Issaquah committee backs guardrails to allow tree preservation, critical-area exceptions in street standards

The Issaquah City Council Mobility and Infrastructure Committee on Feb. 11 reviewed proposed guardrails for a deviation process to the city’s street standards that would let certain projects reduce or eliminate the five-foot landscape planter strip between curb and sidewalk.

The administration asked the committee whether it supports three elements: (1) using guardrails and a deviation process to preserve trees, protect critical areas, or maintain driveway access for properties not being redeveloped; (2) creating standards specifically for rehabilitation projects; and (3) creating standards for interim bicycle and pedestrian connections. John Mortensen, the city’s Transportation Engineering Manager, described the proposal and asked the committee for direction.

The committee broadly supported the administration’s proposed guardrails and asked staff to draft revisions to the street standards for further review in June and return to full council in third quarter. Chair Chris Ray summarized the committee direction as “proceed with the guardrails that have been outlined tonight and in the staff report,” and requested future reporting on how many deviations are applied and granted.

The guardrails proposed by staff center on…