2005/04/20 Council Agenda Packet

Planning Commission Meeting March 8, 2005 Page 3 • Non-transparent facades shall not exceed 40% of the length of the building. Applicant can propose an alternative design which provides a pedestrian friendly treatment. • Provide safe sidewalks for pedestrians and streetscape enhancements to promote a pedestrian friendly environment. • Provide for weather protections from rain with covered public sidewalks, private walkways, multiple building entrances, arcades, and prominent building entrances. • Orient and design buildings to maximize view opportunities from streets, parks, and proposed buildings. • Extreme rectangular building profiles are discouraged and design techniques may include building step backs on upper levels, curved or architectural surfaces, recessed entries, sloping roof lines, cornices, ornamentation, balconies, porches, awnings, and marquees. • Provide high quality design and building materials for all buildings, especially those constructed at prominent locations such as adjacent to public open spaces or distinctive civic buildings such as City Hall and the Library, and in locations on gateway corridors or major street intersections. All multiple family developments in the B-3 zone are also subject to the City's Multiple Family Design Guidelines. Those guidelines include: • Building façade and roof line variations which include windows, entries, porches, balconies, varied materials and colors. Roofline variation includes dormers, gables, step backs or other features which modify monotonous roof forms. • Prominent building entrances which are clearly defined and designed to be more prominent than driveways or garage entries. • Centralized open space and recreation areas which are safe, convenient, and accessible to residents. Commissioner Dutton asked Mr. Giffen if he had anything to add. Mr. Giffen responded no and asked the Commission if there were any questions. Commissioner Ebert asked Mr. Siddiq when the B-3 building height limits map was developed. Mr. Giffen responded that the B-3 height limits were established in 1990 and then modified in 1995. The unlimited height area prior to 1995 was 300 feet. Commissioner Trautman asked about the timeline on the downtown plan. Mr. Giffen responded that the downtown plan was planned to be completed in 12-18 months and he could not be more specific than that since staff were just in initial discussions about that matter. Commissioner Newland asked Mr. Giffen about some sort of design review and wondered if that would take place during the downtown process or whether that was a separate issue. Mr. Giffen responded that current B-3 zone regulations did have design guidelines and within the context of the downtown plan, he expected that staff will revisit those policies. Commissioner Newland asked if there would be any design review as compared to guidelines. Mr. Giffen responded that the process was up for discussion during the downtown plan process and that the matter was still open for discussion. Commissioner Newland asked how long it would take to get a committee together once the downtown plan was complete. Mr. Giffen asked independent of the downtown plan, staff could probably do something in six months if there was consensus on how to change the current design guidelines. Citizen Comments Craig Skotdal, 2707 Colby Avenue, stated that the proposed changes in zoning along Rucker Avenue on the east side responded to an important need for market rate housing in Everett. As many other communities have discovered, there is a strong relationship between quality of life and economic development, and housing. Cities such as Tacoma, Seattle, Bellevue, and Kirkland have encouraged developments of new condos and apartments in their downtowns a