Design Guidelines - City Center PDF
Design Guidelines - City Center PDF
Design Guidelines - City Center PDF
Introduction
Site Design
17
Building Design
Building / Sidewalk Relationship
Street-Facing Entrances
Street Level Transparency
Weather Protection
Ground Level Details
Treating Blank Walls
Roof and Architectural Expression
Mechanical Screening
Screening of Parking Structures
Gateway Locations
18
29
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
Sign Design
28
Sign Types
Integrating Signs with Architecture
Creative and Artistic Elements
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
13
14
15
16
29
30
31
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INTRODUCTION
The provisions of this document shall apply to all development and redevelopment within the
Lynnwood City Center. The degree to which each standard applies to a development or
redevelopment project shall be evaluated on a case by case basis in an effort to achieve an overall
design that meets the purpose and intent of the City Center Design Guidelines. These guidelines
are intended to carry out the Comprehensive Plan for the City of Lynnwood with respect to the
Planning and Urban Design Principles of the City Center Sub-Area Plan, including:
Establish streetscapes to provide a strong visual character and to encourage pedestrian
activity;
Create an array of public spaces;
Present a distinctive skyline for the City Center; and
Encourage new high density development to display quality and character through materials
and architectural expression.
Each standard includes examples and illustrations of ways in which the intent of the standard can
be achieved. The graphic images are meant to be examples, and are not the only acceptable
means towards accomplishing the intent of the standards. Applicants and project designers are
encouraged to consider designs, styles, and techniques not pictured in the examples that fulfill the
intent of the design standard.
The Community Development Director may approve design departures from the guidelines,
pursuant to LMC Section 21.25.150, upon written request by the applicant and a finding that the
proposal provides equivalent or superior results to the original guideline.
Some of the guidelines contained in this document use the word shall while others use the word
should.
Regardless of which term is used, each guideline must be addressed by an applicant. The City will
expect to see how the design of a project has responded to every one of the guidelines.
The shall statements, with such wording, are absolutely mandatory and offer relatively little
flexibility unless choices are provided within the statement itself. All projects must include these
elements as described.
However, guidelines that use the word should are meant to be applied with some flexibility. They
indicate that the City is open to design features that are equal to, or better than, that stated so long
as the intent is satisfied. The applicant assumes the burden of proof to demonstrate how a
proposed design meets this test and determination will be made by the Community Development
Director.
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FIGURE 1:
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CITY CENTER
SITE DESIGN
STANDARDS
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SITE DESIGN
Curb Cuts & Access Control
INTENT
To ensure that curb cuts do not detract from the continuity and safety
of sidewalks.
GUIDELINES
Access control within the city center shall comply with the City of
Lynnwood Access Control Policy except as amended as follows:
1. Curb cuts shall be no wider than 30 feet at the property line.
2. Curb cuts shall be no closer together than 200 feet at the property
line, unless the dimension of a propertys frontage precludes such
spacing.
3. Curb cuts shall not be located along the Promenade Street, unless
no other access to a property is available.
4. Curb cuts along Boulevards shall be located a minimum of 150 feet
from signalized intersections, 100 feet from unsignalized
intersections. For all other city center streets, curb cuts shall be
located a minimum of 75 feet from an intersection. Left turn
restrictions shall be imposed at curb cuts that do not meet these
criteria.
5. Curb cuts shall be located within Driveway Access Zones (see Figure
1) and shall be consolidated and shared through access
agreements, where possible.
6. Curb cuts are not required to be setback from internal property lines.
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SITE DESIGN
Surface Parking Lot Location
INTENT
To ensure that surface parking lots are not the dominant visual
element within the City Center and to create a pedestrian-friendly
environment.
GUIDELINES
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SITE DESIGN
Interior Parking Lot & Site Landscaping
INTENT
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SITE DESIGN
Parking Lot Screening
INTENT
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SITE DESIGN
Streetscape
INTENT
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SITE DESIGN
Site Lighting
INTENT
To ensure that lighting contributes to the character of the site, provides
pedestrian scale interest and security throughout the site and does not
disturb adjacent developments and residences and the night sky.
GUIDELINES
1. Lighting shall be provided throughout the site to provide a safe and
comfortable atmosphere.
2. All lighting should be shielded from the sky and adjacent properties
and structures, either through exterior shields or through optics
within the fixture.
3. Accent lighting is encouraged but should be combined with functional
lighting to highlight special focal points such as building/site
entrances, public art and special landscape features.
4. Lighting should contribute to and integrate with the overall character
of the site architecture or other site features.
5. Lighting in parking lots shall not exceed a maximum of 30 feet in
height. Pedestrian scale lighting a maximum of 15 feet in height shall
be provided throughout all Pedestrian Connections/Walkways.
6. Lighting design should comply with the Illuminating Engineering
Society of North Americas Recommended Practices and Design
Guidelines, latest editions, for each applicable lighting type (i.e.
Parking Lot, Walkways, etc.).
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CITY CENTER
SITE DESIGN
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SITE DESIGN
Vehicular Connections
INTENT
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CITY CENTER
SITE DESIGN
Bicycle Facilities
INTENT
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SITE DESIGN
Open Space/Public Plazas
INTENT
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SITE DESIGN
Community Gateways and Prominent
Intersections
INTENT
To mark key intersections within and around the edges of the City
Center.
GUIDELINES
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CITY CENTER
BUILDING
DESIGN
STANDARDS
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BUILDING DESIGN
Building / Sidewalk Relationship
INTENT
To ensure that buildings within the City Center frame and enliven
the streets and sidewalks.
GUIDELINES
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BUILDING DESIGN
Street-Facing Entrances
INTENT
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BUILDING DESIGN
Street Level Transparency
INTENT
To ensure that sidewalks are lined with activities and visibility for
pedestrians.
GUIDELINES
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BUILDING DESIGN
Weather Protection
INTENT
BUILDING DESIGN
Lynnwood City Center Design Guidelines
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BUILDING DESIGN
Treating Blank Walls
INTENT
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BUILDING DESIGN
Roof and Architectural Expression
INTENT
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BUILDING DESIGN
Mechanical Screening
INTENT
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BUILDING DESIGN
Screening of Parking Structures
INTENT
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BUILDING DESIGN
Gateway Locations
INTENT
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CITY CENTER
SIGN DESIGN
STANDARDS
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SIGN DESIGN
Sign Types
INTENT
1. Pole signs shall not be permitted on any street within the City
Center. Generally, signs shall be affixed to building facades, but
monument signs, not exceeding 8 feet in height, are allowed on
Boulevards. The area around the base of such signs shall be
landscaped with shrubs and seasonal color.
2. Free-standing signs shall not be permitted along the
Promenade Street.
3. Roof signs shall not be permitted within the City Center.
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SIGN DESIGN
Integrating Signs with Architecture
INTENT
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SIGN DESIGN
Creative and Artistic Elements
INTENT
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