Chapter 18.44
C2 HIGH-INTENSITY COMMERCIAL ZONE
Sections:
18.44.045 Minimum street frontage.
18.44.060 Storage/cargo containers.
18.44.070 In-ground swimming pools.
18.44.010 Purpose.
The purpose of the high-intensity commercial zone is to encourage major development in the city’s central business district. (Ord. 84-335 § 8.01, 1984)
18.44.020 Permitted uses.
The following uses are permitted in a C2 zone subject to the general provisions and exception set forth in Chapters 18.48 through 18.64 AMC:
A. Churches;
B. Nursery schools;
C. School recreational parks, golf courses, public or private, including clubhouse and accessory driving range;
D. Publicly owned and operated parks;
E. Public utility facilities;
F. Schools, elementary, junior high or high, public or parochial;
G. Retail activities dispensing commodities or services;
H. Professional and business offices;
I. Motels;
J. Indoor entertainment and recreational facilities;
K. Restaurants and cafes;
L. Rest homes and convalescent centers;
M. Automobile service stations; provided, that:
1. The leading edge of any pump island is no closer than 15 feet from the property line;
N. Hotels;
O. Retail services requiring outdoor storage or sales space; provided, that such uses:
1. Be adequately landscaped, screened and buffered to reduce the visual impact of stored materials on adjacent properties;
P. Taverns;
Q. Commercial parking lots and structures;
R. Drive-in restaurants; provided, that such restaurants:
1. Be located on an arterial street;
2. Be so designed as to insure that all automobiles waiting to be serviced are contained within the property boundaries;
S. Wholesale sales and storage;
T. Automobile, boat, trailer and recreational vehicle sales areas; provided, that such uses be located on an arterial street;
U. On-site hazardous waste treatment and storage facilities. On-site hazardous waste treatment and storage facilities that are accessory to a permitted or conditional use, provided, that such facilities meet the state siting criteria adopted pursuant to RCW 70.105.210. (Ord. 88-398 § 5, 1988; Ord. 84-335 § 8.02, 1984)
18.44.030 Conditional uses.
A. Industrial uses shall be conditional uses in a C2 zone. Industrial uses are considered to be high impact uses. As such, particular care shall be given to the possible impacts these uses can create and the effects of these impacts on adjacent uses. In addition to the standards established in Chapters 18.48 through 18.64 AMC and for any individual use, the following standards shall also apply:
1. Industrial uses shall have limited or phased social and fiscal impacts on the community. Adequate public facilities (sewer, water, fire protection, schools, streets) shall be available to serve the industry prior to construction, or assurance shall be given the city in the form of a performance bond that public facilities will be installed concurrently at the developer’s expense.
2. Industrial uses shall meet all applicable standards pertaining to buffers, screens, lot coverage and open area. The planning commission may require additional buffer area where it appears that existing adjacent uses warrant protection.
3. Special attention shall be given to the emission standards pertaining to noise, smoke, odor or glare.
4. All industrial uses shall be located on an arterial street.
B. The following approved uses require a conditional use permit from the planning commission, as provided in Chapter 18.72 AMC, and a conditional use permit:
1. Assembly of small equipment;
2. Contractor’s office, shops and storage yards; provided, that in cases where equipment and supplies are stored in the open such equipment or supplies shall be screened from adjacent lots by buffers or screens which reduce the visual and auditory impact of these equipment or supplies;
3. Freight warehouse terminals;
4. Blacksmith, welding and storage yards;
5. Agricultural processing, packaging, storage and distribution;
6. Cabinet, carpenter’s shop, furniture manufacturing and repair;
7. Laboratories;
8. Single-family residential. (Ord. 22-872 § 1, 2022; Ord. 84-335 § 8.03, 1984)
18.44.040 Lot area.
There is no minimum lot area in a C2 zone. (Ord. 84-335 § 8.04, 1984)
18.44.045 Minimum street frontage.
Every lot shall have frontage upon a city street or other city-owned public right-of-way for a minimum length of 20 feet. (Ord. 06-703 § 6, 2006)
18.44.050 Building height.
A. No structure in a C2 zone shall exceed 35 feet in height.
B. No detached structure from the main or primary use structure shall exceed 18 feet in height. Height over 18 feet shall be reviewed by building department, determination shall be made based on:
1. Topography of the lot.
2. Sight restrictions to neighbor’s property.
C. No accessory building, whether attached or unattached shall be any higher than the primary use structure.
D. The variances to exceed the terms of this section shall be available as set forth further in this title. (Ord. 18-829 § 1, 2018; Ord. 15-793 § 1, 2015; Ord. 96-506 § 2, 1995; Ord. 84-335 § 8.05, 1984)
18.44.060 Storage/cargo containers.
Storage/cargo containers are not allowed to be permanently placed in any commercial zone. Storage/cargo containers can be allowed on a temporary basis when needed for activities like on-site construction projects, or when someone is packing and moving, or other similar reasons. For the purposes of this section, “temporary placed” shall be defined as a period of up to six months. Storage/cargo containers are defined as a reusable, noncollapsible container designed to provide protection for a specific item against impact, climatic conditions, and the like, during handling, shipment, and storage. Common examples of storage/cargo containers are pods, connex, or sea vans. This is not meant to include storage sheds or other similar commercial accessory storage structures.
The proposed amendments reflect the city council’s desire to ensure that storage/cargo containers are not permanently placed in commercial zones, that public safety is protected by ensuring that sight distance is not hampered, and that they are screened from view in some commercial districts. These amendments also recognize that storage/cargo containers are an integral part of business operations in certain commercial, industrial and manufacturing zones; and in these zones, the use of storage/cargo containers must be approved by city council to ensure aesthetic integrity. (Ord. 14-790 § 1, 2015)
18.44.070 In-ground swimming pools.
A. All in-ground swimming pools with a depth of 24 inches or more require a building permit from the city. In order to obtain the permit, you need to complete pool, plumbing, and mechanical permit applications (as applicable) and submit engineered drawings of the proposed pool. Underground pools can be constructed within the required setback areas; however, they cannot be constructed within easement areas. A site plan showing the proposed pool location and proposed access point for the installation must also be supplied.
B. Pool enclosures or overhead structures shall not encroach into the required yard setbacks.
C. All in-ground pools are required to be enclosed by a fence no less than four feet in height with a gate having a latch openable only from the pool side of the fence. Using covers to enclose or cover the pool shall not be used in lieu of the fencing requirements.
D. All other conditions are set forth in the governing codes in the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code of the International Code Council. (Ord. 19-844 § 1, 2019)