17.44.030 Locations for Basements.
A. Basements under Main Buildings. Basements are permitted under a main building. The total allowed floor area for all basements under a main building shall be the same as the total floor area of the first floor of the building (e.g., maximum floor area for basements under a main building is one hundred percent of the floor area of the first floor of the main building). Additionally, the location of all basements as part of a main building shall be limited to the boundaries of the footprint of the first floor of the main building. Minor extensions of the basement beyond the first floor footprint above may be approved at a staff level for extensions that are no greater than one hundred forty square feet in combined area. However, because not all main buildings are exact rectangles, the approval authority (the planning commission as described in Table 17.06.070-1) may allow, through issuance of a special structures permit, exceptions to this rule when within the following parameters:
1. The total floor area of basements shall not exceed one hundred twenty percent of the total floor area of the first floor of the main building; and
2. A minimum of seventy-five percent of the total area of the basements shall be located directly under the footprint of the first floor of the main building; and
3. Portions of basements that are not located directly under the footprint of the first floor of the main building shall only be allowed in such locations when they are still within the extents of the main building (e.g., “squaring off” the basement).
B. Basement under Accessory Buildings. Nonhabitable basements without lightwell(s) may be located under the footprint of accessory buildings outside of the main building area with no more than one exterior stair accessing the basement level. The exterior stair must be located within the allowable buildable area for accessory buildings. No windows are permitted in these basements. Basements containing habitable space with lightwell(s) may be located under the footprint of accessory buildings outside of the main building area with a special structures permit from the approval authority with the finding that the basement will not impact heritage trees and the condition that lightwells be located on the interior side of the yard, or the lightwell shall comply with the main building setbacks if facing an exterior yard. The approval authority may impose reasonable conditions including, but not limited to, increased setbacks and limitation on the size of lightwells.
C. Garages in Basements. Garages may be located in basements under buildings located within the main building area. (Ord. 616 § 1, 2015; Ord. 582 § 1 (Exh. A (part)), 2009)