The Office of Housing (OH) and Department of Planning and Development (DPD) are sponsoring legislation that would amend policies and regulations about residential uses in the Sand Point Overlay District. The legislation would allow the renovation and re-use of Building 9 as housing without income restrictions or institutional use requirements, to preserve and efficiently use this historic building.
- The Land Use Code amendment in SMC 23.72.010.C allows new housing to not count against a limit on housing, if the housing is in a historic-contributing structure in the Lowrise 3 zone in the Naval Station Puget Sound Sand Point Historic District. The existing limit on housing was oriented to the previously expected use of housing only for lower-income households.
- A Resolution by the City Council would also amend language in the Sand Point Physical Development Management Plan (PDMP) to allow this kind of market-rate housing.
Building 9 is the vacant former barracks located near Sand Point Way just south of the main entrance to the Sand Point complex. If not renovated, the building will fall into further disrepair and become a health, safety and aesthetic detriment to the area. The proposal will allow preservation of this historic structure consistent with historic preservation rules.
Evaluations of building reuse options have concluded that educational purposes or housing serving only lower-income households are not financially practical to achieve, but market-rate housing would be feasible. Public input since 2009 supports Building 9 preservation, and the current proposal for market-rate housing has received favorable support in public comments in 2012. If the proposal is approved, a development project to renovate Building 9 will proceed to permitting. DPD has analyzed the regulatory proposal and identifies no significant land use incompatibilities.
See the Notice of City Council Public Hearing on the Proposed Text Amendment for the Sand Point Overlay District for more information.
October 4, 2012
