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Public Meeting: Pike/Pine Amendments and Supplemental Design Guidelines

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A public meeting with the Pike/Pine Urban Neighborhood Committee and the Capitol Hill Design Review Board is scheduled for July 7, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is to explain, and to hear public comment on, proposed legislation developed by DPD as the second of a two-part process, sponsored by Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, to protect the character of the Pike/Pine neighborhood.  

Meeting Details
July 7, 6:30 p.m.
Seattle University Campus, Piggott Hall, Room 102 
Near the intersection of 10 Ave. and E. Madison St.

Last July, City Council adopted legislation to expand the Pike/Pine Conservation Overlay District, adding provisions that promote the conservation of existing buildings and new development that is more compatible in scale with existing conditions. The proposed legislation, now available for public review, builds on that effort by: 

  1. Adding to the existing Pike/Pine Neighborhood Design Guidelines to better address developments that incorporate “character structures” (defined as buildings that are at least 75 years old) as part of a new project. New section guidelines address height, bulk, and scale, and signs.
  2. Clarifying and reinforcing the role of the local Design Review Board regarding developer requests for a departure from the prescribed method for incorporating a character structure into a new building.
  3. Requiring that as part of the design review process, a developer provide information about key architectural elements of a character structure, and describe how the new project will maintain those elements.
  4. Allowing flexibility from the prohibition against backlit cabinet and awning signs under specific conditions related to preserving neighborhood character.

In addition, DPD has published a background report that examines the opportunities and challenges of creating a transfer of development potential (TDP) program for the Pike/Pine Conservation Overlay District as a land use regulatory tool to help maintain character structures. 

Information Available
The proposed legislation, revised Design Guidelines, and TDP Background Report are available on the DPD website at www.seattle.gov/dpd/Planning/PikePineConservationOverlayDistrict/Overview/.

 

Dennis Meier
(206) 684-8270
dennis.meier@seattle.gov