Deer Park City Zoning Code

Application for a building permit shall be obtained from the city building department and it shall be completed in full. The applicant will secure all other necessary permits, variances, environmental review, rezones and any other required review prior to applying for a building permit. Applications must be submitted with a plot/site plan drawn to scale clearly showing all streets, alleys, easements, and setbacks and including a copy of the plans for new construction. All building permits shall be approved by the building department/planning department, and the water and sewer department (as applicable for location and availability of services) before approval of the application is granted. In granting approval of the application, the city building department/planning department shall affirm that the proposal will:

In making its decision, the building department/planning department may require that additional information, if deemed reasonable and proper, be furnished by the applicant. The building department/planning department reserves the right to impose reasonable and special conditions on a permit to protect the health, safety, morals and general welfare of the city. Upon determination that the plans and intended use of the building or property conform in all respects with the provisions of this title, a building permit shall be granted and shall be issued by the city building department upon payment of all fees.

In accordance with all requirements and procedures of DPMC Title 19, any building permit issued under the provisions of this chapter shall be processed as a Type I (ministerial) or Type II (administrative) application, depending upon whether or not the application is subject to SEPA evaluation.

To protect the community from the adverse effects of poor design and to encourage good professional design practices;

To enhance the beauty, livability, and prosperity of the community;

To encourage high quality development;

To discourage poor exterior design, appearance, and inferior quality which is likely to have a depreciating effect on the local environment and surrounding area; and

To encourage originality, creativity, and diversity in design and to avoid monotony.

Interior design and interior modifications to buildings or structures; and

Minor remodeling projects; provided, that such remodeling does not involve a change in the architectural style of the building or structure, and does alter exterior site features such as landscaping, driveways, and walkways.

The following standards and criteria may be used by the planning commission which may require changes in materials, general design and layout, and other design changes as may be necessary.

The planning commission shall ensure the compatible design of all multifamily and nonresidential projects which abut properties in the R-1A, R-2A, R-2B, R-3A, or R-3B zones. To accomplish this goal, the planning commission shall have the authority to impose more restrictive development standards than the provisions of the zone in which the project is located. The planning commission shall review each multifamily and nonresidential project in terms of its impact on the adjoining residential neighborhood, including but not limited to such design elements as window location, balconies, location of recreational facilities, entryways, and garage or parking locations. The planning commission may require transitional height increases in order to promote a visual transition between the multifamily or nonresidential project and the adjoining residential neighborhood and to ensure that adequate landscape buffering is provided and permanently maintained. The planning commission shall also consider building facades, roof designs, and use of materials and colors to ensure compatibility with the architectural design elements generally found in the adjoining residential neighborhood.

All uses shall fully comply with all applicable federal, state, and regional standards governing noise, vibrations, odors, air quality, smoke, hazardous materials, sanitary waste, and solid waste.

All uses shall be operated in such a manner that there is no discharge whatsoever into a public or private sewerage disposal system or into the ground of any materials that may contaminate any domestic water supply source or surface waters, or that may otherwise cause the emission of dangerous or offensive elements.

All flammable materials shall be stored in accordance with the latest edition of the Uniform Fire Code in a manner satisfactory to the fire chief.

All lighting shall be arranged so as to not produce glare on public roadways and/or upon any neighboring residential properties. Welding, acetylene torch, or other similar processes shall be performed so as to not be seen from outside the property lines.

All roadways, parking spaces, and storage areas shall be treated and maintained to effectively eliminate dust as a result of wind or usage. Open spaces shall be landscaped or otherwise maintained to effectively eliminate dust.

All uses shall collect and suitably dispose of stormwater runoff. Any building permit application shall be accompanied by a drainage plan, and the approved stormwater runoff collection and disposal system shall be installed and functional prior to approval of completed construction on the property.

All open storage that does not constitute a display for retail, wholesale or rental use shall be enclosed by a fence or wall six feet in height which obscures the view of the open storage area from adjoining properties and streets. As an alternative to a fence or wall, the city may permit one of the following: planting of a solid evergreen hedge at least six feet in height (such as green arborvitae shrubs); installation of a landscaped berm with the berm being a minimum of six feet in height; or development of a combination landscaped earthen berm topped with a solid evergreen hedge having a combined total minimum height of at least six feet.