20.450.030 Uses | Vancouver Municipal Code

20.450.030 Uses.

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A. Types of uses. For the purposes of this chapter, there are four kinds of use:

1. A permitted (P) use is one that is permitted outright, subject to all of the applicable provisions of this title.

2. A limited (L) use is permitted outright providing it is in compliance with special requirements, exceptions or restrictions.

3. A conditional use (C) is a discretionary use reviewed through the process set forth in Chapters 20.245 and 20.210 VMC, governing conditional uses and decision-making procedures, respectively.

4. A prohibited use (X) is one that is not permitted in a zoning district under any circumstances.

B. Use tables. Lists of permitted, limited, conditional, and prohibited uses in open space districts are presented in Tables 20.450.030-1 and 20.450.030-2. Specialized open space uses and activities are set forth in Table 20.450.030-1. Uses described in Chapter 20.160 VMC, Use Classifications, are set forth in Table 20.450-2. Special limitations on uses are set forth in VMC 20.450.050.

Table 20.450.030-1. Specialized Open Space Uses/Activities
		Greenway
USE	Natural Area	Vancouver Lake	Lettuce Fields¹	General	Park
OPEN SPACE/PARKS AND RECREATION
Agricultural Related²
- Agriculture²	X	L	L³	X/L⁴	L⁴
- Horticulture²	X	L	L	X/L⁴	L⁴
- Silviculture²	X	C	L	X/L⁴	L⁴
- Roadside Agricultural Stands/Sales²	X	L	L	X/L⁴	L⁴
- Storage Structures²	X	L	L	L⁴	L⁴
- Housing for Agricultural Employees²	X	X/C⁵	X	C	X
Environmental Management and Education²
- Environmental Education Activities	P	P	P	P	P
- Environmental Maintenance Projects and Activities	P	P	P	P	P
- Environmental Restoration, Rehabilitation, or Enhancement Projects and Activities	P	P	P	P	P
Fences²	X	P	L	P	P
Fill²	C	L	L	L	P
Floodplain and Stormwater Management Projects	C	C	P	P	P
Wetland Banking	C	C	P	P	P
Wetland Mitigation	C	C	P	P	P
Wildlife Habitat Conservation, Maintenance, Rehabilitation, Restoration, Enhancement, and Education Projects	P	P	P	P	P
Park Facilities
- Interpretive Stations, Construction and Maintenance²	C	P	P	P	P
- Playgrounds	X	X	X	P	P
- Restrooms²	C	L	L	L	P
- Neighborhood Parks	X	X	X	P	P
- Community Parks	X	X	X	P	P
- Regional Parks	X	X	X	X	P
Recreational Facilities
- Passive or Low-Impact, Low-Intensity Uses	P	C⁶	P	P	P
- Moderate or High-Impact, High-Intensity Uses	X	X	X	C	P
Motorized Recreational Equipment Including Off-Road Vehicles and All-Terrain Vehicles	X⁷	X⁷	X	X⁷	C⁷
- Community Recreation Facilities	X	X	X	X	P
- Trails²	L	L	L	L	P
- Parking²	C	L	L	L	P
- Informational and Interpretative Signs²	P	P	L/X	P	P

1All uses in the Lettuce Fields Greenway District are subject to the special provisions for uses in VMC 20.450.050(A).

2The use is allowed (P, L, or C) subject to all applicable development standards set forth in VMC 20.450.040.

3Agricultural practices existing on or before April 19, 2001, may continue. New agricultural uses must meet the standards of VMC 20.450.040.

4Permitted uses of this classification or type are limited to those in existence on the date this ordinance was effective.

5The prohibition on housing for agricultural employees in the Vancouver Lake Greenway District does not include a prohibition for a caretaker residence (see Table 20.450.030-2).

6Subject to the development standards in VMC 20.450.040(D)(2).

7Not including motorized boats where permitted on Vancouver Lake and the Columbia River.

Table 20.450.030-2. Permitted, Limited, Conditional and Prohibited Uses in Open Space District
		Greenway
USE	Natural Area	Vancouver Lake	Lettuce Fields²	General	Park¹
RESIDENTIAL
Household Living	X	X/L³	X/L³	X/L³	X/L³
Group Living	X	X	X	X	X
Home Occupation	X	X	X	X	X
HOUSING TYPES
Single Dwelling, Attached	X	X	X	X	X
Single Dwelling, Detached	X	X/L³	X/L³	X/L³	X/L³
Accessory Dwelling Units	X	X	X	X	X
Duplexes	X	X	X	X	X
Multi-Dwelling Units	X	X	X	X	X
Existing Manufactured Home Development	X	X	X	X	X
Designated Manufactured Home	X	X	X	X	X
New Manufactured Home	X	X	X	X	X
CIVIC (Institutional)
Colleges	X	X	X	X	X
Community Centers	X	X	X	X	X
Community Recreation	X	X	X	X	P
Cultural Institutions	X	X	X	X	P
Day Care
Family Day Care Home	X	L⁴	X	X	P
Child Care Center	X	C⁴	X	X	X
- Adult Day Care	X	C	X	X	P
Emergency Services	X	X	X	X	X
Medical Centers	X	X	X	X	X
Postal Service	X	X	X	X	X
Religious Institutions	X	X	X	X	X
Schools	X	C	X	X	P
Social/Fraternal Clubs	X	X	X	X	X
COMMERCIAL
Commercial and Transient Lodging	X	X	X	X	X
Eating/Drinking Establishments	X	X	X	X	X
Entertainment-Oriented
- Adult Entertainment	X	X	X	X	X
- Indoor Entertainment	X	X	X	X	X
- Major Event Entertainment	X	X	X	X	X
General Retail
- Sales-Oriented	X	X	X	X	X
- Personal Services	X	X	X	X	X
- Repair-Oriented	X	X	X	X	X
- Bulk Sales	X	X	X	X	X
- Outdoor Sales	X	X	X	X	X
Motor Vehicle Related
- Motor Vehicle Sales/Rental	X	X	X	X	X
- Motor Vehicle Servicing/Repair	X	X	X	X	X
- Vehicle Fuel Sales	X	X	X	X	X
- Electric Vehicle Recharging Station	X	X	X	X	X
Office
- General	X	X	X	X	X
- Medical	X	X	X	X	X
- Extended	X	X	X	X	X
Nonaccessory Parking	X	X	X	X	X
Self-Service Storage	X	X	X	X	X
Marina	X	X	X	X	X
INDUSTRIAL
Bulk Fossil Fuel Storage and Handling Facilities	X	X	X	X	X
Cleaner Fuel Storage and Handling Facilities	X	X	X	X	X
Small Fossil Fuel or Cleaner Fuel Storage and Distribution Facilities	X	X	X	X	X
Industrial Services	X	X	X	X	X
Manufacturing and Production	X	X	X	X	X
Railroad Yards	X	X	X	X	X
Research and Development	X	X	X	X	X
Warehouse/Freight Movement	X	X	X	X	X
Wholesale Sales	X	X	X	X	X
Waste-Related	X	X	X	X	X
OTHER
Airport/Airpark	X	X	X	X	X
Animal Kennels/Shelters	X	X	X	X	X
Cemeteries	X	X	X	X	C⁵
Detention Facilities	X	X	X	X	X
Dog Day Care	X	X	X	X	X
Heliports	X	X	X	X	X
Landfills, Sanitary	X	X	X	X	X
Mining	X	X	X	X	X
Public Facilities and Utilities
- Essential Utilities	X	P	L⁶	L⁷	L⁷
- Major Utilities	X	X	X/C⁶	C	C
- Essential Public Facilities	X	X	C⁶	C	C
- Other Major Utilities	X	X	X	C	C
- Minor Utilities	X	C	L⁶	C⁷	C⁷
- Public Utility Corridors	X	C	C⁶	C	C
- Transportation Facilities	X	C	C⁸/X	C	C
Rail Lines	X	X	X	C	C
Recreational or Medical Marijuana Facilities	X	X	X	X	X
Temporary Uses	X	X	X	X	X
Wireless Communication Facilities	X	C/L⁹	X	C¹⁰	C

1Parks shall be developed in accordance with the standards set forth in VMC 20.450.040.

2All uses in the Lettuce Fields Greenway District are subject to the special provisions for uses in VMC 20.450.050(A).

3Caretaker residence or existing dwellings are permitted. In the Lettuce Fields Greenway District, only existing dwellings are permitted. New dwellings, including guest houses, accessory dwelling units, bed and breakfast establishments, etc. are prohibited. In the Vancouver Lake Greenway District, single-family dwellings require a minimum of 160 acres each.

4Family day care homes for no more than 12 children are permitted when licensed by the state. Family day care homes and child care centers (13 or more children) must meet the standards outlined in Chapter 20.840 VMC.

5Subject to the provisions of VMC 20.895.030, Cemeteries.

6Subject to the development standards of VMC 20.450.040(B)(5).

7Plans for the construction or extension of essential utility services are to be reviewed and approved by development review staff. Utilities shall be installed underground or screened as to not be visible within the Greenway or Park. No septic fields are allowed.

8Only transit stops and shelters and bicycle parking integrated with automobile parking at trailheads are permitted by conditional use. Other transportation facilities are prohibited.

9Permitted subject to the requirements of Chapter 20.890 VMC.

10Permitted only as co-location and through the conditional use process.

(Ord. M-4380 § 10, 2022; Ord. M-4255 § 10, 2018; Ord. M-4254 § 3(GG), 2018; Ord. M-4071 § 6, 2014; Ord. M-3709 § 11, 2005; Ord. M-3643, 2004)