HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance No. 2026-009 Amending Chapter 20.36 Regarding Zoning Districts and Zoning Maps Under City Planning No. PJ25-0041ORDINANCE NO. 2026-009
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ARLINGTON, WASHINGTON AMENDING CHAPTER 20.36
OF THE ARLINGTON MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING ZONING DISTRICTS AND ZONING MAPS
UNDER CITY PLANNING NO. PJ25-0041
WHEREAS, the city has proposed an update to the Administrative Mechanisms regulations
to the City zoning code; and
WHEREAS, the Arlington Planning Commission considered the revisions on March 3, 2026
and at a public hearing conducted on March 17, 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 April 13, 2026, a
meeting on April 20, 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 20.36.010 shall be hereby amended as
follows:
20.36.010 Residential Districts Established.
(a _The following residential districts are hereby established:
(1) Residential Ultra Low Capacity (RULQ allows for ! n dwelling wRits PeF @GF2 "lc.
Residential Low Capacity (RLC)i,-.,- °,- f ^"iRg W n4sPe ac-Fe- - 6 Du/Ac-:
Residential Moderate Capacity (RMod)L49ws fore ePing Ri+5 ^ eFe ' D "nF
LiLResidential Medium Capacity (RMQ efnr " 16 d,. e aT;rt :acre -'6 D �"&
Residential High Capacity (RHC)_41-y--,er =rand greater dwelling nits per ac-FeJ�z >
�y�AE a n d
(6) Old Town Residential (OTR)y et s4zes established with the epiginal plats to be
Each of these districts is designed to p�iele feT provide residential lands with varying housing
capacities and housing types to provide residents with a variety of housing options and intended
to secure for the persons who reside there a comfortable, healthy, safe, and pleasant
environment in which to live, sheltered from incompatible and disruptive activities that properly
ORDINANCE NO. 2026-009
belong in nonresidential districts. Other objectives of these districts are explained in the
remainder of this section.
{a)jbjAII residential districts must be served with public sewer and water facilities in order to
utilize the capacities described for each district. Without public utilities servicing the
residential district, no increase in the current housing capacity is allowed.
MJcJ_The Residential Ultra Low Capacity (RULC) district is established primarily to accommodate
detached single-family residential development in areas not currently served by public sewer
and water facilities. Larger lots are required to accommodate a septic system and reserve
area as required by the Snohomish Health District. RULC allows for a minimum lot size of 9600
S.F. with a density of 1-4 dwelling units per acre.
(44d�iThe Residential Low Capacity (RLC) district is established primarily to accommodate
detached single-family residential uses at lower capacity levels typically on 7200 — 9600
square foot parcels, but also allows for recreational, quasi -public, and public uses that
customarily serve residential development. Some types of two-family residences are allowed
in this district on larger lots. RLC allows for a density of 5-6 dwelling units per acre.
(4)(e)The Residential Moderate Capacity (RMod) district is designed primarily to accommodate
medium capacity housing types, especially smaller multifamily and single family attached,
such as duplex, triplex, fourplex, row houses, and garden apartments, typically situated on
4000 — 6200 square foot parcels, but also allows for recreational, quasi -public, and public
uses that customarily serve residential development- RMod allows for 7-11 dwelling units pe r
acre.
�e nThe Residential Medium Capacity (RMC) district is established primarily to accommodate
higher capacity housing, such as larger multi -family developments, townhomes,
condominiums, and the use of the Unit Lot Subdivision process to create fee -simple housing.
a it,0111-E reqt4rements. Typical parcel
sizes range from 2800 — 3600 square feet, but also allows for recreational, quasi -public, and
public uses that customarily serve residential development. RMC allows for 12-16 units per
acre.
44(g) Residential High Capacity (RHC) district is designed primarily to accommodate the highest
capacity residential developments, that are designed to be compatible with their sites and
surroundings_, builddi-gBuilding types are typically iaF. le lame -scale multifamily
buildings, such as apartments, fourplexes, garden apartments, townhomes, rowhouses or
triplexes., fnixed a buildings Rd li .^,+,. a-v , Ries. RHC allows for 17 and greater units per
acre.
{-Sq,(h1_The Old Town Residential (OTR) district is designed primarily to single-family residential
development while preserving the historic quality of the traditional town center. Further, this
zone is intended to promote residential development that is in character with the older,
existing homes in the area. The OTR allows for lot sizes established with the original plat to
be utilized but no less than 3800 S.F. The Old Town Residential District may also allow for
duplex, triplex, fourplex, and garden style housing units (missing middle housing) that are
designed to match the context of the existing neighborhood they are placed within. This is
accomplished through strict design elements, orientation, and scale of the building as
regulated by the Old Town Residential Design Standards.
ORDINANCE NO. 2026-009 2
Section 2. Arlington Municipal Code section 20.36.020 shall be hereby amended as
follows:
20.36.020 Commercial Districts Established.
(a) The following commercial districts are hereby established: Neighborhood Commercial (NC),
Old Town Business District (OTBD), General Commercial (GC), Highway Commercial (HQ,
Business Park (BP), and Commercial Corridor (CC). These districts are created to accomplish
the purposes and serve the objectives set forth in the remainder of this section.
(b) The Neighborhood Commercial (NC) zone is established to accommodate commercial
activities that would meet the daily convenience needs of people residing or working in the
vicinity. e+.
(c) The Old Town Business District (OTBD) zone is established to accommodate a mix of a wide
variety of commercial activities and vertically oriented, high -capacity residential uses in a
pedestrian -oriented environment. The Old Town Business District is comprised of three
different sub districts, identified as; Old Town Business Districts 1, 2, and 3 with each one
having its own nuances regarding permissible uses, parking, and signage.
(d) The General Commercial (GC) zone is established to accommodate commercial uses generally
similar, though more intensive, to the types permissible in a the Old Town Business District.
However, it is intended that this zone be placed along arterials to cater to commuters or as a
transition in some areas between a Highway Commercial zone and a residential zone.
(e) The Highway Commercial (HC) zone is established to accommodate the widest range of
commercial activities. Uses allowed here include those allowed in other commercial districts,
but also those that require highway access or that should be separated from residential uses.
(f) The Business Park (BP) zone is established to promote and accommodate office, certain
manufacturing and light industrial uses, training/educational facilities, high technology
research and developments, and related uses in a park -like, master -planned setting. The
Business Park also allows for Public/Semi-Public uses within this zone.
(g) The Commercial Corridor (CC) zone is established to create pedestrian oriented, urbanized,
mixed use neighborhoods, along designated transit routes. Design elements are to include
widened sidewalks, drop lanes with on street parking, mid -block pedestrian crossings,
planted medians, and bike lanes. These;-zA-.Apr, art This zone is established to utilize the
stringent use of the Mixed -Use Development Regulations/Form Based Code of AMC 20.110,
therefore negating the underlying zoningto accommodate mixed use as the primary land use.
Section 3. Arlington Municipal Code section 20.36.030 shall be hereby amended as
follows:
20.36.030 Manufacturing Districts Established.
The General Industrial (GI) and Light Industrial (LI) districts are hereby established primarily to
accommodate enterprises engaged in the manufacturing, processing, creating, repairing,
renovating, painting, cleaning, or assembling of goods, merchandise, or equipment and for
construction trades and other similar contractor related businesses located within the Cascade
ORDINANCE NO. 2026-009 3
Industrial Center (CC). The n^rf. ry lee- t, ,4,,A Place limitations
r. the characteristics of uses leca.tn.-1 in dine^ riistricAs
(a) The Light Industrial district :n the General Industrial district in that the
Light industrial d—ostrir+ is intended for manufacturing, assembly, processing, repair and
contractor -related activities that are primarily conducted within enclosed buildings and that
generate limited off -site impacts, and is intended to be a cleaner, more business park -like
area, with more restrictive limitations than those in the General Industrial District.
fljLwh-e^� ^ The General Industrial district allows more resource -based manufacturing and
has a greater tolerance of the nuisances that typically accompany such manufacturing uses
within the Cascade Industrial Center (CIC), such as higher intensity manufacturing and
processing, freight -oriented distribution and uses involving outdoor storage, outdoor
operations, heavy equipment activity, and highervolumes of truck traffic, where such impacts
can be managed through the site design and performance standards. This district has less
restrictive limitations than those in the Light Industrial District. f4heFmoFe,
-dE StFir_+ @Fe 144E)Fe ttr 4i., e than those in the Via. ^-a- 4+,cV4l zt,' t--
The performance standards contained in Chapter 20.44 place limitations on the characteristics
of uses located in these districts.
Section 4.. Arlington Municipal Code section 20.36.034 shall be hereby amended as
follows:
20.36.034 Aviation Flightline District Established.
The Aviation Flightline District (AF) zone is hereby established. This district is was created to allow
only aviation related uses proximate to airport runways and taxiways. Aviation related uses
include any uses related to supporting aviation that require direct taxiway access as a necessary
part of their business operations, such as aviation services, manufacturing of aviation -related
goods, general services whose primary customers would be those engaged in aviation -related
activities (e.g., restaurants primarily catering to pilots, employees, or passengers), or other uses
that are clearly related to aviation.
Section 5. Arlington Municipal Code section 20.36.036 shall be hereby added as follows:
20.36.036 Medical Services District Established.
The Medical Services District (MS) zone is hereby established. This district is was created to allow
hospitals and related medical services uses that have developed around the Cascade Valley
Hospital in an otherwise residential neighborhood. Medical services include hospitals, doctors'
offices, birthing centers, and other related uses pertaining to patient care, but not including
manufacturing of medical equipment.
ORDINANCE NO. 2026-009 4
Section 6. Arlington Municipal Code section 20.36.050 shall be hereby added as follows:
20.36.050 Subareas Established.
The Comprehensive Plan designates fourteen 14 subareas distinguishing specific geographical
areas and existing neighborhoods within the City. The purpose of establishing subareas is to
provide a framework for preparation and adoption of subarea plans that include area -specific
policies, standards, and criteria to guide land use and development including middle housing;
transportation facilities; community facilities; and infrastructure and capital improvement
planning. Subarea plans are intended to support coordinated, efficient and predictable piannin
for infill, redevelopment and long-term growth and shall be prepared, processed and
implemented in accordance with §20.44.032 (Subarea Plans).
Section 7. Arlington Municipal Code section 20.36.054 shall be hereby amended as
follows:
20.36.054 Master Planned Neighborhood Overlay District Established.
The Master Planned Neighborhood (MPN) district is hereby established as an "overlay" district,
meaning it is overlaid upon the underlying zoning district(s) within its bounclaries. that this distr;rt
is overlaid open other districts and- the r�r,PPnrawmheFe.d may b � F�y�
{Fl t i az iy'iti�T-r�r4ci l> : , r l . 1F Rd to the extent- s C!n use 15 cGizRplies with the �qujF.,.-. & �
�,Gt oni- 2c0,-4 -r-rc332 (Master nrt Re4.,T11 eig TherrL, r,d Pe eIe .-.�,�he-a—i. --r, thIsr overlay:
d+s r m et s l-a
Lodi
(a) The purpose of the MPN overlay is to require comprehensive planning for the entire area
within the MPN overlay boundary through preparation of a Master Planned Neighborhoc
(MPN) Subarea Plan as regulated by §20.44.032 (Subarea Plans).
(b) Land subject to the MPN overlay may be used in a manner permitted in the underlying
zoning district and only if, and to the extent such use complies with the requirements of
§20.44.032.
(c) The MPN overlay district shall be removed from the parcels within the adapted subarea
Plan boundary by City Council. Parcels within the MPN overlay that are not within the
adopted subarea plan boundary shall remain subiect to the MPN overlay.
Section 8. Arlington Municipal Code section 20.36.080 shall be hereby amended as
follows:
20.36.080 Mixed Use Overlay District Established.
LaLThe mixed -use overlay district is hereby established as an "overlay" district, meaning that the
underlying zoning applicable within each commercial zone except as provided in subsection
L�_L-remains as the primary or principal zoning designation. The overlay allows for a mix of
diversified residential development to co -exist within a proportionate share of the
commercially zoned& areas of highway commercial (HC), general commercial (GC), and
neighborhood commercial (NC) zones where typical retail and other support services would
be located, thus creating a walkable neighborhood concept.
all 13e plied te the resir-eR iil deFate eaparity ll?NI.IM94
residential medium GapaGit y (RC), aRd-FesricentihiI high capacity (RHG) ixeRe5 ale g Cr.eke
ORDINANCE NO. 2026-009
Poi u!eVaFdeeffike; All new development, change of uses, or redevelopment of
property within the Commercial Corridor CC zone shall utilize the requirements of the
Mixed -Use Development Regulations under Chapter 20.110 as the primary land use pursuant
to §20.36.020(g), except those properties along Smoker Point Boulevard from 174th Street
south to city limits in accordance with, §20.32.080_
Lc -The overlay will provide for the efficient use of property by requiring the mixed use of
properties in a manner that allows for residential development to co -exist with commercial,
retail and specific light manufacturing uses. This promotes the creation of attractive,
sustainable neighborhoods which enable walkability and less automobile dependency. The
performance standards/design guidelines set forth in Chapter 20.110 place limitations on the
characteristics of uses located in these districts.
Section 9. Arlington Municipal Code section 20.36.100 shall be hereby amended as follows:
20.36.100 Official Zoning Map.
There shall be a map known and designated as the Official Zoning Map, which shall show the
boundaries of all zoning districts within the city's planning jurisdiction. Thus men shall either be
feFinat or heth It The Official Zoning Map shall be dated with the most recent update, and &W4
kept in the plaRi;i„g depaFtmeRtCornmunity & Economic Development Department. A digital
file shall be kept and maintained by the Geographical Information S stems (GIS) department at
the direction of the Community & Economic Development_ Director or hiis/her designee.
(a) The Official Zoning RA@p of the City 5'1 all be �t-.i.ied 43 the City CleF!('s effi6e-
h d is a n + - th I"h -
rYirr°�crna-'rr's�rr� t-fl t-�IrS-mcl� �i�-lF�i� l3�-E�uE�i?--�#`td�®��ref��n�3rEfc$r-{��-i-re�'�'d-lr,z crrirpt£'-F �g-�6
( mendme trl
(b) Sheuld the c4a�i..g RA- P be lost dest:r.yed or damaged._ the Gamel n+
94--& -i-e - :nay have a - ar map r F wii eR aretate A- ether- d-H ahle material frGm whieh pri -ts
h d I utliGriza ion er artier, is r r Ire nn rlir+rir•+
Eo��--v�-rnvc�l�--�l'���c�9 �' f3 r--m--erc�-i `.C�rosib-ads �
hr., RGIaNes are rhann,ed in this pFeGess_
t5
Section 10. Arlington Municipal Code 20.36.105 shall be hereby repealed:
ORDINANCE NO. 2026-009 6
Section 11. Arlington Municipal Code section 20.36.110 shall be hereby amended as
follows:
20.36.110 Amendments to Official Zoning Map.
(a) Amendments to the Official Zoning Map are accomplished using the same procedures that
apply to other amendments to this Title, as set forth in Chapter 20.96 (Amendments).
(b) The Community & Economic Development Director shall ensureupdate the Official Zoning
Map is updated with assistance from the Geographic Information Systems �GIS) Department
as soon as possible after the City Council eeene+4 adopts amendments to it. Upon entering
any such amendment on the map, the Community & Economic Development Director shall
change the date of the map to indicate its latest revision. New prints of the updated map may
then be issued.
(c) No unauthorized person may alter or modify the Official Zoning Map.
(d) The r-.'-,Hning division Community & Economic Development Department shall keep copies of
superseded prints of the zoning map for historical reference.
Section 12. 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 13. 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.
ORDINANCE NO. 2026-009 7
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Arlington and APPROVED by the Mayor Pro Tern
this 20th day of April, 2026.
ATTEST:
WWy Van Der Meer
�*,tatt
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Oskar Rey, City Attorney
lerk
CITY OF ARLINGTON
L11,
Mi hele Blythe, Mayor Pr Tem
ORDINANCE NO. 2026-009
CERTIFICATION OF ORDINANCE
I, Wendy Van Der Meersche, being the duly appointed Clerk of the City of Arlington,
Washington, a municipal corporation, do hereby certify that the following Ordinance No.
2026-009 was approved at April 20, 2026 City Council meeting.
ORDINANCE NO.2026-009
"AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ARLINGTON, WASHINGTON AMENDING
CHAPTER 20.36 OF THE ARLINGTON MUNICIPAL CODE
REGARDING ZONING DISTRICTS AND ZONING MAPS
UNDER CITY PLANNING NO. PJ25-0041"
A true and correct copy of the original ordinance is attached.
Dated this 21st day of April 2026.
Wendy Van er Meersche
City Clerk for the City of Arlington