Marysville City Zoning Code

Promote the distinct character and quality of life and development expected by the community as indicated and supported in the policies of the comprehensive plan;

Maintain and protect property values;

Enhance the visual appearance of the city;

Enhance the compatibility of new development with surrounding properties;

Provide visual relief from large expanses of parking areas and reduction of perceived building scale;

Provide physical separation between residential and nonresidential areas;

Provide visual screens and barriers as a transition between differing land uses;

Preserve and enhance Marysville's urban forest;

Preserve and enhance existing vegetation and significant trees by incorporating them into the site design; and

Reduce storm water runoff pollution, temperature and volume.

Be submitted at the time of application for a development permit; and

Include the following elements:

Water Conservation Standards.

Water Efficient Landscape (Xeriscape) Standards.

Storm Water. Applicants are encouraged to incorporate landscaping into the on-site storm water treatment system to the greatest extent practicable.

All required landscaping shall be in place before certificates of occupancy are issued. If, due to weather conditions, it is not feasible to install required landscape improvements, a temporary certificate of occupancy may be issued after a performance bond, irrevocable letter of credit, or assignment of cash deposit has been posted in accordance with Chapter 22G.040 MMC. Upon completion of the landscape improvements, the bond or device is released and a permanent certificate of occupancy issued; except a maintenance bond, irrevocable letter of credit, or assignment of cash deposit in accordance with Chapter 22G.040 MMC shall be required for a minimum duration of two growing seasons (March through October), as prescribed in subsection (2) of this section.

A certificate of occupancy may be issued only after a maintenance bond, irrevocable letter of credit, or assignment of cash deposit has been posted in accordance with Chapter 22G.040 MMC. This bond, irrevocable letter of credit, or assignment of cash deposit shall be held for a minimum duration of two growing seasons (March through October) to assure the full establishment of all plantings. After two growing seasons, if the plantings are fully established, the maintenance bond, irrevocable letter of credit, or assignment of cash deposit is released. If the plantings have not been fully established, the bond, irrevocable letter of credit, or assignment of cash deposit shall be held for one additional growing season, then released or used to re-establish the plantings, whichever is appropriate.

Projects requiring minor landscaping improvements, as determined by the community development director, shall submit a maintenance bond, irrevocable letter or credit, or assignment of cash deposit in an amount equal to the current cost of the landscaping work, for a minimum duration of one year.

L1 – Opaque Screen. A screen that is opaque from the ground to a height of at least six feet, with intermittent visual obstructions from the opaque portion to a height of at least 20 feet. An opaque screen is intended to exclude all visual contact between uses and to create a strong impression of spatial separation. The opaque screen may be composed of a wall, fence, landscaped earth berm, planted vegetation, or existing vegetation. Compliance of planted vegetative screens or natural vegetation will be judged on the basis on the average mature height and density of foliage of the subject species, or field observation of existing vegetation. The opaque portion of the screen must be opaque in all seasons of the year. At maturity, the portion of intermittent visual obstructions should not contain any completely unobstructed openings more than 10 feet wide. The portion of intermittent visual obstructions may contain deciduous plants. Suggested planting patterns that will achieve this standard are included in administrative guidelines prepared by the community development department.

L2 – Semi-Opaque Screen. A screen that is opaque from the ground to a height of three feet, with intermittent visual obstruction from above the opaque portion to a height of at least 20 feet. The semi-opaque screen is intended to partially block visual contact between uses and to create a strong impression of the separation of spaces. The semi-opaque screen may be composed of a wall, fence, landscaped earth berm, planted vegetation, or existing vegetation. Compliance of planted vegetative screens or natural vegetation will be judged on the basis of the average mature height and density of foliage of the subject species, or field observation of existing vegetation. At maturity, the portion of intermittent visual obstructions should not contain any completely unobstructed openings more than 10 feet wide. The zone of intermittent visual obstruction may contain deciduous plants. Suggested planting patterns which will achieve this standard are included in administrative guidelines prepared by the community development department.

L3 – Broken Screen. A screen composed of intermittent visual obstructions from the ground to a height of at least 20 feet. The broken screen is intended to create the impression of a separation of spaces without necessarily eliminating visual contact between the spaces. It may be composed of a wall, fence, landscaped earth berm, planted vegetation, or existing vegetation. Compliance of planted vegetative screens or natural vegetation will be judged on the basis of the average mature height and density of foliage of the subject species, or field observation of existing vegetation. The screen may contain deciduous plants. Suggested planting patterns which will achieve this standard are included in administrative guidelines prepared by the community development department.

L4 – Parking Area Landscaping. Landscaping that provides shade and visual relief while maintaining clear sight lines within parking areas. Planting areas should contain a mixture of evergreen and deciduous trees, shrubs and ground cover in planting islands or strips having an area of at least 75 square feet and narrow dimension of no less than five feet. Suggested planting patterns which will achieve this standard are included in administrative guidelines prepared by the community development department.

L5 – Retention/Detention Pond Landscaping. Landscaping that provides visual relief through a reduction in sight lines visible from a public right-of-way. Landscaping shall include all visible perimeter areas including side slopes and benches visible from said right-of-way. Planting areas must be a minimum of five feet in width along adjacent right-of-way and may incorporate no more than 30 percent deciduous plantings due to maintenance and pond performance constraints. Landscaped areas shall be on the exterior of any walls or fences; provided, that this requirement shall not apply to side slopes or benches within the fenced area. Suggested planting patterns that will achieve this standard are included in administrative guidelines prepared by the community development department.

Parking areas or outdoor storage areas fronting on a street right-of-way shall provide a landscaped buffer, in accordance with MMC § 22C.120.120, Table 1, along the entire street frontage except for driveways; provided, that the plantings shall not obstruct the sight distance at street intersections.

Additional plantings may be placed on street rights-of-way behind the sidewalk line if the property owner provides the city with a written release of liability for damages which may be incurred to the planting area from any public use or right-of-way.

Planted areas next to pedestrian walkways and sidewalks shall be maintained or plant material chosen to maintain a clear zone between three and eight feet from ground level.

Landscape plant material size, variety, color and texture within parking lots should be integrated with the overall site landscape design.

Ten percent of the parking area, in addition to the required buffers above, shall be landscaped with Type L4 landscaping; provided, that:

Purpose. To provide consistent street frontage character within the street right-of-way. The street tree standards also maintain and add to Marysville's tree canopy and enhance the overall appearance of commercial and neighborhood development. Trees are an integral aspect of the Marysville landscape and add to the livability of Marysville. They provide aesthetic and economic value to property owners and the community.

Street Tree Implementation.

Where the community development director determines that it is not feasible and/or desirable to plant the required street trees, the applicant shall pay into the city tree fund an amount of money approximating the current market value of the trees, as well as labor costs for installation of said trees, that would otherwise be required. The city shall use the city tree fund for the purpose of acquiring, maintaining, and preserving wooded areas, and for planting and maintaining trees within the city.

Maintenance. Street trees and other landscaping shall be maintained and irrigated by the adjacent property owner, unless otherwise approved by the community development department.

Option 1 – 10-Foot-Wide Landscape Buffer with Fence. The following standards apply:

Option 2 – 20-Foot-Wide Landscaping Buffer. The following standards apply:

Exceptions. Exceptions to these screening standards may be made if the city finds the recommended alternative meets long-term screening objectives. Specifically:

All garbage collection, dumpsters, recycling areas, loading and outdoor storage or activity areas (including but not limited to areas used to store raw materials, finished and partially finished products and wastes) shall be screened from view of persons on adjacent properties and properties that are located across a street or alley. Screening may be accomplished by any one of the following techniques or their equivalent:

All landscaped areas and plants required by this chapter must be permanently maintained in a healthy growing condition in order to accomplish the purpose for which they were required.

Dead or diseased plants must be replaced within 30 days of notification, or as soon as practical in regard to freezing weather, or complex situations involving the removal and replacement of large trees.

All landscaped areas must be kept free of debris and weeds.

Plant material must not interfere with public utilities, restrict pedestrian or vehicular access, or constitute a traffic hazard.

Planted areas next to pedestrian walkways and sidewalks shall be maintained or plant material chosen to maintain a clear zone between three and eight feet from ground level.

The owners, their agents and assigns are responsible for providing, protecting, and maintaining all landscaping material in a healthy and growing condition, replacing it when necessary, and keeping it free of refuse and debris.

All fencing, walls and other features used for screening purposes shall be kept free of litter, debris, and weeds.

When the total area for required landscaping, and that within the dripline of retained trees, exceeds 15 percent of the area of the site, the landscaping requirement may be reduced so that the total required landscape and tree retention area will not exceed 15 percent of site area;

The width of the perimeter landscape strip may be reduced up to 25 percent along any portion where:

When an existing structure precludes installation of the total amount of required site perimeter landscaping, such landscaping material shall be incorporated on another portion of the site;

The width of any required perimeter landscaping may be averaged, provided the minimum width is not less than five feet;

The width of the perimeter landscaping may be reduced up to 10 percent when a development retains 10 percent of significant trees or 10 significant trees per acre on site, whichever is greater;

The landscaping requirement may be modified when existing conditions on or adjacent to the site, such as significant topographic differences, vegetation, structures or utilities, would render application of this chapter ineffective or result in scenic view obstruction;

Street perimeter landscaping may be waived provided a site plan is approved that provides a significant amount of street trees and other pedestrian-related amenities.