The Seattle City Council passed the Environmentally Critical Areas Ordinance on April 14, 2017. The effective date of the updated Environmentally Critical Areas regulations will be May 15, 2017.
Proposed Marijuana Zoning Restrictions
Seattle City Council is proposing legislation that would limit the growing, processing, selling, or delivery of marijuana or marijuana-infused products to scales that are appropriate for the zoning designation and characteristics of the area in which they would be located. These regulations are being proposed in response to changes to state regulations that allow the production, processing, selling, and delivery of marijuana and marijuana-infused products for medical and recreational use.
Updated Tree Regulations Proposal
DPD has released a revised proposal to update regulations governing trees on private property, which is now available at www.seattle.gov/dpd/planning/trees. The intent of this update is to better implement the goals of the Urban Forest Management Plan by improving existing tree regulations and adding a number of new measures that would expand or improve development standards to better mitigate the impacts of development.
ADA Rules are Changing
Revisions to Americans with Disabilities Act regulations, including ADA Standards for Accessible Design, have been adopted by the federal government. Compliance with the 2010 Standards for Accessible Design will be mandatory on March 15, 2012.
Exemptions are Required for Work Over Water
There are some common misconceptions about working in the Shoreline District and how a project may be exempted from the Shoreline Substantial Development Permit (SSDP) process.
Lowrise Zoning Regulations Revised
On December 13, the City Council approved the first major revisions for lowrise zoning regulations since the late 1980s. The changes include a new streamlined administrative design review process for townhouses.
Proposed Tree Regulations
In July 2010, DPD proposed a comprehensive revision of Seattle’s tree regulations. Responding to Council Resolution 31138, DPD evaluated the effectiveness of existing regulations and made recommendations on how they could be improved. The proposal is intended to meet the goals of the Urban Forest Management Plan while balancing competing needs.
Urban Forestry Open House
An Urban Forestry Open House is scheduled for Tuesday, September 21st at City Hall. The open house will provide an opportunity for people to hear about the many City efforts underway to expand and enhance Seattle’s urban forest, including proposals that would revise regulations for cutting and planting trees on private property.
DPD Proposed Tree Regulations Available
The Department of Planning and Development’s proposal to revise Seattle’s Tree Regulations is now available. These revisions are intended to advance the goals of the City’s Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP), established in April 2007 to maintain and enhance a thriving and diverse urban forest. The UFMP established a goal of increasing Seattle’s tree canopy to 30% by 2037 and established general strategies for accomplishing this goal. Canopy cover analysis commissioned by the City found that Seattle’s tree canopy was approximately 23% in 2007. While canopy cover appeared to increase slightly between 2003 and 2007 across all zones, this analysis also demonstrated that canopy cover is not increasing at a rate sufficient to meet our overall goals. This proposal is a key element of the City’s overall strategy to implement the UFMP through a comprehensive strategy of regulations, education, incentives, and proper management of City-maintained trees.
