(a)

The intent of the following regulations is to promote safe design of multifamily developments by creating safe, defensible living environments through design which creates an environment that limits dark and hidden spaces, provides clear pedestrian connections between buildings and parking areas, allows for residents to take ownership of their living space and to provide an environment which police can adequately patrol. Creating developments where residents are safe is the paramount goal. In order to promote these goals, the following development standards shall apply.

(b)

Buildings and site layouts shall meet the prescribed building and fire code requirements.

(c)

Multiple residential buildings on a site shall have a minimum separation of 40 feet. This dimension may be reduced to 20 feet when the narrow side of the buildings adjoin each other, provided that the buildings are oriented in a manner which does not align windows on one building with windows on another.

(d)

No detached parking garage may be located within 20 feet of a residential structure and may not be located closer to the front property line than the principal building.

(e)

Buildings with interior corridors shall be constructed with secure entryways. Secured entryways shall require that residents of the structure, either remotely or at the entry door to the building allow persons to enter the structure.

(f)

Building entrances shall be constructed in a manner that provides a safe, inviting environment. A building entry shall not be hidden from view from the front of the building or from a parking area and shall not create dark, hidden spaces between the entry and a parking area.

(g)

Each exterior entry for an individual unit or entry into a larger building with corridors to individual units shall be provided with a light with a minimum 60-watt incandescent lamp which shall illuminate automatically at dusk and shall be dark during the daylight hours. Full cutoff fixtures shall be utilized whenever possible.

(h)

Buildings with garage/underground parking shall provide secured doors allowing only residents of the building to gain entry.

(i)

Pedestrian sidewalks providing connections (other than parking lots) between multiple buildings and other on-site amenities shall be provided. Said sidewalks shall be a minimum of five feet wide and designed to provide convenient pedestrian access. Public sidewalks may satisfy this requirement if deemed appropriate by the Site Plan Review Coordinator.

(j)

Site layouts should provide a logical system of building/street addressing or numbering to allow for easy access by emergency vehicles as determined by the Chief of Police, Fire Inspector and the Site Plan Review Coordinator, jointly and/or severally.

(k)

Sites with multiple buildings shall orient facades towards one another or towards common open areas and green spaces. Structures with individual garages for vehicles shall de-emphasize the garage through the building/site layout.

(l)

Lighting of parking areas shall meet the requirements of Section 42-389 except that the maximum average illumination may not exceed five footcandles and the maximum height for any parking lot light fixture shall be 18 feet.

(m)

Lighting of major walkways must be provided, either by residential style lights on the front facades, or by residential style and scale yard lamps. If more than one building is proposed on a site or multiple adjoining sites are proposed for building development, on-site sidewalk links shall be provided between buildings.

(n)

Multiple buildings on a site are to be oriented in a manner which does not align windows on one building with windows on another.

(o)

Slopes on a site shall not exceed a 4:1 ratio unless the natural topography of the site already exceeds such 4:1 slope. In that case, the slope shall not be disturbed.

(p)

All parking, sidewalks, plazas, patios, and any other hard-surfaced site improvement shall comply with the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Site design shall place a priority of convenience on pedestrian movements rather than motor vehicle movements.

(q)

No driveway or paved vehicular surface may be located within ten feet of any multiple-family residential structure or within five feet of any property line.

(r)

Projects developed as a single, unified project, which requires shared functional elements (drives, parking, pedestrian connections, etc.) shall not be further divided to create separate fee simple ownership, regardless of the ability of the subdivision plat or Certified Survey Map meeting the regulations of the subdivision regulations. Only developments approved as a planned unit development and specifically designed for fee simple ownership shall be permitted to be divided for fee simple ownership.

(Code 1976, § 18.35.050)