[1]
Prior legislation: Ords. 515 and 515H.
This zone is intended to provide appropriately located areas for multifamily living at densities above 10 units per acre to meet the needs of households with a variety of income levels and lifestyles. They are further intended to protect the public health, safety and general welfare by assuring access to arterial or collector roads and transit, and the provision of adequate utility services, public facilities and amenities necessary to assure the comfort and enhance the lifestyles of their occupants.
(Ord. 740 § 6, 1997; Ord. 1250 § 2, 2007; Ord. 1355 § 5, 2010)
The following accessory structures are permitted on a lot in this district:
A. 
Accessory Structures.
1. 
Swimming pool, if enclosed with a six-foot fence;
2. 
Awnings or canopies;
3. 
Walls or fences, provided the requirements of BLMC § 18.22.020 are met;
4. 
Flagpoles;
5. 
Outside fireplaces;
6. 
Accessory noncommercial greenhouses;
7. 
Accessory sheds and tool rooms; provided they are part of a residential use;
8. 
Private docks, mooring facilities and boathouses, provided the project complies with shoreline management regulations and the provisions of BLMC § 18.22.070;
9. 
Garage or carport.
B. 
Repealed by Ord. 1416.
(Ord. 740 § 6, 1997; Ord. 1250 § 2, 2007; Ord. 1416 §§ 1, 5, 2011)
The following bulk regulations shall apply to the uses permitted in this district, subject to the provisions for yard projections included in BLMC § 18.22.080:
A. 
Density shall be a minimum of 10 units and a maximum of 12 units per net acre; provided that:
1. 
If new dwelling units are constructed entirely within a legally conforming or legally nonconforming existing building, the density may be increased by up to 50%. For the purpose of this subsection “existing building” means a building that received a valid certificate of occupancy at least three years prior to the permit application to add housing units. Any such dwelling unit shall also be subject to the provisions of BLMC § 15.04.098.
2. 
Each co-living unit shall be treated as 0.25 dwelling units for the purpose of calculating density.
3. 
Density may be increased up to a maximum of 24 units per net acre when the following are met:
a. 
The first 12 units may be market rate.
b. 
For each additional unit after 12, one unit must be affordable to a very low-income household or an extremely low-income household and one may be market rate. For 24 units, this would result in a minimum of six affordable dwelling units and a maximum of 18 market rate dwelling units.
c. 
The applicant shall record a covenant or deed restriction that ensures the affordable housing unit(s) remain affordable to very low-income and/or extremely low-income households for a minimum period of 30 years, and to notify future owner(s) of the annual compliance review requirements.
d. 
Annual Compliance Review. Within 30 days after the first anniversary of the date of certificate of occupancy, the owner of each affordable unit shall file a notarized declaration sworn under penalty of perjury with the director indicating the following:
i. 
A statement of occupancy and vacancy of the affordable unit(s) during the previous year;
ii. 
A certification that the property has not changed use and it continues to be in compliance with the affordable housing requirements in this subsection;
iii. 
A description of any subsequent improvements or changes to the property and the affordable unit(s); and
iv. 
The annual household income and household size for each of the affordable units;
e. 
The maximum allowed number of new housing units affordable to a very low-income household or an extremely low-income household permitted by the city after January 1, 2026, whether for a religious organization or another entity, shall not exceed 456 units.
B. 
Minimum front setback: 15 feet from the right-of-way; provided, that a greater setback may be required from streets with inadequate rights-of-way at the discretion of the public works director.
C. 
Minimum side yard setback: five feet, with a total side yard setback of 15 feet for both side yards. Exception: Townhouse development may have zero side yard setbacks; provided, that the end units of a group have a minimum of five and a total of 20 feet for both yards regardless of whether the yards are considered side, front or rear.
D. 
Minimum rear setback is 20 feet; provided, that a separated garage may be built within 10 feet of the rear property line.
E. 
Minimum setback to a single-family residential zone: 10 feet in addition to the required landscape buffer for buildings having an entrance or exit facing the landscape buffer. Exception: Buildings taller than 35 feet shall increase the setback by one foot from any single-family residential zone for every one foot of building height increase over 35 feet.
F. 
Maximum height: 35 feet; provided, that the director(s), with the concurrence of the fire chief of Pierce County Fire Protection District No. 22, may approve buildings up to four stories tall if adequate provision is made for fire protection.
G. 
Maximum impervious surface: 80 percent.
(Ord. 740 § 6, 1997; Ord. 851 § 32, 2000; Ord. 1099 § 19, 2005; Ord. 1155 § 4, 2005; Ord. 1230 § 19, 2007; Ord. 1250 § 2, 2007; Ord. 1355 § 6, 2010; Ord. 1745, 12/9/2025)
A. 
All residential developments shall provide a minimum of 193 square feet of playground space per residential unit.
B. 
Residential developments within one-quarter mile of a public park that are connected to the public park via an improved pedestrian path and/or sidewalk shall be exempt from the requirement of subsection A of this section.
C. 
The playground required herein shall be located in an accessible and usable area, which area must be free of involvement with any parking or vehicular traffic whatsoever, either on the premises or otherwise.
D. 
Areas with wetlands, seasonal flooding or slopes exceeding 25 percent may not be considered recreational areas.
(Ord. 740 § 6, 1997; Ord. 1250 § 2, 2007; Ord. 1702 § 10, 2023)