smart growth principles? - kirkland, washington2035/k...“smart growth principles” were developed...

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CityofKirklandPlanningandCommunityDevelopmentDepartment September2013

OverthenexttwoyearsKirklandwillbeupdatingitsComprehensivePlantoreflecthowtheCityshouldaccommodategrowthoverthenexttwentyyears.ThispaperlooksatfuturetrendsthatmayaffectKirklandandhow“SmartGrowthPrinciples”canbeusedtorespondtothesetrendstohelpcreatethetypeofcommunitywemaywant.

WhatareSmartGrowthPrinciples?

LiketheState’sGrowthManagementAct,theterm“SmartGrowth”isanurbanplanningconceptthatadvocatesfocusinggrowthincompactlivablecommunitiestoavoidsprawl.

“SmartGrowthPrinciples”weredevelopedintheearly1990’sasanoutcomeoftheSmartGrowthNetworkfoundedbytheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA).TheNetworkismadeupofaconsortiumof30nationalorganizationsofgovernment,businessandcivicorganizationsthatpromotesmartgrowthandofferresourcestohelpcommunities.Formoreinformationandresources,seepage6ofthisdocument.

AccordingtotheSmartGrowthNetwork,“SmartGrowthPrinciplescanbeconsideredbestpracticesortoolsthatcommunitiescanusetogrowinwaysthatsupporteconomicdevelopmentandjobs;createstrongneighborhoodswitharangeofhousing,commercial,andtransportationoptions;andachievehealthycommunitiesthatprovidefamilieswithacleanenvironment.”

In2006,theSmartGrowthNetworklookedatthekeycharacteristicsthatmakesuccessfulcommunitiesanddevelopedthefollowing10basicprinciples:

1. Mixlandusestogether

2. Takeadvantageofcompactbuildingdesign

3. Createarangeofhousingopportunitiesandchoices

4. Createwalkableneighborhoods

5. Fosterdistinctive,attractivecommunitieswithastrongsenseofplace

6. Preserveopenspace,farmland,naturalbeauty,andcriticalenvironmentalareas

7. Strengthenanddirectdevelopmenttowardsexistingcommunities

8. Provideavarietyoftransportationchoices

9. Makedevelopmentdecisionspredictable,fair,andcosteffective

10. Encouragecommunityandstakeholdercollaborationindevelopmentdecisions

Smartgrowthisanalternativetourbansprawl,trafficcongestion,disconnectedneighborhoods,andurbandecay.Itsprincipleschallengeoldassumptionsinurbanplanning,suchaslowdensitydevelopment,automobilefocusandseparatinglanduses.

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TheSmartGrowthNetworkdevelopedaseriesofimplementationguidelines.TheseguidelinescanbeusedasachecklisttodeterminehowconsistentKirkland’sComprehensivePlangoals,policiesanddevelopmentstandardsmeasureuptotheseprinciples.

HowwillourgrowthtargetsandfuturetrendsaffectKirkland?

TheGrowthManagementAct(GMA)requiresthatcitiesplanforgrowthwithina20yearperiod.In2011Kirklandadded30,000peoplewiththeJuanita/FinnHill/Kingsgateannexation.TodayKirkland’spopulationis81,730.Byour“targetyear”of2035,Kirklandisexpectedtohave13,000newresidentsforatotalpopulationof94,000.Kirkland’sgrowthtargetsbetweentheyear2013and2035are8,361newhousingunitsand22,435newjobs.Thenewresidentswillneedhousingandaccesstotransportation,schools,shopsandservices,parksandentertainment.Howandwhereshouldweaccommodatethesenewhousingunitsandemployment?

HowcanKirklandimplementSmartGrowthPrinciplestorespondtothesechanges?

ThefollowingsummarizesthetrendswemayseeandhowtheCitycanapplySmartGrowthPrinciplesinplanningforKirkland’sfuture.

1. MIXLANDUSESTOGETHER

SmartGrowthPrinciplesencouragemixingusessuchasresidentialandretailinnewdevelopmentsorbuildingsonthesameproperty.Redevelopmentandnewgrowthshould

betargetedtoexistingcommercialareasthatareclosetotransitandtransportationhubs.AgoodexampleofthisisJuanitaVillagelocatedatNE116thSTand100thAvenueintheJuanitaNeighborhood.Asaresult,thefollowingbenefitstotheKirklandcommunitycanbeattained:

Resultsinmoreefficientuseofland Allowsavarietyofhousingtypesanddensities Reducesdistancesbetweenhousing,workplaces,retailbusinesses,andotherdestinations Encouragesmorecompactdevelopment Strengthensneighborhoodcharacter Promotespedestrianandbicyclefriendlyenvironments Providesopportunitiestowalktoservicesandjobs

ExistinggoalsandpoliciesintheKirklandComprehensivePlanreflectmanyofthesePrinciples,suchaspromotingmixed‐useresidentialandcommercialdevelopment,buildingsdesignedwiththepedestrianinmind(pedestrianorienteddevelopment),walkableneighborhoodsandcompletestreets.

Juanita Village Mixed‐ Use Development 

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2. TAKEADVANTAGEOFCOMPACTBUILDINGDESIGN

AsKirklandgrowsweknowtherewillbeadecreaseinavailabilityofusable,undevelopedland.Thecostoflandwillcontinuetoincrease.Howthelandisusedmostefficientlywhilebalancingdevelopmentwithpreservationofopenspaceandnaturalareaswillbeachallenge.Planningforwelldesigned,compact,mixedusedevelopmentwillbeessentialinmakingthiswork.

Youngandoldersegmentsofourpopulationwillbeattractedtosmallerandmoreaffordablehousingoptionswithincloseproximitytoneighborhoodshoppingareasandtransit.Ayoung,educatedworkforceisattractedtolivingindenserurbanareaswithlivelycommercialdistricts,recreation,entertainmentandgoodtransitavailability.Thetrendisforcommunitiestobedesignedwhereallagescanwork,live,attendschool,shop,andplayinanareacompactenoughtoallowwalkingtomostdestinations.

Welldesigned,developmentwithamenitiesthatinclude“peopleplaces,”suchasopenspaceplazas,coffeeshops,theaters,publicartandvibrantcommercialcommunitiesprovideastrongsenseofplace.

Thereareeconomicdevelopmentadvantagestocompactdevelopment.Businessesdobetterinstrongbusinessdistrictsthatprovidegoodsandservicesdirectlytonearbyresidents.Refurbishedoutdatedmallsandcommercialcenterstoincorporateamixofusesandimprovewalkabilityshouldbeencouraged.

3. CREATEARANGEOFHOUSINGOPPORTUNITIESANDCHOICES

Lifeexpectancyisincreasing(byabouttwoyearsfrom2000to2009.)By2030,oneinfiveAmericanswillbeelderly.Agreaterproportionofseniorswillhavedifferentneedsfromyoungerresidentssuchasphysicallimitationsforgettingaroundtownanddesiresmallerhousingoptions.Thecostofhousingisincreasing,atthesametime,thesizeofhousingandhouseholdsizeisdecreasing.

Kirklandhasbecomemorediverse.Aspeopleofdifferentculturalbackgroundsandabroaderrangeofincomelevelsplayagreaterroleinourcommunity,thereisaneedfordiversehousingtypesandbothownershipandrentaloptions.KingCountyreflectsatrendacrosstheUStowardmorerentingandlesshomeownership.

Encouraginghousingchoicessuchmulti‐generationalhousing,extendedfamilyhousing,residentialsuites(verysmallapartments),backyardcottages,accessorydwellingunits,seniorhousing,andsmallerhousingwillbenecessaryaccommodatepeople’sneedsanddesires.

 Cottage Housing Project 

Mixed‐ Use Development in Downtown

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TorespondtothesetrendsandtoincreasetheamountofaffordablehousinginKirkland,ZoningCoderegulationsrequire10%ofresidentialunits(4ormore)tobeaffordableincommercialandmulti‐familyzones.TheCityalsoprovidesincentivesforbuildingadditionalunitsandallowsforavarietyofhousingtypessuchascottagehousing,smalllotsinglefamilyhomesandaccessorydwellingunits.

4. CREATEWALKABLENEIGHBORHOODS

Thenationwideincreaseinobesityratessuggestsaneedtoencouragehealthierlifestylesthatincludehealthyfood,exercise,andincreasedwalkingasaprimarymodeoftransportation.AstheCitygrowsitwillbeimportanttoprovidemanynon‐motorizedtransportationoptions,suchasbiketrails,pathwaysandsidewalks,andtoencouragedesignofdevelopmentsgearedtothepedestrianratherthanauto‐orientedplaces.

Addingpedestrianimprovementstocreatewalkableneighborhoodsreducestheuseofautomobiles,improvesairquality,reducesnoise,makesstreetssaferforpedestrians,andimprovessocialinteraction.KirklandhasbeenrecognizedasoneofthetoptenwalkablecommunitiesinthecountrybytheWallStreetJournal.

5. FOSTERDISTINCTIVE,ATTRACTIVECOMMUNITIESWITHASTRONGSENSEOFPLACE

Attractive,welldesignedcommunitieswithlivelyneighborhoodscreatedistinctiveuniqueplacesthatattractnewresidentsandbusinesses.InKirklandmanyoftheneighborhoodandbusinessdistrictsrequiredesignreviewtoensuredevelopmentiswelldesigned,containsopenspaces,hassuperiorlandscapingandreflectsthecharacterofthesurroundingneighborhood.

6. PRESERVEOPENSPACE,FARMLAND,NATURALBEAUTY,ANDCRITICALENVIRONMENTALAREAS

Globalclimatechangeisgeneratingmorefrequentextremeweather,damaginghuman‐builtstructuresandthenaturalenvironment.ThistrendcannotbeignoredasKirklandmayexperienceincreasedfloodingalongstreamsandintheroadwaysandwinddamagefromstorms.Finiteworldenergyresourcesandtheexpenseofdevelopingnewenergysourceswillincreasethecostofrunningbusinesses,homesandautomobiles.

Useofallsourcesofenergy,butespeciallynon‐renewablesources,negativelyimpactsourenvironment.Inthefuturetherewillbeagreateremphasisongreenbuildingdesignandsustainablestrategiestoreducegreenhousegasemissions.

Example of shoreline replacement of  

bulkhead with soft shoreline

 Lakeview Neighborhood Walk Route Sign 

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Balancingnewdevelopmentwithprotectingandenhancingcriticalareasandshorelineareaswillbenecessarytoretainopenspace,surfacewatersystemsandhabitat.Lowimpactdevelopmenttechniqueswhererainwateriscollected,storedorrechargedon‐sitehelpsreducefloodingandimproveswaterquality.Itwillbenecessaryforustoconsiderhowournaturalenvironmentisconnectedasonesystemanddesignedintothebuiltenvironmentthroughsustainablebuildingpractices.

InKirklandwehaveadopteddevelopmentstandardsandimplementedprogramstoencouragesustainableandgreenbuildingpractices.TheCityisalsoexploringtheuseof“transferofdevelopmentrights”intheTotemLakeBusinessDistrictwherebyundevelopedlandinKingCountyispreservedwhileincreasingdevelopmentpotential.WeshouldcontinuetosupportshorelinerestorationandinitiativestoreturnKirkland’sLakeWashingtonshorelinetoamorenaturalstatethatcanmorereadilyhandleincreasedstressfromclimatechange.

7. STRENGTHENANDDIRECTDEVELOPMENTTOWARDSEXISTINGCOMMUNITIES

Smartgrowthpromotesdirectinggrowthtoareasalreadyservedbyinfrastructure,suchasroads,sewerandwater.Thisapproachismorecosteffectiveandmaintainsthevalueofpublicandprivateinvestment.Itisamoreefficientuseoflandandinfrastructure,canprovideastrongertaxbase,andpromotesopportunitiesforjobsclosetohousing.

8. PROVIDEAVARIETYOFTRANSPORTATIONCHOICES

GivenourregionalgrowthandKirkland’sattractionasaplacetoliveandgrowabusiness,andwitheasyaccesstoI‐405andSR520,trafficwillincrease.Congestionontheroadwaysdrivestheneedformorealternativestocartravel,aswellastheneedtoimprovetheefficiencyandsafetyoftheroadswehave.Travelinglongdistancestoworkandhomereducesthequalityoflife,addstothecostsoffuelandmakesitlesssustainablefortheenvironment.

ManaginggrowthinKirklandtokeepwork,home,shopping,andentertainmentclosetohomeshouldbeencouraged.OvertheyearswehaveseenexpansionoftheKirklandtransitcentersinDowntown,TotemLakeandattheSouthKirklandParkandRide,butwewillneedtolookatnewopportunities.

Alternativestoautomobiles,suchasbicyclepaths,pleasantandsafepedestriancorridors,andconvenienttransitcenterswillbenecessary.RecentacquisitionoftheCrossKirklandCorridor(oldrailroadtracks)givesKirklandagreatopportunitytocreateasignificantbicycle/pedestrianroutethroughthecityandtoconnectwithothercommunities.

Webber Thompson Architect’s illustration of future development at South Kirkland Park and Ride

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9. MAKEDEVELOPMENTDECISIONSPREDICTABLE,FAIR,ANDCOSTEFFECTIVE

BalancingthefiscalresourcesofoperatingacitywiththeservicesthatresidentsandbusinessesexpectwillrequiretheCitytocontinuetolookatgreaterefficiencies.Timeismoneyforbusinessesanddevelopment.TheCitystrivestoimprovepermitreviewprocesses,andtoaddresstimingandregulatoryamendmentstomakedevelopmentdecisionspredictable,fair,andcost‐effective.TheCitycanalsolookatcreatingincentivestoencourageuseofSmartGrowthPrinciplesinthedesignofprojects.ForexampletheCityhasanexpeditedpermitreviewprocessforprojectsforgreenbuildings.

10. ENCOURAGECOMMUNITYANDSTAKEHOLDERCOLLABORATIONINDEVELOPMENTDECISIONS

Publicengagementintheplanninganddevelopmentreviewprocessmakesforstrongercommunitiesbecauseitbringsavarietyofinterestsintothediscussionandpeopleareinvestedintheoutcome.EarlyengagementintheprocessisthebestwaytoinfluencethedecisionsthataremadebytheCityCouncil,BoardsandCommissions.ForexampletheCityencouragesdeveloperstomeetwithneighborspriortosubmittalofanapplicationandtolistenandincorporateresidentconcernsintoaproposal.

Inearly2013,theCitylaunchedanextensivecomprehensivepublicinvolvementcampaign,“Kirkland2035:YourVoice.Yourvision.YourFuture.”ThepurposeistoengagecommunitymembersintheupdateprocessoftheComprehensivePlanandtoinvolvetheminthedevelopmentandupdateofotherlong‐rangeplansliketheCrossKirklandCorridorMasterPlan,TransportationMasterPlanandParkMasterPlan.TheCitywillcontinuetoexploreinnovativeapproachestoinvolvethecommunityduetotheimportanceoftheseplansandensurethatparticipationismeaningful.

Sources Wikipediaentry:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_growth AmericanPlanningAssociation‐PlanningandCommunityHealthResearchCenter:

http://www.planning.org/nationalcenters/health/mixedusedevelopment.htm LivableNewYorkResourceManual.http://www.aging.ny.gov/LivableNY/ResourceManual/Index.cfm 1II.2.gPaulBeyer,DirectorofSmartGrowth·Governor'sSmartGrowthCabinet,Albany,NY

AdditionalResourcesForadditionalinformationaboutSmartGrowthseethefollowingwebsites:

AmericanPlanningAssociationwww.planning.org U.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgencywww.epa.gov SmartGrowthOrganizationwww.smartgrowth.org

Community Planning Day Summer 2013