Chapter 17.121
RESIDENTIAL DESIGN STANDARDS
Sections:
17.121.010 Purpose and intent.
17.121.020 Adoption and applicability.
17.121.040 Site design – Front yards/entrances.
17.121.060 Site design – Location of garages.
17.121.010 Purpose and intent.
The standards in this chapter are intended to promote orderly community growth which will both protect and enhance property values for the community as a whole. The following objectives will help achieve this goal:
A. Ensure housing design is based on a consistent, compatible, and aesthetic architecture.
B. Ensure that new housing is designed with sensitivity to the site, as well as pedestrian scale, and reflects a strong residential character for the neighborhood and community.
C. Supports and defines safe pedestrian, transit, bicycle and vehicular circulation.
D. Maintain the scale, context and texture of existing neighborhoods.
E. Encourage creative designs for sites and buildings.
F. Allow for infill development that is sensitive to the character and history of the surrounding neighborhood. (Ord. 2628 § 2, 2006)
17.121.020 Adoption and applicability.
A. This chapter shall apply to all residential development within the city when specifically required in BMC Title 17.
B. New residential development must demonstrate compliance with the design standards included in this chapter before a building permit can be approved and issued by the city. (Ord. 2628 § 2, 2006)
17.121.030 Design review.
The design review shall be conducted in a manner consistent with Chapter 17.120 BMC, Design Review. (Ord. 2879 § 1 (Exh. A § 5), 2016; Ord. 2628 § 2, 2006)
17.121.040 Site design – Front yards/ entrances.
A. Intent. To provide distinction and transition and separation between buildings and the public pedestrian and vehicular systems where the front yards function as usable outdoor space and provides a clear, welcoming, and safe entry for pedestrians from the public sidewalk and streets to the single-family residences.
B. Standards.
1. Primary residential entries shall be clearly identifiable and oriented to the street frontage, with well-defined walkways from public pedestrian and vehicular systems to the entry.
2. Landscaping shall screen outdoor storage areas and dumpsters. (Ord. 2628 § 2, 2006)
17.121.050 Building design.
A. Intent. To maintain the residential scale and character of neighborhoods.
B. Standards.
1. New structures shall incorporate pitched roof forms having a minimum slope of 7:12 unless otherwise determined by the city to meet the purpose and intent of this chapter.
2. Additions to existing structures shall ensure architecturally compatible roof forms, typically matching the style and roof pitch of the existing primary structure, and shall be exempt from 7:12 roof pitch residential design standards.
3. Accessory structures shall ensure architecturally compatible roof forms, typically matching the style and roof pitch of the existing primary structure, and shall be exempt from 7:12 roof pitch residential design standards.
4. Windows shall have visually prominent trim and accent elements at least three inches in width. (Ord. 2900 § 1 (Exh. A), 2017; Ord. 2628 § 2, 2006)
17.121.060 Site design – Location of garages.
A. Intent. To ensure that garage doors and automobiles do not dominate the street-facing building facades or overshadow pedestrian entryways and that adequate parking is provided.
B. Standards.
1. Garages shall be architecturally similar to the residence.
2. Where alleys exist, access to garages shall be off the alley, unless otherwise determined by the city that the use of the alley is not feasible.
3. Each lot shall provide for a minimum of one fully enclosed parking space when parking is located off an alley. Two fully enclosed parking spaces shall be required when accessed from a street.
4. When feasible, garages are to be located away from the street frontage of residential buildings. (Ord. 2628 § 2, 2006)
17.121.070 Appeals.
Appeals of a final decision shall be submitted pursuant to BMC 17.06.180, Appeals. (Ord. 2673 § 2, 2007)