DPD is proposing to change the City’s environmental review thresholds, which determine when new development is subject to environmental review under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). Recent state legislation allows higher thresholds for infill development in urban areas.
The Proposal
The proposed thresholds would be:
- downtown Urban Center, 80 dwelling units
- other Urban Centers, 30 dwelling units
- urban Villages, 20 dwelling units
- Other multifamily and commercial zoned areas, 10 dwelling units
- single Family zones, 4 dwelling units (no change)
- for most commercial zones, commercial use thresholds would be 12,000 square feet
- thresholds for review of parking uses would increase from 20 spaces up to 40 spaces
What thresholds would NOT change under this proposal
- the thresholds for the design review process
- most development actions in environmentally critical areas
Other Details
The proposal also:
- maintains protections against typical construction noise and parking impacts
- maintains public notice with signage at properties that have projects under review
- maintains reviews for possible landmarks at their current levels
Benefits of the Proposal
These adjustments will bring a better balance to the City’s current housing, economic and environmental protection priorities. The proposal recognizes that many environmental protections are now in place through other regulations that have been adopted since the SEPA policies were adopted. They will also bring these thresholds into alignment with the City’s growth management strategy that encourages most growth in urban centers and villages.
The proposal will:
- allow for more cost-effective production of new housing
- encourage business and residential growth in urban villages and centers
- improve the efficiency of the city’s review processes
The proposal to amend SEPA thresholds is scheduled for City Council consideration in Fall 2007.
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