§ 22.48.010. Purpose.

(a)

The purpose of this chapter is to establish the consistency of new development with the general plan through the promotion of high aesthetic and functional standards to complement and add to the economic, physical, and social character of the city. General plan objective 3.2 states, "Ensure that new development and intensification of existing development yields a pleasant living, working, or shopping environment and attracts the interest of residents, workers, shoppers, and visitors as the result of consistent exemplary design."

This chapter establishes procedures for reviewing residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional development to facilitate review in a timely and efficient manner, and to ensure that development projects comply with all applicable design guidelines, standards, and minimize adverse effects on surrounding properties and the environment.

(b)

This chapter is not intended to restrict imagination, innovation or variety, but rather to focus on design principles which can result in creative, imaginative solutions and a quality design for the city. It is, therefore, the purpose of this chapter to:

(1)

Recognize the interdependence of land values and aesthetics and provide a method by which the city may implement this interdependence to its benefit;

(2)

Encourage the orderly and harmonious appearance of structures and property within the city along with associated facilities (e.g., landscaping, parking areas, and signs). Also encourage the orderly development of residences within areas more readily served by public services;

(3)

Assist developers to understand the public's concerns for the aesthetics of development;

(4)

Ensure that new developments, including residential, commercial, industrial and institutional, do not have an adverse aesthetic, health, safety or architecturally related impact on the community;

(5)

Limit the impact of slopes on adjacent developed properties and limit construction in identified seismic or geologic hazard areas. Also, minimize the effects of grading by discouraging mass grading and excessive slopes to ensure that the natural character of the terrain is retained;

(6)

Preserve significant topographic features, including rock outcroppings, native plant materials and natural hydrology while also encouraging improved drainage from parcels directly to a street, storm drain or through public or private easements;

(7)

Encourage the use of a variety of housing designs, split-level grading techniques, varied parcel sizes and densities, maintenance of views, and arrangement and spacing of units to accomplish adopted grading policies;

(8)

Encourage the development of master planned projects which provide for the service needs of the residents of those projects; and

(9)

Encourage use of energy conservation techniques in new developments.

(Ord. No. 02(1998), § 2, 11-3-98)