THURSTON COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE PLANNING COMMISSION - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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THURSTON COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE PLANNING COMMISSION - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Sep 25, 2023 331 likes •479 views

THURSTON COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE PLANNING COMMISSION FEBRUARY 6, 2019 Chapter 10 Archaeological & Historic Resources Follow-Up Work Session VIEWS, VISTAS, VIEWSHEDS A viewshed is the area visible from a point,

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SLIDE 1

THURSTON COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE

PLANNING COMMISSION – FEBRUARY 6, 2019

Chapter 10 – Archaeological & Historic Resources

Follow-Up Work Session

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SLIDE 2

VIEWS, VISTAS, VIEWSHEDS

“A viewshed is the area visible from a point, a line, or a specific

  • locality. It is the visual equivalent of a
  • watershed. Often defined as the

landscape visible from a specific point.”

American Planning Association (Frederick R. Steiner)

Example: View of Capitol Building from Capitol Lake Viewshed Elements Source: Planning and Urban Design Standards (APA)

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SLIDE 3

WHY IMPORTANT

 Highly valued community resource  Contribute to rural character  Enhance property values  Economic value

Tourism

Recreation  Community Identity

Rural Viewshed Source: Planning and Urban Design Standards (APA)

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SLIDE 4

GROWTH MANAGEMENT ACT: PLANNING GOAL

  • Historic preservation. Identify and encourage the preservation of lands,

sites, and structures, that have historical or archaeological significance.

  • 36.70A.020(13) RCW

 Proposed New Policy:

 10-B-5. The county should identify and protect significant views in the county.

Is this a policy we want Thurston County to pursue?

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SLIDE 5

WHERE DID THE POLICY COME FROM?

  • Some Washington jurisdictions have included policies on identifying and protecting

significant views. Often, these scenic views are tied to the concept of rural character and cultural and economic value.

Jurisdictions:

Snohomish County

Pierce County

King County

Spokane County

Skagit County

And more!

Related Terms for Significant Views:

Visual Corridors

Scenic Views

Natural Vistas

Viewsheds

Viewscapes

T erritorial Views

Scenic Resources

Tenino Comp Plan

Land Use Chapter

Emphasize the natural character of Tenino through the showcasing of existing natural amenities, the preservation of views, and the retention of the appearance of the surrounding natural lands, including treed hillsides.

Natural Resources Chapter

Goal NR 13: Tenino’s scenic hillsides are protected.

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SLIDE 6

OTHER POLICY EXAMPLES

Pierce County Provide leadership for the planning, coordination and conservation of open space corridors that include unique environmental systems and scenic vistas on a countywide basis Minimize the obstruction of territorial views and scenic vistas.

King County The natural topography of King County provides numerous scenic vistas of the shoreline. King County should ensure that development occurring both within and outside the shorelines of the state avoids impacts on scenic vistas and protects view corridors... Building and landscape design that respects the aesthetic qualities and character of the Rural Area, and provides substantial buffering from the adjoining uses and scenic vistas In-water structures shall provide for the protection and preservation of… and natural scenic vistas.

Spokane County Designate aesthetic corridors along major transportation routes to provide a positive image of the Spokane Region. Identify and protect important natural or cultural viewscapes through a viewscape ordinance, signage limits

  • r other programs.
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SLIDE 7

FINDINGS

 How to track significant views?

Significant views can be enumerated in code

Significant views can be specific in Comp Plan

 Who determines significant view?

Committees (Historic, Advisory View Team…)

Nominations to code or Comp Plan

Public participation

 Public participation?

Compliant with GMA (36.70A.035)

 How to protect?

In WA, often deferred to consideration during project reviews and the design review process. Bush Butternut Tree Source: Bush Prairie Farm Proposed Development View Impact Source: Gensler and EA

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PROTECTING VIEWS AT THE PROJECT REVIEW LEVEL

  • Ecology SEPA checklist includes

AESTHETICS

  • Tallest height of proposed

structures?

  • Views in immediate vicinity blocked
  • r altered?
  • Proposed measures to reduce or

control aesthetic impacts

  • Ecology SEPA checklist includes

LIGHT AND GLARE

  • Type of light or glare produced?

When?

  • Safety hazard or interfere with

views?

  • Proposed measures to reduce or

control light and glare impacts

WAC 197-11-960

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SEATTLE – PROJECT REVIEW LEVEL

 Seattle Municipal Code

Comprehensive Plan and Land Use Code

Protect Public Views TO Landmarks / Natural Features

Protection of views FROM designated viewpoints

 Viewpoint – parks (some microparks) under P&R

Viewpoint Advisory Team

Seattle Municipal Code (SMC) 25.05.675.P

Environmental review policies for public protection

SMC 23.49.024

View corridors protected through upper-level building setbacks

Space Needle can condition projects from enumerated view list

Hamilton Viewpoint Park Source: Seattle Parks and Recreation

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SLIDE 10

GIG HARBOR – PROJECT REVIEW LEVEL

Comprehensive Plan Goals & Policies

4.4.1. Identify Significant Views.

4.4.2. Preserve Corner lots and view termination points.

4.4.3. Designate enhancement zones.

4.4.4. Cluster green spaces

Design Standards

Prominent Parcels

Unique Design Standards

Design Review Considerations

Neighborhood Context places more rigorous review on projects located in visually sensitive areas.

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OLYMPIA – PROJECT REVIEW LEVEL

  • Downtown Strategy
  • Viewshed Analysis & Public Process
  • Downtown Strategy Workshop #1

(11/21/15) had participants prioritize certain viewsheds (only those with

  • bservation points within the downtown)
  • Defined in 18.02
  • Scenic

Vistas.

  • Easements, Scenic
  • View Corridor
  • Land Use Chapter, Goal #8: Community views

are protected, preserved, and enhanced.

  • PL8.1: Implement public processes, including the use of digital

simulation software, to identify important landmark views and

  • bservation points.
  • PL8.2: Use visualization tools to identify view planes and

sightline heights between the landmark view and observation point.

  • PL8.4: Avoid height bonuses and incentives that interfere with

landmark views.

  • PL8.5: Set absolute maximum building heights to preserve

publicly-identified observation points and landmark views.

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SLIDE 12

AUSTIN, TX – HARD OVERLAY

Capitol View Corridors

Strict Controls

Downtown development most strictly controlled by height limits of view corridors.

Any other regulation has potential to be changed, waived, exempted, excepted or grandfathered.

Capitol view corridors represent a height above sea level which cannot be exceeded.

Move forward

Capitol View Corridor (CVC) Overlay District Regulations

Appendix A: Each corridor defined by two lines with enumerated elevation and start/end GPS coordinates.

Development in each corridor cannot exceed the height of the “plane”.

Capitol View Corridor Map Source: Preservation Austin

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SLIDE 13

DENVER, CO – HARD OVERLAY

Municipal Code, Chapter 10 – Buildings and Building Regulations

Article IV. Restrictions on Structures Within Areas Necessary to Preserve Mountain Views

Purpose / City Property / Prohibitions

Specific Sections Per Point

Adoption of Map

Limitations on Construction

Reference Point

Cannot exceed elevation calculations

Rise over run transition

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SLIDE 14

Questions?

Contact: Allison Osterberg, Senior Planner allison.osterberg@co.thurston.wa.us 360-867-2102 Ian Lefcourte, Associate Planner Ian.Lefcourte@co.thurston.wa.us 360-786-5505 Project Updates and Draft Documents www.Thurston2040.com