Walkable Livable Communities

Creating Walkable, Livable

Communities

June 1st, 2009

Sheri Newbold - live-work-play

Justin Fogle – Urban Green Institute

Jim Burton - BLIP Design

NW EcoBuilding Guild http://cps.ecobuilding.org

Vision

Walkable, Livable Communities

WLC

Vision

An urban community that:

Provides beautiful, livable homes for all Seattleites in:

Neighborhoods that are in harmony with nature, which:

Encourage compact, vibrant communities and:

Where housing is affordable to all.

WLC

Premises

Growth

•The City of Seattle is projected to grow by 240,000 to 350,000 people in the next 30 years;

•Sprawl is negative in many ways:

WLC

Premises

Sprawl around Seattle

WLCAurora 99

Premises

2

WLC

Evolving Views of Cities and CO

Premises

Density per square mile

WLC

Premises

Seattle Land Use Map WLC

Other Zones in Seattle

Single Family Zone

King County

Water

Roughly 65% of Seattle’s land is zoned for single family houses only.

Premises

Growth

•Prior to now, increases have only been in Multifamily Zones.

•We need more housing options in Seattle, including in Single-Family neighborhoods.

WLC

Challenges

To adapting our neighborhoods for more people

•Negative perceptions against increasing density•Current land-use regulations;•Dependence on the automobile

WLC

Challenges

Negative perceptions (street presence)

WLC

Challenges

Negative perceptions (lower property value)

WLC

Challenges

Negative perceptions (parking)

WLC

Challenges

Negative perceptions (crime/safety)

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Challenges

Current land-use regulations

WLCCommercial

Challenges

Current land-use regulations

WLCResidential

Analysis

Existing single family condition:

WLCDensity: 8 units per acre

50’

100’

Analysis

Single family home

WLCWallingford

Analysis

Prominent garages

Ballard WLC

Analysis

Single family home

WLCMagnolia single family house

Analysis

History:

•Other uses and buildings•Cottage Housing, Duplexes, Triplexes•Mixed housing types

WLC

Analysis

Other Uses

WLCCapitol Hill

Analysis

Other uses

WLCBallard

Analysis

Cottages from the past

WLCCapitol Hill

Analysis

Cottages from the past

WLCCapitol Hill

Analysis

Cottages from the past

Squire Park WLC

Analysis

Recent cottages – Demonstration Project

WLCSquire Park

Analysis

Recent cottages – Demonstration Project

WLCRavenna

Analysis

Fourplex

Queen Anne Single Family Neighborhood WLC

Analysis

Mixed housing types from the past

WLCCapitol Hill

Analysis

Allow variety again

Currently, the uses we just discussed are generally not allowed in Seattle Single Family Zones:•Backyard Cottages (just allowed throughout the city)•Cottage housing•Duplexes and Triplexes•Other uses (cafe, small restaurant, etc.)•Mixed housing types•Smaller lots

WLC

Vision: Refined

Increase variety in Single Family Zones

• Create more housing options for more household types.

• Smaller homes on smaller lots are more affordable.

• More variety and people inspire walkability.

WLC

Recommendation

Housing types that easily fit within the single-family context:•Backyard Cottages (just approved!)•Cottage housing•Duplexes•Triplexes•Flex houses

WLC

Recommendation

Cottage housing

WLC

Recommendation

Cottage housing

Density – 8-22 units per acre WLC

100’

100’

Recommendation

Duplexes

WLCQueen Anne

Recommendation

Triplexes

WLCWallingford

Recommendation

Duplexes

Side by side duplex – density 16 units per acre WLC

100’

25’

25’

Recommendation

Flex houses

WLCPhase 1 – Two Separate Units; density 16+ units per acre

50’ 100’

Recommendation

Flex houses

WLCPhase 2 – Single Family House; density 8 units per acre

100’50’

Recommendation

Flex houses

WLCPhase 3 – Two Separate Units; density 16+ units per acre

50’ 100’

Recommendation

Ideas that can adapt to the single family context:•Housing variety•Rowhouses•Courtyard housing•Smaller lots

WLC

Recommendation

Housing Variety

WLCTypical Chicago neighborhood

Recommendation

Rowhouses

WLCNew Holly

Recommendation

Rowhouses

WLCWashington, D.C.

Recommendation

Rowhouses

WLCIssaquah Highlands

Recommendation

Courtyard housing

WLCCapitol Hill

Recommendation

Courtyard housing

WLCCapitol Hill

Recommendation

Courtyard housing

WLCCapitol Hill

Recommendation

Courtyard housing

Squire Park WLC

Recommendation

Smaller Lots

WLCCentral Area

Recommendation

On Corner Lots:

•Allow double houses•Allow corner stores and other small scale mixed uses

WLC

Recommendation

Double houses on Corner Lots

Squire Park WLC

Recommendation

Double Houses on Corner Lots

Current condition – density 8 units per acre WLC

50’100’

Recommendation

Double Houses on Corner Lots

Second house added – density doubled on corner lot WLC

50’

50’

50’

Recommendation

Corner stores

WLCPhinney Ridge

Recommendation

Corner stores

WLCQueen Anne

Recommendation

Redesign streets and sidewalks

WLCSEA Streets

Recommendation

Redesign Alleys

WLCWashington, D.C.

Review

Our Recommendations

•Variety•Flexibility•Adaptability

WLC

Implementation

Neighborhood Fit:

•Administrative Design Review•Ways to encourage keeping existing structures•Pre-designed, pre-approved plans

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Collaboration

Stakeholders:

•Single Family residents and neighborhoods•Local Agencies•All urban residents

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Outreach:

• Community group presentations• Public Agency presentations

Summary

This study was driven by a shared vision of a community that:Provides beautiful, livable homes for all Seattleites in:

Neighborhoods that are in harmony with nature that:

Encourage compact, vibrant communities and:

Where housing is affordable to all.WLC

Conclusion

Zoning terminology has changed over the years.

WLC

Benefits Homeowners.

Many of these are old ideas.

Is it time to redefine our in-city residential neighborhoods?

Regional Inspiration

City of Redmond Housing Choices• Innovation in housing choices

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City of Santa Cruz, California• Accessory dwelling unit manual

City of Portland, Oregon

• Innovative Housing Design Competitions

Regional Inspiration

Portland Narrow Lot Housing Competition

WLCwww.livingsmartpdx.com

Regional Inspiration

Portland Courtyard Housing Competition

WLCwww.courtyardhousing.org

Regional Inspiration

City of Redmond Housing Choices

WLCwww.redmond.gov/insidecityhall/planning/compplanning/hchoices.asp

Allows:•Attached and Detached Accessory Dwelling Units•Backyard Homes•CottagesEncourages:•Other innovative housing types

Regional Inspiration

City of Santa Cruz ADU Guides

WLCwww.ci.santa-cruz.ca.us/pl/hcd/ADU/adu.html

Our Thanks

•Walkable, Livable Communities Charrette Participants, October 2007•Seattle Great City Initiative•Sustainable Ballard•Housing Washington 2008•Seattle Planning Commission•Seattle Department of Neighborhoods

WLC

Your Thoughts

What is a Walkable, Livable Community to you?

If you would like to be involved, please contact us at:

wlc@cps.ecobuilding.org

WLC

NW EcoBuilding Guild Building practices that foster health, conservation and long-term economic vitality.