Whatcom County Unincorporated
City Zoning Code

The purpose of the Airport Operations District is to provide sufficient area exclusively for existing and future regional airport operations needed for Whatcom County. The district shall be located and implemented consistent with the goals, objectives and policies of the appropriate subarea Comprehensive Plan. The district should accommodate regional airport facilities and be served by adequate public services such as roads, sewers, water and drainage. The district should provide uses directly related to the operation of an airport. Other support uses should be allowed only upon land designated by the port's periodically updated master plan as not necessary for essential airport operations.

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 Program.

The minimum lot size shall be consistent with the area required to meet the building setback, lot coverage, buffer, open space and development standards of this district.

Height of structures shall be consistent with the general requirement of WCC § 20.80.675.

The maximum building coverage shall not exceed 50 percent of the lot size for those uses not necessary for essential airport operations. There is no lot coverage requirement for essential airport operations.

At least 25 percent of the lot size for those uses not necessary for essential airport operations. There is no lot coverage requirement for essential airport operations.

Where adjacent to the Urban Residential, Urban Residential Medium Density, Residential Rural and Rural Zone District, a 200-foot buffer containing native vegetation shall be maintained except where such buffer interferes with the requirements of Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) Part 77.

Building setbacks shall be administered pursuant to WCC § 20.80.200.

Refer to WCC § 20.80.300 for landscaping requirements.

Off-street parking and loading provisions shall be administered pursuant to WCC § 20.80.500. In addition, loading areas must be located in such a manner that no loading, unloading and/or maneuvering of trucks associated therewith takes place on public rights-of-way.

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.

Consistent with WCC § 20.80.640, driveway plans shall be reviewed by the county engineer or State Department of Transportation.

Access shall conform to the provisions of WCC § 20.80.565.

The owner, lessee or user shall be responsible for maintaining an orderly appearance of all properties and shall be responsible for assuring the care and maintenance of any natural growth where appropriate. All required yards, parking areas, storage areas, operation yards and other open uses on the site which are adjacent to a public right-of-way shall be maintained in a neat and orderly manner appropriate for the district at all times.

All manufacturing or fabrication processes which produce physical off-site impacts of a detrimental nature shall be sufficiently enclosed to mitigate the impact.

Each industry is required to continuously employ the best pollution control and nuisance abatement technology when reasonably and practicably available for each particular industry; provided, that where federal, state or regional laws or regulations provide for the level of technology to be employed, the appropriate standards shall apply. Smoke or steam pollution sources and open burning which interferes with aircraft visibility shall be prohibited.

All operations and facilities producing heat, light or glare, including exterior lighting, shall be so constructed, screened or used as to not unreasonably infringe upon the use and enjoyment of property beyond the boundaries of the district. Artificial lighting or reflective surfaces resulting in glare in the eyes of pilots or impairing visibility shall be prohibited.

No ground vibration other than that caused by air transportation, highway vehicles, trains or construction activity shall be permitted which is discernible, without instruments, at or beyond the property line for the use concerned.

No odor, dust, dirt, or smoke shall be emitted that is detectable at or beyond the property line, for the use concerned, in such a concentration or of such duration as to cause a public nuisance, or threaten health or safety, or to unreasonably infringe upon the use and enjoyment of property beyond the boundaries of the district.

No use in this district shall exceed the maximum environmental noise level established by Chapter 173-60 WAC.

There shall be no emission of toxic gases of fumes.

There shall be no off-site release to soil or surface drainage ways of water borne or liquid pollutants.

No electrical interference sources such as radio transmitting apparatus or other devices which interfere with aircraft radio and navigation equipment shall be permitted.