21.08.280 Faith-Based and Funerary

21.08.280 Faith-Based and Funerary.

A. Purpose. This section is intended to ensure that the unique impacts associated with faith-based organizational uses and their accessory uses are addressed while still allowing for a wide range of possible locations for faith-, religious-, belief-, and affiliation-based assembly.

B. Calculation of Seating Capacity. For the purposes of this regulation, a seat shall be defined as either:

1. One individual fixed seat; or

2. A length of 18 inches on a pew or bench; or

3. A measurement of seven square feet per person for the area seating the general assembly with movable chairs or other portable seating fixtures. The total area includes aisle space, but excludes areas such as stage and podium areas, space for musical instruments, and lobbies.

C. Requirements. The following development criteria shall apply to structures and properties associated with faith-based organizations and their related activities without regard to the zone in which they are located or the permit under which the use is processed:

1. Lighting for parking lot areas, structures, statuary and signage shall comply with the development regulations for parking, lighting and signs, and the design standards of RZC Chapter 21.60, Citywide Design Standards.

2. The use shall comply with the parking regulations for assembly uses, except that in no event shall parking be in excess of one space per three seats in a residential zone.

3. The storage of buses or vans over 10,000 pounds gross weight is permitted on site under the following conditions:

a. The location of the parking areas for these vehicles is indicated on the site plan at the time of application;

b. Vehicles must be leased or owned by the owner or tenant of the site, must be in operable condition, and must have a current vehicle registration;

c. Vehicles shall not intrude into public rights-of-way or obstruct sight visibility from any driveway;

d. Structural and/or natural screening, as approved by the City, shall screen the vehicles from neighboring properties. The screening requirement or amount of screening may be eliminated or reduced in light industrial zones to the extent that the storage of vehicles is treated uniformly with other uses in the same zone.

4. Faith-Based Organizations Within Shorelines. Within the Shoreline Jurisdiction, site development shall comply with the general standards of the zone in which it is located, except as otherwise provided in subsection D of this section. The maximum building height, exclusive of symbolic icons mounted on the rooftop, is 35 feet. An additional building height allowance of 15 feet is allowed for symbolic icons located on the building. (SMP)

5. A traffic mitigation plan shall be submitted for approval by the City. The plan shall address traffic control, parking management (including the mitigation of overflow parking into adjoining residential areas), and traffic movement to the arterial street system. In addition to on-site parking requirements, parking in excess of the maximum may be permitted on existing off-site satellite parking lots, subject to City approval of a joint use agreement. Off-site parking in residential zones shall be limited to lots shared with existing institutional uses, such as schools.

6. The maximum height for separate structures on site, such as symbolic icons, shall be 15 feet. The maximum building height, based on the zone in which the building is located, may be exceeded by 15 feet for the installation of religious icons on the building.

7. The proposed structure(s) shall comply with the applicable design criteria contained in RZC Chapter 21.60, Citywide Design Standards, for the zone in which the use is located.

8. Additional standards are applicable to the use. The underlying zoning and size of the structures shall determine which additional criteria shall apply. The additional criteria for residential zones can be found below, depending on seating capacity.

1. Faith-based organizations with a seating capacity of less than 250 seats:

a. The structures shall be located within 1,200 feet, as measured along the centerline of the right-of-way, of an arterial (collector, minor or principal);

b. The structures shall be located on a paved road having two lanes with a minimum width equal to the public works standard for a local access street;

c. Structures shall maintain a minimum setback of 20 feet from all property lines; building setbacks shall be increased by five feet for every one foot in building height over 30 feet;

d. The minimum lot size shall be the same as that required in the zone in which the proposed faith-based organization is located;

e. The maximum lot coverage of structures may not exceed 35 percent, and total impervious surfaces may not exceed 75 percent of lot area;

f. No more than two large vehicles may be stored on site at a given period of time; and

g. Structures, parking lots and lighting shall be designed to avoid excessive light and glare impacts on adjacent properties. Restrictions on light pole height and type, deflectors and other such measures may be required as necessary to prevent overspill and excessive intensity of light.

2. Faith-based organizations with a seating capacity of between 250 to 750 seats:

a. The proposed structures must be located adjacent to at least one arterial (collector, minor or principal);

b. Structures shall maintain a minimum setback of 20 feet from all property lines;

c. Building setbacks shall be increased five feet for every one foot in building height over 30 feet;

d. The maximum lot coverage of structures may not exceed 35 percent, and total impervious surfaces may not exceed 75 percent of the lot area; and

e. No more than two large vehicles may be stored on site at a given period of time. (Ord. 3028; Ord. 3083)