The City of Seattle’s DPD released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Livable South Downtown planning project Thursday, November 1, 2007. The DEIS addresses possible legislative rezones and Comprehensive Plan map changes.

The goal of the Livable South Downtown project is to encourage housing and job-related development while respecting the neighborhood character of this highly diverse area of Seattle. The project is a study of potential land use and zoning actions and is informed by neighborhood plans and community stakeholders. The neighborhoods include Pioneer Square, Chinatown/International District including Little Saigon east of Interstate 5, the east side of Rainier Avenue S. between S. Dearborn St. and S. Main St., and the northern periphery of the Greater Duwamish Manufacturing and Industrial Center.

South Downtown contains two of the city’s historic districts and Seattle’s largest transportation hub at King Street Station. There is strong consensus in the neighborhood that new residential and job-related investment will strengthen these districts and encourage transit use. This is consistent with growth management policies to encourage growth where it is best served by existing infrastructure.

As required by the Washington State Environmental Policy Act, the DEIS is a programmatic-level analysis of environmental impacts of three alternatives for zoning changes in the area, and one “no action” alternative. The alternatives evaluate a range of possible zoning actions for each portion of the study area. This means decision makers have flexibility in making choices that are addressed by the environmental review. The final zoning action proposed may be one of the alternatives or some combination of the alternatives.

“The DEIS is an important step in advancing the City’s and neighborhoods’ goals for South Downtown. The project aims to support a balanced residential and workforce population, a diversity of businesses and vitality in the area’s public life while enhancing the unique cultural and historic qualities of the neighborhoods,” said Diane Sugimura, DPD Director.

A public comment hearing for the DEIS will take place on Wednesday, December 5 at 6:30 p.m. in City Hall at the Bertha Knight Landes room. City Hall is located between 4th and 5th Avenues and James and Cherry Streets. Written comments on the DEIS will be accepted through December 17.

A final EIS and draft land use recommendations are expected in February 2008.