The R-VH zoning classification is designed to provide areas for apartments, townhouses, condominiums and similar developments with open space and other amenities which will enhance the living qualities of the development and promote the housing goals of the general plan. In addition, the very high-density residential district is intended to achieve the following purposes:

A.

To reserve appropriately located areas for family living in a variety of types of dwellings, at a reasonable range of population densities consistent with sound standards of public health and safety;

B.

To provide a more urban type living environment.

C.

To ensure adequate light, air, privacy and open space for each dwelling unit;

D.

To provide space for community facilities needed to complement urban residential areas and for institutions which require a residential environment;

E.

To minimize traffic congestion by providing housing on the city's transportation corridors;

F.

To protect residential properties from the hazards, noise and congestion created by commercial and industrial traffic;

G.

To provide necessary space for off-street parking of automobiles and, where appropriate, for off-street loading of trucks;

H.

To protect residential properties from noise, illumination, unsightliness, odors, dust, dirt, smoke, vibration, heat, glare and other objectionable influences;

I.

To protect residential properties from fire, explosion, noxious fumes and other hazards.

(Ord. 16.123, § 14, 9-5-2007)

A.

Small family child care homes;

B.

Small community care residential facilities;

C.

Multifamily dwellings conforming to the density requirements of this chapter;

D.

Accessory uses located on the same site with a permitted use which are incidental to the permitted use, including but not limited to home occupations (subject to the provisions of Section 17.50.040 of this title), the keeping of four cats, four dogs or a combination thereof not to exceed a total of four and private garages and parking areas.

E.

Transitional housing and supportive housing.

F.

Accessory dwelling units pursuant to Chapter 17.57 of this title.

(Ord. 16.123, § 14, 9-5-2007; Ord. No. 16.132, § 1, 5-1-2013; Ord. No. 16-138, § 14, 7-15-2015; Ord. No. 16.142, §§ 20, 21, 12-4-2024)

The following conditional uses shall be permitted upon the granting of a use permit in accordance with the provisions of Section 17.50.020 of this title:

A.

Community facilities and institutions;

B.

Day-care centers;

C.

Public utility and public service facilities;

D.

Large family child care home: No person shall operate a large family child care home without obtaining a large family child care home permit in compliance with the standards set forth within Section 17.50.015.

(Ord. 16.123, § 14, 9-5-2007)

The following development standards shall apply to all land and buildings in the R-VH zoning district:

A.

Lot Area and Density Requirements. All lots hereafter created shall comply with the following minimum standards:

B.

Minimum Lot Frontage. The minimum lot frontage shall be sixty feet.

C.

Yards.

1.

Front yard. The minimum front yard shall be ten feet for residential buildings and twenty feet for garages.

2.

Side yard setback for existing parcel. The minimum side yard shall be ten feet or ten percent of the lot width which ever is greater for the existing parcel perimeter. Side yard setback for internally created new parcels shall be determined by the planning commission. However, if a garage entrance is located off a side yard the setback shall be twenty feet at the garage entrance to allow for space for a vehicle to park in front of the garage.

3.

Rear yard. The rear yard shall be twenty percent of the depth of the lot, provided that a rear yard of more than twenty-five feet shall not be required and a rear yard of less than fifteen feet shall not be permitted, subject to the following exceptions:

a.

The rear yard may be reduced to not less than fifteen feet, provided, that one side yard is not less than twenty-five feet.

b.

One foot shall be added to the rear yard for each two feet in height above which the top plate line exceeds twenty feet in height.

D.

Maximum Site Coverage. The maximum site coverage in the R-VH zoning district shall be fifty-five percent.

E.

Building Height. No structure in the R-VH zoning district shall exceed thirty-five feet in height unless otherwise provided in Section 17.46.050 of this title.

F.

Each dwelling shall have private, useable outdoor space, i.e. decks, balconies, yards or patios of one hundred square feet per residential unit. If the design is not suitable for private open space, useable common open space may be provided at two hundred square feet per residential unit if approved by the planning commission.

G.

Multi-unit residential development shall comply with the Multi-Unit Residential Design Standards. See Section 17.44.180.

H.

Accessory Structures. See Section 17.46.130 (Accessory Structures).

(Ord. 16.123, § 14, 9-5-2007; Ord. No. 16.140, § 2, 11-15-2023; Ord. No. 16.142, § 22, 12-4-2024)

A.

Design review shall be required for all new structures or alterations to existing structures in the R-VH Zoning District. The design review shall be conducted by the planning commission at a noticed public hearing.

B.

Standards and guidelines contained in Section 17.50.030 shall be used to review the project design. The project design may be approved as submitted, approved with added conditions or denied based on conformance with design standards.

C.

No building shall be located closer than twenty-five feet from the top of the bank of a perennial or intermittent stream. All proposed structures shall be constructed above the one-hundred-year floodplain.

(Ord. 16.123, § 14, 9-5-2007)