Councilmember Tom Rasmussen is sponsoring proposed legislation that would help protect the Pike/Pine neighborhood. This proposal will carry out and conclude the second phase of a project, begun in 2008, to develop and implement measures that would protect the character of the rapidly changing and developing Pike/Pine neighborhood. The proposal before Council would update the neighborhood’s design guidelines that were first adopted in 2000. The proposed amendments to the neighborhood design guidelines will better address developments that incorporate “character structures” (defined as buildings that are at least 75 years old). New guidelines have been added that better address the height, bulk, and scale of new development and signs allowed on buildings and businesses in the district. In addition, the updated guidelines will include:
- new illustrations and examples of how projects can successfully meet the design guidelines
- a requirement that a developer evaluate key architectural elements of a character structure and provide at least one alternative design that would maintain those elements along with the integrity of the character structure, as part of the process of reviewing new development when a character structure is located on a lot
- a provision to allow the Design Review Board to consider approving departures from prescriptive code requirements for incorporating a character structure into a new development;
- an option to allow an exception from a prohibition against internally-illuminated cabinet signs in the Pike/Pine neighborhood for signs that are no larger than three square feet
The City Council’s Committee on the Built Environment will be holding a public hearing to take testimony and comments on the proposal to revise the Pike/Pine Neighborhood Design Guidelines at its committee meeting:
September 8, 2010, 9:30 a.m.
The Council Chamber, 2nd floor
Seattle City Hall
600 Fourth Avenue
Contact:
Rebecca Herzfeld, Council Central Staff
(206) 684-8148
rebecca.herzfeld@seattle.gov
Dennis Meier
(206) 684-8270
dennis.meier@seattle.gov