FACILITIES AND SERVICES ELEMENT POLICIES
FACILITIES and SERVICES ELEMENT VISION
Life in the valley is enhanced through various public infrastructure and service improvements. Traffic congestion is reduced through road improvements and alternative routes for residents within and surrounding the valley. The railroad continues the 130-year heritage of providing the valley with freight rail service and a connection to the
North American rail network. Circulation improvements are prioritized considering the welfare of local residents as well as the needs of motorists. All improvements are designed with sensitivity toward the rural character of the community. Recreational enthusiasts welcome active play amenities in a new centrally located regional park. Emergency preparedness plans and
facilities are in place; citizens and emergency services are educated about actions to be taken in time of emergency. Responsive County services aid in the discouragement and prevention of illegal activities.
GOAL:
It is the goal of this community plan to ensure appropriate facilities and services are provided. Facilities and services are to be sized and designed for a rural community.
Parks and Recreation
Transportation
Accommodating Future Traffic
Non-motorized Travel
Community Character
Environmental Considerations
Access Management
Transit Service and Transportation Demand Management
Safety and Mobility of Farm Vehicles
Mobility and Safety
Rhodes Lake Road Corridor
Monitor Development Impacts
NATURAL HAZARD POLICIES
Damage Mitigation Policies
Public Awareness and Education
IMPLEMENTING ACTIONS
Parks and Recreation
Objective 26. Increase recreational opportunities for residents within the
community.
Principle 1. Expand recreational opportunities through existing resources and facilities.
Standards
26.1.1 Recreational improvements and opportunities are prioritized as follows:
1) Redevelopment of Riverside Park;
2) Public access to the Puyallup and Carbon Rivers;
3) Other recreational activities including but not limited to the Reise site; Ford site; and Renaissance site.
26.1.2 The scale and design of future parks should meet the community’s needs rather than the region’s needs.
26.1.3 Consider a site’s environmental characteristics in determining the type of recreational improvements. Work with the environmental resources of the site, integrating activities in a manner that allows users to enjoy the natural amenities. Park
development shall not adversely impact the natural site amenities.
26.1.4 Explore opportunities for Pierce County to partner with the Cities of Sumner and Orting.
26.1.5 When possible, seek appropriate recreation mitigation when impacted by large transportation or essential public facilities projects.
26.1.6 Park buildings shall meet the design standards for architecture.
26.1.7 Explore and encourage opportunities for agricultural recreation such as agri-tourism and U-Pick farms.
Principle 2. Establish locational criteria for new recreational facilities.
Standards
26.2.1 New recreational facilities shall be located away from critical areas or the site must be designed to mitigate all potential impacts.
26.2.2 New recreational facilities shall be located away from existing agricultural lands or work with local farmers to design the project to mitigate potential impacts.
26.2.3 The location of new recreational facilities shall not adversely increase traffic congestion.
26.2.4 Recreational facilities shall be compatible with the rural area and lifestyle. Compatibility with the rural area does not include noise, traffic, lights, activities, impervious surfaces, and hours of operation that are akin to an urban area.
Principle 3. Explore interests and concerns of surrounding communities and others related to expanding a trail system in the area.
Standards
26.3.1 Pierce County should gauge community support for additional trail segments.
26.3.1.1 Prior to any trail plan adoption, community meetings should be held in Alderton-McMillin to determine if the public supports the trail alignment.
26.3.2 Pierce County Parks should evaluate the feasibility of connecting the Foothills trail with the Bonney Lake trail system.
26.3.3 The potential impact to surrounding agricultural lands should be considered in evaluating potential trail segments within the community.
26.3.4 A community trail system should strive to connect public river access areas along the Carbon and Puyallup Rivers.
26.3.5 Educational kiosks should be located along the Foothills Trail informing the public about the local history and agriculture.
Objective 27. Increase public access along the Carbon and Puyallup Rivers.
Principle 1. Redevelop Riverside Park as a community park.
Standards
27.1.1 Pierce County should develop a park master plan for Riverside Park.
27.1.1.1 The park master plan should be developed with the local community through a public hearing and permit process.
27.1.1.2 Improvements constructed in Riverside Park should focus on passive recreation, educational opportunities and river related activities. River access for boating should be a priority.
27.1.1.3 Educational kiosks and/or markers that describe the river eco-system and present fish and wildlife should be incorporated into the parks master plan.
27.1.1.4 The historical significance of the Riverside site as a “County Poor House” should be portrayed through educational materials.
27.1.1.5 Signage that provides environmental education and awareness should be placed in appropriate locations.
27.1.1.6 Ensure green space for playing and picnicking. Sport fields and play courts are not an appropriate use of the park area.
27.1.1.7 Pierce County should approach the City of Sumner to discuss a possible partnership in the development and/or maintenance of the facility.
27.1.1.8 Explore the possibility of obtaining support from the Puyallup Tribe for public river access at the park.
Principle 2. Evaluate opportunities to provide public access to Carbon and Puyallup Rivers through Pierce County owned properties.
Standards
27.2.1 Public river access sites are intended to be used for fishing and passive shoreline recreation activities.
27.2.2 If possible, a small number of public access sites should be provided throughout the Alderton-McMillin Community Plan area. These sites are intended to allow fishing access to the rivers but are not intended to include motorboat access or occupy private properties. Impacts to private properties for
recreational river access shall be minimized.
27.2.3 Criteria should be developed as a means to evaluate sites on the appropriateness of public access. The criteria should evaluate potential impacts to surrounding agricultural lands, habitat, and community. Significant impacts should be avoided.
27.2.4 Public river access sites should be minimally developed with amenities such as parking areas, trails, and educational kiosks.
27.2.5 Representatives from the community shall have the opportunity to provide input into potential public access sites.
27.2.6 Pursue a partnership with Pierce County Parks Department in the development and maintenance of public access sites to the Carbon and Puyallup Rivers.
27.2.7 Explore potential partnerships with community or special interest organizations in the development and/or maintenance of public access sites to the Carbon and Puyallup Rivers.
Objective 28. Provide community education through local recreational facilities.
Principle 1. Create opportunities for community education within the public river access areas and along the Foothills trail.
Standards
28.1.1 Community education should focus on the community agricultural history and unique environmental characteristics.
28.1.1.1 Support activities within the community that integrate environmental education with recreational activities.
28.1.1.2 Educational kiosks should be constructed at appropriate locations within the Riverside Park, public river access sites, and trail heads.
28.1.1.3 Signage that provides historical education (farming history) should be provided along the Foothills Trail.
Objective 29. Protect private property and increase safety in or adjacent to public parks.
Principle 1. Protect private property from trespassing.
Standards
29.1.1 Opening public properties to river access should reduce trespassing on private properties.
29.1.2 Place signs along property boundaries where trails, parks, or public river access properties abut private property. Signs should educate or remind users to stay on public access and public properties.
Principle 2. Increase safety in public parks.
Standards
29.2.1 Fund a park ranger or security officer through a funding partnership by the County and cities.
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TRANSPORTATION
Intent: Provide for the mobility and access needs of the Valley Residents while at the same time maintaining its unique rural character.
SR-162
Objective 30. Improve SR-162 to meet the future safety and mobility needs of the Valley Residents.
Principle 1. Support the Washington State Department of Transportation’s implementation of roadway improvements on SR-162 as specified in the Washington State Department of Transportation’s Highway Systems Plan. Lobby the state legislature and the Pierce County Council to secure the funding for this project. Support the concept of the
development community to provide some or all of the funding for this project.
Standards
30.1.1 Request that the state investigate the alternatives for increasing the capacity at the SR-410 and SR-162 Interchange. This improvement should precede the construction of additional lanes south of the SR-410 interchange.
30.1.2 Encourage the state to pursue the improvement of nearby interchanges that would direct traffic away from the Alderton-McMillin Community Plan area and other areas that are affected by “through” traffic that doesn’t meet their community character.
30.1.3 Work with the state in implementing access management strategies along SR-162 in order to maintain SR-162’s primary function as a thoroughfare. These strategies should move toward minimizing the access points along the highway.
30.1.4 Construct no new roadways connecting to SR-162 until the state has assured additional and adequate capacity of the facility to serve the mobility needs.
30.1.5 Work with the state in synchronizing current and future traffic signal installations on SR-162.
30.1.6 Work with the state in requiring the private sector to mitigate their impacts on SR-162 traffic congestion by providing funding towards the additional two lanes needed for this road.
30.1.7 Prior to the improvements to SR-162 it is recommended that the State Highway System Plan include provisions to accommodate agricultural machinery.
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Accommodating Future Traffic
Objective 31. Minimize the demand for additional roadway capacity within the community plan area.
Principle 1. Accommodate demand for roadways from development outside of the plan area by improving key roadways outside of the Puyallup Valley.
Standards
31.1.1 Fully investigate the provision of other roadways that may alleviate the demand for traveling through the valley. There are a number of future roadway connections and improvements that should be closely examined in this context including the South Plateau Connection, the extension of 176th Street E.
to the City Orting, and the improvement of 214th Ave E.
31.1.2 The County shall pursue joint partnerships with local jurisdictions and developers to negotiate and complete subregional transportation improvements that will take traffic away from the valley.
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Nonmotorized Travel
Objective 32. Plan, fund, and construct nonmotorized improvements.
Principle 1. Provide nonmotorized facilities in areas of highest potential usage for residents and visitors.
Standards
32.1.1 Develop nonmotorized facilities that will link the Alderton-McMillin community with the Foothills Rails to Trails trailhead in McMillin.
32.1.2 Identify and implement nonmotorized improvements that will accommodate the students’ travel to school bus stops and safe walking corridors for those that arrive at school locations without buses. All nonmotorized facilities are in keeping with rural environment.
32.1.3 Include paved shoulders to accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians in new or reconstructed roadways that are anticipated to have higher nonmotorized usage.
32.1.4 Coordinate with the City of Bonney Lake in the effort in developing a link between one of their trails to the Foot Hills Trail.
32.1.5 The locational criteria for nonmotorized trails should consider the avoidance of farmland that would be subject to pesticide/herbicidal treatment.
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Community Character
Objective 33. Strive to retain the rural character and the history and heritage of the community through roadway design.
Principle 1. Retain the existing County and private roads in their rural state.
Standards
33.1.1 Capacity improvements on County roadways in the plan area should only be considered when meeting roadway design standards or providing shoulders or turn lanes.
33.1.2 Paved shoulders instead of sidewalks are generally preferred on roadways in the rural areas. Sidewalks are not consistent with the rural character of the community and should be discouraged in the rural areas.
33.1.3 Consider the use of “paths” adjacent to roadways for nonmotorized purposes. These paths should connect existing or proposed trails, schools, parks, or other destinations that generate higher levels of nonmotorized demand.
33.1.4 Unless deemed necessary, roadway construction projects should minimize the removal of trees along the roadways in the rural areas. Relocate when feasible or replace any trees as part of any roadway projects outside of the right-of-way.
33.1.5 Roadway illumination should not be utilized unless required to enhance safety.
33.1.6 When light fixtures are provided along state highways and arterials ensure that they are direct and do not cast light in multiple directions. Transportation corridors shall utilize the minimum amount of lighting necessary for safety and function.
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Environmental Considerations
Objective 34. Design and locate transportation facilities to minimize environmental impacts.
Principle 1. Minimize impacts to wetlands and wildlife areas when designing and constructing transportation facilities.
Standards
34.1.1 Implement transportation improvements in accordance with the County’s new regulations to protect water quality and to avoid wetlands, creeks, and other critical areas.
34.1.2 Assure that roads, highways, and transportation facilities are designed and constructed in partnership with nature, preserving as much as possible the natural environment and existing vegetation of the area.
34.1.3 Design roadways to minimize impacts upon the adjacent land uses. Those impacts to be considered include motor vehicle emissions, noise, visual, light, safety, and security impacts.
34.1.4 Employ the principles of “context sensitive design” in the development of new roads within the community in order to assure the retention of the character of the area. In particular the County should not develop new corridors that would encourage less rural type development in the community.
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Access Management
Objective 35. Promote public safety and efficient traffic operations through applying access management techniques.
Principle 1. Consider opportunities to use “Context Sensitive Design” principles in the plan area.
Standards
35.1.1 Encourage and assist landowners to work together to prepare comprehensive access plans that emphasize efficient internal circulation and discourage multiple access points to major roadways from developing areas along major and secondary arterials.
35.1.2 Encourage access to developments through a system of collector arterials and local access streets.
35.1.3 Work with the State in developing more innovative methods to limit access on SR-162.
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Transit Service and Transportation Demand Management
Objective 36. Provide transit service within and outside the community that will reduce the vehicular trips within and through the area.
Principle 1. Work with Pierce Transit and Sound Transit in developing strategies for increasing fixed route and demand responsive transit service in the area.
Standards
36.1.1 Coordinate with Pierce Transit to provide better marketing and promotion of existing paratransit service within the community.
36.1.2 Explore opportunities with Pierce Transit to provide additional paratransit service within the community.
36.1.3 Coordinate with WSDOT and Pierce Transit and possibly the City of Orting in siting, planning, and developing a Park and Ride facility that may also be served by transit.
36.1.4 Investigate the feasibility of commuter rail that may serve the community.
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Safety and Mobility of Farm Vehicles
Objective 37. Provide for the presence of farm vehicles on the roadway network.
Principle 1. Promote the safe use of the roadways for farm vehicles through such tools as frontage roads when considering new roads or improving existing roads.
Standards
37.1.1 Coordinate with the farming community to understand the specific operational needs of their industry. Determine the feasibility of any actions to promote the safety of the farm vehicles on the roadway.
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Mobility and Safety
Objective 38. Consider the role of new or improved roadway facilities in their ability to facilitate faster evacuation out of the valley in the event of a lahar flow. Additionally, any new or improved facilities must also provide for ease of access for emergency
vehicles both into and through the valley.
Principle 1. Consider new or improved roadways that will safely and effectively evacuate people out of the lahar flow.
Standards
38.1.1 Fully investigate the role of the South Plateau Connection in evacuating the community.
38.1.2 Build currently planned improvements that will support the connectivity of the total roadway network around the community plan area such as Cross Base Highway.
38.1.3 Construct the extension of 176th Street East.
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Rhodes Lake Road Corridor
Objective 39. Mitigate the impacts of any new alignment built as a result of the Rhodes Lake Road Corridor Study.
Principle 1. Develop and implement specific measures to mitigate the impact of the “Rhodes Lake Road Corridor.”
Standards
39.1.1 Provide for full mitigation/replacement of any farmland that would be used in the construction of a new corridor.
39.1.2 Design the roadway when feasible to minimize the impact on the view corridors within the valley. Consideration should be given toward such strategies as:
a. Buffering the roadway with trees and other vegetation.
b. Designing the roadway so that it would take advantage of the topography of the area to make it less visible.
39.1.3 Create and implement new roadway standards for the Rhodes Lake Road Corridor that would preserve the rural character of the community through access control management.
39.1.4 Do not illuminate any portion of the roadway unless there are clear safety standards that would require the same.
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Monitor Development Impacts
Objective 40. Plan, fund, program, design, and implement roadway projects at the time of development impacts
Principle 1. Coordinate the timing, location, and type of new development with future transportation infrastructure..
Standards
40.1.1 Adhere to the County’s Transportation Concurrency Management System’s standards and methodology for measuring and monitoring the levels of congestion and maintaining transportation concurrency.
40.1.2 Require Cascadia to provide their approved levels of employment in tandem with their residential development. Monitor this balance through the periodic review of this development’s traffic impacts as required by the Hearing Examiner.
40.1.3 SR-162 must be improved and maintained to a level of service D prior to the construction of any new proposed roadway connecting this state highway with the developments on and near the plateau.
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NATURAL HAZARD POLICIES
GOAL
The goal of the natural hazard policies is to ensure damage to property or people is minimized; evacuation routes, procedures, and actions are in place; and, the public is educated about what to do and where to go in the event of a flood, earthquake, volcano, or landslide.
GENERAL POLICIES
Objective 41. Vulnerabilities shall be minimized within the Alderton-McMillin planning area. Vulnerabilities are anyone or anything that may incur loss of life or property in a hazardous event– people,
property, and buildings.
Principle 1. Minimize the loss of life or property in expected hazardous events.
Standards
41.1.1 Recognize the Puyallup-Carbon River valley contains a number of naturally occurring, potentially catastrophic events. Minimize the potential loss to people, property and buildings.
41.1.2 Allow clustering of homes or businesses only when safe, available evacuation routes can be identified or constructed to remove people from harms way.
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Damage Mitigation Policies
Objective 42. Mitigate damage to people and property.
Principle 1. Pierce County should invest in projects and programs within the plan area that protects or prepares local community residents in the event of a hazardous incident.
Standards
42.1.1 Pierce County should invest financial and/or staff resources into future capacity improvements that protects local community residents.
a. The County shall include seismic retrofitting for the McMillin bridge in the next Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) cycle.
b. The County should facilitate opportunities to implement the “Bridge for Kids.”
c. The County and community should engage in conversations with Cascadia to investigate the possibility of an escape footpath from the valley to a staging area on the plateau.
42.1.2 Pursue opportunities to augment the local emergency siren system.
a. The County shall require all new public gathering places to be hardwired with NOAA weather radios.
b. Home builders should be encouraged to hardwire emergency weather radios into new construction.
c. Pierce County should explore possibilities to distribute emergency weather radios to residents.
42.1.3 All available evacuation routes out of the valley shall be clearly identified with signage within one year of plan adoption.
42.1.4 Pierce County Neighborhood Emergency Teams should be more widely established within the plan area.
a. Groups of people and individuals, particularly elderly or large groups of young children, which may need assistance during an event should be identified.
b. Procedures and contacts should be established and known through coordination with PC-NET.
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Puyallup
Valley Preservation Group