The purpose of this section is to:

(1)

Enhance pedestrian and vehicular connectivity between residential areas and to surrounding uses and amenities;

(2)

Provide safe and attractive streets for residents;

(3)

Create cohesive neighborhoods designed around centralized park or open spaces;

(4)

Create walkable neighborhoods;

(5)

Create community open space amenities which lend identity to a neighborhood and are used by its residents in many ways;

(6)

Create a system of parks that are accessible and interconnected, providing a greater amenity to the community;

(7)

Retain sensitive natural areas and other unique natural features as community open space.

(Ord. 133-04 Att. B § 2 (part), 2004).

The following standards apply to all residential subdivisions and development unless otherwise noted:

(1)

Reserved.

(2)

Single family and driveway design. The following standards apply to new developments with more than four lots;

(A)

Design driveways with minimum amounts of impervious surface and minimum presence on the street to retain green-space and reduce surface water runoff. Driveways must meet the following standards:

(i)

Driveways and vehicle circulation pavements shall be the minimum size, necessary to accommodate vehicle storage and circulation. The county may require that pavement dimensions be modified to reduce impervious surface. Applicants are encouraged to use pervious materials, where feasible, such as split pavements with lawns or unit pavers in the center of the driveway;

(B)

Design homes that minimize the impact of garages on the street and enhance the sense of neighborhood. Specifically:

(i)

All homes should include a porch or covered entry facing the street;

(ii)

Garages visible from the street shall be setback at least five feet further than the front wall of the house facing the street;

(3)

Street Network. The following standards apply to new developments with more than four lots:

(A)

The street pattern for new residential development shall emphasize a connected network of streets rather than long irregular loops with dead-ends and cul-de-sacs. Such a network will provide better traffic flows, orientation, and shorter trips through the neighborhood. Intersections should occur at no more than four hundred foot intervals;

(B)

The street pattern should be adjusted for existing topography and other natural features, while maintaining interconnections and function;

(C)

Streets should interconnect neighborhoods;

(D)

Allow for future connections where topography permits a street to be extended in the future;

(E)

Consider alleys in the design of a street system—which have proven useful in reducing on-street parking pressure and pedestrian/driveway conflicts. Alleys are also the most appropriate location for utilities and other service facilities. Alleys also enhance the appearance of the street since garages will be located at the rear of homes;

(4)

Street Design. The following standards are consistent with the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Green Book and apply to all public streets in residential areas with traffic volumes less than four thousand average daily traffic and speeds less than thirty mph:

(A)

Residential streets shall be designed per the road standards;

(B)

The county may approve an alternative street design where the applicant can demonstrate that such alternative design achieves the following:

(i)

Enhances safety for pedestrians and vehicles;

(ii)

Provides durable construction but reduces environmental impacts (i.e., less impervious surface);

(iii)

Street design is appropriate for site given existing topography and vegetation;

(iv)

Street design is consistent with the purpose of this section and is sufficient to accommodate the projected traffic;

(5)

Sidewalks and Trails. The following standards apply to all new residential development with more than four lots unless otherwise noted:

(A)

New development should be integrated with, and expand Belfair's system of community-wide trails (see Figure 6);

(B)

Sidewalks or pathways should be provided along public streets per the road standards.

(Ord. 133-04 Att. B § 2 (part), 2004).

(Ord. No. 23-19, Att. A, 3-19-2019; Ord. No. 2022-093, Att. C, 12-20-2022; Ord. No. 2023-045, Att. A, 8-15-2023)