Chapter 17.20
MULTIPLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (R-M) ZONE
Sections:
17.20.010 Purpose.
17.20.020 Permitted uses.
17.20.030 Accessory uses.
17.20.040 Conditional uses.
17.20.050 Minimum lot area and density requirements.
17.20.060 Lot width, lot coverage and yard requirements.
17.20.070 Maximum building height.
17.20.080 Signs.
17.20.090 Parking.
17.20.100 Other required conditions.
Prior legislation: Ord. 89-11.
17.20.010 Purpose.
This zoning district is designed to provide an environment suitable for higher density urban residential uses, and community services. (Ord. 90-11 § 1(1); Ord. 84-2 § 3.040(1))
17.20.020 Permitted uses.
The following uses are permitted:
A. Single-family dwellings, if developed under the standards set forth for single-family dwellings within the R-1 zone (except for the lot coverage standards, which shall be as set out in LCMC 17.20.060(D)), and two-family dwellings or duplexes;
B. Multiple-family dwellings and apartment houses;
C. Rooming and boarding houses;
D. Agriculture, horticulture and silviculture, pursuant to LCMC 17.16.020(C);
E. A mobile home used during construction of a permitted use for which a building permit has been issued, but not exceeding six months;
F. Bed and breakfast accommodations, subject to the standards set forth in LCMC 17.80.060;
G. Manufactured homes when developed in accordance with the standards specified in LCMC 17.52.250;
H. Attached single-family dwellings, when developed in accordance with the standards specified in LCMC 17.52.260;
I. Essential emergency communications and warning facilities. (Ord. 2005-14 § 4; Ord. 97-12 § 1; Ord. 95-15 § 4; Ord. 94-12 §§ 1, 2; Ord. 91-4 § 4; Ord. 90-11 § 1(2); Ord. 84-2 § 3.040(2)).
17.20.030 Accessory uses.
The following accessory uses are permitted:
A. Offices incidental and necessary to the conduct of a permitted use;
B. Off-street parking lots when appurtenant to a permitted use in the R-M zone, subject to the provisions of Chapter 17.56 LCMC;
C. Home occupations, subject to the provisions of LCMC 17.52.010(E);
D. Other accessory uses and accessory buildings and structures customarily appurtenant to a permitted use. (Ord. 92-8 § 4; Ord. 90-11 § 1(3); Ord. 84-2 § 3.040(3))
17.20.040 Conditional uses.
The following conditional uses may be permitted subject to a conditional use permit:
A. A single- or two-family dwelling operated as a vacation rental dwelling when such dwelling obtains a vacation rental dwelling permit in accordance with the vacation rental dwelling conditional use standards and procedures specified in LCMC 17.80.050;
B. Time-share units or individual condominium units operated as vacation rental dwellings when such units obtain a vacation rental dwelling permit in accordance with the vacation rental dwelling conditional use standards and procedures specified in LCMC 17.80.050;
C. Time-share units, when developed subject to requirements and standards of this section;
D. Churches;
E. Public or private schools (kindergarten through 12th grade, educational institutions, nursery schools and day care centers);
F. Community meeting buildings, fraternal and social organizations and recreation centers, public parks, playgrounds and similar publicly owned recreational areas;
G. Public or private golf courses, except driving ranges or miniature courses operated as a business;
H. Mobile home parks submitted under the provisions of LCMC 17.80.040;
I. Temporary real estate offices in legally recorded subdivisions;
J. Cemeteries;
K. Utility substations, but not wireless communications facilities;
L. Radio and television transmitters or towers, but not wireless communications facilities;
M. Government buildings;
N. Hospitals, sanitariums, rest homes and nursing homes. (Ord. 2003-08 §§ 6, 7; Ord. 95-15 §§ 5, 6; Ord. 90-11 § 1(4); Ord. 84-2 § 3.040(4))
17.20.050 Minimum lot area and density requirements.
The minimum lot area shall be 5,000 square feet for a single-family dwelling and a minimum of 8,000 square feet for a duplex. For each additional dwelling unit thereafter, the following standards shall apply:
A. Low Density. Where any portion of the parcel is in excess of 150 feet from a boundary line of a commercial zone, for each additional dwelling, the lot area shall be increased by 2,250 square feet.
B. High Density. Where any portion of the parcel is within 150 feet of the boundary of a commercial zone, for each additional dwelling unit, the lot area shall be increased by 1,200 square feet. (Ord. 90-11 § 1(5); Ord. 84-2 § 3.040(5))
17.20.060 Lot width, lot coverage and yard requirements.
A. Lot Width. The minimum average lot width shall be at least 50 feet for single-family residences and duplexes; at least 60 feet for triplexes or greater number of dwelling units.
B. Front Yard. The minimum front yard shall be 20 feet.
C. Side and Rear Yard. The minimum side and rear yard shall be at least five feet, except that the street side yard shall be a minimum of 15 feet. The side and rear yard shall be increased by one-half foot for each foot by which the building height exceeds 15 feet.
D. Lot Coverage. The maximum lot coverage by buildings and structures shall not exceed 45 percent of the total lot area.
E. Special yards and distances between buildings shall be provided as follows:
1. The distance between any principal building and any accessory building shall be a minimum of 10 feet.
2. An inner court providing access to double-row dwelling groups shall be a minimum of 20 feet in width.
3. Except for single-family dwellings on one lot, the distance between principal buildings shall be at least one-half the sum of the height of both buildings; provided, however, that in no case shall the distance be less than 15 feet. This requirement shall also apply to portions of the same building separated from each other by a court or other open space.
4. For special yard requirements, see Chapter 17.52 LCMC, Supplementary Regulations and Exceptions. (Ord. 90-11 § 1(6); Ord. 84-2 § 3.040(6))
17.20.070 Maximum building height.
Maximum building height shall be 35 feet except as provided in LCMC 17.52.190 and 17.52.200. (Ord. 90-11 § 1(7); Ord. 84-2 § 3.040(7))
17.20.080 Signs.
Signs shall be permitted in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 17.72 LCMC. (Ord. 90-11 § 1(8); Ord. 84-2 § 3.040(8))
17.20.090 Parking.
Off-street parking shall be provided in accordance with Chapter 17.56 LCMC. (Ord. 92-8 § 5; Ord. 90-11 § 1(9); Ord. 84-2 § 3.040(9))
17.20.100 Other required conditions.
A. Landscaping. Landscaping shall be provided in accordance with LCMC 17.52.100.
B. Recreation Area. A minimum of 250 square feet of recreation area shall be provided for each living unit. The recreation area must be exclusively for recreational use, must be for use by occupants and their guests, and must be accessible to occupants without their having to leave the property comprising the multifamily dwelling complex. The recreation area may be in one or more locations in the multifamily dwelling complex. Recreation buildings may be counted as recreation area. Recreation areas shall not be located in the required yard and shall not be considered as required landscape areas.
C. Storage Area. Storage space (for boats, campers, etc.) shall be provided on the apartment complex site at the rate of one 10-foot by 20-foot space in size for every four living units. Adequate maneuvering room shall be provided; storage space shall be fenced with a six-foot sight-obscuring fence and conform to standard setbacks.
D. Access Barrier. Each lot, with its buildings, other structures, and parking and loading areas, shall be physically separated from each adjoining highway or street by a curb or other suitable barrier against unchanneled motor vehicle ingress or egress. Such a barrier shall be located at the edge of, or within, the front yard or in side yards abutting streets unless suitable curbs and gutters are provided within the highway or street right-of-way. Except for the access ways permitted below, such barrier shall be continuous for the entire length of any lot line adjoining a street or highway.
E. Access Ways. Each lot shall have not more than two access ways to any one street or highway, which shall comply with the following requirements.
1. Width of Access Way. The width of any access way leading to or from a street or highway shall not exceed 36 feet nor be less than 15 feet in width at the right-of-way line. The alignment of access ways and curb return dimensions shall be determined through site plan review committee approval.
2. Spacing of Access Ways. At its intersection with the lot line, no part of any access way shall be nearer than 20 feet to any other access way on the same lot, nor shall any part of the access way be nearer than 10 feet to any side or rear property line and its intersection with a right-of-way line. Insofar as practicable, the use of common access ways by two or more permitted uses shall be encouraged in order to reduce the number or closeness of access points along the highways. The fronting of commercial uses upon a marginal service street and not directly upon a public highway is also encouraged.
3. Traffic Hazards. The location and number of access ways shall be so arranged that they will reduce the possibilities of traffic hazards as much as possible.
F. Restrictions. No development shall occur in the R-M zone unless all city services (sewer and water) are available to serve such development, except as provided in LCMC 17.52.120(A).
G. Design Features. All single-family units (site-built, modular and manufactured homes) to be constructed or located in the multifamily residential zone shall utilize at least two of the following design features to provide visual relief along the front of the home:
1. Dormers;
2. Gables;
3. Recessed entries;
4. Covered porch entries;
5. Cupolas;
6. Pillars or posts;
7. Bay or bow windows;
8. Eaves (minimum six-inch projection);
9. Off-sets on building face or roof (minimum 16 inches). (Ord. 98-13; Ord. 91-8 § 1; Ord. 91-4 § 5; Ord. 90-11 § 1(10); Ord. 84-2 § 3.040(10))