Our U District draft EIS evaluates potential map and text amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and Land Use Code (Seattle Municipal Code Title 23) to allow greater height and density in our U District study area. Zoning changes would be accompanied by an affordable housing incentive program and incentives for open space and other neighborhood amenities, and by development standards regulating setbacks, tower separation, and street frontage. We are extending the deadline for written comments on DPD’s U District Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) from June 9 to June 23.
U District Green Streets and EIS
A lot is happening in the U District! April saw milestones for two ongoing projects. First, we’ve released draft streetscape designs for Brooklyn Ave NE, NE 43rd St., and NE 42nd St. Second, we’re requesting public comments on the U District Urban Design Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
U District Urban Design: Environmental Impact Statement and Streetscapes
DPD continues to work with the U District community on several related urban design efforts. Building off of the extensive public input we received while writing the U District Urban Design Framework, we’ve started an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to study several possible zoning scenarios. A public scoping process in September and October helped us develop the alternatives and scope of the study. The EIS will address topics including aesthetics, traffic, open space, infrastructure, housing, and historic resources. We plan to release a draft for public review in late winter.
U District EIS Scoping Meeting Sept. 24
DPD will host a public meeting on September 24 at the University Heights Community Center (5031 University Way NE) from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM. The meeting will describe the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process, draft zoning alternatives, and topics to be considered in the EIS. It will also include information about how the EIS relates to extensive community planning that has taken place in the U District community since early 2012.
U District Urban Design EIS Public Scoping Meeting
You are invited to attend a scoping meeting for the U District Urban Design EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) on September 24. The EIS will study potential impacts of implementing the U District Urban Design Framework, which was created by members of the community and City planners throughout 2012 and 2013. The upcoming meeting will describe the EIS process, draft zoning alternatives, and topics to be considered in the EIS document.
Launching the U District Environmental Impact Statement
In June, DPD and our community partners completed the U District Urban Design Framework (UDF). This document draws from a year of working group meetings and extensive public input. Our public engagement process has sought to balance interests in the community from a wide range of participants and perspectives.
Meeting to Improve U District Urban Design
We invite you to review our draft U District Urban Design Framework. There are four ways you can get involved.
U District Livability Partnership Milestones
Since late 2011, DPD has been working with the U District community toward completion of an Urban Design Framework in April of this year. The Urban Design Framework will provide broad guidance for future development, streetscapes, public spaces, and other investments as the neighborhood changes over the coming decades. Much of the change anticipated in the U District will result from the light rail coming on-line in 2021, bringing 12,000 riders to the neighborhood daily.
Community Planning for the University District Going Strong
DPD is undertaking a major planning project for the University District core neighborhood. The department is partnering with community residents, businesses, social service agencies, the faith community, and the University of Washington through the University District Livability Partnership. The partnership is “a four-year strategic initiative to encourage investment for a vibrant, walkable University District community.”
U District Planning Status
DPD and members of the University District community are about halfway through a planning process intended to update the vision for future development in that neighborhood. The Future Development and Urban Design Working Group has been meeting twice a month since June to discuss topics including housing, streetscapes, open space, and transit opportunities. Our thinking about all of these topics is influenced by the planned 2021 opening of a Link light rail station at NE 43rd St. and Brooklyn Ave NE.
