§ 21.53.060. Alternative development standards permitted.

In the low-density residential district (3-6) (Chapter 21.13 TCC), moderate-density residential district (Chapter 21.15), and the high-density residential district (Chapter 21.18) zoning districts, the director may approve up to a fifty percent reduction of lot area and/or increase maximum building and development coverage standards to the extent that application of the calculation of residential density formula in this chapter may result in the necessity for lot sizes and other zoning standards less than the minimum allowed by the underlying district to achieve minimum or maximum urban density requirements, subject to the following:

A.

The resulting lots shall be of a sufficient size to reasonably accommodate the intended use with area provided for adequate drainage, parking, setbacks, fire separation, private yard areas, and other provisions required by the Thurston County Code, state and federal laws, and deemed important to neighborhood quality and public safety as determined by the director; and

B.

Any reduced standards shall result in a more innovative and superior design such as normally associated with cluster developments, cottage housing, and other innovative development techniques for preserving critical areas; as determined by the approval authority; and

C.

Uses allowed within the zoning district shall not be varied; and

D.

The critical area and any buffers shall be placed in a critical area tract or easement as specified in Chapter 24.65 TCC, Critical Area Tracts and Easements; and

E.

Decisions on any reduced standards shall be issued at the same time as the State Environmental Policy Act threshold determination (Chapter 17.09 TCC), and included in the alternatives presented with the determination; and

F.

The reductions shall comply with Title 24, the Critical Areas Ordinance, including that there is no net loss in critical area function and value; and

G.

The director may require the applicant submit specialized studies relevant to the requested reduction; and

H.

The reduction shall be the minimum necessary; and

(Ord. No. 14773, § 8(Att. G), 7-24-2012)