the
district in which the structure is located, alteration or enlargement
of said structure may be permitted, but shall not further reduce the
existing front yard dimension or be located closer than 15 feet from
the front property line, whichever is the most restrictive;
6.
Within
the R-1S, R-1, R-2, R-3, and R-1P districts, where the front yards
provided for lawfully existing structures upon the majority of lots
within the same block front and on the same side of the street are
of less depth than required by the applicable district regulation,
the minimum front yard requirement for the remaining unoccupied lots
within the same block front and on the same side of the street shall
be reduced to a depth not less than the average front yard dimension
provided by said existing structures, but in no case shall the front
yard depth be less than 15 feet;
7.
Handicapped
access ramps may encroach within the front yard setback of all residential
zoning districts, provided such ramps are built to the Washington
State Building Code standards. The ramps must also be constructed
and finished to complement the dwelling with respect to finishes and
construction materials and must be built in a workman-like manner;
C.
Side
Yard. Where any specified side yard is required, no building shall
be hereafter erected or altered so that any portion thereof shall
be nearer to the side lot line than the distance indicated by the
width of the required side yard:
1.
Exceptions.
Eaves, cornices, belt courses, similar ornamentation and fireplaces
may project over a side yard, but not more than two feet;
D.
Rear
Yard. Where any rear yard is required, no building shall hereafter
be erected or altered so that any portion thereof may be nearer to
the rear lot line than the distance indicated by the required rear
yard, except:
E.
Commercial
Yard Exception Requirements. Where a lot in a commercial district
abuts or joins a front, side or rear yard in a residential district
any building on the commercial lot shall conform to and meet the front,
side or rear yard setbacks in the adjoining residentially zoned lot;
F.
Residential Yards in Commercial Districts. Nonconforming residential uses in commercial or industrial districts must maintain residential setbacks as provided in GMC § 17.30.050; and
G.
Vision
Triangle. No building, wall, fence or other structure higher than
36 inches above curb grade shall be placed in a C-2 or M-1 district
within any vision triangle, the equal legs of which are formed by
lines measured 20 feet along the property line from the intersection
of two streets, or 15 feet from the intersection of a street and alley.
(Ord. 2011-29 § 5 (Att.
B))
The building heights restriction shall be the height set forth
in the applicable districts, with the following conditions in the
C-2 zone:
A.
Exceptions
to Height Regulations. Chimneys, water tanks, penthouses, towers,
scenery lofts, elevators, bulkheads, stacks, ornamental casting towers,
monuments, steeples, cupolas, domes, false mansards, and similar structures
and necessary mechanical appurtenances may be erected to any height
not exceeding the cross sectional area of 20 percent of the ground
floor.
(Ord. 2011-29 § 5 (Att.
B))
Where a residential district is bounded by a portion of a business
district, any side street extending through such residential district
into such business district shall not be used for any business purpose.
A business structure erected in a business district shall face and
open upon the street set aside for business purposes.
(Ord. 2011-29 § 5 (Att.
B))
No public garage for more than five motor vehicles shall have
an entrance or exit for motor vehicles within 50 feet of a residential
district.
(Ord. 2011-29 § 5 (Att.
B))
All storm drainage shall be retained on site and controlled
by way of drainage swales, dry-wells, French drains or other means
as approved by the public works director.
(Ord. 2011-29 § 5 (Att.
B))