Public districts ensure the city and its service partners can establish the facilities necessary to provide the parks, recreational, educational, and utility programs and services demanded by the community. The standards in this chapter are intended to coordinate the plans and actions of Stevenson's service partners, while maintaining and enhancing community livability.

(Ord. No. 1103, § 9, 2-16-2017)

A.

PR Public Use and Recreation District. The public use and recreation District (PR) is intended to designate a central city area to accommodate existing uses, to minimize possible conflicts of use and to maintain and conserve the environmental qualities of the Rock Creek Pond area.

B.

ED Education District. The education district (ED) is intended to provide minimum development standards that 1) coordinate activities such as school site selection and school building use to complement surrounding neighborhood and recreational uses; 2) that facilitate school efforts to provide quality educational programs; and 3) that ensure the ability of schools to enhance facilities.

(Ord. No. 1103, § 3, 2-16-2017)

A.

While intended to be fairly limited in number and coverage, public districts can be appropriately applied and maintained within any high density residential or low intensity trade area on the future land use map.

(Ord. No. 1103, § 3, 2-16-2017)

A.

Types of Uses: For the purposes of this chapter, there are 4 kinds of use:

1.

A permitted (P) use is one that is permitted outright, subject to all the applicable provisions of this title.

2.

An accessory (A) use is permitted on properties containing permitted uses, provided that:

a.

The accessory use or activity may be regarded as incidental or insubstantial in and of itself or in relation to the principal use on the lot; and

b.

The accessory use or activity is commonly or frequently associated with the principal use on the lot.

3.

A conditional (C) use is a discretionary use reviewed by the planning commission according to the process and criteria in SMC 17.39 - Conditional Uses.

4.

A prohibited (X) use is one that is not permitted in a zoning district under any circumstances.

5.

When a letter or use category is not listed in this table, an interpretation may be initiated under SMC 17.12.020.

B.

Use Table. A list of permitted, accessory, conditional and prohibited uses in public districts is presented in Table 17.35.040-1: Public Districts Use Table.

1-Vehicle Repair is subject to the following performance standards: 1) No repair work shall be conducted outside a fully enclosed building; and 2) vehicles shall not be parked or stored overnight unless inside a fully enclosed building.

2-See also SMC 17.36-WW Wind/Wireless Overlay District.

3-Animals uses in the PR District are not subject to the performance standards of SMC 17.40.095.

4-In granting a conditional use request for farm animals in the ED District, the Planning Commission shall find, at a minimum, that the proposal is compliant with the performance standards in SMC 17.40.095.

5-Overnight camping as authorized by Skamania County for seasonal county fairground use is permitted. All other campgrounds in the PR District are conditional uses.

6-Replacement or expansion of any Public Assembly use existing in an ED District as of July 17th, 2014 is allowed as an accessory use. Only new Public Assembly uses are required to obtain a Conditional Use Permit.

7-See SMC 18.08 and the Shoreline Master Plan for use allowances related to this use category.

8-Building additions to a Public Works Facility increasing gross floor area by more than 500 square feet or lot coverage by more than 20% require a conditional use permit.

(Ord. No. 1103, § 9, 2-16-2017; Ord. No. 1141, § 6, 5-16-2019; Ord. No. 1182 meeting, § 6(Exh. F), 5-19-2022)

A.

Density and Lot Size. The maximum density and minimum lot dimensions for Public Districts are contained in Table 17.35.050-1: Public District Density Standards.

B.

Exceptions. The following exceptions are permitted to the standards of Table 17.35.050-1:

1.

Properties receiving approval to deviate from standards according to SMC 17.38 - Supplementary Provisions.

2.

Properties obtaining variance approval in accordance with SMC 17.46 - Adjustments, Variances, and Appeals.

(Ord. No. 1103, § 9, 2-16-2017)

A.

Compliance Required. All structures in public districts must comply with:

1.

The applicable dimensional standards contained Table 17.35.060-1: Public Dimensional Standards.

2.

All other applicable standards and requirements contained in this title.

1-A greater height may be allowed by the Planning Commission; provided it does not interfere with the views of a substantial number of upland properties which are presently residential or have a potential for residential development and there is an overriding public interest in allowing a greater height. For each 10 foot increase in height that is allowed, there shall be an additional setback or stepback of fifteen feet from any property line.

2-Except in Zone Transition Areas where the minimum setback shall be the same as the requirement of any adjoining, more restrictive district.

3-See also the minimum driveway length in SMC 17.35.130.A.6.

4-However, no structure shall be located within a pedestrian visibility area [SMC 17.10.632].

B.

Exceptions. The following exceptions are permitted to the standards of Table 17.35.060-1:

1.

Properties receiving approval to deviate from standards according to SMC 17.38 - Supplementary Provisions.

2.

Properties obtaining variance approval in accordance with SMC 17.46 - Adjustments, Variances, and Appeals.

(Ord. No. 1103, § 9, 2-16-2017; Ord. No. 1182 meeting, § 6(Exh. F), 5-19-2022)

A.

PR Design.

1.

Storage shall be visually screened by landscaping barriers, fencing, walls or covering."

B.

ED Design.

1.

Rooftop mechanical equipment shall be set back a minimum of 15 feet from the edge of a roof or screened to reduce visual prominence.

2.

Garbage collection areas, ground-mounted electrical and mechanical equipment, and outdoor storage areas shall be adequately screened from the street and nearby residential uses.

3.

All new electrical, telephone, or other cable services shall be brought underground from a public street to the connected building.

4.

All existing electrical, telephone, or other cable services is encouraged to be brought underground.

5.

Reasonable effort shall be made to provide screening and buffering between dissimilar uses to minimize negative impacts, such as those from noise, traffic, lighting, glare, and playing fields.

6.

The location and number of access points to the site, their relationship to existing streets and traffic, the interior circulation patterns, and the separation between pedestrians and vehicles shall be designed to maximize safety and convenience.

7.

Pedestrian sidewalks, pathways and access ways shall be located and constructed to minimize conflicts with vehicular and natural hazards.

8.

Developments shall not contribute to the instability of a parcel or to adjoining lands.

9.

Surface drainage systems shall be designed so as not to adversely affect neighboring properties, roads or water bodies.

(Ord. No. 1103, § 9, 2-16-2017)

A.

PR Landscaping.

1.

Minimum landscaping shall include the area between the building line and the street right-of-way line excluding drives, parking areas and pathways.

2.

New trees, shrubs, groundcover and other materials shall be compatible with other nearby landscaping.

3.

New plantings shall be of such size and density that they are initially effective.

B.

ED Landscaping.

1.

Landscaping shall be provided in the area between the building line and the street right-of-way line excluding drives, parking areas and pathways.

2.

In areas where vegetation plays an important role in erosion control, aesthetic consideration or slope stabilization, any vegetation removed during construction, excavation or grading shall be promptly replaced.

3.

Trees and shrubs which are intended to be retained on a site shall be protected during construction.

(Ord. No. 1103, § 9, 2-16-2017)

A.

PR Maintenance and performance standards.

1.

Outdoor storage shall be maintained in a safe and orderly manner at all times.

B.

ED Maintenance and performance standards.

1.

Garbage collection areas, ground-mounted electrical and mechanical equipment, and outdoor storage areas shall be maintained in a safe and orderly manner.

(Ord. No. 1103, § 9, 2-16-2017)

A.

PR Parking and loading.

1.

Off-street parking shall be provided in accordance with the requirements of SMC 17.42 Parking and Loading Standards.

2.

Required parking shall be located on the same lot as the use it serves.

3.

Parking areas, aisles and access drives shall be constructed with a dust-free, all weather surface of a strength adequate for the traffic expected.

4.

Parking areas shall have adequate slope and drainage.

5.

Each parking space shall have a net area of at least 160 square feet exclusive of access drives and aisles.

a.

If determined on a gross area basis, 300 square feet shall be allowed per vehicle.

6.

No driveway shall be less than 20 feet in length. This shall be done to eliminate the parking of vehicles on or over curbs, sidewalks, or vehicle travel areas [SMC 17.10.855]. For the purposes of this chapter driveway length is measured conservatively as the shortest distance between a) a garage door or other physical obstruction to the parking of a vehicle and b) an existing curb, sidewalk, street, public pedestrian way [SMC 17.10.660], property line, or right-of-way [See Figure SMC 17.38.085-1 Driveway Length Illustration].

B.

ED Parking and Loading.

1.

Off-street parking shall be provided in accordance with the requirements of SMC 17.42 - Parking and Loading Standards.

2.

Required parking shall be located on the same lot as the use it serves.

3.

Parking areas, aisles, loading aprons and access ways shall be paved, be of adequate strength for the traffic expected, and shall be well drained.

4.

Larger parking areas shall be broken into segments of twelve or fewer stalls and separated by landscaping.

5.

Parking may be located under a building provided it is screened from direct view from public streets and adjacent properties.

6.

No motor vehicle, recreational vehicle or equipment, or other equipment, whether operational or not shall be parked, stored or otherwise located in an interior side setback required by Table 17.35.060-1: Public Dimensional Standards.

7.

Parking areas shall be adequately fenced and/or screened from the street and nearby residential uses and maintained in a safe and orderly manner.

(Ord. No. 1103, § 9, 2-16-2017; Ord. No. 1182 meeting, § 6(Exh. F), 5-19-2022)

A.

Allowed Sign Types and Characteristics. A list of permitted, accessory, conditional and prohibited sign types and characteristics in public districts is presented in Table 17.35.145-1: Allowed Signage.

1-Unless a bonus allowance is granted for a sign of outstanding design under SMC 17.39.145.

2-An existing sign, together with its sign structure, which becomes dilapidated shall be removed after notice to the property owner, unless upon appeal under SMC 17.46, the property owner establishes facts sufficient to rebut the presumption of dilapidation.

3-The city strongly encourages the installation of dark-sky friendly signs when utilizing illuminated signs in this district.

4-Allowed as an accessory sign only when placed in windows and limited to 4 sq ft in area.

B.

Sign Standards. Signs allowed in Public Districts are subject to the dimensional and duration standards in Table 17.35.145-2: Sign Standards.

1-Subject to bonus allowance when approved as a Sign of Outstanding Design under SMC 17.39.145.

2-Maximum cumulative sign area is applicable to single-business- and multiple-business lots.

3-The area for freestanding signs directed to a single street frontage is included in the cumulative area calculation for the closest primary building wall.

4-The area for signs that face more than one street is included in the cumulative area calculation for the closest primary or secondary building wall, as assigned by the applicant.

5-Also subject to overall maximum cumulative signage of building wall.

6-No part of a building sign shall be higher than the highest point of the building to which it is attached.

7-No sign shall be placed in a Vision Clearance Area (SMC 17.10.862).

8-Signs within a public right-of-way may be permitted according to SMC 12.02-Use of City Rights-of-Way.

9-Portable signs shall not hinder the safe and convenient travel of pedestrians and vehicles and are exempt from permitting under SMC 12.02 - Use of City Rights-of-Way.

10-Signs related to a specific event, sale, etc. must be removed within 5 days after such event.

11-Political signs not related to an upcoming election in the voting district where the sign is placed are subject to the temporary sign duration standards.

(Ord. No. 1103, § 9, 2-16-2017)