A. 
Design Objective: To provide a higher level of design detail and to promote walkability by improving pedestrian safety, convenience, and comfort. The guidelines focus on improving the attractiveness and effectiveness of the pedestrian network in order to encourage walking as a realistic mode of transportation. They provide design strategies for enhancing the physical safety, comfort, and convenience of the pedestrian environment as well as the aesthetic character and quality of the pedestrian experience.
B. 
This pedestrian zone article covers the following subcategories:
1. 
Sidewalks;
2. 
Curb return radii;
3. 
Street widths;
4. 
Street furniture;
5. 
Bus shelters;
6. 
Utilities;
7. 
Medians;
8. 
Planting strips.
(Ord. 559 § 7 (Exh. B § 3))
A. 
The sidewalk is the unifying element that knits University Place together, from the City's core areas to the adjacent residential neighborhoods that surround it. Providing pedestrian linkages is vital to achieving character and a sense of community. Nicely designed sidewalks that are inviting are principal factors in creating and increasing pedestrian activity. Sidewalks can also aid in decreasing the amount of traffic throughout University Place and providing safe routes for multiple users. Sidewalks can be designed to create a sense of community and social engagement.
B. 
Guidelines.
1. 
Dedicate adequate space within the public street right-of-way to support a safe, comfortable, attractive, and robust pedestrian environment.
2. 
Public sidewalks should provide a direct and continuous pedestrian network that connects neighborhoods to each other with a clear, unobstructed pedestrian pathway that is designed to accommodate the needs of a broad range of users, including the elderly, those with disabilities, and young children.
3. 
Landscaping of the public sidewalk is encouraged as a means of adding color and visual interest, softening the urban edges, providing shade, and improving air quality. Landscaping generally should be located in the amenity and frontage zones and should not obstruct through pedestrian traffic or access to the street.
(Ord. 559 § 7 (Exh. B § 3.1))
A. 
Curb returns are the curved connection of curbs formed by the intersection of two streets. A curb return's purpose is to guide vehicles in turning corners and separate vehicular traffic from pedestrian areas at intersection corners. The radius of the curve varies with longer radii used to facilitate the turning of large trucks and buses. Larger radius corners increase the length of pedestrian crosswalks. Special care must be taken in specifying curb return radii so that transportation facilities will be designed to be safe for all users regardless of the mode of travel they chose.
B. 
Generally, intersections should be designed as compact as practical. This is especially true for small lot developments, which are intended to be pedestrian-oriented in all facets of design while still accommodating the automobile. To help achieve this goal, the smallest practical curb return radii are used to shorten the length of the pedestrian crossing distance, crossing time, exposure to traffic, encourage pedestrian travel and increase safety.
C. 
According to Context Sensitive Solutions in Designing Major Urban Thoroughfares for Walkable Communities, issued as a Proposed Recommended Practice by the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) in 2006, a typical minimum curb return radius of 10 to 15 feet should be used where:
1. 
High pedestrian volumes are present or reasonably anticipated;
2. 
Volumes of turning vehicles are low;
3. 
The width of the receiving intersection approach can accommodate a turning passenger vehicle without encroachment into the opposing lane;
4. 
Passenger vehicles constitute the majority of turning vehicles;
5. 
Bicycles and parking lanes create additional space to accommodate the “effective” turning radius of vehicles;
6. 
Low turning speeds are required or desired; and
7. 
Occasional encroachment of a turning school bus, moving van, fire truck or oversized delivery truck into an opposing lane is acceptable.
D. 
Per the ITE recommendations, curb radii will need to be larger than 15 feet where:
1. 
Occasional encroachment of a turning school bus, moving van, fire truck or oversized delivery truck into an opposing lane is not acceptable;
2. 
Curb extensions are proposed or might be added in the future; and
3. 
Receiving street does not have parking or bicycle lanes and the receiving lane is less than 12 feet in width.
E. 
In such cases where a minimum curb return radius larger than 15 feet is proposed, it should be demonstrated that pedestrian safety will not be compromised beyond that which is necessary to accommodate other transportation facility requirements.
(Ord. 559 § 7 (Exh. B § 3.1))
A. 
Pavement widths on many existing streets adversely affect the visual and neighborhood design character of the area being served. Wide streets are generally at odds with preserving the pedestrian scale and intimate character that contribute to successful residential neighborhoods.
B. 
Guidelines.
1. 
Design elements are encouraged to be used to reduce perceived street widths. These elements can include landscaping, street tree placement, medians and street furniture.
(Ord. 559 § 7 (Exh. B § 3.2))
A. 
In order to transform the public streetscape from mere transportation facility to vibrant public open space it is important to add facilities and amenities that: allow people to stop and linger, provide services and information, and engage and delight the senses.
B. 
Providing comfort and convenience for pedestrians is vital to creating vibrant and walkable neighborhoods. The placement and selection of street furniture are keys to ensuring a comfortable environment for pedestrian and visual unity for all areas of University Place. Street furnishings should be chosen in a manner to adapt to the context of the streetscape.
C. 
Guidelines.
1. 
Street furniture shall be consistent with established City standards and requirements. It should contribute to the character of development and should not impact adjacent development.
2. 
Street furniture should be clustered to provide amenity nodes for pedestrians; however placement shall not obstruct the flow of pedestrian traffic. These clusters shall be provided adjacent to neighborhood streets where they may intersect pocket parks, trails, paseos or other off-street amenities.
3. 
Adequate space should be allocated to accommodate the various types of street furniture and anticipated volumes of users.
4. 
Graffiti-proof surfaces should be used where feasible.
(Ord. 559 § 7 (Exh. B § 3.3))
A. 
Bus shelters shall be in keeping with the street furniture palette and shall be approved by the providing local transit agency.
B. 
Guidelines.
1. 
Bus shelters should be provided at appropriate locations to facilitate transit use by providing places of refuge, especially during periods of rain.
2. 
Shelter design should also be compatible with the architectural design of the surrounding neighborhood.
3. 
Transit shelters should be designed to provide protection from sun, wind, and rain; additional amenities, such as real-time arrival information, nighttime lighting, and trash receptacles, should be provided.
4. 
Transit shelters should be designed to promote transit and energy efficiency by incorporating features such as solar panels, LED lights, etc.
5. 
Graffiti-proof surfaces should be used where feasible.
(Ord. 559 § 7 (Exh. B § 3.4))
A. 
Above ground utilities are a common element found within the context of the streetscape. These utilities include power poles and lines, transformers, telecommunication pedestals, traffic signal control panels, etc. Often these utilities are located with little or no regard for the overall aesthetic appearance of the street. While access and maintenance issues are important and not to be overlooked, special design considerations must be taken into account in order to minimize their cumulative negative visual impact on the street.
B. 
Guidelines.
1. 
Whenever possible, utilities should be located underground. Where this is not possible utilities shall be located to the side or back of a building where they will be out of view from the street.
2. 
Utilities shall be screened from view through the use of planting, fencing or architectural screening. The design of the screen or fence should be complementary to the building material and existing fences or screens if located elsewhere on the property.
Figure 13.20.1040-1
Left: Utility box enhanced with landscaping.
Above: Utility box hidden by landscaping.
3. 
Ensure that maintenance personnel can access the utility without obstructing the movement of pedestrians or vehicles to other parts of the street or site.
4. 
The City should explore a combination of options to address the visibility and attractiveness of utility boxes.
5. 
Landscaping shall not block, impede or hide fire hydrants or fire sprinkler hose connections. Fire hydrants may be aesthetically enhanced provided their accessibility and use is not impeded or compromised.
(Ord. 559 § 7 (Exh. B § 3.5))
A. 
Medians provide many functions for a streetscape. Properly landscaped medians can help to beautify roadways of the City while providing pedestrians a safe refuge during street crossings. Special considerations must be taken when designing and landscaping medians to take into account pedestrian crossings and intersection visibility. Landscape planting shall also take into account the widths and placement of trees to accommodate safe traffic flow on these corridors.
B. 
Guidelines.
1. 
Landscaped medians should be implemented on arterial streets consistent with this title to create visual interest, a more intimate roadway scale, and a place for pedestrians to take refuge while crossing wide streets.
2. 
Where medians are narrowed near intersections, landscaping should be graduated and include the use of small accent trees and groundcover.
3. 
The use of groundcover or xeriscape concepts at intersections is favored over the extensive use of hardscape.
4. 
Hardscape should only be used in medians where planting is not feasible due to site-specific constraints such as narrow median width or preservation of a significant view corridor.
5. 
All landscaping requiring irrigation should be served by an automatic irrigation system, consistent with City Standard Details and Specifications in this title.
(Ord. 559 § 7 (Exh. B § 3.6))
A. 
Street trees and other landscaping treatments are essential for creating beauty and improving the quality of life in a neighborhood setting. The benefits include: providing shade and cooling effects, providing a sense of enclosure, providing definition and scale to the street, protection from wind, separation from vehicular traffic, and reducing airborne dust and pollutants.
B. 
Many opportunities exist for street tree planting and other landscaping treatments in the existing neighborhoods of University Place. The most favorable locations are within sidewalks and planting strips to enhance the streetscape environment and within traffic medians to reinforce traffic calming measures.
C. 
Guidelines. Existing trees within the public right-of-way should be examined for growth characteristics, the health of the tree and suitability of the location. Every effort should be made to protect mature and suitable trees. Considerations for the selection and location of street trees include:
1. 
The ultimate growth, height and spread of the tree canopy in order to allow for unrestricted growth;
2. 
The density of the canopy, ultimate shape and branching pattern. Trees will provide varying degrees of shade due to branching habits and size and type of leaf;
3. 
Access to adequate sunlight and rain water. Considerations of other microclimatic limitations such as reflected light sources from surface pavements and buildings and increased wind load caused by building design should be considered when locating trees either on the street or as part of a site plan development;
4. 
The location of existing and proposed utilities to allow uninhibited growth without disturbance to the tree crown or root zone;
5. 
Maintenance requirements of street trees including watering, fertilizing, pruning and repair of damage caused naturally and unnaturally; and
6. 
Height of the tree canopy to protect sightlines along the street for both motorists and pedestrians.
D. 
Standards and Guidelines.
1. 
Planting Strips. Planting strips aid in separating the pedestrian environment from the vehicular environment via street trees and other native plants and flowers. In addition, planting strips also aid in providing shade for pedestrians, help to filter air from adjacent roadways, and can facilitate a social streetscape environment. Landscaping of planting strips shall always take into account visibility at intersections and a safe passage for pedestrian movement.
a. 
Guidelines.
(1) 
Landscaping in planting strips shall be adequately maintained and include the installation of an automatic irrigation system consistent with City Standard Details and Specifications in this title.
(2) 
To provide a landscape separation between street and sidewalk, planting strips should be installed between the back of the curb and the sidewalk.
(3) 
Planting strips shall be designed to the extent practicable to be wide enough to accommodate medium to large street trees that have a high, broad branching canopy; a continuous streetscape planting strip, exclusive of easements, shall be located in areas adjacent to an existing or proposed public road. The City shall decide on the width of the planting strip in order to balance median and sidewalk widths.
(4) 
The planting strip shall be located generally parallel to the existing or proposed road and shall not be located in areas identified for road widening, road projects, drainage areas, or other public improvement projects. Minor encroachments in the planting strip by drainage easements may be approved by the City.
(5) 
Street trees shall be required to be planted within the planting strip with an even, linear spacing. If minor shifts to the linear spacing are required due to the location of existing infrastructure, development or required sight distance, these shifts may be approved by the City.
(6) 
The use of groundcover or xeriscaping concepts adjacent to intersections is favored over the extensive use of hardscape.
(7) 
Hardscape should only be used in areas where planting is not feasible due to site-specific constraints such as a narrow median width or preservation of a significant view corridor.
2. 
Street Trees. Street trees are required on both sides of all newly created, widened, or substantially improved public and private streets to provide shade and to calm traffic.
a. 
Guidelines.
(1) 
Trees shall have a minimum caliper of two inches within a development at time of planting unless the City determines that a particular species or cultivar, which is available only in a smaller size, is the preferred selection for a specific location.
(2) 
Spacing of street trees, on average, shall be 30 feet on center. Wider spacing may be approved for trees having exceptionally broad canopies and narrower spacing may be required for trees having narrow canopy forms.
(3) 
Street trees shall be high-branching with a canopy that starts at least six to eight feet above finished grade, depending on species or cultivar, and have roots that will not break up sidewalks or roadbeds or invade utility lines. For areas without overhead power lines, tree types shall be planted that will achieve a minimum height of 35 feet at maturity.
(4) 
Street trees shall be placed so as not to block sight distance or create a safety concern. Generally, trees should be planted at least 10 feet from utility or light poles or fire hydrants, 20 feet from street intersections, and 10 feet from driveways and alleys. The City may authorize irregular spacing to accommodate sight distance requirements for driveways or intersections or to avoid public infrastructure such as street lighting, utility poles or fire hydrants.
(5) 
Street tree species shall be approved by the City in accordance with the Approved Street Tree Palette in Table 13.20.1060. The use of a variety of street trees within a development is encouraged to increase visual interest and minimize exposure to diseases that could target specific species and cause widespread damage if these species are heavily planted within an area. The City may approve trees not on the Approved Street Tree Palette if a registered landscape architect or certified arborist demonstrates to the satisfaction of the City that the proposed tree species or cultivar will not cause damage to infrastructure or create nuisance conditions.
(6) 
For access lanes, street trees may be planted on the abutting private lot if the City determines that insufficient space exists within the public right-of-way to accommodate the trees.
3. 
Approved Street Tree Palette. The street tree palette for street tree selection includes trees selected for their survivability, drought tolerance, native habitat, ease of maintenance, and appearance. The following table is arranged by planting strip width; selections should consider planting strip width and other site characteristics.
DT – Drought tolerant
WWN – Western Washington native
HF – Hard to find
T – May need training, multi-stemmed
WCN – West Coast native
Highlighted – Utility Friendly
Table 13.20.1060
Approved Street Tree Palette
Tree Name
Size
(HxW)
Notable Features
Attributes
Image
For planting strips 4' wide and up:
Mountain Hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana): WWN, DT
10'x4'
Bluish needles
Not for use on corners
Swamp Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)
15'x15'
Fragrant flowers
Will take damp soils
Skyrocket Juniper (Juniperus scopulorum 'Skyrocket,' or other upright cultivars): DT
15'x5'
Narrow bluish needles
Evergreen
Vine Maple (Acer circinatum): WWN, T
15'x6'
Yellow-red fall color
Prefers part sun/shade
Amur Maple (Acer ginnala): T
18'x20'
Yellow-red fall color
Easy to transplant
Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica): DT, T
20'x10'
Variety of flower and leaf colors
Prefers hot, sunny and dry
Sentinel Crabapple (Malus ‘Sentinel’)
20’x20’
White fragrant flower
Bright red fruit
Witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana, H. mollis): T
20’x15’
Fragrant late winter flower
Open airy growth
Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata): T
20'x15'
White spring flowers
Slow growth
Butterfly Magnolia (Magnolia ‘butterfly’)
20’x20’
Yellow flowers
Aromatic blooms
Red Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana ‘Canada Red’)
25’x20’
Red foliage
Edible fruit, wildlife attractant
Golden Desert Ash
20’x18’
Golden foliage
Seasonal interest
Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum): DT, HF
25'x20'
Red fall color
White summer flowers
Seasonal interest
Stewartia: (S. koreana, pseudocamellia, monadelpha)
25'x20'
White summer flowers
Winter interest
Amur Maackia (Maackia amurensis)
25'x25'
White summer flower
Peeling bark with maturity
Japanese Tree Lilac (Syringa reticulata)
25'x20'
White fragrant flowers
Winter fruit
Dogwoods: (Cornus 'Milky Way,' 'Stellar Pink,' 'Cherokee Brave,' and 'Celestial,' 'C. kousa')
25'x25'
White spring flowers
Choose disease resistant varieties
Japanese Snowbell (Styrax japonicus)
25'x25'
White summer flowers
Winter interest
Redbuds (Cercis canadensis, C. siliquastrum)
25'x30'
Dark pink spring flowers
Airy form
Rounded shape
Trident Maple (Acer buergeranum)
28'x28'
Yellow-red fall color
Bronze-purple new leaves
Rounded shape
Kobus Magnolia (Magnolia kobus): DT
35'x15'
White spring flowers
Often multi-stemmed
Incense Cedar (Calocedrus decurrens): WCN, DT
40’x15’
Dense foliage with cones
Evergreen
Slow-medium growth
Honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos 'Inermis'): DT
50’x40’
Open form
Fast growth
Can have disease issues
Zelkova (Zelkova serrata): DT
65’x40’
Red fall color
Urban tolerant
Deodar Cedar (Cedrus deodara): DT
70’x30’
Graceful, pendulous branches
Evergreen
Tough tree
For planting strips 6' wide and up:
Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)
20'x20'
Variable fall color
Slow-medium growth
Paperbark Maple (Acer griseum)
25'x14'
Red fall color
Exfoliating bark
American Smoke Tree (Cotinus obovatus): DT, HF
25'x20'
Variable fall color
Airy-textured flowers
Rounded shape
Umbrella Pine (Sciadopitys verticillata)
25'x20'
Handsome conifer
Evergreen
Dove Tree (Davidia involucrata, aka Handkerchief Tree)
20’x20’
Large white flowers
Bracts (flowers) hang like handkerchiefs
Katsura (Cercidyphyllum japonicum)
50'x30'
Red-purple/blue green leaves
Apricot fall color
Dense foliage
Alaska Yellow Cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis): WCN
35'X12'
Weeping cultivars exist
Evergreen
Japanese White Pine (Pinus parviflora)
40’x30’
Bluish needles
Nice form
Evergreen
Carolina Silverbell (Halesia tetraptera): HF
35'x30'
White spring flowers
Can take semi-shade
Golden Rain Tree (Koelrueteria paniculata)
35'x30'
Yellow summer flower
New growth pink
Ornamental seed pods
Evergreen Magnolia (Magnolia grandifolia)
40'x35'
White summer flowers
Evergreen
Black Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica): HF
40'x35'
Yellow-red fall color
Best for residential areas
Hinoki Cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa)
50'x15'
Fern-like branches
Excellent foliage
Evergreen
Can be wind sensitive
Sawara False Cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera)
50'x15'
Wide range of foliage colors and textures
Evergreen
Many cultivars available
Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum): DT
50’x15’
Deciduous conifer
Adaptable to many soils
Cork Oak (Quercus suber)
60'x25'
Great rugged bark
Evergreen
Oaks: Pin, Red, Scarlet, and Willow (Quercus rubra, Q. coccinea, Q. phellos)
70’x40’
Yellow-red fall color
Great street trees
Athena elm (Ulmus parvifolia)
30'x35'
Yellow fall color
Outstanding bark
Disease resistant
For planting strips 8' wide and up:
Carriere Hawthorn (Crataegus x lavallei)
20'x15'
White spring flowers
Wildlife attractant
Thornless Cockspur Hawthorn (Crataegus crusgalli var. inermis)
25'x25'
Red-purple fall color
Wildlife attractant – red fruit
Can have disease issues
Winter King Hawthorn (Crataegus viridis 'Winter King')
25'x25'
Yellow fall color
Sharp thorns
Blue Ice Smooth Arizona Cypress (Cupressus arizonica var. glabra 'Blue Ice'): DT
30'x15'
Blue foliage
Evergreen
Prefers hot, sunny and dry
Shore Pine (Pinus contorta var. contorta): WCN, DT
30'x15'
Irregular shape
Evergreen
Native to shore areas
Pacific/Norwegian Sunset Maples (Acer 'Pacific Sunset' / 'Norwegian Sunset')
30'x15'
Red-yellow fall colors
Moderate to fast growth
Persian Ironwood (Parrotia persica): DT
30'x15'
Yellow fall colors
Flaky bark with age
Silk Tree (Albizzia julibrissin)
30'x30'
Pink fragrant flowers
Seeds easily
Saucer Magnolia (Magnolia x soulangiana)
30'x30'
Pink spring flowers
Multi-stemmed
Pillar Crabapple (Malus tschonoskii)
35'x30'
Great fall color
Wildlife attractant – berries
Jacquemont Birch (Betula utilis var. jacquemontii)
35’x30’
Yellow fall color
Winter interest
Italian Alder (Alnus cordata): DT
40'x30'
Yellow-brown fall color
Pyramidal shape
Golden Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia 'Frisia'): DT
40'x30'
Golden foliage
Fast growth
Swedish Whitebeam (Sorbus aria)
40'x30'
White spring flowers
Wildlife attractant – red fruit
Fruitless Mulberry (Morus – Fruitless Cultivars)
40'x40'
Yellow-green to dark green foliage
Fast growth
Antarctic Beech (Nothofagus antartica): DT, HF
45'x25'
Yellow fall color
Attractive bark
Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor)
45'x25'
 
Well adapted to wet soils
Serbian Spruce (Picea omorika)
50'x25'
Light green to blue-green foliage
Evergreen
Graceful form
Great street tree
Oriental Spruce (Picea orientalis): HF
50'x25'
Short needles – fine texture
Evergreen
Oregon Myrtle (Umbellularia californica): DT, WCN
50'x25'
Aromatic leaves
Evergreen native to OR and CA
Lawson Cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana): DT, WCN
50'x35'
Yellow fall color
Great winter interest
Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis): DT
50'x40'
Purple berries
Wildlife attractant
Chinese Paper Birch (Albo-sinensis)
50’x40’
Yellow fall color
Great winter interest
Paper-Bark Birch (Betula papyrifera)
60’x30’
Yellow fall color
Great winter interest
River Birch (Betula nigra):
55'x50'
Yellow fall color
Great winter interest
Spanish Fir (Abies pinsapo): DT, HF
60’x30’
Pale blue-green foliage
Evergreen
Pagoda Tree (Sophora japonica): HF
60'x40'
White summer flower
Great street tree
Ginkgo/Maidenhair Tree (Gingko biloba)
70'x40'
Yellow fall color
Urban tolerant
For planting strips 10' wide and up:
Mugo Pine (Pinus mugo): DT, WCN
20'x20'
Tannenbaum is single-stem variety
Evergreen
Growth size is extremely variable
Cornelian Cherry (Cornus mas): T
25'x20'
Fragrant yellow flower
Suckering may occur
Hedge Maple (Acer campestre)
28'x28'
Yellow fall color
Slow growth
Japanese Plume Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica 'Elegans')
30'x10'
Green foliage changes to bronze in winter
Evergreen
Fluffy and airy foliage
Sycamore Maple (Acer pseudoplatanus)
45'x45'
Green spring flowers
Flaky bark
Shade tree
Norway Maple (Acer platanoides)
50'x40'
Yellow fall color
Shade tree
Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
50'x40'
Yellow-red fall color
Silvery underside leaves
Adaptable to variety of conditions
Shingle Oak (Quercus imbricaria): HF
55'x50'
Yellow-red fall color
Slow-medium growth
Norway Spruce (Picea abies)
60'x30'
Dark green needles
Evergreen
Can have insect problems
Oregon White Oak (Quercus garryana): WWN
60’x40’
Abundant acorns
Native to Western WA
Wildlife attractant
Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)
60'x40'
Yellow fall color
Shade tree
Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata): WWN, DT
70’x20’
Beautiful form and foliage
Evergreen
Prefers moist soils
Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides)
70'x25'
Deciduous conifer
Needs little pruning
(Ord. 559 § 7 (Exh. B § 3.7))