20.20.740 Schools.
A. Public and private schools are permitted as indicated by the charts in LUC 20.10.440 and use charts applicable to specific land use districts contained in Chapter 20.25 LUC, “Education: Primary and Secondary,” provided the following standards are met:
1. School buildings in residential districts shall cover not more than 35 percent of their site area.
2. Except as allowed in this section, school buildings in residential districts shall provide 50-foot side and rear yard setbacks. A reduction in the side or rear yard setback may be approved as follows:
a. In no event may a side or rear yard setback be less than 30 feet;
b. The landscaping required along interior property lines required pursuant to subsection A.5 of this section shall be increased to a minimum of 20 feet in depth;
c. No portion of a structure exceeding the building height allowed for the district may be within 50 feet of the side or rear property line; and
d. Building entrances or exits, other than required emergency exits, are not located within 50 feet of a side or rear property line.
3. Building Height.
a. An increase in building height of up to 10 feet above the maximum building height of the underlying district is allowed for schools so long as:
i. No mechanical equipment is located on the roof of any building or portion of building that exceeds the maximum building height of the underlying district; and
b. An increase in building height above that allowed under subsection A.3.a of this section may be approved if that portion of the structure exceeding the maximum building height of the underlying district satisfies the following criteria:
i. The increase in height is necessary to accommodate uses or equipment functionally related to a program offered as part of the educational programs of the school; for example, for a performing arts center, library or gymnasium;
ii. That portion of the structure exceeding the maximum building height is set back from any property line a distance equal to 1.5 times the height of that portion of the structure, unless a greater setback is required pursuant to LUC 20.20.010, the dimensional charts applicable to specific land use districts contained in Chapter 20.25 LUC, or this section;
iii. The building and site design minimize the impact of the additional height on the surrounding land uses;
iv. The school is located on a site of at least five acres; and
v. In no event may the height of a structure or portion of a structure exceed 75 feet.
4. The Director may administratively consider, approve or disapprove the addition of temporary, portable classrooms to existing public schools subject to the criteria set forth in Part 20.30E LUC for an Administrative Conditional Use.
5. Perimeter Landscaping. In lieu of the Perimeter Landscaping Requirements set forth in LUC 20.20.520.F.1, schools shall provide the following landscaping, subject to LUC 20.20.520.F.6:
a. Schools in Residential Districts or in Transition Areas as Described in Part 20.25B LUC and in the BelRed Office/Residential Transition (BR-ORT) Land Use District.
i. Ten feet of Type III landscaping along the street frontage, except that 100 percent of the required trees may be planted with deciduous trees; and
ii. Ten feet of landscaping meeting the requirements of LUC 20.25B.040.C.2.c along interior property lines, unless more stringent requirements apply pursuant to this section.
b. Schools in All Other Districts.
i. Ten feet of Type III landscaping along the street frontage, except that 100 percent of the required trees may be planted with deciduous trees; and
ii. Ten feet of Type III landscaping along interior property lines.
Alternative landscaping may be approved by the Director if the requirements of LUC 20.20.520.J are met.
6. Vehicular and Pedestrian Circulation. In addition to the requirements of LUC 20.20.590, school vehicular and pedestrian circulation shall satisfy the following criteria:
a. Vehicular and bus loading and unloading areas shall be designed to minimize impacts on traffic on public rights-of-way;
b. Parking areas shall be designed to minimize conflicts between pedestrian and vehicular movements; and
c. Opportunities shall be found for safe, convenient, and pleasant pedestrian connections to existing transit facilities. Where needed, shelters and lay-bys for transit vehicles shall be incorporated into site development.
7. Design Guidelines for Schools in Residential Districts and in Transition Areas. Schools in residential land use districts and in Transition Areas shall meet the site and building design standards set forth in LUC 20.25B.040.D through G and 20.25B.050.
8. Playfields. Schools are not required to provide on- or off-site playfields. Where playfields are provided, however, they must meet the following requirements:
a. On-site playfields developed to the limits of their property and which are adjacent to developed private property shall be fenced with an eight-foot-high fence; and
b. Travel to and from the school site to any off-site playfield must not be hazardous.
B. In the event that any provision of this subsection conflicts with any state law or regulation, the provisions of the state law shall control.
C. The applicant for a proposal subject to the administrative conditional use process in all residential districts or the DT-R District shall hold one community meeting on the proposal. Such meeting shall be held as early in the review process as possible for the proposal. Notice of the public meeting shall be provided in the same manner as required for notice of the application. The public meeting notice will be combined with the notice of application whenever possible. (Ord. 6425, 10-1-18, § 10; Ord. 5876, 5-18-09, § 19; Ord. 5432, 1-21-03, § 2; Ord. 5431, 1-21-03, § 3; Ord. 5089, 8-3-98, § 24; Ord. 4654, 6-6-94, § 38; Ord. 3530, 8-12-85, § 29)