Chapter 18.24
A-1 AGRICULTURAL ZONE
Sections:
18.24.050 Access requirements.
18.24.060 Location requirements.
18.24.080 Utility requirements.
18.24.090 Dwelling requirements.
18.24.010 Legislative intent.
The objective in establishing the A-1 agricultural zone is to provide a location within the community devoted primarily to the raising of livestock and/or the growing of crops, and to preserve and protect the continued use of the property for agricultural purposes by excluding the location of residential and other incompatible development. The zone includes those areas of the city where the combination of soil quality, size of land parcel, availability of water, historic use of land and lack of urban development activity make the land most suited to agricultural and livestock purposes.
Representative of the uses within the A-1 zone are livestock grazing, dairies, livestock feed yards, and farm caretaker dwellings. Uses which are inconsistent with and tend to militate against the continued use of the land for agriculture and livestock raising are excluded from the zone. [Ord. 1998-99-A § 10-5-2.1.]
18.24.020 Permitted uses.
The following buildings, structures and uses of land shall be permitted upon compliance with the applicable requirements of this code:
A. The raising of crops in the field.
B. Grazing of livestock.
C. Care and keeping of livestock and fowl without restriction as to numbers.
D. Barns, stables, corrals, pens, coops and other buildings for the care and keeping of domestic livestock.
E. Dairy farms, including the facilities and equipment incidental to the operation of the farm unit. Also the storage, packaging and processing of milk produced on the premises.
F. Livestock farm and/or feed yards and the facilities and equipment incidental to the operation of the farm unit (i.e., grain storage, silos, mills).
G. Crop farming operation, including the facilities and equipment incidental to the operation of the farm unit.
H. Electric, water, gas, telephone and similar utility transmission lines and facilities.
I. An accessory sign pertaining to the sale of real property or produce raised on the premises; provided, that such sign shall not exceed 32 square feet.
J. Kennels, when included as part of a designated farm unit.
K. Roping and riding arenas.
L. Foster care homes, when a part of a farm caretaker dwelling, and containing not more than three nonrelated foster care occupants. [Ord. 1998-99-A § 10-5-2.2.]
18.24.030 Conditional uses.
The following buildings, structures and uses of land may be permitted upon compliance with the requirements of this code and subject to the prior approval of the designated review agency:
A. Farm caretaker dwellings, conventional construction or manufactured housing unit, when located on a designated farm unit, and subject to the provisions of MMC 18.48.220.
B. Home occupations subject to the provisions of MMC 18.48.180.
C. Residential facility for handicapped persons, when operated as a part of a farm caretaker dwelling and subject to the provisions of MMC 18.48.270. [Ord. 1998-99-A § 10-5-2.3.]
18.24.040 Area requirements.
The minimum lot area and width requirements for a zoning lot shall be as follows:
A. Each crop farm, dairy farm, livestock farm, feed yard, and similar permitted farm operation and each farm caretaker dwelling shall be located upon a designated farm unit.
Each designated farm unit shall contain not less than 40 acres, except that the council may approve a farm unit having less than 40 acres, upon presentation of satisfactory evidence by the applicant and a finding by the council that the proposed farm unit constitutes a bona fide farm operation. [Ord. 1998-99-A § 10-5-2.4.]
18.24.050 Access requirements.
Each designated farm unit shall (A) front upon and have direct access to a public street for a distance of not less than 200 feet, or (B) shall have direct and uninterrupted access to a public street over a deeded private travel easement. [Ord. 1998-99-A § 10-5-2.5.]
18.24.060 Location requirements.
All dwellings and other main buildings shall be set back not less than 25 feet from the right-of-way line of any public street and not less than 10 feet from any lot line not adjacent to a public street. [Ord. 1998-99-A § 10-5-2.6.]
18.24.070 Height of building.
A. The maximum height of any dwelling or other building used for human occupancy shall be 30 feet or two and one-half stories, whichever is higher.
B. The minimum height of a building used as a dwelling shall be not less than eight feet except when approved as an earth shelter home project (see MMC 18.48.210). [Ord. 1998-99-A § 10-5-2.7.]
18.24.080 Utility requirements.
All dwellings and other structures used for human occupancy shall be served by the city’s water and sewer system in accordance with the provisions of MMC 18.48.260, except that the requirement for connection to one or more of the above-mentioned systems may be waived by the city council upon a finding that: (A) connection to one or more of the above utility systems is not reasonably practicable and (B) an alternative method of providing the service to the premises has been secured (i.e., approved domestic well right, septic tank approval by health agency). [Ord. 1998-99-A § 10-5-2.8.]
18.24.090 Dwelling requirements.
A. Minimum Area. The ground floor of any dwelling shall contain not less than 850 square feet of living area.
B. Minimum Dimension. The minimum width or length dimension of any dwelling as measured from the outside wall shall be not less than 24 feet. Nonliving spaces such as garages, porches, and sheds shall not be included in determining compliance with this requirement. [Ord. 1998-99-A § 10-5-2.9.]