HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 03 Downtown Design Standards AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Meeting Date: 5/12/2014
Meeting Type: Work Session
Staff Contact/Dept.: Linda Pauly/Gary Karp DPW
Staff Phone No: (541) 726-4608
Estimated Time: 30 minutes S P R I N G F I E L D
C I T Y C O U N C I L
Council Goals: Promote and Enhance
our Hometown Feel while Focusing on Livability and
Environmental Quality ITEM TITLE: DOWNTOWN DESIGN STANDARDS
ACTION REQUESTED: Council is asked to provide input on Attachment 2 Potential Downtown Design Elements to be Considered to identify Council’s priorities and to support the
outcomes envisioned in the Downtown Urban Design Plan.
ISSUE STATEMENT:
The Council is interested in adopting new Downtown Design Standards to ensure
that development projects, new uses and new public improvements will make
positive contributions to improve the look, feel and functionality of Downtown. Staff has been directed to coordinate a public planning process that will produce a
set of coherent and consistent design standards to improve Downtown’s overall
image, attractiveness and economic vitality.
ATTACHMENTS: 1. Project Description 2. Potential Downtown Design Elements to be Considered
3. Existing Downtown Design Standards
DISCUSSION/ FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Council’s adoption of the Downtown Urban Design Plan and Implementation Strategy (Plan) in 2010 initiated new activities to support Downtown’s resurgence
as the heart of Springfield. Adoption of new design standards will ensure that
Downtown development is consistent with Council’s adopted vision. To advance the design objectives of the Plan, DPW staff conducted meetings with the
Downtown Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) to review and refine recommended
design standards submitted by the City’s consultant team (Crandall Arambula and Rick Williams). City staff also participated in the NEDCO Main Street Program
activities, including a Downtown Design charrette and development of design standards for the Façade Improvement Program currently administered by NEDCO. Members of the CAC and Main Street Design Committee presented their concerns
and priorities for Downtown Design in previous Council work sessions. Lighting was recognized as the highest priority item and the City has taken steps to add new street lights in Downtown. The NEDCO Main Street program has conducted other
design-related activities, such as bringing in consultants to advise business owners on how to improve their retail presentation and window displays.
The Council is asked to consider which, if any, existing design standards may need to be updated, as well as other standards that may need to be put in place.
Council’s input at the work session will inform the breadth, depth and scheduling of
the Design Standards project. Staff is in the process of preparing a set of policy options for Council’s consideration that integrates the committees’ work to date,
recommendations from consultants, and other design standards that will address
Council’s priorities. This item is currently scheduled to come back before the Council at the June 23, 2014 Work Session.
1 | Downtown District Design- Proposed Scope of Work
Downtown District Design
Updating and Communicating City Design Standards to Support
Downtown Springfield’s Revitalization
Project Description and Intent: The Springfield City Council is interested in adopting new
Downtown Design Standards to ensure that development projects, new uses and new
public improvements will make positive contributions to improve the look, feel and
functionality of Downtown. This project will coordinate a public planning process to
produce a set of coherent and consistent design standards to improve the overall image,
attractiveness and economic vitality of the City’s heart.
Revitalizing Downtown requires actions by many partners. One way the City of Springfield
can contribute to making a better Downtown is through its administration of design
standards through the building and land use permitting process. This project will review
and update the existing City codes, design manuals and plans that regulate design in the
Downtown to produce new standards that recognize and build upon the qualities that
make Downtown Springfield a distinctive destination with a strong identity, such as:
• Physical features (e.g. building heights and setbacks, sidewalk and street widths,
paving materials and treatments, signs, lighting, street tree canopy, planters,
streetscape furniture, bike vehicular parking facilities)
• Urban design qualities (e.g. human scale, building façade articulation and
transparency, City image, legibility, wayfinding, overall walkability, requirements to
buffer adjacent residential neighborhoods and to address historic, cultural and
natural resources)
• Design qualities that influence sense of safety, comfort, walking behavior and level
of Downtown user/visitor/shopper interest (e.g. natural surveillance, lighting levels,
crime prevention through design, protected bikeways, weather protection, outdoor
seating and food vendors, plazas, water features and public art, retail district
design best practices)
Attachment 1, Page 1 of 6
2 | Downtown District Design- Proposed Scope of Work
The project will engage a variety of Downtown stakeholders to identify design elements to
be regulated and to prepare draft standards for review and adoption by the City Council.
Through the public involvement process, the project will also identify potential “do it now”
project initiatives and partners and coordinate with ongoing efforts such as the Downtown
lighting installations and other design-related initiatives identified by Council.
The new standards will be adopted by the Council as amendments to existing regulatory
codes (e.g. Springfield Development Code, Municipal Sign Code), manuals and plans to
guide construction of public and private improvements and other redevelopment activity.
Deliverables: The Downtown District Design Standards project will produce three major
deliverables:
• Public Realm Standards (Engineering Design Standards – EDSPM)
• Downtown District Code Chapter (Springfield Development Code)
• Code and Plan Amendments Package (Municipal Code, Downtown Sign Code,
Downtown Refinement Plan, Springfield Zoning Map)
Staff also proposes to publish a final document that combines all applicable standards
into one user friendly, color-illustrated Downtown District Design Standards guide and to
develop a ”roll out” public information strategy to communicate the new standards in a
way that promotes Downtown Springfield.
Coordination with Other Projects: The project will coordinate and learn from ongoing
initiatives and projects by community groups including but not limited to: SEDA, SRDC,
Downtown Demonstration Project, UO SCY Student Projects, Main Street Committees
(NEDCO), and other concurrent planning work including Main McVay Transit Feasibility
Study, Main Street Corridor Vision Plan and Springfield 2030 Plan.
Project Team and Citizen/Stakeholder Participation: The primary project team (PT) consists
of DPW staff. An Oversight Team (OT) will be appointed to provide guidance and input.
Staff proposes to seek additional resources through a code assistance grant and SEDA to
provide consultant services technical support for this project (e.g. preparation of graphics
for the “form-based” elements of the code). The project team will actively engage City
leadership and City staff to participate in this process. A Technical Advisory Group (TAG)
will be assembled to provide input and review. The existing Downtown Citizen Advisory
Committee (CAC) will continue to provide input on work products as they are developed.
This project will integrate stakeholder and citizen input during key phases of product
development and revision to ensure that a broad range of perspectives and values are
integrated into the final product. At the Project Kick-off Meeting in Task 1 the PT will seek
early input from City staff and managers across disciplines to identify ongoing projects,
key stakeholders, issues, and opportunities for collaboration. The Citizen Involvement Plan
developed in Task 1 will design a process and timeline to seek input from a broad set of
stakeholders including Downtown business owners, property owners, and residents.
Attachment 1, Page 2 of 6
3 | Downtown District Design- Proposed Scope of Work
The Proposed community outreach will include one-on-one contacts with potentially
affected stakeholders, public open house events, display outreach at community events
and input-gathering sessions at existing community meetings.
The project will utilize the following engagement and oversight structure as a guide. The
PT proposes to seek review and direction from the Oversight Team as major work products
are developed and before drafts are forwarded to the Planning Commission and City
Council.
Proposed Project Review Process
Project Study Area: The study area generally extends from the Willamette River and Island
Park on the West, to 10th Street on the East, and north-south between the Washburne
Neighborhood and Booth Kelly. The study area will be refined in Task 1 of the project.
One important task of this project is to reconcile, clarify and simplify the overlapping
regulatory boundaries in the Downtown area where the new Downtown District Design
Standards will apply. Currently, the Downtown area encompasses several zoning and
overlay districts, each with their own development and design standards and permitted
uses. These plan and zoning districts include:
• Downtown Mixed Use
• Mixed Use Commercial
• Mixed Use Residential
• Downtown Nodal Overlay
• Booth Kelly Mixed Use
• Multi-unit Design Standards
1.) Project Team Product Development
2.) TAG Review
& Input
3.) CAC Review & Input
4.) Oversight
Team Review & Input
5.) Planning Commission Review & Input
6.) City Council
Review & Input
Attachment 1, Page 3 of 6
4 | Downtown District Design- Proposed Scope of Work
• Historic District Overlay
• Willamette Greenway Overlay
The Downtown District Code Chapter will consolidate standards contained in several
existing zoning and overlay districts that currently have different permitted uses and
design standards, integrating all standards applicable in the Downtown area into one
user-friendly Downtown Plan District chapter.
Previous input from staff’s work with the Downtown CAC suggests that “one size may not
fit all” in terms of design elements such as building height and architectural design in the
different parts of Downtown. This project will consider whether design standards
applicable to new, more intensive development of potential catalyst projects in
Downtown and standards for infill projects on Main Street should differ and whether
existing subareas or district boundaries align with this purpose.
Existing Plan and Zoning District Boundaries
Background: The City’s adopted Downtown District Urban Design Plan and
Implementation Strategy (2010) “provides an innovative yet realistic vision and strategy for
strengthening Downtown’s role as the economic and cultural heart of the community.”
The Plan identifies “Updates to Development Code, Design Guidelines and Street
Standards” in the Public Projects Schedule as important actions the City can take to
implement the vision for Downtown.
In some cases, specific amendments to existing plans, policies and regulations are
necessary to ensure that the intent of the Downtown District Urban Design Plan and
Implementation Strategy can be realized. The Project Scope of Work includes these code
and plan amendments. For example, the project will update land use designations and
zoning in the Downtown area to support and encourage redevelopment of catalyst
projects, downtown retail, civic and cultural, employment and housing uses, as envisioned
and outlined in the adopted Downtown District Urban Design Plan and Implementation
Strategy. This requires outreach to affected property owners to consider refinement plan
boundary changes that would add additional land to the Downtown District (23 lots total)
to create new development opportunity sites as envisioned in the Council’s adopted
revitalization strategy and vision for Downtown. These amendments to the Downtown
Refinement Plan and Springfield Development Code are a critical part of the City’s
Attachment 1, Page 4 of 6
5 | Downtown District Design- Proposed Scope of Work
comprehensive, consistent and coordinated effort to revitalize Downtown Springfield and
to provide sufficient sites for development of commercial and employment uses in the
Downtown to meet the City’s 2030 growth needs.
The project will develop draft design standards that build on and implement the urban
design concepts prepared by the 2010 planning consultant team (Crandall Arambula,
Rick Williams and David Bernecker), incorporating the input staff has received in work
sessions with the Downtown Citizen Advisory Committee to refine these concepts. The
project will also consider design concepts proposed in the Kittelson Downtown Access
and Circulation Study.
Potential Design Elements to be Addressed:
• Pedestrian Emphasis Streets
• Improved streetscape, furniture, landscaping, street trees
• Optimal lighting levels
• “Active Edges” design for ground floor retail
• Building setbacks
• Window glazing/building transparency requirement on retail blocks
• Bike parking stations and racks
• Integration of public art
• Way finding signage
• Business signage
• Revise/eliminate FAR requirement and building heights
• Plan and Zone land to Establish a new retail hotspot
• Plazas
• Parking lots and structures
• Revise/eliminate FAR requirement and building heights
• Standards applicable to new tenant occupancies
Attachment 1, Page 5 of 6
6 | Downtown District Design- Proposed Scope of Work
Examples of “form-based” design elements to be included in the Development Code
Attachment 1, Page 6 of 6
Council Action Item:
City Council Work Session May 12, 2014
Potential Downtown Design Elements to Be Considered
This document provides Council with a sample “menu” list of potential design elements that could be regulated differently
in Downtown. Staff requests input to determine if these categories address Council’s concerns and warrant further
investigation. Examples: Should staff prepare design standards requiring specific levels of lighting on new buildings?
Should staff look into developing new sign code options for Downtown? Which Design Standards are the highest priority
for Council action in the near term?
Pictures are included to illustrate and help explain each potential design element. Elements marked # were identified by
the Downtown Citizen Advisory Committee & the Main Street Design Committee and the consultant team (Crandall
Arambula, Rick Williams), as important elements to be considered in future code updates. * = photo credit: City of
Gresham Downtown Design manual
Springfield Municipal Code Standards
Optimal lighting levels #
• Parking areas
• Loading/unloading
• Walkways
• Building entrances
At
t
a
c
h
m
e
n
t
2,
Pa
g
e
1
of
10
Business Signs and Facades #
OR
Regulating formula businesses to
fit in with the local community
OR
At
t
a
c
h
m
e
n
t
2,
Pa
g
e
2
of
10
Appearance standards #
Springfield Development Code Standards
At
t
a
c
h
m
e
n
t
2,
Pa
g
e
3
of
10
“Active Edges” Design #
for commercial ground floor retail
Ground level transparency
Neighborhood connectivity
“Active Edges” Design #
for residential buildings
Window glazing/building transparency
Building Height Requirements #
#
At
t
a
c
h
m
e
n
t
2,
Pa
g
e
4
of
10
Building Design and Articulation *
Pedestrian emphasis streets # Limiting new parking access and
loading zones along specific street frontages to ensure
continuity of pedestrian environment.
Site parking, loading service and vehicular circulation areas*
located so as to allow desired
uses and activities to face the
street and to support pedestrian-
oriented streets. Building placement and orientation #
Build-to/setback lines
Clear pedestrian connections to
principal entrance directly from
sidewalk and from parking to
At
t
a
c
h
m
e
n
t
2,
Pa
g
e
5
of
10
building entrances *
Service area screening * Service items such as loading
docks, mechanical equipment, and garbage dumpsters shall be
buffered from pedestrian areas. Encourage/require enclosing
and integrating these items into the building.
Parking structures#
At
t
a
c
h
m
e
n
t
2,
Pa
g
e
6
of
10
Surface parking lots #
At
t
a
c
h
m
e
n
t
2,
Pa
g
e
7
of
10
Springfield Engineering Design Standards Manual
Street Lighting #
Bicycle Parking #
Bike parking stations and racks
Integration of Public Art#
At
t
a
c
h
m
e
n
t
2,
Pa
g
e
8
of
10
Wayfinding Signage, Kiosks #
Improved streetscape, furniture design and placement ,
landscaping, street trees #
At
t
a
c
h
m
e
n
t
2,
Pa
g
e
9
of
10
Encourage Green Infrastructure/Water Quality Facilities
Plazas/public spaces
At
t
a
c
h
m
e
n
t
2,
Pa
g
e
10
of
10
1
EXISTING REGULATIONS RELATED TO DOWNTOWN DESIGN – SPRINGFIELD DEVELOPMENT CODE (SDC)1
SECTION 3.2-615 BASE ZONE MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS MIXED USE COMMERCIAL (MUC)2
TYPE OF DESIGN STANDARD NUMERIC STANDARD EXPLANATION OF CODE STANDARDS
Minimum Lot Size 6,000 ft.23
Minimum Street Frontage 40 feet
Maximum Lot Coverage None Limited only by required parking, landscaping, etc.
Minimum Landscaping None Defined by standards in other Sections of the SDC
Building Setbacks None Front4, street side yard, and rear yard
Building Setbacks 5-10 feet Interior side, rear yards when abutting residential zones
Building Height 90 feet Equals 8-9 stories per Building Code; limitations apply when abutting residential
zones
SECTION 3.2-615 BASE ZONE MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS MIXED USE RESIDENTIAL (MUR)5
TYPE OF DESIGN STANDARD NUMERIC STANDARD EXPLANATION OF CODE STANDARDS
Minimum Lot Size Various Depends on street orientation.
Minimum Street Frontage Various Depends on street orientation.
Maximum Lot Coverage 45 percent
Minimum Landscaping None Defined by standards in other Sections of the SDC
Building Setbacks 5-10 feet Interior side, rear yards when abutting residential zones
Building Height 60 feet Equals 5-6 stories per Building Code; limitations apply when abutting other
residential zones
SECTION 3.2-625 MIXED USE DISTRICT DESIGN STANDARDS
TYPE OF DESIGN STANDARD NUMERIC STANDARD EXPLANATION OF CODE STANDARDS
Ground Floor Windows 25-50 percent of wall
Wall Offsets 4 feet minimum Every 50 feet of building frontage.
A Combination of Architectural
Features to Break Up Expanses of
There is no numeric
standard
The developer must provide offsets, windows, entry treatments, wood siding,
brick, stucco, textured concrete block – currently, there is no specific
1 The SDC design standards apply to all new development or expansions of existing development that requires Site Plan Review. A change in use of existing buildings does not
require Site Plan Review, but must address Minimum Development Standards that includes paved vehicle parking, bike parking and sidewalks landscaping, where applicable. 2 The MUC Zoning District allows attached single family dwellings, including row houses as well as apartments. 3 ft.2= square feet 4 There is a maximum front yard setback of 10 feet in the Downtown MUC Zoning District 5 The MUR Zoning District allows limited retail uses
At
t
a
c
h
m
e
n
t
3,
Pa
g
e
1
of
11
2
Long Walls combination required.
Differentiation Between the Ground
Floor and Upper Stories
There is no numeric
standard
The developer must provide bays or balconies for upper levels, and awnings,
canopies, or other similar treatments for lower levels/also, variation in building
materials, trim, paint, ornamentation, windows, or other features including
public art, may be used – currently, there is no specific combination required.
Building Orientation There is no numeric
standard
Buildings must be oriented towards fronting streets in a manner that frames
and defines both streets and pedestrian areas along the streets.
Parking Locations (See also Section 4.6-
100 for specific
Vehicle Parking,
Loading And Bicycle
Parking Standards)
Parking must be located beside or behind buildings, internal to development on
a site to help define the streetscape, and lessen the visual impact of the parking
lot from the street – in Downtown vehicle and bicycle parking is not required,
however, if a developer chooses to provide parking facilities, they must comply
with Section 4.6-100.
Public entrances There is no numeric
standard
Public entrances must be visible from the street and oriented so that
pedestrians have a direct and convenient route from the street sidewalk to
building entrances.
Weather Protection 6 feet wide Awnings or canopies must follow building offsets to eliminate long expanses of
weather protection.
Landscaping and Screening Various (See also
Section 4.4-100
Landscaping,
Screening and Fence
Standards)
Landscaping is intended to compliment built forms within a development area,
softening and providing visual relief and contrast to buildings, sidewalks and
parking lots; trees are necessary to provide shade for pedestrian comfort as
well; and screening is intended to compliment a development area by shielding
trash receptacles, parking areas, mechanical equipment, etc. from public view
within the development area.
Street Connectivity and Internal
Circulation
There is no numeric
standard
Mixed-use developments must be part of a connected street system to adjacent
neighborhoods that serves vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles.
Neighborhood Compatibility There is no numeric
standard
To achieve a compatible transition, consideration must be given to the scale
and design of surrounding buildings to complement or enhance the character of
existing single-family neighborhoods
Pedestrian Amenities Various, based upon
building size:
<5,000 ft.2– 1;
5,000-10,000 ft.2– 2;
10,000-50,000 ft.2– 3;
>50,000 ft.2– 4
Acceptable pedestrian amenities include: Sidewalks incorporating ornamental
paving treatments, including, but not limited to: concrete masonry unit pavers,
brick, or stone; sidewalks that are 50% wider than the applicable standard; a
public outdoor seating plaza adjacent to, or visible and accessible from, the
street; sidewalk planting areas between the sidewalk and building including
stormwater swales; street tree density more extensive than required by the
applicable standard; streetscape scale container planters; installation of 3-inch
caliper size or larger tree to fulfill the street tree requirement (See Section 4.2-
100 Infrastructure Standards); public art, including, but not limited to:
sculptures, fountains, clocks, or murals; and pocket parks.
At
t
a
c
h
m
e
n
t
3,
Pa
g
e
2
of
11
3
Preservation of the Commercial Land
Supply (MUC)
100% of a new mixed
use building footprint
may be developed for
commercial uses; or a
minimum of 60% of
the ground floor area
within a new building
must be dedicated to
commercial uses to
ensure that
commercial land is
preserved for
primarily commercial
purposes; in this case
residential uses are
permitted in the
remainder of the
building.
Maximum Footprint for Retail Uses Examples:
70,000 ft.2
50,000 ft.2
various
Grocery;
Single tenant wholesale or retail uses; and
Based on lot size and any required parking and/or landscaping.
Minimum Floor Area Ratio .40 Required for all new development or redevelopment in the MUC Zoning District
in Downtown; floor area ratios are used as a measure of the intensity of the site
being developed; the ratio is generated by dividing the building area by the
lot/parcel area; for example, the MUC District must adhere to a 0.40 FAR, then
the total area of all floors in all buildings constructed on the lot/parcel must be
no more than 40% of the area of the parcel itself; in this case, a 4,000 ft.2
building would be permitted on a 10,000 square foot lot/parcel.
EXISTING REGULATIONS RELATED TO DOWNTOWN DESIGN – SPRINGFIELD DEVELOPMENT CODE (SDC)
SECTION 3.3-900 HISTORIC OVERLAY DISTRICT
TYPE OF DESIGN STANDARD NUMERIC STANDARD EXPLANATION OF CODE STANDARDS
Historic Review There is no numeric
standard
The following buildings are on Springfield’s adopted Historic Landmark
Inventory and located within the Downtown Refinement Plan boundary: the
Stevens and Perkins Building, 330 Main Street; the I.O.O.F. Building, 346 Main
At
t
a
c
h
m
e
n
t
3,
Pa
g
e
3
of
11
4
Street; the Pacific Power and Light Building, 590 Main Street; the Southern
Pacific Railroad Depot, 101 South A Street; and the Stewart House, 214 Pioneer
Parkway West; the Historical Commission participates in the review of any
major6 or minor7 alterations of Historic Landmark Sites – currently Downtown is
outside of the Historic Overlay (Washburne ) District.
EXISTING REGULATIONS RELATED TO DOWNTOWN DESIGN – SPRINGFIELD DEVELOPMENT CODE (SDC)
SECTION 4.2-100 INFRASTRUCTURE STANDARDS - TRANSPORTATION
TYPE OF DESIGN STANDARD NUMERIC STANDARD EXPLANATION OF CODE STANDARDS
Right-of-Way Width Major Arterial 100 ft.
Minor Arterial 70 ft.
Collector 60 ft.
Local Street 50 ft.
Alley 20 ft.
See also the existing regulations pertaining to street design in the City’s
Engineering Design Standards and Procedures Manual.
Block Length 600 feet or less All of the MUC/ MUR District blocks in Downtown are below this standard.
Site Access There is no numeric
standard
All developed lots/parcels must have direct access to a public street or alley
along the frontage of the property; a private street that connects to the public
street system; or by an irrevocable joint use/access easement.
Sidewalks Various – see this topic
in the Springfield
Engineering Design
Standards And
Procedures Manual
below
Currently, there are no sidewalk width standards in the Springfield
Development Code.
Street Trees 2 inches in caliper Street trees are those trees required within the public right-of-way to create a
streetscape that benefits from the aesthetic and environmental qualities of an
extensive tree canopy along the public street system; street trees improve the
appearance of the community, providing shade and visual interest, improve air
quality, reduce stormwater runoff and moderate the micro-climate impacts of
heat absorbed by paved surfaces; street trees may be located within planter
strips, in individual tree wells within a sidewalk, round-abouts, or medians.
Street Lighting There is no numeric
standard
Public street lighting design, placement and the use of decorative streetlights
is specified in the City’s Engineering Design Standards and Procedures Manual
6 additions, partial demolition, or substantial alterations to a building façade, processed under Type II review by staff with public notice 7 replacement of damaged exterior features with virtually identical materials, processed under Type I review by staff without public notice
At
t
a
c
h
m
e
n
t
3,
Pa
g
e
4
of
11
5
and the Public Works Standard Construction Specifications.
Bikeways There is no numeric
standard
Bikeways must be designed and constructed as specified in the City’s
Engineering Design Standards and Procedures Manual.
EXISTING REGULATIONS RELATED TO DOWNTOWN DESIGN – SPRINGFIELD DEVELOPMENT CODE (SDC)
SECTION 4.3-100 INFRASTRUCTURE STANDARDS – UTILITIES
TYPE OF DESIGN STANDARD NUMERIC STANDARD EXPLANATION OF CODE STANDARDS
Stormwater Management Any development with
a stormwater threshold
management
requirement of 1,000
square feet of
impervious surface
area is required to
employ stormwater
management practices
consistent with the
Springfield Engineering
Design Standards and
Procedures Manual by
implementing the
policies specified
current Stormwater
Management Plan
The developer must provide for the effective management of stormwater and
drainage from the City into the groundwater and watercourses within the City
and its urbanizing area; minimize demand on the City’s stormwater
management system, and alleviate future costs of treating the discharge;
promote water quality; preserve groundwater and the vegetation and rivers it
supports; reduce peak storm flows; minimize public and private losses due to
flood conditions; and minimize stormwater discharge impacts on water quality
and quantity and stream flow patterns, including peak and base flows in
intermittent and perennial streams, within the McKenzie River and Willamette
River watersheds.
Protection of Riparian Area
Functions8
There are 75 ft. and 50
ft. riparian setbacks
depending upon the
type of watercourse
The developer must employ site design, landscaping, and drainage
management practices to protect, preserve, and restore the riparian area
functions of the reaches of those watercourses shown on the WQLW Map that
are contained within or abut the lot/parcel upon which the proposed
development is located.
Underground Placement of Utilities There is no numeric
standard
Whenever possible, all utility lines must be placed underground.
8 applicable in Island Park and along the Mill Race
At
t
a
c
h
m
e
n
t
3,
Pa
g
e
5
of
11
6
EXISTING REGULATIONS RELATED TO DOWNTOWN DESIGN – SPRINGFIELD DEVELOPMENT CODE (SDC)
SECTION 4.4-100 LANDSCAPING, SCREENING AND FENCE STANDARDS
TYPE OF DESIGN STANDARD NUMERIC STANDARD EXPLANATION OF CODE STANDARDS
Landscaping There are various
situations: setbacks,
internal areas of
parking lots, etc.
New development must be adequately screened from less intensive
development; consider the effects of vegetation on public facilities; retain
significant clusters of natural trees and shrubs wherever possible; minimize
run-off; facilitate energy conservation and crime prevention; and improve the
appearance of the City to create a desirable place to live and work.
Screening There are various
situations: between
different uses, parking,
etc.
Screening can be vegetative, earthen and/or structural and be designed to
minimize visual and audible incompatible uses from adjacent properties:
where commercial and industrial districts abut residential districts and no
approved screening exists; for outdoor mechanical devices and minor and
major public facilities; for trash receptacles; and for multifamily developments.
Fencing There are various
heights: deepening on
the use and/or zone
In the MUC District no barbed razor wire or electrified fences are permitted.
EXISTING REGULATIONS RELATED TO DOWNTOWN DESIGN – SPRINGFIELD DEVELOPMENT CODE (SDC)
SECTION 4.5-100 ON-SITE LIGHTING STANDARDS
TYPE OF DESIGN STANDARD NUMERIC STANDARD EXPLANATION OF CODE STANDARDS
On-site Lighting Standards There are various
heights and fixture
types
On-site lighting standards are established to: create a safe and secure
environment during hours of darkness and reduce or prevent light pollution by
minimizing glare; must be the minimum illumination necessary for a given
application including parking areas and vehicle sales areas; all exterior light
fixtures must be shielded or recessed so that direct glare and reflection are
contained within the boundaries of the property, and directed downward and
away from abutting properties, public rights-of-way, and riparian, wetlands
and other protected areas.
At
t
a
c
h
m
e
n
t
3,
Pa
g
e
6
of
11
7
EXISTING REGULATIONS RELATED TO DOWNTOWN DESIGN – SPRINGFIELD DEVELOPMENT CODE (SDC)
SECTION 4.6-100 VEHICLE PARKING, LOADING AND BICYCLE PARKING STANDARDS
TYPE OF DESIGN STANDARD NUMERIC STANDARD EXPLANATION OF CODE STANDARDS
Vehicle Parking There are various
standards, depending
upon the use
In Downtown vehicle parking is not required. However, any voluntarily
installed parking must conform to the design standards of this Subsection.
Parking Lot Design There are various
standards, depending
upon the use
In Downtown vehicle parking is not required. However, any voluntarily
installed parking must meet design standards for stall width, stall length, aisle
width, etc.
Parking Lot Improvements There is no numeric
standard
In Downtown vehicle parking is not required. However, any voluntarily
installed parking must have a durable, dust free surfacing of Asphaltic
concrete, Portland cement concrete or other approved materials; adequate
drainage improvements must be provided to dispose of all on-site run-off; all
parking stalls fronting a sidewalk, alley, street, landscaped area or structure
must be provided with a secured wheel bumper or linear curb.
Parking Space Requirements Examples:
Restaurants 1/100 ft.2
Retail 1/300 ft.2
Apartments 1.5/du
In Downtown vehicle parking is not required. However, in the case of any
voluntarily installed parking, the number of required spaces is based upon the
permitted use.
Loading Areas There are various
standards, depending
upon the use and
building size
All loading areas for commercial development must be located off-street and
provided in addition to the required parking spaces.
Bicycle Parking There are various
standards, depending
upon the use and
whether the parking is
short- or long - term
In Downtown bicycle parking is not required. However, in the case of any
voluntarily installed parking, the number of spaces is based upon lower for
uses that do not tend to attract bicycle riders and higher for those that do;
additionally, some bicycle parking is required on the basis of specifically
encouraging employee, student or customer related bicycle use; the following
standards ensure that bicycle parking is convenient to the cyclist in its location
and provides sufficient security from theft and damage - long-term bicycle
parking space requirements accommodate employees, commuters, students,
residents and other persons who expect to leave their bicycles for more than 2
hours; short-term bicycle parking spaces accommodate visitors, customers,
messengers, and other persons expected to depart within approximately 2
hours.
Bicycle Parking Facility There are various In Downtown bicycle parking is not required. However, voluntarily installed
At
t
a
c
h
m
e
n
t
3,
Pa
g
e
7
of
11
8
Improvements options for bicycle
parking racks
parking is encouraged: Bicycle parking consists of a securely fixed structure
that supports the bicycle frame in a stable position without damage to wheels,
frames or components and that allow the frame and both wheels to be locked
to the rack by the bicyclist's own locking device; be provided within a
convenient distance of, and clearly visible from, the main entrance to the
building; bicycle parking racks, shelters or lockers must be securely anchored
to the ground or to a structure.
Bicycle Parking – Number of Spaces Examples:
Restaurants 1/600 ft.2
Retail 1/3000 ft.2
Apartments 1/du
In Downtown bicycle parking is not required. However, voluntarily installed
parking is encouraged. The number of required bicycle parking spaces is based
upon the permitted use.
EXISTING REGULATIONS RELATED TO DOWNTOWN DESIGN – SPRINGFIELD MUNICIPAL CODE (SMC)9
SECTION 8.200 SIGNS
TYPE OF DESIGN STANDARD NUMERIC STANDARD EXPLANATION OF CODE STANDARDS
Location and Setbacks No sign or sign structure
can be installed within a
public utility easement
or within a 5 foot
setback from the
property line. The
property line must set
back a minimum of 15
feet from the curb in
order to be considered
for an exemption from
the 5 foot setback
stated above. No sign
can be located within
the vision clearance
area10 as defined in the
The City recognizes the importance of an aesthetically pleasing community, to
the continued welfare of its population, and to the economic development of
the city. The sign regulations apply to all signs located within the city limits and
the Urban Growth Boundary, but they do not regulate the content of any sign.
9 Sign standards apply to all new buildings and in those instances when replacement signs are necessary. 10 A triangular shaped portion of land established at street intersections in which nothing over two and one-half feet is erected, placed, planted or allowed to grow in such a
manner as to obstruct the sight distance of motorists entering or leaving the intersection. All corner lots must maintain a clear area at each access to a public street and on each
corner of property at the intersection of two streets or a street and an alley in order to provide adequate sign distance for approaching traffic. Two sides of the triangle must be
lot (property) lines for a distance of 25 feet. The third side of the triangle is a line across the corner of the lot joining the non-intersecting ends of the other two sides. The
At
t
a
c
h
m
e
n
t
3,
Pa
g
e
8
of
11
9
definitions of this code.
All signs must be located
entirely on private
property unless they are
located in the
downtown sign district
where projection over
the right-of-way is
permitted.
Downtown Sign District Each business in the
MUC District is limited
to 3 signs:
Wall Signs. Each
business is allowed the
following: First story
businesses facing a
public street are
permitted signage of 3
square feet per lineal
foot of building wall.
Second story businesses
and above facing a
public street are
permitted signage of 1
1/2 square feet per lineal
foot of building wall.
Freestanding, Projecting
or Roof Signs. Each
building is permitted 1
freestanding sign,
projecting sign or roof
sign which is limited to a
maximum area of 80
square feet for 1 face
and 160 square feet for
External illumination must be shielded so that the light source elements are
not directly visible from property in a residential zone which is adjacent to or
across a street from the property in the non-residential zone.
required vision clearance area for any driveway is 10 feet and measured as described above. The required vision clearance for any alley is 15 feet and measured as described
above. Exemptions for vision clearance areas are items associated with utilities or publicly owned structures such as poles and signs, and existing trees, no screen or other
physical obstruction must be permitted two and one-half and eight feet above the established height of the curb in the triangular area.
At
t
a
c
h
m
e
n
t
3,
Pa
g
e
9
of
11
10
2 or more faces. The
maximum height for
freestanding signs is 20
feet above grade.
EXISTING REGULATIONS RELATED TO DOWNTOWN DESIGN – SPRINGFIELD ENGINEERING DESIGN STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES (EDSPM)11
SECTION 1.00 STREETS AND SIDEWALKS
TYPE OF DESIGN STANDARD NUMERIC STANDARD EXPLANATION OF CODE STANDARDS
Right-of-Way and Street Width Major Arterial 100 ft.
Minor Arterial 70 ft.
Collector 60 ft.
Local Street 50 ft.
Alley 20 ft.
These standards establish appropriate right-of-way widths and improvement
requirements.
Sidewalks Arterials 7 ft.-wide
Collectors 5 ft.-wide
Locals 5 ft.-wide12
Concrete sidewalks shall be located on both sides of the street for all major
and minor arterial, collector and local streets, and shall be designed to the
following criteria: in conformance with the existing or planned street grades; in
conformance with current ADA standards; and all streets shall have setback
sidewalks placed within the public right-of-way unless approved by the City
Traffic Engineer and City Engineer.
EXISTING REGULATIONS RELATED TO DOWNTOWN DESIGN – SPRINGFIELD ENGINEERING DESIGN STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES (EDSPM)
SECTION 5.00 TRAFFIC STANDARDS
TYPE OF DESIGN STANDARD NUMERIC STANDARD EXPLANATION OF CODE STANDARDS
Illumination There are various
lighting, spacing, and
height standards
deepening if the fixtures
are placed along a street
or accessway
Decorative poles and fixtures must be used on all streets within any Nodal
Development land use designation13 or Nodal Overlay district, where any
refinement plans require decorative lighting, and all off street public access
ways and multi-use paths. Decorative poles and fixtures may be used on local
streets in any zone at the option of the land developer.
Bicycle Facilities There are various All bicycle facilities must conform to the latest addition of the Oregon Bicycle
11 These standards apply when the dedication of new streets or additional right-of-way is required for partial streets; street lights; public parking facilities for vehicles and
bicycles; and when landscaping is required in public parking lots. 12 unless otherwise specified in the SDC or adopted development plans 13 Downtown Springfield has a Nodal Development Metro Plan land use designation
At
t
a
c
h
m
e
n
t
3,
Pa
g
e
10
of
11
11
standards, depending
upon the use and
whether the parking is
short- or long - term
and Pedestrian Plan, the Springfield Bicycle Plan, the Springfield
Transportation System Plan, AASHTO guidelines, and applicable Sections of the
Springfield Development Code (SDC).
Bikeway Width Standards Bike Lane 6 ft.
Multi-Use Path 10-12 ft.
Bike lanes are implemented on urban arterial, major collector streets, and
rural streets near urban areas where high potential bicycle use could be
present. Multi-use paths are shared by bicyclists and pedestrians.
Parking Lot Design There are various
standards, depending
upon the use
Parking lot design must comply with the latest edition of the Institute of
Transportation Engineers (ITE) Transportation and Land Development
reference book and applicable Sections of the SDC.
On Street Parking14 There are various
standards, depending
upon the street
classification
On street parking must be designed to aid in the safe and efficient mobility of
pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicles. When designing on street parking, please
refer to the AASHTO ‘A Policy On Geometric Design of Highways and Streets’,
ITE guidance, the Springfield Downtown Parking Study, the Institute of Traffic
Engineers design guidance, and any relevant refinement plans. When parking
is only allowed on one side of the street, parking must be located on the side
of the street that has pedestrian amenities.
EXISTING REGULATIONS RELATED TO DOWNTOWN DESIGN – SPRINGFIELD ENGINEERING DESIGN STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES (EDSPM)
SECTION 6.00 LANDSCAPE VEGETATION
TYPE OF DESIGN STANDARD NUMERIC STANDARD EXPLANATION OF CODE STANDARDS
Riparian Areas Along the Willamette
River and the Mill Race
There are 11 pages of
approved plants and 2+
pages of approved seeds
in Appendix 6B of the
EDSPM.
The City’s objectives for protecting riparian areas along rivers and other water
quality limited waterways include preserving natural scenic, historic and
recreational qualities of lands; protection from flooding and erosion; and
preservation of native plant species and wildlife. Additionally, the Willamette
River and the Mill Race both have wetland areas along their banks.
New Street Trees There are 8 pages of
approved street trees in
Appendix 6A of the
EDSPM.
New street trees must be selected from the approved species list or as
approved by the Operations Division Street Supervisor.
14 In addition to the EDSPM, the City Council adopted the Downtown Parking Management Plan by Resolution 10-58 on September 20, 2010.
At
t
a
c
h
m
e
n
t
3,
Pa
g
e
11
of
11