Chapter 18.18
RM-900A AND RM-900B RESIDENTIAL: MULTIFAMILY 900A ZONE – RM-900A
AND RESTRICTED SERVICE
ZONE – RM-900B

Sections

18.18.010    Purpose of zones.

18.18.020    Permitted uses.

18.18.025    Hazardous substances.

18.18.030    Lot area in the RM-900A zone.

18.18.035    Lot area in the RM-900B zone.

18.18.040    Lot area per dwelling unit.

18.18.050    Lot width.

18.18.060    Front yard.

18.18.070    Side yard.

18.18.075    Rear yard.

18.18.080    Height.

18.18.090    Permissible floor area.

18.18.100    Permissible lot coverage.

18.18.110    Placement of buildings and structures.

18.18.120    Recreation area required.

18.18.010 Purpose of zones.

The principal objective and purpose to be served by these zones and their application is to establish areas permitting the maximum population density in the RM-900A zone for apartment use only and permit uses other than apartment residential, such as medical, dental, and social services and shelter, all for human beings in the RM-900B zone for restricted services only. The uses permitted in the RM-900B zones relate conveniently and consistently in terms of traffic generated, demands upon public service facilities, and impact upon each other. A related consideration is to make it possible to more efficiently and economically design and install all physical public service facilities in terms of size and capacity to adequately and permanently meet needs resulting from a defined intensity of land use. [Ord. 1237 § 3, 1999; Ord. 255 § 3(part), 1969: Ord. 175 § 1(24.17.010), 1964.]

18.18.020 Permitted uses.

(1) RM-900A Zone. In an RM-900A zone the following uses only are permitted and as specifically provided in and allowed by this chapter, subject to the off-street parking requirements and general provisions and exceptions set forth in this title beginning with chapter 18.36 DMMC:

(a) Single-family dwellings;

(b) Multiple-family dwellings;

(c) The following uses as permitted and restricted in single-family residential zones by DMMC 18.08.020; provided, that any lot coverage restrictions of that section shall be superseded by DMMC 18.18.100:

(i)    Accessory buildings and uses;

(ii)    Churches;

(ii)    Nursery schools, day care centers, or mini-day care programs when located on the same site with public or private schools or churches;

(iv)    Foster care home, 24-hour;

(v)    Libraries, publicly owned;

(vi)    Parks, publicly owned and operated;

(vii)    Public utility facilities;

(viii)    Recreational facilities, community and noncommercial;

(ix)    Schools, elementary, middle, and high and community colleges, public or private;

(x)    Home occupations;

(xi)    Family day care homes;

(d) Planned unit developments as provided in chapter 18.52 DMMC;

(e) Unclassified uses as provided in chapter 18.32 DMMC.

(2) RM-900B Zone. In an RM-900B zone the following uses only are permitted and as specifically provided in and allowed by this chapter, subject to the off-street parking requirements and general provisions and exceptions set forth in this title beginning with chapter 18.36 DMMC:

(a) Retirement housing;

(b) Nursing homes;

(c) Continuing care retirement communities;

(d) Boarding homes;

(e) The following uses, as permitted and restricted in single-family residential zones by DMMC 18.08.020; provided, that any lot coverage restrictions of that section shall be superseded by DMMC 18.18.100:

(i)    Accessory buildings and uses;

(ii)    Churches;

(iii)    Libraries, publicly owned;

(iv)    Parks, publicly owned and operated;

(v)    Public utility facilities;

(vi)    Recreational facilities, community and noncommercial;

(vii)    Schools, elementary, middle, and high, community colleges, public or private;

(f) Nursery schools, day care centers, or mini-day care programs, and respite care facilities when located on the same site with retirement housing, nursing homes, continuing care retirement communities, boarding homes, public or private schools, or churches;

(g) Professional offices and medical-dental buildings and clinics if accessory to retirement housing, nursing homes, continuing care retirement communities, or boarding homes;

(h) Administrative offices, libraries, museums, meeting rooms, and the like developed in conjunction with a fraternal society, subject to the issuance of an unclassified use permit as provided in chapter 18.32 DMMC;

(i) Unclassified uses as provided in chapter 18.32 DMMC. [Ord. 1237 § 4, 1999; Ord. 887 § 6, 1991: Ord. 255 § 3(part), 1969: Ord. 175 § 1(24.17.020), 1964.]

18.18.025 Hazardous substances.

(1) No use permitted in this chapter, with the exception of public utility and service facilities, shall store any hazardous substance, except that for the purposes of this chapter the following substances shall be exempt:

(a) Heating oil stored in an underground tank sufficiently contained so as to preclude soil and ground water contamination;

(b) Gasoline stored in an approved Underwriters Laboratory container;

(c) Prepackaged retail quantities of fertilizers, pesticides, and auto and home care products only for home use.

(2) Failure to comply with any of the requirements of this section shall be deemed a violation and shall result in enforcement by civil penalty as set forth in DMMC 18.72.060. Any person or business who fails to comply with the provisions of this chapter, or permits a violation to continue after receiving written notice of violation from the community development director, shall be deemed to be causing or permitting a public nuisance and shall be liable in an action for abatement filed by the city in superior court. [Ord. 757 § 12, 1988.]

18.18.030 Lot area in the RM-900A zone.

The minimum required area of a lot in the RM-900A zone shall be 7,200 square feet. [Ord. 887 § 8, 1991: Ord. 255 § 3(part), 1969: Ord. 175 § 1(24.17.030), 1964.]

18.18.035 Lot area in the RM-900B zone.

The minimum required area of a lot in the RM-900B zone shall be 65,340 square feet. [Ord. 887 § 9, 1991.]

18.18.040 Lot area per dwelling unit.

In the RM-900A zone the lot area per dwelling unit shall be not less than 900 square feet. [Ord. 887 § 10, 1991: Ord. 255 § 3(part), 1969: Ord. 175 § 1(24.17.040), 1964.]

18.18.050 Lot width.

In RM-900A and RM-900B zones every lot shall have a width of not less than 60 feet. [Ord. 887 § 11, 1991: Ord. 255 § 3(part), 1969: Ord. 175 § 1(24.17.050), 1964.]

18.18.060 Front yard.

In an RM-900A and RM-900B zone every lot shall have a front yard with a depth not less than 20 feet. [Ord. 255 § 3(part), 1969: Ord. 175 § 1(24.17.060), 1964.]

18.18.070 Side yard.

In an RM-900A and RM-900B zone every lot shall have a side yard on each side of the lot which side yard shall have a width of not less than 15 feet. Exceptions:

(1) Structures two stories in height may have side yards of 10 feet in width;

(2) Structures one story in height may have a side yard of five feet from one side and 10 feet from the other side. [Ord. 255 § 3(part), 1969: Ord. 175 § 1(24.17.070), 1964.]

18.18.075 Rear yard.

In an RM-900A and RM-900B zone every lot shall have a rear yard with a depth of not less than 20 feet. [Ord. 255 § 3(part), 1969: Ord. 175 § 1(24.17.075), 1964.]

18.18.080 Height.

In RM-900A and RM-900B zones no building or structure shall exceed a height of 35 feet. [Ord. 887 § 12, 1991: Ord. 255 § 3(part), 1969: Ord. 175 § 1(24.17.080), 1964.]

18.18.090 Permissible floor area.

In an RM-900B zone the total permissible floor area to be contained within all buildings on a lot or building site shall not exceed the square foot area of the lot. This restriction does not apply to dwelling units when they constitute the only use on the lot. [Ord. 887 § 13, 1991: Ord. 255 § 3(part), 1969: Ord. 175 § 1(24.17.090), 1964.]

18.18.100 Permissible lot coverage.

In an RM-900B zone all buildings, including accessory buildings and structures, but not including private swimming pools on residential lots or open areas used to provide parking space, shall not cover more than 60 percent of the area of the lot. [Ord. 887 § 14, 1991: Ord. 255 § 3(part), 1969: Ord. 175 § 1(24.17.100), 1964.]

18.18.110 Placement of buildings and structures.

Placement of buildings and structures on any lot in RM-900A and RM-900B zones shall conform to the following:

(1) The distance between a building containing one or more dwelling units or accessory living quarters and any other buildings on the same lot shall be not less than 10 feet.

(2) On the rear third of a lot, accessory buildings not containing accessory living quarters may be built to the lot side lines and the lot rear line, except as provided below:

(a) On corner and reverse corner lots, structures one story in height shall observe a distance of not less than 10 feet from the lot side line abutting the street.

(b) On interior lots, no building shall be erected closer than 10 feet to the lot rear line.

(c) On corner and reverse corner lots not abutting an alley along the lot rear line, no building shall be erected closer than five feet to the lot rear line.

(d) On corner and reverse corner lots abutting an alley along the lot rear line, accessory buildings may be built to the lot rear line.

(e) On all lots which abut an alley along the lot rear line, a garage with a vehicular entrance from the alley shall maintain a distance not less than 15 feet from the centerline of such alley.

(3) In the RM-900B zone, all buildings and structures shall maintain a distance not less than 20 feet from any lot in a residential zone. [Ord. 1237 § 4, 1999; Ord. 887 § 15, 1991: Ord. 255 § 3(part), 1969: Ord. 175 § 1(24.17.110), 1964.]

18.18.120 Recreation area required.

On-site recreation area shall be provided with multifamily developments as specified in chapter 18.45 DMMC. [Ord. 901 § 5, 1991.]