We are happy to announce that on December 16, 2013, the City Council approved new citywide design guidelines and 18 sets of revised neighborhood-specific design guidelines. The new citywide guidelines replace the guidelines originally drafted in 1993 and entitled Design Review: Guidelines for Multifamily and Commercial Buildings, with the updated version entitled Seattle Design Guidelines.
Archives for January 2, 2014
Construction and Demolition Material Management
Not all construction and demolition waste needs to end up in a landfill. In fact, much of that material can be recycled and even reused. With thoughtful consideration, developing a plan for how each material can be managed prior to the start of a project will help to ensure materials are handled in the most sustainable way. Therefore, new requirements for both the 2012 Seattle Building and Residential Codes ask that a Waste Diversion Plan is submitted with your application for all projects greater than 750 square feet. The plan should identify assumed waste materials, the hauler, and the receiving location for each material.
2013 Land Use Code “Omnibus” Ordinance Adopted by Council
DPD is responsible for normal maintenance of the Land Use Code, which includes packaging a collection of amendments that are relatively small in scale, and have a limited scope of impact, into an “omnibus” ordinance. These amendments correct typographical errors, fix section references, and clarify existing code language. The latest omnibus Ordinance, Council Bill 117952, was adopted by City Council on December 16 and will become effective in mid-January 2014.
2014 Seattle Electrical Code Update
DPD’s Electrical Program is reviewing the Seattle Electrical Code for changes in 2014. The last code change was in 2008, so it is time for an update.
November Permit Turnaround Times
View permit turnaround times for November 2013.
U District Urban Design: Environmental Impact Statement and Streetscapes
DPD continues to work with the U District community on several related urban design efforts. Building off of the extensive public input we received while writing the U District Urban Design Framework, we’ve started an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to study several possible zoning scenarios. A public scoping process in September and October helped us develop the alternatives and scope of the study. The EIS will address topics including aesthetics, traffic, open space, infrastructure, housing, and historic resources. We plan to release a draft for public review in late winter.
Micro-Housing: An Emerging Trend for Seattle
Micro-housing is emerging in Seattle and across America as an innovative form of housing that responds to today’s demographic shifts toward a high percentage of single-person households and a strong demand for living in urban neighborhoods with lots of services and amenities. In October of 2013, DPD proposed new regulations for micro-housing, and we are looking forward to working with the City Council to enact the new rules during the first quarter of this year.
December Publication Updates
We published one new Tip about special inspections, a draft Director’s Rule about personal wireless facilities, and a new Director’s Rule on permit fees.