Sequim’s city streets could see improved accessibility, lighting, sidewalks and more as part of the South Sequim Complete Streets Project.

Consultants for the City of Sequim plan to bring a draft design for the plan to improve east-west connections south of Washington Street to city councilors by mid-2020.

Public discussions began in late August between residents and consultant firm Framework at a design charrette, a planning session, over three days, gathering ideas on better connections and possible issues between the city’s wide-ranging development zones called Economic Opportunity Areas.

Jeff Arango, director of planning for Framework, shared with city councilors on Oct. 14 that his staff plan to host another open house in the winter or spring of 2020, followed by a draft design presented in spring 2020 and tentative adoption in the summer by city councilors.

If a plan is adopted, city councilors could direct staff to seek multi-part improvements on city streets, such as adding lighting, increasing ADA accessibility, adding sidewalks and bike lanes, improving connectivity between neighborhoods and more.

“This project’s not about pumping a bunch of traffic through a neighborhood,” Arango said. “We’re trying to find that balance.”

Arango said if amenities are made and companies begin to develop in the Economic Opportunity Areas, “it could create

bigger problems for neighborhoods if improvements aren’t made.”

On the ground

From his team and neighbors’ observations, Arango said “streets are very different from one to the next.”

“Some have narrow sidewalks. Some have none,” he said. “(It is) fairly universal that most streets are much wider than they need to be.”

Arango said some streets south of Washington Street have parallel parking not being used, so they appears wider.

“There’s a lot of informal parking happening because the distinction between the road and private properties is not very evident,” he said.

Residents told Framework staff that there wasn’t room for amenities in the street. However, Arango said while it appears the right-of-way goes to the road, it actually goes 60 feet.

“It’s quite a bit wider than the improvements out there today,” he said.

In some of the models Framework presented, street amenities could feature angled parking, two-way bike lanes, landscaping to separate pedestrians and bicycles from vehicles, and more.

Along South Third Avenue, Arango said two-way bike lanes and sidewalks would be a “great concept for providing better access to the schools.”

The cost of improving city streets could be expensive though, so Arango suggested some temporary improvements, such as painting protected bike lanes to see if people like the idea.

Hemlock Street is a wide street that a temporary bike lane could go to test the concept, he said.

Feedback

City councilor Ted Miller complimented Arango’s research, but also shared concern that participants were mostly from Prairie Street and that their bias could influence the process.

“We’re evaluating it on a technical level as well,” Arango said. “From our perspective, we want to make sure we have the right balance is important.”

He said there doesn’t need to be a trade-off between concerns of residents and city staff.

“I think we can satisfy the residents, and the goals for development in that area,” Arango said.

Speed bumps aren’t something he looks to add either.

“We’re not fans of traffic bumps,” Arango said. “In our view, mitigation for a poorly designed street.

Hopefully we don’t have to do those harsh traffic calming measures. You are in a residential neighborhood. Hopefully the street can work for everyone.”

When asked about concerns about right-of-way issues and the spacing of the street, Arango said he felt residents understood that amenities could come closer to homes and yards.

“As we start to develop this plan more, I was expecting to get more concern than there was,” he said.

Overall, city councilor Jennifer States said she felt the project was a “great example of the community coming together to talk about their concerns and working together on a shared vision.”

Previously, Sequim public works director David Garlington said Prairie Street seemed like a good connection point between the Economic Opportunity Areas, but community concerns diverted them from focusing strictly on it.

Garlington said increasing and easing flow of east-west traffic has been discussed for about seven years, and it’s been in the city’s Transportation Master Plan, 6-year Capital Improvement Plan and Comprehensive Plan.

For more information about the project, visit sequimcompletestreets.org, or contact city project engineer Dave Nakagawara at 360-582-2479.

Reach Matthew Nash at mnash@sequimgazette.com.

One concept to increase safety and accessibility along Prairie Street includes adding landscaping, sidewalks and paths and designated parking. Photo courtesy City of Sequim

Consultant firm Framework’s staff looks at South Third Avenue as a good access point between residents and Sequim schools and that one of their ideas includes adding a bicycle track, sidewalks and parking. Photo courtesy City of Sequim