The RMD district is intended to provide for medium density residential development as prescribed in the RUACP. The district is further intended to facilitate use of public transit, reduce the automobile-related impacts of development, encourage the development of attractive residential areas, ensure viable common open spaces to compensate for higher densities, meet the recreational needs of residents, improve access to parks and trails, and create well defined streetscapes.

(Ord. No. 1132, § 2(Exh. A), 7-11-2013)

A.

This chapter applies to all land zoned RMD.

B.

The city shall designate all newly annexed lands designated for urban medium density residential (UM) as RMD-16.

C.

Full site improvements are required for parking, lighting, landscaping, walkways, storage space, and service areas if a development proposal is:

1.

New development;

2.

Expanding the square footage of an existing structure by twenty percent; or

3.

The construction valuation is fifty percent of the existing site and building valuation.

(Ord. No. 1132, § 2(Exh. A), 7-11-2013)

A.

All uses shall comply with the provisions of RDC 18.205.

B.

Site plan review is required for all permitted uses in the RMD district in accordance with RDC 18.500.

C.

Uses Approved Through the PUD Process. Additional commercial uses are allowed in the RMD zone that are permitted, limited, or conditional uses in the CNB district through the PUD process provided they directly support a residential development of at least one hundred units.

1.

The maximum ratio of commercial development to residential development shall be 1:10; as measured by acreage or gross floor area of development, exclusive of open space, whichever permits a greater amount of commercial development.

2.

The maximum amount of commercial development for uses otherwise prohibited in the RMD zone which may be approved through the PUD process, without a plan amendment, is three acres or one hundred thousand square feet gross floor area.

3.

All commercial uses otherwise prohibited in this zone will be reviewed as conditional uses as part of the PUD process, and must satisfy the requirements of Chapter 18.340, Conditional Uses.

D.

Single-family residential development shall not be approved on RMD land in the absence of an approved development plan which meets the minimum density standard of this zone. For PUD subdivisions, see related standards in 18.401.060.

(Ord. No. 1132, § 2(Exh. A), 7-11-2013; Ord. No. 1339, § 2(Exh. A), 5-27-2021)

A.

Dimensions shall be consistent with Table 18.220.030-1. Adjustments for townhouse developments are in RDC 18.206.060.

B.

See RDC 18.210.060 for special setback and design requirements along major corridors.

C.

Minimum side yard setbacks shall not be reduced through the adjustment or variance process.

D.

The senior housing bonus, as described in RDC 18.235.020.P, may be applied to development within the RMD-16 zone. All site requirements and development standards of the RMD district shall apply to developments that obtain a senior housing bonus. Additionally, developments shall be designed to project a residential appearance through architectural design, landscaping, the use of building materials, and surface lengths.

Table 18.220.030-1
RMD dimensional and density standards.

(Ord. No. 1339, § 2(Exh. A), 5-27-2021)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 1339, § 2(Exh. A), adopted May 27, 2021, amended § 18.220.030 in its entirety to read as herein set out. Former § 18.220.030 pertained to lot requirements and derived from Ord. No. 1132, § 2(Exh. A), adopted July 11, 2013.

Editor's note— Ord. No. 1339, § 2(Exh. A), adopted May 27, 2021, repealed § 18.220.035, which pertained to green design and derived from Ord. No. 1254, Exh. 2, adopted Dec. 7, 2017.

A.

Setbacks from Regional Utility Corridors.

1.

In subdivisions and short subdivisions, areas used as regional utility corridors shall be contained in separate tracts.

2.

In other types of land development permits, easements shall be used to delineate such corridors.

3.

All buildings and structures shall maintain a minimum distance of five feet from property or easement lines delineating the boundary of regional utility corridors, except for utility structures necessary to the operation of the utility corridor.

B.

Projections into Setback.

1.

The only projections that may extend into a five-feet yard setback are:

a.

Gutters;

b.

Fixtures with a footprint not exceeding three square feet in area (e.g., overflow pipes for sprinkler and hot water tanks, gas and electric meters, alarm systems, and air duct termination; i.e., dryer, bathroom, and kitchens); or

c.

On-site drainage systems.

d.

Fire place structures, bay or garden windows, enclosed stair landings, closets, or similar structures may project into the front setback provided such projections are:

i.

Limited to two per facade;

ii.

Not wider than ten feet;

iii.

Not more than twenty-four inches into a side yard setback which is greater than seven feet; or

iv.

Not more than thirty inches into a front and rear yard setback.

e.

Eaves shall not project more than:

i.

Eighteen inches into a required side yard setback; and

ii.

Thirty-six inches into a front yard and/or rear yard setback.

f.

Covered but unenclosed porches may project up to three feet into the front yard.

g.

Building stairs associated with entrances and porches less than three feet and six inches in height are allowed to project into the front yard setback.

h.

Arbors are allowed in a yard setback if:

i.

Their footprint is less than forty square feet, including eaves,

ii.

They are eight feet or shorter from finished grade, and

iii.

Both sides and roof are at least fifty percent open, or, if latticework is used, there shall be a minimum opening of two inches between crosspieces.

i.

Fences are allowed in a yard setback if they meet the requirements of RDC 18.740. Fences may not be placed in the public right-of-way.

i.

Retaining walls are allowed in a yard setback.

2.

No projections are allowed into a regional utility corridor.

3.

No projections or vertical structures are allowed into an access or stormwater easement.

C.

Alley-loaded lots. If the rear faces on an alley and automobile access is taken exclusively from the alley, the following exceptions apply:

1.

Minimum rear yard setback: zero feet.

2.

Minimum front yard setback: five feet. When the ground level of a dwelling unit is closer than ten feet from the front property line, the ground level shall be elevated a minimum of thirty inches above the average grade of the adjacent sidewalk.

3.

Lots intended for these reduced setbacks shall be noted on the plat.

4.

See related standards in RDC 18.220.100.C.

D.

Setbacks for flag lots shall be determined by the orientation of the residential structure. The front setback shall be met for the side of the lot towards which the main entrance of the structure is oriented, and rear and side yard setbacks shall be established in relationship to the front. All setbacks shall be measured from the property lines for the flag portion of the lot, and not from the pole portion of the lot. If the garage door is oriented towards the pole portion of the lot, it shall be set back eighteen feet from the property line of the flag portion of the lot to comply with RDC 18.210.090.B to allow sufficient driveway length to prevent parking in the pole portion of the lot.

E.

Underground parking may extend into any required minimum yard setbacks, provided it is landscaped at the ground level.

(Ord. No. 1339, § 2(Exh. A), 5-27-2021; Ord. No. 1406, § 2(Exh. A), 7-13-2023)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 1339, § 2(Exh. A), adopted May 27, 2021, amended § 18.220.040 in its entirety to read as herein set out. Former § 18.220.040 pertained to dimensional standards and derived from Ord. No. 1132, § 2(Exh. A), adopted July 11, 2013; Ord. No. 1207, § 2(Exh. A), adopted May 26, 2016; Ord. No. 1225, § 2(Exh. A), adopted Dec. 1, 2016; and Ord. No. 1234, § 2(Exh. A), adopted June 22, 2017.

Editor's note— Ord. No. 1339, § 2(Exh. A), adopted May 27, 2021, repealed § 18.220.045, which pertained to setbacks and exceptions and derived from Ord. No. 1132, § 2(Exh. A), adopted July 11, 2013; Ord. No. 1178, § 2(Exh. A), adopted Feb. 12, 2015; and Ord. No. 1207, § 2(Exh. A), adopted May 26, 2016.

A.

The purpose of this section is to ensure best practices of environmental stewardship within the city of Ridgefield and to protect, to the extent practicable, our natural environment for future residents.

B.

Development of single or multi-family residential uses within Ridgefield shall choose at least two practices from the list below during construction:

1.

Landscape with drought-tolerant, native plants

2.

Install water-conserving drip, micro-mist, or sub-surface irrigation systems

3.

Recycle, salvage, or donate excess or unwanted materials

4.

Recycle materials for use in walls, fences, trails, or other amenities that are integral to the development.

5.

Rain gardens to accommodate storm water on-site, particularly roof drains, rather than conveyance to a community system.

6.

Other green design practices that are acceptable to the community development director.

C.

See related standards for green building under RMC Chapter 14.32.

(Ord. No. 1339, § 2(Exh. A), 5-27-2021)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 1339, § 2(Exh. A), adopted May 27, 2021, amended § 18.220.050 in its entirety to read as herein set out. Former § 18.220.050 pertained to density and derived from Ord. No. 1132, § 2(Exh. A), adopted July 11, 2013.

A.

All residential buildings on the same lot shall be separated by a minimum of twenty feet, except for cottage housing developments meeting the standards of RDC 18.206.040.

B.

Primary facades and building entries shall face the street. Building entries shall be visible from the street or, if this is not possible, from other buildings and primary pedestrian routes.

C.

Direct pedestrian access shall be provided from building entries to public sidewalks, other buildings, on-site open space, and parking areas without requiring pedestrians to walk through parking lots or cross driveways. Buildings in multifamily complexes shall be connected with sidewalks or paved paths.

D.

The site and buildings shall provide site lines that allow observation of outdoor spaces by building occupants. Buildings shall be sited so that windows, balconies and entries overlook pedestrian routes and parking areas and allow for informal surveillance of these areas, where possible.

E.

Site configurations shall avoid creating entrapment areas such as dead-end exterior spaces or pathways where a pedestrian could be trapped by an aggressor.

(Ord. No. 1132, § 2(Exh. A), 7-11-2013; Ord. No. 1339, § 2(Exh. A), 5-27-2021)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 1339, § 2(Exh. A), adopted May 27, 2021, repealed § 18.220.065, which pertained to architectural design standards and derived from Ord. No. 1132, § 2(Exh. A), adopted July 11, 2013.

A.

The provisions of RDC 18.210.060 apply to all lots abutting or adjacent to the public rights-of-way of major corridors, which are defined as Hillhurst Road, Pioneer Street (east of the Gee Creek crossing), and Royle Road. Adjacent, when used in this section, means, separated by a street, tract, open space, or similar intervening element.

(Ord. No. 1339, § 2(Exh. A), 5-27-2021; Ord. No. 1426, § 2(Exh.), 7-25-2024)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 1339, § 2(Exh. A), adopted May 27, 2021, amended § 18.220.070 in its entirety to read as herein set out. Former § 18.220.070 pertained to additional design provisions along major corridors and derived from Ord. No. 1132, § 2(Exh. A), adopted July 11, 2013; and Ord. No 1207, § 2(Exh. A), adopted May 26, 2016.

Signs shall be permitted according to the provisions of Chapter 18.710.

(Ord. No. 1132, § 2(Exh. A), 7-11-2013)

A.

Exterior lighting shall comply with the requirements of Chapter 18.715.

B.

Pedestrian pathways shall be illuminated with at least two foot-candles of light.

C.

Building entries shall be illuminated with at least four foot-candles of light.

(Ord. No. 1132, § 2(Exh. A), 7-11-2013)

A.

Motor homes, recreational vehicles and utility trailers shall not be parked on street for a period of two weeks or more during any calendar year.

B.

Motor homes, recreational vehicles and utility trailers may be parked in off-street parking areas, including driveways, so long as no more than one is parked between the front lot line and the primary facade of the dwelling.

(Ord. No. Ord. No. 1234, § 2(Exh. A), 6-22-2017; Ord. No. 1426, § 2(Exh.), 7-25-2024)

A.

Off-street parking shall be provided as required in RDC 18.720, in addition to the provisions of this section.

B.

For individual garage or carport units facing a street, at least twenty linear feet of driveway shall be provided between any garage or carport entrance and the property line abutting the street, measured along the centerline of the driveway. This standard shall not be modified through the adjustment or variance process per RDC 18.350 or the PUD process per RDC 18.401.

C.

For individual garage or carport units facing an alley, driveways shall not be any linear length between five feet and twenty feet from the garage or carport entrance to the edge of the alley; measured along the centerline of the driveway. The intent of this standard is to prevent parked cars from protruding into alleys. This standard shall not be modified through the adjustment or variance process per RDC 18.350 or the PUD process per RDC 18.401.

D.

Parking lots shall be located behind or to the side of buildings.

(Ord. No. 1132, § 2(Exh. A), 7-11-2013; Ord. No. 1207, § 2(Exh. A), 5-26-2016; Ord. No. 1339, § 2(Exh. A), 5-27-2021)

A.

Landscaping shall meet the requirements of RDC 18.725.

B.

All RMD development projects shall submit landscaping plans that meet the requirements of [RDC] 18.725.070 and a maintenance plan.

C.

Along arterial and collector streets, buildings shall be set back a minimum of twenty feet from the street and shall be screened and landscaped to an L2 or L3 standard depending upon the topography and traffic volume.

D.

Hedges that allow an aggressor to hide shall be avoided. Plant materials in open areas shall allow pruning so that site lines are maintained between three feet, six inches and six feet in height. Dense screening may be allowed where there is no danger of creating a place to hide.

(Ord. No. 1132, § 2(Exh. A), 7-11-2013)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 1339, § 2(Exh. A), adopted May 27, 2021, repealed § 18.220.115, which pertained to open space and recreation areas and derived from Ord. No. 1132, § 2(Exh. A), adopted July 11, 2013; and Ord. No. 1207, § 2(Exh. A), adopted May 26, 2016.

A.

In addition to the provisions of RDC 18.740, the standards in this section shall apply to all fences and walls in the RMD zone.

B.

Fences and walls shall be a maximum of three feet, six inches high between the minimum front yard setback line and the front property line for the street frontage that contains the main entrance to the building. Chain link fences are not permitted in the minimum front yard setback for the street frontage that contains the main entrance to the building.

C.

The maximum height of fences located along a side and/or rear yard property line shall be six feet, subject to the sight clearance provisions of Section 2.15 of the City Engineering Standards.

D.

All electric, razor wire, and barbed wire fences are prohibited.

E.

Avoid tall opaque fences or other visual obstructions that allow an aggressor to hide. Dense screening may be allowed where there is no danger of creating a place to hide.

(Ord. No. 1132, § 2(Exh. A), 7-11-2013)

A.

Multiple-dwelling developments shall provide storage space for the collection of garbage and recyclables as follows:

1.

The storage space shall be provided at the rate of:

a.

One and one-half square feet per dwelling unit in multiple-dwelling developments except where the development is participating in a city-sponsored or approved direct collection program in which individual recycling bins are used for curbside collection;

b.

The storage space for residential developments shall be apportioned and located in collection points as follows:

i.

The required storage area shall be dispersed in collection points throughout the site when a residential development comprises more than one building.

ii.

There shall be one collection point for every thirty dwelling units or fraction of thirty units.

iii.

Collection points may be located within residential buildings, in separate buildings/structures without dwelling units, or outdoors.

iv.

Collection points located in separate buildings/structures or outdoors shall be no more than two hundred feet from a common entrance of a residential building.

v.

Collection points shall be located in a manner so that hauling trucks do not obstruct pedestrian or vehicle traffic on-site, or project into any public right-of-way.

2.

The collection points shall be designed as follows:

a.

Dimensions of the collection points shall be of sufficient width and depth to enclose containers for recyclables.

b.

Architectural design of any structure enclosing an outdoor collection point or any building primarily used to contain a collection point shall be consistent with the design of the primary structure(s) on the site.

c.

Collection points shall be identified by signs not exceeding two square feet.

d.

A sight-obscuring six-foot wall or fence shall enclose any outdoor collection point.

e.

Enclosures for outdoor collection points and buildings used primarily to contain a collection point shall have gate openings at least twelve feet wide for haulers. In addition, the gate opening for any building or other roofed structure used primarily as a collection point shall have a vertical clearance of at least twelve feet.

f.

Weather protection of recyclables shall be ensured by using weatherproof containers or by providing a roof over the storage area.

3.

Garbage collection and recycling areas, not including individual trash receptacles for public use, must be in an enclosed area and located in the areas of the site least visible from the public right-of-way and on-site pedestrian connections, typically in the rear or sides of the building. Enclosures should be complementary in design to the main buildings, and shall be constructed of fencing, walls, landscaping to a value of eighty percent year-round opacity, or a combination. If used, fences shall comply with RDC 18.230.100. Design of exterior storage areas shall comply with engineering standards and the comprehensive stormwater management plan (CSMP), including roof cover, paving, and runoff containment, to prevent nonstormwater discharges from entering the stormwater drainage system.

(Ord. No. 1132, § 2(Exh. A), 7-11-2013; Ord. No. 1406, § 2(Exh. A), 7-13-2023)

A.

Accessory structures must meet the dimensional standards in RDC 18.220.030, with the exceptions in RDC 18.210.120.

1.

Multistory parking structures are exempt from the eighteen-foot maximum height requirement in RDC 18.210.120.

B.

Accessory structures greater than one hundred twenty square feet shall be visually compatible with the primary structure.

C.

Accessory structures are only permitted as accessory uses to a primary use and must be located on the same parcel as the primary use.

D.

Accessory dwelling units are regulated by RDC 18.205.020, RDC 18.205.030, and RDC 18.206.030.

(Ord. No. 1132, § 2(Exh. A), 7-11-2013; Ord. No. 1339, § 2(Exh. A), 5-27-2021; Ord. No. 1370, § 2(Exh. A), 9-8-2022)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 1339, § 2(Exh. A), adopted May 27, 2021, repealed § 18.220.140, which pertained to special provisions for townhouse developments and derived from Ord. No. 1132, § 2(Exh. A), adopted July 11, 2013; Ord. No. 1225, § 2(Exh. A), adopted Dec. 1, 2016; and Ord. No. 1234, § 2(Exh. A), adopted June 22, 2017.

Editor's note— Ord. No. 1339, § 2(Exh. A), adopted May 27, 2021, repealed § 18.220.145, which pertained to special provisions for cottage, carriage and two/three unit homes and derived from Ord. No. 1207, § 2(Exh. A), adopted May 26, 2016.

Editor's note— Ord. No. 1339, § 2(Exh. A), adopted May 27, 2021, repealed § 18.220.150, which pertained to senior housing bonus and derived from Ord. No. 1132, § 2(Exh. A), adopted July 11, 2013.