Chapter 12.02
COMPLETE STREETS*
Sections:
12.02.010 Purpose, intent, and vision.
12.02.030 Engineering standards and complete street policies.
12.02.040 Deviations from the engineering standards.
12.02.050 Integration of complete streets into all projects – Exceptions.
12.02.060 Intergovernmental cooperation.
12.02.070 Implementation and performance measures.
*Prior legislation: Ord. 2009-037.
12.02.010 Purpose, intent, and vision.
A. Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to provide for uniform engineering standards and complete street policies for street construction, repair, and improvement within the city of Sequim. If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause, or phrase of this chapter conflicts with other sections of the Sequim Municipal Code, this chapter prevails.
B. Intent. The intent of this chapter is to:
1. Promote the integration of land use context in planning for transportation facilities.
2. Design cost-effective transportation facilities for users of all modes, ages, abilities.
3. Promote active transportation in support of the public health, safety and comfort of residents and visitors.
4. Emphasize connectivity and accessibility of active transportation networks throughout the city.
5. Support the city comprehensive plan.
6. Meet the needs of the diverse populations of residents and visitors in our community.
C. Vision. The city of Sequim is a community in which all residents and visitors, regardless of their age, ability, or financial resources, can safely and efficiently use streets to meet their transportation needs regardless of their preferred mode of travel. (Ord. 2023-020 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 2021-003 § 1 (Exh. A))
12.02.020 Scope.
All streets, including sidewalks, bikeways, driveways, curbs, gutters, streetlights, landscaping, and other street appurtenances within the city limits of Sequim, whether public or private, must conform to engineering standards adopted by the city, as now existing or as hereafter amended. (Ord. 2023-020 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 2021-003 § 1 (Exh. A))
12.02.030 Engineering standards and complete street policies.
A. Engineering Standards. The public works department and city engineer maintain a set of engineering standards to regulate construction, repair, and improvement of public and private streets within the city of Sequim. The set of standards entitled “City of Sequim Engineering Standards” may incorporate state and federal standards by reference and may be amended by the public works department and city engineer. The public works department and city engineer must provide city council notification of any changes, revisions, amendments, or additions to the “City of Sequim Engineering Standards” prior to publishing new standards. The standards will be made available to the public on the city’s official website and to property owners or contractors upon request.
B. Complete Street Policies.
1. Implementation of the complete streets policies within this chapter will take into account the goal of enhancing the context and character of the surrounding built and natural environments.
2. Priority will be given to cost-effective projects that enhance the overall transportation system and its connectivity for access to parks or recreation areas, schools, shopping/commercial areas, public transportation, employment centers, existing or planned pedestrian, bicycle, and trail networks.
3. The design of transportation systems will be consistent with, and supportive of, local neighborhoods recognizing that transportation needs vary and must be balanced in a flexible, safe, and cost-effective manner.
4. The city will plan for, design, construct, operate, and maintain an appropriate and integrated transportation system that will meet the needs of motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, wheelchair users, transit vehicles and riders, freight haulers, agricultural vehicles, emergency responders, and residents of all ages and abilities.
5. Transportation facilities that support the concept of complete streets include (but are not limited to) pavement markings and signs; street and sidewalk lighting; sidewalk and pedestrian safety improvements; Americans with Disabilities Act and Title VI compliance; transit accommodations; bicycle accommodations including appropriate signage and markings; and (as appropriate) streetscapes that appeal to all users. (Ord. 2023-020 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 2021-003 § 1 (Exh. A))
12.02.040 Deviations from the engineering standards.
The public works director or city engineer may approve alternate materials, technologies, layouts, or methods of construction; provided, that the director or city engineer finds that the proposed design is satisfactory and complies with the intent of the adopted City of Sequim Engineering Standards. The proposed material must be for the purpose intended, and at least the equivalent of that prescribed in the adopted standard, detail, or specification in quality, strength, effectiveness, durability, and safety. The public works director or city engineer may also waive design standards in unique cases where deemed warranted, with good cause shown; provided, that the intent of the code is met and public health and safety is preserved. Any such deviations must be identified on the final as-builts provided to the city and signed by the director or city engineer, as applicable. (Ord. 2021-003 § 1 (Exh. A))
12.02.050 Integration of complete streets into all projects – Exceptions.
City staff charged with the planning and design of projects within the public right-of-way will give consideration to all users and modes of travel from the start of planning and design work.
A. Transportation improvements will be viewed as opportunities to create safer, more accessible streets for all users.
B. All street projects performing new construction, reconstruction, and major rehabilitation, regardless of funding sources, will be assessed to determine whether the complete streets policies and standards can be appropriately applied to each respective project.
C. Excluded from the requirements of this chapter are:
1. Street preservation activities solely for the purposes of repairing or extending the useful life of the existing street surface (for example, thin overlays, and surface seals).
2. Ordinary maintenance activities such as mowing, snowplowing, sweeping, spot repair, joint or crack sealing, and pothole filling.
a. While ordinary maintenance paving projects are excluded from the requirements of the policy, consideration will be given toward modifying existing pavement markings and signage to support alternate modes of transportation where feasible.
3. Emergency activities.
4. Where inclusion in a small, isolated project would create a very short section of improvements with problematic transitions on either end or that are in an isolated area unlikely to be followed by similar improvements at either end, resulting in little progress on implementing complete streets networks.
D. Exceptions. The public works director or city engineer may grant exceptions to complete streets policies, justified by reasons not listed above. (Ord. 2023-020 § 1 (Exh. A))
12.02.060 Intergovernmental cooperation.
The city will cooperate with other transportation agencies including the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and Clallam County to request that the principles and practices of complete streets are incorporated into their planning, design, construction, and maintenance activities. The city will cooperate to the extent practicable to ensure the transportation network flows seamlessly between jurisdictions in accordance with local and regional road, transit, bicycle, and pedestrian plans. (Ord. 2023-020 § 1 (Exh. A))
12.02.070 Implementation and performance measures.
A. Implementation. City, regional, and state plans will specify the type and location of improvements and will be implemented as funding becomes available.
1. These complete streets policies will be primarily implemented through the transportation master plan.
2. Regionally, the city will work with Clallam County to develop nonmotorized network plans.
3. On state highways, the city will work with WSDOT to ensure that multimodal, active, and accessible transportation facilities are included in projects, where needed, per Chapter 47.24 RCW.
B. Special emphasis will be placed on incorporating those elements of local, regional, and state plans that can be added to project scope and implemented with little or no additional expense.
C. Measures of Progress. The public works director or designees will provide a summary report about the multimodal transportation projects undertaken within a given time frame and be able to explain the extent to which each of these projects have met, or are expected to meet, the objectives within this chapter as set forth below:
1. Annually with adoption of the six-year transportation improvement program (TIP); or
2. At any time by city council request. (Ord. 2023-020 § 1 (Exh. A))