17.10.080 Master plan review criteria.
A. In the review of an application for a master plan, the planning commission and city council shall consider the following:
1. Whether the proposed master plan is consistent with the framework plan, area plan, and comprehensive plan in terms of land use, density, transportation systems and networks, and open space.
2. Whether the proposed master plan is generally suitable for the area in which it is proposed, considering existing and planned neighborhoods, shopping and employment areas, and natural resources and hazards.
3. Whether the proposed master plan is integrated with existing developed or planned areas.
4. Whether the master plan is consistent with the city’s adopted Great Neighborhood Principles, which include:
a. Natural Feature Preservation. Great Neighborhoods are sensitive to the natural conditions and features of the land.
i. Neighborhoods shall be designed to preserve significant natural features including, but not limited to, watercourses, sensitive lands, steep slopes, wetlands, wooded areas, and landmark trees.
b. Scenic Views. Great Neighborhoods preserve scenic views in areas that everyone can access.
i. Public and private open spaces and streets shall be located and oriented to capture and preserve scenic views, including, but not limited to, views of significant natural features, landscapes, vistas, skylines, and other important features.
c. Parks and Open Spaces. Great Neighborhoods have open and recreational spaces to walk, play, gather, and commune as a neighborhood.
i. Parks, trails, and open spaces shall be provided at a size and scale that is variable based on the size of the proposed development and the number of dwelling units.
ii. Central parks and plazas shall be used to create public gathering spaces where appropriate.
iii. Neighborhood and community parks shall be developed in appropriate locations consistent with the policies in the parks master plan.
d. Pedestrian Friendly. Great Neighborhoods are pedestrian friendly for people of all ages and abilities.
i. Neighborhoods shall include a pedestrian network that provides for a safe and enjoyable pedestrian experience, and that encourages walking for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to, health, transportation, recreation, and social interaction.
ii. Pedestrian connections shall be provided to commercial areas, schools, community facilities, parks, trails, and open spaces, and shall also be provided between streets that are disconnected (such as cul-de-sacs or blocks with lengths greater than 400 feet).
e. Bike Friendly. Great Neighborhoods are bike friendly for people of all ages and abilities.
i. Neighborhoods shall include a bike network that provides for a safe and enjoyable biking experience, and that encourages an increased use of bikes by people of all abilities for a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to, health, transportation, and recreation.
ii. Bike connections shall be provided to commercial areas, schools, community facilities, parks, trails, and open spaces.
f. Connected Streets. Great Neighborhoods have interconnected streets that provide safe travel route options, increased connectivity between places and destinations, and easy pedestrian and bike use.
i. Streets shall be designed to function and connect with the surrounding built environment and the existing and future street network, and shall incorporate human scale elements including, but not limited to, Complete Streets features as defined in the comprehensive plan, grid street networks, neighborhood traffic management techniques, traffic calming, and safety enhancements.
ii. Streets shall be designed to encourage more bicycle, pedestrian and transit mobility with a goal of less reliance on vehicular mobility.
g. Accessibility. Great Neighborhoods are designed to be accessible and allow for ease of use for people of all ages and abilities.
i. To the best extent possible all features within a neighborhood shall be designed to be accessible and feature elements and principles of Universal Design.
ii. Design practices should strive for best practices and not minimum practices.
h. Human-Scale Design. Great Neighborhoods have buildings and spaces that are designed to be comfortable at a human scale and that foster human interaction within the built environment.
i. The size, form, and proportionality of development is designed to function and be balanced with the existing built environment.
ii. Buildings include design elements that promote inclusion and interaction with the right-of-way and public spaces, including, but not limited to, building orientation towards the street or a public space and placement of vehicle-oriented uses in less prominent locations.
iii. Public spaces include design elements that promote comfortability and ease of use at a human scale, including, but not limited to, street trees, landscaping, lighted public areas, and principles of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED).
i. Mix of Activities. Great Neighborhoods provide easy and convenient access to many of the destinations, activities, and local services that residents use on a daily basis.
i. Neighborhood destinations including, but not limited to, neighborhood-serving commercial uses, schools, parks, and other community services, shall be provided in locations that are easily accessible to surrounding residential uses.
ii. Neighborhood-serving commercial uses are integrated into the built environment at a scale that is appropriate with the surrounding area.
iii. Neighborhoods are designed such that owning a vehicle can be optional.
j. Urban-Rural Interface. Great Neighborhoods complement adjacent rural areas and transition between urban and rural uses.
i. Buffers or transitions in the scale of uses, buildings, or lots shall be provided on urban lands adjacent to rural lands to ensure compatibility.
k. Housing for Diverse Incomes and Generations. Great Neighborhoods provide housing opportunities for people and families with a wide range of incomes, and for people and families in all stages of life.
i. A range of housing forms and types shall be provided and integrated into neighborhoods to provide for housing choice at different income levels and for different generations.
l. Housing Variety. Great Neighborhoods have a variety of building forms and architectural variety to avoid monoculture design.
i. Neighborhoods shall have several different housing types.
ii. Similar housing types, when immediately adjacent to one another, shall provide variety in building form and design.
m. Unique and Integrated Design Elements. Great Neighborhoods have unique features, designs, and focal points to create neighborhood character and identity. Neighborhoods shall be encouraged to have:
i. Environmentally friendly construction techniques, green infrastructure systems, and energy efficiency incorporated into the built environment.
ii. Opportunities for public art provided in private and public spaces.
iii. Neighborhood elements and features including, but not limited to, signs, benches, park shelters, street lights, bike racks, banners, landscaping, paved surfaces, and fences, with a consistent and integrated design that are unique to and define the neighborhood. (Ord. 5106 §2 (Exh. B), 2021; Ord. 5098 §1 (Appx. E), 2020).