SEQUIM — The design standards for new construction, adopted Monday by the Sequim City Council, apply to commercial buildings, condominiums and apartments, but not to single-family homes.
Here’s a sampling of the standards, which will be in effect on a trial basis for one year:
Multi-building and multi-family projects . . . [should] reflect the rural heritage of the community.
Bright-colored or reflective roofing materials are prohibited. Limit roofing colors to darker earth tone or forest colors. Forest green, earthy browns, charcoal or medium grays and dark clay colors are allowed.
Sources of natural light (i.e., skylight) shall be utilized, whenever possible, to increase energy efficiency and worker well-being.
Fences shall be . . . wood, wrought iron, brick, stone or concrete masonry . . . mesh fencing shall be allowed only when coated with vinyl or a powder paint coating in a dark, earth-based tone, and attached to posts made of wood stone or other masonry materials.
Due to Sequim’s growing agri-lavender business, developers are strongly encouraged to incorporate lavender plants into their landscape design plan.
Large-surface parking lots (50 or more spaces) shall be visually and functionally segmented into several smaller lots . . . no more than 50 percent of parking may be in front of buildings.
Predominant exterior building materials shall be constructed with high-quality materials such as brick masonry; wood, large timbers; sandstone; river rock and other native stone; tinted, textured, concrete masonry units.
The protection of existing Garry oak trees during construction is mandatory unless deemed to be sick, dying or dead by an ISA-certified arborist.
Environmentally-conscious development is encouraged. Alternative forms of energy, such as . . . solar or wind power, along with skylights, garden roofs and shared parking are also strongly considered.
Low-impact development techniques are also recommended for stormwater conveyance and treatment.
During Monday’s public hearing on the standards, Sequim resident Pat MacRobbie urged the City Council to put teeth in that “environmentally-conscious” clause.
If such development is only “encouraged,” she said, builders may reply, “We considered using green-building techniques, but it was too expensive,” and be off the hook.
MacRobbie also asked for stronger words on stormwater, which runs off hard surfaces and pollutes streams and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
“I think it should be ‘low impact methods for stormwater conveyance and treatment must be used,” she said.
The council didn’t alter the standards’ wording, but said it will review the design standards 10 months from now, just before the one-year trial period expires.
