On November 25, we published a notice for a 30-day comment period for draft Director’s Rule 16-2019 in the Land Use Information Bulletin. This rule lists where higher SEPA “infill development” thresholds are now in effect, which includes most Urban Centers and Urban Villages. The Director’s Rule will be updated again in the future if other Urban Centers or Urban Villages add more new development and exceed their growth targets.
SE Community Meeting: Affordable Housing Neighborhood Maps & Other City Services
Come join us for casual conversation around proposed changes to your neighborhood to generate more affordable housing, improve transportation services, and parks investments. We will be sharing the following Urban Village maps: Columbia City, North Beacon Hill, North Rainier Avenue, Othello, Rainier Beach.
Measuring the Success of the Urban Village Strategy
In 1994 the city adopted a new Comprehensive Plan centered on the innovative “urban village strategy.” Rather than scatter growth throughout the city, or squeeze growth along corridors, this plan called for guiding growth and City investment to mixed-use, walkable villages. So 20 years later, how successful how this strategy been?
Lower Downtown Urban Center and Roosevelt Environmental Review Thresholds in April
In the City’s designated Urban Centers and in Urban Villages with light rail stations, the requirement for conducting SEPA (State Environmental Policy Act) environmental review changes based on the amount of growth that has occurred. When growth reaches 90 percent of the “targets” set in the 2004 Comprehensive Plan for individual centers and villages, environmental review is required for smaller-sized projects.
