Chapter 17.360C
PORT GAMBLE RURAL HISTORIC TOWN
Sections:
17.360C.020 Town development objectives.
17.360C.025 Uses permitted and design standards.
17.360C.030 Special provisions.
17.360C.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to set forth the regulations, procedures and special development objectives that apply to the rural historic town of Port Gamble. In the event of a conflict between the requirements of these regulations and any other applicable statute, rule, ordinance, or regulation, the more restrictive regulation shall apply. The county has identified Port Gamble as a limited area of more intensive rural development (LAMIRD) and classified the town as a rural historic town (RHT). A fundamental underpinning of this chapter is to comply with the requirements of the State Growth Management Act, while preserving and enhancing the unique historic qualities of the town. The intent of these regulations is to provide for visually compatible infill, development, and redevelopment of the existing commercial, industrial and residential areas in Port Gamble, while also containing such development within logical, permanent town boundaries.
Within the rural historic town of Port Gamble, three land use zones exist. The purpose of the three RHT zones is set forth below.
A. Rural Historic Town Residential (RHTR). This zone is intended to recognize and encourage redevelopment of the historic residential patterns in the town. Residential densities may approximate historic town densities but shall not exceed two and one-half dwelling units per acre. Residential acreage in the RHTR zone totals 69.76 acres, including the town cemetery. Site design and architecture in the RHTR zone may reflect new interpretations of the historic styles and patterns, but must also work to enhance and preserve the defining “company town” characteristics of Port Gamble as described in the Historic American Engineering Record for Port Gamble, Washington, dated August 1997, on file with the department of community development. To ensure that historic platting patterns are acknowledged, maximum lot sizes shall apply and community open space is required.
B. Rural Historic Town Commercial (RHTC). This zone is intended to meet many of the town needs for basic shopping and simple services. The zone also recognizes and reflects the historically significant commercial use of the town, as well as the types of uses present in July 1990. The commercial zone may provide for tourist, visitor, and recreation uses. This zone may also support limited new commercial uses including isolated small-scale businesses and cottage industries not designed to serve the town population, but providing jobs to rural residents.
C. Rural Historic Town Waterfront (RHTW). This zone is intended to allow for maintaining, developing, or redeveloping a range of uses reflecting historic development and 1990 uses while supporting revitalization of the town as a whole. Forest products manufacturing, natural resource industries, and waterfront shipping are allowed, within the constraints imposed by the county’s Shoreline Management Master Program. Residential uses are allowed as part of a town master plan, designed in a way to minimize conflicts with other allowed uses. Other less intensive industrial and commercial uses similar to those of the commercial zone are also allowed. The areas within two hundred feet of the water are governed by the county’s Shoreline Management Master Program, which expresses a preference for water-dependent or water-related uses.
(Ord. 586 (2020) § 2, 2020: Ord. 534 (2016) § 7(5) (App. E) (part), 2016)
17.360C.020 Town development objectives.
In 1967, Port Gamble was added to the National Register of Historic Places and designated a Historic Landmark. The designation recognized the unique aspects of the town, including its development as a “company town” built around the former Pope Resources (Puget Mill Company/Pope & Talbot) sawmill. The mill began operation in 1853 and, until its closure in 1995, was the oldest continuously operating sawmill and company town in the nation. In recognition of the historic value of Port Gamble and the unique factors affecting maintenance and potential development or redevelopment of the town, the county created a special planning and zoning designation for the town. In addition, special town development objectives (TDOs), set forth below, have been adopted to ensure that development maintains and enhances the defining and essential characteristics of the town.
A. Development proposals shall be designed in a manner that highlights and enhances the historic nature of the town. Building design shall be based on characteristics of historic structures, but need not literally mimic historic styles. New structures are to be compatible with the old in mass, scale and character, but subtle differences in stylistic treatment that make buildings distinguishable as new construction are appropriate.
B. New construction, including site design and layout, may reflect the evolution of the town, but must retain the existing visually significant sense of historic time and place. Development proposals should strive to create a dialogue between new and historic development in the town.
C. In reviewing development proposals, the county shall consider architectural styles and traditional site design. The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Historic Preservation Projects (36 CFR 68) shall be used as a guideline for evaluating future development. The Historic American Engineering Record for Port Gamble, Washington, dated August 1997, on file with the department of community development shall also be used to evaluate future development. In addition, new development shall, to the greatest extent feasible, comply with the following objectives:
1. New development shall reflect historic town platting patterns, including small lot development, alleys, narrow streets, sidewalks, on-street parking, and historic styles of street lighting.
2. Homes shall face the street, with access for garages and parking off alleys whenever possible. Detached garages are preferred, with alley access or shared driveway access from the street. A development pattern with repeating double-bay garage doors facing the street shall be prohibited.
3. Large community open spaces are preferred, rather than large private yards.
4. Development in the RHTC zone shall be compatible in massing, size and scale with historic structures. As with residential development, existing styles should provide the basic framework, but new development shall be differentiated from the old.
5. Waterfront development may reflect the significant industrial and commercial nature of early uses on the site. Larger, bulkier structures than would be allowed in the RHTR and RHTC zones may be permitted in this zone. Tilt-up concrete structures, reflective glass, or other treatments which commonly characterize modern industrial park developments are to be prohibited.
6. Parking for the RHTC and RHTW zones shall be provided in shared or common parking areas whenever feasible. The parking standards set forth in Section 17.360C.030 shall be considered an element of these TDOs and shall apply to all new commercial and waterfront development.
7. New development shall be landscaped in such a manner as to reflect the historical character of the town and preserve and enhance publicly accessible open spaces and retain mature trees to the extent possible.
8. Creating, enhancing and preserving a town commons or a series of connected public open space linkages shall be required in conjunction with any master planned or other significant redevelopment of the town that reflects the same qualities of the historic town including visual assets and species of vegetation.
D. All development in the town shall comply with these TDOs. TDO review may occur for simple permitted uses as part of the building permit plan review process.
E. As provided for in the Comprehensive Plan, a qualified consultant selected by the director or site design and architectural review committee shall be appointed to provide comments or a recommendation on all proposed development.
F. The TDOs and other development standards of this chapter shall be applied to a defined project area (DPA) as designated by the applicant. Alternatively, development proposals shall include boundary line adjustments, subdivisions, or binding site plans that serve to define lot, site or project area.
(Ord. 586 (2020) § 3, 2020: Ord. 534 (2016) § 7(5) (App. E) (part), 2016)
17.360C.025 Uses permitted and design standards.
A. Uses Permitted. Section 17.410.046, Limited areas of more intensive rural development (LAMIRD) zones use table, except for parcels located within the boundary of the Port Gamble redevelopment plan approved pursuant to Section 17.360C.030, shall refer to Appendix F to determine allowed uses, permits required, and definitions. All development of these uses must be consistent with town development standards pursuant to Section 17.360C.020. All other chapters of Kitsap County Code or an approved development agreement not included in Appendix F shall still apply.
B. Design Standards: Section 17.420.056, Limited areas of more intensive rural development (LAMIRD) density and dimensions table.
1. Density;
2. Lot dimensions;
3. Lot coverage standards;
4. Height regulations;
5. Setbacks.
C. Chapter 17.105, Interpretations and Exceptions.
D. Chapter 17.440, Master Planning.
E. Chapter 17.450, Performance Based Development.
F. Chapter 17.490, Off-Street Parking and Loading.
G. Chapter 17.500, Landscaping.
H. Chapter 17.510, Sign Code.
I. Chapter 17.580, Transfer of Development Rights.
(Ord. 611 (2022) § 178, 2022; Ord. 586 (2020) § 4, 2020: Ord. 534 (2016) § 7(5) (App. E) (part), 2016)
17.360C.030 Special provisions.
A. Procedures. In order to ensure that all development furthers the goal of maintaining and enhancing the historic nature of the town, all development shall comply with the town development objectives of Section 17.360C.020. The director of community development shall refer any formal proposal requiring a conditional use permit or PBD approval for review by the architectural and site design committee, if established, or consultant selected by the director.
Any proposal for large-scale development or redevelopment, as determined by the director, shall require preparation of a town master plan. Examples of large-scale development include subdivisions creating five or more lots, residential development of five or more homes, or new commercial development greater than five thousand square feet. A town master plan that lays out the preferred development scenario and phasing for each of the three zones may be approved by the board of county commissioners using the performance based development process of Chapter 17.450. (The TDOs and specific requirements of this chapter for density, height, parking, and other development standards shall replace the PBD standards and requirements of Section 17.450.040.) Detailed project-level environmental analysis, including analysis of site-specific alternatives, shall be required as part of a master plan review.
B. Infrastructure Capacity Required. In all zones, no development shall be allowed unless adequate infrastructure, including but not limited to sewer and water service, is available. Allowed densities shall be restricted to reflect the capacity of the sewer and water systems.
C. Parking.
1. Parking requirements for all uses shall be determined by the director through analysis of the proposed use and with reference to the parking requirements of Chapter 17.490. On-street parking on private and public roads and off-street parking in and out of garages may be allowed and counted towards parking standards with a master parking plan approved as an element of the town master plan. On-street parking shall be consistent with the intent for a walkable community providing for multimodal transportation elements, accessibility and the historic character of the RHT.
2. Off-street parking associated with an individual use shall, to the greatest extent feasible, be located behind structures or otherwise fully screened from street view.
3. All required off-street parking in the RHTC and RHTW zones may be provided off-site in shared or joint use parking areas, except that provision must be made to develop or reserve on-site or on-street parking spaces for handicapped parking.
4. Shared or joint use parking lots shall be screened. The following standards may be modified upon recommendation of the consultant or, if established, an architectural and site design review committee:
a. From adjacent residential zones by six-foot-high solid wood fencing or by a three-foot-high earthen berm planted densely with native evergreen shrubs and groundcover to form a visual separation and soften the edges of the parking area;
b. From adjacent streets by a combination of solid wood fencing, plantings, public seating, shelters, or public information kiosks. Screening and plantings shall be of a height to shield light from vehicles but shall not interfere with general visibility into the parking area for public safety purposes. The goal is to achieve visual separation and soften the edges of the parking area;
c. From adjacent commercial properties by a four-foot-wide perimeter landscape area, planted to achieve visual separation and soften the edges of the parking area.
5. Shared or joint use parking lots shall provide internal landscaping as follows:
a. For parking areas providing up to fifty stalls, twelve square feet of landscaping, in addition to the perimeter or street screening, must be provided for each stall, including one tree for every five stalls.
b. For parking in excess of fifty stalls, an additional eighteen square feet of landscaping shall be provided for each stall over fifty, including one tree for every four stalls over fifty.
c. Landscaped areas shall have minimum dimensions of four feet in any direction, exclusive of vehicle overhangs, and a minimum area of thirty-six square feet.
d. Trees shall be a minimum of six feet high, with a minimum two-inch caliper if deciduous.
e. Landscaped areas shall be distributed equally throughout the parking area to create shade and break up large expanses of asphalt or other paving.
D. Signs and Lighting.
1. Signs and external lighting shall be designed to reflect historic styling and comply with the town development objectives and shall be reviewed by an architectural and site design review committee, if established, or a consultant selected by the director.
2. Internal illumination and neon lighting or signage is prohibited, except for window signs not exceeding four square feet; provided, that an applicant may request review of proposed signs by an architectural and site design review committee, if established. Following such review and on the recommendation of the committee, the director may allow internally illuminated signs or signs with neon lighting.
3. All other requirements of Chapter 17.510, Sign Code, apply in the RHT zones. Any deviations from these standards must be consistent with a master signage plan reviewed by an architectural and site design committee, if established, or a consultant selected by the director. Such deviations may include, but are not limited to, historic markers, directional and informational signage.
E. Public and Private Road Standards. All public roadways shall meet the road standards pursuant to Chapter 11.22. Private roadways shall be developed with a primary focus on a walkable community providing for multimodal transportation elements, accessibility and the historic character of the RHT.
F. Noise. Noise limitations within the RHT shall be pursuant to Chapter 10.28 except as follows:
1. Class A Environmental Designation for Noise Abatement (EDNA) areas within the boundary of the RHT shall be allowed to receive fifty-seven dBA from Class B EDNAs and sixty dBA from Class C EDNAs from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday and from 7:00 a.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. The allowed decibels from Class B and C EDNAs from 11:01 p.m. to 6:59 a.m. on Sunday through Friday and 12:01 a.m. to 6:59 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday shall be forty-seven dBA and fifty dBA, respectively.
2. For each property within the RHT designated as a Class A EDNA, a notice to title shall be recorded prior to occupancy of such property after approval of the town master plan.
G. Reserve Tracts.
1. As part of a town master plan, land within the RHTR may be designed as reserve tracts. Over the course of construction of the town as approved within a town master plan, these tracts may be used for residential uses transferred from other areas of the RHT. However, at no time may the use of these tracts cause the overall RHT to exceed a total of two hundred ninety-five dwelling units.
2. After construction of all residential elements of the town master plan, the reserve tracts may be converted to rural use tracts and developed with all nonresidential uses allowed in the rural residential zone as limited by applicable footnotes in Section 17.410.050. Other than forestry, parks and open space or primary agricultural uses, all uses shall require a conditional use permit. The owner must provide documentation that full build-out of the residential element has occurred and such to be reviewed and approved by the director. Such conversion will be a Type 2 decision.
(Ord. 586 (2020) § 5, 2020: Ord. 534 (2016) § 7(5) (App. E) (part), 2016)