14.30.040 Purpose of Zoning Districts.
A. Single-Family Residential Zone (SFR). The purpose of the Single-Family Residential Zoning District is to designate and protect certain areas in the City for single-family detached low-density housing, creating a suitable living environment for individuals and families.
B. Multifamily Residential Zoning Districts. The purpose of multifamily residential zoning districts is to provide for a variety of housing options in the City with small-scale commercial uses that are allowed in conjunction with a residential use:
1. LDR: The purpose of the Low Density Residential Zoning District is to maintain and develop areas to provide adequate multifamily housing offering a variety of types and ownership options in lower densities that can serve as a transition to single-family detached housing.
2. MDR: The purpose of the Medium Density Residential Zoning District is to maintain and develop areas to provide adequate multifamily housing offering a variety of types and ownership options in medium density neighborhoods with more affordable housing units than might be found in the SFR and LDR Zoning Districts.
3. HDR: The purpose of the High Density Residential Zoning District is to maintain and develop areas to provide adequate multifamily housing in higher densities than other residential zoning districts to provide a suitable living environment while meeting the economic needs of the population.
C. Commercial Zoning Districts. The purpose of commercial zoning districts is to provide for a variety of retail, office, service, and mixed-use activities to serve the consumer needs of Snohomish and surrounding areas.
1. Commercial Zoning District (C). The purpose of this zoning district is to provide a commercial area suitable for shopping centers, as well as concentrations of individual shops and stores, which are auto-oriented and located along major arterials in the City. Such commercial areas should provide a wide range of convenience and general merchandise goods and services. This designation is oriented towards service and automotive shopping serving a local market as well as having a city-wide and regional draw.
2. Pilchuck District (PIL). The purpose of the Pilchuck District is to create a cohesive and identifiable pedestrian-friendly, higher density mixed-use neighborhood.
The Pilchuck District is divided into four “sub” zones:
a. Pilchuck Single-Family. The intent of the Pilchuck Single-Family Zone is to allow development that is complementary to the character of the existing small-lot single-family enclaves in the zone.
b. Townhouse. The intent of the Townhouse Zone is to allow development compatible with the scale and character of adjacent small-lot single-family development while encouraging additional housing units and allowing street level commercial uses.
c. Center. The intent of the Center Zone is to enhance the vitality and pedestrian orientation of the Pilchuck District by creating opportunities for a variety of both business and residential land uses.
d. Civic. The intent of the Civic Zone is to address the special requirements of properties in the zone owned and managed by public agencies where the public land use would require different standards from typical private development.
3. Historic Business District (HBD). The purpose of this zoning district is to provide a commercial area which is in the Historic District. The Historic Business District is both pedestrian and auto-oriented providing a broad range of pedestrian-oriented commercial services and goods, including offices, specialty shops, and entertainment activities with reduced parking requirements to encourage the preservation and renovation of existing structures.
4. Business Park (BP). The purpose of the Business Park Zoning District is to provide areas suitable for a mix of light manufacturing and commercial uses while discouraging strip commercial development. This zoning district is intended to designate and preserve properties for commercial and manufacturing activities, which could improve the economic base of the City.
5. Midtown District (MID). The purpose of the Midtown District is to create a mixed use area consistent with the “Snohomish character” by promoting a diverse mix of retail, housing, office, and civic land uses and a genuine sense of place with development that is pedestrian-oriented and human-scale in an aesthetically attractive, energy efficient, easily accessible, and economically healthy environment, while acknowledging the current and future dependency of businesses on automobile traffic.
D. Industrial Zoning Districts. The purpose of the following industrial zoning districts is to provide for a variety of manufacturing, industrial, service and office park uses and to establish development standards which assure quality site and building design and compatibility with surrounding areas:
1. Industrial Zoning District (I). The purpose of this zoning district is to maintain and develop sufficient light industrial and manufacturing areas of varying size and type in order to achieve economic stability and employment growth, to encourage the development of the City as a small diversified manufacturing center, and to provide locations for land uses that can create compatibility problems with other kinds of land uses but do not create excessive amounts of noise, light, noxious odors, or hazardous products or byproducts.
2. Airport Industry Zoning District (AI). The purpose of this zoning district is to support Harvey Airfield and the immediate surrounding area as a regional resource and to protect it from incompatible land uses, allow its orderly expansion, and provide for its further development as a regional reliever field as designated by the FAA. This designation is also intended to reduce the impact of airport uses on adjacent properties.
E. Parks, Open Space and Public Zoning District. The purpose of this zoning district is to:
1. Identify land that generally is owned and operated by public entities for parks, recreation and other low intensity public uses. Any new designations to Parks, Open Space and Public should be restricted to property owned by a public entity.
2. Preserve and enhance as open space environmental resources and amenities, including environmentally sensitive areas such as stream corridors, wildlife habitat, steep slopes, wetlands, and critical aquifer recharge areas.
3. Protect and promote land use compatibility between public parks and open space and neighboring land uses.
4. Prevent the displacement or elimination of public parks, except as may be allowed through the Comprehensive Plan amendment process. (Ord. 2429, 2021; Ord. 2439, 2022; Ord. 2472, 2023)