South Lake Union Urban Form Study Scoping Meeting:
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
South Lake Union Armory
Naval Reserve Building at Lake Union Park
860 Terry Ave. N
*This venue is accessible, please contact us for special accommodations

Determination of Significance

EIS Alternatives

South Lake Union Urban Form Study

Central to the Urban Form Study is preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that will evaluate potential impacts of the four height and density alternatives.  This work involves analyzing such things as view, transportation, utility, land use, and a number of other potential impacts to gain better information that can be used to develop a rezone ordinance.   In developing a rezone ordinance, it is not necessary to rely on just one alternative, but rather, a rezone proposal could include elements from each alternative provided the impacts of these elements are studied in the EIS.  It is expected that work on the EIS will begin fall 2008 and be complete in fall 2009.

In 2008, the South Lake Union Friends and Neighbors Community Council (SLUFAN) will be working with the City of Seattle Department of Planning and Development (DPD) and other community groups, to review heights, densities and the neighborhood’s urban form. This study is intended to implement recommendations from the South Lake Union neighborhood plan.

Why is the City proposing to study South Lake Union’s urban form, including height and density limits?

• State’s Growth Management Act: By directing the greatest growth (jobs & housing units) within Seattle’s 6 Urban Centers (including South Lake Union), single-family neighborhoods, critical areas and natural resource lands will be protected.
• South Lake Union Urban Center: This neighborhood was designated an Urban Center in 2004 and targeted for significant employment and housing growth. The neighborhood should provide a diverse mix of uses, housing and employment opportunities.
• Integrated & Planned Growth: Smart growth within mixed-use, transit friendly neighborhoods is a key priority of the Mayor and the City. The neighborhood should include effective transportation systems, parks & open space, quality pedestrian environments and services to support residents and employees. Under current zoning, the Comprehensive Plan has targeted 16,000 new jobs and 8,000 new households to be added to South Lake Union between 2004 and 2024.
• Quality & Character of the SLU Neighborhood: The neighborhood wants to maintain its unique character as it grows. It believes that sustainable, walkable, livable communities with a diversity of uses, buildings and people are key ingredients of a successful urban center. Current development standards will not result in the diversity of building types that the community wants to see.

What else is the study intended to achieve?

• Promote development that maintains South Lake Union as a vibrant, sustainable place to live, work and play.
• Provide for a more diverse and attractive neighborhood character by providing a mix of housing types, uses, building types and heights.
• Use zoning incentives to achieve public benefits.
• Enhance the pedestrian quality at street level by providing amenities, taking into consideration light and air as well as public view corridors and providing for retail activity at key locations

What is the current zoning in the neighborhood?

Most of South Lake Union is zoned with the Seattle Mixed zone. In the middle of the neighborhood is an Industrial Commercial zone which prohibits most housing. Near Lake Union, the area is zoned Commercial.  Height limits in the neighborhood range from 40 feet next to Lake Union to 125 feet along Denny Way, next to Downtown Seattle (See Zoning Map Here).

What factors are considered when proposing changes to zoning height and density limits?

The Mayor will determine whether a proposal to change heights should be recommended to the City Council. The City Council makes the final decision about any changes to the zoning in the neighborhood. The Mayor and City Council will consider many things in making their decisions:

• Community Council (SLUFANCC) input & recommendations.
• Neighborhood Plan – Policy & strategy priorities set forth by the community.
• Zoning code evaluation criteria.
• SEPA (State Environmental Policy Act) policies and SEPA review (an Environmental Impact Statement will be prepared).
• Recommendations from community members and other stakeholders.

What is the relationship between this study and the height increases on two blocks between Terry and Boren?

The City has adopted a zoning change that allows a height and density increase on two blocks in South Lake Union to support an extraordinary opportunity to retain a large and growing Seattle-based company. The text amendment includes incentives for historic preservation and arts facilities, and requires a contribution for affordable housing. The proposal is modeled on programs that have been successful in Downtown Seattle and with a citywide approach to incentive zoning the Mayor recently sent to Council. The two block height increase will provide a starting point for the neighborhood-wide urban form study.

What is the schedule for this process?

If you are interested in learning more and want to be kept informed, please sign up for the South Lake Union mailing list by sending an e-mail with your contact information to jim.holmes@seattle.gov

For more information on the South Lake Union neighborhood plan and other planning work in South Lake Union please see: www.seattle.gov/dpd/planning/slu. To find out more about SLUFAN see www.slufan.org .

Links

• SLUFAN
• South Lake Union Neighborhood Plan
• Downtown Zoning Changes
• Housing incentive programs
• University of Washington Urban Design and Planning Studios
• Zoning criteria