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Making Downtown Seattle an active and safe living environment
around the clock is a key goal of a proposal to amend zoning
regulations. The proposed changes would have a positive impact
on building design, residential and commerical growth, and
affordable housing.
A Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) addressing
this proposal will be issued by DPD on Jan. 6, 2005, followed
by a meeting to brief the public on Jan. 13 (details at right).
This FEIS defines a Preferred Alternative that will change
development regulations in ways that will enhance the best
qualities of Downtown districts and also encourage slimmer,
more attractive building designs. Redefining the "envelope"
of buildable space on Downtown properties should provide more
flexibility to designers while also providing reasonable controls
on the bulk of buildings.
Proposed zoning changes would affect the downtown office
core, Denny Triangle, and a small portion of Belltown. Specific
zones affected include Downtown Office Core (DOC) 1 and 2,
Downtown Mixed Commercial (DMC), and a small portion of the
Downtown Retail Core.
The changes will continue to provide for residential and
commercial growth by encouraging a dense office core surrounded
by peripheral areas with more residential and mixed uses.
They will also provide more opportunities to gain funding
resources for affordable housing.
The Preferred Alternative is an essential component of the
Mayor's vision for the Downtown commercial core and "Center
City," the nine centrally located neighborhoods immediately
around downtown Seattle.
Next steps for the "Downtown Zoning Changes" project
include preparing and submitting code amendments to Seattle
City Council for consideration in early spring 2005.
Background
The FEIS will conclude a process that began in mid-2001 when
an EIS was first required to address proposals arising from
neighborhood planning--specifically to respond to future growth
concepts expressed in neighborhood plans and follow-up on
planning efforts conducted since 1999.
DPD released a study of four alternatives for possible changes
in height and density limits on development in downtown Seattle
in November 2003 contained in a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). DPD staff gathered
public input on this proposal through February 2004, including
two public meetings and numerous written comments.
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