Chapter 15.03
DISTRICTS ESTABLISHED – ZONING MAP
Sections:
15.03.010 Establishment and designation of districts.
15.03.020 Official zoning map.
15.03.030 Interpretation of district boundaries.
15.03.040 Application of district regulations.
15.03.050 Minimum requirements.
15.03.010 Establishment and designation of districts.
The various districts established by this title and into which the city is divided are designated as follows:
A-10 Agricultural District
The stated goal of the city is to preserve prime agricultural land in the Green River Valley as a nonrenewable resource. The agriculture zone shall actively encourage the concentration of agricultural uses in areas where incompatibility with urban uses will be minimal to aid in the implementation of those goals. Further, such classification of prime agricultural land thus recognizes and encourages farming activity as a viable sector of the local economy.
SR-1 Residential Agricultural District
The purpose of the SR-1 zone is to provide for areas allowing low density single-family residential development. SR-1 zoning shall be applied to those areas identified in the comprehensive plan for low density development, because of environmental constraints or the lack of urban services.
AG Agricultural General District
The purpose of the AG zone is to provide appropriate locations for agriculturally related industrial and retail uses in or near areas designated for long-term agricultural use. Such areas may contain prime farmland soils which may be currently or potentially used for agricultural production.
SR-3 Single-Family Residential District
SR-4.5 Single-Family Residential District
SR-6 Single-Family Residential District
SR-8 Single-Family Residential District
It is the purpose of the single-family residential districts to stabilize and preserve single-family residential neighborhoods, as designated in the comprehensive plan. It is further the purpose to provide a range of densities and minimum lot sizes in order to promote diversity and recognize a variety of residential environments.
MR-D Duplex Multifamily Residential District
It is the purpose of the MR-D district to provide for a limited increase in population density and allow for a greater variety of housing types by allowing duplex dwelling units and higher density single-family detached residential development.
MR-T12 Multifamily Residential Townhouse District
MR-T16 Multifamily Residential Townhouse District
It is the purpose of the MR-T districts to provide suitable locations for low to medium density multifamily residential development where home ownership is encouraged consistent with the comprehensive plan.
MR-G Low Density Multifamily Residential District
It is the purpose of the MR-G district to provide locations for low to medium density multifamily residential development and higher density single-family residential development, as designated in the comprehensive plan.
MR-M Medium Density Multifamily Residential District
It is the purpose of the MR-M district to provide for locations for medium density multifamily residential development and higher density single-family residential development, as designated in the comprehensive plan.
MR-H High Density Multifamily Residential District
It is the purpose of the MR-H district to provide for locations for high density residential districts suitable for urban living.
MHP Mobile Home Park Combining District
The MHP combining district is designed to provide proper locations for mobile home parks. Mobile home parks may be located in any multi-family residential district when MHP combining district regulations and development plans are approved for that location.
PUD Planned Unit Development District
The intent of the PUD is to create a process to promote diversity and creativity in site design, and protect and enhance natural and community features. The process is provided to encourage unique developments which may combine a mixture of residential, commercial, and industrial uses. By using flexibility in the application of development standards, this process will promote developments that will benefit citizens that live and work within the city.
NCC Neighborhood Convenience Commercial District
It is the purpose of the NCC district to provide small nodal areas for retail and personal service activities convenient to residential areas and to provide ready access to everyday convenience goods for the residents of such neighborhoods. NCC districts shall be located in areas designated for neighborhood services in the comprehensive plan.
CC Community Commercial District
The purpose of the CC district is to provide areas for limited commercial activities that serve several residential neighborhoods. This district shall only apply to such commercial districts as designated in the city comprehensive plan. It is also the purpose of this district to provide opportunities for mixed use development within the designated mixed use overlay boundary, as designated by the comprehensive plan.
DC Downtown Commercial District
It is the purpose of the DC district to provide a place and create environmental conditions which will encourage the location of dense and varied retail, office, residential, civic, and recreational activities which will benefit and contribute to the vitality of a central downtown location, to recognize and preserve the historic pattern of development in the area and to implement the land use goals and policies in the 1989 downtown plan, the Kent comprehensive plan, and the downtown action plan. In the DC area, permitted uses should be primarily pedestrian-oriented and able to take advantage of on-street and structured off-street parking lots.
DCE Downtown Commercial Enterprise District
The purpose of this district is to encourage and promote higher density development and a variety and mixture of compatible retail, commercial, residential, civic, recreational, and service activities in the downtown area, to enhance the pedestrian-oriented character of the downtown, and to implement the goals and policies of the 1989 downtown plan, the Kent comprehensive plan, and the downtown strategic action plan.
DCE-T Downtown Commercial Enterprise District – Transitional Overlay
Within the downtown commercial enterprise district, a transitional overlay addresses compatibility of higher intensity mixed use development with nearby single-family residential zones through height limits and required application of certain downtown design review elements.
MTC-1 Midway Transit Community-1 District
The purpose and intent of the MTC-1 district is to provide an area that will encourage the location of moderately dense and varied retail, office, or residential activities in support of rapid light rail and mass transit options, to enhance a pedestrian-oriented character while acknowledging the existing highway corridor character, and to implement the goals and policies of the Midway Subarea Plan.
MTC-2 Midway Transit Community-2 District
The purpose and intent of the MTC-2 district is to provide a place and create environmental conditions which will promote the location of dense and varied retail, office, or residential activities, and recreational activities in support of rapid light rail and mass transit options, to ensure a primarily pedestrian-oriented character, and to implement the goals and policies of the Midway Subarea Plan.
MCR Midway Commercial/Residential District
The purpose and intent of the MCR district is to provide area that will encourage the location of dense and varied retail, office, or residential activities in support of rapid light rail and mass transit options, to enhance a pedestrian-oriented character, and to implement the goals and policies of the Midway Subarea Plan.
CM Commercial Manufacturing District
It is the purpose of the CM district to provide locations for those types of developments which combine some characteristics of both retail establishments and small-scale, light industrial operations, heavy commercial and wholesale uses, and specialty manufacturing.
GC General Commercial District
The purpose and intent of the general commercial district is to provide for the location of commercial areas developed along certain major thoroughfares; to provide use incentives and development standards which will encourage the redevelopment and upgrading of such areas; to provide for a range of trade, service, entertainment, and recreation land uses which occur adjacent to major traffic arterials and residential uses; and to provide areas for development which are automobile-oriented and designed for convenience, safety, and the reduction of the visual blight of uncontrolled advertising signs, traffic control devices, and utility equipment. It is also the purpose of this district to provide opportunities for mixed use development within the designated mixed use overlay boundary, as designated by the comprehensive plan.
I1 Industrial Business District
The I1 industrial business district consists of areas of high opportunity for the city in terms of employment, revenue, and placemaking. High opportunity areas may exhibit a mix of characteristics such as high visibility from key transportation corridors, proximity to prominent gateways, adjacency to transit, commercial nodes, or residential districts, etc. The industrial business district is primarily intended to be an amenity-rich environment and to accommodate small- to moderate-scale industrial land uses with high employment density, such as light industrial, manufacturing, assembly, fabrication, industrial offices, prototyping, research and development, small-scale wholesaling, local distribution, and similar activities that generate few adverse operational impacts (e.g., noise, odor, truck traffic, etc.). Neighborhood scale uses such as food, retail, and services are encouraged in the industrial business district, as are multi-story buildings, master-planned business parks, and complexes with a mix of allowed uses. Because of its high-quality employment focus, development in the industrial business district is required to provide amenity space and attractive architectural design, to improve the daily experience for workers.
I2 Mixed Industrial District
The I2 mixed industrial district is intended to accommodate a range of small-, moderate- and large-scale industrial uses and activities with moderate to high employment density. Uses appropriate for the I2 district include manufacturing, logistics, processing, industrial parks, and other industrial activities that may generate adverse operational impacts (e.g., noise, odor, truck traffic, etc.) beyond the subject property lines but can be largely mitigated. Because of its employment focus, the mixed industrial district has some amenity and architectural design requirements to improve the daily experience for workers, but these requirements are more flexible than those in the I1 district in order to facilitate cost-effective development and redevelopment.
I3 Heavy Industrial District
The I3 heavy industrial district is primarily intended to accommodate large-scale, high-impact uses, including raw materials and metals processing, large-scale warehousing and distribution, and other activities that generate adverse operational impacts (e.g., noise, odor, truck traffic, etc.) often requiring significant movement of trucks or large vehicles, outdoor storage, or outdoor operational space within the site. Lands designated I3 may have access constraints or experience adverse impacts due to their proximity to rail lines or limited-access freeways.
SU Special Use Combining District
It is the purpose of the SU district to provide for special controls for certain uses which do not clearly fit into other districts, which may be due to technological and social changes, or which are of such unique character as to warrant special attention in the interest of the city’s optimum development and the preservation and enhancement of its environmental quality. A special use combining district is imposed on an existing zoning district, permitting the special use as well as uses permitted by the underlying zone. The combining district becomes void if substantial construction has not begun within a one-year period, and the district reverts to its original zoning designation. It is the intent of the special use combining regulations to provide the city with adequate procedures for controlling and reviewing such uses and to discourage application for speculative rezoning.
(Ord. No. 3290, § 11, 4-18-96; Ord. No. 3409, § 37, 7-7-98; Ord. No. 3470, § 2, 8-17-99; Ord. No. 3543, § 1, 2-20-01; Ord. No. 3612, § 2, 8-6-02; Ord. No. 3770, § 5, 11-15-05; Ord. No. 3988, § 2, 1-4-11; Ord. No. 4011, § 6, 12-13-11; Ord. No. 4166, § 3, 9-1-15; Ord. No. 4257, § 14, 11-21-17; Ord. No. 4355, § 5 (Exh. E), 3-3-20)
Cross reference(s) – Environmental designation for noise abatement based on zoning districts, § 8.05.070.
15.03.020 Official zoning map.
A. Adoption. The designation, location, and boundaries of the various districts are shown on the official zoning map. The official zoning map is hereby adopted and made a part of this title.
B. Location; identification. The official zoning map shall be on file in the planning department office. The map shall be identified by the signature of the city clerk and city attorney and bear the title, “City of Kent Official Zoning Map, Ordinance 1827.”
C. Display zoning map. In addition to the official zoning map there may be a display zoning map, which may be used to generally indicate the various districts, but not to locate precise boundaries.
D. Amendments. If changes are made in the district boundaries or other matters portrayed by the official zoning map, such changes shall be entered on the official zoning map after the amendment has been approved by the city council. The signature of the city clerk and the city attorney shall be entered on the official zoning map with the ordinance number of the amendment. Each amendment shall be filed as part of the official zoning record.
E. Unclassified property. All property not otherwise classified on the official zoning map shall be treated as follows:
1. Interim zoning. All property not otherwise classified on the official zoning map is hereby placed in an interim zone. Such an interim zone shall be governed by provisions applicable to the SR-3 single-family residential district.
2. Upon annexation of property, or upon the city otherwise being made aware of property in the interim zoning designation, the planning director shall commence all necessary steps to zone such property. Interim zoning of property shall be for six (6) months unless otherwise provided by ordinance.
15.03.030 Interpretation of district boundaries.
Where uncertainty exists as to the boundaries of districts as shown on the official zoning map, the following rules shall apply:
A. Boundaries indicated as approximately following the centerlines of streets, highways, or alleys shall be construed to follow such lines.
B. Boundaries indicated as approximately following platted lot lines shall be construed as following such lot lines.
C. Boundaries indicated as approximately following city limits shall be construed as following city limits.
D. Boundaries indicated as following railroad lines shall be construed as to be midway between the main tracks.
E. Boundaries indicated as following shorelines shall be construed to follow such shorelines, and in the event of change in the shoreline shall be construed as moving with the actual shoreline. Boundaries indicated as approximately following the centerlines of streams, canals, rivers, lakes, or other bodies of water shall be construed to follow such centerlines.
F. Boundaries indicated as parallel to or extensions of features indicated in subsections (A) through (E) of this section shall be so construed. Distances not specifically indicated on the official zoning map shall be determined by the scale of the map.
G. Where physical or cultural features existing on the ground are at variance with those shown on the official zoning map, or in other circumstances not covered by subsections (A) through (E) of this section, the planning director shall interpret the district boundaries.
H. Where a district boundary line divides a lot which was in single ownership at the time of passage of the ordinance from which this title is derived, the planning director may permit the extension of the regulation for either portion of the lot not to exceed fifty (50) feet beyond the district line into the remaining portion of the lot.
15.03.040 Application of district regulations.
Except as otherwise provided in this title:
A. No building or part thereof or other structure shall be erected, altered, added to, or enlarged, nor shall any land, building, structure, or premises be used, designated, or intended to be used for any purpose or in any manner other than is included among the uses listed in this title as permitted in the district in which such building, land, or premises are located.
B. No building or part thereof or structure shall be erected, reconstructed, or structurally altered to exceed in height the limit designated in this title for the district in which such building is located.
C. No building or part thereof or structure shall be erected, nor shall any existing building be altered, enlarged, or rebuilt or moved into any district, nor shall any open space be encroached upon or reduced in any manner, except in conformity to the yard, building site area, and building location regulations designated in this title for the district in which such building or open space is located.
D. No yard or other open space provided about any building for the purpose of complying with provisions of this title shall be considered as providing a yard or open space for any other building, and no yard or other open space on one (1) building lot shall be considered as providing a yard or open space for a building on any other building lot.
15.03.050 Minimum requirements.
In their interpretation and application, the provisions of this title shall be held to be minimum requirements. Where this title imposes a greater restriction than is imposed or required by other rules or regulations or ordinances, the provisions of this title shall control.