Chapter 18.32
RSC RURAL SERVICE CENTER DISTRICT
Sections:
18.32.060 Development standards.
18.32.070 Performance standards.
18.32.010 Purpose.
The purpose of the RSC district is to preserve the multiuse function and mixed land use pattern in the historic and unincorporated communities in Douglas County, as identified in the comprehensive plan. The RSC district is significant in that it provides support to the surrounding area by offering limited commercial services, lands for resource-based commercial and industrial activities, housing options which help support persons employed in resource-based industries and services for the traveling public. Rural service centers also provide limited services such as rest areas, fuel, emergency services and convenience goods to the general public traveling on rural, federal, state and county roads between urban areas. Rural levels of service provide limits to the density and intensity of uses and constrain the size of rural service centers so that they do not adversely impact surrounding resource-based uses, transportation systems or the natural environment. (Ord. TLS 21-23-58B § 2 (Exh. A), 2021; Ord. 03-01-01B Exh. B (part): Ord. TLS 00-02-06 Exh. B (part): Ord. TLS 97-10-71B Exh. F (part))
18.32.020 Permitted uses.
The following uses are permitted outright in the RSC district:
A. Agricultural uses such as the cultivation of fruit and nut trees, grape vines, row crop production, nonretail greenhouses and nurseries and other horticultural stock and the keeping of a maximum of two livestock per acre and a maximum of eight poultry per acre, subject to DCC Chapter 18.16;
B. Agriculturally-related industry with less than ten thousand square feet of gross floor area;
C. Agricultural support activities for Ag-to-Ag transfers pursuant to DCC Section 18.16.220;
D. Single-family dwelling;
E. Duplex dwelling, subject to the density provisions established in DCC Section 18.32.080;
F. Structures for the storage of personal property, such as private garages and carport structures, equipment buildings or storage sheds, not intended for human habitation as living quarters;
G. Bed and breakfast operations with three or fewer rooms;
H. Retail, service, or professional office businesses under five thousand square feet that supply basic commodities and/or services for persons residing in or traveling through the surrounding rural area, including but not limited to: groceries, dry goods, clothing, hardware, eating or drinking establishments, convenience stores, service stations, repair shops, day care facilities, beauty parlors or barber shops, rooming houses with three or fewer rooms, mini storage, and self-service laundries;
I. Community halls and granges;
J. Grain storage (commercial elevator); and
K. Agricultural market, in conformance with the standards of DCC Section 18.80.300 and on a parcel located adjacent to a state highway; and
L. Other similar uses. (Ord. TLS 21-23-58B § 2 (Exh. A), 2021; Ord. TLS 15-12-32B Exh. B (part); Ord. TLS 13-05-23B Exh. B (part); Ord. TLS 12-10-17B Exh. B (part); Ord. 03-01-01B Exh. B (part): Ord. TLS 01-04-07B Exh. B (part); Ord. TLS 97-10-71B Exh. F (part))
18.32.030 Accessory uses.
The following are considered accessory uses to the primary permitted uses listed in DCC Section 18.32.020:
A. In-home day care;
B. Home fruit stand in accordance with DCC Chapter 18.16;
C. Accessory agricultural housing in accordance with DCC Chapter 18.16;
D. Accessory dwelling units subject to the provisions of DCC Chapter 18.16;
E. Accessory structures for the storage of personal property, such as private garages and carport structures, equipment buildings or storage sheds, not intended for human habitation as living quarters;
F. Accessory structures for the keeping and raising of livestock/poultry and general farming including barns, shops, product storage facilities, and shelters, provided the agricultural products are produced on site or on other lands owned/controlled by the owner/operator; and
G. Agritainment activities. (Ord. TLS 21-23-58B § 2 (Exh. A), 2021; Ord. 12-10-17B Exh. B (part); Ord. TLS 05-01 Att. B (part): Res. TLS 04-39 Att. (part): Ord. 03-01-01B Exh. B (part): Ord. TLS 00-02-06 Exh. B (part): Ord. TLS 97-10-71B Exh. F (part))
18.32.040 Conditional uses.
Those uses designated in DCC Section 18.80.320, and as listed below approved pursuant to DCC Chapter 18.80; provided, that the development standards of this chapter are met:
A. Retail, service, or professional office businesses greater than five thousand square feet that supply basic commodities and/or services for persons residing in or traveling through the surrounding rural area, including but not limited to: groceries, dry goods, clothing, hardware, eating or drinking establishments, convenience stores, service stations, repair shops, day care facilities, beauty parlors or barber shops, rooming houses, mini storage, and self-service laundries;
B. Manufactured home parks, subject to the criteria established in DCC Section 18.80.280, and multifamily dwellings and/or cottage dwellings units not to exceed the density standard provided in DCC Section 18.32.060(B)(2), and, where appropriate, subject to cottage dwelling unit development standards in DCC Section 18.32.060(H);
C. Rural resource-related activities including, but not limited to, animal/veterinary clinic and/or boarding facility; commercial kennels; riding stables, horse boarding/training facilities; farm implement/equipment sales, repair and service facilities; chemical fertilizer sales and distribution; wholesale sales, distribution and/or bulk storage of chemical fertilizers, herbicides and/or pesticides; livestock and auction sales; farm supply sales; bulk fuel storage; sheet metal/welding shops; commercial packing houses, storage and warehousing of agricultural products, including product from other agriculturists for compensation, larger than ten thousand square feet in gross floor area, provided the criteria in DCC Section 18.32.060(F) are met;
D. Public or semi-public activities including, but not limited to, public facilities, including rest areas and tourist information centers; cemeteries, churches and parsonages; governmental uses and structures; public and private schools; utility distribution and transmission facilities; community halls and granges; airports, airstrips, helipads and related facilities; solid waste recycling/transfer stations;
E. Tourist facilities and accommodations including public and private recreational accommodations and facilities including ball parks, community centers, water-related activities, golf, bowling, exercise facilities, video arcades, theaters, outdoor event venue associated with allowed or conditionally permitted uses, boat launches, museums, cultural or historical facilities, casinos, convention centers, transient lodging, resorts, bed and breakfast operations offering four or more rooms, and commercial ventures that principally service guests, vacationers or the traveling public and other related recreation activities;
F. Recreation vehicle parks and camping facilities, subject to the criteria established in DCC Section 18.80.230; and
G. Other similar uses. (Ord. TLS 21-23-58B § 2 (Exh. A), 2021; Res. TLS 18-37; Ord. TLS 13-05-23B Exh. B (part); Res. TLS 04-39 Att. (part): Ord. 03-01-01B Exh. B (part): Ord. TLS 00-02-06 Exh. B (part): Ord. TLS 97-10-71B Exh. F (part))
18.32.050 Prohibited uses.
Uses other than those identified or described in this chapter are prohibited, including, but not limited to, the following:
A. Accumulation of junk materials;
B. Commercial feed lots;
C. Mineral extraction;
D. Storage of explosives or materials of such character or in such quantities as to constitute a significantly greater hazard to persons, property or environmental health than that posed by materials commonly used or stored in the ordinary agricultural, retail and service establishments permitted in this district;
E. Retail sales of marijuana intended for any purpose;
F. Marijuana production and/or processing for any purpose; and
G. Marijuana cooperatives as defined and described in RCW 69.51A.250 as it now exists or may hereafter be amended. (Ord. TLS 21-23-58B § 2 (Exh. A), 2021; Ord. TLS-17-01-02B Exh. A (part); Ord. TLS 16-05-34C § 1 Exh. A (part); Ord. TLS 15-14-50B Exh. A (part): Ord. 03-01-01B Exh. B (part): Ord. TLS 97-10-71B Exh. F (part))
18.32.060 Development standards.
Development in the RSC district shall meet all of the applicable provisions of the DCC and the following requirements:
A. Yard Area and Setbacks. Minimum required yards and setbacks shall be those established in DCC Chapter 18.16, except a duplex built on separate parcels may have a zero-lot line side yard setback, provided the common wall is built to the requirements of the International Fire Code.
B. Lot Size.
1. Lot size, single-residential dwelling: Ten thousand square feet for each residential dwelling unit;
2. Lot size, duplex and/or multifamily, cottage dwelling units: Duplex dwellings shall have a minimum lot size of fifteen thousand square feet. Multifamily and cottage dwelling unit developments shall have a minimum lot size equal to or exceeding fifteen thousand square feet for the first two units and four thousand square feet per unit thereafter; and
3. Lot size, retail or service business, rural resource industry and public or semi-public use: Shall contain sufficient area to meet the needs of the particular use and applicable requirements, including, but not limited to, maximum lot coverage, parking/loading area, landscaping and drainfield areas. The minimum site/lot size will be determined during the appropriate site plan review process.
C. Lot Width. Seventy feet minimum width, except for corner lots, which shall have one hundred feet of contiguous frontage with one side being not less than seventy feet.
D. Lot Coverage.
1. Residential uses: Buildings or structures shall cover not more than thirty-five percent of the area of any lot;
2. Retail or service businesses, rural resource-related activities and public or semi-public uses: The maximum lot coverage for buildings and structures on any lot shall be of sufficient area to accommodate the use(s) and the minimum requirements of the DCC, i.e., off-street parking and loading, landscaping, drainage retention, setbacks, drainfield areas, and other required provisions.
E. Building Height. Forty feet. Grain elevators, water towers, windmills and other similar freestanding agricultural structures to a maximum of fifty feet are exempt from maximum height standards of this chapter with approval by the land services director and fire marshal.
F. Retail or service businesses, rural resource-related activities and public or semi-public uses shall meet the following criteria:
1. Multifamily, commercial or industrial uses shall have direct access via public right-of-way or a system of public or private internal access corridors subject to approval by fire marshal and county engineer;
2. Only one access for ingress and egress to the use is allowed except as may be required by the fire marshal. When two or more uses are utilizing the same parking facility, access may be increased to two points in locations acceptable to the county engineer;
3. Exterior lighting is limited to a maximum height of fifteen feet and must project only on the subject property in accordance with DCC Chapter 18.16, except for building illumination;
4. Storage of materials shall be located within an enclosed building, site-obscuring fence or landscaping pursuant to DCC Chapter 18.16;
5. Refuse Storage. All outdoor refuse storage shall be located and screened pursuant to DCC Chapter 18.16.
G. Development Standards. Landscaping, off-street parking and loading, road improvements and stormwater drainage, and signs shall be provided in accordance with the DCC.
H. Cottage Dwelling Unit Developments. Cottage dwelling unit developments are intended to provide for a pleasant, village-like rural housing alternative, compact in form, with an emphasis on character, intimate scale, usable common areas, and an attractive street or driveway environment. As such, cottage dwelling unit developments shall meet the following requirements:
1. Cottage dwelling unit developments shall be on a single lot.
2. Cottage dwelling units may be free-standing or combined into two-, three- or four-unit configurations.
3. Cottage dwelling units shall not exceed one thousand one hundred square feet in gross floor area.
4. Required Recreation/Open Space.
a. Common recreation/open space within a cottage dwelling unit development shall be a minimum of three thousand square feet, regardless of the number of dwelling units. In addition, a minimum of three hundred square feet of recreation/open space shall be provided per dwelling unit.
b. No dimension of a common recreation/open space area used to satisfy the minimum square footage requirement shall be less than ten feet, unless part of a pathway or trail.
c. Required common recreation/open space shall be divided into no more than two separate areas per cluster of dwelling units.
d. Common recreation/open space shall be improved for passive or active recreational use.
e. A minimum of fifty percent of the common recreation/open space shall include irrigated landscaping.
5. Building Separation.
a. Cottage dwelling unit structures shall be separated by no less than ten feet.
b. Cottage dwelling unit structures and accessory buildings shall be separated by no less than six feet.
6. Cottage dwelling unit developments shall be required to implement a mechanism, acceptable to the land services director, to ensure the continued care and maintenance of the development’s common areas.
7. Pedestrian connectivity shall be provided to all parking, recreation/open space, and units.
8. Parking shall be provided at a ratio of 1.5 stalls per unit and located no greater than three hundred feet from the unit being served.
9. Accessory dwelling units are not permitted in cottage dwelling unit developments.
10. Cottage dwelling units may be subject to the division of land resulting from subjecting all or a portion of a parcel or tract to the Horizontal Property Regimes Act, Chapter 64.32 RCW, or the Condominium Act, Chapter 64.34 RCW. After approval of a binding site plan for land, all or a portion of which will be subjected to the provisions of Chapter 64.32 or 64.34 RCW. (Ord. TLS 23-10-43B Att. A; Ord. TLS 21-23-58B § 2 (Exh. A), 2021; Res. TLS 04-39 Att. (part): Ord. 03-01-01B Exh. B (part): Ord. TLS 00-02-06 Exh. B (part): Ord. TLS 97-10-71B Exh. F (part))
18.32.070 Performance standards.
Resource disclosure statements shall be required when applicable in accordance with DCC Chapter 18.16. (Ord. TLS 21-23-58B § 2 (Exh. A), 2021; Ord. TLS 11-06-33B Exh. B (part): Ord. 03-01-01B Exh. B (part): Ord. TLS 97-10-71B Exh. F (part))
18.32.080 Density.
The maximum residential density in the RSC district shall be consistent with the density standard provided in DCC Section 18.32.060(B)(2). Nonresidential facilities shall be subject to the availability of DOH and/or health department-approved water and sewer system requirements. (Ord. TLS 21-23-58B § 2 (Exh. A), 2021; Ord. 03-01-01B Exh. B (part): Ord. TLS 97-10-71B Exh. F (part))