The purpose of the parks and open space district is to provide for the acquisition, development and maintenance of parks, open space, and a system of local and regional trails that create a superior living environment for the people of Ridgefield. Parks, open space, and trails are intended to provide citizens of all ages and abilities with an opportunity to interact with the natural environment, to lead healthier lives, and to interact with their neighbors. These facilities are also intended to protect a healthy and diverse ecosystem; enhance surface and ground water quality; and protect native tree species and plant materials; and promote environmental stewardship.

The parks/open space district (P/OS) implements the policies of RUACP Chapter Six, Environment, Chapter Nine, Parks and Recreation, the Parks element of the Ridgefield Capital Facility Plan (RCFP) and the Ridgefield Comprehensive Park and Recreation Plan (RCPRP).

(Ord. No. 1108, § 2(Exh. A), 7-26-2012)

The P/OS district is applied to all land designated as P/OS on the comprehensive plan map. P/OS districts may be created by city council action or through the development review process. In addition, property owners may request a P/OS designation for parks, trails, open or natural areas that meet the purpose of the zone.

(Ord. No. 1108, § 2(Exh. A), 7-26-2012)

A.

Open space lands may include, but are not limited to, forested areas; wetlands and wetland buffers; creek, stream or river corridors; open water bodies; ravines, bluffs, landslide hazards and/or other geological hazard areas. Open space lands may include trails and passive recreation areas.

B.

Parks lands may include developed active recreation areas, trails, passive recreation areas and lands held for future development.

C.

P/OS lands may be publicly or privately owned.

(Ord. No. 1108, § 2(Exh. A), 7-26-2012)

Uses shall comply with the provisions of Chapter 18.205.

(Ord. No. 1108, § 2(Exh. A), 7-26-2012)

The following activities within the P/OS district are allowed without the need for additional land use review though, depending upon the use and location, the activities may require shorelines, critical areas, building, life safety, erosion control or grading permits:

A.

In-kind replacement of buildings or structures smaller than ten thousand square feet and previously approved under this chapter.

B.

Changes in color schemes, wall art, and freestanding statuary or art.

C.

Revision to parking alignment or circulation within an existing parking area.

D.

ADA facilities, such as access ramps and modifications to access ways to improve accessibility, outside of critical areas.

E.

Removal of ivy and other invasive vegetation by hand.

F.

Construction of new sidewalks, paths, and trails that do not intrude into a critical area.

G.

Emergency repairs or maintenance. The city manager, or designee, shall make the determination that emergency conditions exist. All necessary restoration, mitigation or permitting, required by this chapter, shall be undertaken by responsible parties once the emergency period has ended.

H.

Installation of directional or interpretive signs, consistent with Chapter 18.710, Signs.

I.

Fences and walls up to two hundred feet long, consistent with Chapter 18.740.

J.

Landscape maintenance; changes to park landscaping outside of critical areas such as replacement of one type of plant with another; or tree planting.

K.

Repair or maintenance of minor utility facilities.

(Ord. No. 1108, § 2(Exh. A), 7-26-2012)

A.

There is no minimum or maximum size for P/OS sites. Siting and sizes of facilities must comply with standards set in the RCFP and RCPRP.

B.

All facilities shall front a public road for at least fifty feet. In the alternative, if it is not feasible or practical to meet this standard because of location and/or physical site constraints, the review authority may approve a pedestrian connection via a minimum twenty-foot wide dedication or perpetual easement and an eight-foot wide hard surface path. The pedestrian pathway connection shall be made from the public street to the park.

C.

Prior to any on-site construction, the park or open space developer shall present a park or open space improvement plan to the public works director and Ridgefield Parks Board that demonstrates conformity with this chapter and the RCPRP.

D.

Passive open spaces containing critical areas, their buffers or stormwater facilities shall be combined with active open spaces, either contiguously or via pedestrian facilities, to create interconnectivity between neighborhoods and/or other park and pedestrian facilities.

E.

If an upland park area abuts or is adjacent to wetlands or passive open space, the upland park shall incorporate active recreation facilities such as playgrounds, fields, fitness equipment or other similar facilities.

F.

Trails shall be consistent with the provisions of the RCFP and RCPRP.

(Ord. No. 1108, § 2(Exh. A), 7-26-2012)

A.

Any structure or development requiring a building permit or SEPA review must be set back at least ten feet from all property lines, except trails and trail amenities including but not limited to signage, lighting, benches, garbage receptacles and similar.

1.

Any structure exceeding ten feet in height shall be set back an additional one foot from all property lines for each foot of height above ten feet.

2.

Any lighted structure must be set back at least fifty feet from all property lines abutting a residential property.

B.

When development is proposed on two or more contiguous parcels, the dimensional standards of this section shall be applied treating the development as one parcel for purposes of this section. Setbacks shall be required for the exterior perimeter of the development, and shall not apply along property lines interior to the development provided that building separation requirements for fire and life safety are met.

(Ord. No. 1108, § 2(Exh. A), 7-26-2012; Ord. No. 1232, § 2(Exh. A), 4-27-2017; Ord. No. 1234, § 2(Exh. A), 6-22-2017)

A.

Signs shall meet the requirements of Chapter 18.710.

B.

Lighting. Lighting shall comply with Chapter 18.715, Exterior Lighting.

C.

Parking. Off-street parking shall comply with Chapter 18.720, Off-Street Parking and Loading.

D.

Landscaping.

1.

Landscaping shall comply with Chapter 18.725.

2.

The preservation and/or enhancement of existing native plant materials, consistent with Chapter 18.830, Ridgefield Native Plant List, shall be the predominant characteristic of landscape treatment within this district.

E.

Fencing. Fencing shall comply with Chapter 18.740, Fencing.

(Ord. No. 1108, § 2(Exh. A), 7-26-2012)

All park improvements required pursuant to this chapter shall be constructed and either dedicated to the city or have public access easements established prior to or concurrent with final land use or final plat approval for the project phase in which the park is located.

(Ord. No. 1108, § 2(Exh. A), 7-26-2012)

A.

Conduct. Public use and conduct, including hours of use, are subject to the regulations in Chapter 8.18, Park Rules and Regulations, except as otherwise limited by the terms of an easement between the applicant and the city.

B.

Trespass. Nothing in this chapter is intended to authorize public use of private property. Public use of private property is trespass unless appropriate easements and access have been acquired.

C.

Nuisances are regulated by Chapter 15.24, Public Nuisances.

(Ord. No. 1108, § 2(Exh. A), 7-26-2012)

A.

City Maintenance. The city reserves the right to, but is not obligated to, assume maintenance and liability for P/OS facilities. The city may accept maintenance and liability for P/OS facilities if the city manager, or designee, finds all of the following:

1.

The applicant requests that the City assume the responsibilities.

2.

The facility lies within an easement, right-of-way or land dedicated or granted to the city.

3.

The facility has been constructed to city standards.

4.

The city has adequate resources for maintenance of the facility.

B.

Applicant Maintenance. The applicant retains maintenance and liability responsibilities unless these responsibilities are accepted by the city. Where the applicant retains maintenance and liability responsibilities, the facilities must be maintained at a level at least equal to comparable facilities maintained by the city. The applicant shall ensure that the developer or homeowners association owning the facility grants the city the right of third party enforcement or other similar mechanism to assure perpetual care and maintenance of the facility.

(Ord. No. 1108, § 2(Exh. A), 7-26-2012)