HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance No. 2026-005 Amending Chapter 20.04 of the AMC re General Provisions Under City Planning No. PJ25-0035ORDINANCE NO. 2026-005
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ARLINGTON, WASHINGTON AMENDING CHAPTER 20.04
OF THE ARLINGTON MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING GENERAL PROVISIONS
UNDER CITY PLANNING NO. PJ25-0035
WHEREAS, the city has proposed an update to the General Provisions regulations to the
City zoning code; and
WHEREAS, the Arlington Planning Commission considered the revisions on February 3,
2026 and at a public hearing conducted on February 19, 2026; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission made findings and provided its recommendations to
the City Council concerning the proposed changes; and
WHEREAS, the City Council considered the same at a workshop held on March 9, 2026, a
meeting on March 16, 2026, and considered them along with the Planning Commission
recommendations; and the City Council having determined approving said amendment was in
the best interest of the City; and
WHEREAS, the amendments were presented to the Department of Commerce for
comment and said Department had no comments on the ordinance; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has considered the proposed amendment to the municipal
code and finds it to be consistent with city and state law and in the best interests of the citizens;
and
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Arlington does hereby ordain as follows:
Section 1. Arlington Municipal Code section 20.04.014 shall be hereby amended as
follows:
20.04.014 Purpose and Intent.
(a) The purpose of the Land Use Code is to minimize or preclude public nuisances by establishing
standards, procedures, and minimum requirements to achieve the following general
intentions and purposes for the City of Arlington:
(6) To regulate the subdivision of land to:
(A) Ensure that adequate drainage facilities, water, sewer and other public facilities are
provided in developing portions of the City;
(B) Promote coordinated land development; a444
(C) Require uniform monumenting of land subdivisions and conveyance by accurate legal
description.
(D) Adequately provide for the housing needs.-
(E) Promote the proper arrangement of streets, lots, easements, pathways and other
private or public ways including setbacks and design;
ORDINANCE NO. 2026-005 1
(F) Conserve and restore natural beauty and other natural resources; and,
(G) Provide for the expeditious review and approval of proposed subdivisions which
conforrn to zoning standards and local plans and policies.
Section 2. Arlington Municipal Code section 20.04.020 shall be hereby amended as
follows:
20.04.020 Authority.
(a) This title is adopted pursuant to the authority contained in RCW 35A.63 (Planning and Zoning
in Code Cities), RCW 35A.58 (Boundaries and Plats), RCW 36.70A (Growth Management Act),
RCW 86.16 (Flood PFeyentien Management), RCW Title 58 (Boundaries and Plats), and any
other appropriate state regulations.
(b) Whenever any provision of this title refers to or cites a section of the Revised Code of
Washington (RCW) or Washington Administrative Code (WAC) and that section is later
amended or superseded, the title shall be deemed amended to refer to the amended section
or the section that most nearly corresponds to the superseded section.
Section 3. Arlington Municipal Code section 20.04.120 shall be hereby amended as
follows:
20.04.120 Adoption of Supporting Administrative Guidelines and Standards.
(a) City departments may administratively adopt guidelines, standards, reference materials,
forms, or other documents that aid the public, applicant, staff, or decision -maker in
interpreting and administering this document.
(b) The titles of those documents administratively adopted per Subsection (a) shall be herein
listed to be considered adopted. This list may not be complete, since new guidelines or
standards may be adopted or existing ones amended. Guidelines and standards
administratively adopted or amended but not listed herein are equally valid as those listed;
however, each department shall make all reasonable efforts to keep this list current. These
documents are:
(1) Information Required with Applications;
(2) Public Works' Construction Standards and Specifications;
(3) City Tree List;
(4) City Shrub List;
(5) Guide for Noise Levels;
(6) Traffic Impact Analysis Guidelines (TIAG);
(7) Development Design Standards;
(8) Olympic Avenue Design Guidelines
(9) Old Town Residential Design Standards;
(10) Complete Streets Policy;
(11) Shoreline Master Program; {�
(12) Q a a rt 1AGI StFial f`c_r��- PI@ ed Actoe R Subarea Plans.-
(13) Subarea Planned Action; and ^
(14) Housing Action Plan
ORDINANCE NO. 2026-005 2
Section 4. Arlington Municipal Code section 20.04.140 shall be hereby added as follows:
20.04.140 Historic Landmark Designation
(a) Purpose. To preserve and enhance the environmental quality of neighborhoods. to
strengthen the Cit 's economic base by stimulation of the tourist industry, to establish and
improve property values- to foster economic development; and to protect landmarks of
historic importance.
(b) Applicability
(1) As designated by the National Historic Register and/or State Historic register, the
provisions of this section shall apply to the designation, preservation, rehabilitations
restoration reconstruction, relocation, remodel, demolition, or material change to the
exterior appearance of all Historic Landmarks, all structures, and any new development.
(c) Designation
(1) Any building or structure designated as historic on a national or state historic register shall
be required to meet 'the conditions set forth in this code.
(2) No property shall be designated as a historic landmark if:
(A) The property that would be designated as a historic landmark is less than 40 years old
(B) The designation would restrict the use, alteration,_ or demolition of the property,
unless written documentation is provided that the property to be desi Hated is more
than 125 years old with the property owner's consent.
Section 5. Severability. Should any section, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this
ordinance, or its application to any person or circumstance, be declared unconstitutional or
otherwise invalid for any reason, or should any portion of this ordinance be pre-empted by state
or federal law or regulation, such decision or pre-emption shall not affect the validity of the
remaining portions of this ordinance or its application to other persons or circumstances.
Section 6. Effective Date. The title of this ordinance, which summarizes the contents
shall be published in the official newspaper of the City. This ordinance shall take effect and be in
full force five (5) days after the date of publication as provided by law.
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Arlington and APPROVED by the Mayor this 16th
day of March, 2026.
ATT T:�
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Wendy Van er Meersche, rfy Clerk
AP=:
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Oskar Rey, City Attorney
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OF RLINGTON
Don E. Vanney, Ma
ORDINANCE NO. 2026-005
CERTIFICATION OF ORDINANCE
I, Wendy Van Der Meersche, being the duly appointed City Clerk of the City of Arlington,
Washington, a municipal corporation, do hereby certify that the following Ordinance No.
2026-005 was approved at March 16, 2026 City Council meeting.
ORDINANCE NO.2026-005
"AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ARLINGTON, WASHINGTON
AMENDING CHAPTER 20.04
OF THE ARLINGTON MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING GENERAL
PROVISIONS UNDER CITY PLANNING NO. P]25-0035"
A true and correct copy of the original ordinance is attached.
Dated this 17th day of March 2026.
Wendy Van er Meersche
City Clerk for the City of Arlington