23.48.841

A. A mid-block corridor meeting the standards of this Section 23.48.841 shall be provided as a part of any development including one or more structures containing more than a total of 10,000 square feet of gross floor area on any lot in the SM-NG 240 zone that is more than 100 feet to the south of the NE 103rd Street right-of-way and more than 100 feet north of the NE 100th Street right-of-way, as indicated on Map A for 23.48.840. B. The alignment of the mid-block corridor shall be no closer than 100 feet to Northeast 103rd Street or Northeast 100th Street. C. Prior to any development or modification of lot boundaries in the area that is more than 100 feet to the south of the NE 103rd Street right-of-way and more than 100 feet to the north of the NE 100th Street right-of-way, the area for the mid-block corridor shall be identified in an agreement recorded by the King County Recorder's Office and the applicant for the development or modification shall demonstrate that the development or modification would not preclude completion of a continuous mid-block corridor. D. Development on any site abutting the mid-block corridor shall provide improvements to create the mid-block corridor that meet the following standards, for the extent of the east to west dimension of the development site: 1. The mid-block corridor shall provide for a continuous corridor that extends from 3rd Avenue Northeast to the Northgate Light Rail Station and all segments of the corridor shall be physically and visually connected. 2. The minimum width of the mid-block corridor is 40 feet. 3. The mid-block corridor shall contain a continuous, unobstructed pedestrian pathway that is a minimum of 10 feet wide and provides access for persons with disabilities throughout the entire corridor. 4. If development is proposed on a site adjacent to a completed portion of the mid-block corridor, the development shall configure and align its portion of the mid-block corridor to form a contiguous corridor and pedestrian pathway. 5. The end of the mid-block corridor at 3rd Avenue Northeast shall be accessible to pedestrians at grade level from the sidewalk. 6. The mid-block corridor shall be open to the sky, except that overhead weather protection may be allowed on up to 40 percent of the area of the mid-block corridor including required overhead weather protection. 7. If the mid-block corridor crosses an alley or a public or private street, the alley or public or private street right-of-way shall be improved to provide pedestrian safety and reinforce the connection between portions of the mid-block corridor on either side of the alley or public or private street. 8. The mid-block corridor shall be improved with a surface and necessary drainage so as to be suitable for pedestrian use in all seasons. 9. The mid-block corridor shall include lighting for pedestrian safety during nighttime hours when the corridor is available for public access pursuant to subsection 23.48.841.E. 10. Design of the mid-block corridor shall include various features such as seating, landscaping, and artistic elements that will enhance public use of the corridor and increase activity and user comfort. The design of the corridor shall maintain the overall open character of a public outdoor space while being well integrated with the surrounding structures. E. Public access 1. The required mid-block corridor shall be open to the public during all hours that light rail transit is operating at the Northgate light rail station. 2. For any property within the corridor, property owners, tenants, and their agents shall allow individuals to engage in activities allowed in public places of a similar nature. Free speech activities such as hand billing, signature gathering and holding signs, all without obstructing access to the corridor, or adjacent buildings or features, and without unreasonably interfering with the enjoyment of the space by others, shall be allowed. 3. Plaque requirement. A plaque indicating the nature of the corridor and its availability for general public access must be placed in a visible location at the entrances to the corridor. 4. The mid-block corridor must be subject to a recorded document acceptable to the Director that ensures general public access and the preservation and maintenance of the corridor. F. The Director may allow modifications from the standards for the mid-block corridor in subsection 23.48.841.D as a Type I decision if the applicant demonstrates that alternative treatments will better serve the public by enhancing pedestrian comfort, integrating the feature as part of the surrounding pedestrian network, and/or promoting greater use of the connection. G. The mid-block corridor provided under this Section 23.48.841 is eligible to qualify as amenity area for residential uses under Section 23.48.045 , and required usable open space under Section 23.48.852 , as long as the applicable standards of Section 23.48.045 and Section 23.48.852 are met. (Ord. 125792 , § 7, 2019)