BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF MERCER ISLAND, WA

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1 BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF MERCER ISLAND, WA December 10, 2007 Regular Business TOWN CENTER STREETSCAPE MANUAL Proposed Council Action: Review Streetscape Manual; Provide direction to staff on revisions to Manual. DEPARTMENT OF COUNCIL LIAISON EXHIBITS City Manager, (Londi K. Lindell) & DSG, (Steve Lancaster) n/a 1. Town Center Streetscape Manual APPROVED BY CITY MANAGER AMOUNT OF EXPENDITURE $ n/a AMOUNT BUDGETED $ n/a APPROPRIATION REQUIRED $ n/a SUMMARY Background On December 4, 1995, Mercer Island City Council adopted the Town Center District Development and Design Requirements which were later codified as Chapter MICC (Town Center Code). The Town Center Code has been reviewed and revised by the City Council in 1997, 2001, 2002 and The Town Center Code regulates improvements on private property within the Town Center but does not regulate improvements within the public right of way. In April of 1994 and April of 1996, the Mercer Island City Council awarded bids to construct the majority of all street improvements currently existing today in the Town Center. The construction documents resulting from these bid awards have subsequently been used by City staff in reviewing and conditioning work in Town Center public rights of way to insure that streets (including road beds, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, landscaping, street trees, street lights, tree grates, benches, garbage receptacles, bike racks, street signs and other street furnishings) are reconstructed consistent with the 1994 and 1996 plans. The plans themselves have acted as a streetscape manual. MICC prohibits any work in public rights of way prior to the City Engineer issuing a right of way permit. City Engineer Patrick Yamashita may attach conditions to the right of way permit pursuant to MICC (A)(3) if consistent with the public health, safety and welfare. Insuring that the City s substantial investment in street improvements is preserved satisfies these criteria. Mr. Yamashita has used this authority to require that any street work within the Town Center comply as closely as practicable with the original street design constructed in 1994 and There are situations where the location of streetscape improvements (e.g. street lights or benches) must be relocated as a result of the final building design. This MICC authority also authorizes the City to administratively issue a streetscape manual. Page 1

2 During the Council s January 2007 Planning Session, Councilmember Grady asked that the Town Center streetscape design standards be reviewed and particularly that staff revisit the issue of bench placement on sidewalks. The City Council s adopted 5-Year Work Plan includes a review of the Town Center streetscape standards during Proposed Town Center Streetscape Manual City staff have prepared the Town Center Streetscape Manual attached as to this Agenda Bill (Manual). The purpose of the Manual is to more clearly convey the requirements for reconstruction of Town Center street improvements to developers working within a Town Center right of way. Staff has incorporated the requirements from the original Town Center construction documents. Please note that the Manual is a draft and we anticipate some graphic and text changes prior to finalization. Staff is not asking Council to adopt the Manual as legislation but to provide comments to staff regarding the continuation of the original streetscape design installed in the Town Center prior to finalization of the Manual. Councilmember Grady specifically requested staff consider the issue of bench placement. Page 8 of the Manual requires all benches be either a minimum of 2 from the curb face or replaced to the existing location, whichever is further from the curb. SECO Development, the developer of Island Market Square located at the intersections of 78 th and 80 th Ave SE and SE 27 th and 28 th SE, has agreed to relocate the benches along SE 27 th Street and SE 28 th Street to comply with this minimum 2 foot setback requirement. Design Commission The original streetscape design was created after numerous public meetings. The Design Commission is not involved in administrative right of way permit decisions. However, City staff will continue to work collaboratively with the Design Commission in reviewing Town Center projects to insure that the streetscape improvements within City right of way complement the Design Commission s approved design of any structures on private property. RECOMMENDATION Londi K. Lindell, Deputy City Manager MOVE TO: Alternative: Receive report on Town Center Streetscape Manual. Suggest modifications to the Streetscape Manual and direct staff to return at a subsequent City Council meeting for Council s further review of the Manual. Page 2

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