HomeMy WebLinkAbout4680 Ordinance - Amending PMC 25.180.050 Corner Lot FencingORDINANCE NO. 4680
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PASCO, WASHINGTON,
AMENDING THE PASCO MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 25.180.050
"DESIGN STANDARDS" RELATED TO CORNER LOT FENCING.
WHEREAS, the Landscaping and Screening chapter of the Pasco Municipal Code (PMC)
25.180 is intended to establish minimum standards for the provision of design, maintenance, and
sight -obscuring methods within residential zoning districts; and
WHEREAS, the existing fence regulations in the municipal code require revision to better
address changing community needs and ensure public safety; and
WHEREAS, there is a need to establish clear guidelines for fence heights and placement,
taking into consideration the balance between property privacy, safety, and maintaining
neighborhood cohesion; and
WHEREAS, the intent of this amendment is to update and increase flexibility for corner
lot fencing within the City.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PASCO,
WASHINGTON, DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. That Section 25.180.050 entitled "Design Standards" within the
Landscaping and Screening Chapter of the Pasco Municipal Code shall be and hereby is amended
and shall read as follows:
25.180.050 Design standards.
(1) Fences, Walls and Hedges.
(a) The height of fences, walls and hedges located between a structure
and street or alley shall be measured from the street curb or alley grade
except in those cases where topographical irregularities occur. The height
of fences, walls and hedges between a structure and a common lot line shall
be measured from the grade along the common lot line or top of any
structural retaining wall occurring at the common lot line.
(b) Fences and walls in commercial districts shall complement the
materials used in any principal on-site structures.
(c) The height of fences, walls and hedges shall be limited to 3.5 feet
solid feaein*. An additional 1.5 feet comprised of 85% transparent material
is permitted for a maximum of 5 feet within the front yard area of
residentially zoned lots, retail business and office zoned lots., pt,o�i6vo,
Ordinance — Amending PMC 25.180.050 - 1
when twe . nti. uet s leomern tlos ' twe a o lets separated only by y a
alley right of way, fofm the—entire frontage b,etwee, pla,.allel of ea4y
rallel streets the height of f pees alls and ledges shall be limited to
feet vrtbi„ the f o t yard adjaeent to the side stfeet, e e
.t wbefe the front
door- of u house falees the side stfeet all f noes greater- than 3.5 feet in be;T
must be set b.aek to the building line of the house f ..ing the side stfeet A
6 -foot fence in the front yard next to the side street is permitted if the
property is at a corner where two corner lots are next to each other or
separated only by an alley. If the house's front door faces the side street, any
fences taller than what is allowed in the front yard must be placed 15 feet
away from the side street's property line.
(i0 Fences greater than 3.5 feet in front yards must provide
address numbers to the fence in conformance with the International
Building
ii Fences greater than 3.5 feet in front yards must be equipped
with knox boxes if gates are locked.
(d) The height of fences, walls and hedges within the side and rear yards
of residentially zoned lots, retail business and office zoned lots shall be
limited to six feet. A gate or opening with a minimum three-foot width
leading into at least one side yard shall be provided.
(e) Fences shall not be constructed out of tires, pallets, bed springs,
multi -colored materials, tarps, plastic sheets, corrugated sheet metal, except
in industrial districts, wheel rims and similar or like materials not
traditionally manufactured or used for fencing purposes. Hog wire, chicken
wire, horseman wire mesh, v -mesh, field fence, woven field fence, welded
utility fence, or any similar or like wire fencing material is not permitted in
residential or commercial zones. Horseman wire mesh and the other wire
fencing listed above may be permitted in suburban residential districts on
tracts larger than one acre that are used for animal husbandry. Fences built
with valid permits prior to the effective date of this chapter or fences on
properties annexed to the City after the effective date of this chapter are
exempt from this subsection.
(g fl Barbed and razor wire fencing is prohibited in all residential
districts, in the office district and the central business district. Barbed wire
may be permitted in suburban residential districts on tracts larger than one
acre that are used for animal husbandry. In the C- I retail business district
Ordinance — Amending PMC 25.180.050 - 2
only one strand of barbed wire is permitted along the top rail or within two
inches of the top rail.
( ) Electrified fences are not permitted in residential districts except as
a secondary means of securing property where the electrified fence is
located behind an existing fence or in suburban districts to contain permitted
farm animals.
( ) In all front yards, whether on properties with single, double, or triple
frontage, rails, posts and other structural fence supports shall not be visible
from a public street; except that posts and rails that are an integral part of
the fence design and aesthetics and not used solely for structural support
may be visible from a public street.
() All fencing in commercial and industrial districts shall be placed on
the inward side of any required perimeter landscaping, with landscape
treatments occurring along the street frontage.
( ) No fence, wall or hedge, landscape material or foliage higher than
three feet above curb grade shall be located or planted within an area 20 feet
along the property lines from the intersection of two streets, including the
area between such points, or 15 feet from the intersection of a street and an
alley; provided, however, that if an alternative fence material is used, such
as masonry, wrought iron, wood, or combination thereof, then the fence
must be 75 percent transparent and may be a maximum six feet in height;
or a smaller, 75 percent transparent fence set upon a maximum three-foot
wall or other structure not exceeding a combined height of six feet may be
erected within said area of intersection of street and alley, so long as the
fence is at all times unobstructed by foliage or other matter.
( ) Fences constructed in any zoning district may be permitted at the
back of sidewalks in public right-of-way upon approval of the City
Engineer, except as provided in PMC 25.180.050(1)0).
( ) All residential fencing within the I-182 overlay district, as defined
by PMC 25.130.020, adjacent to the I-182 right-of-way shall be constructed
of masonry block. Replacement of pre-existing Surewood fences within the
district shall use masonry block or cedar material prescribed by the City as
prestained, knotless cedar 23/32 -inch thick, five and one-half inches wide
and six feet tall.
( ) No fence or wall shall be erected without first obtaining a building
permit from the Building Inspector.
(2) Clearance Distances. Where a fire hydrant is located within a landscape area
it shall be complemented by a minimum clearance radius of three feet; no
Ordinance — Amending PMC 25.180.050 - 3
tree, as measured from its center, shall be located within 10 feet of a street
light standard, or within five feet of a driveway or a fire hydrant.
(3) Commercial and Industrial Districts.
(a) The first 10 feet of all commercial and industrial property abutting
an arterial street and the first five feet of all commercial and industrial
property abutting a local access street shall be treated with landscaping at
the time the property is developed. No less than 65 percent of the landscaped
area must be treated with live vegetation at the time of planting.
(b) In addition to the requirements contained in this chapter and unless
specified otherwise in Chapter 25.130 PMC, commercially and industrially
zoned properties adjacent to properties in less intense zoning districts shall
have a 10 -foot landscape buffer on the side immediately adjacent to the less
intense zoning district. The landscaped buffer shall meet the following
standards:
(i) Live vegetation within the landscape buffer shall be planted
with a mix of evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs interspersed
throughout the landscape buffer.
(ii) The live vegetation shall consist of 40 percent evergreen
trees.
(iii) Trees shall be provided at a minimum rate of one tree for
every 20 linear feet of property line and spaced no more than 30 feet
on center spacing along each property line, unless planted in
groupings of three trees, with groupings spaced no more than 50 feet
on center along each property line.
(iv) Shrubs shall be provided at a minimum rate of one per eight
linear feet of property line and spaced no more than 16 feet apart on
center.
(v) Parking lots located adjacent to properties in less intense
zoning districts require 100 percent of the landscape buffer to be
planted with live vegetation.
(c) The area between property lines and the back edge of street curbs,
within right-of-way and exclusive of sidewalks and driveways for
ingress/egress, shall be treated with landscape materials.
(4) Residential Districts. At least 50 percent of the required front yard area for
all residential property, including right-of-way but excluding driveways,
Ordinance — Amending PMC 25.180.050 - 4
shall be treated with live vegetation. Planting strips shall be treated as per
PMC 12.12.070; and
(5) All areas of a lot or parcel not landscaped or covered with improvements
shall be maintained in such a manner as to control erosion and dust. Gardens
within established landscapes are excluded from this provision in residential
districts. Front yard areas not covered by the required 50 percent live
vegetation must be covered by mulches or decorative rock. [Ord. 4157 § 1,
2014; Ord. 4110 § 28, 2013; Ord. 3763 § 10, 2006; Code 1970 § 25.75.050.]
Section 2. Severability. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or word
of this Ordinance is held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction,
such invalidity or unconstitutionality thereof shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of any
other section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or word of this Ordinance.
Section 3. Corrections. Upon approval by the city attorney, the city clerk or the code
reviser are authorized to make necessary corrections to this Ordinance, including scrivener's errors
or clerical mistakes; reference to other local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations; or
numbering or referencing of Ordinances or their sections and subsections.
Section 4. This Ordinance shall take full force and effect five (5) days after approval,
passage and publication as required by law.
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Pasco, Washington, on this 5h day of
September, 2023.
Craig Maloney
Mayor Pro Tem
ATTEST:
Debra Barham, CMC
City Clerk
Ordinance — Amending PMC 25.180.050 - 5
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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