DPD -- Permits: Permit Pipeline, March2009

Permit Pipeline

Keeping you updated with the latest permit-related news and developments within DPD each month.

March 2009

Interim Tree Protection Ordinance Takes Effect April 1 On March 2, 2009 Mayor Nickels signed Ordinance 122919. This ordinance becomes effective on April 1, 2009. This legislation limits the number and type of trees that may be removed where no development is proposed on commercial, low-rise and mid-rise multi-family, and single family lots greater than 5,000 square feet. Except when associated with a development permit or when the tree is found to be a hazard, the following limits on tree removal include: Exceptional trees: Exceptional trees may not be removed on single-family-zoned lots of 5,000 square feet or more and on all lowrise-, midrise-, and commercial-zoned lots. Non-exceptional trees six inches in diameter or greater: No more than three non-exceptional trees six inches in diameter or greater may be removed within any 12 month period on single-family zoned lots of 5,000 square feet or more and on all lowrise-, midrise-, and commercial-zoned lots. Non-exceptional trees less than six inches in diameter: No new requirements. Information on further efforts the City is undertaking to protect trees is available at the Interim Tree Protection website. The draft rule DR 16-2008 can also be downloaded from that website. For further questions, please contact: Brennon Staley, DPD Planner at (206) 684-4625.	This legislation limits the number and type of trees that may be removed where no development is proposed on commercial, low-rise and mid-rise multi-family, and single -family lots greater than 5,000 square feet.

New Permitting Process Encourages Deconstruction A new demolition permitting option provides contractors and developers greater opportunities to salvage reusable building materials from housing that is being removed. The new permitting process provides early site access to applicants who agree to remove a structure through deconstruction rather than through a standard demolition process. Deconstruction is the systematic disassembly of a building in order to first maximize the salvage of reusable building materials and to second recycle materials. Salvaging reusable building materials reduces the amount of construction waste routed to landfills and reduces the demand on virgin resources. Deconstruction and salvage are more labor and time intensive than standard demolition and many developers opt simply to demolish existing structures rather than incur the delay deconstruction and salvage will impose. For more information, please visit the Residential Deconstruction website.	Deconstruction is the systematic disassembly of a building in order to maximize the salvage of reusable building materials and recycle materials.

New and Updated Client Assistance Memo (CAM) New CAM — DPD has published a new Client Assistance Memo (CAM) to aid applicants in understanding environmentally critical area (ECA) regulations for areas containing wetlands and fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas. These areas include shoreline habitats, streams, and small lakes. CAM 326, Environmentally Critical Areas: Wetlands and Fish & Wildlife Habitat Conservation Areas, describes regulations that may affect the maintenance and redevelopment of property in or adjacent to these areas. This CAM provides resources for applicants seeking development permits. Updated CAM — DPD recently updated CAM 221, Single Family Side Yard Easements and Accessory Structure Agreements, due to new Single Family Code provisions.	CAM 326 was recently published and CAM 221 was recently updated.

2008 Seattle Electrical Code to be Adopted DPD proposes to adopt the 2008 Seattle Electrical Code. The proposal is comprised of the 2008 National Electrical Code (NEC), existing Seattle electrical code amendments and new amendments. Many of the existing amendments from the 2005 Seattle Electrical Code work well and are carried over into the 2008 code. The new amendments: add a requirement for permit plan sets when applying for an electrical permit to install a renewable energy system; require that wiring not pass through one dwelling to supply power to a different dwelling; and requires ground fault interrupter (GFI) protection testing of new electrical additions before they are energized. Staff elected to adopt the new NEC requirements for arc-fault circuit interrupters. With an eye to the future, new amendments anticipate a need for recharging electric vehicles by requiring that capacity calculations include electric vehicle (EV) charging systems. One amendment adds a new table to assist in calculating the additional electrical load of an EV charging system. Additionally, the service panel shall have room to add a feeder to serve EV charging outlets. A location for the feeder panel must be designated to ensure the required working areas are available when an EV charging system feeder is added. The proposed code amendments also add exceptions to all of the selective coordination sections in the code. The exceptions allow an electrical engineer to design and stamp calculations documenting that over-current protective devices are coordinated for fault occurrences having a duration of 0.1 seconds and longer. Questions or comments about the code language may be sent to Vicki Baucom.	The recommendations for new multifamily zoning are intended to improve the design of multifamily development, promote greener buildings, and encourage workforce affordable housing via zoning incentives.

New Intake Appointments for Street Improvement Permitting Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) Street Use is redesigning the Street Improvement Permitting (SIP) process with the goals of reducing the cost and permit issuance time frames of Street Improvement Permits, increasing the predictability of the process, and improving customer satisfaction. Effective April 27, 2009, applicants must schedule a SIP intake appointment when applying for acceptance of 90-percent-complete Street Improvement Plans for formal circulation and review. SDOT will screen the application materials and determine if the Street Improvement Plan meets all criteria of the “base map checklist” and “ready for formal circulation checklist.” Workshops will be conducted to help Street Improvement Permit applicants and stakeholders prepare for the new SIP intake appointment process and plan requirements. Revised application materials, checklists, and Client Assistance Memos will be distributed during the workshops. The workshops will be held on: Monday, March 30, 2009, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.; Tuesday, March 31, 2009, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.; and Wednesday, April 1, 2009, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. To RSVP for one of the workshops, please contact Jamie Holland at (206) 733-9876.	To RSVP for one of the workshops, please contact Jamie Holland at (206) 733-9876.

New Charges for Multiple Code-Enforcement Inspections On January 1, 2009, new code provisions became effective that add charges for multiple inspections in code enforcement actions. These changes affect actions relating to violations of the Land Use Code (SMC Title 23) and the Housing and Building Maintenance Code (SMC Chapter 22.206). The new code provisions provide that a violation-compliance-inspection charge of $166 will be charged for the third inspection and for all subsequent inspections in a given case, until compliance is achieved. There will be no charge for the first two inspections in a case. The inspection sequence is as follows: Generally, the first inspection in the case will identify a violation. The inspector will issue a warning, notice of violation, or other applicable enforcement document. The second inspection will occur on or after the date given in the warning or notice. If the property is in compliance at that time, no inspection charge will be imposed. The inspection charge will accrue only if the property is not in compliance at the time of the second inspection and a re-inspection is necessary to verify compliance. This inspection charge is in addition to any per-day or other penalty imposed by the enforcement sections of these codes. For more information about the new inspection charge, please contact: Diane Davis, Code Compliance Manager at (206) 233-7873.	The new code provisions provide that a violation-compliance- inspection charge of $166 will be charged for the third inspection and for all subsequent inspections in a given case, until compliance is achieved.