21.62.400 Development standards | Lynnwood Municipal Code

21.62.400 Development standards.

A. Building to Site Relationships. Development shall meet the following standards:

Table 21.62.01.
	Development Level
	1	2	3
	Sites with nonresidential development only and less than 2 acres in size	Sites with nonresidential development only, on sites 2 acres or greater in size OR sites of any size with residential development of less than 20 dwelling units/acre	Sites with residential/mixed use development or residential-only development with 20 dwelling units/acre or more of residential development
Development Standard
Minimum Setbacks*:
Public Street:	None	None	None
Interior Property Lines:	None	None	None
Ground Floor Residential Units⁺:	–	10 ft.	10 ft.
Minimum Sidewalk Width Along Public Streets:	12 ft.	12 ft.	12 ft.
Maximum Lot Coverage:	25%	35%	None
Maximum Building Height:	35 ft.	50 ft.	90 feet, not to exceed six stories
Minimum Dwelling Units/Acre⁺⁺	NA	NA	20 DU/A
Maximum Floor-Area Ratio	0.5	1.0	3.0

*See LMC 21.62.450 for development adjacent to a residential zone (transitional property lines).

+Applies to residential projects only; setback is from all public rights-of-way, internal circulation (vehicle, bicycle, pedestrian), parking areas, or access easements. Alternatively, where vision-obscuring glass is installed, the setback may be eliminated.

++The minimum number of residential units to qualify for this level shall be calculated using the entire project site. Where residential development is part of redevelopment of one or more parcels, this calculation shall be based only on the portion of the parcel(s) being redeveloped. Fractional portions of a unit are “rounded up” for this calculation.

B. Minimum Size of Structures with Residential Dwelling Units. Residential development is encouraged as part of development of parcels in this zone, but it is not required. Where development of one or more parcels in this zone includes new residential development, the residential development shall comply with the following standard: the minimum height of a structure with residential units shall be three stories above grade.

C. Parking and Vehicle Circulation. Off-street parking for uses in this zone shall be provided and maintained consistent with the regulations in Chapter 21.18 LMC and LMC 21.46.900(D), with the following exceptions:

1. New residential development will have a minimum requirement of one parking space per dwelling unit. Surface parking is limited to a maximum of two parking spaces per dwelling unit; additional parking for residential development shall be located in a parking structure. Tandem parking may be used to meet residential parking requirements, provided both spaces are assigned to the same dwelling.

2. New multistory commercial development that is not part of a mixed use development with residential units at a minimum density of 20 units/acre shall provide at least 50 percent of the parking required for upper stories (any story above the first story) in a parking structure.

3. Parking for commercial and other nonresidential uses in a mixed use development with residential units shall be provided at a minimum rate of three parking spaces per 1,000 square feet of leasable building area (i.e., not including service corridors, ventilation shafts, sprinkler riser rooms or the like) dedicated to commercial or nonresidential uses. Parking for institutional uses and hotels/motels shall be provided as set forth in Chapter 21.18 LMC. See Chapter 21.18 LMC for allowed reductions in required parking for nonresidential uses. Tandem parking is not permitted for nonresidential uses.

4. A parking structure may be located either above or below ground, and may either be attached to a new or existing building or may be freestanding. Parking structures shall meet the requirements on Chapter 21.08 LMC.

a. Setback. Parking structures located along streets which are not “designated side streets” (as defined in the Highway 99 Design Guidelines) shall provide a landscaping area between the structure and the street which is a minimum of 25 feet wide.

b. Design. The parking structure shall comply with the Highway 99 design guidelines.

c. Vehicle Access. No parking structure entry/exit driveway shall have more than three lanes unless exceptional traffic conditions or congestion require an additional drive lane. In no case shall the number of lanes exceed four.

d. Pedestrian Connections. The design of pedestrian connections or pathways from a parking structure to the building(s) for which it provides parking shall clearly delineate and separate the pedestrian way from travel areas for vehicles.

D. Repealed by Ord. 3326.

1. New nonresidential development subject to project design review under this chapter and with at least 20 units/acre of residential development shall include on-site pedestrian-oriented open space at least equal to one percent of the lot area plus one percent of new nonresidential floor area. Where pedestrian-oriented facades are required by the design guidelines, the facade(s) shall be oriented towards the required open area. These requirements are in addition to the open space required for residential units, if any. The open space may be in the form of wider sidewalks (beyond the minimum), cafe seating areas, gardens, plazas or play areas.

2. New nonresidential development subject to project design review under this chapter and not including residential development of 20 units/acre shall include on-site pedestrian-oriented open space at least equal to two percent of the lot area plus two percent of new nonresidential floor area. Where pedestrian-oriented facades are required by the design guidelines, the facade(s) shall be oriented towards the required open area. These requirements are in addition to the open space required for residential units, if any. The open space may be in the form of wider sidewalks (beyond the minimum), cafe seating areas, gardens, plazas or play areas.

F. Residential Open Space. All developments with multiple-family dwelling units shall provide recreational space (for use by residents of the development) equal to at least 10 percent of the building living area (not counting corridors, lobbies, storage, service space, and similar service areas), as follows (in mixed use developments, this requirement is in addition to the nonresidential open space required under subsection (E) of this section):

1. Common open space may be used for all of the required open space. Common open space includes landscaped courtyards or decks, gardens with pathways, children’s play areas, or other multipurpose green spaces. In addition:

a. Minimum required setback areas shall not count towards the open space requirement;

b. Minimum required landscaping areas shall not count towards the open space requirement;

c. Common open spaces shall be a minimum size of 1,000 square feet each with a minimum dimension of 20 feet on all sides except where the development and business services director determines that the proposed space is functional for appropriate active or passive recreational uses.

2. Individual balconies and patios may be used to meet up to 50 percent of the required open space. To qualify as open space, balconies/patios must be at least 35 square feet with no dimension less than five feet.

3. Space at rooftop decks may count for up to 50 percent of the required open space, provided:

a. Space shall be accessible (ADA) to/from all dwelling units;

b. Space shall provide amenities such as seating areas, landscaping, and/or other features that encourage recreational use;

c. Space shall feature a maximum of 75 percent hard surfacing appropriate to encourage resident use;

d. Space shall incorporate features that provide for the safety of residents, such as railings, enclosures and appropriate lighting levels. Lighting shall be of pedestrian scale and shall not project past the roofline to neighboring properties.

4. Indoor recreational areas may count for up to 50 percent of the required open space only in mixed use buildings where other forms of open space are less feasible. Indoor areas shall be designed specifically to serve interior recreational functions.

1. Permitted fences, except as provided below.

a. Fences up to three feet in height are permitted.

b. Fences up to six feet in height are allowed along side and rear property lines (provided they are not parallel to a public right-of-way) and to enclose allowed service areas, storage areas, and other spaces.

a. Chain-link fences.

b. Electric fences.

c. Barbed wire and razor fencing.

d. Wood fences (manufactured wood products are acceptable).

e. Fencing shall not be installed along principal, collector, or minor arterials, except where the property owner or applicant demonstrates the fence is necessary for security purposes. Such fences shall not diminish the pedestrian qualities of the street and shall not encroach into the “sight triangle” as required by Chapter 21.10 LMC.

3. Retaining Wall Standards. For retaining walls that are visible from a public right-of-way or a residentially zoned property, no above-ground portion of a retaining wall shall be taller than four feet in height.

1. Exterior service areas shall not be located within 30 feet of a single- or multiple-family residential-zoned property or of an existing building containing residential units. Service areas include but are not limited to: loading docks, trash dumpsters, compactors, refuse and recycling areas, and mechanical equipment areas.

2. All external trash, recycling, and storage areas are required to be enclosed with a solid structure with a minimum height of seven feet and a roof. However, if the area is not visible from an adjacent property or public right-of-way, the enclosure does not require a roof. Enclosures shall be constructed of materials that match or complement the exterior materials of primary building(s).

I. Street Trees. Street trees shall be provided every 30 feet or less on center or spaced as directed by city staff. All trees shall be chosen from the city-approved tree list and shall have a minimum two-inch caliper at planting. (Ord. 3399 § 2 (Exh. A), 2021; Ord. 3326 § 18, 2019; Ord. 2911 § 1, 2011)