Chewelah City Zoning Code

The provisions of this ordinance and amendments to it shall be known and may be cited as "The Chewelah Zoning Ordinance, CMC 18."

(Ord. No. 900, § 7, 8-3-2016)

1. CMC 18 is adopted for the purpose of promoting the health, safety, convenience, comfort, prosperity and general welfare of the city's population. In addition, the purpose of the ordinance is to promote an orderly, compatible use of land and to implement the city's growth in compliance with the provisions and objectives of the comprehensive plan. The ordinance also intends to protect the Constitutional Rights of residents and landowners in the City, consistent with the provisions of Article XI, Section 11 of the Washington State Constitution, RCW 36.70A.370 and WAC 365-196-855, as now in effect or hereafter amended.
2. The specific zones and regulations are designed to facilitate adequate provision of utilities, schools, parks, and housing with essential light, air, privacy, and open space; to lessen congestion on streets and facilitate the safe movement of traffic; to stabilize and enhance property values; to prevent the development of slums and overcrowding of land; and to safeguard the community's economic structure. In so doing, the intent is to ensure the safety and security of home life, and to create and preserve a more healthful, serviceable and attractive municipality and environment in which to live.
3. To most effectively accomplish these purposes, this title divides the city into zones and establishes development standards in accordance with the comprehensive plan. These zones and regulations are deemed necessary and are made with consideration to the character of each zone and its particular suitability for specific uses, the need for such uses, the common rights and interests of all within the zone as well as those of the general public, and with the view of conserving and encouraging the most appropriate use of land throughout the city.

(Ord. No. 900, § 7, 8-3-2016)

1. All structures erected within the limits of Chewelah, after securing all required permits and licenses, shall be erected in compliance with the provisions of this title. No building, structure, or land shall be used and no building or structure shall be erected, altered, enlarged, or relocated which is designed, intended to be used, or used for any use other than that set out or allowed in this title.
2. In their interpretation and application, the provisions of this title shall be held to be minimum requirements, adopted for the promotion of the public health, safety, and general welfare. Whenever the requirements of this title differ from the requirements of any of the lawfully-adopted rules, regulations, ordinances, or deed restrictions, the most restrictive or that imposing the higher standards to be met prior to a land use being permitted shall govern.
3. Any building, structure or use lawfully existing at the time of passage of the ordinance codified in this title, although not in compliance, may be continued as provided for in this title.
4. Except where specifically defined herein, all words used in this title shall carry their customary meanings. Words used in the present tense include future, and the singular includes the plural; the word "shall" is always mandatory, the word "may" is permissive and denotes the use of discretion in making a decision, subject to the judgment of the administrator of said ordinance.
5. Where the official city street and highway map shows a future width greater than the dedicated width, setbacks shall be measured from the proposed future street width line.
6. Property owned or controlled by Religious Organizations
   
   1. An increased density bonus of fifty percent (50%) is allowed for any affordable housing development of any single-family or multi-family residence located on real property owned or controlled by a religious organization.
      
   2. Short-term shelter accommodations on property owned or controlled by a religious organization, pursuant to and subject to RCW 35.21.915, are allowed, following city administration approval of a health and safety inspection and adherence to any city-imposed conditions thereto.
      

(Ord. No. 900, § 7, 8-3-2016)

"Wetland” or “Wetlands" means areas that are inundated or saturated by surface water or groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that which under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions. Wetlands generally include swamps, marshes, bogs, and similar areas. Wetlands do not include those artificial wetlands intentionally created from non-wetland sites, including but not limited to, irrigation and drainage ditches, grass lined swales, canals, detention facilities, Wastewater Treatment Facilities, farm ponds and landscape amenities, or those wetlands created after July 1, 1990, that were unintentionally created as a result of the construction of a road, street, or highway. Wetlands shall include those artificial wetlands intentionally created from non-wetland areas to mitigate wetland conversions.

(Ord. No. 900, § 7, 8-3-2016)