5475 Ferndale Rd, Ferndale, WA 98248

Public/Institutional Zone

The public/institutional P/I zone is intended to establish areas within the City of Ferndale that provide flexibility for the development of public structures and uses, not including essential public facilities, which are regulated by Chapter 18.92 FMC. Public structures and uses play a unique role in the fabric of the City and the community in general, and shall be designed to reinforce community identity and to provide a model for design standards, environmental protection and practical innovations. Significant design flexibility is allowed, pursuant to the understanding that community and public buildings require a substantial public process prior to approval, and that the rights of adjacent and nearby property owners should be protected. The initial development of specific public uses on individual properties shall require that the applicant hold a public neighborhood meeting prior to submittal of a development application. The public meeting shall occur at a stage in the development process that amendments to the plan can be considered. It shall be no defense on the part of the proponent that the public meeting was held too late in the process to allow for reasonable amendment. The public meeting notice shall reflect the requirements contained in FMC 14.15.050, including notification to property owners within 300 feet of the project. The public meeting shall not replace public notification or hearing requirements for those projects requiring SEPA, conditional use approval, or other permits or processes.