Chapter 14.11
RURAL MIXED-USE ZONES AND USES

Sections:

14.11.010    Applicability.

14.11.020    Allowed uses.

14.11.030    Dimensional standards.

14.11.100    Rural Intermediate (RI).

14.11.200    Rural Reserve (RRv).

14.11.300    Rural Village Residential (RVR).

14.11.400    Rural Center (RC).

14.11.500    Rural Village Commercial (RVC).

14.11.600    Public Open Space of Regional/Statewide Importance (OSRSI).

14.11.010 Applicability.

(1)    This Chapter applies to the following zones:

(a)    Rural Intermediate (RI);

(b)    Rural Reserve (RRv);

(c)    Rural Village Residential (RVR);

(d)    Rural Center (RC);

(e)    Rural Village Commercial (RVC);

(f)    Public Open Space of Regional/Statewide Importance (OSRSI). (Ord. O20250005 § 2 (Exh. A))

14.11.020 Allowed uses.

(1)    The uses shown in the table below are allowed in the specified zones. For development standards for these uses, see the use section in SCC Chapter 14.18.

 

Table 14.11.020-1 Allowed Uses in the Rural Mixed-Use Zones 

	RI	RRv	RVR	RC	RVC	RVC Alger	OSRSI
Residential Uses
Single-family residence	P	P	P
Accessory dwelling unit	P	P	P
Middle housing (2—4 units)			P
Co-housing as part of a CaRD	P	P	P
Loft living quarters				P	P	P
Owner operator/caretaker quarters				AC	AC	AC
Emergency housing					P
Emergency shelter					P
Manufactured or mobile home park			P
Permanent supportive housing			P
Residential accessory use	P	P	P
Seasonal worker housing	HE	HE
Transitional housing			P		P
Temporary manufactured home	P	P	P
Commercial/Retail Uses
Animal clinic/hospital	HE	HE		HE	AD	AD
Animal preserve		HE					HE
Asphalt/concrete batching or recycling, temporary		HE
Bed and breakfast	AD	AD	AD	P
Business/professional office					P
Display gardens		HE
Family day care provider	P	P	P	P	P	P
Group care facility	HE			HE
Group care facility, adult	HE				AD	AD
Home-Based Business 1	P	P	P
Home-Based Business 2	AD	AD	AD
Home-Based Business 3	HE	HE	HE
Kennel, boarding	HE	HE	HE	AD	AD	AD
Kennel, day-use	HE	AD	HE	P	P	P
Kennel, limited	HE	HE	HE
Laundromat						P
Limited event venues	AD	AD	AD	AD	AD		AD
Marijuana retail facility				AD	AD	AD
Marina, ≤20 slips	HE				HE		HE
Marina, > 20 slips
Mini-storage				P	P	P
Mortuary	HE				HE
Outpatient medical and health care service			HE	P	P	P
Overnight lodging and related services for visitors to the rural area					P	P
Restaurant				P	P	P
Small retail and service business				P	P	P
Small-scale production or manufacture					AD	AD
Community/Public Uses
Cemetery	HE	HE	HE
Church	HE	HE		HE	HE	HE
Community club/grange hall	HE	HE	HE	P	P	P
Conference center
Historic site open to the public	HE	HE	HE	P	P	P	P
Interpretive/information center							P
Museum							P
Preschool	HE		HE	P	P	P
Natural Resource Uses
Agriculture	P	P
Agricultural accessory use	P	P
Agricultural processing facility		P
Agritourism 1	P	P
Agritourism 2	AD	AD
Agritourism 3	HE	HE
Anaerobic digester		HE
Fish hatchery	HE	HE
Forestry		P					P
Habitat enhancement/restoration project		P	P	P	P
Manure lagoon		HE
Natural resource support services					P	P
Natural resources training/research facility		HE
Nursery/greenhouse, retail	HE	X		P	AD	AD
Nursery/greenhouse, wholesale		HE		P
Seasonal roadside stand ≤ 300 sf	P	P	P		P	P	P
Seasonal roadside stand > 300 sf	HE	HE			AD	AD
Park/Recreational Uses
Campground, destination		AD					AD
Campground, developed		HE					AD
Campground, primitive		AD					AD
Golf course		HE
Off-road vehicle use areas and trails		HE
Outdoor outfitters enterprise		HE
Outdoor recreational facility	HE	HE					AD
Outdoor recreational equipment rental and/or guide services
Park, community	HE	HE	HE				HE
Park, recreation open space		AD
Park, regional		AD	AD
Park, specialized recreational area	AD	AD	AD	AD	AD	AD
Racetrack, recreational		HE
Shooting club, indoor					HE	HE
Shooting club, outdoor							HE
Stables and riding club	HE	HE					AD
Trail	AD	AD	AD		AD	AD	P
Trailhead, primary and secondary	AD	AD	AD	AD	AD	AD	AD
Storage Uses
Outdoor storage 1		AD
Outdoor storage 2		AD
Outdoor storage 3		HE
Outdoor storage 4		HE
Transportation Uses
Aircraft landing field		HE
Vehicle charging station				P	P	P	AC
Vehicle fueling station				P	P	P
Utility Uses
Impoundment							HE
Impoundment > one acre-foot	HE	HE
Recycling drop-box facility	AC	AC	AC	P	P		AC
Water diversion structure							AD

Notes:

1.    Key to the Use Tables can be found in SCC 14.10.050.

2.    Uses allowed in all zones can be found in SCC 14.10.060.

3.    Uses prohibited in all zones can be found in SCC 14.10.070.

(Ord. O20260004 § 1 (Att. 2); Ord. O20260003 § 1 (Att. 2); Ord. O20250005 § 2 (Exh. A))

14.11.030 Dimensional standards.

 

Table 14.11.030-1 Dimensional Standards in the Rural Mixed-Use Zones 

	RI	RRv	RVR	RC	RVC	RVC Alger	OSRSI
Lot Dimensions
Minimum lot size (ac)	2.5	10	*	–	–	–	–
Minimum lot width (ft)	150	150	*	–	–	–	–
Lot Coverage
Maximum lot coverage (%)	35	*	50	50	50	50	–
Minimum Setbacks (principal use)
Front (on minor access and dead-end streets)	25	25	25	–	–	–	35
Front (on all other streets)	35	35	35	35	15	*	35
Interior side	8	8	8	20	*	*	35
Rear	25	25	25	20	*	*	35
Minimum Setbacks (accessory use)
Front	35	35	35	35	15	15	35
Interior side (but see Note 1 for RI, RRv, RVR)	8	8	8	20	15	15	35
Rear (but see Note 1 for RI, RRv, RVR)	25	25	25	*	20	20	35
Building Size Limits
Maximum height (ft)	40	40	40	40	40	40	40

Notes:

1.    A three-foot setback is permitted for nonresidential structures when the accessory building is a minimum of 75 feet from the front property line or when there is an alley along the rear property line. In the RI and RVR zones, the nonresidential structure must be less than 1,000 square feet in size and 16 feet or less in height.

2.    Values marked with an asterisk (*) are specified within the individual sections for each zoning district of this chapter. Refer to the corresponding sections below for specific setback requirements.

(Ord. O20260004 § 1 (Att. 2); Ord. O20250005 § 2 (Exh. A))

14.11.100 Rural Intermediate (RI).

(1)    Purpose. The purpose of the Rural Intermediate district is to provide and protect land for residential living in a rural atmosphere, taking priority over, but not precluding, limited nonresidential uses appropriate to the density and character of this designation. Long-term open space retention and critical area protection are encouraged. CaRDs are the preferred development pattern within this district.

(2)    Allowed Uses. In addition to the uses in SCC 14.11.020, the following uses are allowed in this zone:

(a)    Permitted Uses. Reserved.

(b)    Administrative Special Uses.

(i)    Institutional camps/retreats that existed prior to or on July 1, 1990, including cabins that may accommodate up to but not to exceed 250 beds and 10 RV sites, and common use facilities (e.g., dining, recreation) necessary to support the use, within the boundaries of the use that existed on July 1, 1990. (Ord. O20250005 § 2 (Exh. A))

14.11.200 Rural Reserve (RRv).

(1)    Purpose. The purpose of the Rural Reserve zone is to allow low-density development and to preserve the open space character of those areas not designated as resource lands or as urban growth areas. Lands in this zone are transitional areas between resource lands and nonresource lands for those uses that require moderate acreage and provide residential and limited employment and service opportunities for rural residents. They establish long-term open spaces and critical area protection using CaRDs as the preferred residential development pattern.

(2)    Allowed Uses. In addition to the uses in SCC 14.11.020, the following uses are allowed in this zone:

(a)    Reserved.

(3)    Dimensional Standards. In addition to dimensional standards in Table 14.11.030-1, the following dimensional standards apply in this zone:

(a)    Maximum Lot Coverage.

(i)    Agricultural accessory or processing uses: 35 percent.

(ii)    All other uses: 20 percent or 5,000 square feet, whichever is greater, not to exceed 25,000 square feet. (Ord. O20260004 § 1 (Att. 2); Ord. O20250005 § 2 (Exh. A))

14.11.300 Rural Village Residential (RVR).

(1)    Purpose. The purpose of the Rural Village Residential district is to preserve the residential character of those portions of Rural Villages designated for residential use, while allowing for limited nonresidential uses appropriate to the village through the special use permit process. Allowed densities within this district are based on the availability of public water and on environmental considerations.

(2)    Dimensional Standards. In addition to dimensional standards in Table 14.11.030-1, the following dimensional standards apply in this zone:

(a)    Minimum Lot Size.

(i)    Where public water service is provided, the minimum lot size is one acre.

(ii)    Where public water service is not provided, the minimum lot size is two and one-half acres.

(b)    Minimum Lot Width.

(i)    Where public water service is provided, the minimum lot width is 75 feet.

(ii)    Where public water service is not provided, the minimum lot size is 150 feet.

(c)    Maximum Density.

(i)    Duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, and manufactured or mobile home parks are limited to four dwelling units per acre.

(3)    Big Lake Rural Village Overlook Golf Course Property. The property that is commonly referred to as the Overlook Golf Course may only be developed at the following densities:

(a)    At one unit per five acres, or at a lower density, when the following condition is met:

(i)    The development is served by public water.

(b)    At a density between one unit per five acres and one unit per one acre when all of the following conditions are met:

(i)    The development is served by public water;

(ii)    The development is served by a public sewer system;

(iii)    The development is permitted as a long CaRD subdivision; and

(iv)    All stormwater facilities and temporary erosion/sedimentation control systems are designed to ensure no pollution to or degradation of Big Lake.

(c)    The development standards described in Subsection (3)(b) of this Section do not apply if the property becomes part of the Mount Vernon urban growth area. (Ord. O20260004 § 1 (Att. 2); Ord. O20250005 § 2 (Exh. A))

14.11.400 Rural Center (RC).

(1)    Purpose. The Rural Center zone recognizes centers or clusters of small retail and service businesses that serve a limited area and rural population outside of established urban growth areas and Rural Villages as designated by the Comprehensive Plan. Rural Centers are small-scale commercial clusters or individual uses are smaller in size and intensity than Rural Villages, intended to serve, to a limited extent, the traveling public at existing crossroads.

(2)    Dimensional Standards. In addition to dimensional standards in Table 14.11.030-1, the following dimensional standards apply in this zone:

(a)    Maximum Size Limit.

(i)    Retail and service uses, including mini-storage, may not exceed 3,000 square feet of gross floor area per building, with a maximum of two buildings per parcel. Buildings may contain more than one business so long as the building falls within the above square footage limits.

(ii)    Fire stations, which may not exceed 8,000 square feet.

(iii)    Storage or other noncommercial uses that are accessory to the permitted use and do not exceed 50 percent of the square footage of the permitted use may not exceed a total of 1,500 square feet per parcel.

(b)    Setbacks.

(i)    Rear: If adjacent to an RVR, RI zone, 20 feet, or the height of the back wall of the building, whichever is greater. Otherwise, the setback is equal to the height of the back wall of the building. (Ord. O20260004 § 1 (Att. 2); Ord. O20250005 § 2 (Exh. A))

14.11.500 Rural Village Commercial (RVC).

(1)    Purpose. The Rural Village Commercial zones are located within each Rural Village identified in the Comprehensive Plan. This zone provides an activity center where rural residents and others can gather, work, shop, entertain and reside. This zone is intended to provide for a range of commercial uses and services to meet the everyday needs of rural residents and natural resource industries, to provide employment opportunities for residents of the rural area, and to provide goods, services, and lodging for travelers and tourists to the area. Requirements specific to individual community plans may be incorporated in this Section.

(2)    “RVC Alger” in the use and dimensional standards tables indicates that portion of the RVC zone in Alger.

(3)    Allowed Uses. In addition to the uses in SCC 14.11.020, the following uses are allowed in this zone:

(a)    Permitted Uses.

(i)    In the RVC zone in Alger, the following uses are allowed:

(A)    Continuation of existing residential uses.

(4)    Dimensional Standards. In addition to dimensional standards in Table 14.11.030-1, the following dimensional standards apply in this zone:

(a)    Setbacks.

(i)    Front setbacks in the Rural Village Commercial zone in Alger adjacent to Old Highway 99 and north of Alger Cain Lake Road are five feet for those RVC properties where the right-of-way is approximately 100 feet wide, provided there is an approved agreement for frontage improvements on Old Highway 99 consistent with the Village Concept Plan in the Alger Community Plan. The agreement must be signed by Skagit County and must include provisions for, at a minimum: landscaping, stormwater management, pathways, driveways, and maintenance.

(ii)    Side and rear: None on interior lots adjacent to other commercial designations. Adjacent to other land use designations, the side setback is eight feet and the rear setback is 20 feet.

(b)    Maximum Size Limits.

(i)    Except for overnight lodging facilities and fire stations, total gross floor area of primary uses may not exceed 6,000 square feet per parcel.

(ii)    Fire stations may not exceed 8,000 square feet.

(iii)    Overnight lodging facilities may not exceed 12,000 square feet of gross floor area per parcel, including any related commercial services.

(iv)    Storage or other noncommercial uses that are accessory to the permitted use, including owner operator/caretaker quarters, up to a total of 1,500 square feet per parcel, are also permitted.

(5)    Pedestrian Circulation.

(a)    Pedestrian walkways must be provided between parking areas and the uses served by that parking.

(b)    Pedestrian facilities must be also provided as specified by an applicable rural village plan.

(c)    In the Rural Village Commercial zone in Alger, pedestrian and bike pathways at least five feet wide are required along the street frontage and between parking areas and the uses they serve.

(i)    Pathways may be surfaced with crushed rock, except for those portions covered by handicapped accessibility requirements.

(ii)    Pathways must include lighting that is full cut-off shielded and directed so that light does not migrate off site. Lighting must be pedestrian scale, with masts no higher than 12 feet and directed to sidewalks, paths, and parking areas.

(6)    Building and Site Design. In the Rural Village Commercial zone in Alger:

(a)    New structures must be compatible with the design of one or more of the existing historic structures, including the old Grange Hall, the Alger Improvement Association Community Hall, and the Alger Bar and Grill.

(b)    Parking areas must be located to the side or rear of buildings. (Ord. O20260004 § 1 (Att. 2); Ord. O20250005 § 2 (Exh. A))

14.11.600 Public Open Space of Regional/Statewide Importance (OSRSI).

(1)    Purpose. The purpose of the Public Open Space zone is to provide for lands in public ownership that are dedicated or reserved for public purposes or enjoyment for recreation, scenic amenities, or for the protection of environmentally sensitive areas.

(2)    Included Areas. This zone encompasses public open space having statewide and regional importance, including, for example:

(a)    Deception Pass, Bayview, Larabee, Rasar, and Rockport State parks;

(b)    County parks including Sharpe Park and Montgomery-Duban Headlands, Howard Miller Steelhead Park, and Pressentin Park;

(c)    Publicly owned portions of Burrows Island, Cypress Island, Hope Island, Huckleberry Island, Saddlebag Island, and Skagit Island;

(d)    Glacier Peak Wilderness, Noisy-Diobsud Wilderness, Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, North Cascades National Park, and the Ross Lake National Recreation Area;

(e)    PUD No. 1 Judy Reservoir;

(f)    Portions of the Northern State Recreation Area;

(g)    Seattle City Light wildlife mitigation lands and Endangered Species Act lands;

(h)    Washington Department of Natural Resources natural resource conservation areas and natural area preserves and Skagit Wildlife Refuge are included in this district.

(3)    Allowed Uses. In addition to the uses in SCC 14.11.020, the following uses are allowed in this zone:

(a)    Permitted Uses.

(i)    Parks that showcase significant historic, archaeological, scientific, cultural and/or unique natural features, unusual landscape features such as cliffs and bluffs or natural processes on wetlands and tidal actions.

(ii)    Public open space areas of regional and Statewide importance, including County, State and Federal parks, recreational areas, and wildlife management areas, including those that provide linkages between neighborhood and community parks.

(iii)    Educational enterprises designed to offer special access to natural resource-based and recreational opportunities on lakes, creeks, streams, river corridors, shorelines, and areas with prominent views.

(b)    Administrative Special Uses.

(i)    In remote areas only, such as east of Concrete and on saltwater islands without ferry service, employee housing sufficient to operate the OSRSI operation.

(4)    Use Limitations.

(a)    There may be Federal or State regulations or limitations which may further limit the use of some facilities within the zone, and Skagit County may not have jurisdiction over some State or Federal facilities within the zone. (Ord. O20250005 § 2 (Exh. A))