The City Council is evaluating our proposal to update the citywide design guidelines that address multifamily and commercial development outside Downtown. In addition, the City Council is also considering updates to 18 neighborhood specific guidelines that augment the citywide guidelines to match the proposed citywide format.
The City Council’s Planning Land Use and Sustainability (PLUS) Committee began its deliberations in February 2013 and held a public hearing in April 2013. Based off the feedback received at the public hearing, we have made revisions to the guidelines. The changes made to the documents since April 2013 include:
Changes proposed to citywide guidelines:
- Adding references to other departments where appropriate
- Adding back the introductory language that is in the existing citywide guidelines
- Add in a few additional graphics to further illustrate some guidelines
- Clarifying a few points identified as vague or confusing
- Changing the format for caption text to make it more readable
Changes proposed to neighborhood guidelines:
- Adding back in restatements of specific citywide design guidelines
- Incorporating the neighborhood-specific introductory language, community goals, objectives, and priority statements for all neighborhood guidelines
- Adding a standard numbering system to all neighborhood guidelines
- Updating maps for readability
- Correcting typos or syntax errors
- Clarifying language in a few instances
Our goal for the changes is that they will make it easier to seamlessly apply both sets of guidelines—citywide and neighborhood—to evaluate future development projects; the changes are not intended to change the spirit and purpose of the supplemental design guidance. All changes made to the guidelines since April 2013 are highlighted throughout the documents. You can read the revised guidelines on our project page.
The revised guidelines are scheduled for discussion at the City Council’s Planning Land Use and Sustainability (PLUS) Committee on December 11, 2013. We are requesting feedback on the revised guidelines; you can submit comments or direct questions to:
Aly Pennucci
Senior Planner, DPD
206-386-9132 or aly.pennucci@seattle.gov.
Responses should be received by Tuesday, November 12, at 5:00 p.m. Thank you in advance for your time and effort. We greatly appreciate your dedication and interest in our built environment.