The City Council’s Committee on the Built Environment will hold two public hearings to take comments on two proposals: 1) South Downtown legislation; and 2) Amendments to lowrise zoning and establishing a design review process for townhouses.
TIME CORRECTION: The hearings are on November 22, 2010. The hearing for South Downtown will be first at 5:30 p.m. and the hearing on the lowrise and design review proposals will immediately follow. The hearings will be held in:
The Wing Luke Museum Auditorium
719 S. King Street
Seattle, WA 98104
For those who wish to testify, sign-up sheets will be available outside the auditorium at 5:00 p.m.
Questions concerning the public hearing may be directed to Dan Nolte in Councilmember Sally Clark’s office, by calling (206) 684-8802 or via e-mail at: dan.nolte@seattle.gov.
Print and communications access is provided on prior request. Please contact Dan Nolte at (206) 684-8802 as soon as possible to request accommodations for a disability.
Written comments on the proposal will be accepted through 5:00 p.m. November 21. Please send comments to Dan Nolte in Councilmember Sally Clark’s office via e-mail at: dan.nolte@seattle.gov, or to:
Councilmember Sally Clark
Legislative Department
600 Fourth Avenue Floor 2
PO Box 34025
The Seattle City Council is reviewing a proposal from DPD to make changes to the City’s Land Use Code that, if adopted, would change the zoning and related provisions in areas in South Downtown including areas around Pioneer Square, the Stadium District, the northern edge of the Greater Duwamish Manufacturing / Industrial Center, Chinatown / International District, and areas east of Interstate 5 within the Downtown Urban Center.
The proposed legislation would create new zone classifications; modify development regulations; enact and amend affordable housing incentive programs, height and density bonuses, and transfer of development capacity provisions; and rezone areas within South Downtown. The bill is intended to accomplish the following:
- Stimulate creation of housing and jobs through changes to land use regulations
- Respect neighborhood plans and neighborhood character, including historic resources
- Promote an integrated mix of uses
- Support connections between neighborhoods
- Encourage economic vitality and environmental sustainability
- Accommodate regional services and help align them with local community goals
This legislation would amend the Land Use Code, State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) ordinance, and Tree Regulations to update the regulations for lowrise multifamily zones. The Council published a draft proposal amending lowrise zones and related regulations in April 2010, and is now recommending revisions to that proposal in response to public comments. The Council is especially interested in comments on the revisions to the proposal.
One of the revisions is to establish a new streamlined design review (SDR) process. The SDR process would be required for townhouse developments with three or more units and for projects with an exceptional tree located on the site for which design review is not otherwise required. It would also be an option for: 1) other multifamily projects in lowrise zones; and 2) commercial and multifamily projects for which the applicant wishes to protect large tree(s), if design review is not already required.
The recommendations to change the lowrise zoning regulations apply only to land that is currently zoned for lowrise multifamily development. No single family zoned areas are proposed to be rezoned. While lowrise zones are proposed to be consolidated and renamed, no other remapping is proposed.
The proposal continues to include code amendments that would apply to more than just lowrise multifamily zones, such as changing the method for measuring building height and the space requirements for storage of garbage and recycling containers.
Copies of the proposals may be obtained at the DPD Public Resource Center, 700 5th Avenue, Suite 2000 in the Seattle Municipal Tower. The Public Resource Center is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday. Questions regarding the proposed amendments may be directed to Rebecca Herzfeld at (206) 684-8148 or via email at rebecca.herzfeld@seattle.gov or Michael Jenkins at (206) 615-1674 or via email at michael.jenkins@seattle.gov.
Documents are also available at the DPD Multifamily Code Update, and the City Council websites at these links: www.seattle.gov/DPD/Planning/Multifamily_Code_Update/Overview/
http://seattle.gov/council/clark/2009townhomes-mcuvideos.htm