A. Sidewalks and full street improvements along adjacent right-of-way shall be provided as part of the general development plans of all plats and short plats, segregations and building permits except minor reconstruction or alteration. For building permits involving minor reconstruction or alteration, a walkway to the design standards of the department of public works shall be provided.

B. The design standards for the required sidewalks and/or walkways shall be prescribed by the public works director, taking into account existing and proposed pedestrian facilities within the immediate vicinity, and the availability of technical data for the establishment of permanent improvements, provided, where local conditions of surrounding developments, topography or other relevant factors warrant a delay in construction of permanent sidewalks in the opinion of the director of public works, a pathway or walkway may be established in lieu thereof.

C. For the purpose of this chapter, “minor reconstruction or alteration” is defined as building or site improvement within any 60-month period that does not result in a cumulative increase of the total floor area of a building or buildings on a site by more than 25 percent and the cumulative valuation of the improvements during that period is less than twice the estimated cost of the sidewalk installation. Properties for which the cost of sidewalk installation exceeds one-tenth the total assessed valuation of the property and structures according to the most current records of the Snohomish County assessor’s office shall be exempt from permanent sidewalk installation. The estimated cost of sidewalk installation for the purpose of this comparison shall be based upon submitted bids and subject to review and acceptance by the public works director.

D. In all cases where a permanent sidewalk is not provided and a walkway is established in lieu thereof, a bond or other reasonable equivalent guarantee that full permanent sidewalks and full street improvements to the public right-of-way would be installed at the expense of the applicant or assigns shall be provided. (Ord. 1387 § 1, 1983; Ord. 1197 § 1, 1981)