This district implements the medium density residential designation, which allows up to ten dwelling units per net acre. It is intended to provide areas for family and group residential uses, and serves as an alternative to lower density family residential housing and more intensively developed group residential housing and related uses. Builders are encouraged to emphasize elements such as porches and doorways and de-emphasize garage doors and car ports through creative design. All nonresidential structures should be designed to blend in with and enhance the residential character of the surrounding neighborhood. Through the following standards this district provides medium density housing designed to provide:

A.

Individual entries and transition from public and communal areas to private areas;

B.

Building projections, level changes and so forth to effectively define areas for a variety of outdoor functions as well as privacy; and

C.

Landscaping and open space to serve as extension of living areas.

(Ord. 541 § 1 (part), 1999)

The following uses are permitted outright within the multifamily district, subject to compliance with all other applicable requirements of the Town Municipal Code. The department of health will determine minimum lot size requirements until such time as the Town is able to provide sanitary sewer service.

A.

Dwelling.

• Transitional housing

• Emergency housing

• Emergency shelter

• Permanent supportive housing

• Family unit (includes specified factory-built/manufactured or modular home the meets UBC)

• Multifamily apartment (twenty unit maximum)

• Multifamily duplex, triplex, or fourplex unit (town homes)

• Zero-lot line (four units minimum)

• Accessory dwelling

B.

Daycare centers.

C.

Public parks, trails, picnic areas, and playgrounds, but not including amusement parks, golf courses, or commercial recreation.

(Ord. No. 790, 8-14-2024; Ord. 541 § 1 (part), 1999)

The following uses and structures customarily appurtenant to a permitted use, and clearly incidental to such permitted use, are allowed within the multifamily district:

A.

Adult day care and adult family homes;

B.

Accessory dwelling unit, provided:

1.

Minimum lot of seven thousand two hundred square feet;

2.

One of the residences is the primary residence of a person who owns at least fifty percent of the property;

3.

May be attached or detached to the primary residence;

4.

Minimum of three parking spaces on the property;

5.

The units are not sold as condominiums;

6.

Site percolation study approved by Snohomish County Department of Health;

7.

Meets all building laws and regulations;

8.

Cannot have axels.

C.

Family child care homes;

D.

Garage or carport (private) not exceeding one thousand five hundred square feet in floor area, provided it is located on the same lot as the principal use and is subject to the regulations affecting the main building;

E.

Greenhouses (noncommercial) and storage sheds not exceeding one thousand square feet in floor area;

F.

Home occupations;

G.

Parking areas.

(Ord. No. 757, 11-4-2020; Ord. 541 § 1 (part), 1999)

The following uses may be allowed within the medium density residential district, subject to the requirements, procedures, and conditions established by the conditional use permits chapter of this title:

A.

Bed and Breakfast Inns. Guest house;

B.

Churches and community center buildings;

C.

Convalescent, nursing and retirement homes for not over twelve patients;

D.

Manufactured/mobile home park, meeting the following requirements:

1.

The development site shall comprise not less than two contiguous acres;

2.

Overall development density shall not exceed eight dwelling units per acre;

3.

Vehicular access to individual dwelling units shall be from the interior of the park; and

4.

Emergency access shall be subject to the approval of the Darrington fire department/building official;

E.

Electrical Substations. Distribution, sewer lift stations and other public utility facilities;

F.

Fire and police stations;

G.

Libraries, museums or art galleries (public);

H.

Cellular antennas attached to an existing structure, provided the largest dimension of an antenna does not exceed four feet, and the total combined front surface area of the antennas does not exceed eight square feet. When attached to an existing structure that exceeds the height limit, the height of the structure shall not be exceeded. Recreation facilities (public) including, but not limited to sports fields, community centers, and golf courses;

I.

Reserved;

J.

Schools, preschool, elementary, junior, or senior high schools (public), and equivalent private schools;

K.

Private concessionaires as temporary accessory uses in recreational facilities not to exceed sixty days duration.

(Ord. No. 605, Att. A, 11-10-2004; Ord. 541 § 1 (part), 1999)

Design review is required for all multifamily structures and mobile or manufactured home parks; (See the Board of Architectural Review Ch. 17.60.)

(Ord. 541 § 1 (part), 1999)

Development within the medium density residential district shall conform to the following listed and referenced standards. All lot area standards subject to Snohomish health district review until sewer service is available. All off-street parking shall occur in designated areas only.

R-MD Basic Development Standards

* Minimum lot area required to allow development of existing lots to be determined by the Snohomish County health district.

(Ord. No. 605, Att. A, 11-10-2004; Ord. 541 § 1 (part), 1999)