The Department of Planning and Development is proposing amendments to the Housing and Building Maintenance Code (Seattle Municipal Code Section 22.206) and the Land Use Code (Seattle Municipal Code Section 23.91), concerning standards for habitable and vacant buildings.
The proposed regulations would consolidate code provisions concerning maintenance of vacant building sites by moving code enforcement provisions concerning the storage of junk in residential zones, or vehicles in single family zones from the Land Use Code to the Housing and Building Maintenance Code, when these actions occur on lots with vacant structures. In addition, the proposed code changes would change certain Housing and Building Maintenance Code minimum standards for light and ventilation, heating, minimum fire and safety standards, duties for owners, and standards for vacant buildings, so that these standards match minimum requirements in the Seattle Residential Code, Seattle Municipal Code Chapter 22.150.
PUBLIC HEARING
The City Council’s Committee on the Built Environment will hold a public hearing to take comments on the proposal on February 23, 2011 at 9:30am. The hearing will be held in Council Chambers, 2nd floor, Seattle City Hall, 600 Fourth Avenue. The entrances to City Hall are located on the west side of Fifth Avenue, and the east side of Fourth Avenue, between James and Cherry Streets. For those who wish to testify, a sign-up sheet will be available outside the Council Chamber at 9:00 am.
Questions concerning the public hearing may be directed to Michael Jenkins, Council Central Staff, by calling (206) 615-1674 via e-mail at: michael.jenkins@seattle.gov or David Yeaworth, by calling (206) 684-8802 or via email at: david.yeaworth@seattle.gov.
Print and communications access is provided on prior request. Please contact David Yeaworth at (206) 684-8802 as soon as possible to request accommodations for a disability.
WRITTEN COMMENTS
For those unable to attend the public hearing, comments will be accepted through 5:00 pm on February 22, 2011. Please send comments to:
Councilmember Sally Clark
Legislative Department
600 Fourth Avenue Floor 2
PO Box 34025
Seattle, WA 98124-4025
INFORMATION AVAILABLE
View the Director’s Report and the Ordinance online. Copies are also available at the DPD Public Resource Center, 700 5th Avenue, Suite 2000 in the Seattle Municipal Tower, (206) 684-8467. The Public Resource Center is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday.
A copy of the legislation, Council Bill 117048, can also be found on the City Clerk’s website.
Questions regarding the proposal or requests for electronic copies may be directed to Diane Davis at (206) 233-7873.