Northgate Revitalization
Northgate Urban Center Rezone Draft EIS


(Click here for a bigger version of the above sketch.)

Northgate Urban Center Rezone Draft EIS Published
The City’s Department of Planning & Development (DPD) published a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) about the Northgate Urban Center Rezone. The draft EIS examines the potential impacts of legislatively rezoning a portion of the Northgate Urban Center, generally along Northgate Way from Meridian Ave to Roosevelt Way. The purpose of the proposed rezoning is to help encourage and focus additional residential and mixed-use development in this important commercial core of the Urban Center. The public comment period ended June 17, 2008.
Notice of Availability of DEIS 

May 28, 2008 Public Comment Meeting
A public meeting to accept verbal comments on the Draft EIS was held on May 28, 2008.

Northgate Urban Center Rezone Proposal
Following a design workshop in late 2006, the City began early discussions with the Northgate community regarding the option of legislatively upzoning properties along or adjacent to a portion of Northgate Way (generally from Meridian Avenue to Roosevelt Way) to help encourage and focus additional residential and mixed-use development in this important corridor. In April, the Northgate Stakeholders Group transmitted an advice memo to the Mayor and City Council expressing support for considering legislative rezoning actions that could further Northgate revitalization by increasing density and heights (up to 125 feet) in the Urban Center. The Stakeholders also reaffirmed the importance of implementing the CTIP improvements and using incentives to achieve public benefits for affordable housing and open space.

Environmental Impact Statement
The City’s Department of Planning & Development (DPD) recently published a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), consistent with the requirements of the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), to examine the potential impacts of legislatively rezoning a portion of Northgate Way (generally from Meridian Ave to Roosevelt Way). If approved, the rezone would increase the permitted intensity and height of development on parcels currently zoned LR-3, LR-4, MR-60, NC3-40 and NC3-85. No single family zones were considered in this proposal. The rezone area includes three large “opportunity sites” in Northgate (Mullally, Wallace and Kauri) as well as other private properties. Properties would be rezoned to Neighborhood Commercial or Midrise 60 at different heights and intensities (65 feet, 85 feet or 125 feet) and with varying mixes of commercial and residential land uses.

The City intends to use the EIS, and its discussion of impacts, to help develop a preferred rezoning alternative; a formal proposal has not been developed at this time. In general, the goal is to construct and examine alternatives that can increase development intensity within the carrying capacity of important environmental resources, the urban environment and the transportation system. Mitigation measures will help to identify public benefits and incentives, as well as other requirements for addressing significant environmental impacts.

Major issues that will be considered in the EIS will likely include: water quality, drainage and critical areas; land use, bulk and scale, housing, parks and recreation; views, shadows, and light and glare; transportation and parking; and air quality. The EIS will build on the analysis in the CTIP EIS.

The SEPA process will provide several opportunities for public input. This will include a 30-day scoping comment period (April 16 -May 16) and a public scoping meeting (May 3) to help identify the issues and alternatives that should be considered in the EIS. Upon publication of the Draft EIS, there will be a public hearing and a public comment period. All comments received on the Draft EIS will be responded to in the Final EIS.

For information about the draft EIS contact:

Kristian Kofoed
Department of Planning & Development
(206) 233-7191
kristian.kofoed@seattle.gov

EIS Background Documents

 

Last Updated: July 16,2008