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Ordinance 35420006.90000 WSSI@z 3/10/05 ORDINANCE NO. 3542 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF EDMONDS, WASHINGTON, ADOPTING 2004 ANNUAL AMENDMENTS TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN INCLUDING THAT PORTION OF THE PLAN RELATING TO DOWNTOWN WATERFRONT ACTIVITY CENTER, AND FIXING A TIME WHEN THE SAME SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE. WHEREAS, Chapter 36.70A RCW requires that each City annually review all or portions of its Comprehensive Plan; and WHEREAS, during 2004 and concluding in 2005, public hearings were conducted in accordance with the City's public participation plan as adopted by ECDC Chapter 20.00; and Council; and WHEREAS, the Planning Board has made its, recommendations to the City WHEREAS, the City Council has held public hearings on the amendments, and based upon the hearings and the Planning Board's recommendations, finds that the proposed changes are in conformance with the City's obligations under the Growth Management Act, and upon adoption and development of appropriate development regulations, will be in conformance both with the Growth Management Act and will be consistent with each other; and WHEREAS, the City Council adopts the findings and recommendations of its Planning Board with regard to the amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and to the Downtown Waterfront Activity Center, amended in, but only in, the following respects: {WSS595077.DOC;1/00006.900000/} - 1 - 1. The City Council finds and determines that as a policy document, specific limitations on height are better deferred to the development regulations process; 2. Comments of the City's Historic Preservation. Commission should be incorporated in order to better clarify that the existing provisions regarding adaptive reuse should be cross - referenced in other portions of the plan, specifically in the Downtown Waterfront Activity Center portion of the plan; and WHEREAS, other portions of the Commission's comments, while worthy of discussion, were forwarded so late in the process that the City could not practically comply with its public participation guidelines and therefore, should be deferred to the 2005 Comprehensive Plan update, NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDMONDS, WASHINGTON, DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. The Edmonds Comprehensive Plan, including that portion relating to the Downtown Waterfront Activity Center is hereby amended to reflect the changes shown on the attached Exhibit A, which is hereby substituted for and adopted as the City's Comprehensive Plan. Section 2. The City Clerk is directed to provide copies of this ordinance and Exhibit A to the Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development within ten (10) days of its adoption. Section 3. Effective Date. This ordinance, being an exercise of a power specifically delegated to the City legislative body, is not subject to referendum, and shall take effect five (5) days after passage and publication of an approved summary thereof consisting of the title. {WSS595077.DOC;1 /00006.900000/} - 2-" APPROVED: MAY R G AAKENSON ATTEST /AUTHENTICATED: CITY CLERK, SANDRA S. CHASE APPROVED AS TO FORM: OFFICE OF THE C Y ATTORNEY: BY W. SCOTT SNYDER FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK: 03/11/2005 PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL: 03/15/2005 PUBLISHED: 03/22/2005 EFFECTIVE DATE: 03/27/2005 ORDINANCE NO. 3542 {WSS595077.DOC;1 /00006.900000/} - 3 - SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE NO. 3542 of the City of Edmonds, Washington On the 15th day of March, 2005, the City Council of the City of Edmonds, passed Ordinance No. 3542. A summary of the content of said ordinance, consisting of the title, provides as follows: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF EDMONDS, WASHINGTON, ADOPTING 2004 ANNUAL AMENDMENTS TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN INCLUDING THAT PORTION OF THE PLAN RELATING TO DOWNTOWN WATERFRONT ACTIVITY CENTER, AND FIXING A TIME WHEN THE SAME SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE. The full text of this Ordinance will be mailed upon request. DATED this 16th day of March, 2005. "d •. e4"-' CITY CLERK, SANDRA S. CHASE {WSS595077.DOC;1/00006.900000/} - 4 - City of Edmonds Comprehensive Plan Ak U oF,.�-4p�Ar Ii7c 1 g90 2004 Adopted March, 2005 EXHIBIT A 'nc. I g9" City of Edmonds Comprehensive Plan Mayor: Gary Haakenson City Council: Richard L. Marin, Council President Deanna Dawson Mauri Moore Peggy Pritchard Olson David Orvis Michael Plunkett Jeff Wilson Planning Board: Jim Young, Chair Janice Freeman, Vice -Chair Jim Crim Virginia Cassutt John Dewhirst Cary Guenther Judith Works Don Henderson (alternate) City Staff., Duane Bowman, Development Services Director Darrell Smith, Traffic Engineer Dan Clements, Administrative Services Director Stephen Clifton, Community Services Director Jennifer Gerend, Economic Development Director Steve Koho, Wastewater Treatment Plant Manager Noel Miller, Public Works Director Brian McIntosh, Parks & Recreation Director David Stern, Police Chief Tom Tomberg, Fire Chief Dave Gebert, City Engineer Don Fiene, Assistant City Engineer Robert Chave, Planning Manager Steve Bullock, Senior Planner Star Campbell, Planner Diane Cunningham, Administrative Assistant Meg Gruwell, Senior Planner Table of Contents COMPREHENSIVE PLAN - PURPOSE AND SCOPE 1 SCOPE PURPOSE EFFECT OF PLAN GROWTH MANAGEMENT 1 1 2 2 STATE AND REGIONAL CONTEXT 4 STATE GOALS REGIONAL GOALS 4 5 GENERAL BACKGROUND 6 PLANNING AREA 6 LAND USE PATTERN 6 HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT 7 POPULATION 8 ECONOMIC FACTORS 10 HOUSING 11 TRANSPORTATION 12 ATTRIBUTES OF THE COMMUNITY 14 PUBLIC PROCESS 14 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN - ELEMENTS 15 ELEMENTS ADOPTED 15 LAND USE ELEMENT 16 SCOPE 16 LAND CAPACITY 18 LAND USE CONCEPTS 24 DOWNTOWN WATERFRONT ACTIVITY CENTER 25 MEDICAL /HIGHWAY 99 ACTIVITY CENTER AND HIGHWAY 99 CORRIDOR 43 MASTER PLANNED DEVELOPMENT 49 RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT 50 COMMERCIAL LAND USE 55 INDUSTRIAL LAND USE 59 OPEN SPACE 60 SOILS AND TOPOGRAPHY 61 ii Purpose & Scope WATER RESOURCES AND DRAINAGE MANAGEMENT 62 VEGETATION AND WILDLIFE 64 AIR POLLUTION 66 NOISE POLLUTION 66 URBAN GROWTH AREAS 68 COMMUNITY CULTURE AND URBAN DESIGN ELEMENT 70 COMMUNITY CULTURE URBAN DESIGN: GENERAL OBJECTIVES 70 72 UTILITIES ELEMENT 81 WATER, SEWER AND STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SOLID WASTE OTHER UTILITIES 81 81 82 CAPITAL FACILITIES ELEMENT 84 CAPITAL FACILITIES CONCURRENCY MANAGEMENT 84 87 HOUSING ELEMENT 101 Contents iii iv Purpose & Scope List of Tables Table 1: Existing Land Use Table 2: Historical and Projected Growth 1940 to 2025 Table 3: Edmonds Employment by Sector— 2000 Census Table,4: Selected Housing Statistics Table 5: City of Edmonds Land Supply —1994 Table 6: Development and Capacity of Vacant Land —1994 Table 7: City of Edmonds Existing and Projected Growth_ Table 8: City of Edmonds Housing Growth List of Figures 7 _9 _11 _12 _18 _19 _23 101 Figure 1: Existing Land Use 7 Figure 2: Edmonds Population 9 Figure 3: Edmonds — City vs. Area Growth 9 Figure 4: Age Distribution of Edmonds Residents and Nearby Cities 10 Figure 5: Taxable Retail Sales per Capita for the City of Edmonds and Surrounding Areas 11 Figure 6: Historical Edmonds Daily Ferry Ridership — 2000 Census 13 Figure 7: General Use Categories by % of City Land Area 20 Figure 8: Edmonds Growth Targets vs. Historical Growth 22 Figure 9: Redevelopment opportunities for existing ferry pier 28 Figure 10: Edmonds Crossing 'preferred alternative' 29 Figure 11: Downtown Design Concepts 30 Figure 12: Highway 99 Focus Areas 45 Figure 13: Projected Affordable Housing Needs 105 List of Maps Comprehensive Plan Map 17 City of Edmonds Urban Growth Area 69 Contents v Comprehensive Plan - Purpose and Scope Scope The Comprehensive Plan of the City of Edmonds consists of all of the elements set forth or incorporated in this title, including both text and maps. Purpose The Comprehensive Plan has the following purposes: A. To serve as the basis for municipal policy on development and to provide guiding principles and objectives for the development of regulations. B. To promote the public health, safety, order, convenience, prosperity and the general welfare and values of the community. C. To anticipate and influence the orderly and coordinated development of land and building use of the city and its environs, and conserve and restore natural beauty and other natural resources. D. To encourage coordinated development and discourage piecemeal, spot or strip zoning and inharmonious subdividing. E. To facilitate adequate provisions for public services such as transportation, police and fire protection, water supply, sewage treatment, and parks. Purpose & Scope I Effect Of Plan A. Private Projects. All private projects requiring city review and approval shall be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. B. Public Projects. No street, park or other public way, ground, place, space, or public building or structure, or utility [whether publicly or privately owned] shall be abandoned, constructed or authorized until the Hearing Examiner has reviewed and reported to the City Council on the location, extent and consistency with the Comprehensive Plan. The Hearing Examiner's report shall be advisory only. Notice of the hearing by the Hearing Examiner shall be given in the manner specified in each case by the City Council. C. Street Vacations and Dedications. The Comprehensive Plan shall be consulted as a preliminary to the establishment, improvement, abandonment, or vacation of any street, and no dedication of any street or other area for public use shall be accepted by the city council until the location, character, extent, and effect thereof shall have been considered by the Hearing Examiner with reference to the Comprehensive Plan. The Hearing Examiner's Report on the same will be at the time and part of his or her action on the vacation and/or dedication. Growth Management A. General. Growth management is intended to provide a long -range strategy guiding how communities develop and how services are provided. State, regional and local jurisdictions undertaking growth management planning are adopting plans and implementation strategies that form a coordinated approach to actively plan for the future. A community such as Edmonds, with attractive natural features, a pleasant residential atmosphere and proximity to a large urban center, is subject to constant growth pressures. Edmonds' 2000 population is 39,515. As part of the cooperative planning process for the region, Edmonds has established a population planning target of 44,880 for the year 2025. This represents an average annual increase of less than one percent per year (0.5 %), and is similar to the growth rate experienced by the city during the past two decades. In part, this moderate growth rate reflects Edmonds' status as a mature community with a small supply of vacant, developable land. Because current and future development will increasingly occur as redevelopment or infill, the general philosophy expressed in the Comprehensive Plan is to maintain the character of the community while strategically planning for change in specific areas. It is envisioned that the Comprehensive Plan will be implemented with a broad -based set of implementation actions. Implementation measures will range from tying plan goals and policies to budgeting and infrastructure decisions, to making sure that regulations are coordinated and targeted to achieve expressed policies, to working with both public and Purpose & Scope private entities to jointly achieve community goals. However, implementation approaches must be designed to address not only the differences between neighborhoods in the city, but also the variation in different situations over time. It is up to the community to determine its desired growth level and up to the government, particularly elected officials, to implement the desired policies. B. Goal. Growth management policies should insure that as a residential community, Edmonds continues to be heralded as "The Gem of Puget Sound," in accordance with the following policies: B.l . Decisions affecting the growth pattern of the community should be made with a maximum of citizen participation. B.2. The Comprehensive Plan and its implementation measures should be developed and maintained in such a manner to guarantee that there are sufficient resources to insure established levels of community services and that ample provisions are made for necessary open space, parks and other recreation facilities. B.3. The role of commercial and industrial enterprises, the attendant tax base and provision for consumer needs, should be considered as a supporting part of the residential nature of the area rather than as the dominant activity of the community. B.4. Any growth or development should strive to preserve for itself and its neighbors the following values: B.4.a. Light (including direct sunlight) B.4. b. Privacy B.4.c. Views, open spaces, shorelines and other natural features. B.4.d. Freedom from air, water, noise and visual pollution. B.5. Any residential growth should be designed to promote as much as possible a balanced mixture of income and age groups. B.6. Edmonds should cooperate with surrounding communities to ensure that the regional growth policy is consistent with the stated local policy. Purpose & Scope 3 State and Regional Context State and regional goals have been adopted to provide a framework for developing local comprehensive plans and implementation strategies. By addressing these goals, local governments can be assured that they are also addressing some of the important issues facing the state and other local governments in the Puget Sound region. State Goals A. Urban growth: Encourage development in urban areas where adequate public facilities and services exist or can be provided in an efficient manner. B. Reduce sprawl: Reduce the inappropriate conversion of undeveloped land into sprawling, low- density development. C. Transportation: Encourage efficient multimodal transportation systems that are based on regional priorities and coordinated with county and city comprehensive plans. D. Housing: Encourage the availability of affordable housing to all economic segments of the population of this state, promote a variety of residential densities and housing types, and encourage preservation of existing housing stock. E. Economic development: Encourage economic development throughout the state that is consistent with adopted comprehensive plans, promote economic opportunity for all citizens of this state, especially for unemployed and for disadvantaged persons, and encourage growth in areas experiencing Insufficient economic growth, all within the capacities of the state's natural resources, public services, and public facilities. F. Property rights: Private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation having been made. The property rights of landowners shall be protected from arbitrary and discriminatory actions. G. Permits: Applications for both state and local government permits should be processed in a timely and fair manner to ensure predictability. H. Natural resource industries: Maintain and enhance natural resource -based Industries, Including productive timber, agricultural, and fisheries Industries. Encourage the conservation of productive forest lands and productive agricultural lands, and discourage incompatible uses. 4 General Background Open space and recreation: Encourage the retention of open space and development of recreational opportunities, conserve fish and wildlife habitat, increase access to natural resource lands and water, and develop parks. Environment: Protect the environment and enhance the state's high quality of life, Including air and water quality, and the availability of water. K. Citizen participation and coordination: Encourage the involvement of citizens in the planning process and encourage coordination between communities and jurisdictions to reconcile conflicts. L. Public facilities and services: Ensure that those public facilities and services necessary to support development shall be adequate to serve the development at the time the development is available for occupancy and use without decreasing current service levels below locally established minimum standards. M. Historic preservation: Identify and encourage the preservation of lands, sites, and structures that have historical or archaeological significance. N. The goals and policies of the Shoreline Management Act as set forth in RCW 90.58.020. Regional Goals Regional goals address the strategy for regional development outlined in the adopted VISION 2020. These goals form a long -range vision for transportation and land use linkages within the Puget Sound region. A. Create a regional system of central places framed by open space. B. Strategically invest in a variety of mobility options and demand management to support the regional system of central places. C. Maintain economic opportunity while managing growth. D. Conserve environmental resources. E. Mitigate potential, adverse effects of concentrating development by early action. F. Refine Vision 2020 based upon collaboration among all agencies in the region to ensure a common vision. Refinements will recognize parallel planning by other public and private agencies, including ports and emerging countywide growth management efforts. General Background 5 General Background Planning Area w The City of Edmonds is located in south Snohomish County on the western shores of Puget Sound approximately 14 miles north of Seattle (Figure 1). Situated within the urbanized Puget Sound region, the city encompasses approximately 8.9 square miles (5,700 acres) in area, including 5 lineal miles (26,240 feet) of marine shoreline. Roughly triangular in shape, the city is bounded by Puget Sound on the west; Lynnwood and Mountlake Terrace on the east; unincorporated Snohomish County on the north; and the town of Woodway, unincorporated Snohomish County (the Esperance area), and King County on the south. Land Use Pattern Single - family residential uses are relatively evenly dispersed throughout the city and occupy the majority of the city's land use base. Approximately 3,100 acres, or 55 percent of the City's area is developed for single - family residential uses. Higher density residential development (including apartments and condominiums) is primarily located south and north of the downtown; in the vicinity of the Edmonds - Woodway High School site and Stevens Hospital; and adjacent to 196th Street, 76th Avenue and Highway 99. Together, single - family and multi - family residential units comprise approximately 3,400 acres (nearly 60 percent of the total land in the city). Commercial activity is concentrated in two principal areas -- the Downtown/Waterfront and the Highway 99 corridor (which includes the retail and medical development in the vicinity of Stevens Hospital). Smaller commercial nodes that primarily serve adjacent neighborhoods are located at the intersection of Edmonds Way (SRI 04) and 100th Avenue /9th Avenue (Westgate) and at 212th Street /84th Avenue (5 Corners). The Port of Edmonds is located in the southern portion of the city's waterfront. The Port owns and manages 33 upland acres as well as a small boat harbor and marina, with space for 1,000 boats (approximately I 1 acres). The Port's property is occupied by approximately 80 businesses including office uses located in Harbor Square. Approximately 258 acres of parks and open space lands are owned or operated by the City, while there are another 229 acres of County -owned parks and open space Iand in the Edmonds area. Regional parks and beaches figure prominently in the City, including Brakett's Landing North, and South, the Edmonds Fishing Pier, Edmonds Memorial Cemetery, Edmonds Underwater Park, Marina Beach Park, Olympic Beach Park, local tidelands, and the South County Senior Center. The Edmonds Marsh is a significant City -owned open space (23 acres), while Yost Memorial Park is the largest community park owned by the City (48 acres). The largest County resources are Southwest County Park (120 acres) and Meadowdale Beach County Park (95 acres). Overall, approximately 96 percent of the city is developed. Table 1 and the accompanying Figure 1 summarize existing land uses in the city. General Background Figure 1: Existing Land Use Open Space, Recreation, 4.4% Community Facilitie 5.0% Commerc Multi Family, 4.8% Single Family, 54.8% Source: Edmonds Planning Division. Historical Development The earliest inhabitants of the area were likely nomadic bands of Native Americans. As European exploration and settlement in the Pacific Northwest increased, settlers began homesteading and logging activities in the general area of the present -day city. The community General Background 7 Table 1 Existing Land Use Land Use Type Acres % of City Single Family 3,142 54.8% Multi Family 274 4.8% Commercial 261 4.6% Community Facilities 286 5.0% Open Space, Recreation 250 4.4% Public, Utility 36 0.6% ROW 1,102 19.2% Vacant, Unclassified 378 6.6% Source: Edmonds Planning Division. Historical Development The earliest inhabitants of the area were likely nomadic bands of Native Americans. As European exploration and settlement in the Pacific Northwest increased, settlers began homesteading and logging activities in the general area of the present -day city. The community General Background 7 that became the City of Edmonds grew out of a homestead and logging operation started by George Brackett in 1876. Logging and shingle- splitting were the dominant economic activities in the community during the 1880's and 1890's. The town continued to grow as other industries including box making, pulp mill, a cigar factory, and increased waterfront activities developed. The Great North Railroad reached the town in 1891 and for many years provided access for goods and passenger travel to Everett and Seattle as well as to the eastern part of the state. Although fires destroyed many of the waterfront mills, shingle production continued to be the primary industry in the city into the 1940s. Ferry service to Kingston began in 1923 when a ferry terminal was built near the location of the existing ferry dock The present ferry terminal was built in the early 1950's after acquisition of the ferry system by the State of Washington. The city continued to grow during the 1940's and 50's, resulting in a more active role of the municipality in providing water, sewer and streets for the residential and commercial expansion. The Port District was formed in 1948 and began waterfront improvements. Commercial and retail businesses within the downtown provided a wide range of services to the community. Completion of Interstate 5 and increased growth in the Puget Sound region led to a gradual change in the character of city with more emphasis on residential development and a decline in the retail importance of the downtown. The city is now primarily a residential community; it also provides many amenities for residents and visitors including restaurants, and specialized shopping as well as cultural events such as the annual art festival. The City of Edmonds was incorporated in 1890 with the original townsite encompassing approximately 550 acres. The original townsite is now occupied primarily by the downtown and adjacent residential areas. The city has expanded in area through annexations to approximately 8.9 square miles. Population The rate of population growth has been relatively stable over the years with major increases occurring primarily as a result of annexations in the 1950s and 1960s. Population growth since 1980 has occurred at a relatively slow rate. Table 2: City of Edmonds Between 1980 and Historical and Projected Growth 1940 to 2025 1990, the population increased 1 1.1 percent Edmonds Percent Avg Annual Snohomish Percent (approximately I Year Population Increase Increase County Increase percent per year) to 1940 1,288 11% 88,754 30,744. Since 1990, 1950 2,057 60% 4.8% 111,580 26% this slow growth trend 1960 8,016 290% 14.6% 172,199 54% has continued, with the city reaching a 1970 23,684 195% 11.4% 265,236 54% population of 39,515 in 1980 27,679 17% 1.6% 337,720 27% 2000 (an annual 1990 30,744 11% 1.1% 465,642 38% increase of 2.5% per 2000 39,515 29% 2.5% 606,024 30% year during the 1990s). 2025 44,880 14% 0.5% Even this relatively Avg Annual Increase 8 General Background 2.3% 4.4% 4.4% 2.4% 3.3% 2.7% modest increase during the 1990s was largely due to annexations in the southern portion of the city's urban growth area (Esperance). Figure 2: Edmonds Population 45,000 40,000 C 35,000 O = 30,000 a 25,000 11 20,000 *E# 15,000 O H' 10,000 4 111' 1, 16.0% 14.0% d to 12.0% M L 10.0% _ 8.0% M c 6.0% C Q 4.0% 2.0% Q 0.0% 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 Period Ending... D City Population ■ Avg Annual Increase Figure 3: Edmonds: City vs. Area Growth 50,000 45,000 40,000 35,000 - -- C O 30,000 w. 3 25,000 - -- -- - -- sCL 0 20,000 CL 15,000 - ____ City Population (incorporated) 10,000 5,000 0 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 Period Ending... ® Edmonds Area ® City Population General Background 9 Figures 2 and 3 on the previous page summarize the recent population trends in Edmonds and the surrounding area. Figure 3 makes it clear that while the city's population showed a relatively higher degree of growth in the 1990s due to annexations, population growth in the overall Edmonds area has remained at a low level. As of 2004, Edmonds is the 2nd largest city in Snohomish County, and the 22nd largest city in the state. The city ranks 8th in overall population density state -wide, with a 2004 estimated population density of 4,382 people per square mile. The city has a higher percentage of retired persons and senior citizens than its neighboring cities and Snohomish County as a whole. The median age of the population in 2000 was 42.0 years, up from 38.3 years in 1990 and 33.5 years in 1980. The population is predominantly Caucasian, with approximately 4 percent Asian or Pacific Islander, and 3 percent combined African American, Native American, Eskimo, Aleut, and other. % of Local Population I OOOJo 9046 8046 7046 60% 50?ro 400 3046 2046 10% 0% Figure 4 Age Distribution of Edmonds Residents and Nearby Cities 0 SS t older j -,20 -54 j M19 under j 52E ! 53 `SSkbi ;554b' SARo j 61?S j 57"t' S34b 4b - -- I f Edmonds shoreline Elnnvraod Mountlake E1"erett Mhell lOrkland King county Snohomish Terrace County Source: U.S. Census 2000 Economic Factors Over the last decade, employment within the city has grown somewhat faster than population. Between 1980 and 1990, employment increased approximately 2.7 percent per year. In 1990, the city had an estimated 9,263 jobs with the largest portion of those (38 percent) in finance, insurance, real estate and services. Retail trade and government accounted for 27 percent and 23 percent respectively. The remaining 12 percent of the jobs were in manufacturing (5 percent); wholesale trade, transportation, communication and utilities (4 percent); and education (3 percent). By the 2000 census, employment growth had slowed to just under one percent per year, reaching a total employment of 10,154. As in 1990, the largest sector of employment (39.5 percent) was in finance, insurance, real estate and services. Retail trade and government accounted for 26 percent and 14 percent respectively. The remaining 20.5 percent of the jobs were in construction (7.6 percent), manufacturing (1.6 percent); wholesale trade, transportation, communication and utilities (5.5 percent); and education (5.8 percent). 10 General Background Table 3 Edmonds Employment by Sector — 2000 Census Const/Res FIRES Manufacturing Retail WTCU Government Education Total 774 4,010 162 2,667 561 1,396 584 10,154 Source: U.S. Census, 2000. According to the 2000 Census, the median household income in Edmonds in 1999 was $53,522, which is equivalent to the median income for King and Snohomish Counties ($53,157 and $53,060, respectively). Median income in 1990 was $40,515. Retail trade is a significant employer in the city. However, on a per capita basis, taxable retail sales in the City of Edmonds are relatively lower than Edmonds' neighbors and other cities of similar size, as. shown in Figure 5, and roughly the same as Snohomish County as a whole. The City's location amidst densely populated areas suggests that Edmonds has the potential to attract higher retail sales comparable to other cities its size. Figure 5 Taxable Retail Sales per Cap %ta for the City of Edmonds and Surrounding Areas ,(2002.5) F40,ADD SISADD SSD,ADD S35,OD0 520p0D $15,000 S10.DD0 SS 0D0 SD ❑2003 T=Ne Pei3i Sal- -- Prr Goom 2Ci72 Pc9_j1a6:,n 7002 Tamble Pct,i 5ai (milixr.) Mmwd: Lgmmwnad Shmelirm Nbur*b1m Roh- -1 Q.uiei iiMani Ererr_fx SnnhxnGh Kiv, Terwe Count$ Cnunhf $?269 $36243 $7,711 (•7,913 £1Q164 59976 $16,377 S UFA3r $7221 59694 3!,W 33,990 52730 M470 30,919 31,810 45,T93 GU50 637,500 1,779000 $297 £1232 $411 $59 $3133 $317 '$730 41,157 U. 917;245 Source Washington Stag Department of (Revenue, Off ce of financial Mana cement Housing The city is primarily residential with single - family residences as the predominant land use. Of the 17,519 dwelling units in 2000, 11,391 were single- family (65.5 percent of the total) and General Background 11 6,038 were multi - family (34.5 percent of the total). As shown in Table 4, multi family is continuing to increase its share of total housing stock. In 1990, 65.3 percent of all housing units were owner- occupied; this increased to just over 68 percent by 2000. Average household size continues to decrease over time, from 2.59 persons per household in 1980 to 2.32 persons in 2000. Source: U.S. Census, 2000. Transportation The existing transportation system consists of a network of principal arterials, minor arterials, collectors and local streets. Three major arterials link together state routes or connect the state route system to major centers and to the ferry system; - SR -104, SR- 524/196th Street SW and SR -99. SR -104 serves east -west travel on the south end of the city and provides access to the Edmonds - Kingston ferry and Interstate 5; SR- 524/196th Street SW extends bordering through the east side of the city. SR -99 carries the highest volume of traffic in Edmonds. The Burlington Northern Railroad runs adjacent to the city's shoreline and links Edmonds with Everett to the north and Seattle to the south. The rail line is currently used for freight and AMTRAK and Sound Transit commuter rail passenger rail service; approximately 37 trains a day pass through the city. Bus service is provided by Community Transit with 3 regular bus routes and 4 peak period only commute bus routes. The Edmonds - Kingston Ferry connects south Snohomish County and north King County with the northern Kitsap Peninsula and points west on the Olympic Peninsula via the Hood Canal Bridge. The Edmonds - Kingston ferry route is the fastest - growing route in the state's ferry system. Figure 6 shows historical growth in passenger and vehicle demand from 1980 to 2000. Ridership more than doubled during the 1980s, increasing from nearly 1,950 vehicles and more than 4,250 persons daily in 1980 to over 4,500 vehicles and 9,200 persons daily in 1990. Ridership also 12 General Background Table 4 Selected Housing Statistics 1980 1990 2000 SF Housing Units 7,529 8,550 11,391 MF Housing Units 3,072 4,165 6,038 Mobile Homes 101 230 90 Total Housing Units 10,702 12,945 17,519 % Single Family 71.3% 67.8% 65.5% % Multi Family 28.7% 32.2% 34.5% Avg Household Size 2.59 2.41 2.32 Avg Persons/Unit 2.59 2.37 2.26 Source: U.S. Census, 2000. Transportation The existing transportation system consists of a network of principal arterials, minor arterials, collectors and local streets. Three major arterials link together state routes or connect the state route system to major centers and to the ferry system; - SR -104, SR- 524/196th Street SW and SR -99. SR -104 serves east -west travel on the south end of the city and provides access to the Edmonds - Kingston ferry and Interstate 5; SR- 524/196th Street SW extends bordering through the east side of the city. SR -99 carries the highest volume of traffic in Edmonds. The Burlington Northern Railroad runs adjacent to the city's shoreline and links Edmonds with Everett to the north and Seattle to the south. The rail line is currently used for freight and AMTRAK and Sound Transit commuter rail passenger rail service; approximately 37 trains a day pass through the city. Bus service is provided by Community Transit with 3 regular bus routes and 4 peak period only commute bus routes. The Edmonds - Kingston Ferry connects south Snohomish County and north King County with the northern Kitsap Peninsula and points west on the Olympic Peninsula via the Hood Canal Bridge. The Edmonds - Kingston ferry route is the fastest - growing route in the state's ferry system. Figure 6 shows historical growth in passenger and vehicle demand from 1980 to 2000. Ridership more than doubled during the 1980s, increasing from nearly 1,950 vehicles and more than 4,250 persons daily in 1980 to over 4,500 vehicles and 9,200 persons daily in 1990. Ridership also 12 General Background increased appreciably in the 1990s, growing by more than 40 percent to over 6,750 vehicles and 13,000 persons daily during 2000. The 1992 Cross Sound Transportation Study (Booz -Allen and Hamilton Study Team, 1992) concluded that there was no reasonable alternative to the ferry service to meet the projected increases in travel demand. The PSRC based its Transportation Element of Vision 2020 on the Edmonds- Kingston ferry service growing to support the allocation of population within the region. PSRC Destination 2030 identifies the Edmonds Crossing project as a ferry project on the Metropolitan Transportation System and thus a crucial element to the mobility needs and economic vitality of the region. Figure 6 Historical Edmonds Daily Ferry Ridership M l b� 4 tea (4.000) I Wa 42r'a Pe'.?.ss c ells (I. 76) 1990 Vehd,e Passangwrs (3249) 1 -q� Mkon 1A5) 14,7 Vah"ZtOS & DMWS 14,508 1980 �Ic jdl� 8 Ddvem 11,945 2)" Source: Edmonds Crossing Final EIS, November, 2004. A, In response to this need, the Edmonds Crossing project is being developed to provide a long -term solution to current operations and safety conflicts between ferry, rail, automobile, bus, and pedestrian traffic in downtown Edmonds. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Federal Transit Administration [FTA]), the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) (including Washington State Ferries [WSF]), and the City of Edmonds, in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers [Corps], the U.S. Coast Guard, the Suquamish Tribe, the Tulalip Tribe, the Lummi Nation, the Swinomish Tribe, and the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe propose to relocate the existing state ferry tenninal from Main Street in downtown Edmonds to another site farther from the downtown core at Point Edwards. In the process, a multimodal center would be established that would integrate the ferry, rail, and transit services into a single complex. Access would be provided by a realigned State Route (SR) 104 from its current intersection with Pine Street. The new complex would provide an upgraded ferry terminal General Background 13 designed to meet the operational requirements for accommodating forecast ferry ridership demand; a new rail station designed to meet intercity (Amtrak) passenger service and commuter rail loading requirements; a transit center that would meet local bus system and regional transit system loading requirements; facilities for accommodating both vehicular commuters and walk - on passengers of the available transportation modes (parking, drop -off areas, retail and concessionaire space, and waiting areas); and a system linking these facilities to allow for the safe movement of users Attributes of the Community The City of Edmonds was a well - established community by the turn of the twentieth century and the present urban form preserves many characteristics of its historic origins. The community's location on the west facing slopes of Puget Sound provides many amenities including extensive views of the water and Olympic Mountains, access to beaches and waterfront parks, and a compact downtown area. The city provides a wide variety of parks and recreational facilities. An active arts and cultural community contributes to the strong sense of civic pride widely shared in the community. There are numerous well -kept residential neighborhoods, a viable economic base, and an active, involved citizenry. Public Process The public process for the 2004 comprehensive plan update included numerous public workshops, open houses, and televised work sessions both at the Planning Board and City Council. Three public hearings were held at the Planning Board and two public hearings were held at the City Council. Interested parties were provided the option to be informed of upcoming events and hearings via U.S. mail or email, and could track the process online at a special section of the City's website. An initial public open house was held on May 26, 2004 to inform the public about the process and issues related to updates of the comprehensive plan and critical areas regulations. Initial work sessions were conducted with the City Planning Board and City Council on June 22 and 23, 2004, respectively, to familiarize each entity with the update process and the primary issues involved. All Planning Board and City Council meetings were publicized and open to the public, with City Council sessions recorded and broadcast on the local public access television channel. Throughout the process, the City continually updated its website regarding Comprehensive Plan and critical areas revisions, including posting of background materials and draft and final documents. In addition, over 600 letters of notification were sent to property.owners who had streams on or adjacent to their property, these being the residents most likely to be impacted by new critical areas regulations. Over 800 letters were sent to property owners in areas of existing "large lot" zoning where it had been determined that the plan and zoning designations could be changed to higher density urban designations. These mailings were_in addition to the newspaper ads, news releases, and other forms of public notice employed during the process. 14 General Background Comprehensive Plan - Elements Elements Adopted The Comprehensive Plan consists of the remaining chapters of this title, and the following additional elements of the plan which are hereby adopted by reference: 1. Land Use • Edmonds Environmentally Sensitive Areas Map (applies to Shoreline area only)Stevens Memorial Hospital Master Plan • Edmonds - Woodway High School Master Plan • City Park Master Plan • Pine Ridge Park Master Plan • Southwest County Park Master Plan • Port of Edmonds Master Plan • Shoreline Master Program 2. Community Culture • Community Cultural Plan and Urban Design • Public Urban Design and Street Tree Plans • Edmonds Economic Development Strategic Action Plan 3. Utilities • 2000 Sanitary Sewer Comprehensive Plan • 2002 Water Comprehensive Plan • Stormwater Comprehensive Plan • Edmonds Drainage Basin Studies • Meadowdale and Perrinville Drainage Studies • Southwest Edmonds Basin Study 4. Capital Facilities Edmonds School District No. 15 Capital Facilities Plan 5. Housing (Included in this document) 6. Transportation • City of Edmonds Transportation Element, 2002 Update, including the Walkway Plan and 2000 Bikeway Comprehensive Plan 7. Parks, Recreation & Open • Parks Recreation & Open Space Plan Space Repeal or modification of the text of the original ordinances or resolutions adopting and/or amending any of the foregoing plans or maps shall not affect the validity of said plans or maps which are hereby readopted. Said plans or maps subsequently may be repealed or amended by ordinance or resolution making specific reference to said maps or plans. Land Use 15 Land Use Element Scope Whenever there are references in this plan to categories of land use, they shall apply to areas shown on the Comprehensive Plan Map as follows: Plan Map Designation Land Use Type Compatible Zoning Density Classifications Units /Acre Activity Center Corridor Development Designated Park or School Site Single Family, Resource Single Family, Urban 3 Single Family, Urban 2 Single Family, Urban 1 Multi Family - High Density Multi Family - Medium Density Mixed Use Commercial Community Commercial Neighborhood Commercial Highway 99 Corridor Edmonds Way Corridor Westgate Corridor (Planned Business) Hospital / Medical Master Plan Development Public Use or Park/Open Space Mix of uses; refer to specific See appropriate category below; plan designations within also refer to specific activity activity center center discussion in plan Mixed use development See appropriate category below; corridor; refer to specific plan also refer to specific corridor designations within corridor discussion in plan Public Facility P -zone or appropriate R -zone compatible with neighborhood. Single family RSW -12, RS -12, RS -20 < 4 RS -10 < 4.4 RS -8 < 5.5 RS -6, RS -8 5 -8 Multi family RM -1.5, RM -2.4 18 -30 RM -2.4, RM -3.0 < 18 Commercial Mixed Use Commercial or mixture of zones BC, BN, or equivalent BN CG, CG2; transitional zones as appropriate BP, BN or BC; RM zones BP, BN Special Use District Hospital or Medical zone Master Plan Master Plan Overlay or equivalent classification Public or Parks P, OS, or equivalent classification 16 Land Use Comprehensive Plan Map (The adopted Comprehensive Plan Map is filed with the City Clerk. Copies can be obtained from the Edmonds Planning Division, 121 5th Avenue North, Edmonds, WA 98020, 425- 771 -0220. A reduced version of the official map is contained in an envelope at the back of this book) Land Use 17 Land Capacity Background The City was required to estimate the ability of land within the City of Edmonds to accommodate targeted population and employment growth under each of the land use alternatives considered at the time the Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 1995. Table 5 summarizes available data on land supply in Edmonds as it existed in 1994. Data on residential and commercial development in 1994 are shown in Table 6. Overall, approximately 95 percent of the city was developed in 1994. Approximately 75 percent of the remaining undeveloped land (approximately 173 acres) was designated for residential use: 71 percent for single - family residences and 4 percent for multi - family residences. The remaining 25 percent of undeveloped land was designated for commercial and industrial uses. Capacity estimates were developed for vacant and under - developed parcels. In general, vacant land included parcels that currently have no structures; residential parcels were considered under - developed if they contained less than 50 percent of the allowable density under existing 18 Land Use Table 5 City of Edmonds Land Supply -1994 (Gross Acres) Total Developed Vacant Land Use Acres Acres Acres Residential Single - Family 2,773.7 2,608.8 164.9 Multi - Family. 202.0 193.5 8.5 Business Commercial 296.9 284.7 12.2 Industrial 58.4 11.6 46.8 Public Facilities Government 35.3 35.3 — Schools 131.8 131.8 — Parks & Open Space 349.2 349.2 — Religious 29.0 29.0 — Streets 867.0 867.0 — Total 4,743.3 4,510.9 232.4 Source: City of Edmonds Planning Department, 1994 Overall, approximately 95 percent of the city was developed in 1994. Approximately 75 percent of the remaining undeveloped land (approximately 173 acres) was designated for residential use: 71 percent for single - family residences and 4 percent for multi - family residences. The remaining 25 percent of undeveloped land was designated for commercial and industrial uses. Capacity estimates were developed for vacant and under - developed parcels. In general, vacant land included parcels that currently have no structures; residential parcels were considered under - developed if they contained less than 50 percent of the allowable density under existing 18 Land Use zoning (for example, a single - family house on a five -acre parcel that is zoned for four units per acre). The analysis measured the build -out capacity of vacant and under - developed parcels. As indicated in Table 6, when the city's first GMA- mandated comprehensive plan was adopted in 1995, development of currently vacant parcels was expected to provide capacity for approximately 762 additional residential units and an additional 1.35 million square feet of commercial space. Given the limited supply of vacant land within the city, capacity estimates were not calculated strictly on the amount of vacant buildable land, but also on increased densities and intensity of development within various areas of the city. Two methods of development were targeted to provide additional residential capacity: accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and mixed use development. Planned Residential Developments (PRDs) were also targeted as a way of assuring maximum buildout of single - family -zoned areas while Following adoption of the 1995 comprehensive plan, the city embarked on an implementation program to achieve the goals identified in the plan. Many of these implementation measures are described in the Housing Element under the discussion of "reasonable measures." These measures were taken by the city to address issues related to both capacity and affordable housing. A,key feature of Edmonds' comprehensive plan is its emphasis on mixed use development, which includes both commercial and residential uses on a single lot or combination of lots. For Land Use 19 Table 6 Development and Capacity of Vacant Land —1994 Existing Development Vacant/Development Capacity Residential Commercial Residential Commercial Units Square Feet Units Square Feet Downtown 1,571 943,206 17 506,996 HS Activity 1,914 1,158,633 232 656,407 Center Highway 99 337 558,912 48 187,930 South 76th and 196th 545 39 RS -6 1,615 65 RS -8 3,659 73 RS -12 2,719 224 RSW -12 51 — RS -20 362 64 Total 12,773 2,660,751 762 1,351,333 Source: City of Edmonds Planning Department, 1994. Given the limited supply of vacant land within the city, capacity estimates were not calculated strictly on the amount of vacant buildable land, but also on increased densities and intensity of development within various areas of the city. Two methods of development were targeted to provide additional residential capacity: accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and mixed use development. Planned Residential Developments (PRDs) were also targeted as a way of assuring maximum buildout of single - family -zoned areas while Following adoption of the 1995 comprehensive plan, the city embarked on an implementation program to achieve the goals identified in the plan. Many of these implementation measures are described in the Housing Element under the discussion of "reasonable measures." These measures were taken by the city to address issues related to both capacity and affordable housing. A,key feature of Edmonds' comprehensive plan is its emphasis on mixed use development, which includes both commercial and residential uses on a single lot or combination of lots. For Land Use 19 example, a mixed use development could include a two -story development with residential dwelling units on the second floor and offices, shops or other commercial uses on the ground floor. Edmonds is unique in relying to a significant degree on mixed use development as a land use pattern designed to address potential capacity. Mixed use development is allowed in both of the city's Activity Centers, and in the Corridor development areas. In the 1995 comprehensive plan, mixed use development was to be allowed under all the alternatives considered, but would only be encouraged under the adopted "Designed Infill" alternative. The encouragement of mixed use development continues as a basic assumption underlying the current comprehensive plan. The importance of mixed use in the city's land use pattern can be seen in Figure 7. Master Plan bevel - - 1 Multi 1 3.: Single Fal....Y 40.5% Figure 7 General Use Categories by % of City Land Area Open Space 5.0% Public Current Capacity Single Family Resource 21.1% leighborhood Commercial 0.4% fanned- Neighborhood 0.2% iowntown Districts 1.2% ;ommunity Commercial 0.4% Edmonds Way Corridor 0.6% Mixed Use Commercial 2.4% Corridor Development 3.6% An updated county -wide capacity analysis was completed as part of the Buildable Lands Report for Snohomish County, completed in November 2002. This analysis showed a population capacity for Edmonds of 45,337 and an employment capacity of 12,041. These capacity figures indicate that with an estimated 2004 population of 39,460, Edmonds can accommodate an additional 5,877 people and 1,887 jobs. However, the jobs capacity does not take into account any new implementation actions proposed in the Highway 99 area. Discussions of land capacity methodology generally acknowledge that an oversupply of land is needed in growth management systems using urban/rural growth boundaries (DCD, 1992). 20 Land Use Reasons are generally related to operation of urban land markets, changes in availability over time, and a need to avoid constraining land supply and causing increases in land cost. The amount of the oversupply needed is not known with certainty. Too little urban land relative to targeted needs could increase land cost and housing prices and shift growth pressure to adjacent areas or jurisdictions. In order to ensure adequate availability of urban land at all times, some growth management planning systems have provided for a "safety factor" of land in addition to projected urban area land requirements. Factors of 1.25 to 2.5 have been used in some growth management systems (Whatcom County /Bellingham Planning Departments, 1993; Beaton, 1982; Department of Community Development (DCD), 1992). For the 2002 capacity analysis, reduction factors were applied to provide a "safety factor" for estimated future capacity. A 15% market availability reduction factor was applied to vacant land, and at a 30% market availability reduction factor was used for partially -used and redevelopable land. In addition, an additional 5% reduction was made for uncertainty related to future infrastructure needs (roads, drainage facilities, etc.). One adjustment to the capacity analysis completed in 2002 is necessary. Development plans for the large master - planned multi family development (developed by Triad) at Point Edwards indicate that nearly 300 dwelling units will be built there, adding approximately 80 dwelling units to the capacity estimate at that location (the initial capacity estimate was for 220 units). The specific studies undertaken by the city to update the plans for the Downtown Waterfront Activity Center and the Medical /Highway 99 Activity Center and related Highway 99 Corridor have been targeted at clarifying and improving implementation rather than increasing capacity in those areas. Relationship to 2025 Population and Employment Targets The Growth Management Act (GMA) requires that jurisdictions plan to accommodate housing and employment forecasts for the next 20 years within the Urban Growth Area. Snohomish County and its cities have worked together with the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) to arrive at forecasts that each city will use to accommodate its fair share of regional growth. The City of Edmonds" share of regional growth by the year 2025 is 5,420 additional residents (approximately 3,079 residential units). By 2025, total population is expected to reach 44,880 residents. A comparison of additional population capacity and the 2025 population target is presented in Figure 8 and Table 6. The city is able to consider a planning target within a range (shown as the "high" vs. "low" growth lines in Figure 8). Based on historical trends, the "low" target appears to be the most reasonable for Edmonds — particularly in light of the relatively high land values in the city. The land capacity analysis, combined with the goals and policies in the comprehensive plan, indicates that both the projected targets for population and employment can be accommodated by the city through 2025. The City should consider using incentives to achieve redevelopment and infill goals and zoning incentives or other measures to ensure that land adjacent to infrastructure facilities is utilized to maximize the economic benefits of that infrastructure. The land capacity analysis indicates that there is sufficient capacity to accommodate forecasted residential and employment growth under the Proposed Action and each of the land use alternatives. Given the extent to which future land use policies, regulations, demographics and Land Use 21 market forces could affect land capacity estimates, however, it is important that development trends and remaining land supply within the city is regularly monitored in order to ensure the continued supply of adequate urban land throughout the 20 -year GMA planning horizon. Implementation strategies should include development of a long -term program to monitor the city's progress towards goals contained in the Comprehensive Plan. As part of the monitoring process, the city should work with the public, environmental and business leaders, interest groups, cities and other agencies to develop detailed monitoring criteria or "benchmarks" that could be used to measure progress and identify the need for corrective action. Specific implementation measures should seek to reduce barriers or impediments to development. For example, measures that reduce the regulatory compliance burden of the private sector, if successful, would reduce the cost imposed by such regulations. Similarly, implementation measures that are designed to encourage flexibility could also help reduce compliance costs — at least on a case -by -case basis. Specific measures could include: provision of flexible development standards; density bonuses for site designs that provide public benefits; and fee waivers or expedited review that lower financial development risks. O f � i 3 I Q ' O i 50,000 45,000 40,000 35,000 30,000 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 J 5,000 0 -- Figure 8 Edmonds Growth Targets vs. Historical Growth Buildable Lands Capacity (45,207) 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010' 2020' 2025' Buildable Lands Capacity D Low Growth Target D Historical Growth —s High Growth Target 22 Land Use Table 7 City of Edmonds Existing and Projected Growth 1990 2000 2025 (Plan Target) Population 30,744 39,515 44,880 Nominal Change 3,065 8,771 5,365 % Change 11.1% 28.5% 13.6% Annual %Change 1.1% 2.5% 0.5% Housing Units 12,945 17,508 20,587 Nominal Change 2,243 4,563 3,079 % Change 21.0% 35.2% 17.6% Avg HH Size 2.41 2.32 2.26 Avg Persons/Unit 2.37 2.26 2.18 Gross Density 1 2.7 3.1 3.6 Net Density 2 4.9 5.4 6.3 1 Gross Density = number of households per gross acre of land, city -wide. Note that this includes non - residential land, so the density per gross residential acre is significantly higher. 2 Net Density = number of households per net acre of land, after critical areas and rights -of -way are deducted. Note that this is includes non - residential land, so the density per net residential acre is significantly higher. Source: U.S. Census, 2000, and Edmonds Planning Division, 2004. Land Use 23 Land Use Concepts The VISION 2020 regional plan establishes a strategy for the Puget Sound region of central places framed by open space and linked by efficient, high capacity transit. While the history and character of development in Edmonds does not support its designation as one of these regional centers, the concepts developed in VISION 2020 are supported in the Edmonds Comprehensive Plan. The approach proposed in Edmonds is to strategically plan for future development in two activity centers based on the "Activity Clusters" described in VISION 2020: "These central places are smaller than the subregional and metropolitan centers and are not necessarily located on, or directly served by, the regional rapid transit system. They are not designated to receive a major share of the region's employment growth, although they will certainly continue to see some new employment and residential development. Transit service will focus on connecting these places to the regional rapid transit system and to the adjacent metropolitan or subregional centers. In contrast with the subregional centers, the growth in employment in an activity cluster is for services oriented to serving the local residential community. In contrast with the small towns, activity clusters are part of the urban /suburban landscape; they are not separated from other areas by open space, agricultural lands or water. " [Vision 2020, October 1990, page 24] Activity Centers in Edmonds are intended to address the following goals: A. Provide a pedestrian- oriented streetscape environment for residential and commercial activity. B. Encourage mixed -use development patterns that provide a variety of commercial and residential opportunities, including both multi - family and small -lot single family development. C. Build on historical character and natural relationships, such as historic buildings, slopes with views, and the waterfront. D. Encourage transit service and access. E. Strategically plan for development and redevelopment that achieves a balanced and coordinated approach to economic development, housing, and cultural goals. F. Coordinate the plans and actions of both the public and private sectors. G. Provide a context for urban design guidelines that maximize predictability while assuring a consistent and coherent character of development. H. Provide incentives to encourage adaptive reuse as an alternative to redevelopment of historic structures in order to preserve these resources. 24 Land Use Downtown Waterfront Activity Center A. Plan Context. A number of public plans and projects have been taking shape in recent years, and these will have a profound impact on the future of the city's downtown waterfront area. Some of these ongoing activities include: • Transportation planning and the Edmonds Crossing multimodal project which will move the existing ferry terminal at the base of Main Street to a new multimodal transportation center at Pt. Edwards. • Continued development of the city's waterfront parks and walkways into an interconnected necklace of public spaces. • The South County Senior Center is undertaking strategic planning to look at its facilities, programs, and services. • Public access to the water and the natural beauty of the waterfront figures prominently in the Port of Edmonds' plans, including new plazas, improved walkways and public art. Public pedestrian/bicycle access across the railroad tracks to the waterfront, in the vicinity of the south end of the marina, near Marina Beach Park, should remain a high priority. • Arts plans continue to be implemented throughout the downtown, including such projects as the Edmonds Center for the Arts, the Artworks facility, and the continued expansion of downtown festivals and events. • Edmonds Community College has expanded its downtown presence through new initiatives with the Edmonds Floral Conference Center and is working with the Edmonds Center for the Arts to enhance overall operations. B. Downtown Vision. Taken together, the goals and policies for the Downtown Waterfront Activity Center present a vision for Edmonds downtown waterfront. By actively pursuing the ferry terminal's relocation, the City has set upon an ambitious and exciting course. It is a course that holds promise for the downtown waterfront, but it is one that will require concerted action by the entire community, including local, state and federal public officials, business groups and citizens. While the challenges presented in this effort are substantial, the possible rewards are even greater, for with its existing physical assets, future opportunities and the energy of its citizens, Edmonds has the potential to create one of the region's most attractive and vital city centers. Components of the overall vision for the downtown waterfront area include: The Edmonds Crossing multimodal transportation center provides convenient transportation connections for bus, ferry, rail, auto and bicycle riders and makes Edmonds an integrated node in the regional transportation system. The new terminal reduces negative impacts to downtown Edmonds while still providing a link between the terminal and downtown Edmonds. The project provides the community with varied transportation resources and an economic stimulus to the larger community. Land Use 25 • Downtown is extended westward and connected to the shoreline by positive mixed -use development as well as by convenient pedestrian routes. Redevelopment of the holding lanes and SR -104 is pursued after the ferry terminal relocates to Point Edwards. • The shoreline features a full spectrum of recreational activities, park settings, marina facilities, and supporting uses. • There is a more efficient transportation system featuring commuter and passenger trains, increased bus service, pedestrian and bicycle routes, and adequate streets and parking areas. • There is a more active and vital setting for new retail, office, entertainment and associated businesses supported by both nearby residents and the larger Edmonds community, and that attracts visitors from throughout the region. • The downtown supports a mix of uses, including traditional commercial and multi family development with new mixed -use development types. Single family neighborhoods are a part of this mix of uses, and contribute to the choice of housing and character of downtown. • Opportunities for new development and redevelopment reinforce Edmonds' attractive, small town pedestrian- oriented character. Pedestrian -scale building height limits are an important part of this quality of life, and remain in effect. • Provide incentives to encourage adaptive reuse as an alternative to redevelopment of historic structures in order to preserve these resources. • Auto traffic is rerouted to minimize impact to residential neighborhoods. C. Goals for the Downtown Waterfront Area. To achieve this vision, goals for the Downtown Waterfront Activity Center include: • Promote downtown Edmonds as a setting for retail, office, entertainment and associated businesses supported by nearby residents and the larger Edmonds community, and as a destination for visitors from throughout the region. Continue to plan for and implement the Edmonds Crossing multimodal transportation center at Pt. Edwards — pursuing the design, permitting, land acquisition and development of the project. The completion of Edmonds Crossing will help address the competing needs of three regional facilities (transportation, parks and open space — including the Edmonds Marsh, and the Port of Edmonds) while providing opportunities for redevelopment and linkage between downtown Edmonds and its waterfront. Define the downtown commercial and retail core along streets having the strongest pedestrian links and pedestrian- oriented design elements, while protecting downtown's identity. • Identify supporting arts and mixed use residential and office areas which support and complement downtown retail use areas. Provide for a strong central retail core at downtown's focal center while providing for a mixture of supporting commercial and residential uses in the area surrounding this retail core area. Emphasize and plan for links between the retail core and these supporting areas. 26 Land Use • Focus development between the commercial and retail core and the Edmonds Center for the Arts on small -scale retail, service, and multi - family residential uses. Develop gateway /entrance areas into downtown which serve complementary purposes (e.g. convenience shopping, community activities). Explore alternative development opportunities in the waterfront area, such as specifically encouraging arts- related and arts - complementing uses. D. Transportation. Primary goals of the City's Downtown Waterfront Plan include integrating the downtown core with the waterfront, improving pedestrian access and traffic circulation, and encouraging mixed -use development. Current conditions limit the city's ability to achieve these plan goals by making it difficult to move between the two areas, thereby minimizing the value of the shoreline as a public resource and amenity while adversely affecting the potential for redevelopment. A number of studies and public involvement projects have been completed to determine how to meet the variety of transportation needs that converge within Downtown Edmonds. Following an initial 1992 Ferry Relocation Feasibility Study and a visioning focus group convened by Edmonds' Mayor in April 1992, the importance of the conflicting transportation needs culminated in the City of Edmonds, Washington State Ferries, and Community Transit signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in November 1993. The MOU called for the cooperative development of solutions to the conflicts between the City's growth plans and ferry traffic in particular. In response to that agreement, preliminary engineering and environmental analysis of alternatives began in late 1993. In 1994, the Edmonds City Council held public hearings on the possibility of relocating the existing ferry terminal and incorporating a new terminal within a larger multimodal project. As a result of the hearings, the Council expressed support for a regional multimodal facility. The Council also approved the 1994 Edmonds Downtown Waterfront Plan which specifically supported the facility's location at Pt. Edwards. Further environmental review and facility definition resulted in a recommendation that an alternative site (other than the existing Main Street location) should be developed as a multimodal facility serving ferry, rail, bus, pedestrian, and bicycle travel needs. Several alternative sites for the relocated ferry terminal and the proposed multimodal center were evaluated as part of the early environmental screening process. During this screening process, federal, state, regional, and local regulatory agencies— including affected Tribes— provided input regarding issues that could impact selecting reasonable alternatives. Based on this extensive screening process, two alternatives were recommended for further analysis in the Environmental Impact Statement process. A Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was issued on February 25, 1998, and the Final EIS was issued on November 10, 2004. Pt. Edwards is the preferred alternative for a multimodal terminal site. In addition to the transportation benefits of moving the existing ferry terminal, a number of redevelopment opportunities will result within the downtown waterfront area. These range from park and public access improvements to opportunities for significant redevelopment and connections between the waterfront and downtown. Land Use 27 �'--- P U G E T eM� 4 SOUND Concrete Pier �n Port of Existing Braekcft's crry PIor) % PaA: Landing j y /f/ Park (South) '� vnar.�r ran; _ s y�tiv i i Brackott'a Landing ParkgNorthJ _MW__ RannaU w» �0 strian aConhe ions Now ^� Combined Park M h Figure 9. Integration of the remaining ferry pier structure into surrounding parks will be a key public benefit and opportunity. Edmonds Crossing. Edmonds Crossing is a multimodal transportation center proposed to be constructed at Point Edwards, the former UNOCAL oil storage facility south of the Edmonds Marina. This multimodal transportation center will provide the capacity to respond to growth while providing improved opportunities for connecting various forms of travel, including rail, ferry, bus, bicycle, walking and ridesharing. The project is supported by local, regional, and state plans, including the Puget Sound Regional Council's Destination 2030 Metropolitan Transportation and VISION 2020 plan; Washington State Ferries' (WSF) System Plan for 1999 -2018; Snohomish County's countywide Transportation Plan; the City of Edmonds Comprehensive Plan; and the Port of Edmonds Strategic Plan and Master Plan. Edmonds Crossing will provide: • Intersection improvements at Pine Street and SR -104; • Interconnection of Amtrak service to Chicago and Vancouver, B.C., Sounder commuter rail service between Everett and Seattle, and other regional transportation modes; • Connections to the regional transit system with direct bus service to communities throughout the urban growth area; • Enhanced ability for people to rideshare, bicycle and walk to connect with travel opportunities at the multimodal center; • Improved safety and travel on Edmonds local streets and along SR -104 between the ferry terminal and I -5. • Linkage between Navy facilities at Everett and on the Kitsap peninsula. The project includes: • A ferry terminal; 28 Land Use • A train station; • A transit center for bus and regional transit, as well as the opportunity for riders to connect to downtown businesses via a local circulator service; • The flexibility to operate the facility to respond to changing travel demands; • Safety features including grade separation of train traffic from other modes of travel, designated vehicle parking and holding areas, and improved passenger waiting areas. 240 \ \.• Shoe -Tertn� r; 200 Sam 4\ 3 ln Management �• d+ g�� Area Boundary (SMA) �?) \�9 03 - .. ,b god, D '5° �\ b _ s ,� b ,10 " 20 Tag Booths/ b 2nd Story Entploy Facilit s Sre afe _ - 60 ' Agent �'\ c 3 t Accounting Room Port of Edmonds Manna r � UNOCAL Pier (to be removed) /Marina Beac �-- ~_ IV Daylghted sea on Pa rkh ,-- ._�.^� . WJ. Geek OZ. Will— Creek +' < Bus Stop (Lined Channel) ada k h,-ry oulbt ,� Tum—rd Terminal ! _ __� BuiNing —� Rallroatl '.` � -� Petlestrian Wark Drop Og Covered Loading `.• ,. Tide Gate /' - - - - - - — _ Treartane �„l Open Channel - Pond Stair: and _ \O'ti0 Elevator sC�- Salt Marsh 2Level Parkng Garage Edmonds e Marsh Tomdnal Access Road Freshwater / Wetlands Doer Cf Creek gQ.y�eil Hatchery \ \r0A Figure 10. Edmonds Crossing "preferred alternative" from the 2004 FEIS. Land Use 29 �0\ ��`..- \.• Shoe -Tertn� r; \ Em Parkkining g s tal6 Tag Booths/ 2nd Story Entploy Facilit s Sre afe Agent �'\ t Accounting Room SGLLE W GLFf 0 M sc L W METERS 'Oa Salt Marsh 2Level Parkng Garage Edmonds e Marsh Tomdnal Access Road Freshwater / Wetlands Doer Cf Creek gQ.y�eil Hatchery \ \r0A Figure 10. Edmonds Crossing "preferred alternative" from the 2004 FEIS. Land Use 29 Downtown Downtown Public. Pier Pe sirian �'atewn} p,vat Redevelopment l ` cone_ lions Design to Visitor Moorage y . , dux own core center ('� 7 for the Concepts L • 4+4 Brackgtt's' , View Corridors & FerryTermim,f � z e,�t-� • � * pedestrian connections Wate {froni Esplanade to "Historic C'errter';. B Downtown � -! 40 (, • . �monds L. Commuter Rail £> �• y �.. s y Public' Bus Transit Station Safety, otyrrpic�-15,06 "N. iLLI �F nces �' •!a� .oi�•'�•iiiS.S�i!!� •`' .;o �- -o C.3_L1e,_ J 3 NewMultbnodal • Edmaids V. Terminal • I Wastewater .� - s • i Harbor Y _.IIis1oria.Onter- (ferry, train, bus, • �� r� � • ./ � ,Sgiiare ''� I Plant + :- I '--, , € �:' pedestr,att= scale - connnuter rail) •,. _ - ¥ View- CorWorn' . i - �, F -. aes,gn • :, _:; �: -;, < ^ 'to `Puget Sound —+ ; • o --ArtsCorridor/ oxnfoxn •• '` iYct)erfroiit,Cunnection ! LA Yr Gittewwvs View Corn' or ' , = , peile_su•,an connection Port o ftnonds ♦ :r�: qc' ' :c �..^ - i��:' ; to "H,sior,cCenter,'�" rds Edir�SniJs Polafstz Conte _ Master i tnilj-.. t edef elopinetrt of ' upper 1 �L it Park •:c -. § :.�. w � :.rye :c-: ,� A onW0 300 600 Feei '+. t 'ti':.� �'= . ^- „'.y'�•:.� : 7 While the Edmonds Crossing project will directly benefit the transportation system, the project will also provide significant benefits to downtown Edmonds. Completion of the project provides an opportunity to redevelop the existing ferry terminal facilities and the related holding lanes in the downtown area. Providing a connection from the new multimodal terminal to downtown Edmonds will potentially bring more visibility and visitors to the downtown area. E. Plan Policies and Implementation Strategy. The vision and goals for Downtown Waterfront Activity Center are designed to present a coherent vision for future development in the area. To implement this vision, a series of policies and an implementation strategy are intended to guide future public and private actions. Implementation Strategy. Key issues tied to the viability and health of the downtown waterfront area include using the Edmonds Crossing project to help resolve transportation issues, linking downtown with the waterfront, and taking advantage of redevelopment opportunities arising from emerging trends and public investments. The largest single factor affecting the downtown waterfront area is the timing and construction of the Edmonds Crossing project. Because of this, a two - phased downtown waterfront redevelopment strategy is envisioned. The first phase includes actions taken before the existing 30 Land Use ferry terminal is relocated to the Pt. Edwards site, and is intended to include actions taken to support ongoing redevelopment and arts- related improvements downtown. This phase will also set the framework for subsequent redevelopment after the terminal's relocation. The second phase is aimed at comprehensive redevelopment to link the downtown with the waterfront, better utilize shoreline resources, increase economic viability and provide the setting for a broad range of community functions. Short Term Actions. Short term actions are those actions that can take place prior to construction of the Edmonds Crossing project, generally in the next 5 -7 years. 1. Plan for the Edmonds Crossing project at Pt. Edwards which includes relocation of the existing ferry terminal. Planning should also include reuse of the current ferry terminal and related holding area. 2. Improve the existing downtown rail station between Dayton and Main Streets in order to better accormnodate inter -city passenger and commuter rail service, including provisions for bus and commuter traffic as well as pedestrian connections to the waterfront and downtown. During the short term planning period, evaluate the feasibility of retaining a commuter rail presence downtown after the construction of Edmonds Crossing.. 3. Plan for future joint public /private development of the area between SR -104 and the railroad tracks. Planning activities could potentially include infrastructure planning, property acquisition, parking management, development incentives and guidelines or modifications to land use regulations (such as zoning or master planning). Although Amtrak and commuter rail service will be included as a part of the Edmonds Crossing project, the City and transit service providers should examine whether a commuter rail stop can be retained between Dayton and Main Streets in order to provide improved service and stimulate potential redevelopment of the surrounding area. 4. Upgrade secondary downtown streets for pedestrians. Implement the city's public urban design plan and street tree plan while expanding public amenities and streetscape improvements in areas where these do not already exist. These improvements are particularly needed along Main and Dayton Streets in the area between downtown and the waterfront in order to improve pedestrian connections between downtown and the waterfront area. Pedestrian improvements should be combined with traffic improvement projects where applicable. 5. Continue to promote shoreline management and public access to the city's beaches, parks, and walkways. 6. Continue implementing a continuous shoreline walkway (boardwalk/esplanade) from Brackett's Landing North to Point Edwards. Work with the Port of Edmonds to integrate recreation and marina functions into the long term plan. 7. Work with the Senior Center to plan for long term needs for the senior center facilities and programs. 8. Encourage a variety of housing to be developed as part of new development and redevelopment of downtown properties. Housing should be provided to serve a diverse community, including single family homes, multi family apartments and condominiums, housing as part of mixed use developments, and housing connected with live /work developments that Land Use 31 could also encourage an arts- oriented community in the downtown area. A special focus for arts - supporting live /work arrangements could be in the corridor and nearby residential areas linking downtown with the Edmonds Center for the Arts. 9. Begin improvements to mitigate ferry terminal traffic (and other traffic) increases, as envisioned in the Edmonds Crossing project and the transportation element of the comprehensive plan. 10. Develop "gateways" at key entrances to the downtown area which enhance the identity and sense of place for downtown. Gateways should signal that visitors are entering downtown Edmonds, and should include elements such as public art, landscaping, signage and directional ( "way- finding ") aids. Long Term Actions. Long term actions are those actions that can take place during or after construction of the Edmonds Crossing project, generally in the next 7 -20 years. 1. Complete a multi modal transportation center at Point Edwards for: • Rail (inter -city and commuter) • Ferry • Park & Ride /Auto • Bus • Pedestrian and shuttle connections to other features and amenities. 2. Complete redevelopment of the Point Edwards site consistent with an overall master plan that provides for commercial or mixed use development compatible with the Edmonds Crossing proj ect. 3. Coordinate circulation and public parking with Port development. 4. Continue to protect and enhance existing wetlands and continue to develop supporting non - intrusive interpretive trails and exhibits. 5. Continue development of a "necklace" of shoreline parks with improvements, focusing on missing links in the park and walkway system. Retain and expand existing parks, providing linkages whenever property acquisitions or easements become available for public use. 6. Encourage the development of centralized parking facilities as part of redevelopment projects. Under the right circumstances, these types of facilities can provide an efficient mechanism for consolidating expensive parking improvements while freeing up land for more intensive and desirable uses that support local housing, commercial, and pedestrian activities. Public /private partnerships should be explored when the opportunity arises, both in private and public projects (e.g. the commuter rail station downtown). Centralized parking facilities could be built as part of a master - planned mixed -use development. 7. Redevelop the existing ferry terminal site at the base of Main Street according to a master plan after the existing ferry terminal has been relocated to Point Edwards. This is a unique location, situated in the midst of a continuous park and beach setting, and provides opportunities for public /private partnerships. Ideas to be pursued include public "festival" entertainment or activity space, visitor moorage, park and public walkways, and other uses that would encourage this as to become a destination drawing people from south along the waterfront and eastward up 32 Land Use into downtown. Redevelopment of this area should be done in a manner that is sensitive to and enhances the views down Main Street and from the adjoining parks and public areas. 8. Redevelop the area from the east side of SR -104 to the railroad tracks, from Harbor Square to Main Street, according to a mixed use master plan. This area could provide a significant opportunity for public /private partnerships. Under the right circumstances, consolidated parking or a pedestrian crossing to the waterfront could be possible as part of a redevelopment project. Every opportunity should be taken to improve the pedestrian streetscape in this area in order to encourage pedestrian activity and linkages between downtown and the waterfront. Uses developed along public streets should support pedestrian activity and include amenities such as street trees, street furniture, flowers and mini parks. Main and Dayton Streets should receive special attention for public art or art integrated into private developments to reinforce the visual arts theme for downtown. Redevelopment of this area should also take advantage of the ability to reconfigure and remove the ferry holding lanes paralleling SR -104 once the Edmonds Crossing project is developed. 9. Support redevelopment efforts that arise out of planning for the long term needs of the senior center. These plans should reinforce the center's place in the public waterfront, linking the facility to the walkways and parks along the shoreline. 10. New development and redevelopment in the downtown waterfront area should be designed to meet overall design objectives and the intent of the various "districts" described for the downtown area. Downtown Waterfront Plan Policies. The following policies are intended to achieve the goals for the downtown waterfront area: E.I. Ensure that the downtown waterfront area continues — and builds on — its function as a key identity element for the Edmonds community. E.2. Future development along the waterfront should support the continuation and compatible design of three regional facilities: Edmonds Crossing at Pt. Edwards; the Port of Edmonds and its master plan; and the regional parks, beaches and walkways making up the public shoreline. E.3. Utilize the Point Edwards site to its best community and regional potential by developing a multimodal transit center with compatible development in the surrounding area. In addition to the regional benefits arising from its multi modal transportation function, an essential community benefit is in removing intrusive ferry traffic from the core area which serves to visually and physically separate downtown from the waterfront. E.4. Establish a Point Edwards multimodal transportation center which provides convenient transportation connections for bus, ferry, rail, auto, pedestrians and bicycle riders and makes Edmonds an integrated node in the regional transportation system. The new terminal should be planned to reduce negative impacts to downtown Edmonds — such as grade separation/safety concerns and conflicts with other regional facilities — while providing the community with unique transportation resources and an economic stimulus to the larger community. Land Use 33 E.S. Extend Downtown westward and connect it to the shoreline by encouraging mixed -use development and pedestrian- oriented amenities and streetscape improvements, particularly along Dayton and Main Streets. Development in this area should draw on historical design elements found in the historic center of Edmonds to ensure an architectural tie throughout the Downtown Area. Pursue redevelopment of SR -104 and the existing holding lanes once the ferry terminal moves to Point Edwards. E.6. Enhance Edmonds' visual identity by continuing its pedestrian -scale of downtown development, enhancing its shoreline character, and protecting and building on the strong visual quality of the. "5th and Main" core. E.7. Improve traffic conditions by removing ferry traffic impacts from the downtown core. E.B. Improve and encourage economic development opportunities by providing space for local businesses and cottage industries and undertaking supporting public improvement projects. Of particular significance is the enhancement of economic development opportunities resulting from the Edmonds Crossing project and the enhancement of Edmonds as an arts and water - oriented destination. E.9. Enhance shoreline features to include a full spectrum of recreational activities, park settings, natural features (such as the Edmonds Marsh), and marina facilities. Improve public access to the shoreline and link waterfront features by establishing a continuous esplanade along the shoreline. The esplanade will be constructed over time through public improvements and Shoreline Master Program requirements placed on private development. E.10. Provide a more efficient transportation system featuring improved bus service, pedestrian and bicycle routes, and adequate streets and parking areas. E.11. Encourage a more active and vital setting for new retail, office, entertainment and associated businesses supported by nearby residents and the larger Edmonds community, downtown commercial activity and visitors from throughout the region. E.12. Support a mix of uses downtown which includes a variety of housing, commercial, and cultural activities. E.13. Support the development and retention of significant public investments in the downtown waterfront area, including government and cultural facilities that help draw residents and visitors to downtown. E.14. Encourage opportunities for new development and redevelopment which reinforce Edmonds' attractive, small town pedestrian oriented character. Provide incentives to encourage adaptive reuse as an alternative to redevelopment of historic structures in order to preserve these resources. These historic structures are a key component of the small town character of Edmonds and it's economic viability. Height limits that reinforce and require pedestrian -scale development are an important part of this quality of life, and should be implemented through zoning regulations and design guidelines. E.15. Provide greater residential opportunities and personal services within the downtown, especially to accommodate the needs of a changing population. 34 Land Use E.16. Provide for the gradual elimination of large and inadequately landscaped paved areas. E.17. Provide pedestrian- oriented amenities for citizens and visitors throughout the downtown waterfront area, including such things as: • Weather protection, • Street trees and flower baskets, • Street furniture, a Public art and art integrated into private developments, • Pocket parks, • Signage and other way - finding devices, • Restrooms. E.18. Strive for the elimination of overhead wires and poles whenever possible. E.19. Coordinate new building design with old structure restoration and renovation. E.20. Develop sign regulations that support the pedestrian character of downtown, encouraging signage to assist in locating businesses and public and cultural facilities while discouraging obtrusive and garish signage which detracts from downtown pedestrian and cultural amenities. E.21. Provide lighting for streets and public areas that is designed to promote comfort, security, and aesthetic beauty. E.22. Building design should discourage automobile access and curb cuts that interfere with pedestrian activity and break up the streetscape. Encourage the use of alley entrances and courtyards to beautify the back alleys in the commercial and mixed use areas in the downtown area. Downtown Waterfront Districts. In addition to the goals and policies for the downtown waterfront area, the Comprehensive Plan Map depicts a number of districts in the downtown waterfront area. These districts are described below. Fountain Square. The area immediately surrounding the fountain at 5 "' and Main is considered the historic center of Edmonds and building heights shall be pedestrian in scale and compatible with the historic character of this area. To encourage a vibrant downtown, first floor spaces should be designed with adequate ceiling height to accommodate a range of retail and commercial uses and the entry situated at street level. Uses are required to be retail - compatible (i.e. retail or compatible service — e.g. art galleries, restaurants, real estate sales offices and similar uses that provide storefront windows and items for sale to the public that can be viewed from the street). The street front facades of buildings must provide a high percentage of transparent window area and pedestrian weather protection along public sidewalks. Design Land Use 35 guidelines should provide for pedestrian -scale design features, differentiating the lower, commercial floor from the upper floors of the building. Buildings situated around the fountain square must be orientated to the fountain and its associated pedestrian area. Arts Center Corridor. The corridor along 4th Ave N between the retail core and the Edmonds Center for the Performing Arts. To encourage a vibrant downtown, first floor spaces should be designed with adequate ceiling height to accommodate a range of retail and commercial uses, with commercial entries being located at street level. Buildings cannot be built to the property line, but must set back at least five (5) feet from any property line. Building design and height shall be compatible with the goal of creating a pedestrian oriented arts corridor while providing incentives for the adaptive reuse of existing historic structures. Building entries must provide pedestrian weather protection. Design guidelines should provide for pedestrian -scale design features, differentiating the lower floor from the upper floors of the building. The design of interior commercial spaces must allow for flexible commercial space, so that individual business spaces can be provided with individual doorways and pedestrian access directly to the public sidewalk. The streetscape should receive special attention, using trees, landscaping, and public art to encourage pedestrian activity. Private development projects should also be encouraged to integrate art into their building designs. Where single family homes still exist in this area, development regulations should allow for "live- work" arrangements where the house can accommodate both a business and a residence as principal uses. Uses supporting the arts center should be encouraged — such as restaurants, cafes, galleries, live /work use arrangements, and B &Bs. Downtown Mixed Commercial. To encourage a vibrant downtown, first floor spaces should be designed with adequate ceiling height to accommodate a range of retail and commercial uses., with commercial entries at street level. Buildings can be built to the property line. Building heights shall be compatible with the goal of achieving pedestrian scale development. The first floor of buildings must provide pedestrian weather protection along public sidewalks. Design guidelines should provide for pedestrian -scale design features, differentiating the lower, commercial floor from the upper floors of the building. The design of interior commercial spaces must allow for flexible commercial space, so that individual business spaces can be provided with individual doorways and pedestrian access directly to the public sidewalk. When the rear of a property adjoins a residentially - designated property, floor area that is beyond 90 feet from the commercial street frontage can be used for residential use. Where single family homes still exist in this area, development regulations should allow for "live- work" arrangements where the house can accommodate both a business and a residence as principal uses. Downtown Mixed Residential. In this area, commercial uses would be allowed but not required (i.e. buildings could be entirely commercial or entirely residential, or anything in between). Height and design of buildings shall conform to the standards of the Downtown Mixed Commercial District. Buildings facing the Dayton Street corridor should provide a pedestrian - friendly streetscape, providing pedestrian amenities and differentiating the ground floor from upper building levels. Downtown Master Plan. The properties between SR -104 and the railroad, including Harbor Square, the Edmonds Shopping Center (former Safeway site), and extending past the Commuter Rail parking area up to Main Street. This area is appropriate for design- driven master planned development which provides for a mix of uses and takes advantage of its strategic location between the waterfront and downtown. The location of existing taller buildings on the waterfront, and the site's situation at the bottom of "the Bowl," could enable a design that provides for higher buildings outside current view corridors. Any redevelopment in this area 36 Land Use should be oriented to the street fronts, and provide pedestrian - friendly walking areas, especially along Dayton and Main Streets. Development design should also not ignore the railroad side of the properties, since this is an area that provides a "first impression" of the city from railroad passengers and visitors to the waterfront. Art work, landscaping, and modulated building design should be used throughout any redevelopment project. Shoreline Commercial. The waterfront, west of the railroad tracks between the public beaches and the Port (currently zoned CW). Consistent with the City's Shoreline Master Program, this area should allow a mix of public uses, supporting commercial uses, and water - oriented and water - dependent uses. Building heights shall be compatible with the goal of achieving pedestrian scale development while providing incentives to encourage public view corridors. Roof and building forms should be an important consideration in design guidelines for this area, because of its high sensitivity and proximity to public open spaces. Redevelopment should result in singular, landmark buildings of high quality design which take advantage of the visibility and physical environment of their location, and which contribute to the unique character of the waterfront. Pedestrian amenities and weather protection must be provided for buildings located along public walkways and street fronts. Master Plan Development. The waterfront area south of Olympic Beach, including the Port of Edmonds and the Point Edwards and multi modal developments. This area is governed by master plans for the Port of Edmonds, Point Edwards, and the Edmonds Crossing project as described in an FEIS issued on November 10, 2004. These areas are also developed consistent with the City's Shoreline Master Program, as it applies. Downtown Convenience Commercial. This is the south end of 5th Ave, south of Walnut. Commercial uses would be required on the first floor, but auto - oriented uses would be permitted in addition to general retail and service uses. To encourage a vibrant downtown, first floor spaces should be designed with adequate ceiling height to accommodate a range of retail and commercial uses. Weather protection would still be required, but to a lesser degree than the retail core and only when the building was adjacent to the sidewalk. Height and design of buildings shall conform to the standards of the Downtown Mixed Commercial District. When the rear of a property adjoins a residentially- designated property, floor area that is beyond 90 feet from the commercial street frontage can be used for residential use. Planned Residential- Office. Several properties lie along the railroad on the west side of Sunset Ave between existing commercial zoning and Edmonds Street. This area is appropriate for master planned development which provides for a mix of small -scale office and residential uses which provide a transition from the more intensive commercial uses along Main Street and the residential uses along Sunset Ave. Because the area of this designation is located adjacent to commercial development to the south, the railroad to the west, and is near both multiple family and single - family residential development, this area should act as a transition between theses uses. Building design for this area should be sensitive to the surrounding commercial, multiple family and single - family character. Due to the steeply sloping nature of the properties, building heights shall generally be limited to two stories above Sunset Avenue. Land Use 37 Downtown Design Objectives. As a companion to the districts outlined above, general design objectives are included for the downtown waterfront area. These objectives are intended to encourage high quality, well designed projects to be developed in the downtown waterfront area that reflect the values of the citizens of Edmonds. 1. SITE DESIGN The development of parking lots, pedestrian walkways and landscaping features is an integral part of how a building interacts with its site and its surrounding environment. Good design and site planning improves access by pedestrians, bicycles and automobiles, minimizes potential negative impacts to adjacent development, reinforces the character and activities within a district and builds a more cohesive and coherent physical environment. Vehicular Access and Parking a. Minimize the number of driveways (curb cuts) in order to improve pedestrian, bicycle and auto safety by reducing the number of potential points of conflict. When alleys are present, these are the preferred method of providing vehicular access to a property and should be used unless there is no reasonable alternative available. b. Design site access and circulation routes with pedestrians' comfort and ease of access in mind. c. Create adequate parking for each development, but keep cars from interfering with the pedestrian streetscape. d. Create parking lots and building service ways that are efficient and safe for both automobiles and pedestrians, but that do not disrupt the pedestrian streetscape. e. Provide safe routes for disabled people. Pedestrian Access and Connections a. Improve streetscape character to enhance pedestrian activity in downtown retail, general commercial, and residential areas. b. Improve pedestrian access from the street by locating buildings close to the street and pedestrian sidewalks, and defining the street edge. Cross walks at key intersections should be accentuated by the use of special materials, signage or paving treatments. c. In all of the retail and commercial downtown districts, pedestrian access to buildings should be maximized, enabling each retail or commercial space at street level to be directly accessed from the sidewalk. d. Encourage the use of mass transit by providing easy access to pleasant waiting areas. Building Entry Location a. Create an active, safe and lively street -edge. b. Create a pedestrian friendly environment. c. Provide outdoor active spaces at the entry to retail /commercial uses. d. Commercial building entries should be easily recognizable and oriented to the pedestrian streetscape by being located at sidewalk grade. Building Setbacks a. Provide for a human, pedestrian - friendly scale for downtown buildings. b. Create a common street frontage view with enough repetition to tie each site to its neighbor. 38 Land Use c. Provide enough space for wide, comfortable and safe pedestrian routes to encourage travel by foot. d. Create public spaces to enhance the visual attributes of the development and encourage outdoor interaction. Building/Site Identity a. Do not use repetitive, monotonous building forms and massing in large mixed use or commercial projects. b. Improve pedestrian access and way - finding by providing variety in building forms, color, materials and individuality of buildings. c. Retain a connection with the scale and character of the Downtown Edmonds through the use of similar materials, proportions, forms, masses or building elements. d. Encourage new construction to use design elements tied to historic forms or patterns found in downtown. Weather Protection a. Provide a covered walkway for pedestrians traveling along public sidewalks in downtown. b. Protect shoppers and residents from rain or snow. c. Provide a covered waiting area and walkway for pedestrians entering a building, coming from parking spaces and the public sidewalk. Lighting a. Provide adequate illumination in all areas used by pedestrians, including building entries, walkways, bus stops, parking areas, circulation areas and other open spaces to ensure a feeling of security. b. Special attention should be paid to providing adequate public lighting to encourage and support nighttime street activity and safety for pedestrians. c. Minimize potential for light glare to reflect or spill off -site. d. Create a sense of welcome and activity. Signage a. Protect the streetscape from becoming cluttered. b. Minimize distraction from the overuse of advertisement elements. c. Provide clear signage to identify each distinct property or business and to improve orientation and way - finding downtown. d. Use graphics or symbols to reduce the need to have large letters. e. Lighting of signs should be indirect or minimally backlit to display lettering and symbols or graphic design instead of broadly lighting the face of the sign. f. Signage and other way - finding methods should be employed to assist citizens and visitors in finding businesses and services. P . Signage should be given special consideration when it is consistent with or contributes to the historic character of sites on the Edmonds Register of Historic Places. Land Use 39 Site Utilities, Storage, Trash and Mechanical a. Hide unsightly utility boxes, outdoor storage of equipment, supplies, garbage, recycling and composting. b. Minimize noise and odor. c. Minimize visual intrusion. d. Minimize need for access /paving to utility areas Art and Public Spaces a. Public art and amenities such as mini parks, flower baskets, street furniture, etc., should be provided as a normal part of the public streetscape. Whenever possible, these elements should be continued in the portion of the private streetscape that adjoins the public streetscape. b. Art should be integrated into the design of both public and private developments, with incentives provided to encourage these elements. c. In the Arts Center Corridor, art should be a common element of building design, with greater design flexibility provided when art is made a central feature of the design. 2. BUILDING FORM Building height and modulation guidelines are essential to create diversity in building forms, minimize shadows cast by taller buildings upon the pedestrian areas and to ensure compliance with policies in the city's Comprehensive Plan. Protecting views.from public parks and building entries as well as street views to the mountains and Puget Sound are an important part of Edmonds character and urban form. Height' a. Maintain the human, pedestrian scale and character of historic Edmonds. b. Create and preserve a human scale for downtown buildings. Unless more specific provisions are contained in the descriptions for specific downtown districts, buildings shall be generally two stories in exterior appearance, design and character. However, height incentives may be adopted which are consistent with the pedestrian scale of downtown Edmonds and which provide additional height — not to exceed three stories in appearance — in exchange for a clear public benefit such as dedicated public spaces, amenities or design features which enhance the public streetscape or preserve, create or enhance views from public property. Note that the Downtown Master Plan district described on pages 36 -37 could allow a design which provides for higher buildings outside current view corridors. c. Preserve public view corridors along east -west downtown streets — such as Main Street and Dayton Street — that afford views to the mountains and Puget Sound to the west. The downtown area of Edmonds is the city's signature commercial and public core and helps define the character of our community. Change is necessary to balance mixed use development and achieve high quality retail and commercial spaces while not losing the city's character. Therefore, the program of height incentives referenced above will be developed during 2005 for final implementation in conjunction with the City's 2005 comprehensive plan updates. The development process will include planning sessions in which the public, business persons, design professionals and developers all participate. 40 Land Use Massing a. Large building masses shall be avoided in the downtown waterfront activity center. Large building masses should be subdivided vertically and/or horizontally to replicate the smaller scale streetscape elements found along downtown's pedestrian streets. b. Require human scale elements in building design that reinforce the difference between the pedestrian streetscape and the upper levels of a building. c. Use combinations of other techniques, such as roof and wall modulation or combinations of different wall materials with windows and trim, to break up apparent building masses into smaller elements. When the size or configuration of a site does not lend itself to varying building mass, these alternative techniques should be employed to obtain a pedestrian - friendly result. Roof Modulation a. Use combinations of roof types and decorative elements such as parapets or architectural detailing to break up the overall massing of the roof and add interest to its shape and form. b. Create and reinforce the human scale of the building. c. Use roof forms to identify different programs or functional areas within the building. d. Provide ways for additional light to enter the building. e. Encourage alternate roof treatments that improve and add interest to building design. Features such as roof gardens, terraces, and interesting or unique architectural forms can be used to improve the view of buildings from above as well as from the streetscape. Wall Modulation a. Create a pedestrian scale appropriate to Edmonds. b. Break up large building masses and provide elements that accentuate the human scale of a facade. c. Avoid blank, monotonous and imposing building facades. d. Design the building to be compatible with the surrounding built environment. e. Encourage designs that let more light and air into the building. 3. BUILDING FACADE Building facade guidelines ensure that the exterior of buildings, the portion of buildings that defines the character and visual appearance of a place, is of high quality and demonstrates the strong sense of place and integrity valued by the residents of the City of Edmonds. Facade Requirements a. Improve the pedestrian environment in the Downtown retail /commercial area by differentiating the pedestrian- oriented street level of buildings from upper floors. b. Ensure diversity in design. c. Reinforce historic building patterns found in Downtown Edmonds. d. Provide a human scale streetscape, breaking up long facades into defined forms that continue a pattern of individual and distinct tenant spaces in commercial and mixed use areas. e. Improve the visual and physical character and quality of Downtown Edmonds. f. Create individual identity in buildings. Land Use 41 Window Variety and Articulation a. Windows help define the scale and character of the building. In the retail and mixed commercial districts, building storefronts must be dominated by clear, transparent glass windows that allow and encourage pedestrians to walk past and look into the connnercial space. b. Upper floors of buildings should use windows as part of the overall design to encourage rhythm and accents in the facade. Building Facade Materials A. The materials that make up the exterior facades of a building also help define the scale and style of the structure and provide variation in the facade to help reduce the bulk of larger buildings. From the foundation to the roof eaves, a variety of building materials can reduce the scale and help define a building's style and allows the design of a building to respond to its context and client's needs. It is particularly important to differentiate the lower, street level of a building from the upper floors that are less in the pedestrian's line of sight. Accents /Colors/Trim A. Applied ornament and architectural detail, various materials and colors applied to a facade as well as various decorative trim/surrounds on doors and windows provide variation in the scale, style and appearance of every building facade. Awnings and canopies also add to the interest and pedestrian scale of downtown buildings. The objective is to encourage new development that provides: • Compatibility with the surrounding environment, • Visual interest and variety in building forms, • Reduces the visual impacts of larger building masses, • Allows identity and individuality of a project within a neighborhood. 92 Land Use Medical /Highway 99 Activity Center and Highway 99 Corridor The Medical /Highway 99 activity center is intended to encourage the development of a pedestrian and transit oriented area focused on two master planned developments, Stevens Hospital and Edmonds - Woodway High School, with a related high- intensity development corridor along Highway 99. Highway 99 is characterized by a corridor of generally commercial development with less intense uses or designed transitions serving as a buffer between adjacent neighborhoods. In contrast, the overall character of the mixed use activity center is intended to be an intensively developed mixed use, pedestrian - friendly environment, in which buildings are linked by walkways served by centralized parking, and plantings and landscaping promote pedestrian activity and a park -like atmosphere. In addition to the general goals for activity centers, the Medical/Highway 99 activity center is intended to achieve the following goals: A. Goals for the Medical/Highway 99 Activity Center. • To expand the economic and tax base of the City of Edmonds by providing incentives for business and commercial redevelopment in a planned activity center; • Provide for an aesthetically pleasing business and residential community consisting of a mixed use, pedestrian- friendly atmosphere of attractively designed and landscaped surroundings and inter - connected development; • Recognize and plan for the distinct difference in opportunities and development character provided by the Highway 99 corridor versus the local travel and access patterns on local streets; • Promote the development of a mixed use area served by transit and accessible to pedestrians; • To provide a buffer between the high- intensity, high -rise commercial areas along SR 99 and the established neighborhoods and public facilities west of 76th Avenue West; • To discourage the expansion of strip commercial development and encourage a cohesive and functional activity center that allows for redevelopment that mixes multiple dwelling units, offices, retail, and business uses, along with public facilities; • To provide a pleasant experience for pedestrians and motorists along major streets and in a planned activity center, and provide a gateway along 212th Street SW into the City of Edmonds; • To provide an integrated network of pedestrian and bicycle circulation that connects within and through the activity center to existing residential areas, the high school, the hospital, and transit services and facilities. Land Use 43 Within the activity center, policies to achieve these goals include the following: A.I. Provide street trees, buffers, and landscape treatments which encourage and support an attractive mixed use pattern of development characterized by pedestrian walkways and centralized parking. Use these same features, in concert with site and building design, to provide a transition from higher - intensity mixed use development to nearby single family residential areas. A.2. Provide a more efficient transportation system featuring increased bus service, pedestrian and bicycle routes as well as adequate streets and parking areas. Transit service should be coordinated by transit providers and take advantage of links to future high- capacity transit that develops along corridors such as Highway 99. A.3. Development should be designed for both pedestrian and transit access. A.4. Encourage a more active and vital setting for new retail, office, and service businesses, supported by nearby residents and visitors from other parts of the region. A.5. Support a mix of uses without encroaching into single family neighborhoods. Uses adjoining single family neighborhoods should provide transitions between more intensive uses areas through a combination of building design, landscaping and visual buffering, and pedestrian -scale streetscape design. A.6. Uses adjoining the Highway 99 Corridor should provide more intensive levels of mixed use development, including higher building heights and greater density. However, pedestrian linkages to other portions of the activity center — and adjoining focus areas along the Highway 99 Corridor— should still be provided in order to assist pedestrian circulation and provide access to transit. A.7. In some cases, heavy commercial development (e.g. wholesale or light industrial uses) may still be appropriate where these uses are separated from residential uses. 44 Land Use Goals for the Highway 99 Corridor. Highway 99 occupies a narrow strip of retail and commercial uses bounded by residential neighborhoods. Historically, the corridor has developed in a patchwork of uses, without a clear focus or direction. To improve planning for the future of the corridor, the City established a task force in 2003 -2004, resulting in the Highway 99 Enhancement Report and a related economic analysis. During this process, local residents were contacted and asked to participate in two focus groups to identify current problems and future aspirations for the corridor. After this preliminary survey with the residents, the City invited business owners to participate in two charrette meetings to brainstorm ideas and evaluate possible ways to induce redevelopment in the area. After concepts were developed, Berk & Associates, an economics consultant, performed a market assessment of the enhancement strategy. The following diagram summarizes the general approach that resulted from this work: a series of focus areas providing identity and a clustering of activity along the corridor, providing opportunities for improved economic development while also improving linkages between the corridor and surrounding residential areas. Focus Areas along the Corridor Four themes and four areas emerged as particularly interesting along the corridor. Each one of these areas represents a sub system with specific traffic, access and pedestrian characteristics as well as development goals and character. 2t61t1 St Hospital Community and Family Retail Center 22(r, St From the north to the south we international District' recognize the following areas: • The Hospital Community and Family Retail Center: 2301 St • The "International District" area; • The Residential Area 224` St Retail Center: • The Commercial Redevelopment /Hotels 238" St Improvement Area. St 224° St s U r� 2:12 "' St Residential Area Retail Center Commercial Redevelopment/Hotels Improvement Area Land Use 45 With this background in mind, specific goals for the Highway 99 Corridor include: • Improve access and circulation. Access to businesses for both pedestrians and automobiles is difficult along major portions of the corridor. The inability of pedestrians to cross the street and for automobiles to make safe turns is a critical limitation on enhanced development of the corridor into a stronger economic area. Better pedestrian crossings are also needed to support transit use, especially as Highway 99 becomes the focus of future high capacity transit initiatives. The City should consider the different sections along the corridor and emphasize their unique opportunities rather than view the corridor as an undifferentiated continuum. Street improvements and, in some cases regulatory measures can encourage these efforts. Focus on specific nodes or segments within the corridor. Identity elements such as signage should indicate that the corridor is within the City of Edmonds, and show how connections can be made to downtown and other Edmonds locations. • Encourage development that is sensitive to surrounding neighborhoods. During the City's Highway 99 Task Force work, residents noted that they needed a number of services that are not presently provided along the corridor. This can provide an opportunity that might be part of a larger business strategy. At the same time, new development should contribute to the residential quality of the adjacent neighborhoods. Encourage a variety of uses and building types. A variety of uses and building types is appropriate to take advantage of different opportunities and conditions. For example, a tall hotel or large scale retail development may be an excellent addition to the south of the corridor while some small restaurants and convenience shops might cater to hospital employees, trail users and local residents near 216th Street SW. Where needed, the City should consider zoning changes to encourage mixed use or taller development to occur. Within the Highway 99 corridor, policies to achieve these goals include the following: B.1. Provide a system of "focus areas" along the corridor which provide opportunities for clusters of development, or themed development areas. Providing focus points for development is intended to help encourage segmentation of the long Highway 99 corridor into distinct activity nodes which will encourage an Edmonds character and identity for the corridor. Concepts for the different focus areas identified on the previous page include the following: 46 Land Use The "Hospital Community and Family Retail Center" would be positioned to take advantage of its proximity to the many hospital and related medical services in the area and it would be easily reachable from the Interurban trail. The idea of an "International District " is organized around the internationalflavor of development in the area combined with the concepts of visibility and internal connection. Access to the "District" is marked by specific gateways, and the many focal points for activity in the area (and the new development in between) are connected with a strong pedestrian corridor. The "Residential Area Retail Center" concept allows_for mixed use development while providing access and services to adjacent residential neighborhoods. Similar mixed use development, linked to surrounding neighborhoods, could occur in the "Commercial Redevelopment /Hotels Improvement Area. " In addition, this area has the potential to provide large sites suitable for larger commercial or mixed use development, such as hotels or large retail complexes. Internal circulation between sites is a key to development. ,J 11fl i t t i i• .ti t�.MNntrDsn Traq ESi -� ,,. ,A w New Nara use rMTM /TESIDEINTIAL /RETAIL RMCAFTIAL /MlT1D1'MEN77 _!tA1� i . f5r -Tt.,i Ertzran E IAL COUPLEY �r "f"'TT,HT Wxr. REDWE SPEED YIPROW TRAFFX Y•�.}, ACOESS "� .�Y j ANDPEOESTTWVI ENYOROMIIfNT �� •• R•' 71TNSr =rrr A/NEAS WTH MAPRONED TRAFFK Y;. y AND PEDESTRIAN j 1 ACCESSfRON RESfNRDALLA b AACAS 238th St FV -P- r. r 240th St �h n. t7 r Land Use 47 B.2. Provide for pedestrian access and circulation within development focus areas, while coordinating with high- capacity transit along the Highway 99 corridor. B.3. Use traffic signals, access management, and rechannelization to facilitate pedestrian, business, and residential access while maintaining traffic capacity along SR 99. The City should work collaboratively with WSDOT on these issues, and to develop a circulation management plan. In some cases the impacts of the traffic signals can be enhanced by access management, rechannelization and other measures. B.4. New development should be high - quality and varied — not generic — and include amenities for pedestrians and patrons. B.S. Protect residential qualities and connect businesses with the local community. Pedestrian connections should be made available as part of new development to connect residents to appropriate retail and service uses. B.6. New development should be allowed and encouraged to develop to the fullest extent possible while assuring that the design quality and amenities provided contribute to the overall character and quality of the corridor. Where intense development adjoins residential areas, site design (including buffers, landscaping, and the arrangement of uses) and building design should be used to minimize adverse impacts on residentially -zoned properties. B.7. Make the corridor more attractive and pedestrian- friendly (e.g., add trees and landscaping) through a combination of development requirements and — when available — public investment. B.B. Route auto traffic to encourage efficient access to new and existing development while minimizing impacts to surrounding residential neighborhoods. B.9. Upgrade the architectural and landscape design qualities of the corridor. Establish uniform signage regulations for all properties within the corridor area which provide for business visibility and commerce while minimizing clutter and distraction to the public. B.10. The City will encourage the retention of commercial uses which provide high economic benefit to the city, such as new auto dealerships, and encourage these types of uses to locate within the Highway 99 Corridor. When these uses are proposed to be located within one of the corridor focus areas, these uses should also comply with the goals and policies outlined for each focus area. B.11. Within the Corridor, highrise nodes should be located to provide for maximum economic use of suitable commercial land. Highrise nodes should be: B.11.a. Supported by adequate services and facilities; 48 Land Use B.IL b. Designed to provide a visual asset to the community through the use of distinctive forms and materials, articulated facades, attractive landscaping, and similar techniques. B.IL c. Designed to take advantage of different forms of access, including automobile, transit and pedestrian access. B.11.d. Designed to provide adequate bufferingfrom lower intensity uses and residential neighborhoods. Master Planned Development Master Planned Developments are areas dominated by a special set of circumstances which allow for a highly coordinated, planned development, with phasing over time. These master plans describe a special purpose and need for the facilities and uses identified, and provide a clear design which fits with the character of their surroundings. The master plans describe the land use parameters and relationships to guide future development on the sites (height, bulk, types and arrangements of uses, access and circulation). All development within areas identified in each master plan shall be consistent with the provisions of the master plan. When located within a designated activity center, development within a master plan area shall be consistent with the goals and policies identified for the surrounding activity center. The following Master Plans are adopted by reference: A. Edmonds - Woodway High School B. Stevens Hospital C. City Park D. Pine Ridge Park E. Southwest County Park F. The Edmonds Crossing project, as identified in the Final EIS for Edmonds Crossing issued on November 10, 2004. In addition to the master plans listed above, master plans can also be implemented through zoning contracts or other implementation actions, rather than being adopted as part of the plan. In these cases, the master plan must still be consistent with the comprehensive plan goals and policies for the area. Land Use 49 Residential Development A. The City of Edmonds is unique among cities in Washington state. Located on the shores of Puget Sound, it has been able to retain (largely through citizen input) a small town, quality atmosphere rare for cities so close to major urban centers. The people of Edmonds value these amenities and have spoken often in surveys and meetings over the years. The geographical location also influences potential growth of Edmonds. Tucked between Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace and Puget Sound, the land available for annexation and development is limited. Living standards in Edmonds are high, and this combined with the limited development potential, provides the opportunity for constructive policy options to govern future development. This will ensure an even better quality of life for its citizens. Edmonds consists of a mixture of people of all ages, incomes and living styles. It becomes a more humane and interesting city as it makes room for and improves conditions for all citizens. When the City's first comprehensive plan completed under the State Growth Management Act was adopted in 1995, the City adopted plan designations for single family areas that were based in large measure on historical development patterns, which often recognized development limitations due to environmentally sensitive areas (slopes, landslide hazards, streams, etc.). In the years since the first GMA comprehensive plans were approved by local jurisdictions, there have been a number of cases brought before the State's GMA Hearings Boards. The direction provided by the GMA and these subsequent "elaborations" via the Hearings Board challenges can be summarized as: 1. The GMA requires 4 dwelling units per acre as the minimum urban residential density in urban areas such as Edmonds. 2. All land within the urban area must be designated at appropriate urban densities. Calculating average density across an entire subarea or city does not meet this test — for example you cannot use higher- density multi family areas in one part of a city to justify lower - density single family areas elsewhere in the city. The GMA Hearings Board decision in Bremerton, et al. v. Kitsap County, CPSGMHI3 Case #495- 3 -0039c (Final Decision and Order, October 6, 1995, p.35) includes this statement: The Board instead adopts as a general rule a "bright line " at four net dwelling units per acre. Any residential pattern at that density, or higher, is clearly compact urban development and satisfies the low end of the range required by the Act. Any larger urban lots will be subject to increased scrutiny by the Board to determine if the number, locations, configurations and rationale for such lot sizes complies with the goals and requirements of the Act, and the jurisdiction's 50 Land Use ability to meet its obligations to accept any allocated share of county -wide population. Any new residential land use pattern within a UGA that is less dense is not a compact urban development pattern, constitutes urban sprawl, and is prohibited. There are exceptions to this general rule. For example, I- or 2.5 -acre lots may be appropriate in an urban setting in order to avoid excessive development pressures on or near environmentally sensitive areas. However, this circumstance can be expected to be infrequent within the UGA and must not constitute a pattern over large areas. With this as background, the City's review and update of its comprehensive plan has attempted to combine an assessment of its large lot zoning (RS -12, RSW -12 and RS -20) with an update of its critical areas inventories and regulations. The inventories, based on data available from City and other sources, were not available to the City when the 1995 comprehensive plan was adopted. These inventories provide information necessary to refine the City's single family plan designations and comprehensive plan map. In preparing its updated comprehensive plan map, an overlay was done of the 2004 critical areas inventory with currently designated large lot single family areas. City staff analyzed the pattern of critical areas compared with land use designations, and applied the following logic to identify areas that could and could not be justified for continuing to be designated for large lot single family development. 1. Staff used the city's GIS system to overlay the preliminary critical areas inventory with existing zoning (which is consistent with the current comprehensive plan). 2. In reviewing the existing large -lot plan and zoning designations (plan designations of "Single Family — Large Lot" equate to RS -12, RSW -12, or RS -20 zoning), the location of large -lot designations was compared to patterns of critical areas. 3. Patterns of critical areas — i.e. where combinations of critical areas were present (e.g. slopes and habitat, or streams and wetlands, etc.) or where extensive areas were covered by critical areas — were considered sufficient justification to continue large -lot single family designations. Larger lot sizes provide more opportunity to avoid disturbance of existing natural features — particularly vegetative cover — and provide an opportunity to maintain linkages between critical areas and habitat. Larger lots sizes in areas subject to landslide hazard also reduce the need to disturb existing vegetation and slopes, and also reduce the probability that continued slide activity will harm people or residences. This approach is consistent with the logic and analysis contained in the City's Best Available Science Report (EDAW, November 2004) accompanying the adoption of the City's updated critical areas regulations. 4. Small, isolated critical areas were not considered sufficient to justify continued large -lot single family designations. Land Use 51 Lots where the designation is to be changed are grouped by subdivision or neighborhood segment, so that streets or changes in lot pattern define the boundaries. 6. In at least a couple of situations, areas were included for re- designation when the development pattern indicated that a substantial number of lots already existed that were smaller than 12,000 sq. ft. in area. 7. Where patterns of critical areas exist, at least a tier of lots (using similar groupings as those used in #5 above) is maintained bordering the critical areas. This is based on the following logic: As the Best Available Science Report and updated critical areas regulations indicate, the City's intent is to take a conservative approach to protecting critical areas. Relatively large buffers are proposed (consistent with the science), but these are balanced by the ability of existing developed areas to continue infill activity in exchange for enhancing critical areas buffers. The goal is to obtain enhanced protection of resources within the city, while recognizing infill development must continue to occur. However, a conservative approach to resource protection implies that the City be cautious in making wholesale changes in zoning that could result in more development impacts to critical areas. This is particularly true since the buffers proposed in the new regulations are substantial increases over previous regulations; without larger lot sizes in areas that are substantially impacted by critical areas, there would be little or no opportunity to mitigate critical areas impacts — especially when surrounding areas have already been developed. Caution is also needed considering that the mapped inventory is based on general sources from other agencies and is likely to underestimate the amount of steep slopes, for example. Following this work, a map of proposed changes was prepared which identified single family large lot zones that could not be justified based on the presence of critical areas. These areas (comprising over 500 acres) have been re- designated as either Single Family — Urban 3 or Single Family Master Plan in the updated comprehensive plan. Current Plan Designation Proposed Plan Designation Corresponding Zoning Single Family _Small Lot Single Family — Urban 1 ........ ................_.. RS -6 RS -8 ........�- ...._......_.. __ ... ........... ...... ............ . .... _.._. .... .... ........_Single Fami_ly...- Urban 2 RS -8 _Single Family....— Urban.._3............_. ...._RS -10* _Single Family — Large Lot Single Family — Resource RS -12, RSW -12, RS_20_ Single Family Master Plan Single Family Master Plan * RS -10 would be anew zoning classification, providing for a minimum lot size of 10,000 sq. ft. 52 Land Use The densities that correspond to these plan and zoning designations are summarized in the following table: Plan Designation Zoning Classification Maximum Density (Net Density) Single Family — Urban 1 RS -6 7.3 DU /Acre RS -8 5.5 DU /Acre Single Family — Urban 2 RS -8 5.5 DU /Acre Single Family — Urban 3 RS -10 4.4 DU /Acre Single Family — Urban RS -6 or RS -8 with Master 5.5 or 7.3 DU /Acre Master Plan Plan overlay _ Single Family — Resource RS -12, RSW -12 3.7 DU /Acre RS -20 2.2 DU /Acre The "Single Family — Urban Master Plan" designation would only apply to the area lying along the south side of SR -104 north of 228'h Street SW; properties seeking to develop at the higher urban density lot pattern would need to be developed according to a master plan (such as through a PRD) that clearly indicated access and lot configurations that would not result in traffic problems for SR -104. B. Goal. High quality residential development which is appropriate to the diverse lifestyle of Edmonds residents should be maintained and promoted. The options available to the City to influence the quality of housing for all citizens should be approached realistically in balancing economic and aesthetic considerations, in accordance with the following policies: B.1. Encourage those building custom homes to design and construct homes with architectural lines which enable them to harmonize with the surroundings, adding to the community identity and desirability. B.2. Protect neighborhoods from incompatible additions to existing buildings that do not harmonize with existing structures in the area. B.3. Minimize encroachment on view of existing homes by new construction or additions to existing structures. B.4. Support retention and rehabilitation of older housing within Edmonds whenever it is economically feasible. Land Use 53 B.5. Protect residential areas from incompatible land uses through the careful control of other types of development and expansion based upon the following principles: B.5.a. Residential privacy is a fundamental protection to be upheld by local government. B.5.b. Traffic not directly accessing residences in a neighborhood must be discouraged. B. S. c. Stable property values must not be threatened by view, traffic or land use encroachments. B.5.d. Private property must be protected from adverse environmental impacts of development including noise, drainage, traffic, slides, etc. B.6. Require that new residential development be compatible with the natural constraints of slopes, soils, geology, vegetation and drainage. C. Goal. A broad range of housing types and densities should be encouraged in order that a choice of housing will be available to all Edmonds residents, in accordance with the following policies: C.1. Planned Residential Development. Provide options for planned residential development solutions for residential subdivisions. C.La. Encourage single-family homes in a PRD configuration where significant benefits for owner and area can be demonstrated (trees, view, open space, etc.). C.I. b. Consider attached single-family dwelling units in PRD's near downtown . and shopping centers as an alternative to multiple family zoning. C.2. Multiple. The City's development policies encourage high quality site and building design to promote coordinated development and to preserve the trees, topography and other natural features of the site. Stereotyped, boxy multiple unit residential (RM) buildings are to be avoided. C.2.a. Location Policies. C.2.a.i. RM uses should be located near arterial or collector streets. C.2.b. Compatibility Policies. C.2.b.i. RM developments should preserve the privacy and view of surrounding buildings, wherever feasible. C.2.b.ii. The height of RM buildings that abut single family residential (RS) zones shall be similar to the height permitted in the abutting RS zone except where the existing vegetation and /or change in topography can substantially screen one use from another. 54 Land Use C.2.b. iii. The design ofRM buildings located next to RS zones should be similar to the design idiom of the single family residence. C.2.c. General Design Policies. C.2.c.i. The nonstructural elements of the building (such as decks, lights, rails, doors, windows and window easements, materials, textures and colors) should be coordinated to carry out a unified design concept. C.2.c.ii. Site and building plans should be designed to preserve the natural features (trees, streams, topography, etc) of the site rather than forcing the site to meet the needs of the imposed plan. C.3. Mobile Homes. Update design standards to ensure quality parks heavily landscaped both for screening exterior and for appearance of interior. Commercial Land Use A. General. Past and present commercial development in the City of Edmonds has been oriented primarily to serving the needs of its citizens. It also has attempted to offer a unique array of personalized and specialty type shopping opportunities for the public. In the downtown area, the Milltown shopping arcade is an excellent example of this type of development. It is essential that future commercial developments continue to harmonize and enhance the residential small town character of Edmonds that its citizens so strongly desire to retain. By the same token, the City should develop a partnership with business, citizens and residents to help it grow and prosper while assisting to meet the various requirements of the City's codes and policies. The Highway 99 arterial has been recognized historically as a commercial district which adds to the community's tax and employment base. Its economic vitality is important to Edmonds and should be supported. Commercial development in this area is to be encouraged to its maximum potential. The following sections describe the general goals and policies for all commercial areas, followed by the additional goals and policies that specific commercial areas must also meet. B. Goals for Commercial Development: Commercial development in Edmonds shall be located to take advantage of its unique locational opportunities while being consistent and compatible with the character of its surrounding neighborhood. All commercial development should be designed and located so that it is economically feasible to operate a business and provide goods and services to Edmonds residents and tourists in a safe, convenient and attractive manner, in accordance with the following policies: Land Use 55 B.1. A sufficient number of sites suited for a variety of commercial uses should be identified and reserved for these purposes. The great majority of such sites should be selected from parcels of land already identified in the comprehensive plan for commercial use and/or zoned for such use. B.2. Parcels of land previously planned or zoned for commercial use but which are now or will be identified as unnecessary, or inappropriate for such use by additional analysis, should be reclassified for other uses. B.3. The proliferation of strip commercial areas along Edmonds streets and highways and the development of commercial uses poorly related to surrounding land uses should be strongly discouraged. B.4. The design and location of all commercial sites should provide for convenient and safe access for customers, employees and suppliers. B.5. All commercial developments should be carefully located and designed to eliminate or minimize the adverse impacts of heavy traffic volume and other related problems on surrounding land uses. B.6. Special consideration should be given to major land use decisions made in relation to downtown Edmonds. C. Goals for Community Commercial Areas. Community commercial areas are comprised of commercial development serving a dual purpose: services and shopping for both local residents and regional traffic. The intent of the community commercial designation is to recognize both of these purposes by permitting a range of business and mixed use development while maintaining a neighborhood scale and design character. C.1. Permit uses in community commercial areas that serve both the local neighborhood and regional through - traffic. C.2. Provide for transit and pedestrian access in addition to the need to accommodate automobile traffic. C.3. Provide for the pedestrian -scale design of buildings that are two stories or less in height and that contain architectural features that promote pedestrian activity. C.4. Provide pedestrian walkways and transit connections throughout the community commercial area, assuring connections to nearby residential neighborhoods. D. Goals for Neighborhood Commercial Areas. Neighborhood commercial areas are intended to provide services and convenient shopping for local neighborhoods. They are small in area and building scale (not more than two stories), with an emphasis on pedestrian access for local residents. 56 Land Use D.1. Neighborhood scale commercial development (convenience stores) should be located at major arterial intersections and should be designed to minimize interference with through traffic. D.2. Permit uses in neighborhood commercial areas that are intended to serve the local neighborhood. Mixed use development should be encouraged within neighborhood commercial areas. D.3. Provide for transit and pedestrian access, with the provision of facilities for local automobile traffic. Provide for pedestrian connections to nearby residential neighborhoods DA. Provide for the pedestrian -scale design of buildings that are two stories or less in height and that contain architectural features that promote pedestrian activity. E. Goals for the Westgate Corridor. The Westgate Corridor is generally located between the ] 001h Avenue W (9th Avenue S) /Edmonds Way intersection and where Edmonds Way turns north to enter the downtown area. By virtue of this location, this corridor serves as both a key transportation corridor and as an entry into the downtown. Long - established neighborhoods lie near both sides of the corridor. The plan for this corridor is to recognize its multiple functions by providing opportunities for small -scale businesses while promoting compatible development that will not intrude into established neighborhoods. E.1. Development within the Westgate Corridor should be designed to recognize its role as part of an entryway into Edmonds and the downtown. The overall effect should be a corridor that resembles a landscaped boulevard and median. The landscaped median along SR -104 should remain as uninterrupted as possible in order to promote traffic flow and provide an entry effect. E.2. Permit uses in planned business areas that are primarily intended to serve the local neighborhood while not contributing significantly to traffic congestion. E.3. Provide for transit and pedestrian access to development. EA. Use design review to encourage the shared or joint use of driveways and access points by development onto SR -104 in order to support the movement of traffic in a safe and efficient manner. Site access shall not be provided from residential streets unless there is no feasible alternative. E.5. Use design review to ensure that development provides a transition to adjacent residential neighborhoods. For uses in transitional areas adjacent to single family neighborhoods, use design techniques such as the modulation of facades, pitched roofs, stepped -down building heights, multiple buildings, and landscaping to provide designs compatible with single family development. Land Use 57 F. Goals for the Edmonds Way Corridor. The Edmonds Way Corridor consists of portions of Edmonds Way between the 100th Avenue West intersection and Highway 99. This corridor serves as a key transportation corridor, and also provides a key link between Edmonds and Interstate 5. Established residential areas lie on both sides of the corridor. An established pattern of multiple family residential development lies along much of the corridor, while small -scale businesses can be found primarily near intersections. A major concern is that the more intensive development that occurs along the corridor should not interfere with the flow of through traffic or intrude into adjoining established communities. F.1. Permit uses in planned multiple family or small -scale business developments that are designed to minimize contributing significantly to traffic congestion. F.2. Provide for transit and pedestrian access to development. F.3. Use design review to encourage the shared or joint use of driveways and access points by development onto SR -104 in order to support the movement of traffic in a safe and efficient manner. Site access should not be provided from residential streets unless there is no feasible alternative. F.4. Use design review to ensure that development provides a transition to adjacent residential neighborhoods. For uses in transitional areas adjacent to single family neighborhoods, use design techniques such as the modulation of facades, pitched roofs, stepped -down building heights, multiple buildings, and landscaping to provide designs compatible with single family development. Make use of natural topography to buffer incompatible development whenever possible. G. Goals for Sexually Oriented Businesses. These types of businesses are regulated by specific licensing and operating provisions in the City Code. However, land use and zoning regulations are also required to mitigate and reduce the adverse secondary effects of these uses. These secondary effects are detailed in the findings adopted by Ordinance No. 3117 on October 15, 1996. As commercial uses, sexually oriented businesses should be limited to areas which can support the traffic and site requirements of these businesses while also assuring that their adverse secondary effects are mitigated. The following policies apply to sexually oriented businesses: G.1. Provide for potential commercial locations within the City for sexually oriented businesses which will provide at least a minimum separation and buffering necessary to protect public health and safety. G.2. Separate the location of sexually oriented businesses from uses that are incompatible with the secondary effects associated with sexually oriented businesses. These incompatible uses include residential uses and uses such as public parks, public libraries, museums, public or private schools, community centers, and religious facilities. They also include bars and taverns. 58 Land Use G.3. Adopt specific development regulations, such as lighting, parking and access provisions, that are designed to reduce or mitigate the secondary effects of sexually oriented businesses. GA. Provide a mechanism to monitor, on an annual basis, the availability of potential sites for the location of sexually oriented businesses. Industrial Land Use A. General. Interestingly, industrial development played a major role in the early development of Edmonds. Sawmills, wharves, log ponds and other wood products industries lined the Edmonds waterfront at the turn of the twentieth century. However, as time passed, Edmonds developed into a very attractive residential community and its once thriving lumber industry faded into oblivion. Today, Edmonds still retains much of its residential, small town charm despite the large amount of urban development which has occurred in and around the City during the outward expansion of the Seattle metropolitan area during the past twenty -five years. Industrial development in the more traditional sense has not occurred in Edmonds to a significant degree since its early Milltown days. Most new industry which has located in the community since the 1950's has been largely of light manufacturing or service industry nature. Some examples include furniture manufacturing, printing and publishing, electronic components assembly and health care services. Future industrial development should be carefully controlled in order to insure that it is compatible with the residential character of Edmonds. Small scale, business -park oriented light industries and service related industries should be given preference over more intensive large scale industries. Great care should be given to carefully siting and designing all new industrial development in order to fully minimize or eliminate its adverse off -site impacts. B. Goal. A select number of industrial areas should be located and developed which are reasonably attractive and contribute to the economic growth and stability of Edmonds without degrading its natural or residential living environment, in accordance with the following policies: B.1. Light industrial uses should be given preference over heavy industrial uses. B.2. The clustering of industrial uses in planned industrial parks should be required when the site is adequate. B.3. Adequate buffers of landscaping, compatible transitional land uses and open space should be utilized to protect surrounding land areas from the adverse effects of industrial land use. Particular attention should be given to protecting residential areas, parks and other public - institutional land uses. Land Use 59 BA. All industrial areas should be located where direct access can be provided to regional ground transportation systems (major State Highways and/or railroad lines). Open Space A. Generally in urban areas a lack of open space has been one of the major causes of residential blight. This lack has contributed to the movement of people from older densely developed neighborhoods to peripheral areas still possessing open areas. Open space must be reserved now for assurance that future settled areas are relieved by significant open land, providing recreational opportunities as well as visual appeal. Not all vacant land in the City should be considered desirable or valuable for open space classification. Therefore, the following set of criteria - standards have been developed for determining those areas most important for this classification. B. Goal. Open space must be seen as an essential element determining the character and quality of the urban and suburban environment, in accordance with the following policies. B.1. Undeveloped public property should be studied to determine its suitability and appropriate areas designed as open space. B.I.a. No city -owned property should be relinquished until all possible community uses have been explored. 13.2. All feasible means should be used to preserve the following open spaces: B.2.a. Lands which have unique scientific or educational values. B.2.b. Areas which have an abundance of wildlife particularly where there are habitats of rare or endangered species. B.2.c. Natural and green belt areas adjacent to highways and arterials with the priority to highways classified as scenic. B.2.d. Areas which have steep slopes or are in major stream drainage ways, particularly those areas which have significance to Edmonds residents as water sheds. B.2.e. Land which can serve as buffers between residential and commercial or industrial development. B. 2f Bogs and wetlands. B.2.g. Land which can serve as buffers between high noise environments and adjacent uses. B.2.h. Lands which would have unique suitabilityfor.future recreational uses both passive and active. 60 Land Use B.2. i. Areas which would have unique rare or endangered types of vegetation. B.3. Open space should be distributed throughout the urban areas in such a manner that there is both visual relief and variety in the pattern of development and that there is sufficient space for active and passive recreation. Provide views and open space in areas of high density or multiple housing by requiring adequate setback space and separation between structures. C. Goal. Edmonds possesses a most unique and valuable quality in its location on Puget Sound. The natural supply of prime recreational open space, particularly beaches and waterfront areas, must be accessible to the public, in accordance with the following policies: C.1. Edmonds saltwater shorelines and other waterfront areas should receive special consideration in all future acquisition and preservation programs. C.2. Provide wherever possible, vehicular or pedestrian access to public bodies of water. Soils and Topography A. General. The natural topography of the city contributes to the environmental amenity of the community. Many of the remaining undeveloped areas of the city are located on hillsides or in ravines where steep slopes have discouraged development. These are frequently areas where natural drainage ways exist and where the second growth forest is still undisturbed. In some areas, soil conditions also exist which are severely limited for urban development. Based on soil and slope analysis for the city, several areas may be identified as potentially hazardous for urban development. (See report to Environmental Subcommittee on Soils and Topography, February 3, 1975.) Some areas which are limited for development are desirable for public recreation, open spaces, conservation of existing natural features, maintenance of valuable biological communities and protection of natural storm drainage system. In some hillside areas, changes in existing soil characteristics because of development, grading, increased runoff and removal of vegetation may cause severe erosion, water pollution and flooding with subsequent damage to public and private property. B. Goal. Future development in areas of steep slope and potentially hazardous soil conditions should be based on site development which preserves the natural site characteristics in accordance with the following policies: Land Use 61 B.1. Large lots or flexible subdivision procedures, such as PRD's, should be used in these areas to preserve the site and reduce impervious surfaces, cuts and fills. B.2. Streets and access ways should be designed to conform to the natural topography, reduce runoff and minimize grading of the hillside. C. Goal. Development on steep slopes or hazardous soil conditions should preserve the natural features of the site, in accordance with the following policies: C.1. Grading and Filling. C.l.a.. Grading, filling, and tree cutting shall be restricted to building pads, driveways, access ways and other impervious surfaces. C.I. b. Grading shall not jeopardize the stability of any slope, or of an adjacent property. C.l.c. Only minimal amounts of cut and fill on hillsides exceeding 15% slope should be permitted so that the natural topography can be preserved. Fill shall not be used to create a yard on steeply sloped property. CIA Fill and excavated dirt shall not be pushed down the slope. C.2. Building Construction. C.2.a. Buildings on slopes of 15% or greater shall be designed to cause minimum disruption to the natural topography. C.2. b. Retaining walls are discouraged on steep slopes. If they are used they should be small and should not support construction of improvements which do not conform to the topography. C. 2. c. Water detention devices shall be used to maintain the velocity of runoff at predevelopment levels. C.3. Erosion Control. C.3. a. Temporary measures shall be taken to reduce erosion during construction. C.3. b. Natural vegetation should be preserved wherever possible to reduce erosion and stabilize slopes, particularly on the downhill property line. C.3.c. Slopes should be stabilized with deep rooted vegetation and mulch, or other materials to prevent erosion and siltation of drainage ways. Water Resources and Drainage Management A. General. The environmental amenity of the City of Edmonds is greatly enhanced by the numerous year round streams and the location of the City on Puget Sound. Lake Ballinger, besides being a well -known landmark, is an important environmental area because of its ecological benefits and open space quality. 62 Land Use The storm drainage and stream systems in the Edmonds area are part of the Cedar River Drainage Basin. There are two sub - basins in the area: McAleer Creek, which drains to Lake Washington and the Upper Puget Sound sub -basin which drains to Puget Sound. Urban development in the past has interfered with natural storm drainage systems and greatly increased the area of impermeable surfaces. It has been necessary to install culverts, underground drainage courses and other major structures to accommodate runoff water. Because of climate, topography and soil conditions, severe erosion and drainage to stream banks may occur with future development. Urban runoff causes significant decreases in water quality because of the quantity of pollutants' in the runoff water. The Urban Runoff and Basin Drainage Study conducted for the River Basin Coordinating Committee of the Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle indicates that future development in the Puget Sound and McAleer sub - basins will overburden existing systems. The water quality in Lake Ballinger is already an urgent and serious problem because the lake is shallow, contains a high level of nutrients and has seasonal oxygen deficiencies. The quality of water in Puget Sound is a less immediate problem but must be considered in the long term. Both Edmonds and Lynnwood dispose of effluent in the Sound which has received primary treatment only. Increased recreational use of the waterfront will have water quality impacts also. Some streams in the City have supported fish runs from the Sound in the past and many people in the community would like to see a restoration of these fisheries. The high costs both financially and environmentally of installation of structures and alteration of natural systems is an important consideration in planning for environmental management. Because environmental systems cross political boundaries a high degree of interlocal cooperation will be necessary to fully utilize funds available through the Water Pollution Control Act; however, the Act may provide substantial funds in the future for planning and improvement of facilities. B. Goal. The City should continue to upgrade the public storm drainage system in order to protect the man -made and natural environment. In the management of storm drainage and urban runoff, the City should utilize the natural drainage system where it is possible to do so without significantly altering the natural drainage ways, in accordance with the following policies: B.I. The natural drainage system (i.e., streams, ponds, and marshes) shall not be filled or permanently culverted except where no other alternative exists. Temporary culverting of streams shall be permitted during construction where site conditions present no other alternative. The natural condition should be restored immediately following construction. Land Use 63 B.2. Earthmoving equipment shall not cause siltation or deterioration of water quality. Rechanneling of streams is permitted only when the stream bed location renders the site undevelopable. B.3. Imagination and care should be used in the design of retention ponds and other drainage facilities so that they will blend into the natural environment rather than detract from it. B.4. Riprapping of stream banks and gravelling of stream beds is permitted when the Engineering Department determines that stability or sediment retention is necessary. B.5. Decorative ponding, cascading, and building artificial waterfalls are permitted except in those streams where it would present a barrier to the migration of fish. B.6. Building foundation and footings shall be no closer than 15 feet to a stream bank and shall be sited to create minimum disruption to the drainage system. B.7. The quality and quantity of water leaving a site shall be the same as that entering the site. B.8. Retention basins and other devices shall be used to encourage on -site runoff absorption and prevent overloading of existing drainage systems except in those areas where it is necessary to remove water from the site quickly due to unstable soil conditions to prevent earth slides and subsequent danger to life and property. B.9. Regional retention/detention is generally recognized as a more efficient and practical method of runoff control and will be given first consideration before individual on -site systems are allowed as part of development projects. [Ord. 2527, 1985.] Vegetation and Wildlife A. General. As Edmonds has urbanized, the natural vegetation has become increasingly scarce. The city's woodlands, marshes and other areas containing natural vegetation provide an important resource which should be preserved. Woodlands help stabilize soils on steep slopes, and act as barriers to wind and sound. Natural vegetation provides habitat for wildlife. Plants replenish the soil with nutrients. They generate oxygen and clean pollutants from the air. The beauty of the natural growth provides pleasing vistas and helps to buffer one development from another. Areas where natural vegetation exists provide good sites for nature trails and for other recreational and educational opportunities. Wildlife is a valuable natural resource that greatly enhances the aesthetic quality of human life. 64 Land Use City beaches, breakwaters and pilings represent unique habitats for marine organisms. "People pressure" continue to destroy many organisms and their habitats each year. The number and species of organisms is diminishing yearly. Streams, lakes and saltwater areas offer habitats for many species of migrating and resident bird life. Underdeveloped wooded areas and city parks provide habitats for many birds and mammals. Many birds and mammals are dependent upon both the upland and beach areas. B. Goal. The city should ensure that its woodlands, marshes and other areas containing natural vegetation are preserved, in accordance with the following policies: B.1. Critical areas will be designated and protected using the best available science pursuant to RCW 36.70A.172. B.2. The removal of trees should be minimized particularly when they are located on steep slopes or hazardous soils. Subdivision layouts, buildings and roads should be designed so that existing trees are preserved. B.3. Trees that are diseased, damaged, or unstable should be removed. B.4. Grading should be restricted to building pads and roads only. Vegetation outside these areas should be preserved. C. Goal. The city should promote and increase public awareness and pride in its wildlife heritage. Special emphasis should be directed toward preserving the natural habitats (woodlands, marshes, streams and beaches) of the city's wildlife in accordance with the following policies: C.1. Establish and maintain a variety of educational and recreational programs and activities for all age levels. C.2. Erect and maintain an educational display that identifies some of the more common plants and animals and the ecology of major habitats, (Le., sand, rock, piling and deepwater). C.3. Establish and publicize regulations prohibiting removal of non -food organisms from beach areas without collecting permit; permit for educational and research use only. CA Encourage landscaping and site improvement on city -owned property which recognizes the dependency of some species upon certain types of vegetation for food and cover. Land Use 65 C.5. City park property which serves as a habitat for wildlife should be left natural with minimum development for nature trail type of use. Air Pollution A. General. Air pollution is primarily a regional problem related to urbanization and meteorological conditions in the Puget Sound Basin. It is the result of activities in which most citizens participate. Air pollution can cause severe health effects and property damage under certain conditions. (See Facts on Air Pollution - Regional and Local: Report to Community Development Task Force.) B. Goal. Clean air is a right to all citizens of the City of Edmonds and should be protected and maintained in accordance with the following policies: B.l . Discourage expansion of arterials which will substantially increase line sources of pollution. B.2. Encourage arrangement of activities which will generate the fewest necessary automobile trip miles while avoiding undue concentration of like uses. B.3. Support, through political action, strong enforcement policies and ordinances in the regional pollution control agency. B.4. Support, by political action and financial participation, the establishment of public transportation in the community as an alternative to dependence on individual vehicles. B.5. Encourage local referral center for car pooling. Noise Pollution A. General. Although no area of human activity is free of sound, the modern urban environment is increasingly suffering from an overload of sound in the form of noise. The effects of noise may be severe. The most obvious effect is loss of hearing where levels of noise are very high and sustained. A less documented effect is stress from physiological and psychological impact of noise. Noise generally contributes to a loss of amenity and livability. The Edmonds Community is free, to a large extent, from the worst kinds of noise pollution and most residents believe that it is a quiet place to live. However, an environmental noise survey taken by the Building Department in 1974 indicates that there are some areas of concern. The main problems come from vehicular noise, particularly motorcycles. Some point source problems, refrigeration equipment in stores near residential areas, have also 66 Land Use occurred in the city. Impulsive, high- intensity noises which occur only periodically may also be irritating in quiet suburban neighborhoods. Examples are airplanes, electronically amplified music, sirens, etc. Certain noise problems can be alleviated more easily than others. The noise of vehicular traffic, particularly on arterial streets is difficult to control. Point sources can be more easily regulated by requiring noise muffling equipment. Enforcement of noise standards can be a problem because of the training and skill involved in taking noise measurements. Cost of enforcement may be excessive if standards are too stringent. The federal government has passed legislation to deal with major sources of noise in commerce which require national conformity of treatment. The State Department of Ecology has adopted Motor Vehicle Noise Performance Standards and Environmental Noise Levels guidelines. B. Goal. Preserve the quiet residential environment of the city by limiting increases in noise and reducing unnecessary noise where it now exists in accordance with the following policies: B.1. Studies should be made to determine the existing noise environment in order to provide baseline data for assessment of the environmental impact of changes or increases in noise. B.2. The unique areas of quiet in the city should be identified and appropriate measures taken to preserve the quiet environment. B.3. The city should update the existing noise standards to meet State Standards in modest stages in order to maintain flexibility and benefit from improvements in technology and experience. Increases in manpower or training to enforce standards should be cautiously made as experience is gained in enforcement. B.4. Existing vehicular standards related to noise should be enforced to the greatest degree possible without excessive increases in manpower. B.5. The city should cooperate with adjacent cities in sharing the costs of expensive noise equipment and training persons in the use of the equipment. B.6. Future street and arterial projects should be assessed for noise impacts, and structures such as berms, fences and other devices utilized wherever possible to reduce the noise impacts. B.7. Any ordinances adopted by the city should recognize the variety and quality of noise environments. Excessive regulations should not be imposed on areas of the city where higher noise levels are normal or necessary for essential activities and do not create environmental problems. B.8. It is the policy of the city to minimize noise created by the railroad. Land Use 67 Urban Growth Areas A. General. The accompanying Urban Growth Areas map shows the City's urban growth area, which encompasses unincorporated areas adjacent to the current city limits. In general, development within the urban growth area is of interest to the City because the area will be annexed to the City in the future and development in the area can be expected to have an impact on the demand for and delivery of City services. B. Goal. Plan for the logical extension of services and development within the City's urban growth area. B.1. To provide for orderly transitions, adopt comparable zoning and comprehensive plan designations for areas annexing into the City. B.2. Adopted plans and policies for the urban growth area shall be consistent and compatible with the general comprehensive plan goals and policies for the City. 68 Land Use City of Edmonds Urban Growth Area �.__.._ i Edmonds City Limits — — i Esperance UGA L — — Incorporated Cities Unincorporated Major Streets N W E S Map revision date: 2004.12.15 ,11 7 W;oodway I Edmonds Esperanc UGAr Norma Beach - Picnic Point 6 P , 4 r f Lynnwood , Mountlake Terrace I "ED r Community Culture and Urban Design Element Community Culture A. General. Edmonds is one of the oldest settlements in the southwest county area. Native Americans made occasional use of the beach areas and later explorations were made by both British and Americans. Certain geographical areas and sites within Edmonds have special significance because of historical, archeological, architectural,_ recreational, social, cultural and scenic importance. Cultural facilities in the City of Edmonds can be divided into two categories: • Those funded, supported and maintained by private groups and organizations such as Wade James Theatre and the various art galleries and art- related businesses in town, and • Public facilities such as Sno -Isle Regional Library, the Historical Museum, the Frances Anderson Community Cultural Center, etc. Because of community emphasis on both the performing and visual arts, community housing for such events becomes increasingly important to the citizens of Edmonds. The City has completed a Community Cultural Plan, adopted by reference, which provides the vision, goals and implementation strategies for the cultural development of the community. B. Goal - Historical. Encourage the identification, maintenance and preservation of historical sites in accordance with the following policies: B.1. The City should continue to support an historic preservation program to identify and preserve the city's historic architectural, archeological and cultural resources for future generations to study and enjoy. B.2. The City should work with other public agencies and the local historical society to determine priorities and incentives for identifying and preserving historic sites. Incentives encouraging the adaptive use of historic buildings should integrated into City codes and development standards. B.3. The City should continue to maintain and expand its inventory of historic sites. 70 Culture & Design B.4. Written narratives and visual aids should be made available for sites listed on the City's register of historic places to promote public awareness and recognition of the value of these resources. This should also include providing markers and maps for identifying and promoting these sites as visual and cultural assets within the community. B.S. Additions or alterations to significant architectural buildings should conform to the style and period of the initial construction as much as possible. Development of adjacent properties should be encouraged to be sympathetic to listed historic sites by acknowledging and including historic forms, materials, and architectural details in their design. B.6. Conversion/Adaptive Reuse. Part of the direction of the updated plans and regulations for the Downtown Waterfront area is to provide more flexible standards that can help businesses move into older buildings and adapt old homes to commercial or mixed use spaces. An example is the ability of buildings on the Edmonds Register of Historic Places to get an exception for parking for projects that retain the historic character of the site. Further incentives to adaptive use and restoration of historic properties should be pursued. B.7. The report and recommendations included in `A Historic Survey of Downtown Edmonds' by BOLA Architecture (February 2005) shall be studied and used as the basis for development of a Historical Preservation Plan to be included in a future Comprehensive Plan update. C. Goal - Recreation C.l . Encourage public access to significant recreational areas. C.2. Significant recreational areas would include, but not be limited to: Puget Sound Shorelines, Lake Ballinger, University Properties, Lund's Gulch, etc. C.3. Compatible land uses should be made of surrounding areas. D. Goal - Social. Identify and maintain significant public and private social areas in accordance with the following policies: D.I. Compatible land uses should be made of surrounding lands. D.2. Pursue public and private funding for such social areas as: Senior Center, Anderson Center, Edmonds Museum, Wade James Theater, Maplewood Rock and Gem Club House. Culture & Design 71 E. Goal - Cultural. Identify, maintain and develop cultural facilities both public and private in the areas of drama, dance, theaters, museums, etc. in accordance with the following policies: E.1. Encourage compatible land uses surrounding cultural sites. E.2. Pursue public and private funding to develop and operate such facilities. E.3. Cultural sites would include, but not be limited to: the Wade James Theater, the Edmonds Center for the Arts, Anderson Center, Museum, Edmonds Theatre, etc. F. Goal - Scenic. Identify, maintain and enhance scenic areas throughout the city in accordance with the following policies: F.1. Identify and inventory scenic areas and features within the city which contribute to the overall enjoyment of the environment for both residents and visitors. F.2. Incorporate scenic and aesthetic design features into the development of public projects. F.3. Preserve scenic features whenever possible in the development of public projects. FA. Use environmental and urban design review of development projects to avoid or mitigate impacts to identified scenic features. Urban Design: General Objectives A. . General. The man -made environment is an expression of human culture and reflects, in physical form, the social values of the members of the community. The manner in which the man -made elements are incorporated into the natural environment creates the special characteristics which identify a community and contribute to the quality of life in that community. The beauty and variety of the natural surroundings in Edmonds and the historical development of the City have combined to create an interesting, and visually attractive community. However, unsightly development — of poor quality and design — does exist in the City and may occur in the future. Aging buildings in some parts of the City, primarily downtown, also create an aesthetic problem. Removal or poor restoration of older buildings alters the character of the downtown area. The historical and typical strip 72 Culture & Design development along Highway 99 has resulted in economic and aesthetic underdevelopment of private properties. Although utility wires are placed underground where new development takes place, overhead wires still exist in most of the older parts of the City where they interfere with views and create visual blight. Commercial signs contribute to the color and variety of community life as well as providing an important function but they may also create discordant and unsightly conditions where they are of excessive or poor design. Street landscaping has been utilized in the past on a limited basis. However, in many areas, parking lots, access roads, streets and buildings are poorly integrated with the landscape. B. Design Objectives. Design objectives are a tool for city staff, the ADB, City Council, and the Hearing Examiner to direct future development in the city to result in high quality, well - designed, and sensitive projects that reflect the values of the citizens of Edmonds. The objectives contained in this section are intended to: • improve the physical appearance and character of Edmonds, • improve retail and pedestrian circulation options, • improve business opportunities, • protect natural environments, • protect and enhance the single - family residential character of Edmonds. C. Design Objectives for Site Design. The development of parking lots, pedestrian walkways and landscaping features is an integral part of how a building interacts with its site and its surrounding environment. Good design and site planning improves access by pedestrians, bicycles and automobiles, minimizes potential negative impacts to adjacent development, reinforces the character and activities within a district and builds a more cohesive and coherent physical environment. C.1. Design Objectives for Vehicular Access. C.I.a. Reduce the numbers of driveways (curb cuts) in order to improve pedestrian, bicycle and auto safety by reducing the number ofpotential points of conflict. C.I.b. Provide safe routes for disabled people. C.I.c. Improve streetscape character to enhance pedestrian activity in retail/multi-family/ commercial areas. Culture & Design 73 C.2. Design Objectives for Location And Layout of Parking C.2.a. Create adequate parkingfor each development, but keep the cars from dominating the streetscape. C.2.b. Improve pedestrian access from the street by locating buildings closer to the street and defining the street edge. C.2.c. Improve the project's visibility from the street by placing parking to side and rear. C.2.d. Provide direct pedestrian access from street, sidewalk, and parking. C.2.e. Integrate pedestrian and vehicular access between adjacent developments. C.3. Design Objectives for Pedestrian Connections Offsite. C.3.a. Design the site access and circulation routes with pedestrians' comfort and ease of access in mind. C.3.b. Create parking lots and building service ways that are efficient and safe for both automobiles and pedestrians. C. 3. c. Provide direct and safe access along, through and to driveways and adjacent developments or city streets. C. 3. d. Encourage the use of mass transit by providing easy access to pleasant waiting areas. C.4. Design Objectives for Garage Entry/Door Location. C.4.a. Ensure pedestrian safety by allowing cars the space to pullout of a garage without blocking the sidewalk. C. 4. b. Improve pedestrian safety by reducing points of conflict /curb cuts. C.4, c. Reduce harsh visual impacts of multiple and /or large garage entries/ doors and access driveways. Reduce the quantity of entries /doors visible to the street. C.5. Design Objectives for Building Entry Location. C. 5. a. Create an active, safe and lively street -edge. C. 5. b. Create a pedestrian friendly environment. C. 5. c. Provide outdoor active spaces at entry to retail /commercial uses. C.5.d. Provide semi-public/private seating area at multi family and commercial entries to increase activity along the street. C.6. Design Objectives for Setbacks. C.6a. To create and maintain the landscape and site characteristics of each neighborhood area. 74 Culture & Design C.6b. To create a common streetfrontage view with enough repetition to tie each site to its neighbor. C.6c. To provide enough space for wide, comfortable and safe pedestrian routes to encourage travel by foot. C.6d. To encourage transition areas between public streets and private building entries where a variety of activities and amenities can occur. C.7. Design Objectives for Open Space. C.7.a. To create green spaces to enhance the visual attributes of the development and encourage outdoor interaction. C.7.b. To provide places for residents and visitors to meet and to interact. C.7.c. To provide an area forplay, seating and other residential activities. C.B. Design Objectives for Building/Site Identity. C.8.a. Do not use repetitive, monotonous buildingforms and massing in large multi family or commercial projects. CB.b. Improve pedestrian access and way -finding by providing variety in buildingforms, color, materials and individuality of buildings. CB.c. Retain a connection with the scale and character of the City of Edmonds through the use of similar materials, proportions, forms, masses or building elements. C.8.d. Encourage new construction to use design elements tied to historic forms or patterns found in the city. C.9. Design Objectives for Weather Protection. C.9.a. Provide a covered walkway for pedestrians traveling along public sidewalks in downtown. C.9. b. Protect shoppers and residents from rain or snow. C.9. c. Provide a covered waiting area and walkway for pedestrians entering a building, coming from parking spaces and the public sidewalk in all areas of the City. C.10. Design Objectives for Lighting. C.10.a. Provide adequate illumination in all areas used by automobiles, bicycles and pedestrians, including building entries, walkways, parking areas, circulation areas and other open spaces to ensure a feeling of security. C.10.b. Minimize potential for light to reflect or spill off -site. C.10.c. Create a sense, of welcome and activity. C.I0A Provide adequate lighting, for signage panels. C.11. Design Objectives for Signage. Culture & Design 75 C.Il.a. Protect the streetscape from becoming cluttered. C. IL b. Minimize distraction from the overuse of advertisement elements. C. H. c. Provide clear signage for each distinct property. C.II A Use graphics /symbols to reduce the need to have large letters. C.II.e. Minimize potential for view blockage. C.11.f. Signs should be related to the circulation element serving the .establishment. C.II.g. Landscaping should be used in conjunction with pole signs for safety as well as appearance. C.11.h. Where multiple businesses operate from a central location, tenants should be encouraged to coordinate signing to avoid the proliferation of signs, each competing with the others. C.12. Design Objectives for Site Utilities, Storage, Trash and Mechanical. C. 12. a. Hide unsightly utility boxes, outdoor storage of equipment, supplies, garbage, recycling and composting. C. 12. b. Minimize noise and odor. C. 12. c. Minimize visual intrusion. C. 12. d. Minimize need for access /paving to utility areas C.13. Design Objectives for Significant Features. C. 13.a. Retain significant landscape features and unique landforms such as rock outcroppings and significant trees. C.13.b. Limit potential future negative environmental impacts such as erosion, runoff, landslides, and removal of vegetation and /or habitats. C. 13. c. Buffer incompatible uses. C. 13A Integrate buildings into their site by stepping the mass of the building along steep sloping sites. C.14. Design Objectives for Landscape Buffers. C. 14.a. Create a visual barrier between different uses. C. 14. b. Maintain privacy of single family residential areas. C.14.c. Reduce harsh visual impact ofparking lots and cars. C.14.d. Landscape buffers should reinforce pedestrian circulation routes. C.14.e. Landscape buffers should not be designed or located in a manner that creates an unsafe pedestrian environment. C.14.f. Minimize heat gain, from paved surfaces. C. 14.g. Provide treatment of runoff from parking lots. 76 Culture & Design D. Design Objectives for Building Form. Building height and modulation guidelines are essential to create diversity in building forms, minimize shadows cast by taller buildings upon the pedestrian areas and to ensure compliance with policies in the city's Comprehensive Plan. Protecting views from public parks and building entries as well as street views to the mountains and Puget Sound are an important part of Edmonds character and urban form. D.I. Design Objectives for Height. D. 1. a. Preserve views to mountains and Puget Sound to the west. D.1. b. Maintain the smaller scale and character of historic Edmonds. D.1. c. Minimize blockage of light and air to adjacent properties or to the sidewalk area. D.1.d. Maintain /protect view from public places and streets. D.2. Design Objectives for Massing. D.2. a. Encourage human scale elements in building design. D.2.b. Reduce bulk and mass of buildings. D.2.c. Masses may be subdivided vertically or horizontally. D.2.d. Explore flexible site calculations to eliminate building masses that have one story on one elevation and four or greater stories on another. D.3. Design Objectives for Roof Modulation. D.3.a. To breakup the overall massing of the roof. D.3.b. Create human scale in the building. D.3.c. Use roofforms to identify differentprograms orfunctional areas within the building. D.3.d. Provide ways for additional light to enter the building. D.4. Design Objectives for Wall Modulation. D. 4. a. To let more light and air into the building. D.4.b. Breakup large building mass and scale of a facade. D.4.c. To avoid stark and imposing buildingfacades. D. 4. d. To create a pedestrian scale appropriate to Edmonds. D.4.e. To become compatible with the surrounding built environment. E. Design Objectives for Building Facade. Building facade objectives ensure that the exterior of a building — the portion of a building that defines the character and visual appearance of a place — is of high quality Culture & Design 77 and demonstrates the strong sense of place and integrity valued by the residents of the City of Edmonds. E.1. Design Objectives for Building Facade. E.I.a. Ensure diversity in design. E.1. b. Reinforce the existing building patterns found in Edmonds. E. 1. c. Improve visual and physical character and quality of Edmonds. E. 1. d. Improve pedestrian environment in retail /commercial areas. E. I. e. Create individual identity of buildings. E.2. Design Objectives for Window Variety And Articulation. Windows help define the scale and character of the building. The organization and combinations of window types provide variation in a facade as well as provide light and air to the interior. Small windows are more typically utilitarian in function, such as bathroom or stairway windows, etc. and can be grouped to provide more articulation in the facade. E.3. Design Objectives for Variation in Facade Materials. The materials that make up the exterior facades of a building also help define the scale and style of the structure and provide variation in the facade to help reduce the bulk of larger buildings. From the foundation to the roof eaves, a variety of building materials can reduce the scale and help define a building's style and allows the design of a building to respond to its context and client's needs. EA. Design Objectives for Accent Materials /Colors /Trim. Applied ornament, various materials and colors applied to a facade as well as various decorative trim/surrounds provide variation in the scale, style and appearance of every building facade. The objective is to encourage new development that provides: • Compatibility with the surrounding neighborhood. • Visual interest and variety in building forms. • Reduces the visual impacts of larger building masses. • Allows identity and individuality of a project within a neighborhood. F. Design Objectives for Specific Areas. In addition to the general objectives described above, design objectives for specific areas or districts within the city are outlined below (note that design objectives for the Downtown Waterfront Activity Center are contained in the portion of the Land Use Element dealing specifically with that area). 78 Culture & Design F.1. Highway 99 F.I.a. General Appearance: Creation of new identity. Development of high intensity nodes. Better identification of businesses by numbering. Encouragement ofplanned business centers and design coordination among neighbors. Buildingforms compatible with adjacent uses. Parking areas more clearly defined to eliminate confusion of driveways, street and parking areas. Unsightly uses and storage screened by landscaping and fencing. F.I.b. Signs: Less conflict and confusion among signs. Visible from a distance at speeds of 35 -45 mph. Pole signs no higher than 20' maximum height. Design approval of signing as a condition of approval for highrise buildings in "nodes ". F. 1. c. Lighting: Oriented away from thoroughfare and residential areas. F.1.d. Landscaping: Use of landscaping berms in and around parking areas and setbacks to provide a visual screen. F.2. Neighborhood Shopping Centers F.2.a. General Appearance: Buildings, similar in scale to single-family houses, compact arrangement of buildings with safe pedestrian walkways. F2.b. Signs: Use sign concept from downtown. F.2.c. Lighting: Oriented away from residential areas. Designed for safety rather than advertisement of uses. F.2.d. Landscaping: Buffer from street, provide transition from commercial areas to residential areas. F.3. Waterfront Building Design F.3.a. Buildings should beset back from the waterfront to preserve existing beach areas and provide a buffer area. F.3.b. Buildings should be oriented to pedestrians by providing visible activity at the first floor level, using awnings, windows, etc. Retail uses are encouraged in first floor spaces. F.3.c. Covered parking areas shall screen cars parked inside them from public rights -of -way. F.4. Waterfront Site Design F.4.a. The site layout should be coordinated with existing buildings and proposed improvements to provide views of the water, open spaces, and easy pedestrian access to the beach. F.4.b. The site design should provide adequate separation of vehicles and pedestrians to avoid conflicts. Culture & Design 79 F4.c. On -site parking spaces and paved surfaces should be kept to a minimum. Joint use parking arrangements and in -lieu parking payments are encouraged. Only the absolute minimum number of parking spaces to accommodate the use(s) should be permitted on -site. F.S. Waterfront Landscaping FS.a. Landscaping should be used to soften edges of buildings and parking areas. F. S. b. Plant species should be selected to endure salt spray, wind, and soil conditions. F.S.c. Landscaping should not obscure waterfront views. F.S.d. Landscaping should be used to separate pedestrians and vehicles. F.6. Street Landscaping F 6.a. The City should establish a program to place utility wires underground in areas of the City where scenic vistas will be enhanced or the general environment will be improved. Encourage LID's and arterial conversions. F 6.b. The areas of the City which are most suitable for street landscaping should be identified and a program developed to carry out a public landscaping plan. F.6c. Street lighting should be designed to provide comfort, security and aesthetic beauty. [Ord. 2527, 1985.] 80 Culture & Design Utilities Element Water, Sewer and Stormwater Management A. General. Utility plans have been prepared by the City for coordinated water, sewer, and stormwater management systems. These plans are adopted by reference and provide level -of- service standards and capital project guidance for each of these systems. Solid Waste A. General. Solid waste disposal is becoming a major problem in urban areas. Landfill sites are filling and new environmentally acceptable ones will be hard to find. Landfills can only be considered as an interim measure. There is presently a technological explosion in solid waste management. Citizens are entitled to the most efficient and economical disposal methods. Citizens now recognize that our natural resources are limited and need to be reused. Recovery of resources and/or the production of energy from solid waste could help defray costs of solid waste collection. Backyard burning of garbage is a source of irritation to nearby residents and is a cause of air pollution. Littering is unsightly as well as unsanitary. The "throwaway" philosophy is a waste of natural resources and detracts from the natural beauty of our surroundings. B. Goal. A regional solid waste management authority should be established to coordinate solid waste disposal in accordance with the following policies: B.1. Regional sanitary landfills should be used only as an interim measure. B.2. The ultimate regional disposal system should be a resource /energy recovery system. B.3. Edmonds should work with Snohomish County and King County to establish recycling facilities that would be economically feasible. C. Goal. The City of Edmonds should strengthen local controls over collection of solid waste in accordance with the following policies: C.1. Mandatory city -wide garbage collection should be required to minimize dumping and to eliminate backyard burning and resultant air pollution. Utilities 81 C.2. Homeowners should be charged by the garbage can to encourage recycling and separation of wastes at home. Those who use fewer cans should pay less. C.3. Edmonds should conduct a city -wide educational campaign on solid waste telling citizens how they can minimize the problem. D. Goal. Edmonds should enforce litter control and encourage community litter pickups and prevention programs. E. Goal. Edmonds should encourage recycling to conserve natural resources and reduce energy consumption in accordance with the following policies: E.1. Continuous studies should be made of proposals for recycling solid waste. E.2. Edmonds should encourage the use of returnable bottles and cans and reusable shopping bags to save energy and resources. E.3. Edmonds should work toward the elimination of excess packaging. EA. Markets for recycled materials are fluctuating and their stabilization should be encouraged. E.5. Individuals and/or industry should be encouraged to set up recycling centers in the community. E.6. Demonstration programs should be used to determine acceptable methods of home separation of wastes, collection and recycling. Other Utilities A. New utility systems and technologies are constantly developing or evolving. Rather than being reactive, the City should seek to plan for these new services as they develop. A.1. New technologies should be planned and carefully researched prior to developing new regulations or reviewing siting proposals. The goal is to provide for public needs while protecting the character of the community and assuring consistency with other plan goals. A.2. Public and private utility plans should be encouraged that identify long -range system needs and that are coordinated with the City's comprehensive plan. All utility projects should be coordinated to provide opportunities for projects to address more than one system improvement or maintenance need. 82 Utilities A.3. Utility structures should be located whenever possible with similar types of structures to minimize impacts on surrounding neighborhoods. When such locations are not available, utility structures should be located or sited so that they are as unobtrusive as possible and are integrated with the design of their site and surrounding area. Free - standing structures should be discouraged when other siting opportunities are available. Utilities 83 Capital Facilities Element Capital Facilities A. General. The capital facilities element provides the goals and standards for meeting the community's needs for capital facilities. Capital facilities are those facilities support the delivery of public services to the community, as well as visitors making use of the City's resources and services. In addition to serving existing residents, capital facilities are also planned in order to meet the community's needs as new development occurs in the future. Because Edmonds is a mature city with a full complement of facilities and services, most capital facility planning is targeted to maintaining existing level of service standards and expanding the quality of life of its citizens with new or expanded facilities. Level -of- service (LOS) standards are described in the transportation, utility and parks elements. School facility needs and LOS standards are contained in the Capital Facilities Plan for Edmonds School District No. 15. These LOS standards are used to assist in developing both short and long range capital improvements projects. The capital facilities element identifies these projects and their funding sources for a six -year period. This schedule will be updated on an annual basis and integrated with the City's budget process. The element also identifies public facility needs for the 20 -year planning period. Funding sources will vary as specific projects are developed, and will include a variety of public and private sources. The siting of essential public facilities is a common concern for jurisdictions within the county, and the City is actively participating in the development of a common siting process with its neighboring cities and the county. B. Goal. Establish level of service (LOS) standards for all city - provided services in order to provide public facilities and services that meet citizens' needs and enhance the community's quality of life according to the following policies: B.1. Provide capital facility improvements in order to meet or exceed established level -of- service standards. B.2. Coordinate and set level -of- service standards that meet the goals and policies of the comprehensive plan. B.3. Evaluate and prioritize capital facility projects according to how they achieve established criteria and the goals and policies of the comprehensive plan. Examples of typical criteria include the following: B.3.a. Whether the project is needed to achieve or maintain a LOS standard. B.3.b. Whether the facility will contribute to the elimination of a public hazard. B.3.c. Whetherthefacilityis .financiallyfeasible. 84 Capital Facilities B.3.d. The extent to which the facility will impact annual and long -term budgets. B.3.e. Whether the facility is consistent with future facility needs and site considerations. B.3.f. The extent to which the facility will impact natural and cultural resources. C. Goal. Evaluate and coordinate the provision of capital facility improvements with both annual budgeting and long -term financial planning consistent with the following policies: C.1. Capital budget decisions will be made consistent with the Edmonds comprehensive plan in accordance with RCW 36.70A.120. C.2. If probable funding falls short of meeting identified needs, the comprehensive plan shall be re- examined to review how additional funding will be raised, or how land use assumptions will be reassessed to ensure that established level of service standards will be met. C.3. Capital improvements will be planned to achieve fiscal responsibility, maintenance of existing facilities, and protect the quality of life of the community. CA. The City will continue to adopt multi -year budgets and six -year capital improvement programs as part of its annual budget and planning process. C.S. Six -year capital improvement programs will be coordinated with long -term (at least 20 -year) capital needs D. Goal. Seek to. use a coordinated array of mechanisms and sources of revenue to fund needed capital facilities according to the following policies: D.1. Make use of the City's budget and structure of funds to identify adequate funding sources for capital facilities. D.2. Seek grants and cooperative funding agreements to supplement internal City funding of capital facilities that benefit the general public or that are required to meet needs not generated solely by Edmonds residents. D.3. Make use of regulatory and incentive programs to assist in achieving LOS standards for City services. E. Goal. Strategically locate new facilities to complement the delivery of services and provide for efficient and convenient access by the community consistent with the following policies: Capital Facilities 85 E.1. The location of new or improved capital facilities should take into account existing service delivery systems and the location and access of service populations. E.2. Ensure that the siting of essential public facilities is not precluded by the implementation of this Comprehensive Plan. F. Essential public facilities are necessary to support orderly growth and the delivery of public services. The City's goal is to ensure that these facilities are sited in an efficient, timely manner while acknowledging and mitigating any community impacts created by these facilities consistent with the following policies. F.1. Essential public facilities are those defined by state law, through the City's planning process or on application of a service provider. F.2. Sponsors of essential public facilities should be encouraged to consult with the City prior to choosing a site in order to seek information about potential sites, provide information concerning project proposals, identify potential community impacts, and propose possible siting incentives or mitigation measures. F.3. The City shall assure adequate public notice and participation in the siting of essential public facilities by reviewing these facilities through a conditional use process, allowing the identification of community impacts and mitigation measures. Because the City's normal notification requirements may not provide for adequate public notice to the project's impact area, the project sponsor shall develop a public participation plan designed to encourage early public involvement in the siting decision and identification of impacts and mitigation measures. F.4. The City shall develop decision criteria for the siting of essential public facilities which allow the sponsor to demonstrate: F.4.a. the need for the facility, F.4. b. its consistency with adopted plans and policies, F4.c. its location is designed to serve its service population, F 4.d. its location criteria is compatible with the siting of other essential public facilities, F4.e. the site is physically suitable for the facility, and F.4f the project is able to mitigate community impacts. F.5. City policies and procedures — including any conditional use process — shall be interpreted and administered in accordance with the admonition contained in the Growth Management Act that no development plan or development regulation may preclude the siting of essential public facilities. 86 Capital Facilities G. Capital Improvements Program. The tables following this section summarize the six -year capital improvements program for the city. Concurrency Management A. Goal. Provide a system of concurrency management that will assure that the facilities needed to support city services are provided in a timely and coordinated manner according to the following policies: A.1. For transportation facilities, assure that the facilities or services needed to meet level -of- service standards are in place at the time of development, or assure that a financial commitment is in place to complete the improvements or strategies within six years. These facilities or services must be provided by either the City or the appropriate public or private developer. A.2. For all capital facilities, develop concurrency management systems to manage the provision of facilities and services in order to achieve and maintain level -of- service standards. Capital Facilities 87 Capital Improvements Program Transportation Projects- Fund 112 Projects for 2004 -2009 PROJECT NAME 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010+ 100th Ave W Road Stabilization Project $75,000 $500,000 212th & 84th Ave Capadty Improvements $100,000 $250,000 220th Street Improvements Construction $3,438,000 220th Street Improvements (Engineering) 2381h St SW 84th Ave W to SR 104 Improvements $2,100,000 76th Ave & 206th St Traffic Calming & Ped Improvements $70,000 76th Avenue W Restoration SR 99 to 220th St $238,000 84th Ave W 212th St to 238th St Improvements $6,875,000 Fire Dept Signal- Fire Station #20 $72,000 Fire Dept Signal- Fire Station #16 $35,000 Nonmotorized- Bikeway Projects- Ci 'de $0 $0 $0 $0 Nonmotorized Trans: 5th & Main Crosswalk Rehab $25,000 $25,000 Nonmotorized Trans: 72nd Ave W Ped Improvements $205,000 Nonmotorized Trans: 96th Ave W Pedestrian Improvements $345,000 Nonmotorized Trans: ADA Curb Ramp Im r $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 Nonmotorized Trans: Dayton & Main St Pedestrian Im rov $47,089 $50,000 Nonmotorized Trans: Interurban Trail $250,000 Nonmotorized Trans: Olympic View Dr. Ped Improvements $250,000 Nonmotorized Trans: Pedestrian Lighting- Cede $5,000 $5,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 Nonmotorized Trans: Walkway Projects- Ci 'de $0 $0 Nonmotorized Trans.-164th St SW Ped Improve $125,000 Nonmotorized Trans.-School Zone Improve $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Otympic View Drive Sight Distance stud $65,000 Oveda -Ci 'de $125,000 $150,000 Oveda - Waterline $350,000 $220,000 $200,000 $210,000 $215,000 $220,000 Pine Street Ferry Access Improvements $145,000 Signal- Puget & Olympic View Dr $180,000 Signal- 212th & 80th Ave $60,000 Signal- 9th & 220th $260,000 Si nal Improvements- Ci de $20,000 $20,000 $20,000 $20,000 $20,000 $20,000 Signal- Main St. & 9th Ave $260,000 Signal- SR 104 & 238th St SW $210,000 Signal Upgrades- 238th St & tooth Ave $115,000 Signal- Walnut St 9th Ave S. $245,000 Signal -9th & Cas ers $270,000 SR 99 Contract Closeout $25,000 Stabilization Projects- Ci ide $50,000 50000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 Street Improvements- Citywide $20,000 $10,000 $20,000 $20,000 $20,000 $20,000 Traffic Calming $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $20,000 $20,000 $20,000 Transportation Plan $5,000 $5,0001 $5,000 $5,000 $200,000 $5,000 Total Construction Protects $4,760,089 $1,425,000 $590,000 $690,000 $900,000 $605,000 Revenues and Cash Balances 2004 -2009 Beginning Cash Balance $1,196,834 $768,125 $238,362 $195,058 $197,738 $25,512 Motor Vehide Fuel Tax $266,000 $266,000 $266,000 $266,000 $266,000 $266,000 Motor Vehicle Registration Fee $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Investment Interest $44,000 $26,884 $8,343 $6,8271 $6,921 $893 New Development Mitigation Fees & other fees $60,000 $130,000 $135,000 $140,000 $145,000 $150,000 Transfer in- Fund 412 -100 $105,000 $110,000 $110,000 $115,000 $115,000 $120,000 Transfer in- Fund 412 - 200 $45,000 Transfer in- Fund 412 -300 $25,000 $25,000 $25,000 Transfer in- Fund 330 $70,380 Contributions to sidewalk fund $20,000 $20,000 $20,000 $20,000 $20,000 $20,000 Grant- (Federal) for Fire Station #20 Signal $48,000 Grant- Federal for Fire Station #16 Signal $26,000 Grant- Federal for Citywide Guardrails Grant- State for 220th St Improvements $2,400,000 Grant- State for Transportation Plan $50,000 Grant- (Fed /State) for Citywide ADA Curb Rams $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 Grant- Fed /State for Ci 'de Bikeway Projects $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Grant- Fed /State for School Zone Improvements $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Grant- Federal for 76th Av/206th St Ped Im r $60,000 Additional Public Works Trust Fund Loan- 220th 2 $400,000 Grant-(State) for 72nd Av Ped Improvements $87,500 Loan State for 220th St Im rovments 1 $85,000 School Dist & CT - Contr to 220th St Im rov $10,000 Grant- State for 96th Ave W Ped Im rov $157,500 Grant- Federal for 76th Ave Restoration $117,000 Grant Federal for 220th St Improvements $500,000 Grant- Federal for Interurban Trail $250,000 Grant State for Signal Upgrade 238th & 100th $45,000 Grant-(Federal) for 9th/220th Signal $195,000 Grant State for 212th & 84th Capacity Im rovmeents $50,000 $125,000 Grant State for 84th Ave 212th to 238th Improvements $1,200,000 Grant - RTID for 84th Ave 212th to 238th Improvements $3,905,000 Grant- RTID for 238th St Improvements $1,800,000 Grant Subtotal $3,786,000 $316,000 $60,000 $162,600 $192,600 $130,000 Inlerfund Transfers Out Debt Service on Loan 1 - $20,000 - $20,000 - $20,000 - $20,000 - $20,000 - $20,000 Debt Service on Loan 2 - $22,647 - $22,647 - $22,647 - $22,647 - $22,647 Total Revenues & Cash Balances $6,628,214 $1,663,362 $786,068 $887,738 $926,612 $669,768 Total Construction Projects $4 760 089 $1,426,000 $690,000 $690,000 $900,000 $606,000 Ending Cash Balance $768,1261 $238,3621 $196,068 $197,738 $26,612 $64,768 Multimodal Transportation- Fund #113 Projects for 2004 -2009 PROJECT NAME 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Professional Services $3,940,924 $1,250,000 $625,000 $625,000 $2,000,000 $2,000,000 Travel Expenses 500 Misc. 2,000 Total Capital Improvements Projects $3,943,424 $1,250,000 $625,000 $625,000 $2,000,000 $2,000,000 Revenues and Cash Balances 2004 -2009 Beginning Cash Balance $0 $0 $0 $0 Grants - TEA 21 and CMAQ 3,438,933 $1,000,000 $500,000 $500,000 $1,706,600 $1,706,600 State Grants -TO $250,000 $125,000 $125,000 $293,400 $293,400 StateTransp Appropriations $504,491 Interest Earnings $0 $0 $0 $0 Total Revenues $3,943,424 $1,250,000 $625,000 $625,000 $2,000,000 $2,000,000 Transfer to General Fund #001 Total Capital Improvements Projects $3,943,424 $1,250,000 $625,000 $625,000 $2,000,000 $2,000,000 Ending Cash Balance $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Capital Improvements Program Buildings Maintenance- Fund 116 Projects for 2004 -2009 PROJECT NAME 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 ADA Improvements- City Wide $5,000 $10,000 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 Anderson Center Roof Replacement $60,000 Anderson Center Seismic Reforcement $100,000 Anderson Center Exterior Painting $30,000 ' Anderson Center Interior Painting $10,000 Anderson Center Carpets $17,000 Anderson Center Exterior Siding $20,000 Anderson Center Exhaust Duct $10,000 Anderson Center Blinds $20,000 Anderson Center Asbestos Abatement $30,000 Anderson Center Vinyl Tile $12,000 Anderson Center Soffit Vents $8,500 Anderson Center Counter Tops $8,000 Boys & Girls Club Heating $8,000 Bo s & Girls Club Roof $25,000 Boys & girls Club Exterior Painting $3,000 City Hall Interior HVAC Upgrades $30,000 $40,000 City Hall Entrance Doors $18,000 City Hall Elevator $50,000 City Hall Window Replacement $10,000 $10,000 City Hall Interior Painting $8,000 City Hall Security Gate Fencing $20,000 Fire Station #20 Exterior Siding Re l $4,000 Fire Station #20 Vehicle Exhaust $15,000 Library AC Replacement $5,000 $45,000 Library Carpets $22,000 Libray Central Heating Replacemel $25,000 $175,000 Library Plaza Appliance Re lacement $4,500 Library Plaza Room Carpet $12,000 Library Plaza Brick Painting $30,000 Libraa Plaza Room Windows $10,000 Library Wood Trim $12,000 Log Cabin Exterior Sealing of Logs $3,000 Log Cabin Lighting Replacement $3,000 Meadowdale Clubhouse Roof $12,000 Meadowdale Clubhouse Exterior Painting $3,000 Meadowdale Clubhouse Ceiling Replacement $7,000 Meadowdale Clubhouse Lighting Upgrade $5,000 Museum Exterior Painting $1,000 Museum Steps Replaced $15,000 Museum Brick Pointing & Grouting $20,000 Museum Brick Sealin $10,000 Park Maintenance Bldg Lighting Upgrade $9,000 Park Maintenance Bldg Paint Booth Installation $40,000 Senior Center Misc Repairs & Main $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 Senior Center Roofing $50,000 $50,000 Senior Center HVAC $40,000 $20,000 Senior Center Foundation $50,000 $50,000 Wade James Theater Gutter Replacement $4,000 Wade James Theater Roof Replacement $30,000 Wade 'ames Theater Exterior Painting $4,000 Total Facilities Projects $118,000 $457,000 $301,000 $239,000 $115,000 $188,000 Revenues and Cash Balances 2004 Beginning Cash Balance -2009 $136,410 $75,010 - $325,390 - $569,790 - $752,190 - $810,590 Interest Earnings $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Transfer from Gen Fund #001 $56,600 $56,600 $56,600 $56,600 $56,600 $56,000 Total Revenues $193,010 $131,610 - $268,790 - $513,190 - $695,590 - $754,590 Total Facilities Projects $118,000 $457,000 $301,000 $239,000 $115,000 $188,000 Ending Cash Balance $75,010 - $325,390 - $569,790 - $752,190 - $810,590 - $942,590 ExceldataTecility\CIP 2003 Bldg Maint 116 Fund Capital Improvements Program Park Acquisition /Improvement- Fund 125 Projects for 2004 -2009 PROJECT NAME 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Park Development Projects 162nd Street Park 1 % $70,000 $20,000 Anderson Center Field / Court $20,000 $10,000 $ 45,000 15,000 Brackett's Landing Improvements $40,000 $15,000 $10,000 $20,000 Esperance Neighborhood Improvements 1 % $263,000 City Park Improvments 1 % $380,000 $50,000 60,000 Civic Center Complex Improvements 1 % $40,000 $35,000 $ 70,000 Edmonds Marsh $80,000 $40,000 $20,000 50,000 20,000 Fishing Pier/Olympic Beach $80,000 $25,000 20,000 40,000 Lynndale Park Improvements 10,000 15,000 Maplewood Park Improvement $30,000 $30,000 40,000 20,000 Marina Beach Park Improvements $40,000 $25,000 310,000 Mathay Ballinger Park 30,000 20,000 Meadowdale Field / Clubhouse Renovation 70,000 North Edmonds Neighborhood Park 1 $150,000 350,000 Olympic Beach Park/mid- waterfront walkway $40,000 20,000 Pine Ridge Park Improvements $10,000 110,000 25,000 Pine Street Park Improvements $40,000 10,000 Seaview Park Improvements $50,000 $45,000 80,000 Senior Center & 144 RR waterfront walkwa y $20,000 35,000 20,000 Sierra Park Improvements $55,000 $60,000 50,000 Southwest County Park 90,000 35,000 Underwater Park Improvements $7,000 $5,000 10,000 Yost Park/Pool Improvement $50,000 $40,000 $20,000 10,000 50,000 15,000 Beautification Beautification Ci ide /Sr. Ctr. Treescape $30,000 $20,000 $20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 City-wide ParklFacilify Improvements ADA Improvements $40,000 $20,000 20,000 30,000 Centralized Irrigation $40,000 $20,000 20,000 Citywide Park Improvements $80,000 $10,000 $10,000 40,000 30,000 45,000 Hummingbird Hill Park $30,000 10,000 Misc Paving $115,000 $70,000 $15,000 10,000 20,000 80,000 Misc Small Projects $80,000 $115,000 $15,000 60,000 100,000 90,000 Sports Fields Upgrade /Playground Partnership $50,000 $40,000 $30,000 30,000 10,000 15,000 Waterfront Bulkheads 1 % $20,000 $100,000 $20,000 50,000 Specialized Facilities Aquatic Recreation Complex note #1 note #1 note #1 note #1 note #1 note #1 Skateboard Facility 1% $80,000 $266,000 Trail Deve/o ment Interuban Trail Development 1 1% $700,000 70,000 Misc. Unpaved Trail / Bike Path /Improvements $50,000 $50,000 $100,000 30,000 50,000 150,000 Planning Cultural Arts Center $50,000 40,000 Comprehensive Plan $40,000 $50,000 50,000 20,000 Note #1: $10,000,000 General Obligation Bond Issue Total Park Projects $2,357,000 $901,000 $1,023,000 $ 1,190,000 $550,000 1165000 Revenues and Cash Balances 2004 Beginning Cash Balance -2009 $2,176,554 $845,804 $830,004 $1,107,070 $735,070 $1,140,070 Real estate Tax 1/4% $740,000 $762,200 $785,066 740,000 730,000 740,000 Interest Earnings $50,000 $40,000 $40,000 40,000 40,000 40,000 Grants/ Other Government $250,000 $100,000 $500,000 50,000 200,000 Total Revenues $3,216,554 $1,748,004 $2,155,070 $1,937,070 $1,705,070 $1,920,070 Expenditures Supplies $2,000 $2,000 $2,000 2,000 $2,000 2,000 Professional Services $3,000 $3,000 $3,000 3,000 $3,000 3,000 1 % for the Arts /Capital Projects $8,750 $12,000 $20,000 7,000 $10,000 8,000 Total Parks Projects $2,357,000 $901,000 $1,023,000 $1,190,000 $550,000 $1,165,000 Total Expenditures $2,370,750 $918,000 $1,048,000 1,202,000 $565,000 1,178,000 Ending Cash Balance $845,804 $830,004 $1,107,070 $735,0701 $1,140,070 $742,070 Park Acquisition /Improvement- Fund 126 (Special Capital) Projects for 2004 -2009 PROJECT NAME 2004 2006 2006 2007 2008 2009 Debt Service on City Hall $480,571 $484,056 $416,237 $415,502 415,500 415,500 Debt Service on Library Roof $26,000 $26,000 $26,000 26,000 26,000 26,000 Debt Service on Marina Beach $151,835 $151,835 $151,835 151,835 151,835 151,835 Debt Service on PSCC Purchase $73,823 $73,823 $73,823 73,823 73,823 73,823 Total Debt Service JZK 229 JZgL5 714 66$ 7.895 667.160 667,158 667.158 Misc.Openspace /Land $40,000 $80,000 $20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 Meadowdale Heights Acquisition /North end $20,000 $100,000 Edmonds Marsh /Hatchery Acquisition $1,000,000 200,000 North Edmonds Beach Acquisition $20,000 100,000 Old Woodway Elementary School Acquisition $1,463,000 Waterfront Acquisition 2,000,000 500,000 Tideland Acquisitions $85,200 $40,000 $10,000 10,000 10,000 Espereance Neighborhood Park Acquisition $300,000 Total Park Projects $1,465.200 $1,683,000 Im 000 $2,230.000 130,000 520.000 Beginning Cash Balance $1,216,866 $1,627,437 $533,923 $1,184,094 $589,934 $612,776 Real estate Tax 1/4% /1st Qtr% $740,000 $762,200 $785,066 740,000 730,000 740,000 Interest Earnings $45,000 $40,000 $40,000 40,000 40,000 40,000 Other intergovernment revenue /bonds $523,000 $523,000 $523,000 523,000 250,000 Grants $300,000 1,000,000 50,000 250,000 Private Donation $1,000,000 Total Revenues $3,824,866 $2,952,637 $1,881,989 $3,487,094 $1,409,934 $1,892,776 Expenditures Total Debt Service $732,229 $735,714 $667,895 667,160 667,158 667,158 Total Parks Projects $1,465,200 $1,683,000 $30,000 $2,230,000 $130,000 $520,000 Total Expenditures $2,197,429 $2,418,714 $697,895 $2,897,160 $797,158 1,187,158 Ending Cash Balance $1,627,437 $533,9231 $1,184,094 $589,934 $612,776 $705,618 Capital Improvements Program Cemetery Improvement- Fund 130 Projects for 2004 -2009 PROJECT NAME 009 Park Development Projects Cemetery Columbarium 1 % Total Cemetary Construction Projects $375,000 $0 $0 $0 $200,000 $0 Capital Improvements Program Public Safety Building Construction -Fund #326 Projects for 2004 -2009 PROJECT NAME 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Fire Station #17 Carpet $12,000 Fire Station #17 Interior Painting $4,500 Fire Station #17 Exterior Painting $4,000 Fire Station #20 Deck Replacement $12,000 Fire Station #20 HVAC $30,000 Fire Station #20 Interior Painting $4,000 Fire Station #20 Lighting Upgrade $8,000 Fire Station #20 Roof Replacement $30,000 Public Safety Projects Soffit Installation $15,000 $8,000 Public Safety Air Ducts Relocation $12,000 Public Safety Exterior Painting $8,000 Public Safety Interior Painting $7,000 Public Safety Entrance Doors $9,000 Public Safety Court Remodel $7,500 Total Capital Improvements Projects $19,000 $61,500 $47,000 $19,000 $4,500 $20,000 Revenues and Cash Balances 2004 -2009 Beginning Cash Balance $192,912 Real property Taxes Interest Earnings Total Revenues Expenditures Public Safety Projects $0 $0 Total Expenditures $0 $0 JEnding Cash Balance $0 $0 Capital Improvements Program Limited Tax General Obligation Bond Projects- Fund 330 Projects for 2004 -2009 PROJECT NAME 2004 $92,000 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Library Roof (Phase 1) Library Roof Phase 2 $25,000 Anderson Center Windows $10,000 Anderson Center Electrical $5,000 Anderson Center Plumbing & Restrooms $20,000 Anderson Center Seismic Improvements Transfer to Fund 112 $70,380 Total Projects $222,380 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Revenues and Cash Balances 2004 -2009 Beginning Cash Balance 1 $214,880 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Federal Grants $0 Sno-Isle- library Funds $0 Investment Interest $7,500 Total Revenues $222,380 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Total Projects $222,380 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Ending Cash Balance $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Capital Improvements Program Combined Utility Construction Improvement - Fund 412 -100 Water Projects Projects for 2004 -2009 PROJECT NAME 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Citywide Water Improvements $20,000 $20,000 $25,000 $25,000 $25,000 $25,000 Replacement Program & Distr.S stem Improvements $695,000 $668,000 $897,000 $878,000 $845,000 $870,000 South Perrinville Waterline Replacement (OVD) $424,650 Replacement Program- 2003 - Projects Phase 3 $500,000 Alderwood Master Meter Replacement $100,000 Five Corners Pump Station Improvements $450,000 Seismic Improvements $150,000 Reservoir Security $50,000 Chlorine Residual Analyzers $25,000 Automated Meter Evaluation Study $10,000 Automated Meter Constrruction PRV Replacements $150,000 Total Water Projects $1,990,000 $1,262,650 $922,000 $903,000 $870,000 $905,000 Revenues 2004 -2009 Beginning Cash Balance 11967,965 $969,844 $451,138 $254,928 $165,851 $106,655 Transfer from Combined Utility Fund #411 $500,000 $700,000 $700,000 $800,000 $800,000 $800,000 SRF or Public Works Trust Fund Loans $408,000 Connection Fee Proceeds $120,000 $120,000 $120,000 $120,000 $120,000 $120,000 Bond Proceeds Interest Earnings $68,879 $33,945 $15,790 $8,922 $5,805 $3,733 Transfer to Const Improv Fund #112 - $105,000 - $110,000 - $110,000 - $115,000 - $115,000 - $115,000 Total Revenues $2,959,844 $1,713,788 $1,176,928 $1,068,851 $976,655 $915,388 Total Water Projects $1,990,000 $1,262,650 $922,000 $903,000 $870,000 $905,000 Ending Cash Balance $969,844 $451,138 $254,928 $165,851 $106,655 $10,388 Assisted Housing Availability: In 1995 there were two HUD- assisted developments providing a total of 87 units for low- income, elderly residents within the City of Edmonds. This was more than doubled by a new development approved in 2004 for an additional 94 units. Since 1995, 167 assisted care living units have been built in the downtown area, specifically targeting senior housing needs. Although the Housing Authority of Snohomish County did not operate any public housing units within Edmonds prior to 1995, it purchased an existing housing complex totaling 131 units in 2002. The Housing Authority continues to administer 124 Section 8 rent supplement certificates and vouchers within the city. In addition, there are currently 36 adult family homes providing shelter for 187 residents. This is a substantial increase from the 13 adult family homes providing shelter for 66 residents in 1995. Growth Management goals and policies contained in the City's Comprehensive Plan encourage availability of resources to insure basic community services and ample provisions made for necessary open space, parks and other recreation facilities; preservation of light (including direct sunlight), privacy, views, open spaces, shorelines and other natural features, and freedom from air, water, noise and visual pollution; and a balanced mixture of income and age groups. Land Use policies encourage strategic planning for development and redevelopment that achieve a balanced and coordinated approach to economic development, housing and cultural goals; and encourage a more active and vital setting for new businesses supported by nearby residents, downtown commercial activity and visitors throughout the area. Policies encourage identifica- tion and maintenance of significant public and private social areas, cultural facilities, and scenic areas; and maintenance and preservation of historical sites. Commercial Land Use policies encourage identification and reservation of sufficient sites suited for a variety of commercial uses. Housing goals are directed toward providing housing opportunities for all segments of the city's households; supporting existing neighborhoods and preserving/rehabilitating the housing stock; maintaining high quality residential environments; and providing assistance to developing housing for elderly, disabled and low - income households. These goals are supported by policies which include review of regulatory impediments to control of housing costs and affirmative measures to support construction of housing for protected groups; encouraging expansion of the types of housing available, including accessory dwelling units, mixed use, and multi - family housing; flexible development standards; and review and revision of development regulations, including assessing the feasibility of establishing time limits for permitting; consolidating permitting; implementing administrative permitting procedures and instituting preapplication hearings. Other measures to mitigate potential housing impacts include determining whether any public land is available which could be used to help meet affordable housing targets; development of a strategy plan, including target number of units and development timeline; technical assistance programs or information to encourage housing rehabilitation and development of accessory units; and a strong monitoring program with mid- course correction features (see the discussion below). B. Strategies to Promote Affordable Housing. In order to respond to the continuing need to provide affordable housing for the community, the City has undertaken a series of reasonable measures to accomplish this goal, consistent with the 106 Housing policy direction indicated by Snohomish County Tomorrow and the Countywide Planning Policies. These reasonable measures or strategies to promote affordable housing include: Land Use Strategies • Upzoning. The City has upzoned a substantial area of previously large lot (12,000+ square foot lots) zoning to ensure that densities can be obtained of at least 4.0 dwelling units per acre. The City has also approved changes from single family to multi family zoning in designated corridor areas to provide more housing units at reduced cost to consumers. • Density Bonus. A targeted density bonus is offered for the provision of low income senior housing in the City. Parking requirements are also reduced for this housing type, making the density obtainable at lower site development cost. • Cluster Subdivisions. This is accomplished in the city through the use of PRDs. In Edmonds, a PRD is defined as an alternate form of subdivision, thereby encouraging its use as a normal form of development. In addition, PRDs follow essentially the same approval process as that of a subdivision. . • Planned Residential Development (PRD). The City has refined and broadened the applicability of its PRD regulations. PRDs can still be used to encourage the protection of environmentally sensitive lands; however, PRDs can also now be used to encourage infill development and flexible housing types. • Infill Development. The City's principal policy direction is aimed at encouraging infill development consistent with its neighborhoods and community character. This overall plan direction has been termed "designed infill" and can be seen in the City's emphasis and continued work on streamlining permitting, revising codes to provide more flexible standards, and improving its design guidelines. • Conversion/Adaptive Reuse. The City has established a new historic preservation program intended to support the preservation and adaptive reuse of existing buildings, especially in the historic downtown center. Part of the direction of the updated plans and regulations for the Downtown Waterfront area is to provide more flexible standards that can help businesses move into older buildings and adapt old homes to commercial or mixed use spaces. An example is the ability of buildings on the Edmonds Register of Historic Places to get an exception for parking for projects that retain the historic character of the site. Administrative Procedures Streamlined approval processing. The City generally uses either a Hearing Examiner or staff to review and issue discretionary land use decisions, thereby reducing permitting timelines and providing some degree of certainty to the process. The City continues to provide and improve on an extensive array of information forms and handouts explaining its permitting processes and standards. The City has also established standards for permit review times, tailored to the type and complexity of the project. For example, the mean processing time for processing land use permits in 2003 was 39 days, less than one -third of the 120 -day standard encouraged by the State's Regulatory Reform act. Housing 107 • Use -by- Right. The City has been actively reviewing its schedule of uses and how they are divided between uses that are permitted outright vs. permitted by some form of conditional use. The City has expanded this effort to include providing clearer standards, potentially allowing more approvals to be referred to staff instead of the Hearing Examiner hearing process. Impact mitigation payment deferral. The City's traffic mitigation impact fees are assessed at the time of development permit application, but are not collected until just prior to occupancy. This provides predictability while also minimizing "carrying costs" of financing. Development Standards • Front yard or side yard setback requirements. Some of the City's zones have no front or side yard setback requirements, such as in the downtown mixed use zones. In single family zones, average front setbacks can be used to reduce otherwise required front yard setbacks. • Zero lot line. This type of development pattern can be achieved using the City's PRD process, which is implemented as an alternative form of subdivision. • Street design and construction. Street standards are reviewed and updated on a consistent basis, taking advantage of new technologies whenever possible. • Alleys. The City has an extensive system of alleys in the downtown area and makes use of these in both mixed use and residential developments. • Off - street parking requirements. The City has substantially revised its off - street parking standards, reducing the parking ratios required for multi family development. The City also simplified and streamlined its parking requirements for the downtown mixed use area, thereby encouraging housing downtown. • Sanitary Sewer, Water, and Stormwater systems. Innovative techniques are explored and utilized in both new systems and in the maintenance of existing infrastructure. Low -Cost Housing Types • Accessory dwellings. The City substantially revised its accessory dwelling regulations, providing clearer standards and streamlining their approval as a standard option for any single family lot. Cottage housing developments. The City is exploring this option, although it would be expected to have limited application. • Mixed -use development. The City has strengthened and expanded its mixed use development approach. Downtown mixed use development no longer has a density cap, and this — combined other regulatory changes — has resulted in residential floor space drawing even with commercial floor space in new developments in the downtown area. Mixed use zoning was applied in the Westgate Corridor, and revised mixed use 108 Housing development regulations are being prepared for application in the Hospital/Highway 99 Activity Center as well as along Highway 99. Mobile /manufactured housing. The City's regulation of manufactured homes has been revised to more broadly permit this type of housing in single family zones. Housing Production & Preservation Programs • Housing preservation. The City provides strict enforcement of its building codes, intended to protect the quality and safety of housing. The City has also instituted a historic preservation program intended to provide incentives to rehabilitate and restore commercial, mixed use, and residential buildings in the community. • Public housing authority / Public and nonprofit housing developers. The City supports the Housing Authority of Snohomish County, as evidenced by its approval of the conversion of housing units to Housing Authority ownership. For - profit housing builders and developers. Many of the strategies outlined above are aimed at the for - profit building market. The City's budget restrictions limit its ability to directly participate in the construction or provision of affordable housing, so it has chosen instead to affect the cost of housing by reducing government regulation, providing flexible development standards, and otherwise minimize housing costs that can be passed on to prospective owners or renters. Housing Financing Strategies • State / Federal resources. The City supports the use of State and Federal resources to promote affordable housing through its participation in the Snohomish County Consortium and the Community Development Block Grant program. These are important inter jurisdictional efforts to address countywide needs. There will be difficulty meeting affordability goals or significantly reducing the current affordable housing deficit. The city is nearly fully developed and has limited powers and resources to produce subsidized housing. However, participation in joint funding projects (such as non - profit organizations funded by the cities of Kirkland, Redmond and Bellevue) would help to mitigate these impacts. C. Goal - Housing I - Discrimination and Fair Housing - Goal 1. There should be adequate housing opportunities for all families and individuals in the community regardless of their race, age, sex, religion, disability or economic circumstances. D. Goal Housing I - Discrimination and Fair Housing - Goal 2. Insure that past attitudes do not establish a precedent for future decisions pertaining to public accommodation and fair housing in accordance with the following policy: Housing 109 E. Goal - Housing II - Low Income, Elderly and Disabled Housing. A decent home in a suitable living environment for each household in accordance with the following policies: E.1. Encourage the utilization of the housing resources of the federal government to assist in providing adequate housing opportunities for the low income, elderly and disabled citizens. E.2. The City should work with the Washington Housing Service and other agencies to: E2. a. Provide current information on housing resources; E.2. b. Determine the programs which will work best for the community. E.2.c. Conduct periodic assessments of the housing requirements of special needs populations to ensure that reasonable opportunities exist for all forms of individual and group housing within the community. F. Goal - Housing III - Housing Rehabilitation. Preserve and rehabilitate the stock of older housing in the community in order to maintain a valuable housing resource in accordance with the following policies: F.1. Program should be developed which offers free or low cost minor home maintenance service to low income, elderly or handicapped persons. F.2. Building code enforcement should be utilized to conserve healthy neighborhoods and encourage rehabilitation of those that show signs of deterioration. F.3. Ensure that an adequate supply of housing exists to accommodate all households that are displaced as a result of any community action. F.4. Evaluate City ordinances and programs to determine if they prevent rehabilitation of older buildings. G. Goal. Provide affordable (subsidized housing, if need be) for elderly, disadvantaged, disabled and low income in proportion to the population of Edmonds in accordance with the following policies: G.1. The City should aggressively pursue funds to construct housing for elderly, disabled and low income. Units should blend into the neighborhood and be designed to be an asset to area and pride for inhabitants. [Ord. 2527 §3, 1985.] G.2. City zoning regulations should expand, not limit, housing opportunities for all special needs populations. 110 Housing H. Goal: Provide a variety of housing for all segments of the city that is consistent and compatible with the established character of the community. H.1. Expand and promote a variety of housing opportunities by establishing land use patterns that provide a mixture of housing types and densities. H.I.a. Provide for mixed use, multifamily and single family housing that is targeted and located according to the land use patterns established in the land use element. 11.2. Encourage infill development consistent with the character of the surrounding neighborhood. H.2.a. Within single family neighborhoods, encourage infill development by considering innovative single family development patterns such as Planned Residential Developments (PRDs). H.2. b. Provide for accessory housing in single family neighborhoods that addresses the needs of extended families and encourages housing affordability. H.2.c. Provide flexible development standards.for infill development, such as non - conforming lots, when development in these situations will be consistent with the character of the neighborhood and with the goal to provide affordable single family housing. L Goal: Provide housing opportunities within Activity Centers consistent with the land use, transportation, and economic goals of the Comprehensive Plan. I.1. Promote development within Activity Centers supports the centers' economic activities and transit service. I.I.a. Provide for mixed use development within Activity Centers. I.I.b. Plan for housing that is located with easy access to transit and economic activities that provide jobs and shopping opportunities. 1.1. c. Consider adjusting parking standards for housing within Activity Centers to provide incentives for lower -cost housing when justified by available transit service. J. Goal: Government should review and monitor its permitting processes and regulatory structures to assure that they promote housing opportunities and avoid, to the extent possible, adding to the cost of housing. J.1. Provide the maximum amount of certainty and predictability in government permitting processes. Housing 111 J.1. a. Consider a wide variety of measures to achieve this objective, including such ideas as: ..establishing time limits for permitting processes; ..developing consolidated permitting and appeals processes; ..implementing administrative permitting procedures; ..using pre- application processes to highlight problems early. J.2. Establish monitoring programs for permitting and regulatory processes. J.2.a. Monitoring programs should be established to review the types and effectiveness of government regulations and incentives, in order to assess whether they are meeting their intended purpose or need to be adjusted to meet new challenges. K. Goal: Opportunities for increasing the affordability of housing have the best chance for success if they are coordinated with programs that seek to achieve other community goals as well. Housing affordability should be researched and programs developed that address multiple Comprehensive Plan goals and objectives. K.1. Develop housing programs to encourage housing opportunities that build on linkages between housing and other, complementary Comprehensive Plan goals. K.I.a. New programs that address housing affordability should be coordinated with programs that address development of the arts, encourage historic preservation, promote the continued development of Activity Centers and transit friendly development, and that encourage economic development. L. Goal: In addition to traditional height and bulk standards, design is an important aspect of housing and determines, in many cases, whether or not it is compatible with its surroundings. Design guidelines for housing should be integrated, as appropriate, into the policies and regulations governing the location and design of housing. L.1. Provide design guidelines that encourage flexibility in housing types while ensuring compatibility of housing with the surrounding neighborhood. L.I.a. Incentives and programs for historic preservation and neighborhood conservation should be researched and established to continue the character of Edmonds' residential and mixed use neighborhoods. L.1. b. Design guidelines for housing should be developed to ensure compatibility of housing with adjacent land uses. 112 Housing Affidavit of Publication STATE OF WASHINGTON, } S.S. COUNTY OF SNOHOMISH MARY 6F ORDINANCE NO-3542 of e y of mon s, as ington The undersigned, being first duly sworn on oath deposes and says that she is Principal al Clerk On the 151h d o March, 2005 , the City Council of the of THE HERALD, a daily newspaper printed and published in the City of Everett, County of City-of Edmonds, passed Ordinance No. 3542. A summary of, the content of said ordinance, consisting of the title, provides Snohomish, and State of Washington; that said newspaper is a newspaper of general A follows: AN ORDINANCE OF THE GITY OF EDMONDS, WASHING-! circulation in said Count and State; that said newspaper has been approved as a legal Y PP g TON, ADOPTING 2004 ANNUAL AMENDMENTS TO THE, COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND TO THAT PORTION OF newspaper by order of the Superior Court of Snohomish County and that the notice. THE PLAN RELATING TO THE DOWNTOWN WATER- FRONT ACTIVITY CENTER; AND FIXING A TIME WHEN s Summary of Ordinance No. 3542 THE SAME SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE. The full text of this Ordinance will be mailed upon regt est. DATED this 16th day of March, 2005. { City of Edmonds CITY CLERK, SANDRA S. 04ASE Published: March 22, 2005. a printed copy of which is hereunto attached, was published in said newspaper proper and not in supplement form, in the regular and entire edition of said paper on the following days and times, namely: March 22, 2005 and that said newspaper was regularly distributed to its subscribers during all of said period. C" X11 ZAAA QQJ URECEI VIEE) Subscribed and sworn to before me this 22nd x4� BAR z 2;05 day of March, 2005 `i' S7144 EM4,1,ti i R9< A1,4 NGTAAY N G Notary Public in and for tate of Washington, residing at Everett, Sri omi L16LIC County. 7 7_2008 °P K'A'S� Account Name: City of Edmonds Account Number. 101416 Order Number. 0001269971