Loading...
Resolution 438PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. '438 A RESOLUTION TO THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDMONDS RECOMMENDING ADOPTION OF THE DOWNTOWN PARKING PLAN OF THE CIRCULATION PLAN TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR THE CITY OF EDMONDS, AS SET FORTH IN PLANNING COMMISSION FILE NO. CP-1-74. WHEREAS, the Planning Commission of the City of Edmonds, pursuant to proper notice and publication, held a public hearing on a proposed amendment to the Comprehensive Plan for Downtown Parking, and WHEREAS, having found there was a need for a Downtown Parking Plan for long term development of a coordinated parking program, the Planning Commission determined that the amendment to the Comprehensive Plan, incorporating the Downtown Parking Plan of the Circulation Plan, as set forth in "Exhibit A" attached hereto, and areas to be served by the parking facilities as shown on map set forth in"Exhibit B", attached hereto, should be adopted; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED that the Planning Commission recommends and forwards to the City Council of the City of Edmonds, that the proposed amendment to the Comprehensive Plan for Downtown Parking Plan of the Circulation Plan, as set forth in Exhibit A and Exhibit B, be adopted. DATED this loth day of April, 1974. C airma Edmonds Planning Commission File No: CP-1-74 Initiated by: City Planner Hearing Date: 4/10/74 "FXHTRTT A" P.C. Resolution No. 438 COMPREHENSIVE DOWNTOWN PARKING PLAN OF THE CIRCULATION PLAN Parking in downtown Edmonds is an extension of the street system and develop- ment should be congruous with the street system. In addition to consideration of the street system, parking in the downtown Edmonds should conform to the subgoals for development of the downtown business district. The character of downtown Edmonds was established at a time when the mode of transportation did not have the impact on the form of the city as the auto- mobile does,and the attempt to accommodate the auto without restraints, will have a substantial adverse impact on community development. In order to accommodate the automobile at a fixed standard, either the amount of development has to be limited, or the area of the community business district must be enlarged. Enlarging the present community business area will destroy the pedestrian oriented scale which creates much of the charm of the downtown area, therefore: The amount of development should be limited by the 1 amount of parking that can be integrated into the downtown area without destroying the pedestrian oriented characteristic of the downtown area. Edmonds is situated in a unique location to take advantage of alternate modes of transportation, ie: water -borne on Puget Sound, Burlington Northern rail- road, and I-5. The City should limit accommodation of the auto- mobile and encourage alternative modes of trans- portation. When each property owner attempts to develop parking space independently, the result in inefficient, unsightly., and uncoordinated with the city street system. The limited number of parking spaces provided to meet the needs of smaller businesses are not used efficiently. The probability of the parking spaces being fully utilized in any one of three businesses requiring four parking spaces is much higher than all twelve parking spaces being used for all the businesses. In addition to the inefficiencies produced by each business attempting to provide off street parking, the varying standard depending on land use, precludes long range development of off street parking where businesses require flexability of use as in a retail area. Circulation Plan Downtown Parking Page 2 In order to stabilize requirements and plan for development in the long term, a fixed rate of parking is preferable. There are recognized inequities in this system, however, these inequities are offset by the stability of required park- ing development. There should be established parking requirements on j a uniform gross leasable area basis (3 per 1000 square foot G.L.A.). The City has the responsibility to coordinate and foster the type development deemed to be the consensus of the citizens of Edmonds. Furthermore, the City can, under the powers granted by the State, act to provide the means to accomplish common objectives not available to citizen groups such as the Chamber of Commerce, therefore: The City, in cooperation with local business interests ll and with citizen involvement, should undertake a co- ordinated parking program. Development of parking facilities in the downtown area should be accomplished according to established criteria to insure that development conforms to need as well as environmental and aesthetic objectives. The following criteria shall guide the physical development of downtown parking facilities. DISTRIBUTION - The parking lot locations should be 5 distributed to serve parking needs within the downtown area, as equitably as possible. SIZE - The parking lots should be in scale with the pedestrian oriented downtown. The lot should be large enough to be a feasible project but not so large that it overwhelms the vicinity where located. The minimum size is approximately 50 to 60 spaces and the maximum 100 to 120 spaces. This assumes that appropriate land- scaping is employed to properly screen the mass of auto- mobiles and expanse of paving. LOCATION - The designated lots should be located so as to be in proximity to businesses, `pual-rc .faci.l rti es and cultural acti rtWe&j=tv.e�gncourage citizen use and convenience. Circulation Plan Downtown Parking Page 3 Acquisition of properties required for development of parking facilities shall conform to the following: ACQUISITION - The proposed sites designated for parking lot development should meet the criteria above and the following: A. Minimize acquisition cost. B. "Minimize development cost. C. Avoid dislocation of owner occupied or other well maintained residences. PRIORITIES - The lots should be developed in rela- tion to greatest deficiency. 1� No owner occupied structure shall be displaced against his will. Further refinement of considerations for parking facility development shall take into account the following: 1 Pedestrian circulation: A. Pedestrian access to walks should be as direct as possible to avoid pedestrian/ vehicular conflicts. B. Pedestrian circulation to business establish- ments and -pab_] -i c- faci 1 i t i es:, = 5-houl d' be direct, l easant and unencumbered with vehicular crossing where avoidable. ]2 Vehicular circulation shall be designed so that: A. Access and egress to and from the lot is obvious and convenient. B. Established traffic patterns in the vicinity of the designated lots should not be adversely affected by the designated parking lot. Circulation Plan Downtown Parking Page 4 13 Urban design shall be a major consideration with -the following policies: A. Parking areas should be -.screened from adjacent streets by landscaping in order to alleviate the detrimental visual impact of massive automobile aggregations. B. Pedestrian circulation facilities should be scaled and designed for pedestrian use. Pedestrian circulation facilities should extend from the downtown pedestrian circula- tion system and accommodate the parking areas. The pedestrian circulation system should have visual continuity extending to that portion screening the parking areas. Until such time as the Commercial Business Element of the Comprehensive Plan is developed, the goals and objectives for guiding development of the downtown business area will conform to those recommended by the Ad Hoc Design Commission as follows: GOALS To proceed on a program providing for a more livable, beautiful and successful downtown Edmonds, while preserving the small town atmosphere desired by our citizens. To encourage downtown development that enables the realization of an aesthetical- T: 'pleasing business community consisting of people comforts, park -like surround- ings, de-emphasizing auto pollution and congestion. OBJECTIVES 1. Create off site, off street parking -park facilities. 2. To provide for the gradual elimination of large and inadequately landscaped paved areas. 3. To provide weather protection for citizens while using the downtown shopping district. 4. To strive for the elimination of overhead wires and poles as expeditiously as possible. 5. To provide landscaping, rest and comfort areas for the pleasure of citizens while in the business district. Circulation Plan Downtown Parking Page 5 6. To search for an acceptable means of furthering the coordination of new building design and old structure restoration. 7. To study methods of sign regulation compatible with aesthetic appearance and economic practicality. 8. To recommend public area and street lighting best suited for comfort, security, and aesthetic beauty. 9. To initiate a program of enforcement of the Abatement Ordinance. 10. To encourage the use of alley entrances and courtyards to beautify the back alleys along Main Street. 11. Development of mini -parks in the downtown business district. P. RESOLUTION NO. 438 " EXHIBIT B" NIP � I y ai w +� m M N b Y R 1 kk /j El } n L7 E., o ° ° 'G o I DIP001 ^^���44•�� ` I +ry� �•'�III� pl ji —1 Lr'�..5—� yf�.K VV _ '•� r� ' TI� �• i � }`64i1 •- F ��_ ��� ,� �� � � :,.o 1 Ul�.rj�4 �. �� i� II fl ZJ�i`�4p � ~ r t 4 �.r �` � oil it do" 131 Z IV �' + � fir ❑ � �- 4.rt� � T i�' �-.._-� � I •i �Iff } ti � 4,J� ❑ _� ,, !©}—j �i ��� r� tf S = f ^'� I� �.. ILi •tip;;, Q