Nooksack City Zoning Code
19.28 Light
Industrial District
The purpose of the light industrial district is to support the City’s tax base and increase local employment opportunities by providing for the location of light industrial activities and uses involving the processing, handling, and manufacture of products which are devoid of nuisance factors such as odor, toxic pollutants, noise, smoke, fumes, glare, dust, or those activities which create visual or audio interferences in any radio or television in the City or causes power line voltage fluctuation.
19.28.010 Light Industrial District – Established.
There is hereby established a light industrial district and the standards and regulations by which certain uses may be permitted therein. [Ord. 195 §16, 1980.]
19.28.020 Light Industrial District – Purpose.
The purpose of the light industrial district is to support the City’s tax base and increase local employment opportunities by providing for the location of light industrial activities and uses involving the processing, handling, and manufacture of products which are devoid of nuisance factors such as odor, toxic pollutants, noise, smoke, fumes, glare, dust, or those activities which create visual or audio interferences in any radio or television in the City or causes power line voltage fluctuation. [Ord. 739 §1, 2023; Ord. 195 §17, 1980.]
19.28.030 Light Industrial District – Permitted Uses.
The uses permitted within the light industrial district are as follows:
A. Beverage bottling plants;
B. Cabinet shops;
C. Testing laboratories;
D. Cleaning and laundry agencies;
E. Dairy products processing;
F. Equipment rental and sales yards;
G. Food processing plants;
H. Ice manufacturing, cold storage;
I. Lumber yards;
J. Machine shops;
K. Wholesale or retail sales and repair of industrial, automotive, farm, construction or marine equipment and/or supplies;
L. Railroad yards and shops;
M. Trucking terminals;
N. Vehicle and tire repair shops;
O. Warehousing;
P. Electric vehicle battery charging stations;
Q. Public uses and utilities;
R. Light manufacturing and fabrication, including the fabrication of apparel, textile products, furniture and fixtures, leather products, stone products, glass products, electric equipment, communications equipment and other products of a similar nature and the manufacturing and fabrication of jewelry, silverware, plated ware, metal products, musical instruments and parts, toys, sports and athletic goods, recreational goods and equipment, and other similar products, but excluding any manufacturing and fabrication requiring approval of a conditional use pursuant to NMC 19.28.040;
S. The manufacturing and repair of electronic, engineering, laboratory, scientific, research, optical, surgical, medical and dental equipment, including other precision equipment that is similar in nature, but excluding any manufacturing and fabrication requiring approval of a conditional use pursuant to NMC 19.28.040;
T. The manufacturing and fabrication of modular housing, mobile homes, recreational vehicles and similar products; and
U. Boat building, sales and repair. [Ord. 739 §2, 2023; Ord. 685 §7, 2016; Ord. 195 §18, 1980.]
19.28.035 Commercial Fueling Station Standards.
A. All tanks must be installed underground and shall be maintained in conformance with the applicable provisions of the Uniform Fire Code Edition in effect at the time of application and the Federal Regulations for Underground Storage Tanks 40 CFR 280.
B. All commercial fueling stations shall otherwise meet all other requirements for commercial structures pursuant to local ordinances and state and federal statutes. [Ord. 463 §2, 1997.]
19.28.040 Light Industrial District – Conditional Uses.
The following conditional uses may be permitted in the light industrial district by the City Council upon application and in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 19.56 NMC:
A. Retail stores and services;
B. Sign shops;
C. Commercial fueling operations;
D. Those adult entertainment businesses defined and regulated pursuant to Chapter 5.14 NMC as adopted and amended including:
1. Adult book stores;
2. Adult motion picture theaters;
3. Adult arcades;
4. Adult cabarets; and
5. Adult motels.
Provided, that they are subject to the following conditions:
a. In order to avoid adverse effects on the surrounding neighborhood, not more than one (1) of such uses may be located within three hundred feet (300') of another such use.
b. It is unlawful to establish any of these uses within three hundred feet (300') of any building containing a residential dwelling or rooming unit. This prohibition may be waived if the person applying for the waiver files a petition with the City that indicates approval of the proposed regulated use by fifty-one percent (51%) of the persons owning, renting or doing business within a radius of three hundred feet (300') of the location of the proposed use. The petitioner shall attempt to contact all eligible locations within this radius and must maintain a list of all addresses at which no contact has been made.
E. Heavy equipment repair.
F. Moving and storage companies.
G. Manufacturing, fabrication or assembly involving significant quantities of the following products or processes:
1. Acetylene;
2. Distilled alcohol;
3. Asphalt or tar;
4. Brick, tile or terra cotta;
5. Chemicals such as acid, ammonia, bleach, chlorine, dye stuff, glue, gelatin or size;
6. Concrete, cement, lime, gypsum or plaster of Paris;
7. Fats, oils or soap;
8. Forging or smelting of metal;
9. Highly flammable materials;
10. Lampblack, stove or shoe polish;
11. Lumber or planning mills;
12. Oilcloth, linoleum or vinyl;
13. Paint, shellac, turpentine, lacquer or varnish;
14. Paper and pulp.
H. Recycling center.
I. Power generation and transmission facilities.
J. The manufacturing and processing of lumber and other wood products, but excluding light manufacturing and fabrication allowed as a permitted use.
K. Animal hospitals and kennels.
L. Indoor shooting ranges.
M. Wireless communication facilities.
N. Daycare facilities where accessory to an allowed permitted or conditional use.
O. Uses not specifically called out in NMC 19.28.030 or this section that are similar in character, size and impact and that are consistent with the purpose of the district. [Ord. 739 §3, 2023; Ord. 685 §8, 2016; Ord. 500 §1, 1999; Ord. 462 §2, 1997; Ord. 195 §19, 1980.]
19.28.045 Light Industrial District – Conditional Use Permit Criteria.
In addition to reviewing a proposed conditional use for consistency with the conditional use permit criteria set forth under Chapter 19.56 NMC, the City Council shall consider the following criteria when reviewing applications for conditional use permits in the light industrial district:
A. The extent to which the proposed use is consistent with the purpose established under NMC 19.28.020;
B. The benefits to the public that will result from permanent improvements associated with the proposed use that increase the City’s tax base;
C. The number, duration and quality of jobs that will result from establishment of the proposed use;
D. The extent to which potential impacts to the public and neighboring properties and resources, including to neighboring zoning districts, will be mitigated to within acceptable levels such that the use will not result in adverse impacts to private property, property values, quality of life, and community and environmental health; and
E. The extent to which the use will generate benefits or contribute revenue that will offset impacts to or use of public facilities. [Ord. 739 §4, 2023.]
19.28.050 Light Industrial District – Lot and Setback Requirements.
The following minimum size requirements shall be applicable to permitted uses in the light industrial district:
A. Minimum Lot Size. Lot size shall be determined by the City Council for each applicant.
B. Setbacks. Setbacks shall be determined by the City Council for each applicant. [Ord. 195 §20, 1980.]
19.28.060 Light Industrial District – Building Height Restrictions.
The maximum building height in the light industrial district is forty-five feet (45'). [Ord. 195 §21, 1980.]
19.28.070 Light Industrial District – Off-Street Parking and Traffic Requirements.
A. Off-Street Parking Spaces. Each industrial use shall provide such off-street parking spaces as may be required by Chapter 19.44.
B. Parking Lot Design. Design of parking lots providing ten (10) or more spaces shall conform to the design standards of Chapter 19.44.
C. Screening. Parking lots providing twenty (20) or more spaces shall comply with the screening requirements of Chapter 19.44.
D. Turnarounds. Industrial uses whose front lot line abuts an arterial street shall provide approved on-site turnarounds. [Ord. 195 §22, 1980.]
19.28.080 Light Industrial District – Street and Sidewalk Requirements.
A. Street Trees. Street trees of a size and species approved by the City Council shall be planted and maintained at intervals of forty feet (40') along all street frontage.
B. Sidewalks. The City Council may require the installation or repair of sidewalks, in accordance with City standards, prior to issuance of any building permit. [Ord. 195 §23, 1980.]
19.28.090 Light Industrial District – Water and Sewer System Improvements Required.
All new development within the light industrial district shall be responsible for installing public water and sewer system improvements meeting City standards necessary to serve said new development. Said improvements shall include, but not be limited to, installation of new water and sewer mains, sewer lift stations, fire hydrants, valves and other fixtures necessary to serve new development as determined by the Public Works Director. [Ord. 739 §5, 2023.]