Spokane Valley City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 19
70 DENSITY AND DIMENSIONS
§ 19.70.010 Purpose.
The purpose of Chapter 19.70 SVMC is to establish density, dimensional, and design standards to define the buildable area, provide flexibility in project design, and maintain compatibility between adjacent uses.
(Ord. 16-018 § 6 (Att. B), 2016)
§ 19.70.020 Residential standards.
Residential development shall meet the standards shown in Table 19.70-1. Standards for alternative residential development are set forth in Chapter 19.40 SVMC, Alternative Residential Development Options.
Table 19.70-1 – Residential Standards | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
R-1 | R-2 | R-3 | R-4 | MFR(1) | ||
Minimum | Front and Flanking Street Yard Setback | 35' | 15' | 15' | 15' | 15' |
Garage Setback(2) | 35' | 20' | 20' | 20' | 20' | |
Rear Yard Setback | 20' | 20' | 10' | 10' | 10' | |
Side Yard Setback | 5' | 5' | 5' | 5' | 5' | |
Open Space | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 10% gross area(3) | |
Lot Size | 40,000 sq. ft. | 10,000 sq. ft. | 5,000 sq. ft.(6) | 4,300 sq. ft. | N/A(4) | |
Maximum | Lot Coverage | 30.0% | 50.0% | 50.0% | 60.0% | 60.0% |
Density | 1 du/ac | 4 du/ac | 8 du/ac | 10 du/ac | 22 du/ac | |
Building Height(5) | 35' | 35' | 35' | 35' | 50' | |
Notes: | |
|---|---|
(1) | Where MFR abuts R-1, R-2, R-3, or R-4 zones, development shall comply with the provisions of Chapter 19.75 SVMC, Transitional Regulations. |
(2) | Attached garages, where the garage door does not face the street, may have the same setback as the primary structure. |
(3) | Open space requirement does not apply to single-family development in the MFR zone. |
(4) | Single-family residential development in the MFR zone shall have a minimum lot size of 2,000 square feet per dwelling unit. Only one single-family dwelling shall be allowed per lot. |
(5) | The vertical distance from the average finished grade to the average height of the highest roof surface. |
(6) | Duplex development in the R-3 zone shall have a minimum lot size of 14,500 square feet. |
(Ord. 16-018 § 6 (Att. B), 2016; Ord. 19-001 § 3, 2019; Ord. 20-009 § 6 (Exh. B), 2020; Ord. 21-010 § 5, 2021; Ord. 21-019 § 5, 2021)
§ 19.70.030 Mixed-use and nonresidential standards.
A.
Development in the RC, CMU, MU, IMU, and I zones shall meet the requirements set forth in SVMC Title 24 and Chapter 19.75 SVMC, Transitional Regulations.
B.
Nonresidential development in the NC zone adjacent to residential uses shall comply with the following dimensional standards:
1.
Maximum building height of 35 feet;
2.
Minimum front yard setback of 15 feet;
3.
Minimum side yard setback of 10 feet; and
4.
Minimum rear yard setback of 10 feet.
(Ord. 16-018 § 6 (Att. B), 2016; Ord. 21-010 § 5, 2021)
§ 19.70.040 Setback designation and measurement.
A.
Except as provided in SVMC § 19.70.040(B), each lot shall contain only one front setback and only one rear setback. Any other setback shall be considered a side setback.
B.
Where lots have double frontage, running through from one street to another, the required front yard shall be provided on both streets.
C.
The city manager or designee is authorized to designate front, rear, and side setbacks. In situations where the city manager or designee cannot establish a front and rear setback due to the orientation of the lot, the city manager or designee shall establish these setbacks based upon orientation of the lot as compared to surrounding lots and to any existing development pattern. All other setbacks shall be defined in relation to the established front and rear setback.
D.
The setback shall be measured from the property line unless there is a border easement, in which case, the setback shall be measured from the border easement.
E.
Setbacks, when adjacent to a private street or driveway easement, shall be measured from the inner edges of the street or driveway and are established pursuant to Table 19.70-1 except the flanking street which is five feet.
(Ord. 16-018 § 6 (Att. B), 2016; Ord. 17-004 § 3, 2017; Ord. 21-010 § 5, 2021)
§ 19.70.050 Additional standards.
A.
Structure intrusions into setbacks are prohibited except:
1.
The ordinary projections of window sills, belt courses, cornices, and other architectural features projecting not more than 12 inches and roof eaves projecting not more than 24 inches.
2.
Minor features of a structure, such as chimneys, fire escapes, bay windows no more than 12 feet long and which cantilever beyond the foundation of the structure, uncovered stairways, wheelchair ramps, and uncovered decks or balconies, may extend into a required setback up to 20 percent of the depth of the setback. However, these features may not be within three feet of a lot line when a setback is required.
3.
Attached mechanical equipment such as heat pumps, air conditioners, emergency generators, and water pumps are allowed to project not more than 24 inches into the side or rear setback only.
4.
Fences that meet the requirements set forth in SVMC § 22.70.020.
5.
Walkways and driveways, including parking in the driveway, are allowed in the front yard setback of R-1, R-2, R-3, and R-4 zones only.
6.
Canopies, marquees, awnings, and similar features in mixed-use or nonresidential zones may fully extend into a front yard setback subject to the requirements of SVMC Title 24.
B.
Supporting member of any garage, carport, portable carport, or other automobile storage structure shall not be located within the required front yard.
C.
Accessory structures shall not be erected within five feet of any rear or side property line, or be located within the front yard or any public or private easement.
D.
Where applicable, structures shall not be erected to a height in excess of that permitted by SVMC § 19.110.030, Airport hazard overlay.
E.
In R-1, R-2, R-3, and R-4 zones, cooling towers, roof gables, chimneys, and vent stacks may extend for an additional height, not to exceed 40 feet, above the average finished grade of the building. Water stand pipes and tanks, church steeples, domes and spires, and school buildings and institutional buildings may be erected to exceed maximum height requirements; provided, that one additional foot shall be added to the width and depth of front, side, and rear yards for each foot that such structures exceed the required height.
F.
Open space required pursuant to Table 19.70-1 shall be accessible to all residential units and shall be suitable for active and passive recreational purposes, subject to the following:
1.
The required open space area shall not include required yards, parking areas, required landscaped areas, stormwater facilities, or required spacing between structures;
2.
The amount of open space may be reduced by up to 25 percent where at least two of the following amenities are provided:
a.
Play or sports courts;
b.
Playgrounds with equipment;
c.
Trails or pedestrian walkways not required for access to residential units or parking areas;
d.
Swimming pools;
e.
Gazebos; or
f.
Clubhouses;
3.
The required open space shall not be reduced by more than 50 percent.
G.
Residential development in nonresidential zones shall comply with the density and dimensional standards of the MFR zone in Table 19.70-1, except single-family development in the NC zone, which shall comply with the density and dimensional standards of the adjacent single-family residential zone. Where the NC zone abuts multiple single-family residential zones, the zone with the higher density shall apply. Where there are no single-family residential adjacencies to the NC zone, the density and dimensional standards of the R-2 zone shall apply.
H.
New development exceeding three stories in height shall be served by paved service lanes that are at least 16 feet in width.
I.
The following design standards apply to all outdoor lighting in residential zones:
1.
All new development shall provide lighting within parking lots, along pedestrian walkways, and accessible routes of travel.
2.
Lighting fixtures shall be limited to heights of no more than 24 feet for parking lots and no more than 16 feet for pedestrian walkways.
3.
All lighting shall be shielded from producing off-site glare, either through exterior shields or through optical design inside the fixture, and shall not emit light above 90 degrees.
4.
Street lighting installed by the City or other public utilities is exempt from SVMC § 19.70.050(I).
J.
Principal or accessory structures shall not be located within the clearview triangle pursuant to Chapter 22.70 SVMC.
(Ord. 16-018 § 6 (Att. B), 2016; Ord. 19-001 § 4, 2019; Ord. 21-010 § 5, 2021)
