HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOW 2009-11-23 Item 4I.1 - Shoreline Master Program - Attachment A.12: Shoreline Design Guidelines274
12. SHORELINE DESIGN GUIDELINES
The Green/Duwamish River is an amenity that should be valued and celebrated when
designing projects that will be located along its length. If any portion of a project falls
within the shoreline jurisdiction, then the entire project will be reviewed under these
guidelines as well as the relevant sections of the Design Review Chapter of the Zoning
Code (TMC 18.60). The standards of TMC Chapter 18.60 shall guide the type of review,
whether administrative or by the Board of Architectural Review.
The following standards apply to development, uses and activities in the Urban
Conservancy and High Intensity Environments and non residential development in the
Shoreline Residential Environment.
12.1 Relationshin of Structure to Site
Development within the shoreline jurisdiction shall demonstrate compliance with the
following:
A. Respect and reflect the shape of the shoreline;
B. Orient building elements to site such that public river access, both visual and physical
is enhanced;
C. Orient buildings to allow for casual observation of pedestrian and trail activity from
interior spaces;
D. Site and orient buildings to provide maximum views from building interiors toward
the river and the shoreline;
E. Orient public use areas and private amenities to the river;
F. Clearly allocate spaces, accommodating parking, vehicular circulation and buildings
to preserve existing stands of vegetation or trees so that natural areas can be set aside,
improved, or integrated into site organization and planning;
G. Clearly define and separate public from non public spaces with the use of paving,
signage, and landscaping.
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12.2 Building Design
Development within the shoreline jurisdiction shall demonstrate compliance with the
following:
A. To prevent building mass and shape from overwhelming the desired human scale
along the river, development shall avoid blank walls on the public and river sides of
buildings.
B. Buildings should be designed to follow the curve of the river and respond to changes
in topography; buildings must not "turn their back" to the river.
C. Design common areas in buildings to take advantage of shoreline views and access;
incorporate outdoor seating areas that are compatible with shoreline access.
D. Consider the height and scale of each building in relation to the site.
E. Extend site features such as plazas that allow pedestrian access and enjoyment of the
river to the landward side of the buffer's edge.
F. Locate lunchrooms and other common areas to open out onto the water -ward side of
the site to maximize enjoyment of the River.
G. Design structures to take advantage of the river frontage location by incorporating
features such as:
1. plazas and landscaped open space that connect with a shoreline trail system;
2. windows that offer views of the river; or
3. pedestrian entrances that face the river.
H. View obscuring fencing is permitted only when necessary for documentable use
requirements and must be designed with landscaping per the Vegetation Protection
and Landscaping Section. Other fencing, when allowed, must be designed to
complement the proposed and/or existing development materials and design; and
I. Where there are public trails, locate any fencing between the site and the landward
side of the shoreline trail.
12.3 Design of Public Access
Development within the shoreline jurisdiction shall demonstrate compliance with the
following:
A. Public access shall be barrier free, where feasible, and designed consistent with the
Americans with Disabilities Act.
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B. Public access landscape design shall use native vegetation, in accordance with the
standards in the Vegetation Protection and Landscaping Section. Additional landscape
features may be required where desirable to provide public /private space separation and
screening of utility, service and parking areas.
C. Furniture used in public access areas shall be appropriate for the proposed level of
development, and the character of the surrounding area. For example, large urban
projects should provide formal benches; for smaller projects in less developed areas,
simpler, less formal benches or suitable alternatives are appropriate.
D. Materials used in public access furniture, structures or sites shall be:
1. Durable and capable of withstanding exposure to the elements;
2. Environmentally friendly and take advantage of technology in building
materials, lighting, paved surfaces, porous pavement, etc, wherever practical;
and
3. Consistent with the character of the shoreline and the anticipated use.
E. Public- Private Separation
1. Public access facilities shall look and feel welcoming to the public, and not
appear as an intrusion into private property.
2. Natural elements such as logs, grass, shrubs, and elevation separations are
encouraged as means to define the separation between public and private
space.
CL 135 11/19/2009 12:55:00 PM
W \Shoreline \Council Review \\Document \Council SMP