Whatcom County Unincorporated
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 20
44 RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE ROS DISTRICT
§ 20.44.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this district is to implement the public designation of the Comprehensive Plan by ensuring the continued public provision of a variety of services, optimizing public investments, conserving recreation and open space resources and uses, and promoting compatibility between public functions and surrounding land uses.
(Ord. 98-083 Exh. A § 66, 1998)
§ 20.44.050 Permitted uses.
Unless otherwise provided herein, permitted, accessory and conditional uses shall be administered pursuant to the applicable provisions of Chapter 20.80 WCC (Supplementary Requirements) and Chapter 22.05 WCC (Project Permit Procedures), the Whatcom County SEPA Ordinance, the Whatcom County Subdivision Ordinance and the Whatcom County Shoreline Management Program.
.051
Public parks, playgrounds, forest preserves, beach activities, wildlife reserves, and natural systems education and/or interpretative areas.
(Ord. 2004-026 § 1, 2004)
§ 20.44.100 Accessory uses.
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Restrooms, picnic shelters, tool and equipment storage, and similar buildings normally associated with low intensity park development.
.102
Single-family dwellings used as a caretaker's residence.
.103
Public boat launching ramps and docks, fishing piers, and swimming docks and floats when in compliance with the Whatcom County Shoreline Management Program.
.104
Hiking, jogging and cross-country ski trails, and bicycle paths and associated trailheads and parking areas.
.105
Outdoor tennis and basketball courts, and lawn bowling and horseshoe facilities; provided, that said facilities are intended for daytime usage only.
.106
Baseball diamonds; provided, that such diamonds are intended for daytime usage and backstops are the only accessory structures.
.107
Soccer, rugby and football fields; provided, that such fields are intended for daytime usage and goal posts are the only accessory structures.
.108
Children's playground facilities.
.109
Wildlife enhancement facilities; such as bird feed fields, houses and roosts.
.110
Rental of bicycles, non-internal combustion watercraft or horses.
.111
Stand alone refreshment stands, with no indoor seating, used seasonally or intermittently, to be no larger than 300 square feet in total area.
.112
Activity centers.
.113
Natural systems, archaeological or historical interpretative centers, or a combination facility thereof.
(Ord. 99-050, 1999; Ord. 2004-026 § 1, 2004)
§ 20.44.150 Conditional uses.
.151
Publicly-owned golf courses and associated clubhouses and golf cart rental.
.152
Unenclosed stadiums.
.154
Refreshment stands over 300 square feet in total area and restaurants.
.155
Overnight facilities including campgrounds, cabins and hostels; provided, that said facilities shall not solely involve recreational vehicles, cabins or hostels.
.156
Shooting ranges.
.157
All-terrain vehicle trails.
.158
Those accessory uses described in WCC § 20.44.105 through § 20.44.107, when lighted for night time usage.
.161
Band shells.
.162
Fish propagation and enhancement such as spawning facilities, rearing ponds, lake level stabilization dams and fish ladders.
.163
Mitigation banks as a form of compensatory mitigation for wetland and habitat conservation area impacts when permitted in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 16.16 WCC; provided, applications for mitigation banks shall be processed as a major development project pursuant to Chapter 20.88 WCC.
(Ord. 99-050, 1999; Ord. 2004-026 § 1, 2004; Ord. 2005-068 § 2, 2005)
§ 20.44.200 Prohibited uses.
All uses not listed as permitted, accessory, or conditional uses are prohibited, including but not limited to the following, which are listed here for purposes of clarity:
.201
Reserved.
.202
Adult businesses.
.203
Aerial application of chemicals, including but not limited to pesticides and insecticides, previously regulated by the DNR as Class I, II, III or IV-Special forest practices, when located within an urban growth area.
.204
Slash burning, when located within an urban growth area.
(Ord. 99-070 § 2, 1999; Ord. 2016-011 § 1 (Exh. L), 2016; Ord. 2022-035 Exh. A, 2022)
§ 20.44.250 Minimum lot size.
The minimum lot size shall be consistent with the area required to meet the building setbacks, lot coverage, open space and development standards of this district.
§ 20.44.350 Building setbacks.
Building setbacks shall be administered pursuant to WCC § 20.80.200 (Setback requirements).
§ 20.44.400 Height limitations.
Building height shall not exceed 25 feet as measured by the vertical distance from the average grade level along the walls of the building to the highest coping on a mansard or flat roof, or the highest ridge on a pitch, shed or hip roof. Height of structures shall also conform, where applicable, to the general requirements of WCC § 20.80.675.
(Ord. 84-38, 1984)
§ 20.44.450 Lot coverage.
The total area utilized for structures or other impervious surfaces shall not exceed 10 percent of the total lot area; provided, that parcels utilized solely for community centers shall have a permitted total lot coverage of 20 percent.
§ 20.44.500 Open space.
At least 75 percent of any parcel shall be utilized as open space (an area devoid of structures of accessory facilities); provided, that those parcels utilized solely for community centers shall have open space requirements of 50 percent.
§ 20.44.600 Signs.
Signs shall be administered pursuant to WCC § 20.80.400 (Sign controls).
§ 20.44.650 Development criteria.
(Ord. 96-056 Att. A § A1, 1996)
§ 20.44.651 Landscape plan.
A landscape plan for all permitted, accessory or conditional uses shall be submitted to the zoning administrator for approval, pursuant to WCC § 20.80.300.
§ 20.44.652 Drainage.
All development activities are subject to the stormwater management provisions of WCC § 20.80.630 through § 20.80.635. No project permit shall be issued prior to meeting those requirements.
(Ord. 94-022, 1994; Ord. 96-056 Att. A § A2, 1996; Ord. 2013-057 § 1 (Exh. A), 2013; Ord. 2017-045 § 1 (Exh. A), 2017; Ord. 2019-013 § 1 (Exh. A), 2019)
§ 20.44.653 Driveways.
Consistent with WCC § 20.80.640, driveway plans shall be reviewed by the county engineer or State Department of Transportation, as applicable.
(Ord. 84-38, 1984; Ord. 2013-057 § 1 (Exh. A), 2013)
§ 20.44.654 Off-street parking and loading.
Off-street parking and loading shall be provided consistent with WCC § 20.80.500.
