Chapter 15.11
Zones and Map Designations

Sections:

15.11.010 Zones and Map Designations – Established

15.11.020 Zones and Map Designations – Purpose

15.11.030 Park Zone (P)

15.11.040 Repealed

15.11.045 Aviation Commercial (AVC)

15.11.050 Deleted

15.11.055 Aviation Operations (AVO)

15.11.060 Urban Low Density Zone (UL)

15.11.070 Urban Medium Density Zone (UM)

15.11.075 Townhouse Zone (T)

15.11.080 Urban High Density Zone (UH)

15.11.090 Neighborhood Business Zone (NB)

15.11.095 Office/Commercial Medium Zone (O/CM)

15.11.097 Office/Commercial/Mixed Use Zone (O/C/MU)

15.11.100 Community Business Zone (CB)

15.11.110 Aviation Business Center Zone (ABC)

15.11.115 Business Park Zone (BP)

15.11.130 Industrial Zone (I)

15.11.135 Mobile Home Park Zone (MHP)

15.11.140 Zoning Map and Boundaries

15.11.010 Zones and Map Designations – Established

In order to accomplish the purposes of the code, the following zone classifications and zoning map symbols are established:

	Zone	Map Symbol
	Park	P
	Aviation Commercial	AVC
	Aviation Operations	AVO
	Urban Low Density	UL
	Urban Medium Density	UM
	Townhouse	T
	Urban High Density	UH
	Neighborhood Business	NB
	Community Business	CB
	Office/Commercial Medium	O/CM
	Office/Commercial/Mixed Use	O/C/MU
	Aviation Business Center	ABC
	Business Park	BP
	Industrial	I
	Mobile Home Park	MHP

(Ord. 00-1033 § 15; Ord. 99-1050 § 2; Ord. 98-1001 § 2; Ord. 95-1028 § 4; Ord. 92-1041 § 1)

15.11.020 Zones and Map Designations – Purpose

The purpose statement for each zone and map designation sets forth the type of development within the zones and the general goals of the zone classifications. The purpose also shall guide interpretation and application of land use regulations within the zone classifications, and any changes to the range of permitted uses within each zone through amendments to the code. (Ord. 92-1041 § 1)

15.11.030 Park Zone (P)

The purpose of this zone is to establish park and open space areas for residential and commercial uses, and to designate areas on hillsides, steep slopes, wetlands, and critical sensitive areas in order to protect them. This purpose is accomplished by providing for outdoor passive and active recreation uses, conservation and protection of municipal watersheds, wildlife corridors and habitats. (Ord. 92-1041 § 1)

15.11.040 Airport Use Zone (AU)

Repealed by Ord. 00-1033. (Ord. 95-1016 § 9; Ord. 92-1041 § 1)

15.11.045 Aviation Commercial (AVC)

The purpose of this designation is to create a zone for development that provides support to operations of the airport, the traveling public, and air cargo, and for other development that provides economic benefit to the airport and community while maintaining compatibility with airport operations and activities. (Ord. 98-1001 § 3)

15.11.050 Urban Reserve Zone (UR)

Deleted by Ord. 95-1028. (Ord. 92-1041 § 1)

15.11.055 Aviation Operations (AVO)

The purpose of this designation is to create a zone for development of the range of facilities that provide for safe and efficient commercial operations and support, together with security, access, the needs and convenience of the traveling public, and handling of air cargo. (Ord. 98-1001 § 4)

15.11.060 Urban Low Density Zone (UL)

The purpose of this zone is to create a single-family residential environment that creates high quality housing, diversity and affordability. This is accomplished by requiring appropriate residential uses, requiring open space in conjunction with residential development, providing incentives for affordable housing, and protecting environmentally sensitive sites from over-development. (Ord. 92-1041 § 1)

15.11.070 Urban Medium Density Zone (UM)

The purpose of this zone is to create a higher density than single-family while maintaining a desirable family environment. This is accomplished by effective clustering and zero lot line planned developments, requiring adequate public facilities and establishing incentives for greater open space, recreational facilities and potential linkage to high capacity transit modes. (Ord. 92-1041 § 1)

15.11.075 Townhouse Zone (T)

The purpose of this zone is to create a medium density residential environment for the City Center that functions as a buffer between adjacent single-family areas and more intensely developed higher density residential or commercial/mixed use areas in the City Center. This is accomplished by applying design standards that result in a building type that has some single-family characteristics while allowing medium residential densities that will support transit ridership, and allowing some commercial uses in the mixed use context. (Ord. 99-1050 § 3)

15.11.080 Urban High Density Zone (UH)

The purpose of this zone is to create a high density multi-family housing environment that encourages and, when possible, utilizes high capacity transit modes and allows for a limited amount of small resident-oriented businesses, while ensuring an adequate balance of single-family to multi-family housing in the City of SeaTac. This is accomplished by requiring adequate public facilities and services be in place to support a high density level, encouraging clustering and zero lot line developments with some neighborhood business support, allowing school and church uses, and establishing incentives for greater open space, recreational facilities, and potential linkage to high capacity transit modes. The UH-UCR zone, within the urban center, specifically provides for special urban densities and design standards. (Ord. 95-1028 § 5; Ord. 95-1016 § 10; Ord. 92-1041 § 1)

15.11.090 Neighborhood Business Zone (NB)

The purpose of this zone is to provide convenient daily retail and some personal services for a limited service area, and to maintain or enhance the residential area that is served by the businesses. This is accomplished by limiting nonresidential uses to specific needed services, permitting mixed use of multi-family and retail, excluding community/regional business scale uses, and encouraging potential linkages to high capacity transit modes. (Ord. 92-1041 § 1)

15.11.095 Office/Commercial Medium Zone (O/CM)

The purpose of this zone is to create a commercial mixed use medium density designation. This is accomplished by allowing professional offices, a multitude of retailing types, personal services and smaller hotels, restaurants and coffee shops. Developers will be encouraged to mix uses. Mid-rise apartments or mixed residential-commercial or office-residential developments shall also be encouraged in this designation. Structured parking shall be encouraged where feasible. (Ord. 95-1016 § 46)

15.11.097 Office/Commercial/Mixed Use Zone (O/C/MU)

The purpose of this zone is to create a commercial mixed use medium density designation that is more resident-oriented and less intense than the O/CM zone. This is accomplished by excluding larger scale commercial uses, and requiring that most retail and commercial uses be allowed only in the mixed use context. (Ord. 99-1050 § 4)

15.11.100 Community Business Zone (CB)

The purpose of this zone is to provide retail/personal services for a local service area which exceeds the needs of adjacent neighborhood or commercial areas, and to provide retail and personal services on a community oriented basis. This is accomplished by providing for professional offices, a wide range of retail and personal services, sale of commodities, mixed use development, and the potential integration of high capacity transit stations or lines. In the CB-C zone, located within the urban center, special design standards apply. (Ord. 95-1028 § 6; Ord. 92-1041 § 1)

15.11.110 Aviation Business Center Zone (ABC)

The purpose of this zone is to promote a major commercial center supporting high concentrations of customers, visitors, employees, and pedestrian activity; to create a quality development in which people can work, shop and access child care; and to create a market geared toward a business orientation to the airport which is compatible with airport operations. These purposes are accomplished by encouraging flexible development programs to improve the design, character, and quality of new development; facilitating the provisions of streets and utilities; preserving natural and scenic features; establishing minimum lot sizes to encourage projects of sufficient scale to increase the viability of high capacity transit and encourage ride-share alternatives; and promoting a balanced multimodal transportation network consisting of motor vehicle transportation, public transportation, pedestrian circulation, and integrated parking. (Ord. 92-1041 § 1)

15.11.115 Business Park Zone (BP)

The purpose of this zone is to provide a wide range of nonpolluting business activities. The business park designation allows for light and high technological industries, such as biotechnology, nonpolluting light manufacturing, computer technology and communications equipment establishments. Land uses with any significantly adverse impacts (such as excessive noise levels, or emitting significant quantities of dirt, dust, odor, radiation, glare or other pollutants) shall be strictly prohibited. Design and development standards for business park areas will be administered to foster high quality developments. (Ord. 95-1016 § 47)

15.11.130 Industrial Zone (I)

The purpose of the industrial zone is to provide for the location and grouping of industrial enterprises, regional airport, airport related facilities, and activities involving manufacturing, assembly, fabrication, processing, bulk handling, storage, research, warehousing and heavy trucking. These purposes are accomplished by permitting a wide range of industrial uses, establishing appropriate development standards and public review for developments that have potential adverse impacts, and ensuring the location of clean industries. (Ord. 92-1041 § 1)

15.11.135 Mobile Home Park Zone (MHP)

The purpose of this zone is to provide areas for existing mobile home parks, locate potential sites for relocation purposes, and/or allow the creation of parks which serve citizens while providing sense of ownership and pride. Additionally, this zone will provide appropriate areas for senior citizen parks. (Ord. 92-1041 § 1)

15.11.140 Zoning Map and Boundaries

A.  The location and boundaries of the zones defined by this chapter shall be shown and delineated on the Official Zoning Map.

B.  Changes in the boundaries of the zones, including applications for amendment or interim zoning shall be made by ordinance amending the Zoning Map. (Ord. 92-1041 § 1)