Chapter 17.15
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sections:

17.15.010    Limitations.

17.15.020    Code interpretation.

17.15.030    Zoning map interpretation.

17.15.040    Land use districts designated.

17.15.050    Exemption for the creation of lots or parcels for the purpose of road, utility, and/or drainage rights-of-way or similar such public use.

17.15.060    Land use matrix.

17.15.010 Limitations.

No building, structure, or land shall be erected, reconstructed, or used except as provided and allowed in the zone in which such building, structure, or land is located. No existing lot nor any lot hereafter established shall be altered to reduce yard, open space, or lot area required by this code. No area reserved for street purposes, nor any area from an abutting lot shall be included in determining total yard area within a specific lot, unless specifically allowed elsewhere within this code. (Ord. 433 § 3.10, 1997)

17.15.020 Code interpretation.

(1) This code and each and all of the terms within the text are to be read and interpreted in light of the zoning map. If any conflict between the map and the text of this code is deemed to arise, the text of this code will prevail.

(2) Where this code imposes greater restrictions upon the use or development of land than is required by other laws, codes, rules, or regulations, the provisions of this code shall apply.

(3) Unless specifically stated, it is not intended by this code to abolish or in any way interfere with any existing provisions of law, regulations, permits, easements, covenants, or previous agreements between parties relating to the use of buildings or land, and such provisions shall apply unless provisions within this code impose greater restrictions upon the use, erection, moving or alteration of building or land. (Ord. 433 § 3.20, 1997)

17.15.030 Zoning map interpretation.

(1) Where a zone boundary is shown as a lot line, such lot line as surveyed on the ground or established on the ground by a final decision of court of competent jurisdiction shall constitute such boundary.

(2) Where a zone boundary is shown as a waterway, the boundary shall be the center of the waterway or that portion of the waterway that is associated with the boundaries of the city of Forks.

(3) Where a street or alley is officially vacated, the vacated area shall acquire the classifications of the property it abuts. Areas of dedicated streets and alleys, unless otherwise classified, shall be deemed unclassified and in the case of streets and alleys shall be permitted to be used only for street and alley purposes as herein defined. (Ord. 433 § 3.30, 1997)

17.15.040 Land use districts designated.

In order to accomplish the stated goals, objectives, and policies of the Forks comprehensive plan, the following use classifications are established for the city of Forks:

Primary Districts

R-1     Very Low Density Residential

R-2     Low Density Residential

R-3     Moderate Density Residential

R-4     High Density Residential

C-1     Low Density Commercial

C-2     Moderate Density Commercial

C-3     High Density Commercial

FIP     Forks Industrial Park

I     General Industrial

Combining Districts

OL-1     Combination District of Low Density Commercial and High Density Residential

OL-2     Combination District of Low Density Commercial and Moderate Density Residential

OL-3     Combination District of Low Density Commercial and Low Density Residential

OL-4     Combination District of Moderate Density Commercial and High Density Residential

OL-5     Combination District of Moderate Density Commercial and Moderate Density Residential

OL-6     Combination District of High Density Commercial and High Density Residential

(Ord. 433 § 3.40, 1997)

17.15.050 Exemption for the creation of lots or parcels for the purpose of road, utility, and/or drainage rights-of-way or similar such public use.

No requirements established by this code shall be applied to lots or parcels of land being conveyed, created, dedicated, purchased and/or sold to a public governmental entity for the sole or primary purpose of establishing a new or expanding upon an existing road, utility, or drainage right-of-way. Nor shall this code be applicable to any such similar transaction involving real property for a similar public purpose or use. (Ord. 453 § 1, 1999; Ord. 433 § 3.50, 1997)

17.15.060 Land use matrix.

C – Conditional    P – Permitted

S – Special    X – Prohibited

Use

(Very Low Density)

Residential 1

(Low Density)

Residential 2

(Moderate Density)

Residential 3

(High Density)

Residential 4

C-1 Low Density Commercial

C-2 Moderate Density Commercial

C-3 High Density Commercial

Public Land

Industrial Park Zone

Industrial –General (I)

Adult entertainment

X

X

X

C

C

C

C

X

X

C

Agriculture

P

P

S

C

P

X

X

P

X

X

Agriculture services

S

S

C

X

P

P

P

X

C

C

Amusement arcade

X

X

X

X

C

C

C

X

X

X

Arts and entertainment center

C

C

C

C

P

P

P

S

X

X

Automobile sales

X

X

X

X

P

P

P

X

X

X

Billboard signs (sign area greater than 40 sq. ft.)

X

X

X

X

C

C

C

C

C

X

Campgrounds other than RVs

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

X

X

Cemetery

P

P

P

X

X

X

X

P

X

X

Christmas tree farm

X

X

X

P

P

X

X

C

X

X

Church

C

C

C

C

P

P

C

X

X

X

Clubs and fraternal organization

S

S

S

C

S

S

S

X

X

X

Commercial greenhouse

C

C

C

C

P

P

P

X

C

C

Condominium

P

P

C

C

C

C

X

X

X

X

Convenience store

X

X

X

C

P

P

P

X

X

C

Day care center with more than 12 kids

C

C

C

C

P

P

C

X

X

X

Day care center with less than 12 kids

P

P

P

P

P

S

C

X

X

X

Drugstore/retail pharmacy

C

C

C

C

P

P

P

X

X

X

Single-family dwelling

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

X

X

X

Duplex

P

P

P

P

S

S

P

X

X

X

Multifamily dwelling (three to nine units)

X

C

S

P

S

S

S

X

X

X

Multifamily dwelling (10 plus units)iii

X

C

C

P

C

C

C

X

X

X

Mobile home parks

C

C

C

C

X

X

X

X

X

X

Factory/

manufacturing premises

X

X

X

X

C

C

C

X

P

C

Feed lot/rendering plant

X

X

X

X

C

C

X

X

C

C

Fire protection

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

P

C

C

Funeral home

C

C

C

C

P

P

P

X

C

C

Gas station

C

C

X

X

S

P

P

X

C

X

Grocery store

C

C

X

X

P

P

P

X

X

X

Health clubs

C

C

C

C

P

P

P

X

X

X

Home enterprise within home

S/Pii

S/Pii

S/Pii

Pii

Pii

Pii

Pii

X

X

X

Home enterprise within separate facility with less than 2,000 sq. ft.

S**

S**

S**

S**

P

P

P

X

X

X

Horse arena

X

X

C

C

C

C

X

C

X

X

Kennel

C

C

X

X

S

S

C

C

X

X

Kiosks

C

C

C

P

P

P

P

P

X

X

Labor camp and/or staging area

X

X

C

C

C

C

C

P

C

C

Liquor stores

X

X

X

X

C

C

C

X

X

X

Medical services

C

C

C

P

P

P

P

C

X

X

Mineral extraction or processing

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

C

S

C

Mini-storage facility

C

C

C

C

P

P

X

X

X

X

Motel/hotel/inn

C

C

C

C

P

P

P

X

X

X

Multi-use building

C

C

C

P

P

P

P

C

C

X

Neighborhood park

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

P

X

X

Nursery

S

S

S

S

P

P

P

X

C

C

Outdoor-oriented recreational use

C

C

C

X

P

P

P

P

X

C

Park and ride facility

C

C

C

P

X

C

P

P

P

C

Planned unit development

P

P

P

P

C

X

X

X

X

X

Power generation facilities

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

C

C

C

Power relay facilities

C

C

C

X

C

C

C

S

C

C

Professional office

P

P

S

S

P

P

P

C

X

X

Public building

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

C/Si

S

C

Race track

C

C

X

X

C

C

C

X

X

C

Research facilities

C

C

C

X

C

C

C

C

P

C

Restaurant

C

C

C

C

P

P

P

X

X

X

Retail store w/ less than 4,000 sq. ft. of total floor space

X

X

C

X

P

P

P

X

C

X

Retail store w/ 4,000 to 10,000 sq. ft. of total floor space

X

X

X

X

C

P

P

X

C

C

Retail store w/ 10,001+ sq. ft. of total floor space

X

X

X

X

C

C

C

X

C

C

Rock crushing and asphalt plant

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

C

P

C

RV parks*

C

C

C

C

P

S

C

X

X

X

RV overnight facilities

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

X

X

Schools

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

X

Shopping center

X

X

X

X

X

C

P

X

X

X

Small inn

S

S

C

C

P

S

S

X

X

X

Solid or liquid waste disposal

X

X

X

X

C

C

X

C

C

C

Studio

S

S

S

S

P

P

P

X

S

C

Taverns

X

X

X

X

C

C

C

X

X

X

Theater, indoor

C

C

X

X

C

C

C

X

X

X

Theater, outdoor

C

C

X

X

C

C

C

X

X

X

Timber harvesting

P

P

S

X

S

C

X

P

C

C

Timber management and processing

P

P

S

X

S

C

X

X

P

C

Tower

C

C

C

X

C

C

X

S

S

C

Utilities, other than power/sewer

C

C

C

C

C

C

C

P/Ci

C

C

Vacation/visitor rental

S

S

S

P

P

P

P

X

X

X

Vehicular repair

X

X

X

X

P

P

P

X

S

C

Veterinary clinic

X

X

X

S

P

P

P

X

X

X

Warehouse

X

X

X

X

C

C

X

C

P

C

Wrecking yard

X

X

X

X

C

C

C

X

X

X

*    Any new development of an RV park will be required to undertake a State Environmental Policy Act review and determination pursuant to FMC 14.10.090 even if such use is permitted outright pursuant to this chapter.

**    Vacation/visitor rental may be permitted pursuant to FMC 17.10.225.

i    See Chapter 17.52 FMC, PL – Public Land District.

ii    See FMC 17.75.045, Home enterprises within home – Cases when permitted outright.

iii    Any multifamily dwelling project consisting of 10 units or more will be required to undertake a State Environmental Policy Act review and determination pursuant to FMC 14.10.090 even if such use is permitted outright pursuant to this chapter.

(Ord. 629 § 6, 2018; Ord. 587 § 2, 2011; Ord. 580 § 1, 2010; Ord. 561 § 2, 2008; Ord. 560 § 1, 2008; Ord. 531 § 1, 2005; Ord. 514 § 2, 2004; Ord. 502 § 3, 2002; Ord. 489 §§ 1, 3, 2001; Ord. 467 § 1, 2000; Ord. 433, App. B, 1997)