Chapter 20.70 Engineering and Utilities Development Standards

The purpose of this chapter is to establish engineering regulations and standards to implement the Comprehensive Plan and provide a general framework for relating the standards and other requirements of this Code to development. (Ord. 591 § 2 (Exh. B), 2010).

20.70.020 Engineering Development Manual.

The Engineering Development Manual adopted pursuant to SMC 12.10.015 includes processes, design and construction criteria, inspection requirements, standard plans, and technical standards for engineering design related to the development of all streets and utilities and/or improvements within the City. (Ord. 767 § 1 (Exh. A), 2017; Ord. 631 § 1 (Exh. 1), 2012; Ord. 591 § 2 (Exh. B), 2010).

Subchapter 2.

Dedications

20.70.110 Purpose.

The purpose of this subchapter is to provide guidance regarding the dedication of facilities to the City. (Ord. 591 § 2 (Exh. B), 2010).

20.70.120 Dedication of right-of-way.

A. Dedication shall occur at the time of recording for subdivisions, and prior to permit issuance for development projects.

B. Dedications may be required in the following situations:

1. When it can be demonstrated that the dedications of land or easements within the proposed development or plat are necessary as a direct result of the proposed development or plat to which the dedication of land or easement is to apply;

2. To accommodate motorized and nonmotorized transportation, landscaping, utilities, surface water drainage, street lighting, traffic control devices, and buffer requirements as required in Subchapter 4, Required Improvements, and Subchapter 5, Utility Standards;

3. Prior to the acceptance of a private street, private stormwater drainage system or other facility for maintenance;

4. When the development project abuts an existing substandard public street and additional right-of-way is necessary to incorporate future frontage improvements as set forth in the Transportation Master Plan and the Engineering Development Guide for public safety; or

5. Right-of-way is needed for the extension of existing public street improvements necessary for public safety.

C. The City may accept dedication and assume maintenance responsibility of a private street only if the following conditions are met:

1. All necessary upgrades to the street to meet City standards have been completed;

2. All necessary easements and dedications entitling the City to properly maintain the street have been conveyed to and accepted by the City;

3. The Director has determined that maintenance of the facility will contribute to protecting or improving the health, safety, and welfare of the community served by the private road. (Ord. 615 § 4, 2011; Ord. 591 § 2 (Exh. B), 2010).

20.70.130 Dedication of right-of-way.

Repealed by Ord. 615. (Ord. 591 § 2 (Exh. B), 2010).

20.70.140 Dedication of stormwater facilities.

A. The City is responsible for the maintenance, including performance and operation, of drainage facilities which the City has accepted for maintenance. The City may require the dedication of these facilities.

B. The City may assume maintenance of privately maintained drainage facilities only if the following conditions have been met:

1. All necessary upgrades to the facilities to meet current City standards have been completed;

2. All necessary easements or dedications entitling the City to properly maintain the drainage facility have been conveyed to the City;

3. The Director has determined that the facility is in the dedicated public road right-of-way or that maintenance of the facility will contribute to protecting or improving the health, safety and welfare of the community based upon review of the existence of or potential for:

a. Flooding;

b. Downstream erosion;

c. Property damage due to improper function of the facility;

d. Safety hazard associated with the facility;

e. Degradation of water quality or in-stream resources; or

f. Degradation to the general welfare of the community; and

4. The City has accepted maintenance responsibility in writing.

C. The Director may terminate the assumption of maintenance responsibilities in writing after determining that continued maintenance will not significantly contribute to protecting or improving the health, safety and welfare of the community based upon review of the existence of or potential for:

1. Flooding;

2. Downstream erosion;

3. Property damage due to improper function of the facility;

4. Safety hazard associated with the facility;

5. Degradation of water quality or in-stream resources; or

6. Degradation to the general welfare of the community.

D. A drainage facility which does not meet the criteria of this section shall remain the responsibility of the persons holding title to the property for which the facility was required. (Ord. 591 § 2 (Exh. B), 2010).

20.70.150 Dedication of open space.

A. The City may accept dedications of open space and critical areas which have been identified and are required to be protected as a condition of development. Dedication of such areas to the City will be considered when:

1. The dedicated area would contribute to the City’s overall open space and greenway system;

2. The dedicated area would provide recreation opportunities and nonmotorized linkages;

3. The dedicated area would preserve and protect ecologically sensitive natural areas, wildlife habitat and wildlife corridors;

4. The dedicated area is of low hazard/liability potential; and

5. The dedicated area can be adequately managed and maintained. (Ord. 591 § 2 (Exh. B), 2010).

20.70.160 Easements and tracts.

The purpose of this section is to address easements and tracts when facilities on private property will be used by more than one lot or by the public in addition to the property owner(s).

A. Easements.

1. Easements may be used for facilities used by a limited number of parties. Examples of situations where easements may be used include, but are not limited to:

a. Access for ingress and egress or utilities to neighboring property;

b. Design features of a street necessitate the granting of slope, wall, or drainage easements; or

c. Nonmotorized easements required to provide pedestrian circulation between neighborhoods, schools, shopping centers and other activity centers even if the facility is not specifically shown on the City’s adopted nonmotorized circulation plan maps.

2. Easements granted for public use shall be designated “City of Shoreline Public Easement.” All easements shall specify the maintenance responsibility in the recording documents.

B. Tracts.

1. Tracts should be used for facilities that are used by a broader group of individuals, may have some degree of access by the general public, and typically require regular maintenance activities. Examples of facilities that may be located in tracts include private streets, drainage facilities serving more than one lot, or critical areas.

2. Tracts are not subject to minimum lot size specifications for the zone, although they must be large enough to accommodate the facilities located within them.

3. Tracts created under the provisions of this subchapter shall not be considered a lot of record unless all zoning, dimensional, and use provisions of this code can be met. (Ord. 591 § 2 (Exh. B), 2010).

Subchapter 3.

Streets

20.70.210 Purpose.

The purpose of this subchapter is to classify streets in accordance with designations of the Comprehensive Plan and to ensure the naming of new streets and assignment of new addresses occur in an orderly manner. (Ord. 591 § 2 (Exh. B), 2010).

20.70.220 Street classification.

Streets are classified in the Transportation Master Plan Street Classification Map (Fig. A). (Ord. 615 § 4, 2011; Ord. 591 § 2 (Exh. B), 2010).

20.70.230 Street plan.

Streets shall be designed and located to conform to the adopted plans. Where not part of an adopted plan, new streets shall be designed to provide for the appropriate continuation of existing streets.

The Public Works Department shall maintain a list of public streets maintained by the City. (Ord. 591 § 2 (Exh. B), 2010).

20.70.240 Private streets.

Local access streets may be private, subject to the approval of the City. If the conditions for approval of a private street cannot be met then a public street will be required. Private streets may be allowed when all of the following conditions are present:

A. The private street is located within a tract or easement; and

B. A covenant, tract, or easement which provides for maintenance and repair of the private street by property owners has been approved by the City and recorded with King County; and

C. The covenant or easement includes a condition that the private street will remain open at all times for emergency and public service vehicles; and

D. The private street would not hinder public street circulation; and

E. The proposed private street would be adequate for transportation and fire access needs; and

F. At least one of the following conditions exists:

1. The street would ultimately serve four or fewer single-family lots; or

2. The private street would ultimately serve more than four lots, and the Director determines that no other access is available; or

3. The private street would serve developments where no circulation continuity is necessary. (Ord. 591 § 2 (Exh. B), 2010).

20.70.250 Street naming and numbering.

The purpose of this section is to establish standards for designating street names and numbers, and for addressing the principal entrances of all buildings or other developments.

A. All streets shall be named or numbered in the following manner:

1. Public or private street names and/or numbers shall be consistent with the established grid system as determined by the Department. Named streets can only be assigned when the numbered grid is determined infeasible by the Department. The Department may change the existing public or private street name if it is determined to be inconsistent with the surrounding street naming system.

2. All streets shall carry a geographic suffix or prefix. Streets designated as “Avenues” shall carry a geographic suffix and be in a north-south direction, and streets designated as “Streets” shall carry a geographic prefix and be in an east-west direction. Diagonal streets are treated as being either north-south or east-west streets. Names such as lane, place, way, court, and drive may be used on streets running either direction.

3. Only entire street lengths or distinct major portions of street shall be separately designated.

4. In determining the designation, the Department shall consider consistency with the provisions of this section and emergency services responsiveness including Emergency-911 services.

B. Building addresses shall be assigned as follows:

1. New Buildings. The assignment of addresses for new buildings shall occur in conjunction with the issuance of a building permit.

2. New Lots. The assignment of addresses for new lots created by subdividing shall occur during project review and be included in the recording documents.

3. Previously Unassigned Lots. Lots with no address of record shall be assigned an address and the property owner shall be notified of the address.

4. The assignment of addresses shall be based on the following criteria:

a. Even numbers shall be used on the northerly side of streets named as east-west and on the easterly side of streets named as north-south.

b. Odd numbers shall be used on the southerly side of streets named as east-west and on the westerly side of streets named as north-south. Addresses shall be assigned whole numbers only.

c. In determining the address assignment, the Department shall consider the consistency with the provisions of this section, consistency with the addressing needs of the area, and emergency services.

C. All buildings must display addresses as follows:

1. The owner, occupant, or renter of any addressed building or other structure shall maintain the address numbers in a conspicuous place over or near the principal entrance or entrances. If said entrance(s) cannot be easily seen from the nearest adjoining street, the address numbers shall be placed in such other conspicuous place on said building or structure as is necessary for visually locating such address numbers from the nearest adjoining street.

2. If the addressed building or structure cannot be easily seen or is greater than 50 feet from the nearest adjoining street, the address numbers shall be placed on a portion of the site that is clearly visible and no greater than 20 feet from the street.

3. The address number figures shall comply with currently adopted building and fire codes. (Ord. 631 § 1 (Exh. 1), 2012; Ord. 591 § 2 (Exh. B), 2010).

Subchapter 4.

Required Improvements

20.70.310 Purpose.

The purpose of this subchapter is to provide safe and accessible transportation facilities for all modes of travel as described in the Comprehensive Plan, Transportation Master Plan, and the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan. (Ord. 591 § 2 (Exh. B), 2010).

20.70.320 Frontage improvements.

A. Standard frontage improvements shall be upgraded or installed pursuant to standards set forth in the Transportation Master Plan Street Classification Map, the Master Street Plan adopted in Chapter 12.10 SMC, and the Engineering Development Manual for the specific street which is substandard to satisfy adequate public roadways required for subdivisions by Chapter 58.17 RCW and Chapter 20.30 SMC, Subchapter 7, and to mitigate direct impacts of land use approvals.

B. Standard frontage improvements consist of right-of-way dedication, curb, gutter, sidewalk, amenity zone and landscaping, drainage improvements and pavement overlays up to one-half of each right-of-way abutting a property as defined in the Master Street Plan. Additional improvements may be required to ensure safe movement of traffic, including pedestrians, bicycles, transit, and nonmotorized vehicles. The improvements can include transit bus shelters, bus pullouts, utility undergrounding, street lighting, signage and channelization.

C. Frontage improvements are required:

1. When building construction valuation for a permit exceeds 50 percent of the current County assessed or an appraised valuation of all existing structure(s) on the parcel (except for detached single-family homes). This shall include all structures on other parcels if the building under permit review extends into other parcels;

2. When aggregate building construction valuations for issued permits, within any five-year period after March 30, 2013, exceed 50 percent of the County assessed or an appraised value of the existing structure(s) at the time of the first issued permit;

3. For subdivisions;

4. For development consisting of more than one dwelling unit on a single parcel (accessory dwelling units are exempt); or

5. One detached single-family dwelling in the MUR zones.

D. Exemptions to frontage improvements are limited to:

1. Subdivision, short plats, and binding site plans where all of the lots are fully developed.

2. Instances where the street will be improved as a whole through a capital improvement project or local improvement district within five years of permit issuance. In such cases, a contribution may be made and calculated based on the improvements that would be required of the development. Contributed funds shall be directed to the City’s capital project fund and shall be used for the capital project and offset future assessments on the property resulting from an LID. An LID “no-protest” commitment shall also be recorded. Adequate interim levels of improvements for public safety shall be required.

E. Waivers may be approved by the Director of Public Works to not require frontage improvements under the following circumstances if the Director determines:

1. The installation of the improvements will cause a safety hazard; or

2. Construction of improvements will adversely impact critical areas that cannot be mitigated; or

3. The current level of improvements in the rights-of-way of a local street adjacent to the R-4 or R-6 zone will not be changed because there is limited opportunity for additional improvements through development or redevelopment or a City project along the rights-of-way within the foreseeable future.

The applicant shall utilize the deviation from the engineering standards process specified in SMC 20.30.290. The applicant shall address how the waiver satisfies the criteria for a deviation as well as the applicable conditions of this subsection. Supporting documentation and application fees shall be submitted with the waiver request.

F. All improvements required under this chapter shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the Engineering Development Manual. Deviation from the Engineering Development Manual may be considered through a deviation process as set forth in SMC 20.30.290.

G. Required improvements shall be installed by the applicant prior to final approval or occupancy.

H. Subdivisions improvements shall be completed prior to the final plat approval. A bond or other surety may be allowed as provided for in SMC 20.30.440 in lieu of completion of all improvements. (Ord. 850 § 1 (Exh. A), 2019; Ord. 756 § 1 (Exh. A), 2016; Ord. 731 § 1 (Exh. A), 2015; Ord. 706 § 1 (Exh. A), 2015; Ord. 654 § 1 (Exh. 1), 2013; Ord. 631 § 1 (Exh. 1), 2012; Ord. 615 § 4, 2011; Ord. 591 § 2 (Exh. B), 2010).

20.70.330 Surface water facilities.

A. All development and redevelopment as defined in the Stormwater Manual shall provide stormwater drainage improvements that meet the minimum requirements of Chapter 13.10 SMC.

B. Development proposals that do not require City-approved plans or a permit must meet the requirements specified in Chapter 13.10 SMC.

C. Required improvements shall be installed by the applicant prior to final approval or occupancy.

D. For subdivisions the improvements shall be completed prior to final plat approval or post a bond or other surety as provided for in SMC 20.30.440. (Ord. 591 § 2 (Exh. B), 2010).

20.70.340 Sidewalks, walkways, paths and trails.

A. Sidewalks required pursuant to SMC 20.70.320 and fronting public streets shall be located within public right-of-way or a public easement as approved by the Director.

B. Walkways, paths or trails provided to mitigate identified impacts should use existing undeveloped right-of-way, or, if located outside the City’s planned street system, may be located across private property in a pedestrian easement or tract restricted to that purpose.

C. Required sidewalks on public and private streets shall be installed as described in the Transportation Master Plan and the Engineering Development Guide for the specific street classification and street segment.

D. Installation, or a financial security of installation subject to approval by the Director, is required as a condition of development approval.

E. On development projects that front onto two parallel public rights-of-way where the nearest public connection between the parallel rights-of-way is at least 250 linear feet from any point of the development, a paved shared-use path shall be required within a public easement to connect the parallel rights-of-way. The shared-use path may also function as an alley way for limited vehicular access. (Ord. 907 § 1 (Exh. C), 2020; Ord. 591 § 2 (Exh. B), 2010).

Subchapter 5.

Utility Standards

20.70.410 Purpose.

The purpose of this subchapter is to establish when new and existing service connections, including telephone, cable television, electrical power, natural gas, water, and sewer, are to be installed and/or placed underground. (Ord. 591 § 2 (Exh. B), 2010).

20.70.420 Utility installation.

Required utility improvements shall be installed by the applicant prior to final approval or occupancy. For subdivisions the applicant shall complete the improvements prior to final plat approval or post a bond or other surety with the utility provider. (Ord. 591 § 2 (Exh. B), 2010).

20.70.430 Undergrounding of electric and communication service connections.

A. Undergrounding required under this subchapter shall be limited to the service connection and new facilities located on private property. Undergrounding of service connections and new electrical and telecommunication facilities on private property shall be required with new development as follows:

1. All new nonresidential construction including remodels and additions where the total value of the project exceeds 50 percent of the assessed valuation of the property and improvements and involves the relocation of service.

2. All new residential construction and new accessory structures or the creation of new residential lots.

3. Residential remodels and additions where the total value of the project exceeds 50 percent of the assessed valuation of the property and improvements and involves the relocation of the service connection to the structure.

B. Conversion of a service connection from aboveground to underground shall not be required under this subchapter for:

1. The upgrade or change of location of electrical panel, service, or meter for existing structures not associated with a development application; and

2. New or replacement phone lines, cable lines, or any communication lines for existing structures not associated with a development application. (Ord. 767 § 1 (Exh. A), 2017; Ord. 591 § 2 (Exh. B), 2010).

Subchapter 6.

Access Standards

20.70.440 Purpose.

The purpose of this subchapter is to establish basic dimensional standards for access widths when applied to certain types of development. These access widths are specified in the Engineering Development Manual. (Ord. 850 § 1 (Exh. A), 2019; Ord. 789 § 1 (Exh. A), 2018).

20.70.450 Access types and widths.

A. Table 20.70.450 – Access Types and Widths.

Dwelling Type and Number	Engineering Development Manual Access Types and Width
Single-Family Detached – 1 unit	Residential
Single-Family Detached – 2 – 4 units	Shared
Single-Family Detached – 5 or more units	Private or Public Street
Commercial, Public Facility	Commercial
Single-Family Attached, Mixed Single-Family Attached or Multifamily	Multifamily

(Ord. 871 § 1 (Exh. A), 2020; Ord. 850 § 1 (Exh. A), 2019; Ord. 789 § 1 (Exh. A), 2018).