20D.40.105 Uses/Buildings Along Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Right-of-Way (ROW).

20D.40.105-010 Intent.

As the BNSF ROW is foreseen to be improved as part of the open space and trail system for Downtown and may also be reactivated for rail use in the future, the intent of this section is to ensure that buildings and uses along the ROW are designed to engage with, and provide access to, the ROW while also ensuring that uses do not hamper rail use in the future if the rail line is reactivated.

In view of the elevated grade and steep side slopes of the portion of the BNSF ROW in the vicinity of the trestle crossing of Redmond Way and the Sammamish River, the provisions of this division shall not apply to the properties within the portions of the Sammamish Trail and Trestle Districts that adjoin the BNSF ROW. (Ord. 2302)

20D.40.105-020 Design Criteria.

(1)    Building Orientation and Access.

(a)    Buildings along the BNSF ROW should orient to the ROW as well as to the streets, and should include storefronts and entrances to, and through, the building from the ROW/future trail.

(b)    Service areas and mechanical equipment along the BNSF ROW shall be screened with site amenities, architectural elements, and/or landscaping.

(2)    Site and Building Design.

(a)    Where a site adjoins the BNSF ROW, the development shall complement the ROW with connecting landscaping, plazas, and other pedestrian features.

(b)    New structures should incorporate structured parking and/or mechanical stacked parking systems inside garages. Parking garages facing the ROW should be attractively designed with ornamental grille work in garage openings or other architectural features on solid walls to ensure that blank, sterile walls do not loom over the ROW.

(c)    Attractive, high-quality building materials, and architectural detailing shall be included on all sides of the buildings, including the facades visible from the ROW.

(d)    All ground floor space constructed adjoining the BNSF ROW, including garage floors at the street grade, shall have a minimum ceiling height of at least 10 feet. Ground floor garage space constructed facing and abutting the BNSF ROW that is later converted to commercial/retail space facing/fronting the BNSF ROW/future trail with entry doors and storefronts shall be exempt from providing required parking for the space converted from parking stalls to commercial space, and is exempt from replacing any parking stalls eliminated by the conversion of the ground floor parking stalls to retail/commercial space. (The parking exemption provided in this subsection shall not be effective until the adoption and implementation of a Downtown parking management plan.) (Ord. 2302)