Chapter 18.29
H-C HIGHWAY COMMERCIAL ZONE

Sections

18.29.010    Purpose of zone.

18.29.020    Permitted uses.

18.29.030    Conditional uses.

18.29.040    Limitations on uses.

18.29.045    Hazardous waste and hazardous substances.

18.29.050    Permissible floor area.

18.29.060    Height.

18.29.070    Placement of buildings and structures.

18.29.080    Landscaping requirements.

18.29.090    Parking and loading requirements.

18.29.100    Required right-of-way improvements.

18.29.010 Purpose of zone.

The intent of this zone is to provide for the location and grouping of diversified commercial/retail activities which serve a broader, regional clientele, involving some on-premises retail service but requiring more convenience for vehicular circulation. These uses depend on proximity to major highways or arterials for trade or transportation, are characterized by less dependence on individual and personal patron contact than uses in retail zones, and involve outside activities and display or fabrication, assembling, and service features. Uses enumerated in this zone have common or similar performance standards in that they are heavier in type than those uses permitted in the more restrictive commercial zones and often are not compatible with uses permitted in other commercial zones because of the type of commodities and goods handled, greater handling of materials and commodities, increased trucking activity, need for larger sites, and noise, traffic, or other impacts generated. Uses are measurably lighter uses than typical of business park zones; however, they do not normally involve as intensive use of land as those comprising the retail shopping area. [Ord. 1237 §§ 3, 4, 1999; Ord. 667 § 1(A), 1986.]

18.29.020 Permitted uses.

The following uses only are permitted, and as specifically provided and allowed by this chapter:

(1) Accessory uses and buildings customarily appurtenant to a permitted use, such as incidental storage;

(2) Reserved for future use;

(3) Auction houses, excluding automobiles and animals;

(4) Automobile parking;

(5) Automobile sales, new and used;

(6) Automobile trailer sales and rental;

(7) Bakeries, manufacturing and retail sales;

(8) Boat building for craft not exceeding 48 feet in length;

(9) Boat sales, new and used;

(10) Boat repairs;

(11) Bookbinding;

(12) Building materials stores and yards, retail only; provided, any required wall on a property line common with residential property shall be not less than eight feet in height;

(13) Business or commercial schools;

(14) Cabinet or carpenter shops;

(15) Car washes;

(16) Ceramic products, manufacture of, including figurines (but not including bricks, drain, building, or conduit tile), using only previously pulverized clay and batch kilns as distinguished from shuttle, tunnel, or beehive kilns, and such batch kilns shall not exceed a total capacity of 130 cubic feet;

(17) Cocktail lounges, when located with a restaurant;

(18) Confectionery and related products, manufacturing;

(19) Convention facilities;

(20) Data processing businesses and record storage facilities;

(21) Distribution centers for home deliveries (storage and loading of retail delivery trucks from underground fuel storage);

(22) Electrical appliances and supplies, retail sales, wholesale trade and repairs;

(23) Equipment rental and leasing;

(24) Fix-it shops;

(25) Food locker services;

(26) Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment sales;

(27) Garages, public (including repairing when in an entirely enclosed building);

(28) General contracting businesses;

(29) Glass edging, beveling, and silvering in connection with the sales of mirrors and glass-decorated furniture;

(30) Glass studios, stained, etc.;

(31) Horticultural nurseries and garden supplies;

(32) Hospitals;

(33) Hotels and motels, not including apartment hotels;

(34) Job printing, newspapers, lithographing, and publishing;

(35) Laboratories, medical, dental, and photographic;

(36) Machine shop, no automatic screw machines, or punch press over five tons;

(37) Moorages for private pleasure craft;

(38) Mortuaries;

(39) Motor vehicle repair operations;

(40) Offices, business and professional;

(41) Parcel service delivery;

(42) Pawnshops;

(43) Pet shops, if entirely within a building;

(44) Public utility installations relating directly to the distribution of services;

(45) Recreation facilities, commercial, such as swimming pools, bowling alleys, skating rinks, and miniature golf;

(46) Recreation vehicle sales and storage;

(47) Restaurants;

(48) Retail sales;

(49) Reupholstery and furniture repair;

(50) Saw and filing shops;

(51) Sign manufacturing;

(52) Signs, subject to chapter 18.42 DMMC;

(53) Taverns;

(54) Telephone exchanges;

(55) Theaters; provided, that adult motion picture theaters are prohibited within 500 feet of the property lines of churches, schools, preschool through high school, public facilities, adult entertainment facilities, or other adult motion picture theaters;

(56) Upholstery, custom work, including furniture repair;

(57) Wholesale businesses;

(58) Other similar commercial enterprises after classification as set forth in DMMC 18.36.050;

(59) Unclassified uses as provided in DMMC 18.32.020. [Ord. 1288 § 2, 2001; Ord. 1237 § 4, 1999; Ord. 667 § 1(B), 1986.]

18.29.030 Conditional uses.

Conditional uses in the H-C zone include:

(1) Laboratories, other than medical, dental, or photographic;

(2) Conditional uses as set forth in DMMC 18.32.030. [Ord. 667 § 1(C), 1986.]

18.29.040 Limitations on uses.

Every use locating in the H-C zone shall be subject to the following conditions and limitations:

(1) Automobile Service Stations. Buildings, structures, and the leading edge of pump islands shall not be closer than 20 feet to any street property line, except that service station canopies and marquees may project 10 feet into the required setback.

(2) If a building site has a boundary line which is a common property line with residential property, then on such common line a wall or view-obscuring fence or hedge not less than five feet in height shall be installed and maintained for screening purposes and controlling access. [Ord. 1237 § 4, 1999; Ord. 667 § 1(D), 1986.]

18.29.045 Hazardous waste and hazardous substances.

Any use permitted by this chapter which involves the treatment or storage of hazardous waste or the use or handling of hazardous substances shall conform to the regulations contained in this section. In the event there is a conflict between the provisions of this section and any other provision of this chapter, the provisions of this section shall prevail.

(1) Off-site hazardous waste facilities are prohibited.

(2) On-site hazardous waste facilities are permitted as an accessory use only; provided, that the location of such facilities shall be consistent with siting criteria adopted or hereafter amended by the Department of Ecology under RCW 70.105.210 incorporated in this chapter by reference and that the transport, storage, containment, treatment, or disposal of such hazardous wastes shall be performed so as not to jeopardize the health and safety of any individual or harm the environment.

(3) The use or handling of hazardous substances are permitted as an accessory use only; provided, that the transport, storage, containment, application, and disposal of such hazardous substances shall be performed so as not to jeopardize the health and safety of any individual or harm the environment.

(4) Violation – Civil Penalty, Revocation of Business License. Failure to comply with any of the requirements of this section shall result in enforcement by civil penalty as set forth in DMMC 18.72.060 and revocation of business license as set forth in DMMC 5.04.060.

(5) Violation – Abatement Authorized. 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 § 6, 1988.]

18.29.050 Permissible floor area.

The maximum permitted floor area to be contained in all buildings on a lot in an H-C zone shall not exceed three and one-half times the square foot area of the lot. [Ord. 667 § 1(E), 1986.]

18.29.060 Height.

In an H-C zone no building or structure shall exceed a height of 35 feet. [Ord. 667 § 1(F), 1986.]

18.29.070 Placement of buildings and structures.

Placement of buildings and structures on any lot in the H-C zone shall conform to the following:

(1) Front Setback. Any building or structure, except signs or service station canopies or marquees, shall maintain a 60-foot minimum setback.

(2) Rear Setback. A minimum 10-foot rear setback shall be maintained from any residential property.

(3) Side Setback. A minimum 10-foot side setback shall be maintained from any residential property. [Ord. 1237 § 4, 1999; Ord. 667 § 1(G), 1986.]

18.29.080 Landscaping requirements.

Landscaping in the H-C zones shall be required as set forth in chapter 18.41 DMMC. [Ord. 667 § 1(H), 1986.]

18.29.090 Parking and loading requirements.

In H-C zones, off-street parking and loading areas shall be provided as set forth in chapter 18.44 DMMC. [Ord. 667 § 1(I), 1986.]

18.29.100 Required right-of-way improvements.

In the H-C zone, all new construction, additions, or alterations which exceed 50 percent of the value of the existing structure or, in the case of a series of addition or alteration projects, when in a five-year period the cumulative value of additions or alterations exceeds 50 percent of the value of the structure at the time such additions or alterations are commenced, shall include construction of curb, gutters, and sidewalks in accordance with Washington State Department of Transportation standards. [Ord. 667 § 1(J), 1986.]