Division IV. Supplementary Use Regulations
Chapter 20.102
SITE DESIGN, DENSITY AND DIMENSIONAL REGULATIONS
Sections:
20.102.020 Setbacks and yard requirements.
20.102.030 Building height exemptions.
20.102.040 Pedestrian and bicycle access and circulation.
20.102.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to establish certain basic development requirements pertaining to site design, density and dimensional regulations. These are the minimum criteria which must be met to assure land use compatibility and promote the public health, safety and welfare. (Ord. 2018-53 § 14(part), 2018: Ord. 2012-09 § 39, 2012: Ord. 2000-6 § 2(part), 2000: Ord. 97-14 § 59, 1997).
20.102.020 Setbacks and yard requirements.
A. Additional Yard Requirements.
1. All yards shall be measured from the property line to the foundation line of the structure.
2. The following intrusions may extend up to two feet into a front, rear, or side yard:
a. Eaves, bay windows, dormers, chimneys, solar collectors.
b. Stairways, fire escapes.
c. Planting boxes.
d. Other architectural features similar to those listed above.
3. The yard requirements for property abutting future street rights-of-way are as follows:
a. If a lot abuts a street having only a portion of its required width dedicated, no building or structure shall be constructed on that portion of the lot needed to complete the road width plus width and/or depth of the yards required on the lot measured from the future right-of-way line.
b. Where a precise plan adopted pursuant to law includes the plans for widening the existing streets, the connecting of existing, or the establishment of new streets, the placement of buildings and maintenance of yards, where required by this title, shall adhere to the future street boundaries as determined by said precise plans.
4. No required yard or other open space dedicated to a particular structure or use shall be considered as providing required yard or open space for any other structure or use.
5. The following exceptions to the front yard requirement are authorized for a residential lot:
a. If there are dwellings on both abutting lots with front yards of less than the required depth for the zone, the front yard for the lot need not exceed the average front yard of the abutting dwellings.
b. If there is a dwelling on one abutting lot with a front yard of less than the required depth for the zone, the front yard for the lot need not exceed a depth halfway between the depth of the abutting lot and the required front yard depth.
6. Low impact development best management practices, if required, may be permitted in the setback/yard area.
B. Residential Covered Porches.
1. Covered entry porches on dwelling units may extend eight feet into the front yard setback, if:
a. The porch is covered and no higher than one story;
b. Three sides of the porch are open;
c. The porch roof form is architecturally compatible with the roof form of the main house; and
2. Provided a porch meets the criteria of this section, the following are also permitted:
a. Solid walls or railings may extend up to forty-two inches above the porch floor;
b. Eaves on the porch roof may extend an additional two feet into the required front yard;
c. Steps may extend an additional five feet into the required front yard.
3. Uncovered porches may extend eight feet into the front yard setback.
4. On the secondary front yard of a corner lot, a porch may not be less than five feet from the property line.
5. An uncovered deck or balcony may be placed on the roof of the porch within the required front yard.
C. Residential Covered Rear Patios.
1. Covered rear patios on dwelling units may extend eight feet into the rear yard setback, if:
a. The rear patio is covered and no higher than one story;
b. Three sides of the rear patio are open;
c. The rear patio roof form is architecturally compatible with the roof form of the main house; and
2. Provided a rear patio meets the criteria of this section, the following are also permitted:
a. Eaves on the covered rear patio may extend an additional two feet into the required rear yard.
D. The following exceptions to the front yard requirement are authorized for a commercial property:
1. The front yard area for commercial uses may include service station fuel pump canopies; open recreational amusement accessory facilities to a principal use; subject to approval of the site plan review committee. (Ord. 2024-24 § 6, 2024; Ord. 2018-53 § 14(part), 2018: Ord. 2012-09 § 41, 2012: Ord. 2004-25 § 3, 2004: Ord. 2002-43 § 3(part), 2002; Ord. 2001-17 § 9, 2001; Ord. 00-06 § 2(part), 2000: Ord. 95-5 § 1(part), 1995. Formerly 20.102.030).
20.102.030 Building height exemptions.
The following types of structures or structural parts may exceed the building height limitations upon issuance of a conditional use permit as provided in Chapter 20.216: chimneys, cupolas, tanks, church spires, belfries, domes, derricks, monuments, fire and hose towers, smokestacks, flagpoles, radio and television towers, masts, aerials, cooling towers, water towers, elevator shafts, windmills, conveyors, and other similar projections. (Ord. 2018-53 § 14(part), 2018. Formerly 20.102.060).
20.102.040 Pedestrian and bicycle access and circulation.
A. Purpose and Intent. This section implements the pedestrian and bicycle access and connectivity policies of the city of Walla Walla Transportation Plan. It is intended to provide for safe, reasonably direct, and convenient pedestrian and bicycle access and circulation.
B. Applicability. The standards of this section apply to new development, changes of use resulting in increased vehicle or pedestrian traffic, and expansions or renovations that increase the total floor area of the development by more than twenty percent.
C. Standards. Developments shall conform to all of the following standards for pedestrian and bicycle access and circulation:
1. Continuous Walkway System. A pedestrian walkway system shall extend throughout the development site and connect to adjacent sidewalks, to all future phases of the development, and to existing and planned walkways on adjacent properties, as applicable.
2. Safe, Direct, and Convenient. Walkways within developments shall provide safe, reasonably direct, and convenient connections between primary building entrances and all adjacent parking areas, recreational areas, playgrounds, and public rights-of-way conforming to the following standards:
a. The walkway is reasonably direct. A walkway is reasonably direct when it follows a route that does not deviate unnecessarily from a straight line or it does not involve a significant amount of out-of-direction travel.
b. The walkway is designed primarily for pedestrian safety and convenience, meaning it is reasonably free from hazards and provides a reasonably smooth and consistent surface and direct route of travel between destinations. The approving authority may require landscape buffering between walkways and adjacent parking lots or driveways to mitigate safety concerns.
c. The walkway network connects to all primary building entrances, consistent with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, where required.
3. Vehicle/Walkway Separation. Except as required for crosswalks, per subsection (C)(4) of this section, where a walkway abuts a driveway or street it shall be raised six inches and curbed along the edge of the driveway or street. Alternatively, the approving authority may approve a walkway abutting a driveway at the same grade as the driveway if the walkway is physically separated from all vehicle maneuvering areas.
An example of such separation is a row of bollards (designed for use in parking areas) with adequate minimum spacing between them to prevent vehicles from entering the walkway.
4. Parking Area Walkways. Where a walkway crosses a parking area or driveway, it shall be clearly marked with contrasting paving materials (e.g., pavers, light-color concrete inlay between asphalt, or similar contrasting material) or painted/thermoplastic striping. The crosswalk may be part of a speed table to improve driver-visibility of pedestrians.
5. Walkway Width and Surface. Walkways, including access ways required for subdivisions pursuant to Section 19.30.030, shall be constructed in accordance with Chapter 12.04. Multi-use pathways, designed for shared use by bicyclists and pedestrians, shall be concrete or asphalt and shall conform to the transportation standards of Title 12.
6. Walkway Construction. Walkway surfaces may be concrete, asphalt, brick or masonry pavers, or other city-approved durable surface meeting ADA requirements.
Walkways shall be not less than four feet in width, except that concrete walkways a minimum of six feet in width are required in commercial developments and where access ways are required for subdivisions pursuant to Section 19.30.030. The approving authority may also require six-foot-wide, or wider, concrete walkways in other developments where pedestrian traffic warrants walkways wider than four feet. (Ord. 2018-53 § 14(part), 2018).