Watertown City Council to Review Clear View Triangle Zoning Changes for Garages, Alleys, Fences and Signs
Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Watertown City Council on Monday night will take up the first reading of Ordinance No. 26‑32, a zoning text amendment intended to clarify how the city’s “clear view triangle” rules apply to garages, driveways, alleys, fences, landscaping, parking lots, and signage. The item appears on the regular agenda and is submitted by City Manager Alan Stager.
Because this is a first reading, no action will be taken.
Why the Amendment Is Needed
Recent ordinance changes allow detached garages to be built with:
· 9‑foot setbacks when the garage door faces perpendicular to the alley
· 4‑foot setbacks when the garage door faces parallel to the alley
However, the city’s existing 25‑foot clear view triangle requirement still applies to alleys. This has created conflicts where property owners are technically allowed to build garages at the new reduced setbacks, but cannot do so because the clear view triangle prohibits structures within 25 feet of an alley right‑of‑way.
A line from the agenda document states:
“The existing 25‑foot Clear‑View Triangle requirement… can prevent garages from being constructed at these permitted setbacks for properties abutting an alley.”
The Planning Commission reviewed the issue on August 20, 2026 and recommended staff bring forward an amendment. The commission voted 6‑0 to recommend approval on September 10, 2026.
What the Ordinance Changes
Ordinance No. 26‑32 updates multiple chapters in Title 21 to align clear view triangle rules with the garage setback standards in §21.10.
Key Clarifications in Section 21.0302
The ordinance defines clear view triangles for:
· Street intersections (25 feet)
· Street–driveway intersections (25 feet)
· Street–alley intersections (25 feet)
· Alley–driveway/garage access intersections, with new measurements:
o 9 feet when the garage opens toward the alley
o 4 feet when the garage opens away from the alley
The ordinance also states:
“The clear view triangle shall not prohibit a building or structure from being located within twenty‑five (25) feet of a property line when such location is specifically permitted by the applicable zoning district.”
This exemption ensures that permitted garage setbacks are not overridden by the previous 25‑foot rule.
Updates Across Title 21
To maintain consistency, the ordinance updates clear view triangle references in several chapters:
Landscaping (§21.5409)
· Perimeter tree placement must account for clear view triangles.
Fences (§21.6103)
· Fences within a clear view triangle cannot exceed 36 inches in height.
Residential Storage & Parking (§21.6501, §21.6502)
· Outdoor storage and off‑street parking must comply with clear view triangle rules.
Parking Lot Screening (§21.6704)
· Screening must not impede clear view triangles at streets, alleys, or driveways.
Sign Regulations (§21.8015, §21.8017, §21.8018, §21.8020, §21.8028)
· Prohibited signs, off‑premise signs, freestanding signs, temporary signs, and ground signs cannot be placed within a clear view triangle.
Definitions (§21.90)
The ordinance adds a formal definition of “Clear View Triangle” referencing Section 21.0302(7).
A second reading and vote are scheduled for October 5, 2026.
The Watertown City Council meets Monday, September 21, 2026. Ordinance No. 26‑32 is listed on the regular agenda, meaning it will be introduced publicly but not voted on.
