Puyallup City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 20
36 AGRICULTURE, RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE ZONE
§ 20.36.000 Agriculture, recreation and open space zone.
The agriculture, recreation and open space (ARO) zone is hereby established. Properties so designated shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter.
(Ord. 2943 § 2 (Exh. B), 2009)
§ 20.36.005 Description and purpose.
The agriculture, recreation and open space (ARO) zone is intended to apply to properties so designated on the future land use map of the comprehensive plan and/or in any pre-annexation zoning ordinance. The ARO zone is intended to ensure that agricultural lands within the ARO designation are treated in such a way as to encourage the continuation of agricultural activities as defined herein, while also allowing certain accessory, recreational and open space uses that are also compatible with ongoing agricultural operations. The ARO zone is also intended to apply to areas with significant amounts of existing agricultural uses, open space, and/or critical areas, where the area has not been previously occupied for uses that require large amounts of impervious surfaces or buildings with the potential to be damaged by flooding (unless the buildings are needed by traditional agricultural uses), and where adequate transportation, water and/or sewer facilities that would be needed to support urban-level densities do not exist. It is also the intent of this zone to protect agricultural activities from zoning and nuisance complaints.
Properties within the ARO zone should be used for recreational, open space, or resource uses which do not require extensive fills, large areas of impervious surfaces, or place high demands on the transportation, water, or sewer systems.
(Ord. 2943 § 2 (Exh. B), 2009)
§ 20.36.010 Definitions.
For the purpose of this chapter, terms and words shall have the meanings set forth in Chapter 20.15 PMC and PMC § 20.50.010.
(Ord. 2943 § 2 (Exh. B), 2009)
§ 20.36.015 Permitted uses – ARO zones.
Uses permitted outright or conditionally permitted in the ARO zone shall be as set forth in Table 20.36.015.
Table 20.36.015 | |
|---|---|
Land Uses | Permitted and Conditionally Permitted Uses |
Recreation1 | |
Public parks and open space | P |
Play fields, ball fields not included in a public park | C |
Recreational trails for nonmotorized uses that do not include on-site parking | P |
Recreational trails that include on-site parking and support uses | P |
Stables, horse boarding, and equestrian riding schools | AC |
Residences and Related Uses | |
Single-family detached residences occupied by those engaged in agriculture on the property or operating a stable on the property | P |
Accessory living quarters2 | P |
Bed and breakfast houses3 | C |
Home businesses/family day care providers4 | P/AC |
Resource Uses | |
Agricultural use | P |
Agricultural production use (including commercial greenhouses; feed lots are prohibited) | P |
Agricultural support use | P |
Horticulture, plant nurseries, arboretums, and pea patches | P |
Arboretums | P |
Raising or boarding livestock and small farm animals, and beekeeping (dog kennels and feed lots are prohibited)5 | AC |
Roadside produce stands selling products grown or processed on the property | P |
Roadside produce stands other than those listed above | C |
Sit-down restaurants accessory to any recreation or agriculture use listed in this land uses chart. Fast food restaurants and restaurants with drive-through windows are prohibited. | C |
Utility Facilities6 | |
Local utilities | P |
Community facilities | C |
Other | |
Large satellite dishes and amateur radio antennas accessory to another use | C |
Wireless communication facilities7 | C |
Water extraction wells | P |
Wildlife shelters and refuges | P |
On-site wetland, stream, and wildlife mitigation areas | AC |
Off-site wetland, stream, and wildlife mitigation areas | AC |
Key: |
|---|
P – Permitted Use |
C – Conditional Use |
AC – Administrative Conditional Use |
Notes: |
|---|
1 Recreational uses (other than recreational trails) in the ARO zone shall be limited to a total of 40 acres. |
2 One accessory dwelling unit is allowed for each allowed housing unit. The accessory dwelling unit shall comply with Chapter 20.15 PMC (definition of "Dwelling unit, accessory") and the standards set forth in PMC § 20.20.010(9). |
3 See Chapter 20.15 PMC (definition of "Bed and breakfast house"). Bed and breakfast houses shall comply with the standards set forth in PMC § 20.20.015(12). |
4 See Chapter 20.75 PMC (Home Occupations). |
5 See PMC § 20.36.020(6). |
6 Local utilities and community facilities shall serve only properties within the ARO zone, and shall not serve properties outside the ARO zone; see PMC § 20.36.020(7). |
7 See PMC § 20.20.040(8) and (13) (residential antennas and wireless communications facilities) and PMC § 20.59.010 (wireless communications facilities in residential zones). |
(Ord. 2943 § 2 (Exh. B), 2009)
§ 20.36.020 Property development and performance standards – ARO zones.
(1)
Density and dimension standards shall be as set forth in Table 20.36.020.
Table 20.36.020 | |
|---|---|
Density and Dimensions | Zoning District – ARO |
Base Density (du/ac) | 0.1 |
Maximum Density (du/ac) | 0.1 |
Minimum Lot Size | 10 acres |
Minimum Lot Width | 250 feet |
Minimum Setback, State Highway and Major Arterials | 60 feet |
Minimum Setback, Other Roads | 25 feet |
Minimum Setback, Front | 30 feet |
Minimum Setback, Rear | 30 feet |
Minimum Setback, Interior | 30 feet |
Maximum Height | 40 feet |
(2)
Sit-down restaurants shall be accessory to a permitted agricultural use, and shall not exceed 50 seats and 5,000 square feet of gross floor area.
(3)
One accessory dwelling unit is allowed for each allowed housing unit. The accessory dwelling unit shall comply with Chapter 20.15 PMC (definition of "Dwelling unit, accessory") and the standards set forth in PMC § 20.20.010(9).
(4)
Bed and breakfast houses shall not exceed 4,000 square feet, and shall comply with the applicable standards set forth in PMC § 20.20.015(12).
(5)
Home businesses and family day care providers shall comply with Chapter 20.75 PMC.
(6)
A minimum of 20,000 square feet of lot area shall be made available as pasture, yard, or stall space for each large livestock (e.g., horse, cow, goat, sheep or pig) kept on any ARO-zoned lot.
(7)
Local utilities and community facilities, including but not limited to storm water facilities, community septic facilities, and sewer pump stations shall serve only properties within the area subject to the ARO zone designation, and shall not serve properties outside the area designated ARO.
(8)
Satellite dishes and wireless communication facilities shall comply with PMC § 20.20.040(8) and (13) (residential antennas and wireless communications facilities) and PMC § 20.59.010 (wireless communications facilities in residential zones).
(9)
Agricultural activities shall be conducted consistent with generally accepted agricultural and best management practices and shall not be restricted in terms of time of day or days of the week.
(10)
Stables shall not exceed 10 stalls. Covered equestrian riding facilities shall not exceed 5,000 square feet.
(11)
The maximum impervious surface area shall not exceed the greater of 5,000 square feet or five percent of any lot; provided, however, that the area of any impervious surfaces resulting from a temporary shelter necessary for soil-dependent cultivation or erosion control as part of an agricultural production use shall not be included in the amount of impervious surface area subject to the foregoing limitation. A lot occupied by a commercial greenhouse may have up to an additional 10 percent of the site covered by impervious surfaces; provided, that the additional impervious surfaces shall be occupied only by the commercial greenhouses. Any commercial greenhouse flooring shall be constructed in a manner that allows the soil to be returned to cultivation.
In all other respects, impervious surfaces shall be developed, redeveloped, maintained, and/or replaced only as provided in Chapter 21.10 PMC.
(12)
Parking for uses in the ARO zone shall be as provided in Chapter 20.55 PMC.
(Ord. 2943 § 2 (Exh. B), 2009)
§ 20.36.025 Signs.
All signs within the ARO zones shall conform with the sign requirements of the RS zone, except that signs for commercial uses permitted in Table 20.36.015 shall comply with the standards of the limited commercial (CL) zone. In addition, during any spray operations, farmers may post city-approved caution signs on city right-of-way that read "Caution – Spraying in Progress" or other warnings that may be required by other agencies, without obtaining a permit.
(Ord. 2943 § 2 (Exh. B), 2009)
§ 20.36.030 Agricultural nuisances.
Notwithstanding any other provisions in this code, agricultural activities conducted consistent with this chapter shall not be found to constitute a nuisance unless the activity has a substantial adverse effect on the public health and safety. Agricultural activities undertaken in conformity with all applicable laws, rules and generally accepted agricultural and best management practices are presumed to be good agricultural practices not adversely affecting the public health and safety.
(Ord. 2943 § 2 (Exh. B), 2009)
§ 20.36.035 Public notice.
Any property offered for sale within the ARO zone shall include notice to potential purchasers that it is located within an area where agricultural activities may be conducted and that such activities are legal and permitted by this chapter. A note to this effect shall be placed on any short plat or major subdivision approved by the city; provided, however, that any failure to do so shall not negate the right to engage in agricultural activities on any property located within the ARO zone.
(Ord. 2943 § 2 (Exh. B), 2009)
