Chapter 20.31
RMU DISTRICT – REMOTE RESIDENTIAL MIXED-USE
Sections:
20.31.020 Principal uses permitted.
20.31.030 Accessory uses permitted.
20.31.010 Purpose.
The remote residential mixed-use (RMU) district is intended to provide for very low impact land and water uses and activities in remote areas of the borough. Such areas are not suitable or desirable for intensive development due to their lack of a developed road system, distance from established utility service areas, existing large lot development, and existing rural and subsistence lifestyles. These outlying settlements of the borough shall be protected from inappropriate or incompatible development in order to maintain their character and avoid the prohibitively high public costs associated with providing utility service and rapid emergency response services to them. RMU district zoning allows for low density uses consistent with the intent of each RMU subarea zone, as described below:
A. Farm Island and Sergief Island (RMU-F1 and RMU-F2). Maintain the historical use of area properties for residential dwellings, cabins, agriculture, cottage businesses, and subsistence living based on the area’s natural resources.
B. Meyers Chuck (RMU-M). Maintain the historical use of the area for residential dwellings, cabins, marine services, cottage businesses, civic uses (e.g., post office, educational services), and subsistence living based on the area’s natural resources. Due to the area’s remoteness, small-scale commercial uses that complement a quiet rural lifestyle are allowed, provided they contribute to the overall quality of life in Meyers Chuck.
C. Olive Cove (RMU-O). Maintain the historical use of the area for residential dwellings, cabins, cottage businesses, and subsistence living based on the area’s natural resources. Small-scale commercial uses that complement a quiet rural lifestyle are allowed, provided they contribute to the overall quality of life in Olive Cove.
D. Thoms Place (RMU-T). Maintain the historical use of the area for residential dwellings, cabins, cottage businesses, and subsistence living based on the area’s natural resources. Small-scale commercial uses that complement a quiet rural lifestyle are allowed, provided they contribute to the overall quality of life in Thoms Place.
E. Union Bay (RMU-U). Maintain the historical use of the area for recreation, cabins, and subsistence living based on the area’s natural resources. Commercial uses are not allowed.
F. Wrangell Island East (Back Channel) (RMU-E). Some of the remote areas of Wrangell Island East (Back Channel area) are to be maintained according to the historical use of the area for residential dwellings, cabins, cottage businesses, and subsistence living based on the area’s natural resources. Small-scale commercial uses that complement a quiet rural lifestyle are allowed, provided they contribute to the overall quality of life in Wrangell Island East.
G. General Isolated Parcels (RMU-G). Maintain the historical use of area for residential dwellings, cabins, cottage businesses, and subsistence living based on the area’s natural resources. Small-scale commercial uses that complement a quiet rural lifestyle are allowed, provided they contribute to the overall quality of life. [Ord. 867 § 1, 2013.]
20.31.020 Principal uses permitted.
The following are the principal permitted uses in this district:
A. One- and two-family dwellings to include modular and manufactured housing. Mobile homes are allowed only in the RMU-E subarea with a conditional use permit;
B. Home Occupations. The RMU-U subarea requires a conditional use permit for home occupations;
C. Commercial boat repair, storage and service, not to include fueling services. This use is not allowed in the RMU-U subarea;
D. Cottage Industries. This use is not allowed in the RMU-U subarea. The RMU-F2 subarea requires a conditional use permit for cottage industries;
E. Community Facilities. Either privately or community owned and/or maintained such as boat launch, dock, hoist, pier, postal facility, water system, sea plane support, emergency response supply cache;
F. Public Facilities. Parks and playgrounds, schools, emergency response supply caches, post offices, docks, marinas, and similar facilities pursuant to a comprehensive plan;
G. Telecommunications facilities;
H. Lodges, bed and breakfast inns, and vacation rental dwellings with two or fewer rooms or four beds. Lodges, bed and breakfast inns and vacation rental dwellings with five or fewer rooms or 10 beds are allowed in the RMU-F1 and RMU-G subareas. The RMU-F2 subarea requires a conditional use permit for lodges, bed and breakfast inns, and vacation rental dwellings. This use is not allowed in the RMU-U subarea;
I. Agricultural uses;
J. Portable sawmills for personal use;
K. Animal Establishments. The RMU-M, RMU-O, and RMU-T subareas require conditional use permits for animal establishments;
L. Other existing uses lawfully established on the subject property prior to January 22, 2013, are allowed to continue as legal nonconforming uses. These previously existing uses, as identified by the zoning administrator, shall be allowed to continue until removed, and such uses may be maintained or replaced to their original value if destroyed, but shall not be enlarged upon, expanded nor extended, nor used as the grounds or predicate for adding other structures or uses prohibited elsewhere in the same zone. [Ord. 867 § 1, 2013.]
20.31.030 Accessory uses permitted.
The following are permitted accessory uses in this district, provided they do not create a nuisance or hazard:
A. Accessory dwelling units, as defined in Chapter 20.53 WMC;
B. Greenhouses, workshops, tool sheds, insulated generator sheds, and similar structures;
C. Private docks, moorage, boat houses and net houses;
D. The keeping of chickens, goats, and other animals for the production of food and/or fiber is allowed as an accessory use similar to gardens. Mariculture uses require a conditional use permit;
E. Uses and structures which are customarily accessory and subordinate to permitted uses. [Ord. 1047 § 9, 2023; Ord. 867 § 1, 2013.]
20.31.040 Conditional uses.
A. The following licensed marijuana establishment facilities are uses which may be permitted in the remote residential mixed-use (RMU) district, with the exception of the Union Bay RMU subarea zone (RMU-U), by action of the commission under the conditions and procedures specified in Chapter 20.68 WMC: retail store, testing, standard cultivation (500 or more square feet under cultivation), limited cultivation (fewer than 500 square feet under cultivation), and product manufacturing with the exception of solvent based manufacturing processes which are not allowed. Licensed marijuana establishment facilities are not allowed in the Union Bay RMU subarea zone (RMU-U).
B. Other compatible uses which are consistent with the intent of this chapter, as determined by the commission, may be allowed with appropriate conditions in accordance with Chapter 20.68 WMC, if such uses would serve the community’s best interest. [Ord. 926 § 5, 2016; Ord. 867 § 1, 2013.]
20.31.050 Standards.
The standards found in Chapter 20.52 WMC applicable to this district are:
A. Standards policies: WMC 20.52.005;
B. Principal structures per lot: WMC 20.52.010;
C. Distances between buildings: WMC 20.52.030;
D. Air, land and water quality: WMC 20.52.040;
E. Volatile products storage: WMC 20.52.050;
F. Noise: WMC 20.52.060;
G. Airport interference: WMC 20.52.070;
H. Building height: WMC 20.52.080;
I. Density – Minimum lot size: WMC 20.52.090;
J. Coverage – Minimum open areas: WMC 20.52.100;
K. Setbacks – Yards: WMC 20.52.110;
L. Shoreline dependency: WMC 20.52.120;
M. Piers, docks, shoreline protection and other shoreline construction: WMC 20.52.130;
N. Drainage: WMC 20.52.150;
O. Dredge and fill: WMC 20.52.160;
P. Home occupations: WMC 20.52.170;
Q. Signs: WMC 20.52.210;
R. Recreation: WMC 20.52.250;
S. Firewood storage: WMC 20.52.260;
T. Animal establishments: WMC 20.52.270. [Ord. 867 § 1, 2013.]