Gee Creek Subarea Concept Plan Boards_8.31.17-1www.ridgefieldwa.us
Residential-Cluster Development
Collector Cross Section (70-Foot ROW)
TWO DRIVE LANES
PLANTED SWALES
SIZE VARIES
10’ MULTIMODAL
TRAIL
RETAIN EXISTING HABITAT
CLUSTERED HOUSING
RETAIN EXISTING
TOPOGRAPHY PERIMETER
LANDSCAPING
RETAIN AGRICULTURE, PASTURE,
& OPEN SPACE LAND
IMPROVED ROADWAY
6’ SIDEWALK
STREET TREES
30’ O.C.
SPLIT RAIL
FENCE
Gee Creek Plateau
Subarea Plan
www.ridgefieldwa.us
Rural Street
• Streets to maintain rural character with two drive lanes, landscaped swales and detached multimodal trail.
• Swales to be planted with mowable materials and also street trees placed 30 feet on center.
• Split rail fence to be placed along public right-of-way.
• Landscaping along street to mimic rural character and use drought tolerant, native species where appropriate.
Residential Cluster Development
• Cluster development to incorporate and maintain existing agriculture, pasture, and open space.
• Align cluster development along roadways to reduce utility and infrastructure costs and development impacts.
• Vary lot sizes within cluster development to mimic existing development patterns.
• Provide perimeter landscape buffers to L3 standard to screen new development.
• Consider existing iconic views from public rights-of-way and parks.
• Allow commercial activity that supports agricultural use.
• Maintain native soil and existing topography.
Trail Network
• Multimodal trail along public right-of-way to provide non-motorized transportation options.
• Reflect rural heritage and agricultural character in wayfinding signage, lighting, and benches.
• Develop network that directs users to agricultural and recreational amenities.
• Connect with trails to downtown and 45th & Pioneer subarea.
• Interpretive signs for historic, cultural, and natural resources of Gee Creek.
Gee Creek Plateau
Design Guidelines
500 0 500250 Feet
Gee Creek Study Area
Proposed Circulation
Existing Road
Collector Improvements
Proposed Collector
Multimodal Trail
Overlay
Mixed Use*
Open Space
Neighborhood Parks (2-5 Ac.)
Zoning Designations
Open Space/Park
Residential - Cluster
Residential Low Density 4-6
Residential Low Density 8*
Residential Medium Density 16*
Note: * Included in 45th & Pioneer Subarea Plan5000500250FeetGee Creek Study AreaProposed CirculationExisting RoadCollector ImprovementsProposed CollectorMultimodal TrailOverlayMixed Use*Open SpaceNeighborhood Parks (2-5 Ac.)Zoning DesignationsOpen Space/ParkResidential - ClusterResidential Low Density 4-6Residential Low Density 8*Residential Medium Density 16*Note: * Included in 45th & Pioneer Subarea PlanTRAIL
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www.ridgefieldwa.usGee Creek Plateau | Subarea Concept Plan
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ORIENT CLUSTER DEVELOPMENT
ALONG ROADWAYS
NEW CREEK CROSSING
PEDESTRIAN CIRCULATION USES
EXISTING CRITICAL AREAS (TYP.)
PEDESTRIAN CIRCULATION USES
EXISTING CRITICAL AREAS (TYP.)
TRAIL CREEK CROSSING AT
EXISTING BRIDGE
MULTIMODAL TRAIL
INTERSECTION
IMPROVEMENT
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S 5TH WAY
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500 0 500250 Feet
Proposed Circulation
Existing Road
Collector Improvements
Proposed Collector
Multimodal Trail
Overlay
Mixed Use (Optional)
Zone
Residential Low Density Cluster (RLD-C)
Residential Low Density 4 (RLD-4)
Residential Low Density 6 (RLD-6)
Residential Low Density 8 (RLD-8)
Residential Medium Density 16 (RMD-16)
www.ridgefieldwa.usGee Creek Plateau | Subarea Zoning Map
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S 5TH WAY
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500 0 500250 Feet
Proposed Circulation
Existing Road
Collector Improvements
Proposed Collector
Multimodal Trail
Comprehensive Plan Designations
Urban Low Density Residential
Urban Medium Density Residential 5000500250FeetGee Creek Study AreaProposed CirculationExisting RoadCollector ImprovementsProposed CollectorMultimodal TrailOverlayMixed Use*Open SpaceNeighborhood Parks (2-5 Ac.)Zoning DesignationsOpen Space/ParkResidential - ClusterResidential Low Density 4-6Residential Low Density 8*Residential Medium Density 16*Note: * Included in 45th & Pioneer Subarea Planwww.ridgefieldwa.usGee Creek Plateau | Subarea Comprehensive Plan Map
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GEE CREEK SUBAREA PLAN
VISION STATEMENT
Gee Creek Plateau is a scenic neighborhood that reflects the rural heritage of Ridgefield. Residential
developments are integrated within the natural environment and agricultural land is preserved to support
family farms and maintain a working landscape.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Future development in the Gee Creek Plateau will
Respect existing development and the community’s desire to remain principally rural.
Maintain larger lot sizes and protect agricultural lands.
Support mobility by encouraging multimodal trails and new roadway connections within and outside
of the subarea.
Protect the area’s natural topography and critical areas.
Support local community-serving small-scale commercial development at the subarea’s fringe in
coordination with the 45th and Pioneer Subarea Plan. Commercial development should be designed
to visually complement the community’s rural heritage.
PREFERRED CONCEPT PLAN ELEMENTS
Creates new Residential-Cluster zone to preserve agriculture, open space, and pasture lands.
Includes low-density residential development at three dwelling units per acre.
Requires a cluster Planned Unit Development to ensure large portions of land are maintained for
agriculture or grazing.
Concentrates higher-density residential in the northeast corner of the subarea adjacent to 45th
Avenue; maintains the mixed-use overlay developed for the 45th and Pioneer Subarea Plan.
Provides trail connections to support multimodal transportation through the subarea.
Gee Creek trail located on the south side of Gee Creek.
Identifies locations for two neighborhood parks, as planned in the City’s Parks and Recreation Plan.
Identifies planned transportation improvements.
35th Avenue improvements as primary circulation route through the subarea.
Extend/improve 5th Street and 8th Way to provide circulation in the northeast portion of the plan
area.
LAND USE CAPACITY
Land use capacity for the proposed zoning map compared to current County zoning is provided on the
following tables.
Total Land Use Capacity: Existing and Proposed
Net Acres1 Capacity
Proposed vs Existing
Existing Proposed Existing Proposed
Residential 248 248 1,563 units
4,533 people2
1,172 units
3,399 people2
(391) units
(1,134) people
Land Use Capacity by Zone –Existing
Zone Net Acres1 Max. Density (DU/Acre) Max. Allowed DU
R1-10 29 4.4 128
R1-7.5 109 5.8 632
R1-6 110 7.3 803
Total 1,563
Land Use Capacity by Zone –Proposed
Zone Net Acres1 Max. Density (DU/Acre) Max. Allowed DU
RLD-C 108 3 324
RLD-4 51 4 204
RLD-6 62 6 372
RLD-8 20 8 160
RMD-16 7 16 112
Total 1,172
1Estimated to include gross acres with a 30 percent deduction for infrastructure and steep slopes/critical areas.
2Based on an average of 2.9 people per household.
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES
The following strategies are recommended to implement the Gee Creek Plateau Subarea Plan.
Adoption
Adopt the Gee Creek Sub-Area Plan and incorporate it into the comprehensive plan. The preferred
alternative will be adopted as the subarea concept plan map. Through the adoption of the subarea plan,
the City and property owners can ensure future development is consistent with the Gee Creek Guiding
Principles, including preservation of agricultural uses within the plan area.
Code Amendments
In order to integrate the subarea plan elements into the Ridgefield Development Code (RDC),
amendments are recommended. Amendments will include establishing a new low-density residential
zone (RLD-C), additional use categories to address the keeping of animals and commercial uses associated
with agriculture, and specific clustering standards within the planned unit development ordinance.
Annexation
The petition method of annexation, pursuant to RCW 35A.14.120, is anticipated for the subarea. Under this
method, annexation is initiated by landowners with 60 percent or more of the assessed property value
within the proposed annexation area. An annexation petition will require City Council review and approval.
Annexation can occur in phases or the entire subarea can be annexed at one time. The timing and
sequence of annexation will be driven by property owners’ interest in developing their property and
connecting to City services.
Capital Improvements
Capital improvements, including water, sewer, and transportation infrastructure, are required in
conjunction with subarea development. Sewer pump stations are preliminarily proposed within the Gee
Creek corridor within the subarea. The collection sewer is also proposed along 35th Avenue, 30th Place,
15th Street, and within the Gee Creek corridor with force mains proposed to connect the collection sewer
to pump stations. A water line is proposed through the subarea along 15th Street, 35th Avenue, and 10th
Way. Transportation improvements include improvements to 35th Avenue/Place, 5th Street, and 8th Way.