This Zoning Code is adopted for the following purposes:

A.

To implement the requirements of the State Growth Management Act of 1990 through the goals, policies, and objectives of the Port Angeles Comprehensive Plan by dividing the City into zones restricting and regulating therein the location, construction, reconstruction, alteration, and use of buildings, structures and land for residential, business, commercial, manufacturing, public, and other specified uses.

B.

To maintain the stability of residential, commercial, manufacturing, public and mixed use areas within the City, and to promote the orderly and appropriate development of such areas.

C.

To regulate the intensity of use of lots and parcels of land, and to determine the spaces surrounding buildings necessary to provide adequate light, air, privacy, and access to property.

D.

To sustain natural landscapes, corridors, and habitats for fish and wildlife and to provide relief from the urban landscape within the community through the designation of open space areas.

E.

To limit congestion in the public streets and to protect the public health, safety, convenience, and general welfare by providing for off-street parking standards for motor vehicles, the loading and unloading of commercial vehicles, public transit access, and pedestrian safety.

F.

To establish building lines and the location of buildings designed for residential, commercial, manufacturing, public, or other mixed uses within such lines.

G.

To prevent the overcrowding of land and undue concentration of structures and to preserve existing unusual, unique, and interesting features of the natural landscape so far as is possible and appropriate in each zone by regulating the use and the bulk of buildings in relation to the land surrounding them.

H.

To provide protection from fire, explosion, noxious fumes, and other hazards and to maintain the quality of life in the interest of public health, safety, comfort, and general welfare by establishing minimum level of service standards throughout the City.

I.

To prevent such additions to, and alteration or remodeling of, existing buildings or structures as would not comply with the restrictions and limitations imposed hereunder.

J.

To prohibit uses, buildings, or structures which are incompatible with the character of the permitted uses within specified zones.

K.

To conserve the taxable value of land and buildings throughout the City.

L.

To encourage the preservation of historic or culturally significant sites and structures throughout the City.

M.

To define and to limit the powers and duties of the administrative officers and bodies as provided herein and to protect the private property rights of landowners from arbitrary, capricious, and discriminatory actions.

N.

To improve the variety, quality, availability, and affordability of the housing opportunities in the City.

O.

To avoid or mitigate significant adverse impacts such as hazardous materials, air and water pollution, noise, traffic, outside storage, large structures, and public safety problems which can be associated with specific land uses and thereby reduce conflicts between adjacent land uses.

P.

To identify what development should take place in each zone to accomplish the desired urban design as defined by the City's land use planning policies and regulations.

(Ord. 3710 § 1, 3/21/2023; Ord. 3123 § 1 (part), 10/11/2002; Ord. 2861 § 1 (part), 3/17/1995; Ord. 2668 § 1 (part), 1/17/1992; Ord. 1709 § 1 (part), 12/22/1970)

The zones in this Zoning Code are established for the following purposes:

A.

R7 Zone. This is a mixed density residential zone intended to provide a diverse mix of infill housing and single-household residential neighborhoods that historically consisted of predominantly single-household dwellings on standard townsite-size lots. Uses which are compatible with and functionally related to a a diverse mix of lower and middle density residential environments may also be located in this zone. Because of land use impacts associated with nonresidential uses, few nonresidential uses are allowed in this zone and then only conditionally. This zone provides the basic urban land use pattern for the original townsite residential neighborhoods, following a standard rectangular street grid system of 60-foot rights-of-way for local access streets and 300-foot by 450 or 500-foot blocks with 50-foot by 140-foot lots and usually located in areas that are largely developed and closer to the center of the City.

B.

R9 Zone. This is a low density residential zone intended to create and preserve urban single-household residential neighborhoods consisting of predominantly single-household dwellings on larger than standard townsite-size lots. Uses that are compatible with and functionally related to a single-household residential environment may be located in this zone. Because of land use impacts associated with nonresidential uses, few nonresidential uses are allowed in this zone and then only conditionally. This zone provides for a variety in the urban land use pattern for the City's single-household residential neighborhoods, following a curvilinear street system of non-through public and private streets with irregularly shaped lots, minimum 75-foot front lot lines, and 60-foot rights-of-way for collector arterial streets in large rectangular blocks and usually located in outlying areas with large tracts of vacant buildable land.

C.

R11 Zone. This is a low density residential zone intended to create and preserve suburban sized single-household residential neighborhoods consisting of predominantly single-household dwellings on larger than standard sized townsite-sized lots, while maintaining densities at or more than four dwelling units per acre. Uses that are compatible with and functionally related to a single-household residential environment may be located in this zone. Because of land use impacts associated with nonresidential uses, few nonresidential uses are allowed in this zone and then only conditionally. This zone provides for a variety in the urban land use pattern for the City's single-family residential neighborhoods, following a curvilinear street system of non-through public and private streets with irregularly shaped lots, minimum 75-foot front lot lines, and 60-foot rights-of-way for collector arterial streets in large rectangular blocks and usually located in outlying areas with large tracts of vacant buildable land.

D.

RTP Overlay Zone. This is a mixed density residential zone intended predominantly for state regulated manufactured structure occupancies, and the area is regarded as essentially residential in character. Few nonresidential uses are allowed in this zone and then only conditionally, because of land use impacts associated with nonresidential uses. This zone provides the basic urban land use pattern for the City's small lot, single-household, manufactured home parks, following an irregular urban land use pattern of private access roads and minimum 3,500 square foot lots.

E.

RMD Zone. This is a medium density residential zone, which allows a mix of single-household dwellings, duplexes and apartments at a minimum density greater than single-household neighborhoods but less than the RHD Zone. The permitted uses in the RMD Zone are also intended to be less restrictive than the RHD Zone. Commercial uses are not considered to be compatible. Few nonresidential uses are allowed in this zone and then only conditionally, because of land use impacts associated with nonresidential uses. This zone provides for variety in the urban land use pattern for the City's lower density multi-family residential neighborhoods (at twice the density of the City's basic single-household residential neighborhoods) with direct access on an arterial street, and serving as a transitional use between low density residential uses and commercial/industrial uses.

F.

RHD Zone. This is a high density residential zone for multi-family structures. Compatible uses may be allowed on conditional use permits, but the zone is still regarded as a residential area, where commercial enterprises are not generally felt to be compatible. Few nonresidential uses are allowed in this zone and then only conditionally, because of land use impacts associated with nonresidential uses. This zone provides the basic urban land use pattern for the City's higher density multi-family residential neighborhoods usually located in areas that are largely developed and closer to the center of the City.

G.

PRD Overlay Zone. This overlay zone is to provide alternative zoning regulations which permit and encourage design flexibility, conservation and protection of natural critical areas, and innovation in residential developments to those regulations found in the underlying zone. It is intended that a Planned Residential Development will result in a residential environment of higher quality than traditional lot-by-lot development by use of a design process which includes within the site design all the components of a residential neighborhood, such as open space, circulation, building types, and natural features, in a manner consonant with the public health, safety, and welfare. It is also intended that a Planned Residential Development may combine a number of land use decisions such as conditional use permits, rezones, and subdivisions into a single project review process to encourage timely public hearings and decisions and to provide for more open space and transitional housing densities than is required or may be permitted between residential zones of differing density. The consolidation of permit reviews does not exempt applicant(s) from meeting the regulations and submitting the fees and applications normally required for the underlying permit processes. Few nonresidential uses are allowed in this overlay zone and then only conditionally, because of land use impacts associated with nonresidential uses. This overlay zone provides for the opportunity to create self-contained residential neighborhoods with a variety of housing choices without following a standard system of public streets and lot design and with allowances for mixed use, residential and commercial developments not usually permitted in residential zones.

H.

CO Zone. This is a commercial zone intended for those business, office, administrative, or professional uses which do not involve the retail sale of goods, but rather provide a service to clients, the provision of which does not create high traffic volumes, involve extended hours of operation, or contain impacts that would be detrimental to adjacent residential areas. Commercial uses that are largely devoid of any impacts detrimental to single-household residential uses are allowed. This zone provides the basic urban land use pattern for small lot, transitional uses between residential neighborhoods and commercial districts with direct access on an arterial street and design standards compatible with residential development.

I.

CN Zone. This is a commercial zone intended to create and preserve areas for businesses which are of the type providing the goods and services for the day-to-day needs of the surrounding residential neighborhoods. Businesses in this zone should be located and designed to encourage both pedestrian and vehicular access and to be compatible with adjacent residential neighborhoods. Commercial uses that are largely devoid of any impacts detrimental to multi-family residential uses are allowed. This zone provides for a variety in the urban land use pattern for small commercial districts serving individual residential neighborhoods with direct access on an arterial street and design standards compatible with residential development.

J.

CSD Zone. This is a commercial zone that is slightly less restrictive than the CN zone. This zone provides the basic urban land use pattern for large lot, commercial uses serving much of the City with direct access on an arterial street. Businesses in this zone occur on sites of varying sizes and should be located on arterial streets of sufficient size and design standards to accommodate greater automobile and truck traffic. Commercial uses that are largely devoid of any impacts detrimental to the environment are allowed.

K.

CA Zone. This is a commercial zone intended to create and preserve areas for business serving the entire City and needing an arterial location because of the nature of the business or intensity of traffic generated by the business. Commercial uses that are largely devoid of any impacts detrimental to the environment are allowed. This zone provides the basic urban land use pattern for automobile oriented, commercial uses with direct access on a principal arterial street and design standards for greater automobile and truck traffic.

L.

CBD Zone. This is a mixed use zone intended to strengthen and preserve the area commonly known as the downtown for major retail, service, financial, and other commercial operations that serve the entire community, the regional market, and tourists. This zone has standards to improve pedestrian access and amenities and to increase public enjoyment of the shoreline. Commercial uses that are largely devoid of any impacts detrimental to the environment are allowed. This zone provides the basic urban land use pattern for high density, pedestrian oriented, commercial uses located in the center of the City with direct access to mass transit services, design standards for compatible commercial development, and support for public parking and business improvements.

M.

CR Zone. This is a commercial zone intended to create and preserve areas for large land intensive commercial uses that provide retail services to a regional market. These types of commercial uses provide a multiplicity of goods and services in a single location and therefore require large areas for the building and parking. Such uses do not follow the basic land use pattern of the of the traditional townsite and are not typically pedestrian oriented. This zone offers vehicular access from major transportation corridors.

N.

IM Zone. This is an industrial zone intended to preserve industrial areas in the harbor for marine industrial uses, which are characterized as water-dependent or water related. Because there is a very limited amount of shorelands adjacent to the Port Angeles Harbor, a zone that allows for mixed uses that do not adversely impact each other can maximize potential water-dependent, water related, and water enjoyment uses of the harbor without excluding either industrial or nonindustrial uses being intermixed. Certain commercial, residential, public, and other mixed uses may be appropriately located in this zone, and therefore heavy industrial manufacturing uses, which have significant nuisance factors, shall not be located in this zone.

O.

IP Zone. This is an industrial zone intended to create and preserve areas for office, commercial and industrial uses devoid of exterior nuisances in a planned, campus-like setting. Permitted uses are devoid of exterior nuisance factors, such as noise, glare, air and water pollution, and fire and safety hazards on adjacent non-industrial property, and do not have an exceptional demand on public facilities. These types of office, commercial and industrial uses typically involve the need for a large campus-like site with amenities suitable for mixed use developments and buffering measures to reduce the impact of large scale development on adjacent uses. While industrial and commercial uses that are devoid of any impacts detrimental to the environment are allowed, vehicle service stations with petroleum products and entertainment businesses with adult-only activities are also permitted uses, and a variety of maintenance and repair shops with hazardous materials are also conditionally permitted uses. This zone provides for variety in the urban land use pattern for mixed industrial and commercial uses with direct access on an arterial street, design standards for high density, pedestrian oriented, mixed uses located adjacent to major transportation facilities, design standards for compatible mixed industrial and commercial development, and support for private parking and business improvements.

P.

IL Zone. This is an industrial zone intended to create and preserve areas for industrial uses which are largely devoid of exterior nuisances in close proximity to airports and highways. Permitted uses are largely devoid of exterior nuisance factors, such as noise, glare, air and water pollution, and fire and safety hazards on adjacent non-industrial property, and do not have an exceptional demand on public facilities. These types of industrial uses typically involve the manufacture of finished products from pre-fabricated materials, product wholesaling, and material storage. Buffering measures to reduce the impact of industrial uses on nearby residential uses may be required. While industrial and commercial uses that are largely devoid of any impacts detrimental to the environment are allowed, vehicle service stations with petroleum products and entertainment businesses with adult-only activities are also permitted uses, and a variety of maintenance and repair shops with hazardous materials are also conditionally permitted uses. This zone provides the basic urban land use pattern for light industrial uses with direct access on an arterial street, design standards for greater truck traffic, and buffers for nonindustrial uses.

Q.

IH Zone. This is the least restrictive industrial zone intended to be the area in which heavy industry could develop causing the least impact on other land uses. Significant adverse impacts can be expected from permitted industrial uses that involve hazardous materials, noise, air and water pollution, shift work around the clock, entertainment businesses with adult-only activities, and outside storage yards and manufacturing activities. This zone provides the basic urban land use pattern for heavy industrial uses with direct access to major transportation facilities, design standards for greater truck traffic, and buffers for nonindustrial uses unless deemed impractical.

R.

PBP Zone. This is a zoning designation for publicly-owned property, or property less suitable for development by reason of its topography, geology, or some unusual condition or situation. Much of the land so designated may best be left as "green belts". Except for low density private residential uses, permitted uses are mostly public utilities and large civic facilities. This zone provides the basic urban land use pattern for public facilities, open space, and environmentally sensitive areas where public interests are directly involved and with allowances for very low density private residential use, subject to environmental impact mitigation.

S.

Home occupation permit. The purpose of this chapter is to ensure that an occupation or business undertaken within a primary or accessory structure located in a residential use district is incidental and subordinate to the primary use and is compatible with the existing neighborhood. This special use permit provides allowances for business activities taking place within a residential use.

T.

Reserved.

U.

Adult entertainment use. The purpose of this chapter is to ensure that adult entertainment businesses are appropriately located and operated within the City of Port Angeles, are compatible with uses allowed within the City, and are conducive to the public health, safety and welfare. This chapter provides procedures and regulations for specific adult-only business activities.

V.

Retail stand permit. The purpose of this chapter is to ensure that retail stands are appropriately located in the commercial and public areas, are compatible with the uses allowed in such areas, and are conducive to the public health, safety, and welfare, and to promote the diversity of retail stand activity. This special use provides procedures and regulations for business activities taking place outside a building or on public property.

W.

Junkyard conditional use. The purpose of this chapter is to ensure that junk yards are appropriately located, are compatible with uses allowed within the City, and are conducive to the public health, safety and welfare. This chapter provides for junk yards to be permitted through the conditional use permit process.

(Ord. 3728 § 5(Exh. C), 3/5/2024; Ord. 3710 § 1, 3/21/2023; Ord. 3688 § 7, 12/21/2021; Ord. 3548 § 1, 1/5/2016; Ord. 3517 § 1, 10/21/2014; Ord. 3180 § 1 (part), 12/17/2004; Ord. 3123 § 1 (part), 10/11/2002; Ord. 3111 § 3, 3/15/2002; Ord. 2948 § 5 (part), 2/14/1997; Ord. 2861 § 1 (part), 3/17/1995; Ord. 2797 § 2, 2/11/1994; Ord. 2715 § 1, 10/16/1992; Ord. 2668 § 1 (part), 1/17/1992; Ord. 2657 § 1 (part), 12/13/1991; Ord. 2553 § 1, 12/2/1989; Ord. 2511 § 1, 10/4/1988; Ord. 2483 § 1 (part), 3/23/1988; Ord. 2385 § 1 (part), 3/28/1986; Ord. 2329 § 1 (part), 3/11/1985; Ord. 2303 § 1 (part), 7/4/1984; Ord. 2293 § 1 (part), 4/4/1984; Ord. 2109 § 2, 12/7/1980; Ord. 2103 § 2, 10/18/1980; Ord. 2070 § 1 (part), 3/29/1980; Ord. 2038 § 1 (part), 7/29/1979; Ord. 1709 § 1 (part), 12/22/1970)