Chapter 17A.190
SPECIAL REVIEW COMMERCIAL (SRC)
Sections:
17A.190.010 Purpose of classification.
17A.190.050 Lot area and width.
17A.190.070 Property line setbacks.
17A.190.110 Special provisions.
17A.190.010 Purpose of classification.
The purpose of this district is to provide areas of rural/high-density and commercial development options which are consistent with Okanogan County’s comprehensive plan, and the Methow Review District More Completely Planned Area, Sub-Unit A. (Ord. 2016-4 § 1 (Att. A), 2016).
17A.190.020 Permitted uses.
Permitted uses are as indicated on the district use chart, Chapter 17A.220 OCC. (Ord. 2016-4 § 1 (Att. A), 2016).
17A.190.030 Conditional uses.
Conditional uses are as indicated on the district use chart, Chapter 17A.220 OCC. (Ord. 2016-4 § 1 (Att. A), 2016).
17A.190.040 Accessory uses.
Accessory uses are as follows:
A. Normal accessory uses customary and incidental to the permitted and/or conditional use of the property. (Ord. 2016-4 § 1 (Att. A), 2016).
17A.190.050 Lot area and width.
Lot area and width restrictions are as follows:
A. Minimum lot area is 5,000 square feet.
B. Minimum lot width is 50 feet. (Ord. 2016-4 § 1 (Att. A), 2016).
17A.190.060 Density.
A. Density restrictions are not applicable (see OCC 17A.190.090, Lot coverage). (Ord. 2016-4 § 1 (Att. A), 2016).
17A.190.070 Property line setbacks.
All permitted structures shall have the following required property line setbacks:
A. Front: none;
B. Side: none, except 10 feet when abutting a residential or agricultural district;
C. Rear: none, except a minimum of 25 feet when abutting a residential or agricultural district. (Ord. 2016-4 § 1 (Att. A), 2016).
17A.190.080 Height.
Height restrictions are as follows:
A. Maximum height is 35 feet.
B. Maximum height shall be 50 feet for: commercial parking garages; hotels/motels; inns and lodges. (Ord. 2016-4 § 1 (Att. A), 2016).
17A.190.090 Lot coverage.
Lot coverage restrictions are as follows:
A. Maximum lot coverage is 50 percent, subject to compliance with required property line setbacks. (Ord. 2016-4 § 1 (Att. A), 2016).
17A.190.100 Parking.
Parking requirements are as indicated in Chapter 17A.240 OCC. (Ord. 2016-4 § 1 (Att. A), 2016).
17A.190.110 Special provisions.
A. Residences on Second Floor. Dwelling units shall be located only on the second floor of structures within this zone.
B. Construction in Flood Hazard Areas. No structures for human habitation shall be constructed or placed in the 100-year floodplain.
C. Light and Glare. Outdoor lighting, including street and parking lot lighting, shall be directed downward and shielded to minimize potential glare to motorists and off-site residents. No exterior light with a direct source visible from a neighboring property shall be installed. Indirect sources and horizontal cut-off fixtures are recommended to reduce glare and provide general ambient light. Christmas lighting is exempt from these requirements.
D. Preapplication consultation with the local advisory committee, or other entity established by the county, and the office of planning and development is mandatory for all uses requiring a conditional use permit (Chapter 17A.310 OCC) or planned unit development (Chapter 17A.200 OCC) for approval.
1. Within 14 days of receiving a request for preapplication consultation, the office of planning and development will set a meeting date, time and place for the preapplication consultation. The purpose of the meeting is to assist the applicant in identification of site development and design considerations and suggest potential solutions where possible. The local review board or other entity established by the county shall base its comments and recommendations on guidelines established pursuant to the county comprehensive plan. These comments and recommendations shall be provided to the applicant and the office of planning and development within seven days of the preapplication consultation meeting.
2. The request for a preapplication consultation shall vest the applicant to the existing regulations, so long as the applicant submits a completed application to the office of planning and development within 30 days of the request for a preapplication consultation or within seven days of the preapplication consultation, whichever is later.
E. Signs. No signs shall be erected within this zone which do not comply with the regulations contained herein.
1. Design and Materials. Signs shall be constructed from wood or natural-appearing materials and colors. No fluorescent materials or reflective materials shall be allowed except for official signs for public safety. Signs should be reflective of the natural forest and rustic theme and may include the uses of wrought iron.
2. Allowed Public Signs. The following signs, which are generally public in nature, are allowed outright:
a. Signs erected or posted and maintained for public safety and welfare or pursuant to any governmental law or regulation.
b. A bulletin board, either one- or two-sided with no face exceeding 20 square feet in display area, associated with any church, museum, library, school or similar public use; provided, that the top of such sign is less than eight feet high and meets all other provisions of this chapter.
c. Directional signs indicating ingress or egress where display area does not exceed three square feet.
d. Banners, not exceeding 30 square feet in area, or sandwich boards not exceeding 12 square feet in area, displayed by nonprofit or community organizations are not required to be displayed on the premises of the business or organization. Signs may be displayed for a maximum of two periods not exceeding 14 days total within any calendar year.
3. Allowed Private and Residential Signs. The following signs, which are primarily private and residential in nature, are allowed outright:
a. Mailbox and address signs displaying address numbers shall not exceed two square feet of area. An additional sign not exceeding two square feet is allowed to display a name associated with the dwelling.
b. Window signs not exceeding 25 percent of the individual window area and a maximum total area of four square feet.
c. A single sign, not exceeding 24 square feet in area, mounted between posts, at a height not exceeding 20 feet above grade, displaying the name of a farm.
d. An agricultural products sign, allowed at each street frontage, advertising products grown on or produced at the subject property. Signs shall be erected for a period not exceeding 10 days prior to the availability of the products for sale and removed when the products are no longer available for purchase. The maximum sign area shall not exceed 10 square feet for each face of a single or two-faced sign.
e. Garage sale signs on site and off site not to exceed three square feet per sign face and placed no more than two days before the sale and removed within one day after the sale.
f. Election signs; provided, that they are removed within seven days after the final election for the named candidate or election issue. No election signs are allowed in public right-of-way.
g. For sale, rent or lease signs are allowed only on property being sold or rented. One sign not exceeding eight square feet is allowed on each street frontage. Such sign shall be removed within seven days after sale, rental, or lease of the property.
h. Signs relating to trespassing and hunting, each sign not exceeding four square feet of area.
i. Residential developments of five parcels or more may have a single freestanding identification sign with a maximum sign area of 10 square feet.
j. Multifamily residential developments of 10 or more may have a sign with a maximum sign area of 24 square feet at one vehicular entrance on each street frontage.
k. Home occupations may have a single or two-sided sign that identifies the service provided. Such sign shall not exceed six square feet.
4. Allowed Commercial Signs. The following commercial signs are allowed:
a. Facade Signs.
i. Buildings may have one facade sign for each tenant not more than 12 square feet with dimensions not to exceed six feet in length or three feet in height.
ii. Facade signs shall be located less than 20 feet above grade.
b. Directory Sign. A single directory sign, combining the name of the commercial complex and the individual names of businesses located within is allowed, provided no other facade signs on the building exceed 20 square feet. Maximum sign area of this directory is 48 square feet.
c. Freestanding Signs. No more than one freestanding sign shall be allowed per building. The sign shall not exceed 32 square feet on any single surface nor a total of 64 square feet if two-sided. Maximum height shall not exceed 12 feet above the natural grade. Setbacks for signs will be a minimum of five feet from walkways and 10 feet from curb cuts.
i. No signs shall be allowed in the shoreline area as described by the Okanogan County shoreline master program.
ii. A freestanding identification sign combining the name of the commercial complex and the individual names of businesses located within if there are more than two businesses or tenants, with a maximum sign area of 40 square feet on any single surface and a total of 40 square feet if two-sided. No individual tenant freestanding signs may be erected on the same property that contains this freestanding sign.
d. Canopy or Awning Signs. Instead of a facade sign, one canopy sign is permitted per principal business, not exceeding 20 square feet per tenant, provided the lowest point of the awning or canopy is at least eight feet above the sidewalk. The sign shall not be higher than the eave line or parapet of the principal building and the awning shall have a dark background if lit from behind.
e. Projecting Signs. A business is allowed one projecting sign that will be supported by the facade of the building. Signs can project over the walkway provided they are at least eight feet above the walk. If walkways are covered, the sign can be hung from a roof beam provided it meets the other requirements for projecting signs. Projecting signs must not be more than four feet from building facade and a minimum of eight feet from the walkway grade and not be higher than the eave line or parapet of the building. Maximum allowable square footage is not to exceed eight square feet for a building identification sign.
f. Sandwich Board Signs. One nonilluminated sandwich board sign with each face not exceeding 12 square feet in area is allowed per business. Sign shall be a minimum of 39 inches high and a maximum of 48 inches high.
g. Window Signs. One window sign not exceeding eight square feet in area is allowed.
5. Prohibited Signs. The following signs are prohibited:
a. No sign, except for a traffic regulatory or informational sign, shall use the words “Stop,” “Caution,” or “Danger,” or shall incorporate red, amber or green light resembling traffic signals or shall resemble “Stop” or “Yield” signs or shape or color.
b. Flashing signs, roof signs, signs containing moving parts or appearing to move, and signs that sparkle or twinkle in the sunlight.
c. Billboards, streamers, pennants, ribbons, spinners, or other similar devices shall not be constructed, posted, or erected in any zone.
d. Any sign advertising a business or organization not located on the parcel containing the business or organization is prohibited except those signs erected by the state of Washington.
6. Historical and Interpretive Signs. Signs that do not advertise a product, community directory signs and general information signs shall conform to style and design as detailed in guidelines published by the local review board, or other entity established by the county, and office of planning and development.
7. Illumination Standards. The following standards apply to lighting of signs:
a. Signs, except for facade signs, may only be illuminated externally by light sources shielded so that the lamp is not visible from adjacent properties or the public right-of-way.
b. Lights illuminating signs shall project illumination toward the face of the sign.
c. No sign may flash, rotate, have motorized parts, or have exposed electrical wires.
d. No sign shall be illuminated between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. unless the premises on which it is located is open for business.
e. A facade sign may be internally illuminated; provided, that:
i. The background does not emit light.
ii. The background constitutes a minimum of 80 percent of the sign area.
iii. The illumination source is shielded.
8. Nonconforming Signs. Any sign which does not conform to the regulations herein and which lawfully existed at the time of adoption of the ordinance codified in this chapter may continue unchanged. Said sign cannot be enlarged, reworded, redesigned or altered in any way except to conform to the requirements of this chapter. (Ord. 2016-4 § 1 (Att. A), 2016).