Chapter 14.02
CITY OF ILWACO DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS ADOPTED

Sections:

14.02.010    Adoption by reference.

14.02.020    Definitions.

14.02.030    Minor revisions administratively approved.

14.02.035    Variances.

14.02.040    Copy on file.

14.02.010 Adoption by reference.

The “City of Ilwaco Development Standards” manual has been prepared to provide a graphic and written representation of minimum standards for construction of public improvement within the public right-of-way, easement, city properties, and on private property relating to utilities which are connected to the utility systems maintained by the city of Ilwaco.

The city of Ilwaco development standards and Pacific County road standards are adopted by reference upon the effective date of the ordinance codified herein. Future amendments to the development standards established hereafter shall automatically become a part of this section upon publication. (Ord. 841 § 1 (part), 2015; Ord. 832 § 1 (part), 2014)

14.02.020 Definitions.

For the purpose of this chapter and the city of Ilwaco development standards, the following terms, in addition to their common meaning, are defined:

A.    “City engineer” shall mean an engineer employed or contracted by the city on either a part-time or full-time basis.

B.    “Side sewer” means a privately owned and maintained sewer connection between a building’s city approved wastewater outlet, or other city approved facility, to the nearest or most reasonable sewer system main line, public or private, or other approved discharge point.

C.    “Private sewer main” means a privately owned and maintained sewer main which has all of the following characteristics: (1) running generally in or along a city street or platted city street right-of-way or in an established public or private utility easement whether improved or not; (2) connected or connectable to receive wastewater from other sewer mains or adjacent parcel side sewers whether improved or not improved; and (3) discharges either directly or indirectly into an established city sewer main or other approved discharge point.

D.    “On-site sewer system” or “OSS” means an integrated system of components, located on or nearby the property it serves, that conveys, stores, treats, and/or provides subsurface soil treatment and dispersal of sewage. It consists of a collection system, a treatment component or treatment sequence, and a soil dispersal component. (Ord. 872 § 1, 2017; Ord. 842 § 1 (part), 2015; Ord. 841 § 1 (part), 2015; Ord. 832 § 1 (part), 2014)

14.02.030 Minor revisions administratively approved.

The city engineer is authorized to adopt, administratively, minor revisions to the city of Ilwaco development standards to better implement the standards or allow for changes in design and construction technology and methods occurring after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title. (Ord. 841 § 1 (part), 2015; Ord. 832 § 1 (part), 2014)

14.02.035 Variances.

A.    General. Except for minor revisions authorized under this section, the city council shall have the authority to grant a variance from the requirements of the development standards adopted by reference under Section 14.02.010 and from the requirements set forth in Title 14 in keeping with the procedural requirements set forth in Chapter 15.52. The city council shall not grant a variance unless it finds:

1.    That special conditions and circumstances exist which are peculiar to the land such as size, shape, topography, or location, which are not applicable to other lands in the same neighborhood, and that literal interpretation of the development standards or applicable provisions of Title 14 would deprive the property owner of rights commonly enjoyed by other properties similarly situated in the same neighborhood;

2.    That the special conditions and circumstances do not result from the actions of the developer and are not self-imposed hardships;

3.    That granting the variance requested will not confer a special privilege to the subject property that is denied other lands in the same neighborhood;

4.    That granting the variance will not be materially detrimental to the public welfare or injurious to the property or improvements in the neighborhood in which the subject property is situated;

5.    That granting the variance will be in harmony with the general purpose and intent of the development standards, other applicable provisions of Title 14, and with any other applicable portions of the municipal code; and

6.    That the purpose of the variance is not merely to permit the subject property to be utilized more profitably by the owner or to economize on the cost of improving the property.

B.    Conditions. In granting any variance, the city council may prescribe appropriate conditions and safeguards that will ensure that the purpose and intent of the development standards are met. Further, the city council may require a developer to post a performance bond guaranteeing compliance with such conditions.

C.    Special Considerations. The city council may grant a variance for an exception to sewer connection requirements to allow use of an on-site sewage system (OSS) after considering the following aspects of the proposal in addition to the required findings:

1.    Whether the OSS would serve an isolated pocket of urban land difficult to serve due to terrain or critical areas; or

2.    Whether providing sanitary sewer service to an isolated pocket of urban land is cost prohibitive; or

3.    Whether an OSS constitutes the best available technology for the circumstances and is designed to serve urban densities.

If the proposal satisfies any one of these considerations, it may be approved as long as it does not pose a negative effect on basic public health, safety, and the environment and does not preclude development at urban densities. (Ord. 872 § 2, 2017)

14.02.040 Copy on file.

One (1) copy of the city of Ilwaco development standards shall be available in the office of the city clerk for review and copying by members of the public. Additionally, any minor administrative revisions made by the city engineer subsequent to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter shall be dated by the city engineer, and a copy of the revised city of Ilwaco development standards shall be made available in the office of the city clerk for review and copying by members of the public. (Ord. 841 § 1 (part), 2015; Ord. 832 § 1 (part), 2014)