The purpose of this district is to comply with the comments received from CTED, dated October 21, 1997, regarding the keeping of “densities low inside the incorporated urban growth area where urban services are not currently available...”. The zone consists of properties that currently have little or no infrastructure in place, yet were placed into the agreed upon urban growth area in 1991. The R-1 zones are likely areas where urban development and/or infill development will occur in time, however, the density and lot size requirements take into account the undeveloped nature of the property within the zones. When roadways, electrical power, water service and telephone services are expanded into these areas by developers or utilities, then those areas would become candidates for rezoning into another zone. While sewer is an urban service, current state law permits the usage of septic systems through Washington, therefore sewer expansion is not necessarily mandated of developers attempting to obtain a rezone. The parcel size is such that upon the installation of the infrastructure noted above, the minimum sized lots could be redivided via a subdivision application or short plat application depending upon how the parcel in question is rezoned. Examples of very low density residential, however not limited to said examples, would be the parcels of commercial forest that exist to the west of Andersonville, the area associated with the southwestern portions of the FUGA, and portions of property between Merchant Road and Elk Valley along the Calawah River.
(Ord. 433 § 4.10, 1997)
Land uses associated with this zoning designation are found in the column marked “(Very Low Density) Residential 1” of the land use matrix found at FMC § 17.15.060. Procedures associated with obtaining permits for special and conditional uses are found elsewhere within this title. When considering all activities and application of this code to said activities, the applicant and the city need to also review Chapter 17.75 FMC, Special Conditions.
(Ord. 433 § 4.20, 1997)
(1) 
Minimum lot area: five acres.
(2) 
Minimum lot depth: 150 feet.
(3) 
Minimum lot width: 200 feet.
(4) 
Minimum Front Yard. Minimum front yard setback shall be 20 feet from the applicable lot line when considering the extension, expansion, or replacement of existing buildings and the construction of new buildings. However, upon a finding by the city building inspector that no impairment would occur to the public’s safety, or the ability of fire fighters or police to access the property in the event of an emergency, this setback may be administratively reduced by said official to 15 feet. Such a decision shall also be based upon the existing lot size and/or existing building placement.
(5) 
Minimum Side Yard. Minimum side yard setback shall be 15 feet from the applicable lot line when considering the extension, expansion, or replacement of existing buildings and the construction of new buildings. However, upon a finding by the city building inspector that no impairment would occur to the public’s safety, or the ability of fire fighters or police to access the property in the event of an emergency, this setback may be administratively reduced by said official to 10 feet.
(6) 
Minimum Rear Yard. Minimum rear yard setback shall be 10 feet from the applicable lot line when considering the extension, expansion, or replacement of existing buildings and the construction of new buildings.
(Ord. 433 § 4.30, 1997; Ord. 481 § 1, 2001)
(1) 
Maximum Building Height.
(a) 
Maximum building height shall be 32 feet. However, said height restriction can be exceeded upon obtaining written prior approval from the designee of the fire district that the building shall not constitute a fire hazard that could not be addressed by the fire district, as well as a written statement that the manner in which the building is being proposed for construction will not constitute a threat to public safety. In addition, any such building would be required to meet the Uniform Building Code’s wind and fire protection requirements. Written approval from the designee of the fire district shall accompany any building permit application for a building exceeding this height restriction. In some cases, a building exceeding the height restriction may also be subject to the State Environmental Policy Act which could result in the height restriction being required for reasons associated with environmental concerns.
(b) 
In no case, does permission from the designee of the fire district equate to permission to proceed with construction from the city.
(c) 
The above does not apply to those structures (mechanical appurtenances, chimneys, water tanks, etc., constituting no more than 15 percent of the total building or site area) noted within FMC § 17.75.090. Regarding those types of structures, approval of the Forks planning commission shall still be required.
(2) 
Maximum Density. In granting a conditional use permit for multiple-family dwelling structures, the Forks planning commission shall determine that the proposed multiple-family dwelling structure together with any existing development and anticipate future development of permitted uses within the block in which development is proposed will not result in a density level exceeding one dwelling unit per five acres. In considering planned unit developments the density of this zone shall be one unit per five acres.
(Ord. 433 § 4.40, 1997; Ord. 446 § 1, 1998)