§ 21.70.110. Design requirements for zones with pedestrian emphasis and key multimodal corridors and intersections.

A major emphasis of the Lacey Joint Plan is to create more opportunities for pedestrians and multimodal transportation. Key multimodal corridors and intersections designated in the Lacey Joint Plan will be the heart of the county's circulation system. If the county's goals of a more pedestrian-friendly development are to be realized, these multimodal corridors and intersections and surrounding road networks must develop with amenities and designs that will entice pedestrians, bicyclists and transit riders.

A.

Applicability. Standards apply to all zones with pedestrian emphasis and standards for circulation and design for multimodal corridors and key pedestrian intersections apply to all zones along such corridors and at key pedestrian intersections. Provided multifamily condominium and townhouse development with less than five units and all single-family short plats and permits for individual single-family detached homes and accessory uses shall be exempt.

B.

General Requirements.

1.

Increase pedestrian amenities and function along key multimodal corridors, at intersections, and in pedestrian-oriented zones.

2.

Provide a network of comfortable and interesting pedestrian streets which link residential areas with commercial zones throughout the growth area.

3.

Reduce dependence on the automobile in zones with pedestrian emphasis by providing increased emphasis on other modes of transportation, such as walking, bicycling and transit through the provision of pedestrian-oriented, multimodal streets.

4.

Provide a high quality, compact pedestrian-oriented street environment that is easily and pleasantly traversed on foot.

5.

Increase architectural continuity and compatibility within and between zones.

6.

Encourage business and pedestrian areas and spaces that are active throughout the day and evening.

7.

Improve sidewalk and building integration, which increases human comfort and activity.

8.

Incorporate "human-scaled" elements into building design.

9.

Provide direct visual contact between activities occurring inside buildings and the street environment.

C.

Specific Pedestrian Requirements.

1.

Reduced Setbacks. Encourage placement of building walls so that they enclose and define the street space. The location, height, and massing of walls should provide human-scaled street enclosure and building edge continuity on pedestrian-oriented streets (multimodal corridors). To provide a more continuous building edge, buildings should be placed forward on lots adjacent to designated multimodal corridors. Street wall location adjacent to the sidewalk should bring building activities into physical and visual contact with the sidewalk environment and increase the liveliness of the street.

a.

Key commercial designations with pedestrian emphasis (neighborhood commercial and mixed use corridors) have maximum front yard setbacks of fifteen feet and allow zero feet. Several central business district zones encourage minimum setbacks. Residential zones allowing moderate to high densities also provide for reduced setbacks.

b.

Exceptions to Reduced Setbacks. The street wall may be set back to provide transition to residential neighborhoods, to provide more separation of public and private space in residential development, to meet centerline setback requirements, for building entrances, for pedestrian plazas, and to allow existing setback buildings as conforming uses.

i.

Building Entrances Allowance. Large entryways which are integral to a building design may be set back more than fifteen feet.

ii.

Pedestrian Plazas.

2.

Pedestrian Plazas. Pedestrian plazas are intended to be open to the public (but are not required to be). They are spaces which people will use along intensively developed streets (multimodal corridors) and in some commercial and all mixed use corridors. Facilities and buildings can be grouped around small pedestrian plazas to create places where people may congregate. All commercial subdivisions or binding site plans in mixed use zones or zones with pedestrian emphasis are expected to provide plazas unless the county determines the provision of such is not consistent with the intent of this chapter due to special circumstances of the site or project. Commercial or multifamily building projects in the mixed moderate or high density corridors may provide plazas to obtain bonus building or development coverage. Pedestrian plaza designs must meet the following criteria:

a.

Size and Dimension. The maximum pedestrian plaza dimension shall normally be sixty feet across. See Illustration 14.

Illustration 14. Pedestrian Plaza

b.

Access. The surface of all pedestrian plazas must be visually and physically accessible from the public right-of-way. Allowances may be made for sites with steep topography.

c.

Surface. Paved walking surfaces must be provided.

d.

Landscaping.

i.

At least ten percent of the plaza area must be landscaped with living plants.

ii.

The landscaping must be planted and maintained according to Chapter 21.80.

iii.

Landscaping shall not block visual access to the pedestrian plaza.

e.

Seating.

i.

Seating shall be provided in all pedestrian plazas.

ii.

Tops of walls and steps may be considered seating if designed to accommodate this function.

f.

Exposure to Sunlight.

i.

Southern locations are encouraged to allow direct sunlight to enter the space and strike the plaza floor.

ii.

Pedestrian plazas shall be designed to allow some direct sunlight to enter the plaza.

iii.

Pedestrian plaza landscaping shall be designed in a manner that does not block the entrance of direct sunlight.

g.

Plaza Edges.

i.

Plaza Enclosure. All pedestrian plazas must be enclosed on at least two sides by a structure or by landscaping which creates a wall-like effect.

ii.

Prohibited Edge Conditions.

(A)

Unscreened parking lots, chain link fences and other inhibiting conditions are prohibited adjacent to pedestrian plazas.

(B)

Blank walls in pedestrian plazas are subject to the blank wall limitation standards of subsection 4 below.

h.

Uses in Pedestrian Plazas.

i.

Permitted Uses. Playground equipment, fountains, waterfalls, pools, sculptures, works of art, arbors, trellises, benches, trees, planting beds, trash receptacles, drinking fountains, bicycle racks, open air cafes, kiosks, vending carts, outdoor furniture, lighting, flagpoles, public telephones, temporary exhibits, canopies, awnings, and similar uses which encourage pedestrian use of these spaces;

ii.

Allowed Motor Vehicle Use. Motor vehicle use of pedestrian plazas for passenger drop off and pick up at plaza edge. All other loading or motor vehicle access is prohibited.

i.

Exceptions. The director may grant exceptions to the pedestrian plaza standards if the proposed design meets the intent of this chapter.

3.

Awnings, Marquees and Arcades. Continuous canopies, awnings, marquees, and arcades keep pedestrians out of the rain and contribute to overall integration of individual buildings within the streetscape. This pedestrian weather protection also helps define the pedestrian zone on the sidewalk.

a.

Requirements.

i.

All commercial uses in zones with pedestrian emphasis should provide some weather protection for their patrons.

ii.

Awnings, marquees, and arcades must meet Uniform Building Code requirements.

iii.

Awnings, marquees, and arcades are encouraged along the street wall, or that portion of the street wall that abuts or is parallel to the sidewalk. The maximum depth (projection from street wall) is regulated in the applicable section of the Uniform Building Code.

iv.

The lower edge of all awnings, marquees, and arcades must be between the heights of eight and twelve feet above finished grade. Every attempt should be made to make awnings of like heights on a given block.

v.

Canopies, awnings, marquees and arcades may project into the public right-of-way with approval of the department.

4.

Blank Wall Limitation. A successful pedestrian environment should provide varied, pedestrian-friendly building facades and sidewalk activities. Blank walls and dull building facades can degrade a pedestrian streetscape and the business environment as they deaden the surrounding space and break the continuity of the building edge. Therefore, the construction of blank walls should be limited to prevent the disruption of existing building patterns and to avoid an uninviting street environment. The regulations in this section are intended to reduce blank wall impacts on the pedestrian and business environment.

a.

Blank Wall Limitation Requirements.

i.

All commercial ground level walls within fifty feet of public right-of-way should feature pedestrian-friendly facades. Sixty percent of the street wall facade within fifty feet of the public right-of-way are regulated between two and eight feet in height (see Illustration 15). This dimension applies to all options for blank wall treatments (transparent windows, art and architectural treatment, and trellis and planting techniques). Pedestrian-friendly facades shall consist of one or more of the following characteristics:

Illustration 15.

ii.

Transparent window area or display windows which provide visibility into building interiors;

iii.

Sculpture, mosaic, glass block opaque art glass, as relief artwork, or similar features of visual interest which are incorporated into the street wall or blank building wall. Structural architectural elements may be acceptable if the design meets the intent of this section;

iv.

Installation of a permanent vertical trellis in front of the wall with climbing plants or plant materials;

v.

Pedestrian plazas may meet this requirement if the design complies with the intent of this section;

vi.

Display windows may be used to meet this requirement;

vii.

Any combination of the above techniques that meet the intent of this section.

b.

Retaining Walls. Retaining walls on pedestrian streets are considered blank walls and are subject to the regulations in this section. Retaining wall treatment may include a stone wall. Blank concrete is prohibited.

c.

Exceptions. Where this section is in conflict with the Uniform Fire Code, the Uniform Fire Code shall govern.

5.

Primary Building Entrance. Primary building entrances are required on the street or pedestrian and transit access from street to allow people to arrive by foot, by transit, or by other means (in addition to the car), and to increase pedestrian and street activity. Building entrances should meet the following minimum requirements:

a.

The primary entrance to all buildings should face the street or central pedestrian plaza.

b.

All primary building entrances should be clearly visible from the sidewalk or pedestrian plaza.

c.

Direct access should be provided either:

i.

From the sidewalk if the building facade is adjacent to the sidewalk; or

ii.

From a pedestrian plaza if the building facade is not directly adjacent to the sidewalk.

D.

Circulation and Design for Multimodal Corridors and Key Pedestrian Intersections.

1.

Multimodal corridors and key pedestrian intersections are intended to provide a focus for multimodal activity in each neighborhood. The corridor should provide an area of convergence for the pedestrian sidewalk network that interconnects all dwelling units with other units, non-residential uses, common open space, bus stops and sensitive area tracts. Mid-block crossings shall be utilized where necessary to promote more efficient or strategic interconnections with pedestrian corridors or trail systems. Sidewalk systems shall be separate and distinct from motor vehicle circulation to the greatest extent possible, provide a pleasant route for users, promote enjoyment of the development, and encourage incidental social interaction among pedestrians. Sidewalks shall be of barrier-free design. The pedestrian circulation system shall include gathering/sitting areas and provide benches, landscaping, and other street furniture where appropriate. Sidewalks along the corridors and at key intersections shall promote pedestrian activity.

2.

Sidewalks shall be a minimum of five feet in width, expanding to six feet or more along major pedestrian routes; sidewalks in commercial areas shall normally be ten to fifteen feet in width depending upon location of major pedestrian routes and significance of the sidewalk considering pedestrian use. Standard material for sidewalk construction is acceptable, provided however, key pedestrian intersections shall use special materials. See subsection D5 below.

3.

Bikeways shall be provided to link key components of each neighborhood with the corridor. Bikeways do not have to be marked on local residential streets with low average daily traffic. Bikeways are required on portions of multimodal corridor designations, collectors and arterials. The width of bikeways shall be in accordance with the minimum dimensions specified for class 1,2, and 3 bikeways as defined in the Regional Trails Plan, the Lacey Street Standards or the Thurston County Road Standards. Bikeways shall use asphalt paving, porous asphalt in accordance with the Thurston County Drainage Design and Erosion Control Manual, or other approved surface. Bike racks shall be provided at strategic destination locations along the corridors such as commercial areas, open spaces and other neighborhood focus points.

4.

Key pedestrian intersections should be located at the focal point of neighborhoods. All key pedestrian intersections should have street furniture as well as other significant pedestrian areas along the corridor. Elements of street furniture, such as benches, waste containers, drinking fountains, planters, phone booth, bus shelters, bicycle racks, and bollards should be carefully selected to ensure compatibility with the architecture of surrounding buildings, the character of the area, and with other elements of street furniture. Consistency in the selection and location of the various elements of street furniture is critical for maximum effect and functional usage. Street furniture shall meet all county guidelines for strength, durability, maintenance and safety.

5.

At key pedestrian intersections and other areas of special significance to pedestrians along corridors, sidewalks shall be constructed of permeable pavers in accordance with the Thurston County Drainage Design and Erosion Control Manual, brick, colored/textured concrete pavers, concrete containing accents of brick, colored stamped concrete or some combination thereof that is compatible with the style, materials, colors and details of the surrounding buildings and neighborhood. The functional, visual, and tactile properties of the paving materials shall be appropriate to the proposed functions of pedestrian circulation in the immediate area. Such techniques are also recommended for public or semipublic plazas, courtyards, or open spaces along the corridor.

6.

Bus stops shall be located along collectors and arterials on the corridor in consultation with Intercity Transit and North Thurston school district and shall be integrated as part of the pedestrian network. Bus stops may also be provided along strategic sections of local access streets if Thurston County, North Thurston school district and Intercity Transit determine such location will provide the most convenient coverage for residents. Locations for bus stops shall be designed to make transit services accessible to all residents of the neighborhood.

7.

Transit passenger pads and shelters may be provided at focal points in the neighborhood along corridors, such as commercial areas and key pedestrian intersections, if deemed necessary by the county in consultation with Intercity Transit and North Thurston school district. Design and size of shelters and pads will be determined in consultation with Intercity Transit.

8.

Every effort shall be made to ensure that bus stops are illuminated at night to enhance passengers' safety and sense of security.

9.

Decorative human scale lighting is recommended on all local access streets, pedestrian walkways, sidewalks, courtyards, community greens and internal open spaces along corridors at intervals adequate to provide pedestrians with safe and comfortable lighting. Light poles may use a staggered pattern when measured and spaced using both sides of the street. Lighting fixtures and poles shall generally be between twelve to twenty-four feet in height and constructed from steel, cast iron, or aluminum, with poles and fixtures complementing the human scale and architectural character of the neighborhood.

10.

Street lights should be decorative and blend with the architectural style of the plat or development project (see Design Vocabulary).

11.

Operation and maintenance of street lights shall be the responsibility of a homeowner's association, the city of Lacey or other appropriate entity.

(Ord. 11274 § 1 (part), 1996; Ord. No. 15390, § 1(Att. A, § V), 11-29-2016)