On December 20, 2010 the Mayor signed the ordinance adopted by the City Council earlier in the month. The ordinance establishes new lowrise zoning and a streamlined administrative design review process for townhouse development. In addition, some of the new standards apply across zones, such as applying the existing shoreline code height measurement technique (a major code simplification accomplishment).
The ordinance has a longer than standard effective period to allow staff and applicants to become accustomed to using new standards. Most of the legislation, including the new lowrise zoning, will be in effect on April 19, 2011. Also, permit applicants will have the option to use the existing height measurement technique or the new one for a longer period that extends to July 18, 2011.
DPD staff is planning workshops for future applicants to help them prepare to use the new standards and the new design review process. The workshops will likely be held in early March. Watch DPD’s website for updates. For more information on the legislation, please see this webpage: www.seattle.gov/DPD/Planning/Multifamily_Code_Update/Overview/.