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A. User Guide. This section establishes a mechanism whereby the city may, on a short-term basis, permit a use to be conducted that would not otherwise be allowed in the zone in which it is located. This section is intended to permit certain inherently temporary uses, such as community festivals and fresh vegetable stands, that would not be allowed in the zone in which they are proposed, but which, if limited in time and strictly controlled, may be in the best interest of the Everett community.

B. Process for Deciding Upon a Proposed Temporary Use. The city will use the review process as described in Chapter 15.02 EMC, Local Project Review Procedures, to review and decide upon an application for a temporary use permit.

C. Application Information. The applicant shall provide the following information to the planning department:

1. A completed application on the form provided by the planning department, along with all information requested in that form;

2. An irrevocable, signed and notarized statement granting the city permission to summarily abate the temporary use and all physical evidence of that use if it is not removed by the applicant within the period specified as part of the permit, and agreeing to reimburse the city for any expenses incurred by the city in abating the temporary use; and

3. Written permission from the owner of the property upon which the temporary use is proposed to be located authorizing the proponent to use the subject property for the stated purposes and time period.

D. Criteria for Granting a Temporary Use Permit. The city may grant a temporary use permit only if it finds that:

1. The proposed temporary use will not be materially detrimental to the public welfare, or injurious to the property or improvements in the immediate vicinity; and

2. The proposed temporary use is compatible in terms of location, access, traffic, noise, nuisance, dust control and hours of operation with existing land uses in the immediate vicinity; and

3. The proposed temporary use is not otherwise allowable in the zone in which it is proposed.

E. Dimensional Requirements and Development and Performance Standards. The city shall establish dimensional requirements and development and performance standards as part of the approval of each temporary use permit. The city will use the nature of the proposed use and character of the surrounding area as guides in establishing these requirements and standards.

F. Frequency and Duration of Temporary Use. The city may only grant a temporary use permit for a specified period of time, not to exceed sixty days except as otherwise provided in this section. The temporary use permit shall specify a date by which the use shall be terminated.

G. Removal of a Temporary Use. The city shall designate, as part of the temporary use permit, a period following the expiration of the permit within which the temporary use must be terminated and all physical evidence of the use must be removed by the applicant. If the temporary use and all physical evidence of the use are not removed within the time specified, it will constitute a violation of this title. Further, the city is authorized to abate the temporary use in accordance with subsection (C)(2) of this section.

H. Exception to Permit Requirement.

1. Garage Sales. Garage sales shall be limited to two events per year with a maximum duration not to exceed four days per event.

2. Commercial and Industrial Zones. The following temporary uses, when located in commercial and industrial zones for not longer than the time periods specified below, are exempt from the permit requirements of this section:

a. Not to exceed forty-five days:

(1) Christmas tree lots;

b. Not to exceed ten consecutive days:

(1) Amusement rides;

(2) Carnivals and circuses;

(3) Parking lot sales which are ancillary to the indoor sale of the same goods and services.

I. Prohibited on Public Right-of-Way. See EMC 13.30.010 for permit requirements to use public right-of-way. (Ord. 3982-23 § 1, 2023; Ord. 3895-22 § 11, 2022; Ord. 3774-20 § 5(E) (Exh. 3), 2020.)

Code reviser’s note: The amendments of Ordinance 3982-23 shall be effective until June 7th, 2024, unless otherwise amended or extended.