Sections:
17.17.010 Purpose of Classification
17.17.020 Permitted Uses
17.17.030 Conditional Uses
17.17.035 Pre-application consultation required
17.17.040 Accessory Uses
17.17.050 Prohibited Uses
17.17.060 Lot Area and Width
17.17.070 Density
17.17.080 Required Yard Setbacks
17.17.090 Height
17.17.100 Lot Coverage
17.17.105 Parking
17.17.110 Special Provisions
17.17.010 Purpose of Classification - The purpose of this district is to provide an area for community and tourist oriented commerce in the Upper Methow Valley. Areas designated "Special Review Commercial" should develop with emphasis on pedestrian traffic. Residential development is allowed and encouraged on the second floor of structures in this district.
17.17.020 Permitted Uses - Indicated on the District Use Chart.
17.17.030 Conditional Uses - Indicated on the District Use Chart.
17.17.035 Pre-application consultation required Pre-application consultation with the Mazama Advisory Committee, or other entity established by the County, and Office of Planning and Development is mandatory for all new construction projects. Within 30 days of receiving a request for pre-application consultation, the Office of Planning and Development will set a meeting date, time and place for the pre-application consultation. The purpose of the meeting is to assist the applicant in identification of site development and design considerations and suggest potential solutions where possible. The Mazama Advisory Committee or other entity established by the County shall base its comments and recommendations on guidelines established pursuant to the County Comprehensive Plan. These comments and recommendations shall be provided to the applicant and the Office of Planning and Development within 14 days of the pre-application consultation meeting.
17.17.040 Accessory Uses - Normal accessory uses customary and incidental to the permitted and/or conditional use of the property.
17.17.050 Prohibited Uses - Indicated on the District Use Chart, Chapter 17.21.
17.17.060 Lot Area and Width
17.17.070 Density - Not applicable, see Lot Coverage below.
17.17.080 Required Yard Setbacks
17.17.090 Height
17.17.100 Lot Coverage - Maximum lot coverage is 50%, subject to compliance with required yard setbacks.
17.17.105 Parking - indicated in Chapter 17.25
1. Signs: No signs shall be erected within this zone which do not comply with the regulations contained herein.
a. Design and Materials. Signs shall be constructed from wood or natural appearing materials and colors. No fluorescent materials or reflective materials shall be allowed except for official signs for public safety. Signs should be reflective of the natural forest and rustic theme and may include the uses of wrought iron.
b. Allowed Public Signs. The following signs, which are generally public in nature, are allowed outright:
i. Signs erected or posted and maintained for public safety and welfare or pursuant to any governmental law or regulation.
ii. A bulletin board, either one or two-sided with no face exceeding twenty square feet in display area, associated with any church, museum, library, school or similar public use, provided that the top of such sign is less than eight (8) feet high and meets all other provisions of this chapter.
iii. Directional signs indicating ingress or egress where display area does not exceed 3 (3) square feet.
iv. Banners, not exceeding thirty (30) square feet in area, or sandwich boards not exceeding twelve (12) square feet in area, displayed by a non-profit or community organization are not required to be displayed on the premises of the business or organizations. Signs may be displayed for a maximum of two periods not exceeding 14 days total within any calendar year.
c. Allowed Private and Residential Signs. The following signs, which are primarily private and residential in nature are allowed outright:
i. Mailbox and address signs displaying address numbers shall not exceed two (2) square feet of area. An additional sign not exceeding two (2) square feet is allowed to display a name associated with the dwelling.
ii. Window signs not exceeding 25% of the individual window area and a maximum total area of four (4) square feet.
iii. A single sign, not exceeding twenty-four (24) square feet in area, mounted between posts, at a height not exceeding twenty (20) feet above grade, displaying the name of a farm.
iv. An agricultural products sign, allowed at each street frontage, advertising products grown on or produced at the subject property. Signs shall be erected for a period not exceeding ten (10) days prior to the availability of the products for sale and removed when the products are no longer available for purchase. The maximum sign area shall not exceed ten (10) square feet for each face of a single or two-faced sign.
v. Garage sale signs on site and off site not to exceed three (3) square feet per sign face and placed no more than two (2) days before the sale and removed within one (1) day after the sale.
vi. Election signs, provided that they are removed within seven (7) days after the final election for the named candidate or election issue. No election signs are allowed in public right-of-way.
vii. For sale, rent or lease signs are allowed only on property being sold or rented. One sign not exceeding eight (8) square feet is allowed on each street frontage. Such sign shall be removed within seven (7) days after sale, rental, or lease of the property.
viii. Signs relating to trespassing and hunting, each sign not exceeding four (4) square feet of area.
ix. Residential developments of five (5) parcels or more may have a single freestanding identification sign with a maximum sign area of ten (10) square feet.
x. Multi-family residential developments of ten (10) or more may have a sign with a maximum sign area of twenty-four (24) square feet at one vehicular entrance on each street frontage.
xi. Home occupations may have a single or two-sided sign that identifies the service provided. Such sign shall not exceed six (6) square feet.
d. Allowed Commercial Signs. The following commercial signs are allowed.
i. Facade signs.
(a) Buildings may have one facade sign for each tenant not more than twelve square feet with dimensions not to exceed six (6) feet in length or three (3) feet in height.
(b) Facade signs shall be located less than twenty (20) feet above grade.
ii. Directory sign. A single directory sign, combining the name of the commercial complex and the individual names of businesses located within is allowed, provided no other facade signs on the building exceed twenty (20) square feet. Maximum sign area of this directory is forty-eight (48) square feet.
iii. Freestanding signs. No more than one (1) freestanding sign shall be allowed per building. The sign shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet on any single surface nor a total of sixty-four (64) square feet if two-sided. Maximum height shall not exceed twelve (12) feet above the natural grade. Setbacks for signs will be a minimum of five (5) feet from walkways and ten (10) feet from curb cuts.
(a) No signs shall be allowed in the shoreline area as described by the Okanogan County Shoreline Master Program.
(b) A freestanding identification sign combining the name of the commercial complex and the individual names of businesses located within if there are more than two (2) businesses or tenants, with a maximum sign area of forty (40) square feet on any single surface and a total of forty (40) square feet if two-sided. No individual tenant freestanding signs may be erected on the same property that contains this freestanding sign.
iv. Canopy or awning signs. Instead of a facade sign, one (1) canopy sign is permitted per principal business, not exceeding twenty (20) square feet per tenant, provided the lowest point of the awning or canopy is at least eight feet above the sidewalk. The sign shall not be higher than the eve line or parapet of the principal building and the awning shall have a dark background if lit from behind.
v. Projecting signs. A business is allowed one (1) projecting sign that will be supported by the facade of the building. Signs can project over the walkway provided they are at least eight feet above the walk. If walkways are covered, the sign can be hung from a roof bean provided it meets the other requirements for projecting signs. Projecting signs must not be more than four (4) feet from building facade and a minimum of eight feet from the walkway grade and not be higher than the eve line or parapet of the building. Maximum allowable square footage not to exceed eight (8) square feet for a building identification sign.
vi. Sandwich board signs. One (1) non-illuminated sandwich board sign with each face not exceeding twelve (12) square feet in area is allowed per business. Sign shall be a minimum of thirty-nine (39) inches high and a maximum of forty-eight (48) inches high.
vii. Window signs. One (1) window sign not exceeding eight (8) square feet in area is allowed.
e. Prohibited Signs. The following signs are prohibited:
i. No sign, except for a traffic regulatory or informational sign, shall use the words "Stop", "Caution", or "Danger", or shall incorporate red, amber or green light resembling traffic signals or shall resemble "Stop" or "Yield" signs or shape or color.
ii. Flashing signs, roof signs, signs containing moving parts or appearing to move, and signs that sparkle or twinkle in the sunlight.
iii. Billboards, streamers, pennants, ribbons, spinners, or other similar devices shall not be constructed, posted, or erected in any zone.
iv. Any sign advertising a business or organization not located on the parcel containing the business or organization is prohibited except those signs erected by the State of Washington.
f. Historical and Interpretive Signs. Signs that do not advertise a product, community directory signs and general information signs shall conform to style and design as detailed in guidelines published by the local review board, or other entity established by the County, and Office of Planning and Development.
g. Illumination Standards. The following standards apply to lighting of signs:
i. Signs, except for facade signs, may only be illuminated externally by light sources shielded so that the lamp is not visible from adjacent properties or the public right-of-way.
ii. Lights illuminating signs shall project illumination toward the face of the sign.
iii. No sign may flash, rotate, have motorized parts, or have exposed electrical wires.
iv. No sign shall be illuminated between the hours of 10 PM and 6 AM unless the premise on which it is located is open for business.
v. A facade sign may be internally illuminated provided that:
(a) The background does not emit light.
(b) The background constitutes a minimum of 80% of the sign area.
(c) The illumination source is shielded.
h. Non-Conforming Signs. Any sign, which does not conform to the regulations herein and which lawfully existed at the time of adoption of this ordinance may continue unchanged. Said sign cannot be enlarged, reworded, redesigned or altered in any way except to conform to the requirements of this ordinance.
2. Light and Glare: Outdoor lighting, including street and parking lot lighting, shall be directed downward and shielded to minimize potential glare to motorists and off-site residents. No exterior light with a direct source visible from a neighboring property shall be installed. Indirect sources and horizontal cut-off fixtures are recommended to reduce glare and provide general ambient light. Holiday lighting is exempt from these requirements.