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. The 2013 omnibus ordinance addresses amendments collected from February 2010 through December 2012, as well as a few more recent priority changes. The changes will make the code easier to use and understand. The ordinance is accessible on the City Clerk’s website at http://clerk.ci.seattle.wa.us/~public/CBOR1.htm. Highlights include:
- Clarifies that unit lot subdivisions are allowed in any zone where the types of residential housing eligible for unit lot subdivision are also permitted and adds apartment structures built prior to 2013, but not individual apartment units, to the types of eligible housing
- Clarifies that streamlined design review is required for any project involving removal of an exceptional tree or any project that includes at least three townhouse units
- Clarifies regulations of projecting garages on single-family homes to allow projections if the entire structure is set back at least 35 feet from the street lot line or based on factors including irregular lot shape, topography, configuration of existing structures, exceptional trees, or use of design features including screening, landscaping or modulation
- Allows higher floor area ratio (FAR) limits for structures meeting green building standards if an addition meets the standards but the original building was built prior to the standards
- Applies street level development standards for buildings in commercial zones to all structures in pedestrian designated zones
- Exempts rooftop greenhouse areas in commercial zones from FAR limits if they are dedicated to food production and meet certain coverage limits and setbacks
- Clarifies structural building overhang standards for building extensions into the public right-of-way to more specifically limit size of these features and remove structural building overhangs from the development standards subject to design departures
- Allow High Point and Rainier Vista housing developments to be completed under regulations for Lowrise Multifamily zones in effect prior to April 2011