COMMUNITY CHARACTER
AND DESIGN ELEMENT POLICIES
COMMUNITY CHARACTER ELEMENT VISION
We envision a safe rural environment where our sense of community is maintained through the preservation of historic landmarks, open spaces, and celebrations of our community through local gatherings.
GOAL:
The goal of the community character policies is to ensure future decisions that impact the community are consistent with and continue the preservation of the rural character of Alderton-McMillin.
OBJECTIVES, PRINCIPLES, AND STANDARDS
Community Design
Cultural Development
Historical Preservation
Implementing Actions
Community Design
Intent: Ensure the Alderton-McMillin community remains rural in character over the next 20 years.
Objective 14. Minimize aesthetic impacts of residential, commercial and industrial activities.
Principle 1. Promote commercial and industrial development that is visually attractive, compatible with the residential character and agricultural identity of the community while being respectful to the natural environment.
Standards
14.1.1 Site design for commercial development should respect neighboring properties and consider the natural environment.
14.1.1.1 Implement low impact development design
standards where feasible.
14.1.1.2 Locate required vegetation in a manner that provides buffering/screening between industrial and non-industrial lands.
14.1.1.3 Outdoor lighting should enhance visibility and security without projecting excessive glare on surrounding property or into the night sky.
14.1.1.4 Sustained noise that is generated by commercial activity should not negatively impact neighboring property owners.
14.1.2 New commercial buildings within a Rural Neighborhood Center that are visible from public areas should convey a traditional rural or agricultural character.
14.1.2.1 Building mass and materials should project a small scale character.
Principal 2. Promote coordinated and planned commercial developments within the Alderton Rural Neighborhood Center.
Standards
14.2.1 New commercial development within the Alderton Rural Neighborhood Center should be designed to complement adjacent businesses.
14.2.1.1 Encourage connections between neighboring commercial properties.
14.2.1.2 Promote harmonious commercial building architecture through the use of materials and textures.
14.2.1.3 Discourage the application of typical franchise/corporate replication.
14.2.2 Develop and adopt preferred master plan designs for the location of buildings, open space, access, and amenities within the Alderton Rural Neighborhood Centers.
14.2.2.1 Developments should be linked with walkways, common access points, and outdoor areas providing an atmosphere and identity that is uniquely Alderton.
14.2.2.2 Provide incentives for land owners within a Rural Neighborhood Center to conform the appropriate adopted master plan design.
Principle 3. Minimize the visual impact of commercial retail and service activities permitted on agricultural properties.
Standards
14.3.1 Design standards for commercial activities on agricultural properties should be flexible.
14.3.1.1 At a minimum, design standards should equal or exceed setbacks from neighboring residential property.
Principle 4. Promote residential site design that establishes and connects open
spaces.
Standards
14.4.1 Provide incentives for innovative site designs that cluster residential uses to preserve larger contiguous open areas.
Objective 15. Decrease the amount of commercial signage in the community plan area.
Principle 1. Limit commercial signage while adequately promoting goods and services provided by local businesses.
Standards
15.1.1 Building and free standing signs shall be designed and located in a manner that is not overly intruding.
15.1.1.1 Pole signs should be prohibited.
15.1.1.2 Building and freestanding signs should be lighted indirectly.
15.1.1.3 The size of building and freestanding sign faces shall be limited.
15.1.1.4 The exterior base structure for freestanding signs shall be made of or faced with natural materials such as stone, brick, or wood.
15.1.1.5 Prohibit the use of flashing or rotating signs, video signs, internally lit and roof signs.
15.1.2 The Rural Industrial Center shall be identified with only one sign located along SR-162.
15.1.2.1 The industrial park identification sign shall be a monument style sign.
15.1.3 Limit the use of off-premise signs to temporary applications such as directional signage or community events.
Principle 2. Promote local seasonal agricultural products through the allowance of temporary signage.
Standards
15.2.1 Provide sufficient regulatory flexibility to allow local farmers to advertise available produce using temporary signage.
15.2.2 Implement temporary sign standards that allow a local farmer to acquire a temporary sign permit that may extend beyond 30 days to accommodate a product’s availability for marketing.
Objective 16. Locate required vegetation in a manner that protects and enhances the views of the ridgelines and hillsides from the valley floor.
Principle 1. Preserve the natural attributes along the hills and ridgelines above the valley.
Standards
16.1.1 Development on hillsides or along ridgelines shall be required to locate their natural vegetation areas and tree preservation credits along the perimeter of the project to maintain vegetated views from the valley floor.
16.1.2 Minimize tree removal to accommodate view creation, instead encourage selective tree-limbing as necessary
Principle 2. Preserve the natural attributes along the hills and ridgelines above the valley.
Standards
16.2.1 Encourage neighboring communities to adopt policies and regulations that naturally screens urban development on the hillsides and ridgelines from valley residents.
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Cultural Development
Intent: Ensure that the agricultural heritage of the Alderton-McMillin community is preserved and perpetuated.
Objective 17. Look for opportunities to educate the residents of the community’s agricultural heritage.
Principle 1. Provide for community and public events to promote, educate, share, or display information related to culture, art, and science of agriculture specific to the community.
Principle 2. Work with local schools, colleges, and universities, and arts and cultural organizations to create cultural and arts events that celebrate the community-based agriculture and agricultural heritage.
Principle 3. Organize agricultural heritage tours to promote and market the community-based agriculture.
Standards
17.3.1 Work with the local farmers, granges, agriculture-related organizations, and business to organize on-going tours of local farms and other agriculture-related businesses.
17.3.2 Work with local schools and colleges to involve young people in the local agriculture.
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Historic Preservation
Intent: Emphasize the importance of history in providing a sense of place in the plan area and preserve and prioritize historic structures, places, and traditions.
Objective 18. Ensure the history of the Alderton-McMillin Community Plan area is conveyed to residents and visitors.
Principle 1. Preserve sites of historical significance and strive to emphasize the importance of community history.
Standards
18.1.1 Integrate historic resources with natural resources when developing new recreational and visitor facilities.
18.1.2 The community should be afforded an opportunity to provide input into the review process when a nomination application to the Pierce County Register of Historic Places for a property located in the Alderton-McMillin Community Plan area is filed with the Pierce County Landmarks
Commission.
18.1.3 Encourage local businesses to have historic plaques or pictures as part of the decor.
18.1.4 Develop a comprehensive inventory of cultural resources including historically significant features for the community.
18.1.5 When there is a conflict between the adopted design standards and preservation of the architectural integrity of a historical building that has been identified on the Pierce County Register of Historic Places, the historical architectural integrity shall prevail.
Principle 2. Promote the knowledge and presence of history in the community to provide a sense of belonging and tradition for those who live in or visit the community.
Standards
18.2.1 Promote the history of events, people, traditions, unique structures, and artifacts.
18.2.1.1 Explore educational opportunities in conjunction with activities at the McMillin Grange.
18.2.1.2 Record the history of the valley through the voices and experiences of the people in a video documentary.
18.2.2 Strive to educate visitors and local citizens about the history of the valley.
18.2.2.1 Work with the local school districts to integrate the community’s history into the curriculum.
18.2.2.2 Disseminate historical information through kiosks or landmarks.
18.2.3 Develop a historic tour of important places and structures in the community.
18.2.3.1 Develop standardized identification signs for historic tour properties.
18.2.3.2 Encourage property owners of historic properties and structures to be involved with the development of a tour.
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IMPLEMENTING ACTIONS
FOR THE COMMUNITY CHARACTER AND DESIGN ELEMENT
The following list of actions needs to be completed in order to implement the policies contained within this plan. They are arranged according to the timeframe within which each should be completed: short, medium, or long term. Short-term actions should occur within one year of plan adoption. Mid-term actions should be
completed within 2-5 years. Long-term actions should be completed within 5-10 years of plan adoption. The entity or entities responsible for leading the effort to complete the action item is listed in parenthesis following the action. Actions are assigned to the Land Use Advisory Commission (LUAC), Pierce County Planning and Land Services (PALS), Pierce County Economic Development
(ED), Pierce County Parks and Recreations (Parks), Pierce County Public Works & Utilities (PWU), and Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department (TPCHD).
Short Term Actions (Upon plan adoption to 1 year)
Amend Title 18J, Design Standards and Guidelines to:
- Establish site design standards and guidelines and a site plan review and approval process for all proposed commercial, civic and industrial development.
- Establish site design standards and guidelines and a site plan review and approval process for all clustered residential development.
- Establish architectural standards and guidelines and an architectural plan review and approval process for all proposed commercial, civic and industrial development.
- Establish simple, facilitated standards for commercial related to agriculture. (PALS)
Amend Title 18B, Signs to establish sign standards and a sign review and approval process including:
- Type and placement of signs.
- Design details.
- Sign maintenance.
- Conveyance of information.
- Flexibility for establishments selling locally grown products.
- Nonconforming signs. (PALS)
Adopt an inventory of cultural and historic resources within the plan area that are significant for preservation, protection, or restoration efforts. These resources may include buildings, roads, sites, or districts within communities. (PALS)
Review Pierce County land use applications to determine if historic and cultural resources are listed for consideration. Amend as necessary to include this as a review item. (PALS)
Initiate a video documentary of the history of the community including interviews with long time residents and farmers.
Mid-Term Actions (1-5 years)
Establish a Land Use Advisory Commission for the community plan area. In addition to the normal development and design review responsibilities of the LUAC consider:
- Initiate special events to promote the history within the plan area.
- Engage in restoration actions for historic or cultural resources.
- Work with individual property owners of historic or cultural resources to encourage preservation or restoration actions.
- Establish a standard design for signage that identifies historic or cultural resources. (PALS, LUAC)
Amend Title 18A, Zoning cottage industry standards to provide adequate screening between cottage industries and neighboring properties. (PALS)
Amend Title 18J, Design Standards and Guidelines to:
· Establish viewshed guidelines.
· Develop context sensitive design guidelines for transportation and utility infrastructure. (PALS, PW-T, PWU)
Conduct an inventory of commercial signage within the plan area. The inventory should identify the total number of signs on each parcel, the type of sign, and year the sign was permitted. (PALS)
Work toward the placement of community profiles, including the current and historical role of agriculture in the plan area, at trailhead kiosks and along the Foothills trail. (PALS, Parks, LUAC)
Organize regular community events by working and coordinating with agriculture-related organizations located within the community. (LUAC)
Work with locally-based community development organizations, both public and non-profit, to provide for space and resources for public events and provide market mechanisms to promote agricultural heritage. (LUAC)
Long Term Actions (5-10 years)
Work with the local school districts to integrate the history of the valley into school curriculum. (LUAC)
Develop and distribute material that emphasizes the area’s current and historical connection with agriculture to local homeowner associations to provide community awareness and identity to residents. (PALS, LUAC)
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INDEX PAGE HOMEPAGE
Puyallup
Valley Preservation Group