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A. Purpose. The Education and Recreation Conservation District is intended to create an identifiable environment, promote preservation, enhancement, and expansion of education and recreation opportunities, and provide overall design guidelines and standards that reinforce connections to the other Central Park Plan Districts, emphasize ‘great street’ design as defined below, establish entry gateways, and preserve parks and open space.

B. Establishment of Boundaries. The portion of the Vancouver Central Park District located north and outside of the Officers Row Conservation District and the Historic Reserve Conservation District and excluding the Social and Health Services Conservation District, as illustrated in Figure 20.640-4.

C. Regulation of Uses. The following uses are permitted on all properties zoned CPX within the Education and Recreation Conservation District. For all other zones within the Vancouver Central Park Plan District, refer to 20.640.020 (B).

1. Basic Utilities as defined in Section 20.160.020, Use Classifications, except for Vancouver Water Works Park where offices may be included as Operations Support Buildings as defined in the Water Works Park Public Facilities Master Plan PRJ2005-00739/MPF2005-00004.

2. Colleges as defined in Section 20.160.020, Use Classifications.

3. Community Recreation excluding the following: health/fitness clubs, indoor tennis/racquetball and soccer clubs, unless in conjunction with a school or community center, golf courses and shooting ranges as defined in Section 20.160.020, Use Classifications.

4. Cultural Institutions as defined in Section 20.160.020, Use Classifications, except for a performing arts center is also a permitted use.

5. Parks/Open Space as defined in Section 20.160.020, Use Classifications, except for Vancouver Water Works Park where property under the direction of the parks department will be used as Urban Natural Areas and Open Space, as defined in the Vancouver-Clark Comprehensive Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan 2007.

6. Schools as defined in Section 20.160.020, Use Classifications.

7. Transportation facilities as defined in Section 20.160.020, Use Classifications, except for park and ride facilities that are a Limited Use. Accessory eating and drinking establishments are permitted within the park and ride transit facility.

8. General Office, as defined in Section 20.160.020 (C)(6)(a), Use Classifications.

9. Rail Lines/Utility Corridors as defined in Section 20.160.020, Use Classifications.

10. Temporary Uses subject to VMC Chapter 20.885.

11. Wireless communications facilities as permitted in Chapter 20.890, Wireless Communication Facilities.

12. EV Basic Charging Stations, if accessory to a permitted use.

13. EV Rapid Charging Stations, if accessory to a permitted use.

D. Special Standards and Guidelines. Development in the Education and Recreation Conservation District shall comply with the following design guidelines and standards, including approval criteria and standards of VMC 20.265 Design Review, and other provisions of this title.

1. Trees and Landscape Planting.

a. Street trees that will provide a large, wide canopy over Fort Vancouver Way shall be selected from the Street Tree Selection List found in Appendix A of the Street Tree Manual. Street Trees shall be approved by the City Urban Forester and planted in accordance with VMC 20.925, Street Trees.

b. Landscape plantings shall be chosen and designed to be similar and compatible with required street trees and/or existing landscaping.

c. Pacific Northwest native plant species should be used for landscape plantings.

d. Existing arboretums should be preserved and enhanced.

e. As required in Chapter 20.770, a tree plan shall be submitted. The tree plan shall include small groves of native evergreen trees such as Douglas fir, Western Red Cedar, Grand Fir and/or the deciduous Oregon White Oak, in groupings of three, five or seven trees. Locate groves to create edges that frame and enhance open spaces.

f. New development on properties abutting I-5 and any substantial changes or expansions to I-5 shall require a planting plan that includes groves of native evergreen species, such as Douglas fir, Western Red Cedar, and Grand Fir that provide screening of I-5 from the Vancouver Central Park Plan District. The Urban Forester shall approve plantings.

2. Parks and Open Space. Preserving parks and open space is a priority of the Central Park Plan and may be accomplished by, but is not limited to, the following:

a. Compact building and efficient use of existing surface parking to reduce or eliminate the need to use open space to expand facilities.

b. Preserve as much as practicable, the central open space concept on the Clark College campus.

c. Preserve and enhance existing City Parks.

d. Preserve, enhance, and expand, as much as practicable, current sport fields and other open spaces.

3. Properties located north of Officers Row and south of Mill Plain Boulevard. Due to the importance of the public uses located within this area and their prominent location adjacent to Officer’s Row and the importance and unique character of Officer’s Row site and historic buildings, the following special regulations are deemed necessary to preserve and enhance the co-existence of both the public uses within this area and the adjacent Officer’s Row.

a. If new building development is proposed, the design guidelines under (c) of this section shall be addressed.

b. If new or redeveloped sport fields are proposed, the following design and operational elements shall be addressed:

1. Provide modern field lighting with the least impact to adjacent properties.

2. Limit nighttime use to avoid disturbing adjacent residents.

3. Provide adequate parking to accommodate the various user group needs. Shared parking with adjacent facilities is encouraged.

4. Provide ADA, emergency, and concession delivery accessibility.

5. Provide adequate low-lighting for pedestrian access and security.

6. Provide trees and landscape plantings between the sport fields and Officer’s Row that visually screen the uses and that include design elements for safety and security. The City Urban Forester or the Parks Design Division shall approve design of this landscaping.

c. New construction and major façade improvements on properties fronting Mill Plain Boulevard at Fort Vancouver Way or Fort Vancouver Way at Mill Plain should establish a primary gateway that welcomes residents and visitors to Central Park and the Historic Reserve, avoid massive buildings, and without attempting to replicate include complementary site and building design that reflect and respect Officer’s Row and the Historic Reserve. This should be accomplished by, but is not limited to, the following:

1. Site and building layouts that include design elements such as: clustered buildings, courtyards, connecting walkways, entrances and windows facing street frontages.

2. Building mass should be broken up to develop a variety of volumes, a varied set of horizontal planes and vertical façade shifts or use divisions inherent to the building type to break up potentially massive building forms.

3. Large areas of uninterrupted wall surfaces shall be avoided along Mill Plain and Fort Vancouver Way by including human scale elements, such as pedestrian scale windows and lighting, public art, murals, special plantings, articulated walls of varied materials and/or color, and courtyards.

4. Parking facilities should be located behind buildings and away from street frontages.

5. Plantings around buildings and parking shall be compatible with the existing landscaping in the Historic Reserve. Street trees and large trees used in planting plans shall comply with Section 20.640.050 (D)(1)(a-e) and shall be approved by the City Urban Forester.

6. Gateway plantings, in addition to required street trees should be added at the intersection corners. The gateway planting plans shall consider tree height and width for gateway effect and include under-story or smaller ornamental trees, shrubs, and groundcover that display seasonal color throughout the year. Public art work or special gateway structures subject to the City of Vancouver’s Public Art Policy may be integrated into the gateway plantings. The City Urban Forester or the Parks Design Division shall approve gateway plantings.

7. Street furniture and pedestrian scale lighting should be provided and should compliment and unite new development with the existing development.

4. Great Streets. The intention of a “great street” is to provide full multimodal facilities that include equally safe access for pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users and drivers. Great streets are also visually appealing with design features that include street trees, landscaping, special paving, pedestrian scale lighting, and street furniture.

a. All streets should be developed with full multimodal access and great street elements that provide a safe and desirable atmosphere to walk, bike, drive, and use transit.

b. Fort Vancouver Way provides the primary access to destinations in Central Park. Due to Fort Vancouver Way’s essential role in the multimodal movement of people into and within Central Park, the city shall work collaboratively with property owners to ensure that the listed great street design guidelines and standards are followed:

1. Fort Vancouver Way from Fourth Plain Boulevard to the first Clark College driveway on the east side of Fort Vancouver Way provides a gateway to Central Park plan area and Clark College that should include, but is not limited to, design elements such as:

a. A large center median to accommodate a pedestrian refuge, which provides safety while crossing the street, street trees, and landscape plantings that comply with Section 20.640.050 (D)(1)(a-c) and in accordance with VMC 20.925 Street Trees.

b. Sidewalks shall be located on both sides of the boulevard and should be no less than ten feet wide.

c. Planter strips should be on both sides of the boulevard, located between the boulevard and the sidewalk and should be no less than eight feet wide to accommodate trees that provide a large, wide, canopy over Fort Vancouver Way and shall be selected from the Street Tree Selection List found in Appendix A of the ‘Street Tree Manual’s recommended street trees. Street trees and landscaping shall also comply with Section 20.640.050 (D)(1)(a-c) and in accordance with VMC 20.925 Street Trees.

d. Central Park and Clark College entry signage.

2. Pedestrian crosswalks should include but are not limited to the following:

a. Pedestrian overpasses;

b. Roundabouts;

c. Pedestrian Hybrid style signals at mid-block crosswalks when warrants can be met.

3. Pedestrian street crossings that incorporate materials with offset color, varying texture and/or the crossing may be raised.

4. Passive and active traffic calming elements should include, but are not limited to, the following:

a. Bulb extensions to create pinch points that slow auto traffic should be provided and should include bicycle bypasses where practicable and accommodate trees that provide a large, wide canopy over Fort Vancouver Way. Refer to 20.640.050D(1)(a) for street tree selection requirements.

b. Curb extensions added to each side of each driveway to improve pedestrian and driver safety.

c. Pedestrian crossings and/or sidewalks over driveways should be raised and/or incorporate materials that are an off set color and/or texture.

d. Existing center medians shall be maintained at no less than 12 feet wide and planted with street trees that provide a large, wide canopy over Fort Vancouver Way. Refer to 20.640.050(D)(1)(a) for street tree selection requirements. If it is determined that the large wide canopy is in conflict with 20.640.050 D (5) adjustments may be made and approved by the City Urban Forester.

e. Sidewalks shall be provided on both sides of the street the entire length of Fort Vancouver Way. Sidewalks should be no less than eight feet wide except for the area described under Section (D)(4)(b)(1)(b) above.

f. Planting strips that are no less than eight feet wide should be included on both sides of the street and planted as described in (D)(4)(b)(1)(c) above.

5. Transit and associated transit facilities.

a. Street adjustments shall be made, as necessary, to develop high capacity transit and/or street car routes and associated facilities.

b. Transit facilities shall provide direct pedestrian and bicycle connections to and from the prominent public facilities and services located in the district.

6. Gateways. Gateways should be developed at Mill Plain Boulevard and Fort Vancouver Way; Fort Vancouver Way and Fourth Plain Boulevard; Mill Plain Boulevard and East Reserve. Gateway features, in addition to required street trees, shall include special gateway plantings that address height and width of trees for gateway affect and shall include under story or smaller ornamental trees, shrubs, and groundcover plantings that display year round seasonal color. The City Urban Forester or Parks Design Division shall approve gateway plantings.

In addition, the following gateway features should be considered. Features such as, but are not limited to, the following

a. Central Park entry signage.

b. Public art work and/or special structures subject to the City of Vancouver’s Public Art Policy.

c. Way finding features subject to VMC 20.960 and Design Review.

7. Parking Standards.

a. Off-street parking shall be provided as required by VMC 20.945 Parking and Loading.

b. On-street parking should be provided as much as practicable.

c. Existing drive-through services as of (M-3891, adopted November 3, 2008) shall be permitted to continue and may be improved for current uses and shall comply with 20.945.040 (G) Onsite vehicle stacking for drive through use. No new drive-through services shall be permitted.

8. Signs shall comply with the regulation for Higher Density Residential Districts as required in VMC 20.960

9. Lighting.

a. Streetlights should be designed to provide maximum illumination for autos and pedestrians. Streetlight design should include provisions to illuminate under street tree canopies at full growth and shall comply with Section 11.80.047 Streetlights.

b. Light standards for sidewalks and paths should be pedestrian scaled to maximize illumination for pedestrian safety. Pedestrian scale lighting should be designed to illuminate under street tree and landscape canopies at full growth and shall comply with Section 11.80.047, Streetlights.

10. Central Promenade. The intent of the Central Promenade is to provide a shared use and as much as possible off-road path that runs the length of the planning area, linking from the south, Columbia River waterfront trail, to the north, Fourth Plain Boulevard, and uniting all of Central Park’s significant resources. This is a place holder for future development standards and guidelines. (Ord. M-4002 § 11, 12/05/2011; Ord. M-3959 § 36, 07/19/2010; Ord. M-3931 § 21, 11/02/2009; Ord. M-3891, Added, 11/03/2008, Sec 15-Effective 12/03/08)