The purpose of this chapter is to provide for residential development in rural areas in a way that maintains or enhances the county's rural character; is sensitive to the physical characteristics of the site; retains large, undivided parcels of land that provide opportunities for compatible agricultural, forestry and other rural land uses; protects sensitive environmental resources; facilitates creation of open space corridors; and minimizes impacts of road and utility systems.

(Ord. 11398 § 3 (part), 1997: Ord. 10398 § 14 (part), 1993)

Planned Rural Residential Developments are permitted within the following districts consistent with the development standards in this chapter:

1.

Long-Term Agriculture District (Chapter 20.08A);

2.

Nisqually Agricultural District (Chapter 20.08C);

3.

Long-Term Forestry District (Chapter 20.08D);

4.

Rural Residential/Resource—One Dwelling Unit Per Five Acres (Chapter 20.09A);

5.

Rural—One Dwelling Unit per Twenty Acres (Chapter 20.09B);

6.

Rural—One Dwelling Unit per Ten Acres (Chapter 20.09C); and

7.

Urban Reserve—One Dwelling Unit per Five Acres (Chapter 20.09D).

(Ord. 13884 § 8, 2007: Ord. 13834 § 10, 2007: Ord. 11398 § 3 (part), 1997: Ord. 10398 § 14 (part), 1993)

(Ord. No. 15355, 1(Att. A, § KK), 10-18-2016)

Same as the underlying district, subject to the limitations on land uses within the resource use parcel specified in Section 20.30A.040(3).

(Ord. 11398 § 3 (part), 1997: Ord. 10398 § 14 (part), 1993)

1.

The minimum project size is twenty acres.

2.

The maximum project size is one hundred acres.

3.

The total number of dwelling units permitted is subject to the density of the underlying zoning district.

4.

PRDs which are contiguous are deemed a single project if (a) they are under common ownership, (b) the applicant(s) for PRD or other development approval are the same or a related person or entity; or (c) the PRDs are being developed as a unified project. For purposes of this section, persons or entities are related if one owns any ownership interest in the other or exercises any legal control or influence in the decisions of the other.

(Ord. No. 14524, § 7, 6-7-2011)

1.

Establishment of a Resource Use Parcel. Each planned rural residential development shall contain a resource use parcel comprising as a minimum the following percentage of the proposed subdivision:

a.

Long-term agriculture district—eighty-five percent;

b.

Nisqually agriculture district—ninety percent;

c.

Long-term forestry district—seventy-five percent;

d.

Rural residential/resource—one unit per five acres district—sixty-five percent.

e.

Rural—one dwelling unit per twenty acres—sixty-five percent;

f.

Rural—one dwelling unit per ten acres—sixty-five percent;

g.

Urban Reserve—sixty-five percent.

2.

Ownership. The resource use parcel may be owned by a homeowners association, corporation, partnership, land trust, individual, or other legal entity.

3.

Use. The following uses of the resource use parcel are permitted, subject to any land use limitations in the underlying district:

a.

Permitted uses:

i.

Agriculture, including forest practices;

ii.

Passive recreation;

iii.

Natural areas including, but not limited to, critical areas and associated buffers, and wildlife corridors;

iv.

Community and individual water systems, sewage system drainfields, and stormwater facilities serving the subdivision, subject to the standards in Section 20.32.070. Such facilities shall not be permitted in agricultural and forestry districts where they would significantly impede the agriculture or forestry use or potential for such use; and

v.

One single-family residence and accessory uses, including a home occupation, pursuant to Chapter 20.54, and farm housing pursuant to Chapters 20.08A, 20.08C, or 20.09A.

b.

Special Uses. Only the following special uses are permitted in resource use parcels created in the rural residential/resource—one unit per five acres district, subject to Chapter 20.54:

i.

Boat launches;

ii.

Riding stables and arenas;

iii.

Golf courses and associated uses;

iv.

Commercial campgrounds.

4.

A residence within the resource use parcel shall count toward the total number of residential units allowed.

5.

Plat Restrictions. The limitations on the use and subdivision of the resource use parcel, as provided in Sections 20.30A.040(3) and 20.30A.080(2), shall be noted on the plat. If not all of the allowable density is used, the number of lots which may be created in the future shall also be noted on the plat. The limitations noted on the plat shall be effective until annexation to a city or town.

(Ord. 11539 § 1, 1997: Ord. 11398 § 3 (part), 1997: Ord. 11025 § 19, 1995: Ord. 10398 § 14 (part), 1993)

(Ord. No. 14524, § 8, 6-7-2011; Ord. No. 15355, 1(Att. A, § LL), 10-18-2016)

The subdivision may also include open space areas in addition to the resource use parcel described in Section 20.30A.040 above, in accordance with Chapter 20.32. Permanent open space may qualify for an exemption from the requirement of a drainage plan, in accordance with Chapter 15.05 TCC.

(Ord. 11398 § 3 (part), 1997: Ord. 10398 § 14 (part), 1993)

(Ord. No. 14524, § 9, 6-7-2011)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 14524, § 10, adopted June 7, 2011, repealed § 20.30A.060, which pertained to density bonus within rural residential/resource—1/5 district and derived from Ord. 11539 § 2, 1997: Ord. 11398 § 3 (part), 1997: Ord. 10398 § 14 (part), 1993.

Editor's note— Ord. No. 14524, § 11, adopted June 7, 2011, repealed § 20.30A.065, which pertained to density bonus within rural residential—1/2 district and derived from Ord. 11539 § 3, 1997: Ord. 11398 § 3 (part), 1997: Ord. 10398 § 14 (part), 1993.

1.

Minimum Lot Size. None, subject to compliance with applicable standards for sewage disposal and provision of water contained in Articles III and IV of the Thurston County Sanitary Code;

2.

Setbacks. Setbacks from the exterior boundary of the site shall be the same as required in the underlying district. All other setback requirements shall be waived to allow flexibility in site design. However:

a.

Individual buildings shall be separated by a minimum of ten feet, and

b.

The hearing examiner or administrator may establish setbacks not to exceed one hundred fifty feet, as necessary to buffer agricultural or forestry activities from residential ues;

3.

Maximum Coverage. Individual lots shall not exceed the percentage permitted by the underlying zone.

4.

Maximum Building Height. Same as underlying district;

5.

Subdivision Design—Resource Use Parcel.

a.

Any prime agricultural soils (as identified in the Soil Survey of Thurston County) and Washington State Private Forest Land Grade 2 present within the proposed subdivision shall be contained within the resource use parcel unless the applicant demonstrates that:

i.

The allowable density cannot be accommodated elsewhere within the proposed subdivision; or

ii.

Within the rural residential/resource—1/5 district:

(A)

The size of the potential resource use parcel is not sufficient to sustain an economically viable resource use, or

(B)

The resource use is not compatible with surrounding land uses.

b.

In order to retain large, undivided parcels of land that provide opportunities to compatible agricultural and forestry uses and protection of sensitive environmental resources, the resource use parcel shall, to the greatest extent possible, be a single contiguous parcel and shaped so as to be usable for resource uses. Where the resource use parcel is intended for other uses, more flexibility is allowed in the shape of the parcel; however, the resource use parcel may not be narrow strips or small interspersed parcel within the residential cluster(s).

c.

Resource use parcels that are used for agriculture, forestry or sensitive resource protection shall not be bisected by roads or easements where the physical conditions of the site would allow otherwise.

d.

Where consistent with other provisions of this chapter, the resource use parcel shall be contiguous with any abutting resource use parcel, open space, greenbelt, agricultural lands, commercial forestry lands, public preserves, parks, or schools. Wildlife corridors shall be linked with other wildlife corridors abutting the proposed subdivision.

e.

The subdivision shall be designed, to the extent consistent with other provisions of this chapter, to maximize the visibility of the resource use parcel and open space areas from adjoining collector roads, arterials, or state highways.

f.

Native vegetation shall be retained in the resource use parcel to the extent that it is compatible with the intended use of the parcel and does not pose a risk to public safety.

g.

Any single-family residence and accessory uses within the resource use parcel shall be sited to maximize resource opportunities on the remainder of the parcel.

6.

Subdivision Design—Residential Lots.

a.

The configuration and size lots shall be varied and blend with the natural features of the site in order to retain the natural, rural character of the site, particularly as viewed from public roadways.

b.

Windfirm trees shall be retained where they would screen residences from collector roads, arterials or state highways, unless they would unduly impede site development, be incompatible with the intended use of the resource use parcel, or pose a risk to public safety for motorists on those roadways and to private utilities.

c.

A lot created for any existing residence on the propery may be discontiguous from the remaining residential lots in the proposed subdivision.

d.

Residential lots shall be grouped and not assembled in a linear configuration. A linear configuration refers to a site design for the residential portion of a development which may be described as long and narrow. Exceptions shall be granted at the discretion of the approval authority where unusual site conditions, such as wetlands, steep slopes, shorelines, or very narrow lots, warrant a linear configuration.

Explanatory note: The reasons for minimizing linear configurations are to promote the integrity of the resource use parcel by minimizing the extent of the residential cluster boundary or edge effect, and to retain the natural, rural character of the site, particularly as viewed from public roadways. Both farmers and foresters have long maintained that proximity of residences to their operations is one of the biggest threats to the continued viability of those industries in Thurston County. Impacts to critical areas are also reduced by minimizing residential boundary area.

(Ord. 11539 § 4, 1997: Ord. 11398 § 3 (part), 1997: Ord. 11025 § 20, 1995: Ord. 10398 § 14 (part), 1993)

(Ord. No. 14524, § 12, 6-7-2011; Ord. No. 15355, 1(Att. A, § MM), 10-18-2016; Ord. No. 16151, § 1(Exh. A, § IV), 4-19-2022)

Planned rural residential developments are subject to the application and processing requirements of Title 18, Thurston County Code.

1.

The submission requirements specified in Title 18 TCC shall be supplemented with the information listed in Section 20.60.030.

2.

Resubdivision.

a.

Lands subject to a planned rural residential development may be further subdivided to the extent of the allowable density if in compliance with applicable provisions of the underlying district, this chapter, and Title 18 TCC.

b.

Once the allowable density is used, the resource use parcel may not be further subdivided.

(Ord. 11398 § 3 (part), 1997: Ord. 10398 § 14 (part), 1993)

1.

Building permits and other permits required for the construction or development of property under the provisions of this section shall be issued only when in the opinion of the director, the work to be performed meets the requirements of the final plan of the planned rural residential development.

2.

Minor and Major Adjustments.

a.

Minor adjustments may be made and approved by the director when a building permit is issued. Minor adjustments are those which may affect the precise dimensions or siting of buildings, but which do not affect the basic character or arrangement of buildings approved in the final plan, nor the density of the development or the resource use/open space parcel requirements.

b.

Major adjustments are those which, in the opinion of the director, substantially change the basic design, density, resource use/open space parcel or other requirements of the planned rural residential development. When, in the opinion of the director, a change constitutes a major adjustment, no building or other permit shall be issued for such an adjustment without prior review and approval by the original approval authority of the planned rural residential development.

3.

If the provisions of this chapter and Title 18 TCC conflict, the provisions of this chapter shall apply.

4.

Filing of Applications. See Chapter 20.60.

(Ord. 11398 § 3 (part), 1997: Ord. 10398 § 14 (part), 1993)

(Ord. No. 14773, § 10(Att. I), 7-24-2012)