Table of Contents

Grayfields Reuse and Redevelopment

The city's land development code requires that large-scale retail incorporate the following design features into the building to easily allow reuse: interior subdivision of the building to allow for separate tenancies, facades that adapt to multiple entrances on multiple sides of the building, shared parking and pedestrian accommodations in lots, landscaping that complements multiple entrances, and others.

Development applications must include a renewal plan to demonstrate the facility’s reuse. The ordinance also prohibits contracts that prevent landlords from marketing the property to future lessees (§18.12.306.e).

Marijuana-Related Uses

The city’s land development code permits multiple medical-marijuana-related uses by right, subject to use-specific standards (§18.08.201). It defines four types of “medical marijuana establishment”: “medical marijuana cultivation facility,” “medical marijuana dispensary,” “medical marijuana independent testing laboratory,” and “medical marijuana production facility.”

Its use-specific standards for medical marijuana establishments address proximity to residential districts, federal property, separation from schools and community facilities, multiple establishments in the same building, appearance, signage, and compliance with state laws and local licensing requirements (§18.08.202(b)(20), §18.08.202(f)(10), §18.08.202(f)(11) & §18.08.202(f)(12)).

The city’s privileged licenses code includes permitting requirements and additional time, place, and manner restrictions for medical marijuana establishments (§5.21).

Solar Energy

In the city's land development code, plans for hillside development shall depict any solar orientation considerations (§18.12.1604). Tentative map allocation requirements include consideration and explanation of structure orientation for solar access and/or use (§18.10.201). The code's definition for "electric generating plant" includes solar as an energy source (§18.24.203.1900). In the Mortensen-Garson overlay district, residential yard requirements and building placement standards may be reduced if the applicant can demonstrate that the reduction does not diminish solar access to the primary living space or yard area of an adjoining residence (§18.08.406.i.5.f.4.iii).

Transit-Oriented Development

The city’s land development code includes five mapped transit-oriented development (TOD) overlay districts for bus rapid transit (BRT) corridors.

The SVTC South Virginia Street Transit Corridor Overlay Zoning District is designed to help implement the South Virginia Street Transit Oriented Development Corridor Plan (§18.08.405(k) . District standards address setbacks, architecture and site layout, signs, lighting, landscaping, site density, and discretionary review.

The MSTC Mill Street Transit Corridor overlay district is designed to help implement the Mill Street Transit Oriented Development Corridor Plan (§18.08.405(k) . District standards address setbacks, architecture and site layout, signs, lighting, landscaping, site density, and discretionary review.

The NVTC North Virginia Street Transit Corridor Overlay Zoning District is designed to help implement the North Virginia Street Transit Oriented Development Corridor Plan (§18.08.405(m) . District standards address setbacks, architecture and site layout, signs, lighting, landscaping, site density, and discretionary review.

The E4TC East 4th Street Transit Corridor Overlay Zoning District is designed to help implement the East 4th Street Transit Oriented Development Corridor Plan (§18.08.405(l) . District standards address setbacks, architecture and site layout, signs, lighting, landscaping, site density, and discretionary review.

The NVTC North Virginia Street Transit Corridor Overlay Zoning District is designed to help implement the North Virginia Street Transit Oriented Development Corridor Plan (§18.08.405(m) . District standards address setbacks, architecture and site layout, signs, lighting, landscaping, site density, and discretionary review.

The W4TC West 4th Street Transit Corridor Overlay Zoning District is designed to help implement the West Fourth Street Transit Oriented Development Corridor Plan (§18.08.405(n) . District standards address setbacks, architecture and site layout, signs, lighting, landscaping, site density, and discretionary review.

Urban Heat Resilience

The city’s land development code contains provisions to address urban heat. It establishes landscaping, buffering, and screening requirements to help reduce urban heat island effects (§18.04).