On June 27, DPD made our draft proposal available for public review. We also issued a related environmental review (under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA)) and decision. You can submit comments or appeal our proposal until July 18, 2013. Instructions for commenting and the appeal process are included in the notice. You can download the draft ordinance, Director’s Report, and SEPA materials on our Developing Small Single-Family Lots website.
Our proposal is based on a determination that some recent “infill” development on single-family lots has been out of character with the surrounding neighborhood and is inconsistent with our land use policy. We have reviewed the Land Use Code sections that regulate development on undersized lots and minimum lot area exceptions. The City put interim measures in place to prevent additional building on these small lots while we were studying this issue. While we generally support and encourage infill development, it should be consistent with the City’s Comprehensive Plan goals and policies.
We presented our preliminary recommendations for permanent standards to Council in March. We received many comments on those recommendations and we carefully considered them and modified parts of our proposal in response.
The Planning Land Use and Sustainability Committee of the City Council will consider the amendments first, followed by full Council consideration. The Council will hold a public hearing and additional public input will be sought at the Council meetings. Our goal is for the permanent standards to be adopted by September 2013.
For more information, contact:
Andy McKim
(206) 684-8737
andy.mckim@seattle.gov