HomeMy WebLinkAbout3338Ordinance No. 3338
["Beginning July 1, 1998"]
(Amending or Repealing Ordinances)
CFN=131 —Zoning Codes
Passed 2/18/1997
Revise Development Standards of the Green River Corridor Special Interest District
Relating to Building on Riverfront Lots
Amended by Ords. 3600 & 3612 (Sec. 15.08.260)
Amended by Ord. 3746; 3750
ORDINANCE NO. 3 3 3 8
AN ORDINANCE of the City Council of the City of
Kent, Washington, amending Chapter 15 of the Kent City
Code to revise development standards of the Green River
Corridor Special Interest District relating to building length
on riverfront lots.
WHEREAS, in 1981 the Kent City Council approved the Valley Studies
Program creating the Green River Corridor Special Interest District to protect, conserve
and manage areas generally located on both sides of the Green River, and to ensure that
urban development within the district is compatible with the open natural configuration of
the Green River and its adjacent lands; and
WHEREAS, the Kent City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2544 on March
19, 1985 in order to provide definitions, regulations, and standards for the Green River
Corridor Special Interest District; and
WHEREAS, one of the regulations adopted by Ordinance No. 2544 states
that no building on any riverfront lot shall have an exterior wall parallel to or within forty-
five degrees of parallel to the river which exceeds two hundred (200) feet; and
WHEREAS, since 1985 significant changes to development regulations on
environmentally sensitive lands and the creation of the Green River Natural Resources
Enhancement Area have resulted in the protection of a substantial portion of the east side
of the Green River Corridor Special Interest District from future urban development; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of the Green River Corridor Special Interest
District has been met by a land use pattern which is compatible with the open natural
configuration of the Green River and its adjacent lands and few undeveloped industrial
properties remain within the Green River Corridor; and
WHEREAS, the Land Use and Planning Board held a public hearing on
February 10, 1997 and moved to recommend revisions to the Green River Corridor
Special Interest District regulations to the Kent City Council; and
WHEREAS, the Kent City Council concurs with the Land Use and Planning
Board and finds amendments to the Green River Corridor Special Interest District
regulations would assist the City and the public by allowing more flexibility in site design
for the few remaining industrial sites near the Green River; NOW, THEREFORE,
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENT, WASHINGTON, DOES
HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 15.08.260 of the Kent City Code entitled "Green
River Corridor Special Interest District Regulations" is hereby amended by amending
subsection (D)7 and by amending subsection (D)9 by adding new subsection (D)9(c) as
follows:
Sec 15 08 260
Green River Corridor
sgecial
interest
district regulations
A. Purpose.
The Green River
Corridor
special
interest district
is hereby
created to protect, conserve and manage areas generally located on both sides of the Green
River, and to ensure that urban development within the district is compatible with the open
natural configuration of the Green River and its adjacent lands.
B. Location.
1. The Green River Corridor special interest district is that area of the
city one thousand (1,000) feet from the ordinary high-water line of
the Green River; provided that the shoreline master program shall
govern development within the first two hundred (200) feet of the
ordinary high-water line of the river. The district is more
particularly described as follows:
Two (2) strips of land each eight hundred (800.00)
feet in width which begin at the north city limit line,
on March 4, 1985, and end at the south city limit
line. which south line ends in Section 30, Township
22 North, Range 5 East, W.M. Each strip shall be
measured from each side of the Green River and the
measurement shall be two hundred (200) feet from
the ordinary high-water line of the river, all in King
County, Washington; except any portions thereof
lying outside of the city limits.
This district shall also include unique and fragile areas beyond the
one -thousand -foot corridor. The strips of land described in this
subsection and the unique and fragile areas are illustrated on the
hazard area development limitations map, attached to the ordinance
from which this section is derived as exhibit A and by this reference
incorporated in this section.
2. Property exemption. Property platted in accordance with the city
subdivision code, Ordinance No. 1840, before March 2, 1981
(adoption of the Valley Studies), shall be exempt from the
provisions of this section.
C. Unique and fragile overlay zone.
1. Created. There is hereby created a unique and fragile overlay zone.
The location and boundaries of the zone, to be known as unique and
fragile areas, class I, and unique and fragile areas, class II, are
more particularly described on the hazard area development
limitations map, referred to in subsection B. of this section as
Exhibit A.
2. Purpose. The purpose of the overlay zone is to implement the
adopted policies of the Valley Studies Program.
3. Development limitations.
a. Unique and fragile areas, class I. Uses within the unique
and fragile areas, class I, shall be limited to agricultural uses
permitted in the A-1 (agricultural) zone, as set out in section
15.04.005.
b. Unique and fragile areas, class II. Unique and fragile areas,
class II, lie within a flood control district and are
specifically designated floodways or floodway fringe areas.
There shall be no disruption or destruction of areas
identified as unique and fragile areas, class II, except new
dikes and levees constructed for public safety reasons. Such
improvements shall be designed so as not to intrude within
unique and fragile areas, class II. Where class II areas are
not surrounded by class I areas, a one -hundred -foot buffer
shall be provided between the class II area and the allowed
use.
D. Development standards.
1. Green River access. No building or lot within the district shall be
constructed or created without providing access to the Green River
via public sidewalks or a private trail system. Such sidewalks or
private trail systems shall connect to riverside public trails or scenic
drives at intervals of one thousand (1,000) feet or less in industrial
developments, and intervals of five hundred (500) feet or less in
residential developments.
2. Pedestrian access in residential development. In residential
4
developments, pedestrian access to the Green River shall be
accomplished without crossing streets or roads, except scenic and
recreational roads, unless clearly shown to be infeasible.
3. Parking facilities. Parking facilities for access to the Green River
shall be located as near as practicable to riverfront parks or historic
sites and shall be clustered in lots not exceeding thirty (30) cars.
Every public parking area shall be visible from a street accessible
to the public and be situated so that the public can clearly see
riverfront open space and gain access to the public portion of that
open space.
4. Payment in lieu of parking facilities. The city may accept or require
payment in lieu of providing parking facilities which are required
as a condition of the issuance of development permits.
5. Loading dock location. Loading docks shall not be constructed on
river -facing sides of buildings located on riverfront lots.
6. Building height. Buildings located outside the two -hundred -foot
shoreline management zone but within the district shall not exceed
thirty-five (35) feet in height.
7. Exterior walls of buildings. No building on any riverfront lot shall
have an exterior wall parallel to, or within forty-five (45) degrees
of parallel to, the river which exceeds two hundred (200) feet in
length, except as follows: buildings on riverfront lots in the MA.
M 1 M 1 C M2 and M3 zoning districts may have exterior walls
parallel to or within forty-five (45) degrees of parallel to. the rivyur
which exceed two hundred (200) feet in length provided they are
screened by a vegetative buffer per Section 15 08 260 (D)9(c).
8. Lots.
a. Each riverfront lot within a subdivision shall contain area
sufficient to comply with minimum lot size requirements of
5
chapter 15.04 and provide a public access easement and
building setback line as required by this section.
b. No subdivision of professional and office (0), general
commercial (GC), industrial agricultural (MA), industrial
park (M1) and limited industrial (M2) zoned land shall be
approved unless each lot within the subdivision has an
upland boundary at least five hundred (500) feet from the
ordinary high-water line of the river.
9. Vegetation buffer.
a. A permanent vegetation buffer, in accordance with
subsection 15.07.050 C. pertaining to landscaping type III,
shall be maintained or established for each building or use
within the district. Any materials storage yard, truck
maneuvering area, equipment parking area, junkyard, refuse
storage or similar use within the district shall install such a
permanent vegetative buffer between the use and the Green
River within two (2) years of the effective date of the
ordinance from which this section is derived.
b. Landscape screening and buffer strips shall be planted in
order to be harmonious with those already planted on
adjacent properties and consistent with the city landscaping
requirements as set out in chapter 15.07.
C. Buildings on riverfront lots in industrial zoning districts
which have exterior walls exceeding two hundred (200) feet
in length parallel to or within forty-five (45) degrees of
parallel to the river must be screened by a vegetation
buffer. This vegetative buffer shall be located along the
length of the property line located parallel to, or within
forty-five (45) degrees of parallel to. the river, for a
I
7
minimum depth of tweM (20) feet in accordance with Tyne
III Visual Buffer landscape standards pursuant to Section
15.07.050(c). In addition an earth berm of a minimum of
forty --eight (48) inches in height must be provided for.
10.
Rail lines. No rail lines shall be permitted within five hundred (500)
feet of the Green River; provided, however, rail lines shall be
permitted to within three hundred (300) feet of the Green River in
those locations specified on exhibit B attached to the ordinance from
which this section is derived and by this reference incorporated in
this section, such locations having been found to be best suited to
rail.
11.
Road access. All new lots and buildings shall be designed with
primary street access to streets other than scenic and recreational
roads, unless no other access is available.
12.
Street connections. Development shall include no street connections
to scenic and recreational roads, unless no other access is available.
13.
Utilities. Utilities shall be installed in accordance with chapter 7.10.
14.
Surface drainage facilities. Surface drainage facilities such as
drainage channels and retention areas shall be designed to applicable
city standards and shall be integral parts, if possible, of any
common trail and open space system connections to the riverfront.
E. Performance standards.
1.
Fish and game requirements. The applicant shall comply with
applicable requirements of the state department of fisheries and state
department of game for preventing and mitigating adverse impacts
on fish and wildlife resources and enhancing wildlife habitat.
2.
Flood control works. If city funds are used in the construction of
flood control works such as dikes, levees or floodwalls, public
rights of access to such works shall be dedicated prior to
7
construction, where practicable.
SECTION I - Severabilih. If any one or more sections, subsections, or
sentences of this Ordinance are held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such decision shall not
affect the validity of the remaining portion of this Ordinance and the same shall remain in
full force and effect.
SECTION 3. - E,ffective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect and be in
force thirty (30) days from the time of its final approval and passage as providW by law.
WHITE, MAYOR
ATTEST:
BRENDA JACOB , CI Y CLERK
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
PASSED:_ day of 1 i , 1997.
APPROVED:_ day of , 1997.
PUBLISHED: c,24 day of '2 u -a T, 1997.
I hereby certify that this is a true copy of Ordinance No. 333g , passed by
the City Council of the City of Kent, Washington, and approved by the Mayor of the City
of Kent as hereon indicated.
(SEAL)
BRENDA J OB CITY CLERK
P:�LAWVORD!NANC: GRI VER2.ORD