ORD 2518 ORDINANCE NO , 2518
AN ORDINANCE amending Chapter 18 . 19 of the Camas
Municipal Code by incorporating the Downtown Design Manual ,
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CAMAS DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS :
Section I
Chapter 18 . 19 , Design Review, is hereby amended as set forth
in " Exhibit A " attached hereto and by this reference
incorporated herein .
Section II
This Ordinance shall take force and be in effect five ( 5 ) days from and after its
publication according to law .
PASSED by the Council and APPROVED by the Mayor thisl�
day of September ,
2008 .
is
SIGNED :
Mayor
In
ATTEST :
Clerk
APP OVED as fo •
it /ttorney
L
Exhibit " A"
Chapter 18 . 19
DESIGN REVIEW
Sections .
18 . 19 . 010 Purpose
18 . 19 . 020 Scope of the Design review manual
18 . 19 . 025 Scope of the Downtown design manual
18 . 19 . 030 Design review manual adopted
18 . 19 . 035 Downtown design manual adopted
18 . 19 . 040 Design review committee
18 . 19 . 050 Design principles
18 . 19 . 060 Guidelines
18 . 19 . 070 Application requirements
18 . 19 . 090 Deviations to design review guidelines
18 . 19 . 100 Enforcement
18 . 19 . 010 Purpose .
This chapter is intended to provide for orderly and quality development consistent with the design
principles of the " Camas design review manual: Gateways, Commercial, Mixed- Use and Multifamily
Uses " , hereafter referred to as the design review manual (DRM) and the " Downtown design manual " . The
design review process is not intended to determine the appropriateness of a given use on a given parcel .
The design review process is intended to produce a meaningful integration of building , landscaping and
natural environment . This will protect the general health, safety and welfare of the community by making
efficient use of the land , which is consistent with the visual character and heritage of the community .
18 . 19 . 020 Scope .
Design review is required for all new commercial , mixed -use , or multifamily developments ,
redevelopment ( including change in use , e . g . residential to commercial ) , or major rehabilitation ( exterior
changes requiring a building permit or other development permit) . Commercial uses in the context of
design review include both traditional uses listed as commercial under the zoning code as well as
recreational , religious , cultural , educational , and governmental buildings and associated properties .
Additionally , design review is applicable to all new developments or redevelopments within a gateway
area as defined in the design review manual . ( Ord . 2443 § 3 (Exh . A ( part) ) , 2006 )
18 . 19 . 025 Scope of the Downtown Design Manual (DDM)
The provisions of this manual shall be applied to public and private parcels located within the downtown
commercial zone . The standards within the DDM supersede the general requirements of the DRM for
parcels located within the downtown commercial zone .
18 . 19 . 030 Design review manual adopted .
The city ' s design standards are primarily contained in the design review manual , which was adopted by
the city . ( Ord . 2443 § 3 (Exh . A (part) ) , 2006 )
18 . 19 . 035 Downtown Design Manual adopted .
' s design standards for the downtown commercial zone are contained in the manual , which is
The city
adopted by the city .
18 . 19 . 040 Design review committee .
A . The city council shall establish a seven -person design review committee ( DRC ) for the purposes of
reviewing specific proposals , and recommending conditions and/or other actions necessary for
consistency with the principles of the DRM . The DRC members serve at the pleasure of the city council .
The DRC shall consist of six members appointed by the city council , including two from the development
community, one council member, one planning commissioner , and two citizens at large . A seventh
member shall be a neighborhood representative of the surrounding neighborhood to a specific proposal , or
a United Camas Association of Neighborhoods member .
B . The DRC will hold a public meeting to consider a design review application when :
1 . The city planner determines that the issues related to a specific proposal are complex enough to warrant
a review by the DRC ;
2 . The proposal varies from the guidelines of the DRM ; or
3 . When an administrative decision on a design review application is appealed with no prior review by the
DRC .
C . The DRC shall not issue a decision , but shall prepare a written recommendation , together with findings
to support the recommendation , to the approval authority within ten days of a public meeting held for that
purpose (RCW 36 . 70 . 020 ( 5 ) ) . ( Ord . 2443 § 3 (Exh . A (part) ) , 2006 )
18 . 19 . 050 Design principles .
The principles are mandatory and must be demonstrated to have been satisfied in overall intent in order
for approval of a design review application to be granted . Standard principles are applied to all
commercial , mixed use , or multifamily uses . Where applicable , the specific principles are used in addition
to the standard principles .
A . Standard Principles .
1 . Landscaping shall be done with a purpose . It shall be used as a tool to integrate the proposed
development into the surrounding environment .
2 . All attempts shall be made at minimizing the removal of significant natural features . Significant natural
features shall be integrated into the overall site plan .
3 . Buildings shall have a " finished " look . Any use of panelized materials shall be integrated into the
development in a manner that achieves a seamless appearance .
4 . A proposed development shall attempt to incorporate or enhance historic/heritage elements related to
the specific site or surrounding area .
B . Specific Principles .
1 . Gateways .
a . Gateways shall be devoid of freestanding signs . Preexisting freestanding signs will be subject to
removal at the time of any new development, redevelopment, or major rehabilitation on the site .
Exemptions include approved directional or community information signage as approved by the city .
b . Business signage not placed on buildings shall be integrated into the landscaping/streetscaping of the
subject property .
c . Permanent signage within a gateway shall be standardized in a manner that creates a consistent look
within the gateway in question .
d . , The surface of pedestrian walkways within intersections shall be accentuated with a unique character .
e . A consistent streetscape lighting scheme shall be used .
2 . Commercial and Mixed Uses .
a . On- site parking areas shall be placed to the interior of the development unless site development proves
prohibitive . All on - site parking areas along adjacent roadways shall be screened with landscaping .
Downtown commercial and mixed -use areas shall not be required to provide on- site parking .
b . Buildings shall be used to define the streetscape unless site conditions prove prohibitive .
c . Structures abutting , located in , or located near less intensive uses or zoned areas ( such as commercial
developments next to residential areas ) shall be designed to mitigate size and scale differences .
d . Developments containing a multiple of uses/activities shall integrate each use/activity in a manner that
achieves a seamless appearance, or creates a cohesive development .
e . Mixed- use developments that place uses throughout the site (horizontal development) shall organize
elements in a manner that minimizes their impact on adjacent lower intensity uses .
f. Walls shall be broken up to avoid a blank look and to provide a sense of scale .
g . Outdoor lighting shall not be directed off- site .
3 . Multifamily .
a . Stacked Housing .
i . All on - site parking areas shall be screened with landscaping . Parking spaces shall be clustered in small
groups of no more than six to ten spaces .
ii . Stacked houses abutting or located in single - family residentially zoned areas shall be designed to
mitigate size and scale differences .
iii . Walls shall be articulated in order to avoid a blank look and to provide a sense of scale .
iv . Detached garages shall be located to the rear of stacked unit( s ) so as not to be directly viewable from a
public street .
v . Attached garages shall account for less than fifty percent of the front face of the structure . Garages
visible from the street shall be articulated by architectural features , such as windows , to avoid a blank
look .
b . Townhomes and Rowhouses .
i . All on- site parking areas ( excluding driveways and garages ) shall be screened with landscaping .
11 . Buildings shall be used to define the streetscape unless site conditions prove prohibitive .
111 . When appropriate , structures abutting or located in single - family residentially zoned areas shall be
designed to mitigate size and scale differences .
iv . Walls shall be articulated in order to avoid a blank look and to provide a sense of scale .
v . Detached garages shall be located to the rear of the townhouse or rowhouse unit( s ) so as not to be
directly viewable from a public street .
vi . Attached garages shall account for less than fifty percent of the front face of the structure . Garages
visible from the street shall be articulated by architectural features , such as windows , to avoid a blank
look .
c . Duplex, Triplex and Four- Plex .
i . Garages shall account for less than fifty percent of the front face of the structure . Garages visible from
the street shall be articulated by architectural features , such as windows , to avoid a blank look . (Ord . 2443
§ 3 (Exh . A (part) ) , 2006 )
18 . 19 . 060 Guidelines ,
A . The guidelines include five major categories :
1 . Landscaping and screening ;
2 . Architecture ;
3 . Massing and setbacks ;
4 . Historic and heritage preservation ; and
5 . Circulation and connections .
B . Each of the major guidelines include subcategories . Compliance with the guideline categories and
subcategories demonstrate compliance with the principles . However , not every guideline may be deemed
applicable , and therefore required , by the approval authority . Additionally, the approval authority may
approve a variance from one or more guidelines , provided the overall intent of the principles is satisfied .
C . A copy of the design manual is on file with the department of planning . ( Ord . 2443 § 3 (Exh . A (part) ) ,
2006 )
18 . 19 . 070 Application requirements .
Application for design review shall be submitted on the most current forms provided by, and in a manner
set forth by the planning community development director . The application shall include such drawings ,
sketches , and narrative as to allow the approval authority review of the specific prof ect on the merits of
the city ' s design review manual and other applicable city codes . An application shall not be deemed
complete unless all information requested is provided . ( Ord . 2443 § 3 (Exh . A (part) ) , 2006 )
18 . 19 . 090 Deviations to design review guidelines .
A design review application that includes a deviation from any of the five major guidelines of the DRM
shall be subject to review and recommendations from the design review committee . The DRC shall base
its recommendation upon findings setting forth and showing that all of the following circumstances exist :
A . Special conditions or circumstances exist which render a specific requirement of the DRM
unreasonable , given the location and intended use of the proposed development;
B . The special conditions and circumstances are characteristic of the proposed general use of the site , and
not of a specific tenant;
C . The specific conditions and circumstances are not representative of typical development which may be
allowed within the zoning district ;
D . The requested deviation is based upon functional consideration rather than economic hardship ,
personal convenience or personal design preferences ;
E . Variation from a guideline ( s ) has sufficiently been compensated by other site amenities ; and
F . The requested deviation will not result in a project that is inconsistent with the intent and general scope
of the DRM principles . ( Ord . 2443 § 3 (Exh . A (part) ) , 2006 )
18 . 19 . 100 Enforcement .
Failure to comply with the requirements of this chapter , or a decision resulting from this chapter are
enforceable under Article VIII of CMC Chapter 18 . 55 . ( Ord . 2443 § 3 (Exh . A (part) ) , 2006 )