The purpose and intent of this chapter are to establish standards that preserve open space, conserve natural resources, and encourage passive and active recreation opportunities in appropriate locations to meet community needs, consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, including specifically the Recreation Parks and Open Space Master Plan.
(Ord. 2625 § 2, 2013)
For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:
"Active recreation facilities"
means land or structures dedicated to enjoyment of physical activities and active recreational opportunities, including but not limited to organized play, scheduled spectator sports requiring large land use areas, playfields, multipurpose playgrounds, golf courses, tennis and basketball courts, off-leash dog parks, swimming and exercise facilities, boating facilities, and spectator seating, along with associated sound and lighting equipment, restrooms, and parking facilities.
"Parks and Recreation Department"
means the same as "Recreation and Parks Department."
"Passive recreation facilities"
means land or structures dedicated to one or more of the following: (1) protecting or enhancing the functions and values of critical areas; or (2) enjoying the natural environment or scenic landscapes; (3) providing recreation opportunities that require no specialized groundskeeping other than the maintenance of trails and multi-use paths; or (4) educational or research activities primarily related to the natural environment; and which may include ancillary playground equipment, restrooms, picnic tables, ornamental gardens, and interpretive facilities related to the natural environment or historical information.
"Recreation and Parks Department"
means the department of the City that manages City-owned recreational facilities.
"Recreation and Parks Department Director"
means the person appointed by the City Manager as the Recreation and Parks Director or his/her designee.
(Ord. 2625 § 2, 2013)
A. 
The Recreation and Parks district includes designated subdistricts that are based on classifications identified in the 2009 Recreation Parks and Open Space Master Plan. The subdistricts are as follows:
1. 
Mini-parks, a designation for small City parks that typically are no more than two acres in size and that provide basic recreation amenities for residents in neighborhoods within about a one-quarter-mile distance;
2. 
Neighborhood parks, a designation for City parks that typically are between two and five acres in size, serve residents within about a one-half-mile distance, and are intended primarily for nonorganized recreational activities;
3. 
Community parks, a designation for larger City parks that typically are between 15 and 20 acres, serve the entire community, and provide a wide variety of recreation opportunities;
4. 
Natural area/greenway, a designation for undeveloped City-owned spaces that are managed primarily for their natural resource value and may secondarily be managed for recreational use;
5. 
Linear parks, a designation for publicly owned corridors that provide trail-related recreation or that link together features of the City; and
6. 
Special use areas, a designation for facilities that provide specialized recreation and that serve the entire community or a larger region.
B. 
Each subdistrict is designated as shown on the following map:
C. 
If any property is added to the REC district without being concurrently designated as a subdistrict, the property shall be treated as a Natural Area/Greenway for purposes of this chapter until such time as the map in subsection B of this section is amended to designate the property differently.
(Ord. 2625 § 2, 2013)
A. 
The land uses identified in the table below are allowed in the REC district unless otherwise prohibited by another provision of the municipal code. The manner in which the uses are allowed is also shown in the following table. All uses are subject to additional requirements of the municipal code. The table lists potential uses in the left-hand column with major categories of uses shown in bold font and specific uses, as appropriate, listed in standard font directly below the associated major use category. The six columns on the right correspond to the six types of recreational areas identified in the Recreation and Parks Master Plan. Each allowed use is indicated by the manner or method by which the use is allowed. The three methods are abbreviated as follows: "P" for permitted use, "C" for conditional use, and "A/P" for accessory permitted use. Footnotes provide additional information that shall be applied. If a use is not listed in the table below or a "P," "C" or "A/P" is not listed to indicate the method of allowing the use, or if the use is not allowed pursuant to subsection B or C of this section, it shall not be permitted in this district unless otherwise specifically allowed pursuant to this title or MTMC Title 18.
Land Use
Mini-Parks
Neighbor-hood Parks
Community Parks
Natural Areas/Greenways
Linear Parks
Special Use Areas
Recreation facilities
Passive recreation
P
P
P
P
P
P
Active recreation, excluding amusement parks, zoos, open air amphitheaters, camping and recreational vehicle facilities
P
P
P
P
P
Camping and recreational vehicle facilities
C1
C1
Open-air amphitheaters
Only as allowed under a special event permit
C1
C1
C
Only as allowed under a special event permit
C1
Special events per Chapter 10.20 MTMC
P
P
P
P
P
P
Schools/Daycare facilities
Preschools
A/P
A/P
Daycare centers
A/P
A/P
Adult daycare
A/P
A/P
Entertainment facilities
A/P
A/P
A/P
P
Membership organizations
Private clubs, lodges
P (on private property); or C (on public property)
Commercial uses
Commercial use, excluding public or private recreational facilities and concession stands
A/P
A/P
Concession stands
A/P
A/P
A/P
A/P
A/P
Public service facilities
Disaster emergency facilities
P
P
P
P
P
Public utility facilities
P
P
P
P
P
P
Transportation facilities (bus stops/shelters) 2
P
Miscellaneous
Storage buildings/service yards
A/P
A/P
A/P
A/P
A/P
A/P
Parking facilities
A/P
A/P
A/P
A/P
A/P
A/P
Caretaker residences
A/P3
Notes:
1 Except as allowed under a special event permit
2 Excluding rapid transit stations and bus terminals
3 Maximum of one when associated with a golf course facility; otherwise not allowed
B. 
Electric vehicle infrastructure is permitted pursuant to Chapter 19.126 MTMC.
C. 
For wireless communication facilities, see MTMC § 19.75.080.
(Ord. 2625 § 2, 2013)
The following minimum dimensional requirements shall apply uniformly to all development within the REC district, except as otherwise stated in MTMC § 19.75.070:
A. 
Front, side, and rear yard setback for structures and storage yards: 20 feet;
B. 
Maximum building height: three stories not to exceed 35 feet, except three stories not to exceed 60 feet in special use areas and community parks; and
C. 
Maximum structural coverage: 25 percent of the lot area; provided, that a public park or public recreation facility that has been designated as a special use area pursuant to MTMC § 19.75.030 may have a lot coverage of up to 35 percent.
(Ord. 2625 § 2, 2013)
The following special regulations apply to uses located within the REC district as specified below:
A. 
Sexually oriented adult businesses/adult entertainment establishments shall be prohibited in the REC district.
B. 
Fencing for playfields, tennis courts, golf courses, basketball courts, and other related facilities is permitted. In some cases, protective fencing or backstops may be constructed to a maximum of 50 feet in height to contain stray baseballs, golf balls, etc. Fencing for these facilities may be installed, subject to a building permit.
C. 
Portable toilets/sani-cans are permitted outright for seasonal operations in public parks and for the duration of special events as approved by the Parks and Recreation Director.
D. 
Concession stands, whether permanent or temporary structures, are subject to building permits and, on public property, their location shall be reviewed and approved by the Parks and Recreation Director.
E. 
Golf Courses (Public or Private). Access to at least a minor arterial street is required. Commercial use or development accessory to the golf course is limited to a pro shop for the sale and rental of golf equipment, a driving range, one eating/drinking establishment, meeting/assembly rooms and administrative offices. Special events as permitted under Chapter 10.20 MTMC may also be conducted on the grounds of a golf course facility.
F. 
Storage yards shall be screened from public view by landscaping, fencing, or a combination thereof.
G. 
Signs shall be permitted subject to the following regulations:
1. 
Permanent Signs – Size. The maximum total freestanding or projecting sign area for a recreation facility shall not exceed an area of 100 square feet subject to the following criteria:
a. 
Recreation facility signs shall be only indirectly lighted;
b. 
The maximum sign area per street frontage shall be 50 square feet;
c. 
Signs advertising recreation facilities and associated commercial activities shall be permanently installed in the ground and not exceed a height of 15 feet above grade level at the base of the mounting pole or poles;
d. 
Associated commercial activities shall not have separate freestanding or pole mounted signs but may contain their trademark name within the recreation facility sign except that such trademark shall be secondary to the identification of the recreation facility and not exceed 25 percent of the sign area of said sign; and
e. 
The commercial activity may have one directional trademark sign located on the structure containing the use not to exceed 15 square feet in area and shall be only indirectly lighted.
2. 
Temporary Signs.
a. 
Temporary signs, except as provided under subsection (G)(2)(b) of this section, may be installed for a period of no more than three consecutive days on City-owned property if such signs have been approved by the Recreation and Parks Director. Each temporary sign shall be no more than eight square feet;
b. 
Field banners mounted on fencing and where no text is visible from the public right-of-way may be installed for a period of up to three months at one time as approved by the Recreation and Parks Director.
H. 
Ballinger Park.
1. 
Recreation opportunities on the grounds of Ballinger Park, formerly known as Ballinger Lake Golf Course, shall be limited to a golf course or passive recreation and pervious trails that are approved by the Recreation and Parks Director and to the construction and use of Lakeview Trail, a project identified in the Comprehensive Plan and included in the City's Transportation Improvement Program, until such time as a master plan is completed for Ballinger Park and any new rules adopted that specify otherwise; and provided, that special events also may be conducted on the grounds subject to a special event permit.
2. 
The existing municipally owned clubhouse at said site is not considered, for the purpose of this chapter, to be part of "the grounds of Ballinger Park" and may be used for active or passive recreational purposes, public events sponsored by the City or its public or nonprofit partners, and activities for the cultural or social enrichment of the general public, and to lease for private events.
I. 
Areas designated as natural area/greenway, pursuant to MTMC § 19.75.030, shall be managed to promote native vegetation, low stormwater impacts, and critical area/shoreline protection.
J. 
Fire lanes shall not be obstructed other than by emergency service providers in the course of their duties.
K. 
After September 1, 2013, any added surface parking facilities totaling 2,500 square feet or more on any lot shall be pervious, using methods and materials approved for this purpose by the Community and Economic Development Department; provided, that an exception to this requirement may be granted by the Community and Economic Development Director if the soils are not conducive or able to be feasibly amended to accommodate low stormwater impact development.
L. 
Commercial uses shall be limited to: (1) the sale or rental of sports equipment when incidental to a permitted use; (2) restaurants and concession stands; and (3) special events pursuant to Chapter 10.20 MTMC.
(Ord. 2625 § 2, 2013)