Chapter 17.04
CPTED CONCEPTS

Sections:

17.04.010    CPTED Overview

17.04.010 CPTED Overview

A.    Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (“CPTED”) is the proper design and effective use of the built environment in order to reduce the fear and incidence of crime, and improve the quality of life.

B.    CPTED involves the design of a physical space so that it enhances the needs of the intended users. This emphasis on design and use deviates from the traditional “target hardening” approach to crime prevention.

C.    Owners, managers and community users have a joint responsibility to report to the police all suspicious activities and criminal occurrences; without this, the effectiveness of CPTED is minimized. Establishing and maintaining partnerships between the community and the City of SeaTac will create improvement in quality of life issues, make for a safer environment, and a more productive community.

D.    For CPTED to be successful, it must be understandable and practicable for the normal users of the space. The normal users are more familiar with the local area and have a vested interest (their own well-being) in ensuring their immediate environment operates properly. The “Three-D” approach to space assessment provides a simple guide for the normal users in determining the appropriateness of how their space is designed and used. The “Three-D” concept is based on the three functions or dimensions of human space:

1.    DESIGNATION: All human space has some designated purpose. How does the design support function? Is the use clear? Supported by signs?

2.    DEFINITION: All human space has social, cultural, legal or physical definitions that prescribe the desired and acceptable behaviors. Is it clear who owns or manages it?

3.    DESIGN: All human space is designed to support and encourage the desired behaviors. (Ord. 03-1033 § 11)