Town of Winthrop, WA: Business I district (B-I).

§ 17.24.010 Business I district (B-I).

Policy. The business I district is a professional office district, designed for low intensity nonretail commercial uses in a mixed neighborhood with residential use, to provide a quiet area for small professional office buildings and uses and to serve as a buffer between the primary commercial areas and the residential districts. Commercial uses allowed in this district are limited to those which do not offer goods for sale to the general public and do not attract great traffic volume or create noise, odor, light or glare or require large or outdoor storage areas; professional office buildings and co-living or bed and breakfast establishments are examples of appropriate uses in this district. Single-unit residences and multi-unit dwellings are allowed.

Uses Permitted. In a business I district those uses shall be permitted as set forth in the table of permitted land uses in Chapter 17.16.

Lot Size, Allowable Densities, Lot Coverage, Height and Setbacks. Lot sizes, allowable densities, lot coverage, height and setback requirements in a business I district shall be as set forth in Section 17.24.050.

Signs. In a business I district the following signs only shall be permitted:

One name plate or home occupation sign for each dwelling unit, which sign shall not be more than two square feet in area;

One temporary sign advertising the sale, lease or rental of the property on which it is located, which sign shall be not more than six square feet in area;

One sign for each permitted commercial use, which shall be not more than nine square feet in area, and shall conform to the provisions of Chapter 15.08, or any amendments thereto or replacements thereof;

No signs in a business I district shall be self-illuminated. Only indirect, shaded lighting on a sign shall be allowed.

All storm water shall be collected and disposed of on-site.

(Ord. 790 § 1 (Exh. A), 2025; Ord. 489 § 6(A–C), 1998; Ord. 372 § 6(1), 1990)

§ 17.24.020 Business II district (B-II).

Policy. The business II district is a medium intensity commercial district designed to allow those normal commercial uses which are consistent with a pedestrian-oriented business area. The district is intended for the established downtown commercial areas of the town, which parallel the Methow and Chewuch Rivers in the area of their confluence, and for adjacent areas for growth within walking distance. In creating regulations for the business II district, consideration has been given to the aesthetics of the town and the riverine area which are important to residents and businesses alike, and to the need to promote pedestrian circulation, while recognizing the need to provide for adequate fire protection and emergency vehicle access. Parking requirements are created to acknowledge that the downtown area is an area of shared parking and walking amongst stores, with space for off-street parking areas adjacent to most commercial uses limited, while recognizing the great need to provide more and better parking facilities in the downtown area for residents and tourists alike. Encouragement should be given to orientation of businesses toward the river, including creation of a pedestrian pathway or trail along the riverfront area.

Uses Permitted. In a business II district those uses shall be permitted as set forth in the table of permitted land uses in Chapter 17.16. Hotels, motels and other tourist accommodations (including time-share condominiums) shall comply with the development standards set forth in Section 17.24.040.

Lot Size, Allowable Densities, Lot Coverage, Height and Setbacks. Lot sizes, allowable densities, lot coverage, height and setback requirements in the business II district shall be as set forth in Section 17.24.050.

Signs. In a business II district the following signs shall be permitted:

One residential name plate sign for each dwelling unit, which shall be not more than two square feet in area and shall not be illuminated;

All other signs advertising commercial enterprises or rentals or sales of property; provided, that the same are located upon the premises or on the lot or parcel on which the enterprise or rental is located or which is offered for sale, and provided further, that all such signs shall comply fully with Chapter 15.08, or any amendments thereto or replacements thereof.

Residential uses in a B-II district are subject to the following conditions:

The residential use must be located in the same structure or structure addition as the allowed commercial use.

The residential use must be subordinate to (above or behind) the primary use of the structure for an allowed commercial use.

The exterior of any allowed commercial use structure used for residential purpose shall comply fully with Chapter 15.08, or any amendments thereto or any replacements thereof.

In addition to off-street parking requirements for the allowed commercial use, each residential unit in an allowed commercial use structure shall require one additional off-street parking stall.

All pets associated with a residential use in an allowed commercial use shall be kept in such a manner that will not disturb, bother, be menacing, or become a nuisance to the public or other adjacent property owners, their guests, customers or invitees. Dogs associated with a residential use in an allowed commercial use shall be subject to Chapter 6.08.

All residents of residential uses in an allowed commercial use shall acknowledge that such residential use is within an area zoned for business purposes which create normal noise, traffic and other activities associated with commercial areas. Such residents shall not object, in any manner, to the normal noise, traffic and other activities associated with commercial areas.

The above conditions shall apply to all residential uses in an allowed commercial use as long as the residential use continues, regardless of change in ownership, lessor or lessee, assignor or assignee, or business type.

A primary commercial use shall not be required for properties that are solely accessed from Castle Avenue.

All stormwater shall be collected and disposed of on site.

(Ord. 790 § 1 (Exh. A), 2025; Ord. 749 § 1 (Exh. A), 2021; Ord. 643 § 7, 2012; Ord. 489 § 6(D–F), 1998; Ord. 435 § 3 (part), 1994; Ord. 372 § 6(2), 1990)

§ 17.24.030 Business III district (B-III).

Policy. The business III district, also known as the auto-oriented commercial district, is a full range commercial district designed to allow all normal commercial uses, and catering especially to those commercial uses which require vehicular access, such as supermarkets, hardware stores, furniture stores and similar uses normally supplying adjacent parking areas for customer use, and uses normally located on and served by major arterial streets or highways. This district is located adjacent to SR 20. Parking requirements and yard setback requirements in the business III district are greater than in the business II district in recognition of the larger stores and lot sizes existing in such district, and its highway location.

Uses Permitted. In a business III district those uses shall be permitted as set forth in the table of permitted land uses in Chapter 17.16. Hotels, motels and other tourist accommodations (including time-share condominiums) shall comply with the performance standards set forth in Section 17.24.040.

Lot Size, Allowable Densities, Lot Coverage, Height and Setbacks. Lot sizes, allowable densities, lot coverage, height and setback requirements in the business III district shall be as set forth in Section 17.24.050.

Signs. In a business III district the following signs shall be permitted:

One residential name plate sign for each dwelling unit, which shall be not more than two square feet in area and shall not be illuminated;

All other signs advertising commercial enterprises or rentals or sales of property; provided, that the same are located upon the premises or on the lot or parcel on which the enterprise or rental is located or which is offered for sale; and provided further, that all such signs shall comply fully with Chapter 15.08, or any amendments thereto or replacements thereof.

Residential uses in a B-III district are subject to the following conditions:

The residential use must be subordinate to the primary use of the property for an allowed commercial use, except for multi-unit residential through an approved planned development.

The exterior of all structures, whether commercial or residential, shall comply fully with Chapter 15.08, or any amendments thereto or any replacements thereof.

In addition to off-street parking requirements for the allowed commercial use, a residential use in an allowed commercial use structure shall require two additional off-street parking stalls.

All storm water shall be collected and disposed of on site.

(Ord. 790 § 1 (Exh. A), 2025; Ord. 663 § 3, 2014; Ord. 643 § 7, 2012; Ord. 489 § 6(G), 1998; Ord. 372 § 6(3), 1990)

§ 17.24.040 Development standards for tourist accommodations and multi-unit residential uses.

Standards. The following development standards shall be mandatory for all hotels, motels, and other tourist accommodations and for multifamily residential uses when allowed in a business district:

Approved landscape plans shall be implemented as soon as weather allows after completion of construction, which will provide plantings which, either separately or combined with wood fencing or earthen berms, provide visual screening of parking areas, trash areas and other service areas of the development, and break up the visual impact of the development from public roads and neighboring properties, and which will eliminate and prevent the occurrence of noxious weeds. Landscaping must be maintained to assure viability of plantings; underground or other timed outdoor water systems may be required by the administrator for water conservation.

Storm water shall be channeled and disposed of by dispersal through a grassy area of sufficient size for the anticipated amount of storm water runoff, or by release into a properly designed dump area with filtration system or devices installed (including oil/water separator if called for by the size of development and the amount of traffic to be generated thereby, and by the size of the paved areas and other impervious surfaces) or other acceptable method to assure no degradation of the surface or ground waters.

An ownership and maintenance program will be implemented for roads and common areas if the development is to be sold in units (including condominium ownership), to assure a long-range maintenance program for such areas (such as a property owner's association, co-op, or condominium ownership program).

Dust control measures shall be implemented to provide assurance of continual dust control during construction and upon occupation of the development. All roads and parking areas shall be paved or similarly surfaced to provide long-term dust control.

Dog control measures shall be mandatory in all multifamily dwelling projects, and tourist accommodations, including either dog prohibition, or mandatory leash laws. If dogs are allowed in tourist accommodations, kennels will be provided. Such measures shall be reduced to writing and recorded, or entered on the face of a recorded plat or site plan map.

All multifamily dwellings in the business districts shall comply with Chapter 15.08.

Compliance with the provisions and procedure of the State Environmental Policy Act and local regulations thereunder shall precede any applicable development.

Review and Approval. The administrator shall review the measures proposed for compliance with these development standards and shall approve or conditionally approve a building permit application to assure compliance with these standards.

(Ord. 372 § 6(4), 1990)

§ 17.24.050 Lot size, coverage, densities, setback and height.

Table 17.24.050 BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS
	B-I	B-II	B-III	Industrial
Minimum lot size	5,000 sq. ft.	2,500 sq. ft.¹	5,000 sq. ft.	5,000 sq. ft.
Maximum density without PD permit²	1 du/5,000 sq. ft.⁴	1 du/5,000 sq. ft.⁴	1 du/5,000 sq. ft.⁴	N/A
Maximum density with PD permit²	1 du/3,000 sq. ft.⁴	1 du/5,000 sq. ft.⁴	1 du/3,000 sq. ft.⁴	N/A
Maximum lot coverage³	70%	95%	70%	80%
Front yard setback	5 ft.	0	10 ft.	10 ft.
Side yard setback	5 ft.⁵	0	10 ft.	5 ft.⁶
Rear yard setback³	10 ft.⁷	5 ft.⁸	10 ft.⁸	5 ft.⁶
Height	30 ft.	30 ft.	30 ft.	30 ft.

Notes:
du = dwelling unit
¹ Commercial uses only (if allowed, minimum lot size for residential uses shall be five thousand (5,000) square feet).
² Applies to residential use or single-unit tourist accommodations only.
³ Applies to all structures (unless specifically noted otherwise).
⁴ When calculating minimum lot size, density and setbacks for an individual parcel, the area of such parcel contained within any trail, pathway or walkway easement or right-of-way that is open for public use and in any public or private road, street or access easement, shall not be used to reduce the overall lot size or increase setbacks. The area encompassed in such easements or rights-of-way shall be included in lot size and density calculations. Setbacks shall be measured from property lines as they existed prior to trail, pathway or walkway donation.
⁵ Ten (10) feet on corner lot, street side.
⁶ On lots adjoining residential districts, side yard or backyard on adjoining side shall be fifteen (15) feet.
⁷ Main building, five feet detached building or garage.
⁸ On riverfront lots, minimum setback is determined by Shoreline Master Program for the town.

(Ord. 790 § 1 (Exh. A), 2025; Ord. 554 § 4(part), 2004; Ord. 489 § 6(H), 1998; Ord. 459 § 5, 1996; Ord. 372 Table 4, 1990)