Chapter 23.30
PUBLIC USE ZONING DISTRICTS

Sections:

23.30.010    Purpose of public use districts.

23.30.020    Public use districts permitted land uses.

23.30.030    Site requirements for public use districts.

23.30.040    Parking standards for public use districts.

23.30.010 Purpose of public use districts.

A. The parks and public facilities district (PPF) is a special use classification intended to provide areas for the retention of public lands necessary for open spaces, parks, playgrounds, trails and structures designed for public recreation and to provide areas for the location of buildings and structures for public education, recreation and other public and semi-public uses. This zoning classification is intended to be applied to those portions of the city that are designated as developed open space and public facility under the city of Richland comprehensive plan.

B. The natural open space use district (NOS) is a special use classification intended to provide area for the retention of publicly owned, natural open spaces that, due to their proximity to wetlands, shorelines, floodplains or critical habitat areas, are too sensitive for intensive use or development. This zoning classification is intended to be applied to those portions of the city that are designated as natural open space under the city of Richland comprehensive plan.

C. The university district (UNIV) is a public use classification intended to provide an area for the development of public university campuses for institutions of higher education. The term “university” shall include all entities covered by the definition of “higher education” in RCW 28B.07.020(4) or the definition of “institutions of higher education” in RCW 28B.10.016(4). Property owned by entities meeting the definition of a university shall be eligible for this zoning designation. This zoning district recognizes that university campuses can have a variety of uses that support the overall mission of the university and may not specifically be educational uses. This zone will furnish areas for the location of university services and facilities to promote Washington State University’s goal of excellence in higher education and furthering the land grant university mission of extending higher education opportunities throughout the state; and encourage cooperation between the city and Washington State University in planning the physical development of the community. This zoning classification is intended to be applied to those portions of the city of Richland that are designated university district under the city of Richland comprehensive plan. [Ord. 28-05 § 1.02; Ord. 04-09; Ord. 08-20 § 2; Ord. 2024-08 § 3].

23.30.020 Public use districts permitted land uses.

In the following chart, land use classifications are listed on the vertical axis. Zoning districts are listed on the horizontal axis.

A. If the symbol “P” appears in the box at the intersection of the column and row, the use is permitted, subject to the general requirements and performance standards required in that zoning district.

B. If the symbol “S” appears in the box at the intersection of the column and row, the use is permitted subject to the special use permit provisions contained in Chapter 23.46 RMC.

C. If the symbol “A” appears in the box at the intersection of the column and the row, the use is permitted as an accessory use, subject to the general requirements and performance standards required in the zoning district.

D. If a number appears in the box at the intersection of the column and the row, the use is subject to the general conditions and special provisions indicated in the corresponding note.

E. If no symbol appears in the box at the intersection of the column and the row, the use is prohibited in that zoning district.

Land Use	PPF	NOS	UNIV
Public/Quasi-Public Uses
Alternative School	P1		P
Churches	P2
Clinics, School-Based	S		P
Clubs or Fraternal Societies	P2		P
Cultural Institutions	P2		P
General Park Maintenance and Operations	P	P	P
Golf Courses	P
Passive Open Space Uses	P	P	P
Power Transmission and Irrigation Wasteway Easements and Utility Uses	P3	P3	P
Public Agency Buildings	P3	P3	P
Public Agency Facilities	P3	P3	P
Public Campgrounds	P
Public Parks	P	P	P
Schools	P4		P
Private Swimming Pools			P
Recreation Center			P
Special Events Including Concerts, Tournaments, and Competitions, Fairs, Festivals and Similar Public Gatherings	P		P
Trail Head Facilities	P	P	P
Trail for Equestrian, Pedestrian or Nonmotorized Vehicle Use	P	P	P
Recreational Uses
Art Galleries	P		P
Boat Mooring Facilities	P		P
Retail Uses
Concessionaire	P6	P6	P
Parking Lot	P	S5	A
Bookstores			P
Cafe/Coffee Shops			P
Miscellaneous Uses
Macro-Antennas	P		S
On-Site Hazardous Waste Treatment and Storage	A	A	A
Cemetery	P
Campus Uses
Apartment/Condominium (3 or more units)			P
Day Care Center			P
Dormitories, Residence Halls, Fraternities and Sororities			P
Libraries			P
Lecture Halls			P
Research Facilities			P
Student Centers			P
Staff Offices			P
Dining Halls/Cafeterias			P
Auditoriums/Gymnasiums			P
Other (buildings/uses intended to create a campus environment; determined by the planning manager)			P

1.    RMC 23.42.260

2.    RMC 23.42.050

3.    RMC 23.42.200

4.    RMC 23.42.250

5.    RMC 23.42.183

[Ord. 28-05 § 1.02; Ord. 13-08; Ord. 04-09; Ord. 07-19 § 9; Ord. 08-20 § 2; Ord. 2024-08 § 3].

23.30.030 Site requirements for public use districts.

A. A lot in a parks and public facilities district shall have at least an area sufficient to satisfy the requirements for minimum yard and off-street parking as required by this title.

B. The minimum yard requirements in the parks and public facilities district shall be the same as those in the adjacent zone district. Where there is more than one zone district adjacent to the parks and public facilities zone district, the yard requirement in the parks and public facilities district shall be the same as the one in the adjacent zone having the most compatible setback requirement.

C. In the following chart, development standards are listed on the vertical axis. Zoning districts are listed on the horizontal axis. The number appearing in the box at the intersection of the column and row represents the dimensional standard that applies to that zoning district.

Standard	PPF	NOS	UNIV
Maximum Building Height – Main Building	55 feet	0 feet1	N/A

1.    Permanent structures designed for human occupancy are not permitted in the NOS district.

D. Washington State University maintains a capital planning and development operation to administer its own university development standards. Therefore, no specific development standards are set forth for the university zoning district. Furthermore, the standards contained in the following chapters of this code shall apply to the university zoning district: Chapter 23.38 RMC, Supplementary Yard and Area Regulations; Chapter 23.54 RCW, Off-Street Parking and Landscaping. [Ord. 28-05 § 1.02; amended during 2011 recodification; Ord. 2024-08 § 3].

23.30.040 Parking standards for public use districts.

Off-street parking space shall be provided in parks and public facilities zones in compliance with the requirements of Chapter 23.54 RMC.

Off-street parking space shall be provided in the university district zone in general compliance with the requirements of Chapter 23.54 RMC where such uses can be identified. The parking requirements shall consider the nature of the campus and recognize that some uses may require different parking quantities than those strictly defined in Chapter 23.54 RMC. Parking requirements shall be reviewed by the City’s planning manager and be established to provide the most compatible parking requirement considering the full array of campus parking options. [Ord. 28-05 § 1.02; Ord. 2024-08 § 3].