Shelton City Zoning Code

Conditions and performance standards limiting the implementation of permitted uses may be required in any specified zone or portion thereof where necessary to achieve compatibility of development with surrounding properties.

Any zone or portion thereof where such conditions and standards are to be required shall be established by ordinance (i.e., central business-limited, neighborhood business-limited, etc.) and identified on the zoning map by the suffix “L” attached to its zone designation and shall be referred to as a “Limited” zone. Hereafter, uses in any zone or portion thereof having the suffix “L” shall be limited and conducted in accordance with the conditions and performance standards set forth in Sections 20.34.030 through 20.34.110.

Landscaping, including appropriate trees, shall be required in all parking strips, required front and corner side yards. All remaining portions of the lot lying between the building and the front and side property lines shall be landscaped or screened or paved. Where the side or rear of the building faces a residential zone, the landscaping shall include plants and trees of sufficient height and density to effectively screen the building, and where there is paving between the buildings, a forty-two inch high ornamental wall in lieu of landscaping may be required.

There shall be no vehicular access to the lot from a street which is a boundary of a residential zone and toward which the rear of the building faces, except by special permit from the hearings examiner.

Where the lot adjoins the side property line of a lot in a residential zone, there shall be an effective screening buffer provided of either a five-foot wide strip of appropriate trees or appropriate landscaping as approved by the hearings examiner.

All display and floodlighting shall be constructed and used so as not to unduly illuminate the surrounding properties and not create a traffic hazard. All glare-producing processes shall be conducted so as not to be visible beyond the property line.

Signs shall comply with the regulations of the zone where located and, in addition, no sign shall be located in any street or alley, nor project above the height limit of the zone where located nor project more than two feet into any required yard. The hearings examiner may limit the size, illumination, location, height and design of signs to that which it deems will not be detrimental to and will be harmonious with said intent and the properties in and surrounding the limited zone.

No sign, yard light or other illumination shall be permitted or maintained in any zone where, because of direction, brilliancy, animation, flashing or other similar features, it is found to be an undue nuisance to other properties or detrimental to public safety or general welfare.

The hearings examiner may, by special permit, grant exceptions to the sign regulations in any limited zone after a public hearing and a finding by the hearings examiner that the exception is required for proper identification and the proposed sign is appropriate in location, size and design and would not be incompatible with the surrounding properties, nor, if located near a residential zone, would infringe upon the right of the neighboring residents to enjoy a peaceful occupancy of their homes.

In recommending a limited zone classification, the hearings examiner may include additional performance standards and special conditions as he or she deems necessary to ensure compatibility of development and to adequately protect properties surrounding the area being zoned with the limited classification. Such additional standards would be contingent upon the unique circumstances attendant upon the reasons for a particular rezone request and the proposed land use.

Such additional standards shall also include a time limit, recommended by the hearings examiner, for the commencing of the use of the property as authorized by the rezoning. Ninety days after said time limit has expired without the commencement of the use, the land shall automatically without further public hearing be returned to its previous zoning classification before the limited zone classification was granted, unless an extension of said time limit is authorized by the hearings examiner.