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HomeMy WebLinkAboutord1985-034N 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 INTRODUCED BY: Consent PROPOSED BY: Council DATE: May 16,.1985 ORDINANCE NO. 85 -34 ORDINANCE CREATING NEW TITLE TO WHATCOM COUNTY CODE ENTITLED GUIDE MERIDIAN IMPROVEMENT PLAN CONTROLS ENTITLED WHATCOM COUNTY CODE 22. WHEREAS, a citizens committee and the Whatcom County Planning Department developed official controls pursuant to R.C.W..36.70.560; and WHEREAS, these controls were developed to further the purpose and objectives of the Comprehensive Plan as it pertains to the Guide Meridian Improvement Plan area; and WHEREAS, the Whatcom County SEPA Official has issued a declaration of non - significance and the Planning Commission has held the required public hearing on these proposals; and WHEREAS, the controls were passed by the Commission as the result of a motion and they made the required findings; and WHEREAS, after reviewing the controls and the findings, the Council has determined it to be in the public's best interest to adopt these controls as recommended by the Planning Commission; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED that the Whatcom County Code shall be amended by creating a new title to the Whatcom County Code, that being Title 22, entitled "Guide Meridian Improvement Plan Controls "; BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that Chapters VI and VII of the Guide Meridian Improvement Plan dated.March 1985 shall be incorporated by reference into this Ordinance as if fully set forth herein and shall become the Official Controls set out in Title 22; BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that the maps identifying the -1- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 boundaries of the Guide Meridian Improvement Plan District shall be incorporated herein by reference into this Ordinance as if fully set forth herein. PASSED this 6th day of June , 19 85 . WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON WILLIAM P. ROEHL,—Chalrman QAPPROVED / (�—) VETOED C L EB 2PGSON IIRLE VAN ZANTKN Clerk of the Council County Executive June 7, 1985 APPROVED AS TO FORM: Date Signed by Executive N J, i Deputy Prose u ing Attorney Published on May 22, 1985 & June 12, 1985. This ordinance becomes effective on June 17, 1985 -2- TITLE 22 GUIDE MERIDIAN IMPROVEMENT PLAN CONTROLS M TITLE 22 GUIDE MERIDIAN IMPROVEMENT PLAN CONTROLS Chapters: 22.04 GENERAL PROVISIONS 22.04.010 Statutory Authority 22.04.020 Statement of Purpose 22.04.030 Interpretation and Conflict 22.04.040 Administrative Responsibilities 22.04.050 Title 22.04.060 Application 22.04.070 Establishment of District 22.10 LOCATION AND RESERVATION OF ACCESS ROADWAYS 22.20 ROADWAY STANDARDS 22.30 FLEXIBLE ZONING STANDARDS FOR. GENERAL COMMERCIAL AND LIGHT IMPACT INDUSTRIAL ZONES 2 9-40 STATE, COUNTY AND PROPERTY OWNER RESPONSIBILITIES 22.50 INDEPENDENT TRAFFIC NEEDS ASSESSMENT 22.80 AMENDMENT AND FEES 22.83 ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES 22.86 SEVERABILITY Chapter 22.04 GENERAL PROVISIONS 22.04.010 STATUTORY AUTHORITY This Ordinance is adopted pursuant to the provisions of RCW 36.70 which empowers a county to enact official controls that will further the goals and policies of the comprehensive plan and provide for its administration, enforcement and amendment. 22.04.020 STATEMENT OF PURPOSE The purpose and intent of this Title is to further the goals and policies of the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan. The transportation policies in the Urban Fringe Subarea Comprehensive Plan clearly indicate a need to plan for construction of a future access road system to provide for turning movements which may be restricted from individual driveways in the Guide Meridian planning area. It is estimated that the need to construct a complete access roadway system may not be realized for some time and will depend upon area growth rates and the traffic generation characteristics of specific land use activities. Construction of access roadways will only be required as necessary to serve individual developments and, until such roadways are required and constructed, temporary access directly onto the Guide from roadside properties will. be permitted. Actual construction of an access roadway system may be in the mid- to long -range future. However, it is paramount for the orderly and efficient provision of this roadway system to implement a program of reserving road easements and rights -of -way as a function'of the development approval process. Inherent in the development of a functional access roadway system is the provision of alternative roadway development standards and flexible zoning regulations discussed in Chapters 22.20 and 22.30. These alternative development standards have been based on projected trip generation at full development, sound engineering practices and land use planning principles. The following sections will deal with the location and reservation of access roadways, roadway construction standards, flexible zoning standards and the option for independent traffic needs assessment. 22.04.030 INTERPRETATION AND CONFLICT The provisions of this Title shall be only applicable within the Guide Meridian planning area, as generally identified in the transportation policies of the Urban Fringe Subarea Comprehensive Plan and specifically shown on the district map (22.04.070). The provisions of this Title shall supersede existing ordinances where there is inconsistency; however, existing ordinances shall apply in all cases where this Title is silent. In the event there is uncertainty as to the exact location of planning area or block boundaries, as identified in the transportation policies of the Urban Fringe Comprehensive Plan and district map, said boundaries shall be deemed to be located on the one - eighth or one - quarter section lines, right -of -way lines or property lines as is most applicable. 22.04.040 ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES The Bureau of Buildings and Code Administration is responsible for the overall administration of this Title. The Bureau shall ensure that the required approvals by the County Engineer, as specified in this Title, have been received; the Planning Department has reviewed the proposal to ensure overall design consistency with the Urban Fringe Subarea Comprehensive Plan; and the provisions of this Title are expeditiously coordinated with the existing regulatory process. All departments of county government shall cooperate fully with the Bureau. 22.04.050 TITLE This Title may be cited as either; (1) Guide Meridian Improvement Plan Controls; or (2) Title 22, Whatcom County Code. 22.04.060 APPLICATION This Title shall be applied only in the General Commercial and Light Impact Industrial areas identified as the Guide Meridian area in Transportation Policy No. 1.13.1 of the Urban Fringe Subarea Comprehensive Plan and the Guide Meridian Improvement Plan Control District Map (22.04.070). 22.04.070 ESTABLISHMENT OF DISTRICT For the purpose of furthering the goals and policies of the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan, the Guide Meridian Improvement Plan Control District is hereby established. The boundaries of this District are hereby adopted as shown on a map entitled Guide Meridian Improvement Plan Control District. Map. Said map and all notations, references, data and other information shown thereon are by reference made part of this Title. sm y .;r .a rA Chapter 22.1.0 LOCATION AND RESERVATION OF ACCESS ROADWAYS 22.10.010 PURPOSE As future development occurs in both the Guide corridor and elsewhere, the number of trips generated from parcels along the corridor and through traffic levels will also increase. The combined effects of these two trends will necessitate the eventual development of local access roadways to serve individual land uses where direct access onto the Guide has been limited according to the procedures described in Urban Fringe Comprehensive Plan Policy K.1.13.1, Section V. In general, the complete local access roadway system would be composed of north -south access roadways to individual properties and specified east -west general access and arterial roadways to channel north -south traffic flows onto the Guide in a safe and efficient manner. These roadways may be augmented by right turn only, mid -block access driveways to provide a level of direct access onto and off of the Guide. The process and responsibility for implementing the provisions shall be as specified in Chapter 22.40, STATE, COUNTY AND PROPERTY OWNER RESPONSIBILITIES. This chapter shall be administered subject to the provisions of Chapter 22.50, INDEPENDENT TRAFFIC NEEDS ASSESSMENT. 22.10.020 LOCATION AND RESERVATION OF NORTH -SOUTH LOCAL ACCESS ROADS .021 North - south, local access roadways are commercial streets, as defined in the Whatcom County Development Standards (2.105), since they provide direct access to abutting commercial and industrial properties and can be expected to carry a significant amount of truck traffic. The primary purpose of these local access roadways is to provide direct access to adjoining properties, but they may also provide short distance, intra- neighborhood circulation. .022 North - south, local access roads shall generally run parallel to the Guide and may be routed as either a frontage road, a rear access road or combination thereof. The choice of routing a north -south road as frontage, rear access or combination frontage /rear access road would be generally applied individually to each quarter - section area (hereafter referred to as blocks). Prototypical examples of local access road alignment within a block are shown in Figure 5. .023 The County shall require the designation of an easement or dedication of the future right -of -way location for a north -south access road at the time any parcel .is developed, as specified in Chapter 22.40. The location of such easements or rights -of -way must be coordinated between parcels within each block to provide for rational road alignment and shall take into account the 100 -foot right -of -way width required for improvements to the Guide Meridian. Priority of road alignment shall be given to those parcels first developed. Roads shall be constructed as necessary at no cost to the County and to standards identified by the County Engineer.. .024. Parcels fronting the Guide and located at the end of each block represent a special case. Under the frontage road option, such parcels may be required to convey an additional amount of right -of -way sufficient to provide an outlet to the east -west access road 150 to 300 feet from the Guide, as required by the Whatcom County Development Standards (2.114F.2). Owners of these parcels shall be compensated in an equitable manner for the additional amount of road right -of -way and construction costs that they would bear. Compensation would be paid by all property owners who would benefit from the construction of said frontage road through such mechanisms as a road improvement district and /or a late- comers agreement as provided for in RCW 35.72. 22.1.0.030 LOCATION AND PROVISION OF EAST -WEST GENERAL ACCESS ROADS .031 East -west roadways shall be some level of urban, general access or arterial roadway as defined in the Whatcom County Development Standards (see Table 9) or as determined by the County Engineer to adequately service the anticipated traffic volumes. The primary purpose of these roadways is to collect traffic from access roadways and provide the connection to the Guide, but they may : also provide direct access to adjacent properties. .032 East -west general access roadways (see Table 9) are envisioned to be located along the Horton, Thomas, Stuart and June road alignments. The Waldron /Horton /Thomas and Thomas /Stuart /June alignments to the west of the. Guide may also be developed as collector roads to connect the Guide with Aldrich Road and Northwest Avenue, as generally shown in the Urban Fringe Comprehensive Plan and Figure 6. .033. Where possible, east -west access roads shall be aligned near the quarter- section line on both sides of the Guide. At a minimum, these roads shall be required to run as far back from the Guide as necessary to. intersect with the north -south access roads; thus forming a complete circulation system. .034 East -west access roads shall be identified and sufficient land shall be dedicated, or easements provided, from parcels lying along the road route to allow the construction of a road adequate to carry the expected volume of traffic at full area development. The road route shall be identified and right -of -way dedication or easement provision shall be secured when said parcels are developed or as necessary to provide ingress /egress between a north -south access road and the Guide. The determination of the necessity for an east -west roadway to serve a particular development or developments, adequate land area for such a roadway and road construction standards shall be made by the County Engineer. Development proposals which are contiguous to the identified east -west roadway alignments shall be'required to utilize such roads for ingress and egress purposes. .035 All future east -west roadways in the study area shall be constructed at no cost to the County. Exceptions to this general rule may be roadways which would be used to carry county -wide, east -west traffic such as the Slater /Van Wyck Connector which is envisioned to link Interstate Highway 5 with the Mt. Baker Highway in the Urban Fringe Comprehensive Plan. .036 The minimum County road construction standards are generally shown in Chapter 22.20. The chapter also includes an initial discussion on conditions under which said minimum standards may be further reduced and when higher standards may be required by the County. FIGURE. 5 NORTH -SOUTH ACCESS ROAD ALIGNMENT OPTIONS FRONT ACCESS ROAD OPTION z s C► W 2 W O C7. DECELERATION LAME REQUIRED LEGEND scale 4,� I.. N z s Ci W 2 W O C7 REAR ACCESS ROAD OPTION COMBINATION FRONT & REAR ACCESS ROAD OPTION I 4 C a LL LL C 300' DECELERATION LAME MEOUIRED Lot Line Roadway Pavemnt Edge when intersecting with an East -West Arterial Collector Roadway Roadway Pavement Edge when intersecting with an East -West Generat Access Roadway . Right- of- WayEdge when full Rear Access Roadway is d e v e l o p e d Property Line FIGURE 6 AREA ROADWAY NETWORK AND LAND USE ZONING Guide Meridian Corridor Study Area Boundary ■� Developed County Roadways _ _ Cordata Project Boundaries Long- Range, Privately Developed Roadways Short - Range, Privately Developed Roadways Land Use Zoning LII Light Impact Industrial GC General Commercial URM16 Urban Res. Mediur Density (16 Res. /Ac.) URM12 Urban Res. Medium Density (12 Res. /Ac.) UR4 Urban Res. (4 Res. /Ac.) RZA Rural (1 Res./ 2 Ac.) R5A Rural (1 Res.; ; Ac.) R10A Rural (1 Res. /10 Ac.) Chapter 22.20 ROADWAY STANDARDS 22.20.010 PURPOSE The strict application of the minimum roadway design requirements which are contained in the Whatcom County Development Standards (see Tables 7 through 9) may be excessive to carry out the purposes of this Title. Alternative, minimum roadway design standards are herein enacted to recognize the functional role of north =south access roads in providing for only internal circulation. The conditions under which the subject alternative standards are applicable have also been identified in this chapter. This chapter shall be administered subject to the provisions of Chapter 22.50. 22.20.020 ALTERNATIVE MINIMUM DESIGN STANDARDS FOR NORTH -SOUTH LOCAL ROADWAYS .021 North -south front access roadways may be subject to a degree of flexibility from the strict application of Whatcom County Development Standard requirements. because they are not anticipated to serve through traffic. The County Engineer may approve a minimum 37 -foot right -of -way width on a case by case basis if the following conditions are met and he deems them satisfactory to serve the anticipated traffic levels: (1) The access road is designed with curbs on both sides and a sidewalk on the side away from the Guide according to the following general configuration (see Figures 7 and 8): 0 K a ca 2 - 12' lanes = 24' b 8' shoulder = 8' m Ca Pq `n Total = 32' b 5' 51 Z —321 37' U (2) Enclosed storm drainage within the road easement should be provided. (3) Any grade change between the road improvements and adjacent terrain must be accommodated by slope easements on private. property or, if feasible and allowed by the State Department of Transportation, within the Guide Meridian right -of -way. (4) Depending upon physical conditions and utility purveyor requirements, utilities may not be able to be accommodated within the Guide Meridian right -of -way or the designated frontage road easement area. Thus, a private utility easement may be required. This utility easement may or may not be allowed to overlap any required slope.easement, depending upon terrain conditions. (5) . A roadway alignment and road profile to an east -west roadway must be engineered by the applicant and approved by the County Engineer. The applicant is responsible for demonstrating that the road alignment and all required, additional easements have been secured to permit actual road construction and future maintenance when eventually necessary. Figures 7 and 8 illustrate a standard roadway design (Whatcom County Development Standards) and the flexible roadway design options provided for in this document. 22.20.030 MINIMUM DESIGN STANDARDS FOR EAST -WEST GENERAL ACCESS ROADWAYS East -west collectors, which are envisioned to be developed at some level of urban general. access or minor arterial standard, are not anticipated to be subject to any flexibility other than that identified in the Development Standards. 22.20.040 DESIGN AND FUNCTION OF MID -BLOCK ACCESS POINTS .041 North -south and east -west access roadways may be augmented by selected mid -block access points to provide the potential for a higher level of direct access to roadside properties by traffic on the Guide (see Figure 9). These access driveways would be designed to allow non -truck traffic to make right -in, left -in and right -out turns without significantly affecting traffic flows on the Guide (as consistent with access control evaluation procedures and transportation policies of the Urban Fringe Subarea Comprehensive Plan) and be closely meshed with the roadway circulation system. Access driveways would be spaced a minimum of 300 feet apart and no closer than 300 feet from an intersection with an east -west collector. .042 Vehicles needing to make left -out turning movements onto the Guide and all truck traffic would be required to access roadside properties via east -west collectors and north -south access roadways. Left turn -out movements may be temporarily permissible at mid -block access points until trip generation exceeds intersection capacity at LOS C and the property is served by a north -south access roadway. 22.20.050. PROTOTYPICAL APPLICATION OF ALTERNATIVE ROADWAY STANDARDS An illustrative example of block development with a front access roadway is shown in Figure 10. Figure 11 provides an illustration of potential block development with a rear access roadway. TABLE 7 MIMMUM PRIVATE ROADWAY STANDARDS ROAD CLASS EASEMENT WIDTH Rural Private 1 -6 Peak Hour Trips3 = 30' Access Road 7 -11 Peak Hour Trips3 = 60' 12 + Peak Hour Trips3 = 60' TRAVELWAY IMPROVEMENT WIDTHI STANDARD2 1.6' Fig. A -1 24' Fig. A -1 Public Road Standards Urban Private 1 -4 Peak Hour Trips3 = 30' 12 -16' Fig. A -6 Access Road 5 -8 Peak Hour Trips3 = 50' 20' Fig. A -6 9 or. more peak hour trips will require the use of public roadway standards although the roadway may still be privately owned. Tables 9 and 1.0 show public roadway standards. Source: Whatcom County Engineering Department; Draft, April, 1984. 1. The area to be used primarily for motor vehicle movement. 2. See Appendix A. 3. Assuming one single - family detached residential unit per lot with an average peak hour trip rate of 1.0 per unit (Engineering Department 4/84). TABLE S RURAL ROAD STANDARDS ROADWAY CLASSIFICATION ACCESS ROADS COLLECTOR ROADS _ AVERAGE DAILY TRAFFIC (ADT)I MINOR LOCAL GENERAL I MINOR AND MAJOR LINDER 100 UNDER 400 100 2000 UNDER 400 400 -2000 _ ABOVE 2000 DESIGN SPEED2 (MPH) Flat Rolling Mountainous 25 20 30 20 — 50 - 40 30 45 35 �33— 50 40 T — 50 40 MAXIMUM GRADE3.4(% Flat Rolling Mountainous 12 15 10 12 10 12 6 8 10 6 8 10 6 7 10 N. STOPPI NG GH DISTANCE Sight distance shall be greater than min. stopping sight distance tance determined bX design speed and grade (Section 2.1_10). HORIZONTAL CURVATURE. See Section MAX. SUPER ELEVATION () 2 2 4 4 6 MIN. TRAVELWAY 2 -Lane 20 22 22 22 24 24 WIDTH (ft.) 4 -Lane - - - _ - _ SHOULDER WIDTH (ft.) Each S1de 3 4 _ 6 4 �— ROADWAY WIDTH 2 -Lane 26 30 34 30 36 44 (ft.) 4-Lane - _— _- - _— —� - - -- MIN. ROADWAY WIDTH 2 -Lane - - - - - - BETWEEN CURBS (ft.) -Lane MIN. RIGHT -OF -WAY 2 -Lane 5 60 60 60 ___6_T__ 6b -- WIDTH7,8 _ _ _ _ _ _ — 0 NEW BRIDGES Roadw�y Width A bridges shall have a roadway width greater than min. roadway width above. Vertical Clearance _ 6. 5 feet minimum. — Design Live -Load AASHTO HS20 -44 (minimum). MIN. INTERSECTION OFFSET SPACING (ft.) X66- - -30�— N. HALF -WIDTH PAVED WIDTH (ft 14 NOTES: 1. ADT shall be based on a 10 -year traffic projection, at a minimum. 2. Design speed is a.basis for determining geometric elements and does not imply posted or legally permissible vehicle speed. 3. Maximum grades may be exceeded, subject to the County Engineer's approval, provided that: A. No practical alternative exists. B. ADT is under 250, and grades are relatively short and do not exceed 150% of the value shown. C. Any grade 12% or over shall extend no further than 600 -feet without being interrupted by an intersection or a "landing ", with a maximum eight -foot difference in elevation over a distance of 100. feet. Grades not to exceed 20 %. D. Any grade 12% or over shall be paved with asphalt concrete (A.C.) or Portland Cement concrete. 4. A climbing lane may be required by the County Engineer if warrants are met in accordance with AASHTO. ( Collector or higher classification roads only.) 5. Shoulders shall be widened two feet where guardrail is planned. 6. A Curb section, when required by the County Engineer, shall conform to urban street design standards. 7. Right -of -way widths shall be increased where warranted by geometric requirements. See Sec. 2.120 8. For county roads, right -of -way widths of less than 60 feet must be individually approved by the County Council per RCW 36.86.010. Minor access roads are exempt_ 9. Bridge roadway width shall be measured between curbs or between faces of bridge railing, whichever is less. TABLE 9 URBAN STREET STANDARDS ROADWAY CLASSIFICATION A ACCESS A ARTERIALS AVERAGE DAILY TRAFFIC (ADT) U MINOR L LOCAL G GENERAL C COLLECTORI M MINOR PRINCIPAL DESIGN SPEED7MPH 2 25 3 3 3 35 4 4(� 45_ 45 MIN. ST6 P PING SIGHT DI T. t. S Sight distance shall be greater than min. stopping sight distance .determined by design s eed and qr ade (Section 2.110). HORIZ. CURVATURES D Flat 2 MAX. M MIN. M MAX. M MIN. k MAX M MIN. M MAX. M MIN M MAX. M MIN. 24-.E 2 236-71-63--7-40" 9 9. 6 630 6 6. 9 965 1 1145 _ 9. � k6.-340- M �S. X X30 7 38. 5 5 2 28. 2 200 1 12 4 470 I I0 5 570 - -I . T TO - MAX. SUP- REL.EVATION ( () 2 2 2 2 M MIN. TRAVEL. AY 2 2 -Lane - - - - 24 2 24 - - _ WIDTH (ft.) 4 4 -Lane - - - - - - - - 4 44 4 _ — SHOULDER E Each Side ROADWAY WIDTH 2 2 -Lane - - (ft.) 4 4 -L ane - - - - - - - - 6 6 _ MIN. ROADWAY 2 2 -Lane 2 24 2 28 3 36 3 36 __ - - BETWEEN 4 4 -Lane - _ MIN. RIGHT -OF -WAY 2 2 -Lane 4 4 -Lane - NEW BRIDGES R Roadwfy A Vertical 1 16.5 feet minimum. Design A AASHTO HS20 -44 (minimum). MIN. INTERSECTION OFFSET 1 150 1 150 5 _ 300 3 30 3 30 NOTES: 1. Basic values. Actual design value(s) shall be at the discretion and direction of the County Engineer. Design speed is a basis for determining geometric elements and does not imply posted or legally permissible speed. 2. Maximum grades may be exceeded subject to the County Engineer's approval, and provided that: A. No practical alternative exists. B. ADT is under 250, and grades are relatively short and do not exceed 150% of the value shown.' C. Any grade 12% or over shall extend no further than 600 -feet without being interrupted by an intersection of a "landing ", with a maximum eight -feet difference in elevation over a distance of 100 feet. D. Any grade 12% or over shall be paved with asphalt concrete or Portland Cement concrete. E. Grades shall not exceed 20 %. 3. Horizontal curvature is a basis for determining geometric elements and does not imply posted or legally permissible speed, or standard crown section. 4. Shoulders or curb section shall be at the discretion of the County Engineer. 5. Shoulders shall be widened two feet where guardrail is planned. 6. No Parking. Add four feet for parking one side, 10 feet for parking both sides, 12 feet for parking both sides on bus route. 7. 44 feet may be used in severely restricted right -of -way. 8. Right -of -way widths shall be increased where warranted. See Sec. 2.120. 9. For county roads, right -of -way widths of less than 60 feet must be individually approved by the County E+tg4Reer Council per RCW 36.86/010. Minor and local access roads are exempt_ 10. Curb sections. Add 10 feet when shoulder sections are used. 11.. Bridge roadway width shall be measured between curbs or between faces of bridge rails, whichever is less. - — — — — — — — — — — — — 0 .v m W --------------------------- 0 0 E m C) ro m W z W 0 -- --- - •- •- •- •- • -• --- W ¢ I 0 Z" N tR - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - O0 a ------- ---------- z< 0 _j 'a z10 0 0 41 ..4 1441 04 ca il P.-43- W 0 a- 0 ----- ------------- 0 t (6) m %I -: I-Yl -Alo EB B [B .o 41K ------- :4 ------------------------ - 4"4111114411 4K -4 •••, "I'll", ---------------- -------------------------- 0 ... ...... .......... .......... 0 . ........ . CL 0 m m 0 ------------------------------------ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - ------------ cc 10 0 opmv) ILI P-m"nm a C - ------------ 0 co 0 -------- - 0 li- MM ----- - YI 0 0 . .......... ------------------ o I - - 0 m 0 1.1 .... ...... 0 wi C) -C W 0 0 > 0 13 IL LL C-A -------------------- ------------- - 0) 0) -,-* -------------------------- -- 0 C) IL rx >. 0 -Alo EB B [B .o 41K ------- :4 ------------------------ - 4"4111114411 4K -4 •••, "I'll", ---------------- -------------------------- 0 ... ...... .......... .......... 0 . ........ . CL 0 m m 0 ------------------------------------ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - ------------ cc 10 0 opmv) ILI P-m"nm a C - ------------ 0 co 0 -------- - 0 li- MM ----- - YI 0 0 . .......... ------------------ o I - - 0 m 0 1.1 .... ...... 0 wi C) -C W 0 0 > 0 13 IL LL C-A -------------------- ------------- - FIGURE 8 CROSS- SECTION B-3: STANDARD AND FLEXIBLE ROADWAY DEVELOPMENT SrANDARDS AND ZONING REQUIREMENTS FOR "LIGHT- IMPACT INDUSTRIAL" AREAS BB: TYPICAL ROAD CROSS- SECTIONS FOR LANDS ZONED LIGHT IMPACT INDUSTRIAL BB -t: Typical Cross - section Based On Stands Road d Zoning Requirements r .Front A c c e s s Road Option -Rear Access Road Option z 'I .y re. ra...y 1 I i Y re. rnu� 1 I are. ruu� r r— 1 Y r4 rlrlss .l�.rr -.r Ixl I I= re. 'wlr 1`...... sr.s. 1 w... .... j s,e.rr....r I n n. r I 3 IICG 1U. Y: ;1f.0 aG.Y• +• r• .11 } Ilfl zo.", I IIQ xf.Y• U.�•t .1 I i 1 Y• r..r 4:n u Cws � <. I I 1 j � n• Is'.s' r 1" 1!• , r, la•j xr :r m e• I xr � j r.• _ le•,le•1 I _ 1 I - S I B 2 _ I 'mot E £ I �r •.: l R 1 I 1' d f i - 1 I 1 I I• I cl � a. FBI 'z 3 I 114 125 1 .e m BB-2: Typical Cross - section Based On Flees x Road & Zoning Standards Using Public Or f Private Access Roads : -Front Access Road Option -Rear Access Road Option _ s a e GUIDE MERIDIAN CROSS- SECTION FOOTNOTES 1. A front access road, rear access road or a combination thereof must be planned for each block (Chapter 22.10.020 and 22.40). 2. Proposed requirements for a Commercial Street, Section 2.105 of the Whatcom County Development Standards. 3. State Department. of Transportation. 4. Prototypical design for a temporary "half- road" (Whatcom County Bureau of Engineering, 10/30/84) which will be improved to an appropriate urban street standard (as specified in the Whatcom County Development Standards (op cite) .when the adjacent eastern parcel is developed. 5. See WCC 22.20. 6. Whatcom County Bureau of Engineering, 1- 0/30/84. 7. See WCC 22.30. 8. See WCC 22.30. 9. Optional parking area pursuant to standards for off - street parking area design in WCC 20.80.700. FIGURE 9 PROTOTYPICAL MID -BLOCK ACCEM WAY Front access road 5� 35 f t. a 3 2 - deceleration lane (approx. 300') Guide Meridian travel lane NOTES: * Minimum permanent driveway spacing is 300 feet. * No permanent driveways shall be allowed within 300 feet of an east -west roadway. * No truck access. W N * Driveways must be designed in accordance with the Whatcom County Development Standards. * Only right -in and right -out turning movements shall be permanently permitted. * Mid -block access driveways must be tied into a north- south.access roadway system.which will provide a connection to an east -west roadway, must be approved by all land owners over whose property the north -south access roadway will pass, and must be approved by the County Engineer who shall ensure a safe and efficient roadway alignment. FIGURE 10 ILLUSTRATION OF POTEN nAT, ACCM. /BLOCK DEVELOPMENT WrM A FRONT ACCESS ROADWAY Guide Meridian R/W limit Guide Meridian o 3 3 m m 0 3 N c O O �O+ O d N � N rt p n s m CD O �+ m 3 co :r M M c 0 rt D. n M O_ w M W n c O to travel lane H. S. 3, 3 r co 3 cn °° c °0 co 3 CL rt a: 7 S n M M O 3 3 M w m M M o c n 0. M M 0 dl w O w w c CL 3 f 3 w m FIGURE 11 ILLUSTRATION OF POTENTIAL ACCESS/BLOCK DEVELOPMENT WITH A REAR ACCESS ROADWAY 11111111111111111111111 kL re 'd rear access R/W or easement n i l rear access roadJ pote ea acce to Chapter 22.30 FLEXIBLE ZONING STANDARDS FOR GENERAL COMMERCIAL AND LIGHT IMPACT INDUSTRIAL ZONES 22.30.010 PURPOSE In order to encourage the provision of the access roadway system in Chapter 22.10, Whatcom County should relax various sections of the Official Whatcom County Zoning Ordinance (Title 20) according to the guidelines presented herein. The two primary zone districts in the Official Whatcom County Zoning Ordinance (Title 20) which are applicable to the Guide Meridian Corridor and this handbook are General Commercial (WCC 20.62) and Light Impact Industrial (WCC 20.66). Building setbacks and landscaping requirements within these two districts shall be modified to recognize the county benefit provided by the road, while still implementing the purposes of the relevant sections of the Zoning Ordinance. All sections of the Zoning Ordinance not explicitly recommended for modification in this handbook shall be applied as adopted in said Ordinance. 22.30.020 FLEXIBLE MINIMUM BUILDING SETBACK REQUIREMENTS The minimum front yard building setback for both districts, as referenced in WCC 20.60.350 for General Commercial and WCC 20.66.350 for Light Impact Industrial, shall be reduced from 45 feet to 25 feet for the side(s) facing an access roadway. This setback shall be in addition to the right-of -way or easement width as defined -in the Whatcom County Development Standards and which the County Engineer determines to be necessary for an adequate future access roadway (see Chapter 22.20, Road Standards). 22.30.030 FLEXIBLE LANDSCAPING REQUIREMENTS The landscaping requirement of a 15 -foot wide strip for General Commercial districts referenced in WCC 20.62.650 and a 25 -foot wide strip for Light Impact Industrial districts referenced in WCC 20.66.550 and .650 shall be modified to retain the total landscaped area which would normally be required under the existing ordinance while providing flexibility in its application. Instead of requiring all landscaping to be located adjacent to the front property line or primary arterial, a frontage access roadway shall require a 10 -foot wide landscaped strip adjacent to the access road right -of -way edge nearest the building while a rear access roadway should require a 10 -foot wide landscaped strip along the front and rear property lines. The remaining landscaped area which would otherwise have been required under the existing ordinance shall be provided in discretionary configurations between the building and the access roadway, except that this landscaped area shall not be located in parking areas and shall be considered to be in addition to landscape requirements for parking areas (WCC 20.80.730). The amendments to the Zoning Ordinance are shown in Tables 10 and 11. Prototypical examples of these amendments are shown in Figures 7 and 8. TABLE 10 ALTERNATIVE BUILDING SETBACK AND LANDSCAPING PROVISIONS FOR GENERAL COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS WITH FRONT WITH REAR EXISTING ACCESS ROADWAY ACCESS ROADWAY BUILDING SETBACK FRONT 45 feet SIDE 0 feet REAR 10 feet (WCC 20.80.910) LANDSCAPING 15 feet of front set- back adjacent to the road s a1T 1 be used for landscaping, driveways, walkways and signs. (WCC 20.62.650(1)1 25 feett 2 same as existingt same as existingt Minimum landscaped area is retained as follows: A minimum 10 -foot wide landscaped strip shall be located adjacent to the edge of the north- south access right -of- way or easement closest to the building. * The remaining area which would have otherwise been required shall be placed between the building and the north -south access roadway and shall be in addition to other land- scaping requirements not explicitly referenced herein. * Landscaping situated between the edge of the right -of -way or road easement and the Guide Meridian may not be necessary. 25 feet same as existingt 25 feet i The minimum front land- scaped area is retained and an equal amount of land- scaped area is required in the rear area as follows: In the front, a 10 -foot wide landscaped strip shall be required adja- cent to the front prop - perty line. The remain- ing minimum area shall be placed at the land- owner's discretion in various configurations between the building and the front property line. In the rear, a 1.0 -foot wide landscaped strip shall be placed adjacent to the rear property line with the remaining area placed at the land- owner's discretion in various configurations between the building and the front property line. These landscaped areas shall be in addition to other landscaping re- quirements not explic- itly referenced herein. t. In addition to the required right -of -way or easement width as determined by the County Engineer (Chapter 22.20). ?,. No setback area shall be required between the exterior edge of the north -south access road right -of -way or easement and the Guide. TABLE 11 ALTERNATIVE BUILDING SETBACK AND LANDSCAPING PROVISIONS FOR LIGHT IMPACT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS (LII) WITH FRONT WITH REAR EXISTING ACCESS ROADWAY ACCESS ROADWAY BUILDING SETBACK Adjoining Another Industrial District FRONT 45 feet 25 feet) SIDE 10 feet same as existing2 REAR 0 feet same as existing (WCC 20.80.210) Adjoining Non - Industrial Districts (i.e., General Commercial and Rural) Per WCC 20.80.2750.) and WCC 20.66.550. FRONT 45 feet SIDE 2, 5 feet 25 feet same as existing2 REAR 25 feet same as existing2 (WCC 20.80.21.0) LANDSCAPING (Adjoining Other LII Districts) A 25 -foot wide strip adjacent to front propertv line must be landscaped. (WCC 20.66.550 & 650) Total landscaped area is retained as follows: * A minimum 10 -foot wide landscaped strip shall be located adjacent to the edge of the north - south, access right -of- way or easement closest to the building. * The remaining area which would have otherwise been required shall be placed between the building and the north -south access roadway and shall be in addition to other land- scaping requirements not explicitly referenced herein. 25 feet same as existing2 25 feet 25 feet same as existing2 2,5 feet Total front landscaped area requirement is retained and an equal amount of land- scaped area is required in the rear area as follows: * In the front, a 1.0 -foot wide landscaped strip shall be required adja- cent to the front prop - perty line. The remain- ing minimum front land- scaped area shall be placed at the land - owner's discretion in various configurations between the building and the front property line. (continued) (continued) FOR LIGHT IMPACT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS (continued) EXISTING WITH FRONT ACCESS ROADWAY Landscaping situated between the edge of the right -of -way or road easement and the Guide Meridian may not be necessary. LANDSCAPING (Adjoining Non - Industrial Districts - i.e., GC and Rural) A 25 -foot wide strip adjacent to the front property line must be landscaped (WCC 20.66.651). A 50 -foot wide strip adjacent to the common property line or right -of -way edge must be landscaped wherever an LII District meets a GC or Rural District, or where the LII District abuts an existing or proposed primary arterial (WCC 20.80.2757 WCC 20.66.551). The 50 -foot strip may be reduced with suffi- ciently effective screening (W(C 20.66.551(2). See "Adjoining LII Districts " See "Adjoining LII Districts" except that requirements shall remain the same as existing for common property lines. WITH REAR ACCESS ROADWAY * In the rear, a 1 n -foot wide landscaped strip shall be placed adjacent to the rear property line with the remaining area placed at the land- owner's discretion in various configurations between the building and the front property line. * These landscaped areas shall be in addition to other landscaping re- quirements not explic- itly referenced herein. See "Adjoining LII Districts." See "Adjoining LII Districts" except that requirements shall remain the same as existing for common property lines. 1. No building setback area shall be required between the exterior edge of the north - south access road right -of -way or easement. 2. With modified front setback. Chapter 22.40 STATE, COUNTY AND PROPERTY OWNER RESPONSIBILITIES 22.40.010 PURPOSE The State, County and property owners all have responsibilities toward maintaining a safe and efficient traffic circulation system. The responsibilities of each group in the Guide Meridian Corridor Study Area are discussed below with respect to land acquisition and roadway construction for the Guide Meridian, east -west arterials and north -south access roadways. 22.40.020 STATE RESPONSIBILITIES .021 The Washington State Department of Transportation is responsible for the planning, design, construction and maintenance of state highway improvements required to move traffic on designated state highway routes in a safe, economical and efficient manner within the constraints of established priorities and available funding. .022 The Department of Transportation will take the necessary actions to improve the Guide Meridian to a five -lane roadway through the entire length of the Guide Meridian Improvement Plan area. This shall include the necessary land acquisition. .023 Property owners along this section of SR 539 who develop their property prior to these highway improvements may be required to donate the necessary right -of -way with no monetary compensation, as explained elsewhere in this document. .024 The Department of Transportation will continue to work with the County to develop the access control procedures detailed in this document in order to keep the highway operating in a safe and efficient manner. 22.40..030 WHATCOM COUNTY RESPONSIBILITIES Whatcom County is responsible for maintaining and improving the local roadway system to provide for the safe, convenient and economical movement of motor vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians. The County's responsibilities specific to the Guide Meridian Improvement Plan Control District are listed below and shall, in addition, include enforcing the property owner responsibilities identified in Chapter 22.40.040. .031 Guide Meridian (1.) The County shall endorse the State of Washington's proposal for improvements to the Guide Meridian and take such steps necessary to facilitate those improvements. (2) The County should require that owners of parcels adjacent to each side of the Guide Meridian donate, directly to the State, the appropriate right -of -way to provide the 100 -foot width necessary for the planned Guide improvements when final plat approval, a building permit or major development permit is issued for said property, as discussed in property owner responsibilities. (This requirement is only applicable if developments are proposed prior to the scheduled right -of -way acquisition by the State.) The subject dedication should also be indicated on the final plat. (3) In granting final plats, building permits and development permits, the County shall reserve the right to prohibit .direct ingress and /or egress from or to the Guide Meridian at such future time as traffic conditions warrant closure of ingress and /or egress, as described in Section V of the Guide Meridian Improvement Plan. The subject potential access control should be indicated on the final plat. (4) The. County shall not directly participate in funding improvements to the Guide Meridian. .032 East -West Arterials (1) In the study area, Whatcom County will assist in the development of east - west road alignments which would be needed to Garry county -wide traffic between Interstate Highway 5 and the Mt. Baker Highway. Assistance would include acquiring necessary right -of -way, assuming a portion of the construction costs and assisting in the formation of a road improvement district (hereafter referred to as an R.I.D.). Any County financial or significant staff assistance must have prior approval through the normal Capital Improvement Program process. (2) The County shall require future developments on parcels lying adjacent to the following east -west roadways to obtain ingress and egress from these roadways and prohibit access directly to the Guide Meridian: June Road, Stuart Road, Thomas Road and Horton Road. .033 North -South Access Roadways (1) The County shall require the designation of the future right -of -way or easement location of a north -south access roadway at the time any parcel is developed. The location of such rights -of -way must be coordinated between parcels in order to achieve a coordinated alignment of these access roadways between each parcel and an east -west roadway. Priority .of access road alignment shall be given to those parcels first developed. (2) It is anticipated that construction of north -south access roadways will not be required for some time in the future. That time shall be determined by the Whatcom County Engineer in accordance with ' standards adopted herein. (3) The County shall not be responsible for the construction of north -south roadways. If a roadway is built to current County standards and deeded to the County, the County will assume maintenance responsibilities. 22.40.040 PROPERTY OWNER. RESPONSIBILITIES Property owners shall be generally responsible for the access roadway improvements necessary to serve their developments. While the County recognizes that these, access roadways will probably not be necessary for some time in the future, it is essential to secure a property owner commitment to access road development during the development approval.process to ensure its timely provision. The specific responsibilities of property owners are discussed below. .041 General The Zoning Ordinance is intended to be modified for building setbacks and landscaping requirements as described in Chapter 22.30. .042 Guide Meridian (1) Property owners who do not develop their land shall not be responsible for land dedication for roadway improvements to the Guide. (2) Property owners shall not be responsible for improvements to be made to the Guide except new developments which are substantial traffic generators. (3) Property owners shall be responsible for dedicating sufficient right -of -way to provide a 50 -foot right -of -way width from the center line of the Guide Meridian prior to the issuance of a final plat, a building permit or land use development permit. The land shall be dedicated directly to the State in order to facilitate its planned improvements to the Guide Meridian. The dedication of right -of -way to provide a 1.00 -foot corridor for improvements to the Guide Meridian shall not be required for minor improvements to existing structures or new construction which would generate an insignificant traffic volume as long as no permanent improvements are built within the area which would otherwise have been dedicated for the Guide Meridian right -of -way and building setbacks are increased to include the Guide right -of -way width which would otherwise have been dedicated and which will be acquired by the State by 1986. An insignificant traffic generator would be defined as any expansion of an existing use or establishment of a new use that is projected to generate less than 10 peak hour trips or less than 50 average daily trips *. .043 East -West Arterials (1) Property owners who do not develop their property shall not be responsible, for the provision of any road easement, right -of -way or construction costs for any. east -west, general access streets or arterials except as required by the formation of an R.I.D. (2) Property owners with land subdivison or development proposals which abut an identified east -west, general access street or arterial shall be responsible for dedicating to the County a right -of -way sufficient to allow the development of a County standard street, as specified by the County Engineer. Provision for this dedication shall be made prior to the issuance of any final plat, building permit or land use development permits. * The definition of an insignificant traffic generator is based on combining the established county policy that 12,000 square feet of office and commercial space will not generally result in significant environmental impacts (WCC 16.08.180, Categorical Exemptions) with the trip generation rate for low traffic generating. general office uses, developed by the Institute of Transportation Engineers to yield the subject thresholds. (3) Property owners shall be responsible for the construction of east -west, general access streets and arterials when determined by the Countv Engineer, the Guide Meridian Improvement Plan and the provisions of this Title to be necessary to serve existing and proposed developments. (4) A commitment by property owners to participate in the possible construction of east -west arterial segments which are required to serve corridor developments shall be executed in such legal documents that the County deems to be necessary prior to the issuance of any building or land use development permits. These legal documents may include a "no protest" agreement and /or a late comers agreement (RCW 35.72) to participate in an R.I.D. for the purpose of constructing such an east -west, general access street or arterial. (5) All new developments .on corner parcels lying adjacent to the following east -west roadways shall be required to obtain ingress and egress from said roadways with direct. access to the Guide Meridian being prohibited: June Road, Stuart Road, Thomas Road and Horton Road.. .044 North -South Access Roadways (1) Property owners who do not develop their property would not be responsible for any road easements, right -of -way dedications or access road construction costs except as required by the formation of an R.I.D. (2) Property owners shall help to reduce the need for actual construction of an access roadway system by supporting and encouraging the development of shared access ways with adjacent users. (3) Property owners shall designate a roadway easement for a front or rear access roadway, as applicable, when receiving final plat approval, a building permit or a development permit. This condition should be indicated on the final plat. (4) Rights -of -way for a frontage or rear access roadway shall be dedicated, as applicable, by property owners who develop projects on their parcels which are expected to generate more than the amount of peak-hour trips which can be safely accommodated by urban - private roadways as determined in the Whatcom County Development Standards (see Table 7). This provision would apply to projects which generate nine or more peak hour trips. (5) Property owners who develop projects which require the above right -of -way dedication for a north -south access roadway will be required to participate in an R.I.D. for the purpose of constructing a north -south access roadway at a time and to a roadway standard as determined by the County Engineer to be necessary to serve the land use developments on that block. Property owners shall be responsible for making the right -of -way dedication and entering into a no- protest agreement to participate in a road improvement district when receiving final plat approval, a building permit or a development permit. This condition should be indicated on the final plat. (6) Right -of -way dedication and actual construction of a north -south access roadway may be required of projects which generate peak hour trips sufficient to prohibit specific turning movements onto' the Guide as specified in Section V of the Guide Meridian Improvement Plan or as determined to be necessary by the County Engineer to safely serve the proposed development. (7) If a frontage road option is selected for the block, corner property owners shall be compensated for any significant additional burden that their property would have to bear in providing access to interior lots, as described in Chapter 22.10. Corner property owners would not be eligible for this compensation if they initiated the selected access road alignment. Chapter 22.50 INDEPENDENT TRAFFIC NEEDS ASSESSMENT Traffic capacity and trip generation analyses may be independently developed and used as the basis to demonstrate why the above access provisions of Chapters 22.10 and /or 22.20 may be too severe. Such a situation might arise when a proposed development has a significantly lower trip generation rate than those used in the Trip Generation Matrix in the transportation policies of the Urban Fringe Subarea Comprehensive Plan. This option should not be construed to affect the need for future off -Guide access roads and the need to plan for them through easements and right -of -way dedications at the time of land development. Chapter 22.80 AMENDMENTS AND FEES 22.80.100 AMENDMENTS .110 Upon referral by the County Council or by its own initiation, the Planning Commission may recommend amendments to the provisions of Title 22 as per state statute. .120 Upon petition of fifty percent (50 %) of the owners of the land of the district hereafter regulated under the provisions of this Ordinance, the Commission shall consider any changes affecting said district pursuant to the process specified in RCW 36.70 for amending official control ordinances. .130 Amendments affecting or changing zone district boundaries or regulations of land uses previously affected by the Ordinance shall be accompanied by a detailed map showing any and all of such proposed changes. 22.80.200 FEES The following fees shall be paid upon the filing of any improvement district amendment application. Map Amendment $576.00 Text Amendment $432.00 S Chapter 22.83 ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES Any person,, firm, company or corporation who violates, disobeys, omits or neglects any of the provisions of this Ordinance shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or imprisonment of not more than six (6) months, or both said fine and imprisonment. Provided, however, that no penalty shall be imposed until such violator has first been given notice and not less than thirty (30) days to correct the violation. Compliance herewith may be by injunction order at the suit of the County or the owner or owners of land within the district affected by the regulations alleged to be violated or may also be imposed as a condition of any suspension of either the fine or jail time in the criminal action previously provided for. ✓. Chaptbr 22.86 SEVERABILITY Should any chapter, section, clause or provision of this Title be declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of this Title as a whole or any part thereof, other than the part so declared .to be invalid.