| 2.8 Other Street Right-of-Way Improvement Activities |
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City Departments also regulate or provide guidance on a number of other activities that impact the public rights-of-way. This section defines the existing process for other improvement-related activities.
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| 2.8.1 Street and Alley Vacation Process |
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If your proposed project includes incorporating street right-of-way into the development or includes the realignment of street right-of-way, it will be necessary to petition for a street vacation. A street vacation is the process by which an abutting property owner can petition the City to acquire the adjacent street right-of-way.
Street and Alley Vacations are reviewed by SDOT, the Seattle Design Commission and City Council who makes the final decision on whether or not to grant the vacation. The City has established policies and procedures to guide the decision. Because the City takes such a careful look, it is important to contact the street vacation staff early in your development planning. Street vacation staff can explain the process, costs and time frame associated with the review of a vacation. Staff will also make every effort to assess whether a vacation appears to be feasible in your particular circumstance. Tunnels and aerial use of the street right-of-way also require vacations.
Get more information about street vacations.
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| 2.8.2 Shoreline Street Ends and Unimproved Rights-of-Way |
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Shoreline Street Ends are those platted streets that run into water and provide access and/or views of Lake Washington, Lake Union or Puget Sound. The City has 149 shoreline street ends. Many are already open to the public. SDOT Director's Rule 00-1, the City's guidelines on the Shoreline Street Ends Program, includes improving a shoreline street end for public access.
City Resolution 29370, adopted in September 1996, identified shoreline street ends as a scarce and valuable public resource which should be open for the enjoyment and benefit of the public. This policy was adopted after much public discussion and careful consideration. Ordinance 119673 was adopted in October 1999 to establish a new type of permit and a new fee schedule for permitting private uses of the shoreline street ends. Although the ultimate goal is to remove private uses of these street ends, the permit process acknowledges some private uses will continue.
Refer to Section 2.12.3 State and Federal Permits and Approvals for information on additional permits that may be required for work on street ends including Army Corps of Engineer Permits Section 10: Hydraulic Permit Approval (HPA) and Section 401: Discharge of Dredge and Fill. Refer to Section 2.10.4 Shoreline Substantial Development Permits, as the project may also require a Shoreline Permit.
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| 2.8.3
Traffic Control Signs in the Street Right-of-Way |
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Development projects are required to identify existing traffic control signs in public rights-of-way and replace them following construction. Modifications to existing signage can be requested through the Street Improvement Permit Process.
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