31 Cowiche City Rd, Cowiche, WA 98923

Rural Settlement District

The RS district designates limited areas of more intensive rural development LAMIRDs intended to recognize and maintain the role of unincorporated communities throughout rural Yakima County. This zoning district shall apply in small, compact, isolated, rural community centers that primarily exist to provide convenience goods and services reflecting farm and rural consumer needs in the surrounding rural area. The Rural Settlement zoning district is a general use zone and is utilized in those rural centers where a mixture of land uses i.e. commercial, industrial and low to moderate density residential is the established development pattern. Rural settlements also provide informal community centers for area residents. Continued infill development within rural settlements is allowed by the Comprehensive Plan, if appropriate services and facilities are available. The following types of LAMIRDs under RCW 36.70A.070 5 d may be designated: Residential development at low to moderate densities depending on utilities, soil characteristics, road conditions and other essential public services; Small-scale recreational or tourist uses, including commercial facilities to serve those recreational or tourist uses that rely on a rural location and setting; or Isolated cottage industries and isolated small businesses that need not be principally designed to serve the existing and projected rural population and nonresidential uses, but provide job opportunities for rural residents.