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Urban Centers
A Component of the
Unified Development Code
(UDC) Update Project |
Background
Centers are compact, well-designed areas that concentrate a variety of land uses all in one place. Centers are also people-oriented living and working places that allow residents to walk to shops and perhaps a bus stop or other mass transit stations. Centers have been identified by the County where significant population and employment growth can be located, a community wide focal point can be provided, and the increased use of transit, bicycling and walking can be supported. These centers are intended to be compact and centralized living, working, shopping and/or activity areas linked to each other by high capacity or regular bus service. The concept of centers is pedestrian orientation with pedestrian circulation, pedestrian scale and pedestrian convenience with a mix of uses. An important component of a center is the public realm. The public realm are areas within the center that the public has access to for informal rest and recreation activities such as walking, sitting, games and observing nature. The public realm, along with residential and employment uses, define a sense of place and give the center an identity.
Snohomish County has designated several centers throughout southwest Snohomish County. They fall into four types:
- Urban Center
- Transit/Pedestrian Village
- Urban Village
- Manufacturing Industrial Center
(view definitions)
Public Involvement
The May 3, 2007 UDC Update Forum was the first public outreach of the update project about urban centers. Staff presented background information on design standards and led participants in a survey of photos and issues related to urban centers.
The December 6 UDC Update Forum was a continuation and staff presented attendees with a working draft of key policy questions under consideration.
The May 1 UDC Update Forum revisited the key questions presented at the December 6 forum and introduced additional questions on the subjects of master planning and climate change.
Current Projects
Meeting Calendar and Other Links
To comment on this project, please visit our comment page and mention Urban Centers in the first line.