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Public Hearing on Proposed Land Use Code Amendments for Biotech Businesses
September 17, 2003
The Department of Design, Construction, and Land Use (DCLU) is proposing amendments to the Land Use Code (Title 23) to the zoning in South Lake Union to address the unique needs or features of biotech uses. These features include tall floor to floor heights and specialized mechanical equipment. The amendments include the following:
  • Allow up to 10 to 20 feet of additional height for biotech development, depending on the zone;
  • Apply a height measurement technique similar to that used downtown, using the street frontage of the property to determine building height;
  • Exempt from FAR limits up to 15 percent of overall floor area for mechanical equipment;
  • Increase the allowable roof top coverage area to sixty-five (65) percent if equipment is screened;
  • Revise the minimum amount of parking required for research and development laboratory from the current requirement of 1 space for each 1,000 square feet of floor area to 1 space for each 1,500 square feet (generally, more parking may be provided than the code required minimum amount);
  • Reduce the number of loading berths required when centralized facilities are provided to serve multiple buildings; and
  • Clarify the definition of "research and development laboratory" (this amendment would apply citywide).

Public Hearing
City Council will hold a public hearing to take comments about the proposal:

Tuesday, September 23rd, 4:00 pm
City Hall, Council Chambers
5th Avenue between Cherry and James Streets

 
 For More Info

For more details on the issues being addressed in the proposed biotech amendments or about the public meeting, please contact:

Mike Podowski, DCLU
(206) 386-1988
mike.podowski@seattle.gov

Department of Planning and Development (DPD)