Kittitas County Unincorporated
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 17
44 C-H HIGHWAY COMMERCIAL ZONE
§ 17.44.010 Purpose and intent.
It is the purpose and intent of the highway commercial zone to provide for motorist-tourist dependent businesses having little interdependence and requiring convenient access to passing traffic.
(Ord. 83-Z-2 (part), 1983)
§ 17.44.015 Development within the Ellensburg Urban Growth Area (UGA).
For properties located within the City of Ellensburg UGA, the use and development standards in KCC § 17.11.030 through § 17.11.039 shall be utilized. Where KCC § 17.11.030 through § 17.11.039 does not identify use and development standards to be utilized for development within the Ellensburg UGA, this chapter shall apply.
(Ord. 2022-017, 2022)
§ 17.44.020 Allowed uses.
Uses allowed in the highway commercial zone include those uses pursuant to KCC Chapter 17.15.
(Ord. 83-Z-2 (part), 1983; Ord. 96-19 (part), 1996; Ord. 2007-22, 2007; Ord. 2011-013, 2011; Ord. 2013-001, 2013)
§ 17.44.030 Off-street parking.
Note: Former § 17.44.030, derived from Ord. 83-Z-2, was repealed by Ord. 2013-001, 2013.
1.
Residential parking exceptions.
a.
Garages are not required to meet minimum parking spaces required in Table 17.11.039(4)(a)(i).
b.
Parking spaces that count towards minimum parking requirements may be enclosed or unenclosed.
c.
Tandem parking spaces must count towards meeting minimum parking requirements at a rate of one space for every 20 linear feet with any necessary provisions for turning radius.
d.
Existence of legally nonconforming gravel surfacing in existing designated parking areas may not be a reason for prohibiting utilization of existing space in the parking area to meet local parking standards, up to a maximum of six parking spaces.
e.
Parking space sizes shall be eight feet by 20 feet, except for required parking for people with disabilities.
f.
Off-street parking is not required as a condition of permitting a residential project if compliance with tree retention would otherwise make a proposed residential development or redevelopment infeasible.
g.
Parking spaces that consist of grass block pavers may count toward minimum parking requirements.
h.
Existing parking spaces that do not conform to the requirements of this section by June 6, 2024, are not required to be modified or resized, except for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act[1]. Existing paved parking lots are not required to change the size of existing parking spaces during resurfacing if doing so will be more costly or require significant reconfiguration of the parking space locations.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 42 U.S.C. Section 12101 et seq.
(Ord. 2026-004, 6/16/2026)
§ 17.44.040 Minimum lot size.
It is the intent of this chapter that each business be situated on a site of sufficient size to provide all off-street parking, loading and necessary driveways.
(Ord. 83-Z-2 (part), 1983)
§ 17.44.050 Setback requirements.
1.
Front setback. There shall be a minimum front yard depth of fifteen (15) feet. Off-street parking and maneuvering area shall not be considered as front yard;
2.
Side setback. Ten (10) feet;
3.
Rear setback. Ten (10) feet;
4.
Side and rear yard setbacks may be modified in accordance with KCC § 16.10.065.
(Ord. 83-Z-2 (part), 1983; Ord. 2007-22, 2007; Ord. 2013-001, 2013; Ord. 2022-005, 2022)
§ 17.44.055 Setback requirements - Zones adjacent to Commercial Forest Zone.
Properties bordering or adjacent to the Commercial Forest zone are subject to a two hundred (200)-foot setback from the Commercial Forest Zone. (KCC § 17.57.050(1)). For properties where such setback isn't feasible, development shall comply with KCC § 17.57.050(2).
(Ord. 2007-22, 2007; Ord. 2013-001, 2013)
§ 17.44.060 Building height.
The maximum height of any structure shall be 40 feet.
(Ord. 83-Z-2 (part), 1983; Ord. 2022-017, 2022)
§ 17.44.070 Existing residential exceptions.
Note: Former § 17.44.070, derived from Ord. 83-Z-2, was repealed by Ord. 2013-001, 2013.
1.
A portion of exterior wall assemblies that include insulation shall be allowed to project up to an additional eight inches into the setbacks on all sides.
2.
A building shall be allowed to exceed the maximum allowable roof height by eight inches to accommodate additional insulation.
3.
Gross floor area shall be measured from the interior face of the exterior walls, which includes drywall, as typically depicted on the architectural floor plans.
(Ord. 2026-004, 6/16/2026)
§ 17.44.080 Access.
All lots in this district shall abut a public street, or shall have such other access as deemed suitable by the board.
(Ord. 83-Z-2 (part), 1983; Ord. 2013-001, 2013)
