Chapter 12.14
DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AND CARE STANDARDS

Sections:

12.14.010 Applicability.

12.14.020 Private mailboxes prohibited on sidewalks.

12.14.030 Public fixtures, standardized color.

12.14.040 Public fixtures and street furniture, standardized design and location.

12.14.050 Outdoor dining facilities, design and placement.

12.14.060 Sidewalk merchandise display.

12.14.010 Applicability.

This chapter applies to all land within the downtown area. (Ord. 99-27 § 21, 1999: Ord. 96-14 § 1(part), 1996).

12.14.020 Private mailboxes prohibited on sidewalks.

Mail and parcel deposit boxes provided by private carriers are not permitted on sidewalks or public right-of-way. Such facilities may be placed on adjacent private property such that they can be accessed by persons on the public right-of-way either as freestanding units or enclosed within a building with a deposit door opening onto the right-of-way subject to an approved development authorization. (Ord. 96-14 § 1(part), 1996).

12.14.030 Public fixtures, standardized color.

Light poles, traffic control fixtures, bicycle racks, and other public fixtures within the downtown area shall be painted “Downtown Green” as that color is defined in the downtown development standards document. The city engineer may exempt individual fixtures or classes of fixtures from this requirement for reasons which the city engineer, in his sole discretion, shall determine to be justifiable. (Ord. 96-14 § 1(part), 1996).

12.14.040 Public fixtures and street furniture, standardized design and location.

A. Street benches, phone booths, litter containers, light poles, bicycle racks, information kiosks, drinking fountains, street trees, irrigation facilities, pedestrian bollards, tree well/grate assemblies, and other streetscape fixtures shall be of the type and design specified in the downtown development standards document. Location shall be as shown on the standard streetscape template in the downtown development standards document upon approval of a development authorization.

B. Where the facility being proposed is not included on the standard streetscape template, is not included in the downtown development standards document, or is a variation on existing designs, the city engineer shall determine acceptability of design and proposed location after consultation with development services and organizations concerned with development of downtown. The site plan review committee may be engaged if the city engineer or the development services manager feel that additional formal input is necessary. (Ord. 96-14 § 1(part), 1996).

12.14.050 Outdoor dining facilities, design and placement.

Outdoor dining facilities are recognized as contributing to the visual, cultural and economic vitality of downtown. This benefit must, nevertheless, be secondary to the basic purpose of safe pedestrian transport. The city engineer and the site plan review committee are responsible for balancing these interests to the best benefit of downtown.

A. Applications for outdoor dining facilities shall be constructed in detail by the applicant according to the basic template for placement of an outdoor dining facility shown on the standard streetscape template in the downtown development standards document. This design shall be reviewed by the site plan review committee. The committee shall seek input from organizations which have demonstrated concern for development in downtown.

B. Basic placement standards shall maintain a minimum of six feet of unobstructed pedestrian walkway on the street side of the sidewalk. Dining area enclosures shall be designed to provide proper visibility for pedestrians, minimal damage to the sidewalk, minimal obstruction to pedestrian passage, and maximum protection against pedestrian fall or collision hazard.

C. The site plan review committee shall prepare a report for consideration of the office of the city engineer. If the office of the city engineer approves placement of the facility, it shall authorize issuance of a permit to occupy public right-of-way. Conditions of the permit shall include liability insurance in a form and amount required by the city, and a hold-harmless agreement to the benefit of the city in a form required by the city.

D. A permit to occupy public right-of-way is revocable by the city at any time for any or no cause. When an outdoor dining facility is removed for any reason, whether on the initiative of the owner, or due to revocation of the permit by the city, it shall be the responsibility of the owner to restore the sidewalk to a condition acceptable to the office of the city engineer. (Ord. 2005-14 § 1, 2005: Ord. 96-14 § 1(part), 1996).

12.14.060 Sidewalk merchandise display.

Display of merchandise on the sidewalk under specific conditions is recognized as an enhancement of the economic and social well-being of downtown. Recognizing that the primary purpose of the sidewalk is to provide safe pedestrian transport, outdoor merchandise display is limited in time, dimension and location according to the following standards.

A. Merchandise shall only be displayed on the sidewalk after issuance of a development authorization. The authorization shall state the standards which apply to the subject display. The display shall, at all times, conform to the standards set forth in the authorization. Violation of any standards of the authorization shall be cause for revocation of permission for said display.

B. Merchandise displayed on the sidewalk shall be on a rack with a bar height of not less than fifty inches nor greater than seventy-two inches or on a table with a display surface not less than thirty inches nor greater than fifty inches.

C. Outdoor display is limited to two tables or racks no more than eight feet in length which are placed directly adjacent to the main entrance of the store.

D. Display tables and racks shall extend no further than thirty-six inches from the store front.

E. Outdoor display of merchandise shall only be conducted on Saturdays during normal business hours. No merchandise is allowed on sidewalks at any other time of the week unless as part of a general sidewalk sale promotion organized by the Downtown Walla Walla Foundation, or its equivalent, and approved by the city by issuance of a special events permit as provided in Chapter 10.27. (Ord. 99-27 § 22, 1999: Ord. 96-14 § 1(part), 1996).