Neighborhood Design | Neighborhood Design Standards
topography would prohibit retaining all runoff on-site. Techniques may include the use of natural drainage patterns, cisterns, rain gardens, infiltration or grassed swales, retaining natural vegetation, French drains, and similar measures. A registered Landscape Architect in the State of Washington shall develop the sustainable site plan for the application that addresses compliance with these standards.
a. Street Connections
Streets and alleys provide connections to homes and through neighborhoods. They should be appropriately sized so that the streets support and blend into a well- landscaped neighborhood, discourage drivers from speeding, and assure emergency vehicle access. In designing new subdivisions, alleys and pedestrian- oriented streets should be considered as options for creating neighborhoods where walking is safe and attractive. The street network shall also provide for increased connectivity beyond the site itself, with input from the Community Development and Public Works.
O. Streets and Connections
1. Purpose and Intent
Sammamish values all forms of mobility and aspires to be a community with unrivaled connectedness. To this end, development should be considered in terms of well-designed neighborhood streets that provide connectivity and pedestrian and cycling routes that are attractive and safe for all ages. These routes should form a connected system and support a mix of uses available to neighborhoods. For all vehicle options, development should consider connectivity that minimizes congestion, “right- sizes” travel lanes and parking, and ensures adequate access for emergency vehicles.
b. Block Size and Perimeter
Block lengths are related to walkabilty, with shorter blocks offering permeability and shorter routes to destinations. They can also improve emergency response time. Blocks may be separated with connections for use by pedestrians, bicycles, and emergency vehicles only. Neighborhoods must be designed with block sizes that do not exceed a total perimeter of 1600’ to provide for connectivity. Exceptions to this limit may be permitted due to constraints from topography, critical areas and buffers, the preservation of mature forest, and other factors determined by the City that limit effective street connectivity. Non-motorized connections may be counted towards the block perimeter calculations except where the City determines a full street connection is warranted for access and connectivity. Houses oriented towards pedestrian paths are an option.
2. Design Standards
Sammamish’s street network relies on arterials as through- routes. The system of arterials contributes to a relatively disconnected street system due to topographic constraints, and developments without connections to adjacent sites. Sammamish aspires to increase connectivity by balancing quiet neighborhoods with a more resilient set of connections for all modes of movement.
28 | Title 21: Sammamish Development Code
Effective | January 1, 2022
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