HomeMy WebLinkAbout2726 Boat Haven Height Overlay District - Marine Related and Manufacturing Zoning DistrictOrdinance No. 2726
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND AMENDING
CHAPTER TABLE 17.22.030 MARINE-RELATED AND MANUFACTURING
ZONING DISTRICTS - BULK, DIMENSIONAL AND DENSITY
REQUIREMENTS AND CREATING A NEW CHAPTER 17.27 BOAT HAVEN
HEIGHT OVERLAY DISTRICT, TO THE PORT TOWNSEND MUNICIPAL
CODE, TO PERMIT A LIMITED NUMBER OF BUILDINGS OVER 50 FEET IN
HEIGHT IN THE NORTHWEST PORTION OF M-II(A) BOAT HAVEN
MARINE RELATED AND MANUFACTURING ZONING DISTRICT
SECTION 1. FINDINGS
1. After public review and a recommendation from the Planning Commission, Chapter
20.04 PTMC, The Port Townsend Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulations Amendment
Process," was adopted by the Council on December 16, 1996 (Ordinance No, 2559) to implement the
Growth Management Act (GMA) requirement to establish procedures for plan and development
regulation amendments (§§36.70A.130 and 36.70A.470 RCW). All findings recitals and other
provisions of Ordinance No. 2599 are incorporated herein by this reference; and
2. After public review and a recommendation from the Planning Commission, the City's
current Zoning Code (Title 17 PTMC) was adopted by the Council on April 7, 1997 (Ordinance No.
2571), to comply with the GMA and to implement the Port Townsend Comprehensive Plan (the Plan).
All findings, recitals and other provisions of Ordinance No. 2571 are incorporated herein by this
reference; and
3. After public review and recommendation fi'om the Planning Commission, the first series
of amendments to the text and tables and zoning map of Title 17 PTMC were adopted by the Council
on December 7, 1998 (Ordinance No. 2670), consistent with the requirements of Chapter 20.04 PTMC
and the GMA (§§36.70A. 130). All findings, recitals and other provisions of Ordinance No. 2670 are
incorporated herein by this reference; and
4. After public review and recommendation from the Planning Commission, the second
series of amendments to the text and tables and zoning map of Title 17 PTMC were adopted by the
Council on June 21, 1999 (Ordinance No. 2700), consistent with the requirements of Chapter 20.04
PTMC and the GMA (§§36.70A. 130). All findings, recitals and other provisions of Ordinance No.
2670 are incorporated herein by this reference; and
5. Chapter 20.04 PTMC establishes a process for consideration of amendments to the text
and tables of the Zoning Code, at any time, at the request of the Council, Planning Commission, or
Building and Community Development Department staff, PROVIDED that such amendments are
consistent with the Plan text and Official Land Use Map (§20.04.090 PTMC). The process codified
December 13, 1999
in Chapter 20.04 PTMC for such code amendments provides opportunities for meaningful public
comment on the proposed amendments after effective notice consistent with the requirements of the
GMA (§§36.70A.035, 36.70A130, and 36.70A. 140 RCW); and
6. Section 17.22.030 PTMC provides bulk, dimensional and density requirements for the
Marine-Related and Manufacturing Zoning Districts. On April 7, 1997 the maximum building height
in the M-II(A) Boat Haven, Marine Related Uses district was increased from 35 feet to 50 feet outside
the jurisdiction of the Shoreline Master Program to accommodate the larger buildings needed to serve
the marine trade businesses in Boat Haven (Ordinance No. 2571); and
7. On August 20, 1999 the Port of Port Townsend submitted a zoning code text amendment
to create a height overlay district within the Boat Haven M-II(A) Marine Related Uses Zoning District
(LUP99-72). The amendment proposed the creation of a limited area within the northwest comer of
Boat Haven for the construction of buildings exceeding the 50 foot maximum building height in the M-
II(A) district. The proposal was revised by the Port on October 4, 1999 to reduce the overlay district
area to 5.6 acres within which a maximum of 20% of the area could be utilized for buildings higher than
50 feet, but not to exceeding 78 feet in height. The office of Building and Community Development
(BCD) jointly initiated the proposed amendment and assisted in the drafting of the proposed amendment
and subsequent revisions; and
8. The responsible official has conducted environmental review of the proposed zoning
code text amendments under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), RCW 43.21C and made a
determination of nonsignificance and published notice of such in the official city newspaper on October
6, 1999, for which the comment and appeal period ended on October 21, 1999. No SEPA appeals were
filed during this period. A SEPA Addendum was issued for this DNS on November 5, 1999; and
9. Platypus Marine, Inc., a prospective Boat Haven tenant, and the Port of Port Townsend
were required to prepare a visual analysis involving raising a lift to simulate the height of a building
constructed to 79 feet in height on the west side of the Boat Haven height overlay district to simulate
the view impacts that would be caused by allowing increased building heights in this portion of the Port
and a specific building proposed by Platypus Marine, Inc.; and
10. The City solicited comments from affected agencies and property owners within 600
feet of the proposed zoning code height amendment and received and considered oral or written
comments from residential property owners in the vicinity; and
11. On September 9th and October 14th the Planning Commission held public workshops
on the proposed zoning code text amendment; and
December 13, 1999 2 Ord.
12. On October 28, 1999, the Planning Commission held a duly noticed public hearing on
the proposed zoning code text amendment during which presentations were made by staff, the
applicant, and significant testimony was submitted by the public; and
13. On November 10, 1999, the Planning Commission held a continued public hearing to
accept new testimony and deliberate on the proposal; and
14. At the conclusion of the November 10, 1999 public hearing the Planning Commission
recommended that the proposed zoning code text amendment be approved, with the modification that
the maximum building height within the height overlay district be reduced to 62 feet; and
15. On November 22, 1999, the City Council held a duly noticed public hearing on the
ordinance during which the recommendation of the Planning Commission was presented and additional
presentations were made by staff, the applicant, prospective and existing Boat Haven marine tenants,
and the public. The City Council closed the public testimony portion of the public hearing and
requested additional information from staff to be heard at a continued public hearing; and
16. On December 6, 1999, the City Council held a continued public hearing and BCD staff
and the applicant presented oral, written, and visual responses to these questions. During this hearing,
BCD staff presented a modification to the text amendment proposal which incorporated a volumetric
component into the text amendment; and
17. The modification would permit a total building volume for those portions of buildings
above 50 feet in height equivalent to constructing buildings on a maximum of 20% of the 5.6 acres (for
a total of 1.12 acres or 48,787 square feet) to a height of 65½ feet. This volume calculation closely
approximates the recommendation of the Planning Commission (development of 20°/3 of the 5.6 acres
to a height of 62 feet). To provide the Port of Port Townsend with the flexibility to meet future tenant
needs, the modification allows 756,198.5 cubic feet of building volume over 50 feet to be utilized for
buildings up to 75 feet in height. However, because the building volume is fixed, and smaller buildings
consume less volume, the Port of Port Townsend is provided an incentive to encourage smaller and
shorter buildings therefore limiting view impacts to surrounding residents; and
18. The City's Planning Commission and City Council have undertaken a deliberative
process to establish policy, standards and procedures related to the location and siting of the Boat
Haven height overlay district; and
19. The City Council finds that the circumstances related to the Boat Haven enhanced
haulout area have substantially changed since the adoption of the Port Townsend Comprehensive Plan
in 1996 and the Zoning Code, PTMC Title 17 in 1997 in that the 300 ton heavy haul out is now in
service cannot efficiently and safely enter and exit buildings 50 feet or less in height; and
December 13, 1999 3 Ord.
20. The City Council finds that the assumptions upon which the 50 foot maximum building
height for the M-II(A) Boat Haven Marine Related Use district was based upon are no longer valid,
that new information is available that was not considered during the 1996 Comprehensive Plan and the
1997 Zoning Code, PTMC Title 17 adoption processes,, and that new information is available which
indicates the heavy haulout travel lift requires buildings over 50 feet tall for safe and efficient use
indoors; and
21. The proposed zoning code text amendment reflects current widely held community
values to promote the economic development of the marine trades industry in Port Townsend and the
efficient use of existing infrastructure within the Boat Haven; and
22. The height, volume, and area where buildings over 50 feet in height may be constructed
under the proposed text amendment have been significantly reduced from that proposed by the original
Port of Port Townsend text amendment to address neighborhood concerns about view impacts and
building compatibility with surrounding uses; and
23. The M-II(A) Boat Haven Marine Related Uses district accommodates a variety of uses
including marina, recreational boating, manufacturing, assembly, haul out, and repair. This district
is intended for larger scale and more intensive water-dependant or marine related uses. It is reasonable
to assume that the large boats, yachts, and ships serviced by the Boat Haven will require some large
buildings to allow indoor construction, maintenance, and repair. The proposed text amendment does
not allow a change of use in the height overlay district; and
24. The Boat Haven height overlay district lies greater than 200 feet from the ordinary high
water mark of Port Townsend Bay and is outside the jurisdiction of the Shoreline Master Program.
The proposal also lies outside the 50 foot vegetated buffers established to protect nearby category III
wetlands which were delineated as part of the 1994 final EIS for the Port of Port Townsend enhanced
haulout facility; and
25. The Port Townsend Gateway Development Plan (1993) provides recommendations for
streetscape improvements as well as general development guidelines for projects adjacent to Sims Way.
The Gateway Plan found that views of the bay along this section of the Gateway corridor create a
significant and lasting impression for visitors traveling eastbound into Port Townsend. Among the
recommendations made by the Gateway Plan to enhance these views was the limiting of heights of
buildings between Sims Way and the bay. The Planning Commission and City Council considered these
Gateway recommendations when deliberating on the proposed text amendment. The proposed height
overlay district would obscure some views of the shipyard but would not block potential views of the
bay as identified by the Gateway Plan (page 63, Viewpoints and View Corridors); and
26. Table IV-1 contained in the Land Use Element of the Comprehensive plan, page IV-14,
provides suggested uses, densities and building heights for the M-II(A) Boat Haven Marine Related Use
December 13, 1999 4 Ord.
district and recommends a maximum building height of 50 feet for the M-II(A) district. However, this
table specifically notes that it is intended only to provide information and guidance in the preparation
of revisions to the Zoning Code and is not mandatory. The information in Table IV-1 was not intended
to be prescriptive and variations from the guidelines in Table 1V-1 do exist in the adopted zoning code;
and
27. The City Council finds that the establishment of the Boat Haven height overlay district
assists in the implementation of the Economic Development Strategy contained in the Comprehensive
Plan which calls for appropriately located and zoned vacant land and additional Port infrastructure to
serve larger and increased numbers of boats and calls for the City to play a key role in encouraging the
marine trades economy (Comprehensive Plan, pages vm- 11 - viii- 12);'and
28. The City Council finds that a limited number of buildings of a fixed total volume
exceeding 50 feet in height are necessary to "ensure the viability of long-term marine uses" in the Port
of Port Townsend Boat Haven shipyard consistent with Plan policy 9.8 of the Land Use Element; and
29. The City Council finds that the proposed amendment is consistent with the goals,
policies and objectives of the various elements of the 1996 Port Townsend Comprehensive Plan; and
30. Conducting boat and ship building, maintenance, and repair work indoors has
advantages over outdoor work through insulating against noise emissions, by allowing the control of
atmospheric conditions to allow high quality work despite weather conditions, and by containing the
release of potentially hazardous materials through spray drift or material spillage; and
31. The City Council finds that the zoning code text amendment limits the area within
Which buildings taller than 50 feet may be constructed (approximately 5.6 acres), locates the overlay
district near high bluffs and away from the shoreline to limit view impacts to neighboring properties,
sets a maximum roof slope for pitched roof buildings (2:12 maximum roof pitch), requires exterior
materials to be non-refiective and of earth tone color shades, limits the maximum building height to
75 feet, and limits the maximum volume of enclosed building space above 50 feet (756,200 cubic feet)
to reduce potential visual impacts to public and private views; and
32. Consistent with the requirements of the GMA, Building and Community Development
Department staff forwarded the proposed amendments to the Zoning Code to the State of Washington
Department of Community Trade and Economic Development (DCTED) for review and comment prior
to October 8, 1999, more than 60 days prior to the adoption of this ordinance (§36.70A. 106). No
substantive comments were received from DCTED prior to the adoption of this ordinance.
33. The Council finds that adoption of the following amendments to the text and tables of
Title 17 PTMC will promote the public health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Port Townsend and
should be approved.
December 13, 1999 5 Ord. ~ '7 o2 b,
BASED UPON the foregoing FINDINGS, and based upon the record before the Port Townsend
Planning Commission and City Council, the City Council hereby ordains as follows:
SECTION 2:
ADOPTION OF AMENDMENTS TO TABLE CONTAINED IN
SECTION 17.22.030 OF TITLE 17, ZONING,
OF THE PORT TOWNSEND MUNICIPAL CODE.
Section 17.22.030, Bulk, dimensional and density requirements, Chapter 17.22 Marine-Related and
Manufacturing Zoning Districts, of the Port Townsend Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as
follows:
17.22.030 Bulk, dimensional and density requirements.
,~ The standards contained in Table 17.22.030 apply to all marine-related and manufacturing zoning
districts, and shall be determined to be minimum requirements, unless stated as maximum by this title.
B. Setbacks and Minimum Yard Requirements. Notwithstanding any other ordinance or provision of
this title, all setbacks (yard requirements) shall be measured from the lot line to the building line, as
defined in Chapter 17.08 PTMC; provided, however, that the roof or eaves of a roof of a building may
extend beyond the building line a maximum distance of two feet into the applicable minimum yard area.
C. Construction and Permits. From and after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this section,
no building permit shall be issued and no building shall be constructed on any tract, lot or site in the city
unless the building is situated on such tract, lot or site in conformance with the requirements of this title
and any other applicable provision of law.
Table 17.22.030
Marine-Related and Manufacturing Zoning Districts - Bulk, Dimensional
and Density Requirements
DISTRICT M/C MI MIl(A) MIl(B) Mill
MINIMUM LOT 5,000 sf 5,000 sf 5,000 sf 5,000 sf 5,000 sf
SIZE
MINIMUM FRONT 10' 10' None None 20'
YARD SETBACKS
MINIMUM REAR 10' 10' None None 20'
YARD SETBACKS
December 13, 1999 6 Ord.
MINIMUM SIDE 5' each side 5' each side None None 15' each side
YARD SETBACKS
MAXIMUM 35' 35' 50' or as st~ecified 35' 50'
BUILDING HEIGHT bv Chamer 17.27,
Boat Haven
Heiv. ht Overlay
District
MAXIMUM FLOOR 2 sfofgross 2 sfofgross 2 sfofgross floor 2 sfofgross 1 sfofgross
AREA RATIO floor area per floor area per area per I sfof floor area per floor area per
I sf of lot 1 sf of lot lot 1 sf of lot 1 sf of lot
MAXIMUM FENCE Front = 8' Front = 4' Max. bldg. height Max. bldg. Front =10'
HEIGHT Side = 8' Side = 8' applies height applies Side =10'
Rear = 8' Rear = 8' Rear = 10'
SECTION 3:
ADOPTION OF A NEW CHAPTER 17.27 BOAT HAVEN HEIGHT
OVERLAY DISTRICT, TO TITLE 17, ZONING,
OF THE PORT TOWNSEND MUNICIPAL CODE.
A new Chapter 17.27, Boat Haven Height Overlay District, to Title 17, Zoning, of the Port Townsend
Municipal Code is hereby adopted and shall readas follows:
Chapter 17.27 BOAT HAVEN HEIGHT OVERLAY DISTRICT
Sections:
17.27.010 Purpose
17.27.020 Boundaries of district
17.27.030 Maximum building height in overlay district
17.27.040 Building permit applications - volume documentation and Port of Port Townsend consent
17.27.050 Design standards for buildings exceeding 50 feet in height
17.27.060 Application of regulations
17.27.010 Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to establish a "Boat Haven height overlay district"
to allow a limited area of the Port of Port Townsend Boat Haven property zoned M-II(A) to be developed
with structures exceeding 50 feet in height to accommodate the large vessels transported by the Port's
enhanced haulout travel lffi while minimizing the impact to surrounding public and private views.
17.27.020 Boundaries of district. The Boat Haven height overlay district is located in the northwest
portion of Boat Haven, near Sims Way and the bluffs, and is legally described as follows:
December 13, 1999 7 Ord.
Eisenbeis Addition, Block 11, Lots 1 - 13; also the east ½ of vacated Kuhn Street adjacent
thereto; and
The south ½ of vacated 10th Street lying west of Kuhn Street and east of Sims Way; and
Eisenbeis Addition, Block 18, Lots 1 - 14 and 19 - 32, also the west ~/5 of vacated Kuhn Street
and the east ½ of vacated Landes Street adjacent thereto; and
Eisenbeis Addition, Block 32, Lots 1 - 14, also the west ½ of vacated Landes Street, excluding
right-of-way for Sims Way.
All located in the City of Port Townsend, Jefferson County, WA.
17.27.030 Maximum building height and building volume in overlay district. The maximum
building height and building volume in the Boat Haven height overlay district shall be determined as
follows:
A. Maximum building height shall be measured as defined by PTMC section 17.08.020, "building
height."
B. Any building may be constructed to a maximum building height of 50 feet with no building volume
limitations.
C. A limited number of buildings may be built higher than 50 feet but shall not exceed a maximum
building height of 75 feet. Those portions of all the buildings in the overlay district which exceed 50
feet in height shall not exceed a maximum volume of 756,200 cubic feet. This volume shall be
measured from the outside dimensions of the exterior wall and exterior roof surface. The following
building elements will not be included in the volume calculation:
1. Any portion of the structure below 50 feet in height;
2. Mechanical elements including venting, chimneys, or other exterior mechanical equipment;
and,
3. Crane beams, exterior roof tresses, or other structural elements that extend outside the fabric
of the buildings roof, walls, or doors.
17.27.040 Building Permit Applications - Volume Documentation and Port of Port Townsend
Consent.
P~ The office of Building and COmmunity Development (BCD) will maintain a running balance of the
volume remaining for construction exceeding 50 feet in height in the overlay district.
December 13, 1999 8 Ord.
B, Applications for building permits for buildings exceeding 50 feet in height shall include the
following information:
1. A calculation of the building volume above 50 feet in height as specified by PTMC 17.27.030
above. The volume calculation shall be prepared by a licensed architect, engineer, or other qualified
design professional as determined by BCD; and
2. Written, signed consent from the Port of Port Townsend to utilize the specified amount of
building volume over 50 feet in height.
17.27.050 Design standards for buildings exceeding 50 feet in height. Buildings constructed in the
height overlay district that exceed 50 feet in height shall comply with the following building design
standards:
A. Roof top mechanical elements. Exterior mechanical elements such as heating, cooling, and
ventilation equipment shall be located on the ground unless it can be demonstrated to the decisionmaker
doing so would be an impracticable difficulty or will create an undue hardship, then such mechanical
elements shall not exceed a height of 75 feet. When such equipment must be located above the roof it
shall be located and designed in such a way to minimize view impacts.
B. Building materials and colors. Building materials shall be non-reflective and colors shall consist
of earth tones which tend to blend into the background. Samples of materials and colors shall be
submitted with a completed building permit application.
C. Roof slope. Pitched roofs shall have a maximum roof slope not to exceed a 2:12 pitch.
D. The BCD director shall determine if the design standards contained in subsections A - C above have
been met by a specific project proposal. Appeals of the BCD director's determination would be
processed as a Type I-A action as established in Chapter 20.01 PTMC, Land Development
Administrative Procedures.
17.27.060 Application of regulations.
All properties located within 'the Boat Haven height overlay district shall be subject to both its
underlying zone classification and to the requirements imposed by the special height overlay district.
In any case where the provisions of the Boat Haven height overlay district conflict with the provisions
of an underlying zone, the provisions of this chapter shall apply.
December 13, 1999 9 Ord.
SECTION 4
TRANSMITTAL TO DCTED
The City Clerk shall transmit a copy of this Ordinance to the State Department of Community, Trade
and Economic Development (DCTED) within 10 days of adoption of this ordinance.
SECTION 5
CODIFICATION OF AMENDMENTS
Copies of a revised Title 17, Zoning, of the Port Townsend Municipal Code, codifying the
amendments set forth in this ordinance, shall be prepared under the supervision of the City Clerk and
available for public inspection within 120 days of the adoption of this ordinance.
SECTION 6
EFFECTIVE DATE
This ordinance shall take effect and be in force five days after the date of its publication in the
manner provided by law.
SECTION 7
SEVERABILITY
If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part of this Ordinance or its application to any person
or circumstance is held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such
order or judgment shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of the remainder of any part of
this ordinance. To this end, the provisions of each clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part of
this law are declared severable.
Read for the first, second, and third times and adopted by the City Council of the City of Port
Townsend, Washington, at a regular meeting thereof, held this 13th day of December, 1999~
Forrest Rambo, Mayor
Attest:
//~Ste~en Olsen, Acting City Attorney
December 13, 1999
10 Ord.