Chapter 18.27
“RM” (RESIDENTIAL, MEDIUM DENSITY) DISTRICT
Sections:
18.27.040 Development standards.
18.27.010 Purpose.
The purpose of the RM district is to establish areas for medium density, multiple-family residential buildings and to establish regulations for their development. The district has more intensive residential uses where necessary or desirable to achieve good neighborhood design and to stabilize land use. (Ord. 1917 § 1 (part), 1997).
18.27.020 Permitted uses.
The following are the only uses permitted in an RM district:
A. One single-family dwelling per lot or one duplex per lot;
B. Accessory apartments (Section 18.60.140);
C. Family day care homes (Section 18.60.190); and
D. Accessory uses and structures related to a permitted use. (Ord. 2769 § 2, 2012: Ord. 2214 § 1, 2001: Ord. 1917 § 1 (part), 1997).
18.27.030 Additional uses.
The following uses require a permit in accord with Chapter 18.75 or 18.59:
A. Public and quasi-public uses only as may be approved under Section 18.75.050;
B. Nursing homes, homes for the aged only as may be approved under Section 18.75.050;
C. Nursery schools and day care centers only as may be approved by Section 18.60.060 or 18.75.050;
D. Home occupations only as may be approved under Section 18.75.060;
E. More than two residential units per lot, only as may be approved under Chapter 18.59; and
F. Bed and breakfast operations only as may be approved under Sections 18.60.240 and 18.75.050. (Ord. 2769 § 3, 2012: Ord. 1917 § 1 (part), 1997).
18.27.040 Development standards.
Development standards for residential, medium density (RM) districts are as follows:
A. Lot Area. The minimum lot area is seven thousand five hundred square feet for the first unit plus two thousand five hundred square feet for each additional unit not to exceed two dwelling units per lot unless otherwise approved with clustering pursuant to Chapter 18.59.
B. Minimum setbacks: street frontage, twenty feet; sides, five feet on one side, and ten feet on the garage side or if no garage then the driveway side if the same exist; rear, twenty feet. Setbacks may be altered if approved with clustering pursuant to Chapter 18.59.
C. Minimum lot width: seventy-five feet unless otherwise approved with clustering pursuant to Chapter 18.59.
D. Maximum building height: thirty-five feet. Approval of a conditional use permit is required for any structure higher than thirty-five feet.
E. Off-Street Parking. Off-street parking shall be provided in accordance with Chapter 18.63.
F. Site Review. Site review, in accord with Section 18.75.040, for duplexes or Chapter 18.59 for more than two units, will be required when more than one living unit per lot is proposed.
G. Provisions for Open Spaces and Recreation Areas. Each development of five lots or more must provide for usable common open space or a public park in an amount determined through review pursuant to Chapter 16.04. The city and developer may agree to a cash payment to the city in lieu of the provision for open space; provided, that such payment is sufficient for the city to construct or enhance a park elsewhere in the city. Any agreement between the city and the developer shall comply with RCW 82.02.020 as now codified or as hereafter amended. If the open common space is private, it must be concentrated in a large, homogenous, centrally located parcel designed to provide for active or passive recreation. Private common open space shall not include:
1. Areas reserved for the exclusive use or benefit of individual property owners; and
2. Dedicated vehicular and pedestrian right-of-way, easement or off-street parking areas. There must be adequate provisions for permanent retention and maintenance of such private common open space.
H. Design review in accordance with Chapter 18.07.
I. Unless otherwise approved with clustering pursuant to Chapter 18.59, the maximum permitted number of lots/dwelling units for any development in the RM zone is determined by dividing the gross area of the parcel in square feet by forty-three thousand five hundred sixty square feet, multiplied by the allowed maximum density of six. The closest or next lowest whole number is the permitted maximum number of lots. If the maximum density limitation would prevent a single-family dwelling unit from being built in the RM zone, on a lot which was legally existing at the time this section was enacted, then maximum density shall not apply to that lot. (Ord. 2769 § 4, 2012: Ord. 2214 § 2, 2001: Ord. 1917 § 1 (part), 1997).
18.27.990 Severability.
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, paragraph, phrase, or word of this chapter should be held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity or unconstitutionality thereof shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of any other section, subsection, sentence, clause, paragraph, phrase or word of this chapter. (Ord. 2769 § 5, 2012).