Mountlake Terrace City Zoning Code

Town Center 1 (TC-1). This zone is intended to emphasize transit-oriented employment development in those Town Center areas closest to the planned light rail station. Professional office is the primary envisioned use followed by multifamily and supportive and complementary retail commercial uses. Six- to 12-story buildings are envisioned throughout the district.

Town Center 2 (TC-2). This zone is intended to function as the center for retail, cultural, dining and entertainment activity in Mountlake Terrace. Multifamily uses are envisioned to be the primary use on upper floors. Four- to eight-story buildings are envisioned throughout the district.

Town Center 3 (TC-3). This zone is intended to emphasize multifamily residential uses and serve as buffer areas adjacent to the Town Center. Professional office and small-scale commercial/retail uses are envisioned as a secondary use. Four- to six-story buildings are envisioned throughout the district.

Town Center-Reserve (TC-R). This zone, while outside the official Town Center boundary, is intended to allow for a smaller scale mixture of multifamily, retail commercial, and professional office uses primarily centered on 56th Avenue W north and south of the Town Center. Two- to four-story buildings are envisioned throughout the district.

Permitted Use (P). Where the letter "P" appears in the box at the intersection of the column and the row, the use is allowed in that district subject to applicable conditions or other standards (if any) listed in the "conditions/reference" column to the right and the review procedures specified in MTMC Title 18, Land Use Planning and Development, and the general requirements of the code.

Conditional Use (C). Where the letter "C" appears in the box at the intersection of the column and the row, the use is allowed subject to applicable conditions or other standards (if any) listed in the "conditions/reference" column to the right and to the conditional use review procedures specified in MTMC Title 18, Land Use Planning and Development, and the general requirements of the code.

Use Not Permitted ( ). Where no symbol appears in the box at the intersection of the column and the row, the use is not allowed in that district, except for certain temporary uses.

For uses containing a superscript number ^(X), refer to the applicable condition in the "conditions/reference" column to the right.

For unlisted uses, see the provisions of MTMC § 19.20.050.

Additional requirements pursuant to this code, including but not exclusive to specific zoning districts, must apply. Such requirements must govern a use, whether or not such requirements are cross-referenced in this section.

Purpose. To promote forms of development that reinforce and/or enhance the desired character of the Town Center zones.

Key to the Dimensional Standards Table.

Dimensional Standards Table.

A public sidewalk conforming to City standards for sidewalks along the abutting street must be provided between the on-street frontage parking and the on-site development consistent with the streetscape standards set forth in MTMC § 19.50.080. The sidewalk must be designed as a continuation of, and an extension to, the existing or planned network of street sidewalks for the area and must accommodate all planned improvements for and along sidewalks, e.g., benches, lighting, landscaping. A public pedestrian and sidewalk improvement easement must be provided in a form acceptable to the City.

Cantilevered Upper Floors. Where applicable sidewalk improvements extend beyond the existing right-of-way, upper floors of the abutting structure may cantilever over the required sidewalk area up to the right-of-way edge as set forth in MTMC § 19.50.080, provided all the following standards are met:

On-Street Parking.

Pedestrian Core Streets. Pedestrian core streets are intended to function as the Town Center's primary pedestrian, retail and arts/cultural streets. This designation includes the planned extension of 57th Avenue W between 232nd Street SW to 236th Street SW and the planned 233rd Street SW between 56th and 58th Avenues. It is recognized that these streets will be extended in multiple phases. Figure 19.50.080(A)(1) below illustrates the required streetscape cross-section. Figure 19.50.080(A)(2) illustrates cross-section standard options for pedestrian core streets.

Town Center Streets. This includes most other streets within the Town Center. These streets are intended to function as pedestrian-friendly streets. This includes a combination of existing streets to be improved and the planned extension of 231st Street SW, between 57th and 60th Avenues W. Figure 19.50.080(B) illustrates the cross-section standard for Town Center Streets, depending on the chosen block frontage design (see Article II of Chapter 19.123 MTMC), unless otherwise directed by an adopted streetscape plan.

Planned Shared Access Corridors. The Town Center Subarea Plan calls for several mid-block "access corridors" intended to primarily enhance pedestrian circulation in the area, while also providing an option for vehicular access to on-site parking, functioning as a design amenity to new development, and breaking up of the massing of buildings on long blocks. Specific alignments for the access corridors will be developed during the development review process for applicable sites. If an applicant owns a lot containing a proposed access corridor within it or along the edge of the property, the applicant must provide such mid-block connection in conjunction with their project development as a public access easement.

Off-street parking standards in the Town Center are based on two tiered zones generally depending on the distance to the planned light rail station:

Off-street parking standards for residential uses are set forth in Table 19.50.090(B) below.

Off-street parking standards for commercial uses are set forth in Table 19.50.090(C) below.

On-Street Parking. In conjunction with required on-site parking, on-street parking must be provided in accordance with MTMC § 19.50.070.

Sexually oriented adult businesses/adult entertainment establishments must not be permitted.

Casinos or social card rooms as defined in RCW 9.46.0217 and 9.46.0282 must not be permitted.

All uses must be conducted wholly within an entirely enclosed building except for the following:

Nuisances and Safety. Uses that create a nuisance by reason of smoke, fumes, odor, steam, gases, vibration, hazard or noise must be prohibited. Any use that includes emergency vehicles as part of its operation must be designed for emergency vehicle egress that is as safe as possible for pedestrians and traffic.

Special Provisions for Existing Single-Household Dwellings. An existing detached single-household dwelling and its associated improvements such as garages, carports, storage sheds and fences may be rebuilt, repaired, and otherwise changed for human occupancy, provided the use was legally established prior to December 30, 2006. Any such improvements must comply with the development regulations specified for the RS 7200 zoning district for single-household dwellings and accessory structures.

Conditional uses must be evaluated or conditioned in part based on all the following:

Chapter 19.126 MTMC regulates electric vehicle infrastructure.

Auto-Oriented Uses. Carwashes and auto-repair or maintenance facilities are not allowed on parcels abutting 56th Avenue or 236th Street SW. Gas stations are expressly prohibited anywhere in the Town Center zones pursuant to subsection D of this section.

Primary-Use Parking Prohibited. Parking in Town Center zoning districts is limited to parking associated with established uses in the Town Center zoning districts, and to parking provided by the City including both street parking and off-street parking. Primary use parking is otherwise expressly prohibited.

Street Improvements – When Required. Street improvements, including sidewalk, curb and gutter, lighting and landscaping will be required for any lot that is being developed where these are lacking or inconsistent with current standards. Improvements must be designed by the applicant and are subject to review by the City Engineer for conformance to adopted standards.

Purpose and Intent. To provide for parking options on a temporary and interim temporary basis for existing parking that is displaced during the construction of a public capital project, other public improvement, or similar. This type of temporary parking may be a standalone use, but is not intended to be or function as a commercial parking lot.

The following definitions apply to this chapter, as allowed and regulated by this chapter:

Applicability and Criteria for Temporary and Interim Temporary Parking.

Temporary Parking Lot Development Standards.

Review and Decision.

Approvals and Expiration (Time Limits).

Appeal. The decision is subject to appeal pursuant to MTMC § 18.05.190D.