HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance No. 2026-012 Amending Chapter 20.76 of the Arlington Municipal Code Regarding Screening and TreesORDINANCE NO. 2026-012
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ARLINGTON, WASHINGTON AMENDING CHAPTER 20.76
OF THE ARLINGTON MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING SCREENING AND TREES
UNDER CITY PLANNING NO. PJ25-0048
WHEREAS, the city has proposed an update to the Screening and Trees regulations to the
City zoning code; and
WHEREAS, the Arlington Planning Commission considered the revisions on April 7, 2026
and at a public hearing conducted on April 21, 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 May 11, 2026, a
meeting on May 18, 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 01. Arlington Municipal Code section 20.76.020 shall be hereby amended as
follows:
20.76.020 General Screening Standards.
(a) Every development, except for Single Family Residential and Middle Housing, shall
provide sufficient screening, as provided in 20.76-1 Table of Screening
Requirements), so that:
(1) Neighboring properties are shielded from any adverse external effects of that
development;
(2) The development is shielded from the negative impacts of adjacent uses such as
streets or railroads.
b Single Family Residential and Middle Housing shall be required onIV to plant at least
1 tree in the front Vard and 1 tree in the back yard.
(c) §20.76-1(Table of Screening Requirements) represent the zones from AMC 20.36, and
the screening type letter designations refer to types of screening as described_ in
20.76.040 (Descriptions of Screens). This table indicates the type of screening that is
1
presumptively required within each zone. Where such screening is required, only the
proPer-ty Under application for development is responsible for installing the screening.
To determine the type of screening a proposed new development must install, find the
proposed use in zone within the table to determine frontage landscaping and side rear
property lines.
Section 02. Arlington Municipal Code section 20.76.030 shall hereby be repealed:
Section 03. Arlington Municipal Code section 20.76.040 shall be hereby amended as
follows:
20.76.040 Description of Screens
The following three basic types of screens are hereby established and are used as the
basis for the Table of Screening Requirements set forth in Table 20.76-1 Screening
`1t1 -717 (1'(1 IT-. 6+In of Crrenni'__ A t i
Requirements' ca-ryv-o SGreeni;i Rega-cart eRis).
(a) Qpa a ScFee^ Type A - Heavy Perimeter Screening. A—,erR that OF, op
+!1 h+ ,-, t x - + it teFR.gttcs 7+ v isu-.I ebSttr rA-MRS �
v.-1,;rhea ;411 ic, yl _r rt I etw�s � t - nn
seoaratiaR Th., nr. n.,n een may be -ea d of a fence, l'zatl_5ea ed - - rth
�'�^r' 1'a�'CiC �rL—r C"C'1 I''—ITTCf �p C—G OI f,47 P74�R wall, ! TT�"��T
n-sti se venetatlep .lr.r„,.,ht tolerant vegetation —getated I In fprili+ir..e �±r_
I
iudgeel based G;i the
g
- - - -- - 4t3,n c rnr,.-,
bwFVat
GH of
GR
c+ hn nr��r� t
i�EJ�-�--v'F�rsgF' ,
triH ten fewI-+nld C 'i St cr nritten+ v�'a mI s,18 5,tccianam
dC[idPPR1�) ICIt� Suggested n!lRtiR}{7a+'tirrrthat.11achieve thi-r -Arrac9+ri5gr ar�r +raad rnr_+ra�Qr- �
r!uded +hr rI .,�designil--ti1 hlir works, Ggp6trr4rti..r.
(1) The purpose of Type A landscaping; is to provide extensive visual separation alone
property lines between potentially conflicting land uses.
(2) Landscaping shall be installed and maintained so that, at maturity _there are no
unobstructed ooeninas from grade up to a height of 6 feet at a width of 5 feet and
intermittently up to 20 feet with spacing no more than 10 feet.
(A) Trees: Consisting of at least 75% evergreen along the applicable property
lines.
(B) Shrubs: As necessary to ensure there are no unobstructed openings from
grade up to a height of 6 feet and be at least five feet wide.
(C) Screening walls of fences of at least 6 feet may be utilized in place of
vegetation.
(b) SeFni Opaque Screen, Type B - Moderate Perimeter Screenin
s
■
e9 -n n dee k- r laRts. Suggested I �g �rrR-s-s that will
E�''st--r�er�t-i��f °r--ci=r�.= rc- e, r"-rt air r�c�rca`i�"-r"i-cai. r-F `�Tt� � `_-� ` —�'�) t e � e
lair. this sta;;d_r-d @r=e iAela+ded In the ri elep mentd_esign Sta i-Jards
Publie . r FIG, renstruction-4-a r.l rd and peeiAeatiens
(1) The purpose of Type B landscaping is to enhance the streetscapes provide a
moderate visual separation between uses and zoning districts and allow views to
building entryways and signage.
(2) Landscaping shall be installed and maintained so that, at maturity, there are no
unobstructed o )enin s from grade up to a height of 3 feet at a width of 5 feet and
intermittently up to 10 feet with spacing to more than 10 feet.
(3) Plant materials shall include the following:
(A) Trees: A mix of deciduous and evergreen trees.
(B) Shrubs: One shrub per 4 linear feet.
(C) Groundcover: May include plant and non -plant material to coverall areas not
otherwise covered by trees and shrubs.
(c) Int.,.R:- i+I+IeRt Screen, Type C — Light Perimeter Screening- A screen composed of
intermittent visual obstructions from the ground to a height of at least twenty feet.
The width shall be a minimum of five feet wide, but may be increased if, in the opinion
of thepermit-issuing authority, it is needed to better insulate or isolate uses; and in
all cases be a minimum of ten feet along street frontages where required. The
intermittent screen is intended to create the impression of a separation of spaces
without necessarily eliminating visual contact between the spaces. It may be
composed of native vegetation or existing vegetation. Compliance of vegetative
screens or native vegetation will be mud ed based on the average mature height and
density of foliage of the subject species, or field observation of existing vegetation. At
maturity the portion of intermittent visual obstructions should not contain any
completely unobstructed openings more than ten feet wide. The screen may contain
deciduous plants. Suggested planting patterns that will achieve this standard are
included in the development design standards and the public works' construction
standards and specifications.
(1) The purpose of Tvpe C landscaping is to enchance the streetscapes provide a light
visual separation between uses and zoning districts and allow views to building
entryways and signage.
(2) Landscaping shall be installed and maintained so that, at maturity, there is
intermittent screening from grade up to 20 feet at a width of 5 feet.
(3) Plant material shall include the following:
(A) Trees: A mix of deciduous and evergreen trees.
(B) Shrubs: One shrub per 7 linear feet.
(C) Groundcover: May include plant and non- lint material to cover all areas not
otherwise covered by trees and shrubs.
(d) Type D— Single Family Residential Accessory Dwelling Units and Middle Housing
(4) The purpose of Type D landscaping is to ensure uniformity of the streetsca a in
the residential zone and provide shaing for the residences in both the front and
rear yard.
4
(5) Screening shall include the following:
(A) Trees: At least 1 tree in the front Vard and 1 tree_ in the back yard.
(e) Type E — Incompatible Use Screening.
a. The purpose of Type E landscaping is to minimize all noise contact between uses
and create a strong impression of visual separation between two incompatible
uses.
b. Landscaping shall be installed and maintained so that, at maturity, there are no
unobstructed openings from grade up to a height of 30 feet at a width of 30 feet.
c. Screening shall include the following:
i. Trees: Consisting of at least 75% evergreen trees along the applicable
property lines growing to a height of at least 30 feet at maturity. The
retention of existing significant trees that are not prone to windthrow is
strongly encouraged.
ii. Shrubs: Shall be installed and maintained with the trees to ensure that at
maturity there are no unobstructed openings from grade up to a height of
10 feet.
iii. A sound wall may be utilized in place of the landscaping requirement with an
approved Noise Study, at the director's discretion.
Section 04. Arlington Municipal Code section 20.76.050 shall hereby be repealed:
Section 05. Arlington Municipal Code section 20.76.060(a), (c) and (d) shall be hereby
amended as follows:
20.76.060 Flexibility in Administration Required
(a) The Council recognizes that because of the wide variety of types of developments and
the relationships between them, it is neither possible nor prudent to establish
inflexible screening requirements. Therefore,
_+thh ScFe ning St ,R-,4 the permit -issuing authority may permit deviations from the
presumptive requirements of §20.76-1 (Table of Screening Repuirements)'�"9�.
—Fee ;= i4g4� �m-ems and may either require more intensive or allow
less intensive screening whenever it finds such deviations are more likely to satisfy
the standard set forth in §20.76.020 (_General Screening Standard) without imposing
unnecessary costs on the developer.
(c) Whenever the permit -issuing authority allows or requires a deviation from the
presumptive requirements set forth in §20.76-1 (Table of Screening
Requirements)§29.76.050 (Table of Sr.Fe ring aegwiFemeAts), it shall enter on the
face of the permit the screening requirement that it imposes to meet the standard set
forth in §20.76.020 General Screening_ Standard and the reasons for allowing or
requiring the deviation.
(d) If the permit -issuing authority concludes, based upon information it receives in the
consideration of a specific development proposal, that a presumption established by
§20.76-1 (Table of Screening Requirements)§24;7 �i I f Seree+�ing
Re meats) is erroneous, it shall initiate a request for an amendment to the Table
of Screening Requirements in accordance with the procedures set forth in Chapter
20.96, Amendments.
Section 06. Arlington Municipal Code section 20.76.070(a) shall be hereby amended
as follows:
20.76.070 Combination Uses.
(a) In determining the screening requirements that apply between a combination use and
another use, the permit -issuing authority shall proceed as if the principal uses that
comprise the combination use were not combined and reach its determination
accordingly, relying on the table set forth in §20.76-1 Table of Screening
Requirements§2Q.76.050 4 SeFee ng R-egHiFemeRts) interpreted in the light of
§20.76.060 (Flexibility in Administration Required). The developer shall be required to
install the strictest form of screening required by any one of these principal uses.
Section 07. Arlington Municipal Code section 20.76.090 shall be hereby repealed and
reenacted as follows:
20.76.090 Special Screening Requirements.
(a) Due to the potential for significantly worse adverse impacts between the following non -
compatible uses, in addition to the other requirements of this chapter Type E screening shall
be maintained along common boundaries between the following:
(1) All uses adjacent to Interstate 5
(b) Due to the potential for significantly worse adverse impacts from the following uses, in
addition to the other requirements of this chapter, Type A screening will be required on all
sides.
a. Scrap Materials Salvage Yards, Junkyards, Automobile Graveyards, and Automobile
Recycling Facilities
b. Crematorium
c. Soil processing, mining, quarrying operations, including on -site sales of product
d. Solid Waste Facilities
e. Parking of vehicles or storage of equipment outside enclosed structures, where vehicles
or equipment are owned and used by the person making use of the lot
f. Utility Facilities
g. Wireless Communication Facilities
(c) Type A screening shall be required for any non-residential use proposed abutting an existing
residential use or residential zone. For the purposes of this section, where a road separates
the zoning districts or uses, the properties are not considered to abut.
(d) Parking Areas and Drive-Thru Lanes located between the building and the public right-of-way
shall require a 3 & Moot tall screen wall or opaque hedge.
(e) Outdoor storage and mechanical equipment shall be screened from abutting public and
private streets and from adjacent properties with the use of opaque evergreen plant material,
opaque fencing or a wall not less than the height of the storage or equipment.
Section 08. Arlington Municipal Code Table 20.76-1 shall hereby be repealed and
reenacted as follows:
Table 20.76-1 Screening Requirements
Zone
Frontage Landscaping
Side Property Lines
Rear Property Line
Residential Ultra Low Capacity (RULC)
Type C/D
Type A
Type A
Residential Low Capacity (RLC)
I Type C/D
Type A
Type A
Residential Moderate Capacity (RMC)
Type C/D
Type A
Type A
Residential Medium Capacity
Type C/D
Type B
Type B
Residential High Capacity (RHC)
Type C/D
Type B
Type B
Old Town Residential District (OTRD)
See Old Town Residential Design Standards
Old Town Business District I, II, & III
(OTBD)
See Old Town Business District Design Standards
General Commercial (GC)
I Type C
Type B
Type B
Highway Commercial (HQ
Type C
Type B
Type B
Commercial Corridor (CC)
See AMC 20.110 Mixed Use Development Regulations
Business Park (BP)
Type C
Type B
Type B
Light Industrial (LI)
Type B
Type B
Type B
General Industrial (GI)
Type B
Type B
Type B
Public/Semi Public (P/SP)
Type C
Type C
Type C
Medical Services (MS)
Type C
Type C
Type C
AF (Aviation Flightline)
Type C
N/A
N/A
Section 09. Arlington Municipal Code section 20.76.124(a) shall be hereby amended as
follows:.
(a) The minimum number of required trees depends on the Zoning District in which the
site falls, as follows:
1.
Single Family
Residential and Middle Housing uses - 2 trees per lot.
2. All other zeni g diwicu uses — The tree requirement is satisfied by compliance
with §20.76.020 General Screening Standard), §20.76.090 (Special Screening
7
Requirements), §20.76.110 (Required Trees Along Dedicated Streets), and
§20.76.130 (Shade Trees in Parking Areas).
Section 10. 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 11. 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
day of 2026.
CITY OF ARLINGTON
Don E. Vanney, Mayor
ATT T:
Ra'elVnn 1 n s, City Jerk
APPROVED TO FORM:
04444
Oskar Rey, City Attorney
CERTIFICATION OF ORDINANCE
I, Raelynn Jones, being the duly appointed Clerk of the City of Arlington, Washington, a
municipal corporation, do hereby certify that the following Ordinance No. 2026-012 was
approved at May 18, 2026 City Council meeting.
ORDINANCE NO. 2026-012
"AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ARLINGTON, WASHINGTON AMENDING CHAPTER 20.76
OF THE ARLINGTON MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING SCREENING AND TREES
UNDER CITY PLANNING NO. PJ25-0048"
A true and correct copy of the original ordinance is attached.
Dated this 18th day of May 2026.
Lr, YlA AA
Rae n J es
City Clerk or the City of Arlington