Chapter 17.24
R-3 MULTIFAMILY RESIDENCE DISTRICT1
Sections:
17.24.010 Intent.
17.24.020 Permitted primary uses.
17.24.030 Permitted accessory uses.
17.24.040 Uses requiring permit.
17.24.050 Area and dimensional regulations.
17.24.010 Intent.
This district is intended to provide for multiple-family residential development and is further intended as a residential district of single, duplex and multiple-family residences, except as specifically provided elsewhere in this chapter. A related consideration is to make it possible to more efficiently and economically design and install all physical public service facilities in terms of size or capacity to adequately and permanently meet needs resulting from a defined intensity of land use. (Ord. 1206 § 3, 1992).
17.24.020 Permitted primary uses.
A. Those uses permitted in districts R-1 and R-2, subject to the same restrictions as though located in those districts.
B. Multifamily dwellings. The following plan review criteria shall be met:
1. Parking areas shall be screened from the street.
2. Pedestrian access to open space shall be on walkways and shall minimize the need to walk through parking areas.
3. Projects shall comply with the city of Burlington design guidelines for multifamily development, even when design review board approval is not required.
4. Dumpsters shall be fully enclosed with a solid fence or wall with a solid gate and shall not be visible from the public right-of-way.
5. A children’s play area shall be provided, with a minimum size of 225 square feet plus 20 square feet per unit.
6. Common open space for passive or active recreation shall be provided at the rate of 50 square feet per unit.
7. Laundry and storage facilities shall be provided, either in each unit or in a central facility.
8. Multifamily developments shall comply with chapter 17.48 BMC, Performance Standards, where applicable.
9. Exterior lighting shall be provided for parking areas, access streets and pedestrian walkways, to be reviewed by the planning commission. Lighting shall be designed to direct light away from residential units to prevent glare.
10. Sidewalks shall be level and comply with the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act. A five-foot planting strip shall be provided where adequate right-of-way is available. Exceptions shall be reviewed by the planning commission in the plan review process, to a minimum of three feet. Driveways shall be designed so that a minimum three feet in width provides a continuous level sidewalk route of travel.
11. Nothing in this section shall preclude the requirement for additional mitigation in critical areas as defined in chapter 15.15 BMC, based on identified adverse environmental impacts pursuant to chapter 15.12 BMC. See also chapter 17.68 BMC, Plan Review Criteria.
12. In the event of identified unique or unusual site conditions that are not anticipated by the development standards in this code, the planning commission and/or city council is authorized to further condition a proposed project, including reducing density. See BMC 17.24.050(H).
C. Municipal buildings, police stations, fire stations. (Ord. 1322 § 1, 1996; Ord. 1260 § 6, 1994; Ord. 1206 § 3, 1992).
17.24.030 Permitted accessory uses.
A. Those uses permitted in districts R-1 and R-2, subject to the same restrictions as though located in those districts, and recreation and storage building. See chapter 17.54 BMC for parking requirements.
B. Telecommunication mini facility, subject to the following requirements:
1. The mini facility may be located on buildings and structures provided that the immediate interior wall or ceiling adjacent to the facility is not a designated residential space.
2. The mini facility shall be exempt from review by the design review board if the antenna and related components are the same color as the existing building, pole or support structure on which it is proposed to be located.
3. The shelter or cabinet used to house radio electronic equipment shall be contained wholly within a building or structure, or otherwise appropriately concealed, camouflaged or located underground.
4. Mini facilities shall comply with the height limitation specified for all zones except as follows: Omnidirectional antennas may exceed the height limitation by 10 feet, or in the case of nonconforming structures the antennas may extend 10 feet above the existing structure. Panel antennas may exceed the height limitation if affixed to the side of an existing nonconforming building and blends in architecturally with the building. Placement of an antenna on a nonconforming structure shall not be considered to be an expansion of the nonconforming structure. (Ord. 1396 § 35, 1999; Ord. 1206 § 3, 1992).
17.24.040 Uses requiring permit.
The following uses may be permitted when a conditional use permit has been issued pursuant to the provisions of BMC 17.68.130:
A. Boarding and group housing;
B. Child day care center as defined by DSHS, preschools or nursery schools;
C. Government facilities;
D. Health care facilities;
E. Mobile home park;
F. Nursing homes;
G. Professional offices;
H. Religious institutions;
I. Utility substations. (Ord. 1717 § 2, 2010; Ord. 1396 § 36, 1999; Ord. 1333 § 2, 1997; Ord. 1322 § 2, 1996; Ord. 1260 § 7, 1994; Ord. 1206 § 3, 1992).
17.24.050 Area and dimensional regulations.
A. Minimum Lot Requirements.
1. Minimum lot area: 6,000 square feet. For a multifamily dwelling the required land area shall be computed as follows: Initial minimum lot size for two units of any size: 6,000 square feet. For each additional unit over two, add 3,000 square feet per unit.
2. Minimum lot dimensions: 60-foot width at front building line, 30-foot minimum width at street line, 80-foot minimum mean depth.
B. Minimum setback requirements: The same as for district R-1.
C. Maximum land coverage: Not more than 70 percent of any lot area may be covered by buildings and/or impervious paving materials, and not more than 30 percent of any lot area may be occupied by buildings. A minimum 30 percent of each lot shall be landscaped.
D. Maximum building height: Two stories, but not more than 30 feet.
E. Interior courts or areas between multifamily dwelling buildings shall have a minimum dimension of 30 feet in one-story buildings, 40 feet in two-story buildings.
F. Maximum Building Dimension. In no instance shall the greatest dimension of a multifamily building exceed 150 feet, measured parallel to exterior building walls.
G. Maximum Building Gross Floor Area. In no instance shall the gross floor area exceed 8,000 square feet for any multifamily building.
H. Maximum Density. Maximum density for any multifamily development shall not exceed 14 units per usable acre, except as provided in chapter 17.70 BMC, Agricultural Heritage Credit Program. Usable acreage is defined as the total site area minus any delineated wetlands or steep slope areas.
I. Cluster developments may be permitted as part of the subdivision process. The planning commission, when considering a subdivision, may allow a reduction of lot width, lot width at building line and lot area; provided, that:
1. Housing types may include single-family detached, townhouses, zero lot line and multifamily. A maximum of eight dwelling units is permitted in a single building.
2. The density of dwellings is not greater than that which would occur under strict interpretation of the requirements for the underlying zoning classification subject to adopted administrative rules reviewed and approved by the planning commission within six months of the effective date of the ordinance codified in this section.
3. When lot widths and lot areas are decreased, 35 percent lot coverage shall be the maximum permitted for a detached single-family dwelling and proportional limits on building size may be imposed on other housing types.
4. The resulting subdivision design clearly retains a substantial area of continuous, public accessible open space such as Gages Slough, a lake, wetland, a bluff, ravine, wildlife habitat area, trail on Burlington Hill, or other unique topographic feature, or a conservation area identified by the planning commission. Such open spaces shall be maintained in accordance with their intended use and purpose.
5. A reduction in lot size of up to 20 percent below the minimum lot size of the underlying zoning shall be permitted. For example, if the underlying zoning has a minimum lot size of 9,600 square feet, the maximum reduction in lot size is 1,920 square feet, or a minimum lot size of 7,680 in a cluster subdivision.
6. A detailed landscaping plan shall be submitted.
7. Artist’s renderings with both isometric and perspective views and a color plan for the proposed development. Models may be required for large and complex projects.
8. A design review report and recommendation pursuant to chapter 17.69 BMC shall be presented. (Ord. 1717 § 3, 2010; Ord. 1322 § 3, 1996; Ord. 1260 § 8, 1994; Ord. 1206 § 3, 1992).
Prior legislation: Ords. 890 (Chapter 4), 1136 § 2, 1187 § 2, and 1200 § 4.