4839 Rural Ave, Bellingham, WA 98226

Regional Retail Zone

The regional retail zone is a zone which provides commercial and recreational uses which are intended to serve a wide geographic area beyond Ferndale’s City limits and immediate area of influence. Such developments may include concentrated retail establishments with a variety of tenants, or a number of large tenants. It is the intent of the City to encourage large projects in this zone, and to require that such projects reflect a master plan developed by the applicant and approved by the City. The City may approve mixed use development, including accessory residential development, subject to the conditions contained within an approved master plan. A wide range of accessory land uses are permitted in the regional retail zone, and may be developed as permitted uses if a master plan general binding site plan, planned unit development, or planned action, as defined by WAC 197-11-164, 197-11-168 and 197-11-172 has been approved for the area, regardless of the size of the individual structure or use; provided, that the master plan identifies a minimum of 100,000 sq ft of potential building area. However, if no master plan has been approved for the site, the City requires that the initial structure s on a site contain at least 100,000 sq ft of gross floor area. Any accessory use may be considered a permitted use if it occupies at least 100,000 sq ft of gross floor area. Once a large 100,000 square feet or greater structure or combination of structures has been permitted, accessory uses and structures may be approved on the site, regardless of the size of the building or use. Limited residential uses may be allowed when incidental to the primary retail and commercial uses. Residential uses cannot be considered primary uses, even if the total gross floor area exceeds 100,000 sq ft. Developments within the regional retail zone shall be subject to the retail design standards Chapter 18.58 FMC and Ferndale EAGLE program, where applicable. This zone may be applied to some portions of the City that are designated commercial under the City of Ferndale Comprehensive Plan