>>> GOOD MORNING.
IT IS 9:30 A.M.
ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19th, I
THINK.
WELCOME TO THE REGULARLY
SCHEDULED SEATTLE PLANNING LAND
USE AND ZONING COMMITTEE.
I AM ROB JOHNSON, I AM THE
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE AND SOON
TO BE GINNED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS
O'BRIEN AND HERBOLD.
WE WILL HAVE A DISCUSSION AND A
POSSIBLE VOTE CONTINUING OUR
LONG AWAITED DISCUSSION ABOUT
CHANGING THE PLAN ADOPTED LEVEL
OF SERVICE STANDARDS.
AND THEN WE WILL HAVE TWO
BRIEFINGS, ONE OF NEIGHBORHOOD
DESIGN GUIDELINES IN THE
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT AND ANOTHER
IN THE UPTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD.
DUE TO COUNCIL RECESS AND OUR
PLANNED CANCELLATION OF THE
JANUARY 16th PLANNING LAND USE
AND ZONING COMMITTEE MEETING,
IN ORDER TO MAKE ROOM FOR NEXT
YEARS DISCUSSION ABOUT CITY
WIDE ZONING CHANGES FOR HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY, THE NEXT MEETING
WILL ACTUALLY START FEBRUARY
6th HERE AND WE WILL USE THIS
LOT IN JANUARY TO HANDLE OUR
AFFORDABILITY BUSINESS.
WE START OUR MEETING WITH
PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE HAVE GOT SIX PEOPLE SIGNED
UP TO GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT THIS
MORNING.
WE WILL GIVE YOU TWO MINUTES
AND ASK YOU TO COME TO THE
FRONT.
WE WILL START.
>>> GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I AM FROM THE FISHER STUDIO
BUILDING ON 3rd AVENUE AND I AM
HERE TO TALK MAINLY ABOUT THE
PROJECT THAT IS BEING BUILT AT
1516, OR BEING PROPOLISESSED
FOR 15 PROPOSED FOR 1516, YOU
PROMISED ME SOMEONE WOULD GET
DPAC TO ME ABOUT THE QUESTIONS
WE HAVE RAISED ABOUT IT AND WE
HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM
ANYBODY, SO I HOPE YOU WILL
CONTRIBUTE TO THE HELPING DO
THAT.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS,
AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE RAISED
QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER THE
DESIGN GOOD LINES HAVE BEEN
TOLL GOOD LINES HAVE BEEN
POLLED.
WE DON'T THINK SO.
AND WE DON'T THINK A LARGE
NUMBER OF THEM HAVE BEEN
FOLLOWED.
IN THE EARLY DESIGN REVIEW,
THAT IS REALLY WHEN THE PUBLIC
HAS A CHANCE FOR INPUT.
IF OUR QUESTIONS ARE NOT
ANSWERED AT THAT POINT IN TIME,
WE PROBABLY LOSE OUT IN THE
PROCESS.
SO THE QUESTIONS WE HAVE NOW
ARE HOW TO RECONCILE EXTREMES
IN BULK AND MASS, DUAL ZONING,
HOW TO MAKE E. COLI EFFECTIVE
USE OF ALLIES WITHOUT
OVERBURDENING THEM AND HOW TO
PROVIDE PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOW
TO PROTECT HISTORICAL
LANDMARKS.
THEY ALL HAVE OVERLAPPING
JURISDICTION AND WE HAVE HARD
TIME FIGURING OUT WHO IS WHO
AND WHO DOES WHAT AND WHICH
CRITERIA THEY FOLLOW.
AND HOW CAN WE HAVE IMPACT AND
INPUT ON THAT PROCESS.
OBVIOUSLY IF YOU HAD A BUILDING
THT IS 500 STORIES HIGH
PROPOSED WITHIN 16 FEET OF YOUR
LIVING ROOM, YOU WOULD PROBABLY
BE PRETTY UPSET, ALSO.
AND THIS HAS BEEN SPRUNG UPON
US WITHOUT ANY OPPORTUNITY FOR
COMMENT, SIGNIFICANT COMMENT TO
THE DEVELOPER AND THE
DEVELOPERS HAS ABSOLUTELY NO
INTEREST IN MITIGATING THE KIND
OF QUESTIONS WE HAVE.
SO WE HAVE TO COME HERE TO CITY
HALL AND IF WE DON'T GET ANY
HELP HERE, WE HAVE TO LITIGATE
IT, WE THINK IT IS A VERY POOR
WAY OF DOING BUSINESS.
SO I THANK YOU.
ALSO, I WANT TO MENTION THAT I
HAVE WRITTEN TO YOU AND GOTTEN
RESPONSE THAT WE ARE STRONGLY A
POSED TO CB119398 AS IT STANDS
NOW.
WE THINK YOU NEED TO COLLUDE
TRAFFIC IMPACTS FOR THE HIGH-
RISES IN DOWNTOWN IN IT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
COLLEEN, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED
BY ANDY AND THEN MEGAN.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMAN
JOHNSON.
AND COUNCILMAN HERBOLD.
COLLEEN FROM THE COMMUNITY
CLUB, I LIVE IN NORTHEAST
SEATTLE, DISTRICT 4. AND IT IS
QUITE THE LOCATION FOR A LOT OF
INTENSE DEVELOPMENT IN OUR
AREA.
SO WE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE
CHANGE DROPPING LOS, LEVEL OF
SERVICE, WHICH MEASURES THE
CAPACITY OF THE ROADS AS A
CRITERIA FOR DEVELOPMENT OF 30
UNITS OR MORE.
THE CUR BY PORTS SUGGEST THAT
NO MATTER WHAT WE DO IN SEATTLE
THE HOUSEHOLDS, ABOUT/2-2/3,
ABOUT 2/3 WILL ALWAYS OWN A
CAR.
SO THE LEVEL OF SERVICE IS JUST
A TOOL, IT IS A MEASUREMENT OF
THE CAPACITY OF THE ROADS TO
ACCOMMODATE VEHICLES, NOT JUST
SOVs, BUT THERE IS FRIGHT,
THERE ARE SERVICE VEHICLES,
GARBAGE, UTILITY, FIRE, POLICE,
OUR TRANSIT SYSTEM WORKS ON THE
ROADS, SO THE CAPACITY IS
REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THAT AS
WELL, FOR THE ROAD TO FUNCTION
PROPERTY.
THE CAPACITY DOES MATTER.
A COUPLE OF THINGS, WE WILL
ALSO MENTION THE ALTERNATIVES
PROPOSED IN THE MENU ARE NOT
NECESSARILY EFFECTIVE IN
REDUCING THE NUMBER OF CARS.
REALLY, JUST REDUCING MARKING
UNITS IS IS JUST OF PARKING
UNITS IS JUST A GIFT TO
DEVELOPERS AND 2-/3 OF THE
PEOPLE WILL PROBABLY HAVE CARS
IN THE FUTURE: AND THAT IS
46,000 MORE CARS BY 2035.
SO FINALLY, OTHER ALTERNATIVES
MAY BE A BETTER SHOT, MAYBE CAR
SHARING, OR DRIVERS IN THE
BUILDINGS THAT WOULD ACTUALLY
REDUCE THE NUMBER OF CARS BUT
ALSO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE THAT
IS NECESSARY.
AND I THANK YOU FOR LISTENING
AND AGAIN, I ASK YOU NOT TO
CHANGE THE LOS, THE LEVEL OF
SERVICE FOR MEASURING CAPACITY.
IT IS JUST ONE GOOD TOOL AND IT
IS NEEDED FOR OUR CITY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MEGAN, YOU ARE GOING TO BE
FOLLOWED BY GEORGE AND THEN
STEVE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
AND GOOD MORNING.
THE NEW LOS BILL IS MAYBE OKAY
FOR SMALLER DEVELOPMENTS BUT IT
IS NOT PROVIDING INFORMATION TO
REDUCE THE IMPACTS OF THE
GROWING DENSITY COUNTY TOWN.
THE CHANGE--DOWNTOWN.
THE CHANGES FROM MEASURING
TRAFFIC TO A GOAL SO OF
REDUCING ACROSS THE CITY.
ITSONLY STOOL BIANNUAL
HOUSEHOLD SUR I HAVE.
IT CALLS FOR SMALLER
DEVELOPMENTS TO UNDER TAKE
TRANSPORTATION MITIGATION
EFFORTS AND SAYS THAT DOWNTOWN
TOWERS DO NOT NEED TO DO THIS
BECAUSE THEY COMPLY BY BEING
NEAR TRANSIT OPTIONS.
IT RAISES EVERYTHING QUESTIONS.
HOW WILL THE NEW LOS STANDARD
ACCOUNT FOR THE BIGGEST SURGE
OF TRAFFIC FROM DELIVERY
VEHICLES.
AND WHAT STUDIES SHOW THE
DOWNTOWN TOWERS ARE NOT ADD TO
SOVs WHEN THEY ARE ADDING
THOUSANDS OF PARKING STALLS IN
A VERY SMALL AREA.
HOW ACCURATE AND HELPFUL WILL A
BIANNUAL SURVEY BE TO LOOK AT
CURRENT AND FUTURE TRAFFIC
IMPACTS.
ONE POSSIBLE ANSWER IS FOUND IN
THE BILL'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENT.
IT MIGHT BE OUR ARGUABLE THAT
OUTCOMES OF THE PROPOSED REVIEW
SYSTEM MIGHT NOT BE AS
SUCCESSFUL AS ESTIMATED WITH
LESS PROGRESS TOWARD MODE SHARE
REDUCTION AND FEWER OVERALL
BENEFICIAL EFFECTS ON STREET
SYSTEM CONGESTION LEVELS THAT
FIGHT BE PREDICTED AS THAT
MIGHT BE PREDICTED AS AN IDEAL
OUTCOME.
PLEASE CREATE A BETTER BILL.
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU.
GEORGE AND THEN STEVE.
>> I AM GEORGE DANKER.
I LIVE AT 2nd AND PIKE.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AND I WANT
TO THANK NOAH BECAUSE HE
ACTUALLY ANSWERS MY E-MAILS,
EVEN THOUGH WE DISAGREE, HE IS
A RARE INDIVIDUAL.
I HAVE BEEN STARTED, I STARTED
MY INVOLVED IN SEATTLE WITH THE
PROPOSAL TO TEAR DOWN THE
BUILDING AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE
MARKET AND THEY PREVENTED A
RICHARDSON CRAZY LOADING
PRESENTED A CRAZY LOADING
BIRTH.
AND IN SEPTEMBER THE DIRECTOR
OF SDCI STATED TO US IN AN I
MAIL THAT HIGH-RISE CONDOS AND
APARTMENTS DO NOT HAVE A NEED
FOR LOADING BERTHS AND THE
DESIGN REVIEW HAS BEEN
APPROVING THESE THINGS.
WE HAVE TO STOP THIS.
WE HAVE TO MAKE EACH BUILDING
SUPPORT ITSELF ON ITS OWN
FOOTPRINT BECAUSE WHILE GETTING
SORs OFF OF THE STREET ARE A
GREAT THING, THE DELIVERY
PERCENTAGE IN SEATTLE IS
GROWING ABOUT 15% A YEAR.
WE HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT.
WE HAVE TO CONSIDER RIDE SHARE,
WHERE AS THE BASIS FOR REDUCING
TRAFFIC IS A GREAT IDEA, BUT IT
NEEDS TO BE AN ALL ENCOMPASSING
PLAN.
THE PUBLIC HAS TO BE LISTENED
TO, AND WE ARE NOT.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TODAY TO SPEAK TO YOU AND LET
YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT THIS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
IT IS STAFF EMPLOYEE REVIEW
TIME, I AM SURE NOAH WILL GRAB
THAT LITTLE PICK AND REMIND ME
OF THAT AT THE END OF THE WEEK.
THANK YOU.
>> WELL, MERRY CHRISTMAS AND
YOU HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY GOOD
TO YOUR STAKEHOLDERS THIS YEAR.
NOT SO GOOD TO THE CITIZENS AND
THE PEOPLE THEY IMPACT.
THIS TEE, I THINK THIS COMMIT
TIE IS REALLY, I THINK THE
LEAST LIKELY TO LISTEN TO
PUBLIC PUT IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
NOW, YOU REMIND ME OF DEMOCRACY
UNDER PEOPLE LIKE PUTIN AND
OTHER FOLKS, YOU REALLY HAVE
ALL OF THE EAR MARKS OF A TOTAL
TAR YAWN STATE.
BECAUSE LOOK AT WHAT PEOPLE
HAVE COME AND SPOKE TO YOU
ABOUT OVER THE YEAREND LOOK AT
WHAT YOU HAVE YEAR AND LOOK AT
WHAT YOU HAVE DONE.
IT IS THE FORM OF DEMOCRACY
WITHOUT THE ACTUAL DEMOCRACY.
I THINK FORMER PRESIDENT
DICTATOR OF THE PHILIPPINES
CALLED IT GUIDED DE-MOCKERY
CINCINNATI AND YOU HAVE TO PUT
UP WITH PEOPLE COMING AND
SPEAKING, BUT YOU REALLY DONE
HAVE TO LISTEN, BECAUSE IT IS
KIND OF A WASTE OF YOUR TIME.
BUT, SOME OF US ARE NOT GOING
TO GIVE UP, AND WHAT WE SAY IS
WE HAVE TO BRING PEOPLE BACK
INTO THE PROCESS.
AND I THINK YOUR LATEST LACK AT
TRAFFIC IS JUST TYPICAL OF
KEEPING PEOPLE OUT.
MORE AND MORE IN THIS PROCESS
PEOPLE MEAN LESS.
WE USED TO HAVE DESIGN REVIEW,
WHICH LOOKED AT THE ENTIRE
PROJECT.
NOW, WE EXCLUDE ALL SORTS OF
THINGS FROM IT.
SO WHEN PEOPLE OBJECT THEY SAY
OH, WE CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT
THAT.
WHY NOT?
BECAUSE YOU HAVE CHOSEN NOT.
AND THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
DOES NOT WANT IT.
AND LOOK AT HOW HOW RENTS ARE
GOING DOWN AND TRAFFIC IS
GETTING SO MUCH BETTER, MAYBE
IF SOMETHING DOES NOT WORK YOU
MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER DOING
SOMETHING ELSE.
>> THANK YOU, STEVE.
THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT
FOR THIS MORNING.
WE WILL MOVE ONTO OUR FIRST
AGENDA ITEM.
I WOULD ASK YOU TO READ THAT
INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM 1. [ READING
ITEM INTO RECORD ]
>> THANK YOU.
WE ARE JOINED AT THE TABLE BY
REPRESENTATIVES OF SEVERAL
DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS WITHIN
THE CITY AND I WOULD ASK THEM
TO START BY DOING SOME BRIEF
INTER-DUCTION.
>> I AM ERIC, THE COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF.
>> JONATHAN LEWIS WITH THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION.
>> MICHAEL HUBNER.
>> GORDON CLOWERS.
>> GREAT, WE WERE AT THE TABLE
A COUPLE OF WEEKSING A TO TALK
ABOUT THE LEVEL OF SERVICE.
BUT FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT HAVE
HAD A LITTLE TIME BETWEEN THE
LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, GIVE US
BRIEF REFRESHER AND I WILL
MAYBE LOOK TO YOU, MAYBE, MR.
HUMAN BEINGER.
>> SURE, THIS STARTED WITH A
LOOK AT THE CITY'S
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WHICH WAS
ADOPTED IN 2016, WHICH IS AN
ELEMENT OF THE PLAN UPDATE.
WE LOOKED AT HOW WE WERE
MEASURING LEVEL OF SERVICE.
THIS IS A STATE MANDATE THAT WE
HAVE A LEVEL OF HOW WELL THE
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IS
FUNCTIONING.
THE SYSTEM, THE MEASURE IS
EXISTED PRIOR TO THE PLAN
UPDATE LOOKED AT SCREEN LINES,
A MEASURE OF VOLUME TO CAPACITY
AS ON DIFFERENT MEASUREMENT
POINTS THROUGH THE CITY.
THIS WAS AN AUTOORIENTED
MEASURE, DID NOT LOOK AT OTHER
TRAVEL MODES.
BUZZ NOT, DUD NOT ALIGN WITH
THE CITIES OTHER POLICY IS,
THEY ARE FOCUSED ON MOVING
PEOPLE, AND IT WAS NOT
RESPONSIVE TO A STATE AND
REGIONAL POLICY REQUIREMENTS
THAT WE HAVE A MEASURE THAT
LOOKED AT MODES.
SO THE PLAN UPDATE ADOPTED A
NEW MEASURE THAT IS FOCUSED ON
THE MODE OF TRAVEL, LOOKING
SPECIFICALLY AT THE SHARE OF
TRIPS MADE FROM 3:00 P.M.
TO 6:00 P.M.
BY SINGLE OCCUPANT VEHICLE.
THE CONCEPT HERE IS BY LOOKING
AT THE NUMBER OF SOV, SINGLE
OCCUPANT TRIPS THAT ARE MADE
THROUGHOUT THE CITY, THAT IS
THE BIGGEST STRESSOR ON OUR
LIMBED RIGHT OF WAY AND THE
LEAST EFFICIENT WAY OF MOVING
PEOPLE AROUND THE CITY AND CON
SIS ANT WITH OUR-CON CONSISTENT
WITH A SHIFT.
SO WE ADOPTED THE NEW LEVEL OF
SERVICE STANDARDS IN THE PLAN.
THAT QUESTION IS NOT BEFORE YOU
TODAY, RATHER, THIS IS A
QUESTION OF IMPLEMENTATION.
SO THIS WOULD BRING OUR
REQUIREMENTS IN WITH THE LOS
MEASURE, WOULD PROVIDE A
FRAMEWORK FOR LOOKING AT NEW
DEVELOPMENT AND WHAT MIGHT BE
EXPECTED OF NEW DEVELOPMENT TO
MOVE US TOWARD ACHIEVING A
SHARE OF SINGLE OCCUPANT
VEHICLE TRIPS AND A SHARE IN
EIGHT SECTORS OF THE CITY, AND
WOULD MOVE US TO ACHIEVING
THOSE GOALS OVER THE NEXT 20
YEARS, DURING THE PLANS TIME
FRAME OUT TO 2035.
SO SMALL STEPS, THE PROJECTS
COULD TAKE TO PROVIDE CHOICES
AND MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE
TO TRAVEL WITHOUT BEING IN
THEIR CARING ALONE.
THIS PRO-CARS DRIVING ALONE.
AND THERE IS A SIZE THRESHOLD
AND IT IS FOR PROJECTS MOSTLY
OUTSIDE OF THE VILLAGES AND
URBAN CENTERS, AREAS WHICH ARE
ALREADY ACHIEVING A SHARE OF
TRAVEL THAT USES MULTIPLE
MODES.
THERE IS A MENU OF OPTIONS IN A
DIRECTOR'S ROLL, WHICH INCRUDE
PROVIDING PARKING THAT IS
CLOSER TO THE MINIMUMS,
PROVIDING SIDEWALKS AND CURVE
RAMP IMPROVEMENTS, PROVIDING
BUS PASSES FOR TENANTS, OR
PROVIDING A MIX OF USES THAT
GIVE PEOPLE CHOICE TOSS DO
THEIR TRIPS LOCALLY WITHOUT
GETTING IN THEIR CARS, OR OTHER
OPTIONS THAT THE DEVELOPER MAY
PROPOSE IF THEY ARE REDUCING
THE SOV TRIPS.
THE RULE IS THE WAY IN WHICH
THE REQUIREMENTS ARE STARTED AS
PROJECTS COME IN.
WE HAVE DCI HERE AND S D.O.T.,
THEY WOULD BE WORKING ON A
PROJECT BY PROJECT BASIS IS AND
COLLECTING DATA OVERTIME TO SEE
HOW WE ARE MOVING TOWARD THE
GOALS.
>> MICHAEL, DOES THE BILL APPLY
TO OUR URBAN CENTERS OR
VILLAGES.
>> IT DOES WITH RESPECT THAT IT
DOES PROVIDE AN INCENTIVE AND
LOOKS AT THE FACT THAT PROJECTS
THAT ARE LOCATED WITHIN THE
URBAN CENTERS AND OUR HUB URBAN
VILLAGES, THEY HAVE MORE OF A
MIX OF USES AND THE HIGHER
LEVEL OF TRANSIT SERVICE,
GENERALLY.
BUT THE PROJECTS ARE ACTUALLY
PERFORMING VERY WELL.
WE HAVE DATA FROM ONGOING
TRAVEL SURVEYS AND THE CITY
ACTUALLY PURCHASES A VERY ROW
SAMPLE.
WE THAT THE MORE GROWTH WE HAVE
IN CENTERS AND VILLAGES, WE ARE
MOVING TOWARDS OUR SOB SHARED
GOALS AND USING OUR SYSTEM MORE
EFFICIENTLY.
AND ONCE PROS ARE LOCATED IN
THE AREAS, THERE ARE
REQUIREMENTS ON TOP OF THOSE
BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE
PERFORMING WELL BECAUSE OF THE
SHOW BECAUSE OF THE LOCATIONS.
>> SO WHAT IS THE PROCESS
TODAY, IF YOU ARE APPLYING FOR
A PROJECT AND WHAT IS IT AFTER
THIS BILL?
>> THE PROCESS TODAY.
>> WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS FOR A
DEVELOPER TO CHOOSE FROM A MENU
OF MITIGATION CHOICES, FOR
EXAMPLE, FOR A PROJECT THAT IS
ABOVE THE CERTAIN THRESHOLD
THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
TODAY?
>> WELL THE PROCESS RELIES ON A
TRAFFIC ANALYSIS, IMPACT
ANALYSIS THAT WOULD BASICALLY,
IN THE CONTEXT, IDENTIFY
WHETHER THEY ARE ANY
SIGNIFICANT ADVERSE IMPACTS OR
NOT, AND THEN IF SO, RECOMMEND
AN ACTION THAT WOULD MITIGATE
THAT SPECIFIC IMPACT.
OUR PLANNERS CAN ALSO MAKE THAT
DETERMINATION AND REQUIRE AN
ACTION OF ITSELF.
BUT THAT IS IN THE CONTEXT, IS
THERE NO SUCH TOOL LIKE THAT
TODAY.
IN THE FUTURE, WITH THIS
PROPOSAL, ON THE PLAN SETS, THE
APPLICANT WOULD BE INDICATING
UP FRONT WHICH OF THE
STRATEGIES THEY ARE CHOOSING TO
IMELEMENT AND HAVE, YOU KNOW,-
-IMPLEMENT AND HAVE AN
INDICATION THAT THEY WILL FROM
PROVIDE A BUS PASS OR LIMIT THE
PARKING TO A CERTAIN AMOUNT, OR
PROVIDE A MIX OF USES.
AND BASICALLY, SHOW, OR PROVE
THAT, IN THE INFORMATION THAT
THEY PROVIDE.
SO THAT IS KIND OF A COMMITMENT
AND IS IT IS VETTED BEFORE THE-
-AND IT IS VETTED BEFORE THE
CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY.
>> THERE IS A BROADER PEN YOU
OF OPTIONS.
>> THAT IS RIGHT.
>> ANYTHING THAT OTHERS WANT TO
ADD?
QUESTIONS?
PLEASE, COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU, I WANT TO UNDER
CORE A POINT I AM PRETTY SURE
YOU MADE.
THIS LEGISLATION, DOES NOT, WE
HAVE IS HEARD FROM PEOPLE
SAYING PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE THE
LEVEL SERVICE STANDARD.
SO THIS LEGISLATION DOES NOT DO
THAT?
IT ADDRESSES IMPLEMENT.
>> CORRECT, THE COUNCIL ACTED
TO CHANGE THE LEVEL OF SERVICE
STANDARD THROUGH THE PLAN
UPDATE IN 2016.
>> OKAY.
GREAT.
AND YOU ALSO, WHEN WE WERE
TALKING ABOUT THE OTHER THING
THAT WE HAVE BEEN HEARING A LOT
FROM FOLKS ABOUT IS THAT
DEVELOPMENTS IN URBAN CENTERS
PARTICULARLY, DOWNTOWN AND
SOUTH LAKE UNION SHOULD NOT BE
QUOTE, UNQUOTE, GIVEN A PASS,
FOR THIS TYPE OF REVIEW UNDER
THE PROPOSED DIRECTORS RULE.
AND ALL THOUGH THE LEVEL OF
STANDARDS REVIEW WOULD NOT BE
DONE FO PROJECTS IN DOWNTOWN
AND SOUTH LAKE UNION, THERE IS,
WITHIN THE BILL, A, WELL, IT
IS, THERE ARE TWEAKS TO IT, BUT
THERE IS ALREADY A
TRANSPORTATION IMPACT ANALYSIS
IN SMC2352008C2 THAT COULD GET
AT SOME OF THE SAME ISSUES THAT
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT RELATED TO
TRYING TO REDUCE SOV TRAVEL AND
THOSE, THAT SECTION ADDRESSES
SPECIFICALLY PROJECTS THAT MAY
NOT MEET THE CPA THRESHOLDS, IS
THAT CORRECT?
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
AND I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT HAVING
TOUCHED ON THAT IN MY SUMMARY,
IT IS A FAIRLY MINOR PART OF
THE ORDNANCE, AND IT IS A
HOUSEKEEPING CHANGE TO BRING
THE, TO CLARIFY WHEN A TRAFFIC
IMPACT STUDY FOR PROJECTS THAT
ARE, THAT DO NOT MEET THE
THRESHOLDS, THOSE ADDITIONAL
PRODUCTS WOULD BE REQUIRED TO
DO THE TRAFFIC IMPACT STUDY AND
GIVEN THAT THE THRESHOLDS
CHANGED SINCE THE LAST TIME
THIS ORDNANCE WAS TOUCHED.
SO THIS CLEANS THAT UP.
BUT YOU ARE CORRECT, THE LOS
IMPLEMENT IS MORE OF A SYSTEM I
CAN IMPACT.
THE LOS DOES NOT CHANGE THAT
AND THIS ORDNANCE CHARITIES AND
MAKES SURE THAT THE PROJECTS
ARE INCLUDED DUE TO THE TRAFFIC
IMPACT STUDY.
>> SO I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT
TO UPLIFT IN LIGHT OF WHAT WE
HAVE HEARD FROM THE PUBLIC.
I THINK IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT,
NOT ONLY HAVE WE HEARD FROM THE
PUBLIC, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME
ARTICLES OVER THE PAST FEW
YEARS ABOUT DEVELOPERS IN SOUTH
LAKE UNION AND DOWNTOWN TAKING
ADVANTAGE OF A LOOPHOLE THAT
PREVIOUSLY EXISTED AS IT
RELATES TO EXCEEDING PARKING
MARX MUMS.
AND THAT LOOPHOLE HAS BEEN
CLOSED--MAXIMUMS, AND THAT
LOOPHOLE HAS BEEN CLOSED SO
THAT WILL NOT CONTINUE.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE
EXTRA TIME THAT WE HAD TO TAKE
AND INTO THE ISSUES AND KNOW
THAT THIS LEGISLATION DOES NOT
DEAL WITH A LEVEL OF SERVICE
AND A REVIEW RELATED TO THAT
FOR THE URBAN CENTERS THAT ONE,
WE HAVE MADE IMPROVEMENTS TO
HOW WE DO REVIEW PROJECTS IN
THOSE AREAS AS IT RELATES TO
SINGLE OCCUPANCY VEHICLE TRAVEL
AND WE HAVE OTHER, OTHER
MECHANISMS THAT WE ALSO USE TO
MITIGATE IT.
THANKS.
>> QUESTIONS?
>> I HEARD A COUPLE OF
QUESTIONS FROM PEOPLE THAT I
HAVE LOOKED INTO A BIT.
ONE WAS A QUESTION OF WHY
EXCEPT THE PROJECTS NEAR AN
URBAN VILLAGE.
WHY NOT MAKE EVERYONE DO MORE
TO HELP IMPROVE THE SOV GOALS?
AND MY INTERPRETATION IS THAT
WE DO WANT EVERYONE TO DO MORE
AND THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS
THAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP, ONE OF
THE BEST THINGS YOU CAN DUOTO
HELP--YOU CAN GO TO HELP IS
BUILD YOUR PROJECT REALLY CLOSE
TO EXISTING SERVICE, OR IN A
DENSITY THAT CAN MUCH MORE
EASILY BE SERVED BY SERVICE.
AND SO, BY SAYING AYE, THERE IS
A RANGE OF THINGS, LAND NEAR
TRANSIT IS OFTEN MORE
EXPENSIVE, SO THAT IS SOMETIMES
PUSHING PEOPLE AWAY.
SO WE ARE SAYING WE REALLY WANT
YOU TO LOCATE HERE AND IF YOU
DO THAT, THAT ALONE, WHAT WE
HAVE SEEN FROM THE DATA, THAT
WILL ALLOW YOUR RESIDENTS OR
EMPLOYEES TO HAVE BETTER ACCESS
TO TRANSIT AND WE WILL PICK
ORE OF THOSE TRIPS.
IF YOU CHOOSE TO DO A PROJECT
FURTHER AWAY FROM TRANSIT, WHAT
IT IS HARDER AND THE PEOPLE-
-WHERE IT IS HARDER AND THE
PEOPLE USING THAT FACILITY WILL
LIKELY HAVE LESS ACCESS, THEN
WE ARE SAYING YOU NEED TO DO
MORE AND ASKING THAT.
AND SO IT IS REALLY, AT LEAST
MY UNDERSTANDING, WE ARE TRYING
TO CREATE A DIFFERENCE, WE ARE
SAYING HEY, WE WANT TO INNOCENT
IS YOU TO BUILD NEAR TRANSIT
INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND IF YOU DON'T, WE WILL ASK
YOU TO DO SOMETHING ELSE TO
MAKE UP FOR THAT DIFFERENCE OF
SERVICE THAT THEY ARE LIKELY
NOT HAVING ACCESS TO.
I AM SEEING A LOT OF NODS.
SO I THINK I AM ON THE RIGHT
TRACK.
BUT IF YOU HAVE MORE TOED A.
>> WELL, THAT SOUNDED MORE LIKE
A STATEMENT.
THE ONLY THING I WOULD SAY IS
THAT I THINK THAT THIS ORDNANCE
ALSO FOCUSES ON GETTING THE
MOST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK AND THE
BIGGEST IMPACT ON THE SYSTEM IS
BY PROJECTS THAT ARE GENERATING
THE MOST SINGLE OCCUPANCY
VEHICLE TRIPS.
SO THEY ARE BY THE FOCUS ON
THOSE, THEY ARE NOT IN THE
VILLAGES AND THE URBAN CENTERS
AND THE LIGHT RAIL STATION
AREAS AS WELL.
>> GREAT, THE OTHER QUESTION
FOLKS ASKED, WHICH I STRUGGLED
TO ANSWER, WAS WHY EXCEPT
SMALLER PROJECTS INSTEAD OF
LARGE PROJECTS?
YOU KNOW, A PROJECT WITH OVER
30, YOU KNOW, RESIDENT UNITS
WILL HAVE MORE TRIPS, BUT
COULDN'T WE ASK THEM ALL TO DO
SOMETHING THAT IS SCALABLE?
SO THIS QUESTION CAME TO MY
ATTENTION LATE YESTERDAY.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAD A
CHANCE TO SEE MY RE-PONCE, BUT
ERIC, I KNOW YOU--RESPONSE, BUT
ERIC, I KNOW YOU SCRAMBLED TO
HELP ME THINK THROUGH THAT.
BUT I HAVE A DRAFT AMENDMENT
THAT I WANT TODAY TALK ABOUT,
BUT I WILL NOT BRING FORWARD
TODAY BECAUSE OF NOTICE
REQUIREMENTS, BUT I WOULD LOVE
GET THOUGHTS ON IF IT IS A
SCALABLE PROBLEM THAT WE CAN
SAY NO, EVERYONE SHOULD
CONTRIBUTE TO.
IF YOU ARE BUILDING A REALLY
SMALL PROJECT, YOU NEED TO DO A
LITTLE SOMETHING, TOO.
IT SHOULD NOT BE THE SAME SIZE
AS A 100 UNIT AT BUILDING.
>> DO YOU WANT TO DESCRIBE IT
MORE?
>> YES, MAYBE ERIC YOU CAN
DESCRIBE THE ACTUAL AMENDMENT.
BUT THERE IS AN EXCEPTION FOR
PROJECTS BELOW A CERTAIN SIZE
AND THE GOAL IS TO JUST SAY
EVERYONE, EVERY PROJECT HAS TO
DO SOMETHING WITH THEIR SCALE.
>> YES, I THINK YOU DID A GREAT
JOB OF DESCRIBING THE
AMENDMENT.
I JUST TOOK A LOOK AT THE
LANGUAGE IN THE BILL AND
TWEAKED IT SO THAT THAT WOULD
BE DONE.
AS CHANGED, THE GEOGRAPHY IN
THE BILL WOULD HOLD, BUT AT
LEAST THE DRAFT DOES NOT PUT
ANY SIZE THRESHOLD ON IT.
OH, AND I SHOULD SAY THAT,
EXCUSE ME, THIS AMENDMENT DOES
NOT CHANGE HOW THE DIRECTORS
RULE WOULD WORK, IT DOES NOT
CHANGE ANY OF THE LANGUAGE AND
SO JUST TO REITERATE WHAT THAT
WOULD BE, THE BILL THE WAY IT
IS STATED NOW, POINTS TO HOW TO
START THIS AND THIS AMENDMENT,
AT LEAST AS IT IS DRAFTED NOW
WOULD DO THE SAME.
SO IF THIS WOULD GO FORWARD, TO
CHANGE THE BILL, I THINK THE
DIRECTOR'S RULE WOULD HAVE SOME
TALK ABOUT SCALING, BECAUSE THE
RULE DOES NOW HAVE NUMBERS, IT
IS SORT OF RATCHETED TO TRY TO
BE COMMENSURATE WITH WHAT IS
GOING ON WITH DEVELOPMENT.
AND THAT IS SET AT 0 TRIP SET
AT 30 TRIPS FOR MORE.
SO IT WOULD MAYBE SCALE IN SOME
FASHION AND THAT IS PROBABLY
WHERE I SHOULD STOP TALKING
ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT IS A
RELATIVELY NEW IDEA.
>> OKAY.
I WOULD SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, TO
A CERTAIN LEVEL OF SIZE IT
MIGHT MAKE SENSE.
WHEN WE GET DOWN TO THE SMALLER
AND SMALLER PROJECT SIZES, IT
REALLY MAKES LESS SENSE WHERE
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ALL DIFFERENT
KINDS OF PROJECTS THAT ARE
JUSTED A AGO FEW UNITS TO AN
EXISTING BUILDING OR TWO OR
THREE TOWNHOUSES ON AN UNIT
LOT, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND THE MECHANISM FOR STARTING
IT DOES NOT NECESSARILY MAKE
SENSE, YOU KNOW, IN THE SAME
WAY THAT IT WOULD FOR AN
APARTMENT BUILDING.
>> YES, I THINK SCALE IS THE
RIGHT WAY TO THINK ABOUT THIS.
THERE IS A SCALE THAT, THIS IS
A SCALABLE TOOL AND THE
DIRECTOR'S RULE IS SCALABLE
FROM THAT 30 UNIT AND THE
RESIDENTIAL CONTEXT ON, IN
TERMS OF WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR
THE PROJECT.
BUT WHEN YOU GET SMALLER THAN
THAT, THE SCALE THE ISSUES,
ONE, IN TERM OF BENEFIT, THE
MEANINGFUL BENEFIT IN TERMS OF
WHAT IS PROVIDED WOULD DROP TO
WHERE THE TRADE OFF BETWEEN
MINISTERING AND HAVING THAT
REQUIREMENT ON THE BOOKS, THE
BENEFIT IS FAIRLY SMALL.
THE OTHER IS A COST ISSUE,
THERE AN ECONOMY OF SCALE BUILT
IN AS YOU SCALE THIS UP.
SO THE PER UNIT COST, IN TERMS
OF ANY HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
CONCERNS ABOUT THE COST OF THIS
REQUIREMENT WOULD THEN PERHAPS
BE MORE SIGNIFICANT AND LASTLY,
WE DID, IN PUTTING TOGETHER, IN
CHOOSING THE THRESHOLD, WHICH
IS ROUGH BASED ON A 30 TRIP
GENERATION THRESHOLD THAT IS
THEN 30 DWELLING UNITS IN A
RESIDENTIAL 4000 SQUARE FEET OF
COMMERCIAL FLOOR AREA AND
40,000 SQUARE FEET FOR
INDUSTRIAL, BUT THOSE ARE ALL
AT ABOUT THE 30 TRIP GENERATION
LEVEL FOR THE P.M.
PEAK, THAT THAT IS VERY CHON
THAT IS USED BY OTHER CITIES.
IT IS STANDARD TO HAVE A SIZE
THRESHOLD FOR A CON CURRENCY
TYPE REQUIREMENT SUCH AS THIS
AND WE ARE TRYING TO MATCH,
GENERALLY, HOW IT IS
ADMINISTERED IN WASHINGTON
STATE.
>> ONE OF THE COMMENTS THAT A
PERSON, OR THE ORGANIZATION
MADE, THAT SENT THIS E-MAIL,
WELL SOME OF THE MITIGATION
THINGS ACTUALLY REDUCE COSTS.
SO LOWERING THE PARKING YOU ARE
PROVIDING ABOVE THE MINIMUMS IS
A WAY TO MITIGATE AND SO THAT
WOULD ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, THAT
SAVES A PROJECT MONEY IN
THEORY.
>> FAIR ENOUGH.
>> AND SO, I WANT TO BE SMART
ABOUT THIS, AND SENSITIVE, BUT
I AM INTERESTED, IF THERE IS A
WAY TO REMOVE TO BARRIER.
YOU KNOW I THINK, I GET
EVERYTHING YOU ARE SAYING, BUT
I ALSO THINK OF CERTAIN
NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE WE HAVE HAD
HUNDREDS OF TOWN HOMES GO IN
AND THE EFFECT OF THAT IS
SIGNIFICANCE IS CANT AND NONE
OF THE PROJECTS IS SIGNIFICANT,
AND NONE OF THE PROJECTS, IT
WOULD BE BROKEN INTO SMALLER
PROJECTS FOR A LOT OF REASONS.
AND SO THERE SOMETHING THAT WE
CAN DO THAT IS SCALABLE THAT IS
A MODEST ASK OF THE PROJECTS,
BUT WOULD HAVE A DIFFERENCE AND
COULD ACCUMULATE AND WHETHER IT
IS A CHECK BOX THAT WE HAVE, OR
MAYBE ANOTHER TOOL COULD BE
GEARED TO SMALLER PROJECTS.
I AM NOT AN EXPERT ON ALL OF
THESE THINGS.
SO ERIC REMINDED ME THAT WE
CANNOT REALLY VOTE ON THIS
BECAUSE THERE IS A NOTICE
REQUIREMENT, BUT I WOULD LOVE
TO SPEND THE NEXT COUPLE OF
DAYS THINKING ABOUT IF THERE IS
WAY TO CRAFT THIS THAT DID
BRING THAT SCALE DOWN.
I STILL WANT TO LEE, YOU KNOW,
THE--TO LEAVE, YOU KNOW, THE
DIRECTOR OF THE DISCRETION, BUT
I AM RAISING THE SECTOR OF THE
30 THRESHOLD.
>> I THINK IT IS A GOOD
QUESTION, AND HOW QUICK
LEASHING WAS ABLE TO TURN
AROUND SO QUICKLY ERIC WAS ABLE
TO TURN AROUND CONCEPTS, I
THINK IT IS GREAT.
I WOULD WANT THE STAFF TO SPEND
MORE TIME AN ENERGY THINKING
ABOUT THE SCALE AND THE
OPTIONS.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WOULD
AGREE TO THIS, THINK I THE IDEA
OF ASKING THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT
TO HOLD THIS UNTIL THE 14th OF
JANUARY, SOUPING THAT THE BILL
COMES OUT TODAY, WHICH AS WE
LISTENED YESTERDAY, IF WE
LEARNED YESTERDAY, THE BILL
COMES OUT EVEN IF WE VOTE NO.
IT WOULD GIVE US A LITTLE BIT
OF SPACE JUST ON THE OFF CHANCE
THAT FOLKS ARE ALL GONE FOR THE
NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, AS WE ARE
ON RECESS, SO THAT THE FIRST
FULL WEEK BACK, WE WOULD HAVE
TIME AND SPACE TO CONSIDER
AMENDMENTS BEFORE SOMETHING
COMING TO FULL COUNCIL AND ALSO
ALLOW FOR LAW AND LEGAL
REQUIREMENTS TOO.
IF THAT IS ACCEPTABLE TO YOU,
LET'S SAY LET'S KEEP DOING SOME
MORE WORK AND SEE WHERE WE
LAND.
>> PLEASE.
>> IS THANK YOU, I JUST WANTED
TO--THANK YOU, I JUST WANTED TO
REVIEW MY NOTES, I WANTED TO
CLARIFY SOMETHING I SAID EARLY,
AS IT RELATES TO CLOSING THE
LOOPHOLE AROUND DEVELOPMENT IN
URBAN CENTERS THAT ARE BUILDING
BEYOND MAXIMUMS.
THAT IS ONLY A LOOPHOLE THAT WE
CLOSED COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES.
THERE ARE NO MAXIMUMS FOR
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES.
I THINK WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO
LOOK AT AND UNDERSTAND THAT IT
HAS BEEN A POLICY IN THE
DECISION IN THE PAST TO NOT
HAVE PARKING MAXIMUMS FOR
RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT IN
THINK IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE
NEED TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE
IMPACTS OF.
AND THEN FINALLY, I JUST WANTED
TO ASK WHETHER OR NOT, YOU
KNOW, ONE OF THE TOPICS THAT WE
TALKED ABOUT AT THE TABLE LAST
TIME WAS RELATED TO HOW THE
MITIGATION MEASURES IN THE
DIRECTORS RULE, HOW THE
DEPARTMENT WILL TRY TO
ANTICIPATE AND DISCOURAGE
DEVELOPERS FROM SORT OF GAINING
THE SYSTEM, MAYBE PROPOSING
LESS THAN THEY INTEND TO DO
KNOWING THAT THE DIRECTOR'S
RULE WILL REQUIRE THEM TO DO
THE THING THAT MAYBE THEY WERE
ALREADY INTENDING TO DO, AND
WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS A WAY
TO DEAL WITH THAT.
>> IS THAT IN TERMS OF NUMBER
OF UNITS IN A PROJECT?
>> NO, IT IS MORE IN TERMS OF
YOU KNOW, FOR INSTANCE, LET'S
SAY THEY HAD ALREADY DONE A
MARKET ASSESSMENT OF HOW MUCH
MARKING THEY NEED AND IT IS,
YOU KNOW, IT WAS A RELATIVELY
LOW AMOUNT AND THEY PROPOSE A
PROJECT WITH A HIGHER AMOUNT,
KNOWING THAT YOU ALL WILL ASK
THEM TO REQUIRE FEWER SPACES.
>> WELL, MY OPINION IS THERE IS
NO REAL BENEFIT IN PROPOSING A
HIGHER NUMBER ON A PLAN SET AND
SAYING I WANT TO USE THAT
PARKING STRATEGY.
IT IS JUST MORE STRAIGHTFORWARD
TO PROPOSE THAT AMOUNT OF
PARKING IN THE FIRST PLACE,
60%.
>> SO THERE IS--
>> ARE YOU SAYING THE COST OF
THE RE-DESIGN OF THAT FACILITY
WOULD BE MORE EXPENSIVE?
>> YES, AND THIS IS AN
IMPORTANT POINT TO UNDERSTAND
ABOUT HOW THIS IS DESIGNED.
THERE ARE FIVE, AS CURRENTLY
DRAFTED, THE DIRECTORS RULE,
WHICH PROVIDES THE MENU OF
OPTIONS THEY ARE SPECIFIC WITH
RESPECT TO PARKING, OR MIXED
USE, OR SIDEWALKS, OR IF A
PROJECT COMES IN THE DOOR AND
IT HAS ONE OF THE ELEMENTS
ALREADY AND IT IS EITHER THE
DESIGN OR THEY PROPOSE THAT OUT
OF THE GATE, THAT IS IT.
>> THEY ARE DONE.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO SOMETHING
EXTRA.
>> RIGHT, THANK YOU.
>> THAT IS NOT A RELATIVE
THING, RELATIVE TO HOW THE
PROJECT STARTED.
IT IS AN ABSOLUTE, YOU MEET THE
CRITERIA OR YOU DON'T.
>> YES.
IF IT IS A MIXED USE PROJECT
THAT IS GENERATING INTERNAL
TRIPS THAT REDUCES SOV, GREAT,
AND THEY HAVE SATISFIED THE
REQUIREMENT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> QUESTIONS, PLEASE.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THE
JOINT DIRECTORS RULE IS VERY
HELPFUL.
THIS IS NOT GOING OUT FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT, YET.
IT WOULD BE AFTER THE PASSAGE
OF THE BILL.
SO WHEN THAT DOES HAPPEN, THAT
IS TIME FOR FOLKS TO LOOK AT
THIS, IT IS VETTED THROUGH THE
PUBLIC PROCESS PEOPLE CAN KIND
OF TEST BASED ON WHAT IS IN
THIS.
AND IS THAT THE TYPICAL--AND
THAT IS THE TYPICAL PATHWAY FOR
A JOINT DIRECTOR'S RULE, OR A
DIRECTOR'S RULE THAT IT GOES
OUT FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS FOR
PEOPLE TO REVIEW BEFORE BEING
SET UP.
>> SO ERIC, SINCE YOU HAVE THE
MICROPHONE, WE DO HAVE ONE
TECHNICAL AMENDMENT THAT WE
HAVE TO TALK ABOUT TODAY.
ERIC, CAN YOU JUST WALK US
THROUGH THAT?
>> YES, IT IS EXACTLY THAT.
THERE ARE A FEW TYPOS IN THE
NUMBERS ON THE MAP.
THE SOV MODE SHARE TARGETS
SECTOR MAP, AND I WILL OWN
THESE IN PREPARING THE BILL AND
MAKING SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO THE
MAP FOR THE BILL, I DID NOT PUT
IN THE EXISTING SOR MODE SHARE
FOR A COUPLE OF THE SECTORS AND
I MADE AN ERROR IN NORTHEAST
SEATTLE.
SO THIS IS ME ASKING TO FIX IT,
BECAUSE IT SHOULD BE RIGHT.
>> ANY QUESTIONS?
SO I WOULD MOVE TO AMEND
COUNCIL BILL 119398 BY
REPLACING MAP A IN SECTION
THREE WITH MAP S SHOWN IN
ATTACHMENT B OF THE CENTRAL
ZONE.
NUN OPPOSED.
OKAY, NO ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS
TODAY, CORRECT?
ANY FINAL THOUGHTS, FOLKS?
>> OH, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
YOU SAID I RESPONDED TO AN E-
MAIL LATE YESTERDAY AND THEN
ASKED ERIC FOR SOME HELP.
RECOGNIZING THAT HE MAY NOT SEE
THE E-MAIL UNTIL AFTER THE
MEETING, AND I CAME IN THIS
MORNING AND YOU HAD ACTUALLY
WORKED THROUGH AN AMENDMENT.
I AM NOT SURE WHICH HOURS OF
THE DAY YOU WERE DOING IT, BUT
IT WAS VERY SHORT NOTICE.
>> SO GIVEN THAT, WE HAVE GOT
AND AMENDED BILL IN FRONT SEAT
OF US.
ALL OF THOSE IN FAIR, PLEASE
VOTE--IN FAVOR, PLEASE VOTE
AYE.
SO COUNCIL BILL 119398 IS
APARTMENTED AS AMENDED AND WE
WILL ASK THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT
TO HOLD THAT UNTIL JANUARY
14th SO WE HAVE EXTRA TIME TO
REVIEW.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK ON
THIS.
EXCITING STUFF.
>>> AND NOW AGENDA ITEM NUMBER
2. AND READ THE ABBREVIATED
TITLE INTO THE RECORD.
>> [ READING ITEM INTO RECORD
]
>> JUST ABOUT YEARS AGO THE
COUNCIL ADOPTED TWO ZONING
CHANGES AND A WORK PROGRAM WAS
TO CHANGE AND UPDATE THE
NEIGHBORHOOD DESIGN GUIDELINES
FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THEN
WE STARTED THROUGH THIS PROCESS
WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON AND THEIR MASTER
PLAN AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE
VERY CONFUSING FOR US TO BE
HAVING THE DESIGN GUIDELINES IN
FRONT OF US WHERE PEOPLE COULD
COMMENT WHILE WE HAD THE MAP
ALSO IN FRONT OF US, WHERE
PEOPLE COULD NOT COMMENT.
SO WE ASKED THE PLANNING
DEPARTMENT TO HOLD OFF ON THE
DESIGN GUIDELINES DISCUSSIONS.
THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE LATER
THAN OTHER WISE WE WOULD HAVE
BEEN, BECAUSE I THINK IT WOULD
HAVE BEEN TOO CONFUSING.
BUT WITH THAT, PLEASE, YES.
>> I WILL JUST MENTION, WE WILL
HOPEFULLY, WE ARE DONE WITH OUR
WORK, IT IS STILL PROBABLY
ANOTHER MONTH OR TWO.
SO WE WILL STAY FOCUSED ON THIS
ONE ASPECT.
>> SO GOOD REMINDER, FOLKS AT
THE TABLE, DO NOT TALK TO US
ABOUT THIS TODAY.
PLEASE, SOME INTRODUCTIONS.
>> ALY PENNUCCI.
>> STEVE AND TEW PIT.
>> JANET SHULL.
>> TAKE IT AWAY, JANET.
>> AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE
MICROPHONE KIND OF
UNCOMFORTABLY CLOSE.
>> YES, GOOD MORNING.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE
THIS MORNING, FOR THOSE OF YOU
WHO HAVE BEEN PARTICIPATING
ALONG WITH US FOR A FEW YEARS
NOW, THIS IS ONE OF THE ITEMS
THAT HAS BEEN ON OUR WORK PLAN,
WORK PROGRAM, FOR MANY YEARS,
EVEN FROM THE TIME WE STARTED
WORK IN THE U DISTRICT AND
LOOKING AT POTENTIAL UP ZONES
AN THE LIGHT RAIL STATION, KNEW
THAT THE COMPANION TO THAT
WOULD BE AN UPDATE TO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD GUIDELINES.
IT IS REALLY GOOD TO BE HERE
TODAY AND BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT
THIS.
SO I AM JUST GOING TO HAVE A
FEW SLIDES THAT WILL BE VERY
FAMILIAR TO THE COMMITTEE
MEMBERS, YOU HAVE HAD A RECENT
PRESENTATION ON SOUTH LAKE
UNION AND WE WILL BE PHYSICAL
LOWING WITH THE NEXT AGENDA
ITEM ON UPTOWN.
MY COLLEAGUE AND I HAVE
COORDINATED SO WE ONLY HAVE TO
GO THROUGH THE BACKGROUND ONCE
THIS MORNING, FOR THE BENEFIT
OF FOLKS WHO ARE LISTENING,
BESIDES US HERE AT THE TABLE.
SO THE DESIGN REVIEW PROGRAM
ESTABLISHED IN 1994,
APPROXIMATELY OVER 1500
PROJECTS HAVE BEEN REVIEWS
DURING THE PROGRAM AND
APPROXIMATELY 111 PER YEAR.
DESIGN REVIEW TAKES PLACE
BEFORE NEW DEVELOPMENT APPLIES
FOR CONSTRUCTION PERMITS: AND
THE PURPOSE IS TO ENCOLONEL
BETTER DESIGN AND SITE PLANNING
TO ENSURE DEVELOPMENTS FITS
INTO NEIGHBORHOODS AND WE HAVE
NEIGHBORHOOD DESIGN GUIDELINES,
PROVIDING FLEXIBILITY IN THE
APPLICATION AND DEVELOPMENT
PROCESS TO BETTER MEET THE
INTENT OF THE LAND USE CODE AND
VERY IMPORTANTLY, TO IMPROVE
COMMUNICATION AND UNDERSTANDING
AMONG DEVELOPERS, COMMUNITY
MEMBERS, AND THE CITY.
CONTEXT, JUST TO SET THIS UP,
SO THE UNIVERSITY DISTRICT
DECIDE GUIDELINES WILL APPLY IN
THE U DISTRICT URBAN CENTER IN
THE NORTHEAST DESIGN REVIEW
BOARD DISTRICT.
AND THEN LATER ON, WHEN YOU
HEAR FROM UPTOWN, THAT
NEIGHBORHOOD IS LOCATED IN THE
WEST DISTRICT.
SO IN EACH OF THE DISTRICTS WE
HAVE VOLUNTEER MEMBERS AND THEY
ARE APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR AND
CITY COUNCIL IS AND THIN
SUPPORTED BY STAFF AND THE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION,
INSPECTIONS, IN TERMS OF THE
REVIEW PROCESS THAT THEY DO.
AND THEIR DUTIES INCLUDE
SYNTHESIZING THE COMMUNITY
INPUT, PROVIDING AN EARLY
DESIGN GUIDANCE AND THAT IS
WHERE THE GUIDELINES ARE VERY
CRITICAL FOR THE DESIGN REVIEW
BOARD MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY
MEMBERS WITH INTEREST IN
NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECTS.
SO, HOW ARE THE GUIDELINES
ORGANIZED?
THERE ARE THREE GENERAL
CATEGORIES IN THE DESIGN
GUIDELINES AND THEY ARE CONTEXT
AND SIGHT, WHICH LOOKS AT THE
ACTUAL SPECIFICS OF A SITE AND
THE CONTEXT, AND HOW TELL A
PROPOSE THE PROJECT FITS INTO
THAT CONTEXT.
THE SECOND SET OF DE-GUIDELINES
FALL UNDER THE PUBLIC LIFE
CATEGORY, AND THAT DEALS VERY
MUCH WITH WHAT HAPPENS AT THE
STREET LEVEL, WHERE PROJECTS
úMEET THE NEIGHBORING RIGHTS OF
WAYS, OR IF THERE IS AN OPEN
SPACE NEAR BY, WHATEVER HAPPENS
DOWN AT THE GROUND LEVEL, HOW
WELL IS THE PROJECT RELATING TO
THOSE CONDITIONS.
AND THEN DESIGN CONCEPT, THE
THIRD CATEGORY DEALS MORE
SPECIFICALLY MATERIALITY OF
BUILDINGS, SPECIFICS TO SPACE
WHEN THERE IS ON SIGHT OPEN
SPACE BEING PROVIDED WITH A
PROJECT.
WHAT ARE THE DETAILS THAT ARE
BEING DEALT WITH THERE?
>> CAN I HAVE YOU PAUSE FOR A
SECOND IN.
>> YES.
>> ONE OF THE--SECOND?
>> YES.
>> ONE OF THE MOST COMMON
ISSUES IS ACTUALLY WHAT WE JUST
TALKED ABOUT AROUND PARKING.
WE HAD A COUPLE OF FOLKS HERE
THIS MORNING TALKING ABOUT HOW
THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT
PARKING OF A BUILDING IN
DOWNTOWN AND HOW MUCH PARKING
WAS BEING DEVELOPED AND HOW
MUCH WAS NOT AND FRUSTRATED BY
THE DESIGN REVIEW PROCESS.
PARKING IS NOT ON ONE OF THOSE
ISSUES THAT WE ARE ALLOWED TO
DISCUSS FOR DESIGN REVIEW.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
WHY?
>> SURE.
AND THAT IS CORRECT.
AND PARKING IS DEALT WITH IN
THE LAND USE CODE AND OF
COURSE, IN URBAN CENTERS, IS
THERE NO MINIMUM PARKING
REQUIREMENT.
SO WHAT DESIGN GUIDELINES
ADDRESS, WHEN PARKING IS BEING
PROVIDED, WHERE IT IS LOCATED
IS THE ACCESS TO THE PARKING,
IS IT GOING TO SLOW DOWN
PEDESTRIAN MOVEMENT OR TRANSIT,
OR YOU KNOW, STREET RELATED
MOVEMENTS.
SO THERE ARE GUIDELINES THAT
TALK ABOUT PARKING AND THERE IS
NOTHING IN THE DESIGN
GUIDELINES THAT SPECIFIES THE
NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES.
THE WHYS FOR THAT ARE REALLY
MORE BOUND INTO THE, FIRST OF
ALL, GUIDELINES ARE GUIDELINES,
THEY ARE NOT LAW SO, PARKING
DOES NOT FALL UNDER THAT.
AND OTHER THAN THAT, IT IS
REALLY MORE OF A POLICY BASE,
WHERE WE DO NOT HAVE CURRENTLY
A MINIMUM REQUIREMENT FOR
PARKING IN URBAN CENTERS.
THEY ARE VERY MUCH MORE, SORRY,
SERVED BY TRANSIT AND THE
DENSITIES ALLOW BETTER SERVICE
BY TRANSIT.
>> BEFORE WE GET TO YOU, YOU
ARE GRABBING THE MICROPHONE?
>> YES, I JUST WANTED TO ADD,
AND YOU HAVE HEARD ME SAY THIS
BEFORE, I THEY CHALLENGE WITH
DESIGN REVIEW, IT IS ONE OF
THE, IF NOT THE ONLY PUBLIC
FACING PIECE OF THE DEVELOPMENT
REVIEW PROCESS SO THAT IS WHERE
I THINK SOME OF THE TENSION
COMES UP, WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO
TALK ABOUT THE ENTIRE
PROJECTION AND THINGS LIKE-
-PROJECTION AND THINGS LIKE-
-PROJECT AND PARKING IS NOT
UNDER THE PER VIEW OF THE
DESIGN REVIEW BOARD.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THIS
EXCITE TEE TOOK UP ABOUT A YEAR
AND A HALF AGO WAS CHANGES TO
THE DEION REVIEW PROGRAM AND
ONE OF THE CHANGES WAS
REQUIRING EARLY OUTREACH TO
COMMUNITIES FROM THE DEVELOPER
AND THROUGH THAT PROCESS, THAT
IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE
PUBLIC TO ENGAGE WITH THE
DEVELOPER TO TALK ABOUT THINGS
LIKE PARKING REQUIREMENTS AND
OTHER STANDARDS THAT ARE IN THE
CODE, AND NOT UNDER THE DEION
REVIEW DESIGN REVIEW BOARD BUT
CAN BE TALKED ABOUT WITH THE
DEVELOPER THEMSELVES.
>> HOLD ON FOR ONE SECOND.
I HAD COULD COUNCIL MEMBER
O'BRIEN NEXT.
>> AND THE QUESTION ABOUT
DESIGN AND PARKING OVERLAPS A
LOT.
YOU KNOW, I AM OUT IN COMMUNITY
MEETINGS A LOT.
A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, SITTING
IN A LINCOLNTONING ROOM WITH 25-
-IN A LIVING ROOM WITH 25
NEIGHBORS CONCERNED ABOUT A
BUILDING GOING IN NEXT DOOR
WITH NO PARKING.
AND I LIKE TO TELL EVERYONE,
WHEN I HAVE A MICROPHONE, AS A
POLICY MATTER, THAT IS NOT A
REVIEW, WE HAVE SAID THIS IS A
POLICY THAT IS SET, SIMILARLY,
WE DO NOT HAVE LIFE SAFETY
ISSUES, OR ENERGY CODE ISSUES.
THIS COUNCIL HAS SET A POLICY
AND PREVIOUS COUNCILS HAVE,
TOO, PARKING IS SEPTEMBER AT
THE CODE LEVEL AND THAT IS NOT
IS SET AT THE CODE LEVEL AND IF
YOU WANT TO CHANGE THAT, THE
DESIGN REVIEW IS NOT THE TOOL,
TALK TO YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS
AND WE HAVE PROCESSES ABOUT
THAT.
AND I THINK THAT FRUSTRATES
SOME FOLKS, OBVIOUSLY, BUT IT
IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO HAVE
CHARITY ON WHERE THE DECISION
IS BEING MADE AND IF YOU WANT
DO CHANGE THAT, THERE IS A
PUBLIC PROCESS THERE IS WAY SO
DO THAT AND WE HAVE BEEN
THROUGH THAT A NUMBER OF TIMES.
AND THE DIRECTION SEEMS TO BE
GOING TO FEWER REQUIREMENTS.
SO I KNOW IT HAS TO BE HARD FOR
FOLKS WHO ARE RUNNING THE
DESIGN REVIEW PROCESS TO SHOW
UP AND HEAR FROM COMMUNITY
MEMBERS THAT THE ONE THING THEY
REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS
SOMETHING OFF OF THE TABLE.
I THINK WHETHER YOU ARE A
VOLUNTEER IN A DESIGN REVIEW
BOARD OR CITY STAFF, YOU FEEL A
LOT OF HEAT FOR THAT.
I KNOW WHEN I AM TALKING TO
COMMUNITIES, THAT IS AN ISSUE
UNDER TAKE UP WITH ME--YOU
SHOULD TAKE UP WITH ME.
THE STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS OUT
THERE, WE HAVE TAKEN THAT POWER
AWAY FROM THEM AND WE CONTROL
THAT AT A DIFFERENT LEVEL, BUT
YOU HAVE A VEHICLE TO TALK TO
US.
>> AND THESE TWO THAT WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT TODAY, THE U
DISTRICT AND UPTOWN ARE DOZE
RATED URBAN CENTER ARE
DESIGNATED URBAN CENTERS.
IT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE
WANT TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE CONTROL THERE IS NOT ONLY,
NOT REQUIRING MORE PARKING, BUT
TO COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLDS
POINT, TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE
MIGHT BE ABLE TO SET SOME
MAXIMUMS AND UNFORTUNATELY WE
DIDN'T STUDY MAXIMUMS WHEN WE
DID THE OFF STREET PARKING
OPTIONS, OTHER WISE WE WOULD
PROBABLY TALK ABOUT ISSUES THAT
OUR DOWNTOWN FRIENDS WOULD HAVE
LOVED FOR US TO LOOK AT.
BUT THAT IS ANOTHER STORY FOR
ANOTHER DAY.
PLEASE.
>> AND JUST TO AMPLIFY THE
MESSAGE ABOUT WHERE THAT
AUTHORITY LIES FOR DEALING WITH
PARKING, I WILL SAY THAT THE
EARLY OUTREACH PROCESS, HAVING
HAD MANY DOUGHNUTS THAN IS IN
MY WEEKLY QUOTA, AND BOXED
COFFEE, BUT STANDING ON A
SIDEWALK UNDER A TENT IN THE
RAIN, OR AT OTHER PLACES AT THE
INVITATION OF A DEVELOPMENT
TEAM MEETING WITH A COMMUNITY
BEFORE WE GET TO EEG, WHICH IS
WHAT THIS TOOL IS, HAVING THAT
DISCUSSION ABILITY WHAT IS IN
AND OUT, AND PARTICULARLY
PARKING, IS REALLY HELPFUL,
BECAUSE FOLKS THAT DON'T KNOW
WHERE THAT LIES AND WHAT
HAPPENS IN DESIGN REVIEW AND
WHAT DOES NOT, I AM SEEING
FOLKS GETTING EDUCATED, AND
GETTING THEIR CONCERNS
ADDRESSED BECAUSE OF THE EARLY
OUTREACH PROCESS.
I THINK ACTUALLY YIELDING GOOD
RESULTS.
IT IS NOT ONLY EDUCATING FOLKS
AB THE POLICY CHANGES, BUT ALSO
HELPED SOME OF THE DEVELOPMENT
TEAMS LEARN SOME THINGS ABOUT
WHERE THEY ARE DOING A PROJECT
AND MAKES THEM BETTER.
BACK TO YOU.
>> OKAY.
AND NOW THE U DISTRICT.
>> WE WILL PROCEED.
>> UNIVERSITY DISTRICT.
SO JUST A LITTLE BIT OF SETTING
THE STAGE.
PLANNING IN THE U DISTRICT
STARTED BACK IN 2011 IN TERMS
OF LOOKING FORWARD TO THE LIGHT
RAIL STATION ON BROOKLYN
AVENUE, LAND USE AND ZONING, SO
IN THE FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS OF
THAT PROCESS THERE WAS AN URBAN
DESIGN FRAMEWORK PLAN THAT WAS
DEVELOPED AND OTHERS WORKED
VERY HARD ON THAT.
OUT OF THE PROCESS, ALONG WITH
THE FRAMEWORK PLAN WAS THE U
DISTRICT PARTNERSHIP
INFORMATION THAT CAME OUT OF
THE EARLY PLANNING WORK IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THEN IN THE NEXT THREE
YEARS THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK
ABOUT THE URBAN DESIGN
ALTERNATIVES, AND CONSIDERATION
OF LIGHT RAIN COMING TO THE U
DISTRICT AND PART OF THAT
PROCESS AN IS WAS PREPARED ON
URBAN DESIGN ALTERNATIVES AN AN
UPDATE TO THE PARKS PLAN AND A
LOT OF COMMUNITY DISCUSSION IN
TERMS OF OPEN SPACE IN THE
COMMUNITY AND STREET CONCEPT
PLANS WERE ALSO ADOPTED TO
CONSIDER THE STREETS ALONG THE
NEW, THE CONDITIONS OF THE
STREETS NEXT TO THE PROPOSED,
OR THE BROOKLYN LIGHT RAIL
STATION.
AND SO THEN THAT CULL MA NATEED
IN A REZONE, ONE OF THE FIRST
NEIGHBORHOODS TO INCORPORATE
THE MHA REGULATIONS AND
REQUIREMENTS AND THAT WAS
PROVED IN EARLY 2017 AND
FOLLOWING THAT, WE GOT TO WORK
WITH, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE U
DISTRICT PARTNERSHIP AND
WORKING MOSTLY WITH THEIR, WITH
WHAT, WAS AT THE TIME, REFERRED
TO AS THE YOU ARE BEEN DESIGN
AS THE URBAN DESIGN COMMIT.
WE GOT WORK IN MARCH OF 2017
WITH THE COMMUNITY AND STARTED
HAVING A NUMBER OF WORKSHOPS TO
CONSIDER WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO
WITH AN EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD
DESIGN GUIDELINES TO BRING THEM
INTO BETTER REPRESENTATION OF
WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND WHAT WAS
MAYBE GOING TO BE HAPPENING
WITH THE ZONING.
SO, I HAVE ALREADY KIND OF
TALKED ABOUT THE WHYS.
THERE WERE PRY YOURS EXPRESSED
IN THE PRIORITIES EXPRESSED
AROUND THE IMPORTANCE OF
UPDATING THE DESIGN GUIDELINES.
OBVIOUSLY THE CHANGING
CHARACTER OF THE BUILT
ENVIRONMENT, IT HAS BEEN ALMOST
20 YEARS SINCE THEY WERE FIRST
ADOPTED.
SO WITHOUT THE ZONE, OR THE
ZONING CHANGES, IT IS PROBABLY
A GOOD REASON TO TAKE A LOOK AT
THEM JUST BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF
THE GUIDELINES.
OBVIOUSLY THE LIGHT RAIL
STATION COMING ONLINE, THE
ZONING CHANGES, AS I MENTIONED,
AND THEN ALSO IT IS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE THE
COMPATIBILITY WITH THE SEATTLE
DESIGN GUIDELINES BECAUSE THAT
RE-FORMATTING WAS DONE IN 2014.
>> ONE OF THE PICTURES IS A
BUILDING THAT IS IN A
NEIGHBORHOOD.
IS THE OTHER ONE A NEW ZONING?
>> NO, IT IS A STOCK PHOTO.
>> OKAY.
>> THANK YOU.
SO COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, I
WANTED TO SPEND A MOMENT
TALKING ABOUT THAT.
WE STARTED ORK WITH THE
COMMUNITY IN MARCH OF 2017 AND
WE HAD A LOOK AT THREE TOPIC
AREAS IDENTIFIED AS VERY
IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY.
FIRST ONE ON THE CORE AREA,
THIS IS WHERE THE ZONING WAS
STARTED AND NOW WE HAVE THE
ABILITY, OR THE DEVELOPERS HAVE
THE ABILITY TO DEVELOP TALL
BUILDINGS AND THEN WE HAD A
WORKSHOP ON PUP LICK REALM TO
TALK ANT THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF
WAY AND THEN BOTH PRIVATE AND
PUBLICLY ACCESSFUL OPEN SPACE
AREAS AND THEN A WORKSHOP ON
AREAS IDENTIFIED, WHICH INCLUDE
NOT ONLY THE CORE, BUT AREAS
AROUND THE SPRINGS, UNIVERSITY
PLACE, ET CETERA.
THOSE WORKSHOPS WERE REALLY THE
ROLL UP THE SLEEVES SESSIONS
WHERE FOLKS REALLY GAVE UP TIME
AND WENT THROUGH WHAT THE
DESIGN GUIDELINES NEED TODAY
LOOK LIKE AND THEN THEY LOOKED.
AND THEN WE DID THAT WITH OTHER
OUTREACH EVENTS INCLUDING
PARTICIPATING IN THE U DISTRICT
STREET FAIRS AND COFFEE SHOPS,
WE JUST KEPT THAT GOING.
SO, NOW I AM GOING JUST TALK
ABOUT A NEW HIGHLIGHTS.
WE ABOUT A FEW HIGHLIGHTS.
I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THE
GUIDELINES THAT WE THOUGHT WERE
UNIQUE IN THE U DISTRICT
NEIGHBORHOOD.
FIRST I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE
TALL BUILDINGS GUIDELINES AND I
THINK, OR I KNOW YOU WERE
BRIEFED ON THIS BACK IN OCTOBER
WHEN THE SOUTH LAKE UNION
GUIDELINES CAME THROUGH AND
THEN WERE ADOPTED.
SO THESE ARE THE SAME
GUIDELINES, AND JUST WANTED TO
BE CLEAR, THE SAME GUIDELINES
PROPOSED FOR SOUTH LAKE UNION
ARE IN THE U DISTRICT AND THE
UPTOWN GUIDELINES, AND THOSE,
WE ARE HEARING FROM THE DESIGN
REVIEW BOARD MEMBERS, THEY ARE
VERY MUCH ANTICIPATING HAVING
TOES TO USE FOR FUTURE
DEVELOPMENT AND IT REALLY
JUSTED AS SOME SPECIFICITY TO
WHAT NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED FOR
A TALL BUILDING AND I WILL JUST
POINT OUT THAT THEY WILL APPLY
TO PROJECTS WITH 85 FEET OR
GREATER IN HEIGHT.
SO THEY ARE IN THE DESIGN
CONCEPT IS, WHICH IS THE THIRD
CATEGORY OF CONCEPT, THIS IS
THE THIRD CATEGORY OF
GUIDELINES.
>> THERE IS A PHOTO THAT SAYS
TRANSITIONS TO THE SKY.
IS THAT THE NAME OF A PROJECT?
>> WELL, IT IS ACTUALLY ONE OF
THE SUB CATEGORIES WITHIN THE
TALL BUILDING GUIDELINES.
SO THIS IMAGE IS TAKEN FROM THE
PROPOSED GUIDELINES AND IT IS
TALKING ABOUT HOW BUILDINGS
TRANSITION TO THE SKY.
SO YOU HAVE A TALL BUILDING,
WHAT HAPPENS AT THE TOP OF THAT
BUILDING.
AND SO THE IDEA IS THAT IT
SHOULD NOT JUST BE A FLAT TOP,
IT SHOULD DO SOMETHING THAT
ANNOUNCES ITS PRESENCE AND IS A
LITTLE MORE INTERESTING.
>> BUT THAT GUIDANCE IS NOT
WHAT IT SHOULD BE, JUST THAT IT
SHOULD BE INTENTIONAL.
AND SO THAT HAS BEEN REALLY
IMPORTANT, BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN
OPERATING WITH HIGH-RISE
PROJECTS GOING TO THE REVIEW
BOARD WITHOUT THAT GUIDANCE.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, I HAVE BEEN HEARING
THAT AS WELL.
AND NOW I WILL BOUNCE BACK TO
THE HIGHLIGHTS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT OUR WORK
GROUP MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY
PARTICIPATES TALKED A LOT
ABOUT.
AND SO IN THE GUIDELINES WE DO
IDENTIFY THE CHARACTER AREAS
THAT ARE SHOWN ON THE SLIDE
HERE, AND THIS MAP A, THAT IS
REFERRED TO IN THE GUIDELINES,
AND IT IS SHOWN ON THE SLIDE,
IT IS ON PAGE 4 OF THE PROPOSED
GUIDELINES.
AND SO IT IS REFERRED TO IN THE
CONTEXT AND SITE TEXT, WHERE WE
HAVE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE THAT
TALKS ABOUT UNIVERSITY PARK, U
VILLAGE, IN THE CORE AREA, AND
SOME CONSIDERATIONS THAT ARE
IMPORTANT TO COMMUNITY AND
SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IF THERE
IS A DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL IN
THOSE AREAS.
THIS ALS LOOKS AT GATEWAYS AND
PLACE MAKING CORNERS.
AND SO IN THE UPPER RIGHT, IS
THERE AN AN IMAGE, THESE WERE
CORNERS THAT INTERSECTIONS
WITHIN THE U DISTRICT
NEIGHBORHOOD THAT FOLKS FEEL
ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.
SOMETHING SHOULD BE HAPPENING
THAT REPRESENTS AND RECOGNIZES
THE PEDESTRIAN FLOW, THE PLACE
MAKING, WAY FINDING, IF A
DEVELOPMENT IS AT THE
INTERSECTIONS WE NEED TO LOOK
AT THE PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITY,
SOMETHING SPECIAL.
AND AGAIN, A FLEXIBILITY.
>> AND ARE THEY IN THE CIRCLES
HERE, THOSE ARE LOCATIONS FOR
PLACE MAKING CORNERS, NOT THAT
IT IS JUST TO HAVE A PLACE PARK
MAKING CORNER ON THE CIRCLE,
BUT WE WILL STRONGLY ENCOURAGE
IT?
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
AND THERE WAS A LOT OF
DISCUSSION, WE STARTED WITH
ACTUALLY SOME PLACES THAT WERE
IDENTIFIEDIN THE URBAN DESIGN
FRAMEWORK PLAN AND THEN GOING
BACK TO THE EXISTING DESIGN
GUIDELINES.
THERE WERE SOME GATEWAYS AND
SPECIAL KOSHERS.
SO WE CORNERS.
SO WE STARTED OUT AS LOOKING AT
THOSE AS A START.
AND THERE ARE SORT OF TWEETERS,
GATEWAYS ARE DARKER
CIRCUMSTANCE IS THES AND THIS
BE--CIRCUMSTANCE IS THES AND
THEN THE LIGHTER ONES--CIRCLES:
THE LIGHTER ONES ARE PLACE
MAKING.
THESE WERE JUST HIGHLIGHTED AS
KEY INTERSECTION WHERE IS IT
WAS FELT YOU ARE ENTERING THE
NEIGHBORHOOD OR THEY ARE JUST
PLACES WHERE THINGS SEEM TO
HAPPEN, THEY ARE MEET UP
PLACES, OR COULD BE.
SO THAT IS WHAT THOSE ARE
ABOUT.
>> I WOULD JUST ASKED, JANET,
TOO, IN THE WAY THAT THE
GUIDELINES WORK, THERE IS SOME
SPECIFIC GUIDANCE FOR THE AREAS
SPECIFICALLY.
SO WILE ANY PROJECT CAN
CONSIDER THAT GUIDANCE, WHEN
THE STAFF, OR THE BOARD IS
REVIEWING THE PROJECTS AT THE
LOW CAUTIONS, STAY WILL FOCUS
IN ON THE GUIDANCE FOR THE
AREAS WHERE PROJECTS OUTSIDE
MIGHT NOT HELD TO SUCH A STRICT
REVIEW.
>> YES, THANK YOU.
AND SO I JUST HAVE TWO MORE
SLIDES.
I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF
THE CONTENT IN THE PUBLIC LIFE
SECTION, THAT IS THE SECOND
SECTION OF THE GUIDELINES AND
IT BEGINS ON PAGE 9. AND SO IN
THIS SECTION THERE WAS A LOT OF
COMMUNITY CONSERVATION ABOUT
THE IMPORTANCE OF ALLIES, MID
BLOCK CONNECTIONS, SO THERE IS
ALLY ACTIVATION WORK THAT IS
ALREADY UNDER WAY IN THE U
DISTRICT, PRETTY SUCCESSFUL, SO
LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO
BUILD ON THAT, WHERE PROPERTIES
ARE NEXT TO ALLY WAYS,
PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT HAVE
BEEN IDENTIFIED AS THOSE THAT
WE WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO
ACTIVATE.
AND THEN THERE ARE ALSO, IN THE
ZONING REQUIREMENTS, IN SOME
CASES, REQUIREMENTS FOR MID
BLOCK CONNECTIONS.
SO THERE IS A LOT OF DISCUSSION
ABOUT IF A MID BLOCK CONNECTION
IS REQUIRED HOW CAN THE
GUIDELINES HELP INFORM HOW THEY
TAKE SHAPE.
SO IN THE PUBLIC LIFE AND
CONNECTIVITY SECTION, THAT IS
SECTION THAT I HAVE HAVE HERE
ON THE SLIDE THAT SPEAKS
SPECIFICALLY TO SHARED ALLIES,
BASICALLY REEMPHASIZES THAT
ENCOURAGED, EVEN IF THEY ARE
NOT REQUIRED.
AND IF THERE ARE DESIGN FACADES
FRONTING ON THE AREAS THEY
SHOULD BE REALLY PROVIDE, OR
TREATED AS A FRONT, NOT A BACK.
AND THERE SHOULD BE COME
ACTIVATION GOING ON,
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THING HAPPEN.
AND THEN WAY FINDING ELEMENTS
ARE ALSO IMPORTANT TO TRAVERSE
THE BLOCKS.
SO THAT IS ONE EXAMPLE.
AND THEN LASTLY, IN THE PUBLIC
LIFE SECTION, THERE ARE
REFERENCES TO THE, OR THERE ARE
SOME REFERENCES TO THE TRANSIT
CENTER LOCATION.
THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING
BICYCLE PARKING, AND THEN THERE
IS REFERENCE TO MIXED USE
CORRIDORS, WHICH ARE ALSO
IDENTIFIED ON THE MAPS THAT ARE
FOUND IN THE GUIDELINES, THERE
ARE CERTAIN CORRIDORS, SUCH AS
THE AVENUE AND THEN THE
EAST/WEST, INCLUDING 42nd,
43rd, AND MORE, AND THERE NEEDS
TO BE ATTENTION TO WHAT HAPPENS
AT THE STREET FRONT LEVEL, THAT
THERE BE ACTIVATION, THAT THERE
BE MIXED USE.
AND I WILL JUST POINT OUT THAT
THROUGHOUT THE CODE THERE ARE
PLACES WHERE THERE IS A
REFERENCE TO THE IMPORTANCE OF
HAVING A REFERENCE TO A 20 TO
40-FOOT DEMARCATION ALONG STORE
FRONTS AT THE STREET LEVEL
WHERE, AND THIS IS ABOUT
ACTIVATION AND THE FABRIC OF
THE UNIVERSITY DIS-RICK, IN
PARTICULAR, PEOPLE--DISTRICT,
IN PARTICULAR, PEOPLE TALK
ABOUT THE SMALLER STORE FRONTS.
SO THERE ARE REFERENCES IN THE
GUIDELINES THAT ENCOURAGE NEW
DEVELOPMENT TO ENCOURAGE THOSE
IN BAYS AND ENTRY WAYS RATHER
THAN JUST A LONG FACADE, EVEN
IF YOU ONLY HAVE ONE USE, IT
APPEARS THAT THERE IS MORE
GOING ON.
SO THAT IS NOT REPRESENTED ON A
SLIDE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO
POINT THAT.
SO THAT REALLY CONCLUDES WHAT I
WANTED TO SAY.
>> OTHER THOUGHTS OR QUESTIONS
IN.
>> THANK YOU, AND I--QUESTIONS?
>> THANK YOU, AND I JUST WANTED
TO POINT OUT THAT IT IS A GOOD
FRAME WORK.
IS THERE ONE ISSUE THAT HAS
BEEN COMMUNE--THERE IS ONE
ISSUE THAT HAS BEENDOWN KATEED
WITH YOUR OFFICE ABOUT THE--HAS
BEEN COMMUNICATED ANT THE USE
OF THE UNIVERSITY PARK,--ABOUT
OUT USE OF UNIVERSITY PARK AND
WHAT IS LABELED IS ACTUALLY
SOUTH OF THE URBAN CENTER LINE
SO THEY WOULD REQUEST THAT THE
LABEL BE AMENDED SAY UNIVERSITY
PARK SOUTH.
I THINK THEY HAVE COMMUNICATED
THAT AS WELL.
>> CAN YOU GO BACK TO THAT
SLIDE?
>> THEY DON'T WANT FOLKS TO
THINK THAT NOW THE GUIDELINES
REFER TO WHAT HAPPENS NORTH OF
THE LINE AND WHERE IT SAYS
UNIVERSITY PARK IN THERE, IF
THE WORD SOUTH WAS ADDED, THEY
WOULD BE REALLY HAPPY.
>> AND THAT HAS BEEN
COMMUNICATED TO US, WE ARE HARD
AT WORK ON THAT AMENDMENT.
IT WILL PROBABLY TAKE A MONTH
OR SO, BUT WE WILL INCLUDE IT
IN THERE.
>> OKAY, GREAT.
BUT IT IS A GREAT FRAME WORK
AND I THINK PARTICULARLY, AS
JANET POINTED OUT, THE
PEDESTRIAN NETWORK STUFF, SO
IMPORTANT WITH THE 45th LINK
STATION OPENING AND THE MID
BLOCK, THE EAST/WEST
CONNECTIONS BECAUSE WE HAVE THE
REALLY LONG BLOCKS AND THE CON
NECK TIFFTY THAT IS CRITICAL.
AND AGAIN, TO WHAT THE
NORTHEAST DRB HAS BEEN DOING,
BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF
THOSE EARLY OUTREACH
DISCUSSIONS, WE ARE SAYING THAT
OH, THERE ARE DRAFT GUIDELINES
AND THE MID BLOCK EAST/WEST
CONNECTIONS ARE IMPORTANT.
SO THEN THEY GO TO DRB FOR
EARLY DESIGN GUIDANCE AND THEY
CAN REFERENCE WHAT WE HAVE
TALKED ABOUT AND THE DRAFT
GUIDELINES, HOW IMPORTANT IT
IS.
SO THAT IS REALLY HELPFUL AND
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT
BEING SORT OF ON THE BOOKS FOR
THOSE PURPOSES.
THE ONLY OTHER THING, REALLY
SPECIFICALLY IS ABOUT TALL
BUILDINGS AND NOT HAVING HAD
SPECIFIC GUIDANCE ON TALL
BUILDINGS.
AGAIN, A SHOUTOUT FOR THE DRB
FOR WORKING, BECAUSE THE HIGH-
RISE ZONE, IT IS A WHOLE NEW
SKYLINE AND THE QUESTION TO
MEETING THE SKY, WHAT DOES IT
MEAN FOR TALL BUILDINGS, HAVING
THIS GUIDANCE IS REALLY
IMPORTANT.
TEAMS THAT HAVE COME BEFORE
DRB, OR THE EARLY OUTREACH
DISCUSSIONS HAVE BEEN APPRISSED
OF THAT AND THAT IS REALLY
GREAT.
I WILL SAY NOW THAT WE DO HAVE
HALF A DOZEN REAL TALL
BUILDINGS, REAL HIGH-RISES IN
THE PIPELINE, WE STILL NEED
SOME IMPORTANT TOOLS AND YOU E.
COLI NO, THOSE KIND OF NEW
DEVELOPMENTS REPRESENT LAND
VALUES THAT ARE REALLY SUB
SHALL AND REALLY SUBSTANTIAL
AND YOU TALK ABOUT THE RETAIL
THAT IS FINE GRAIN, A LOT OF
HISTORIC CHARACTER BUILDINGS
ARE NOW REALLY AT RISK AND
KNOWING WELL THAT THE DESIGN
GUIDANCE IS NOT THE TOOL TO
ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES, I FEEL
THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO POINT
OUT THAT WE HAVE MORE WORK TO
DO AND YOU KNOW, THE BIG CHURCH
PROPERTIES THAT PROVIDE CHILD
CARE AND HUMAN SERVICES, THEY
ARE ON THE AUCTION BLOCK AS WE
SPEAK.
BUT WHAT IS HAPPENING WAS SORT
OF PUNTED FROM THE UPZONE
PROCESS.
SO I AM JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO
MORE DISCUSSION WITH THE CITY,
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS
AND OTHER KINDS OF THINGS THAT
ARE NOT DESIGN GUIDANCE, BUT
ARE STILL NECESSARY FOR US TO
KEEP GOING FORWARD AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO THAT.
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU.
FURTHER THOUGHTS, COLLEAGUES?
SO THIS ITEM, BECAUSE WE ARE
NOT GOING TO HAVE A COMMITTEE
DISCUSSION IN JANUARY, WE WILL
USE THE TIME IN JANUARY TO
DISCUSS THE CITY WIDE IMAGE,
THIS IS NOT BACK IN FRONT OF US
UNTIL FEBRUARY.
SO FEBRUARY 6th WILL BE THE
PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS TOPIC.
NOT ANTICIPATING A HIGH VOLUME
OF COMMENTS.
SO IT IS POSSIBLE THAT WE COULD
JUST SPEND THE RULES ON THAT
DAY AND HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING
VOTE THE BILL OUT OF COMMITTEE
THE SAME DAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE DIRECTION
ON THE AMENDMENT REGARDING THE
UNIVERSITY PARK SOUTH AREA, I
WILL WORK ON THAT AMENDMENT FOR
THE FEBRUARY 6th MEETING.
AND I WILL HAVE ANOTHER
CLARIFYING AMENDMENT, WHICH IS
ADDING LANGUAGE AT THE FRONT
END OF THE GUIDELINES, MAKING
IT CLEAR THAT WHILE THE
GUIDELINES SOMETIMES, THE
GUIDANCE IN THE GUIDELINES
SOMETIMES SPILLS OVER INTO THE
RIGHT OF WAY, AND THE BOARD
CERTAINLY PROVIDES GUIDANCE AND
IT IS TALKED ABOUT AT THE
DESIGN REVIEW BOARD, THE
AUTHORITY LIES WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
AND SO SORT OF APPROVAL OF ANY
CHANGES IN THE RIGHT I WAY GOES
THROUGH THAT RIGHT OF WAY GOES
THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
AND JUST PROVIDING LANGUAGE OF
AUTHORITY AND SETTING
EXPECTATIONS.
>> EXCELLENT.
OKAY, THANKS, FOLKS.
READ OUR LAST ITEM OF BUSINESS
AND I WILL ASK THE UPTOWN FOLKS
TO JOIN US AT THE TABLE.
>> [ READING ITEM INTO RECORD
]
>> WHY DON'T WE START AGAIN,
WILL YOU START US OFF?
>> ALY PENNUCCI.
>> MARIA.
>> KATIE, FORMER WEST DESIGN
REVIEW MEMBER AND FORMER
COCHAIR DURING THE DESIGN
REVIEW GUIDELINES PROCESS.
>> AND PATRICE CARROLL FROM THE
OFFICE OF PLANNING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOP.
WE ARE SWITCHING OVER TO THE
UPTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THANK YOU, JANET, FOR DOING
THAT NICE OVERVIEW OF THE
DESIGN REVIEW PROGRAM FOR US.
SO THIS HAS BEEN A FIVE YEAR
PROCESS.
SO IT IS A PROCESS THAT STARTED
BACK IN 2013, SIMILAR TO THE
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT.
THERE WAS AN URBAN DESIGN FRAME
WORK WITH A LOT OF COMMUNITY
INVOLVEMENT.
THAT LOOKED INTO SEWING
ALTERNATIVES AND THE PROCESS
AND ALSO THE MHA ZONING WAS
APPLIED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD,
DEVELOPMENT A-RODS AND OTHERS-
-STANDARDS.
AND SO TODAY WE ARE HERE TO
TALK ABOUT ANOTHER TOOL OF ALL
OF THIS WORK WITH COMMUNITY IS
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD DESIGN
GUIDELINES.
VARIOUS ENTITIES HAVE BEEN
INVOLVED THROUGHOUT THE FIVE
YEAR PROCESS.
AND SOME OF THE ISSUES OF WHY
TO UPDATE THE GUIDELINES ARE
VERY, AGAIN, VERY SIMILAR TO
THE UNIVERSITY DISTRICT.
SOME OF THE, IN ADDITION TO
STARTING THE URBAN DESIGN
FAKEWORK AROUND THE REZONING,
WE ALSO DID A VERY THOROUGH
KIND OF COMPARISON WITH THE
2013 CITY WIDE GUIDELINES AND
WE REALLY FOCUSED ON THINGS
THAT ARE UNIQUE TO THIS
NEIGHBORHOOD.
DURING THIS TIME, THE UPTOWN
ALLIANCE DECIDED TO FORM ITS
OWN LAND USE REVIEW COMMITTEE
AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE AND WORK WITH THAT
NEW ORGANIZATION TO DEVELOP THE
GUIDELINES, AND THEN ALSO, OVER
THIS PERIOD OF TIME, THERE WAS
ALSO A NEW ARTS DISTRICT FORMED
IN UPTOWN, WHICH ALSO
INFLUENCED SOME OF THE THINKING
ABOUT DESIGN GUIDELINES.
THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK GOING
ON, ALL THOUGH WE DIDN'T HAVE
THE FINAL ALIGNMENTS OR
DISCUSSIONS OF STATIONARIES,
BUT WE KNEW THAT LIGHT RAIL WAS
COMING TO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND
ALSO THAT THERE WOULD BE
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES AT THE
SEATTLE CENTER.
SO THESE WERE ALL VERY
IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WERE KIND
OF HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME
THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT THE
DESIGN GUIDELINES.
WE HAD A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A
COMPRESSED COMMUNITY
INVOLVEMENT PROCESS HERE
BECAUSE I THINK WE WERE ABLE TO
FOLLOW ON WITH THIS VERY
QUICKLY AFTER ALL OF THIS OTHER
FOUNDATIONAL WORK HAD BEEN
DONE.
AGAIN, IT IS JUST A TOOL, THE
COMMUNITY HAD SPENT A LOT OF
TIME IDENTIFYING WHAT WAS
IMPORTANT AND FORMING A VISION
AND SO, SO THIS WAS REALLY JUST
A TOOL TO SORT OF HELP US GET
THAT RIGS STARTED.
SO WE WORKED, JUST REALLY OVER
THE LAST YEAR, SO BEGAN WORKING
WITH THE LAND USE, THE UPTOWN
ALLIANCE LAND USE REVIEW
COMMITTEE, AND REALLY FOCUSED
ON GETTING A DRAFT THAT WE
COULD FOCUS THE BROADER
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT ON
GETTING PEOPLE'S REACTIONS TO
THAT DRAFT.
SO WE PARTICIPATED IN A JOINT
PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE ABOUT A
NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT WERE
GOING ON IN THIS AREA.
WE HAD OFFICE HOURS, WE DID AN
ONLINE SURVEY AND SO THESE WERE
SOME OF THE TOOLS THAT WE WERE
ABLE TO GET, WE WERE ABLE TO
GET THAT SPECIFIC FEEDBACK.
PRIORITY DESIGN ISSUES, I THINK
THE THING I HEARD THE MOST FROM
THE COMMUNITY WAS THE FACT THAT
THIS REALLY NEEDED TO BE A
WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOOD
THROUGHOUT.
IT IS VERY UNIQUE IN TERMS OF
AN URBAN CENTER AND THAT IT
REALLY HAS THIS VERY MIXED
CHARACTER.
IT IS A REGIONAL DESTINATION.
SO, YES, WE DO HAVE IMPORTANT
CORRIDORS, BUT THERE WAS REALLY
AN EFFERENT TO MAKE SURE THAT
THE--AN EFFORT TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD IS
WALKABLE.
A NEW ISSUE CAME UP, WE TALKED
A LOT ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE
NEW DEVELOPMENT IN AN ARTS
DISTRICT AND EWING THE
GUIDELINES TO REALLY MAKE THAT
DISTRICT VISIBLE.
WE, TOO, WERE LOOKING AT TALL
BUILDINGS AND SO WE DID
INCORPORATE THE TALL BUILDING
GUIDELINES BECAUSE THERE IS A
SMALL SECTION IN UPTOWN THAT IS
ALSO GOING TO HAVE THOSE TALL
BUILDINGS, ANTICIPATING THE NEW
LIGHT RAIL STATION.
SO, AND THE UNIQUE, THE VERY
UNIQUE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE EDGES
ARNOLD THE SEATTLE CENTER WERE
ALSO IMPORTANT FOR US TO
ADDRESS IN THE GUIDELINES.
SO, JUST A FEW OF THE ISSUES
THAT CAME UP IN THE CONTEXT AND
SIGHT SECTION, WE KNOW THIS IS
THE LOWER SLOPES OF QUEEN ANNE
HILL, SO TOPOGRAPHY WAS VERY
IMPORTANT AND THE GREEN, USING
THE GREEN, IT IS AN URBAN
ENVIRONMENT, A LOT OF EMPHASIS
ON HABITAT, THE SPECIES, AND
AGAIN, THE AREAS NEXT TO THE
SEATTLE CENTER, AND WAYS TO
MAKE THE ART DISTRICT
VISIBILITY.
HERE IS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF SOME
OF THE GUIDANCE THAT WE CAME UP
WITH FOR THE ARTS AND CULTURAL
DISTRICT.
SO, JUST FLAGGING THAT, THERE
COULD BE WAYS THROUGH BANNERS,
BUILDING NAMES, PLAQUES, AND WE
ARE SEEING A LOT OF
OPPORTUNITIES.
PUBLIC LIFE REALLY WAS FOCUSED
ON THIS DIAGRAM, WHICH CAME OUT
OF THE FRAMEWORK.
SO THIS IS WHERE WE WERE ABLE
TO GIVE SOME GUIDANCE FOR THE
THINGS THAT WERE CALLED OUT AS
GATEWAYS, THE VERY IMPORTANT
HEART OF UPTOWN, THE EDGES OF
THE SEATTLE CENTER, THE SPECIAL
STREETS THAT WERE IDENTIFYED.
WE, TOO, WERE LOOKING FOR WAYS
TO INCLUDE GUIDANCE ABOUT
SMALLER RETAIL SPACES WITHIN
THE NEIGHBORHOODS, PARTICULARLY
ALONG THE IMPORTANT PEDESTRIAN
STREETS.
THERE WAS ALSO AN ISSUE AROUND
LIVE/WORK AND SOMETIMES THAT
DOES NOT HAVE THE ACTIVATING
EFFECT THAT WE WANT AND SO WE
DID INCLUDE SOME GUIDANCE ON
THAT TOPIC AS WELL.
AND AGAIN, HERE IS JUST AN
EXAMPLE OF SOME OF THE GUIDANCE
THAT IS IN THE PUBLIC LIFE,
PAYING A LOT OF ATTENTION TO
THAT INTERFACE BETWEEN THE
PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT AND THE
STREET.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER O'BRIEN.
>> YOU MENTIONED THE LIVE/WORK.
CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE MORE
ABOUT THAT.
IS IT THIS, TELL ME A LITTLE
BIT MORE ABOUT THAT.
>> SO, WHAT WE SEE IN A LOT OF
THE LIVE/WORK DEVELOPMENT IN
SOME OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD
COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS IS THAT
THE IDEA OF THOSE BEING KIND OF
SEMI-RETAIL SPACES, OR SPACES
WHERE THERE IS MORE PEDESTRIAN
ACTIVATING USES, TEND TO NOT
HAVE THAT EFFECT.
AND SO JUST INCLUDING SOME
ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE THAT AMPLY
FIES WHAT IS IN THE LAND USE
CODE--AFTERNOON I WILLTIES WHAT
IS IN THE--AMPLIFIES WHAT IS IN
THE LAND USE CODE, WINDOW
TREATS TO TRY TO MAKE THAT MORE
ACTIVE.
I KNOW THAT IS A CHALLENGE, YOU
KNOW, IN A LOT OF THAT I THAT
I BELIEVED NEIGHBORHOOD IN A
LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
>> YES, AND HOW MUCH IS ABOUT
DESIGN AND HOW MUCH IS ABOUT
USE.
AND SO, IT IS A REALLY CREATIVE
TOOL AND FOR THE RIGHT SPOT, IT
IS GREAT.
IT FEELS LIKE IN OUR CURRENT
MARKET IS SO MUCH DEMAND FOR
RESIDENTIAL, IT IS TAKING UP
THE LIVE/WORK SPACE.
AND SO YOU KNOW, MAYBE THAT
WILL SHIFT THE MARKET.
>> YES, AND IF YOU HAVE SOME
THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS TOPIC THAT
YOU WANTED TO SHARE.
>> OH, YES, BOTH AS A DEVELOPER
AND AS PART OF THE ALLIANCE.
WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME THINKING
ABOUT IT, ACTUALLY, WE, I
THINK, WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME
WALKING AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD
AND LOOKING AT WHAT REALLY
WORKS IN LIVE/WORK UNITS AND
WHAT DOES NOT.
AND WHAT WE REALIZED IS THAT
THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
REALLY CELEBRATE LIVE/WORK.
IT DOES NOT MATTER THE STREET
AND THE CHALLENGE IS HOW DO YOU
CREATE CONNECTIVITY AND MAKING
IT FEEL A LITTLE MORE PLEASANT
AND SECURE, IF YOU ASSUME
SOMEONE IS WORKING, AFTER
HOURS, THEY LIV THERE, AND
WHAT HAPPENS IS THE OLD DESIGN
GUIDELINES REALLY DISCOURAGED
ANY SCREENING AND SO I THINK
ALL IT DID WAS CONTRIBUTE TO
MAKING IT LESS ACTIVE AND WHAT
WE HAVE DECIDED IS TO ENCOURAGE
SCREENING SO THAT THERE IS
PRIVACY, IS IF IT IS LIVE/WORK
AND THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS TO
DO BOTH PRIVACY AND VISUAL,
MAKING IT VISUALLY NICE AND
LESS PASSIVE BY PLANTERS AND
SCREENS AND YOU KNOW, PLANTING
BEDS AND OTHER WAYS TO MAKE
THEM LOOK REALLY GOOD: AND
THERE ARE EXAMPLES OF PROJECTS
THAT HAVE DONE IT REALLY WELL
AND WE THINK IT IS A GOOD
THING.
IT IS NOT BAD TO PROVIDE
SCREENING IN FRONT OF A
LIVE/WORK UNIT.
IT IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE SO IT
IS STILL ENCOURAGING A LOOK
INTO THAT SPACE DURING THE DAY
WHEN SOMEONE IS WORKING THERE,
BUT ALSO MAKES IT NICE IN NON
WORK HOURS, AND IT FEELS GOOD
FOR PEDESTRIANS WALKING BY.
>> YES, I WOULD ECHO THAT,
DURING THE DESIGN REVIEW
GUIDELINES PROCESS, WE TOOK A
WALK THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD
AND LOOKED AT WHAT DID WORK AND
DIDN'T.
AND THE USE ITSELF DOES NOT
REALLY DO THE JOB.
WE STILL SEE A LOT OF BUILDINGS
WITH SHADES DRAWN.
BUT THE BUILDINGS THAT DONOR
PROVIDE THAT KIND OF SPACE,
THAT BUFFER, THE OPPORTUNITY
FOR MORE INTEREST AT THE
PEDESTRIAN LEVEL ARE REALLY THE
ONES THAT ARE MORE SUCCESSFUL.
>> RIGHT, BECAUSE EVEN IF
PEOPLE ARE WORKING THERE AND IT
IS, YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE IN A
FISH BOWL DURING THE DAY.
AND SO, I THINK THAT THERE HAS
BEEN SOME FLAWS IN THAT
ARCHITECTURE AROUND HOW YOU
DEAL WITH IT IN REALITY THAT WE
ARE TRYING TO CORRECT, AT LEAST
IN UPTOWN.
>> SO I THINK WE HAD A VERY
INTERESTING DISCUSSION IN
LOOKING AT SOME OF THE DESIGN
CONCEPT GUIDANCE, PREVIOUSLY
THERE HAD BEEN A LOT OF
GUIDANCE IN UPTOWN THAT REALLY
TRIED TO TIE TO THE HISTORIC
CHARACTER.
THERE IS THIS WONDERFUL MIX OF
BUILDINGS OF DIFFERENT ERAS AND
ALSO, A LOT OF VERY NEW AND
EXCITING AND CONTEMPORARY
STYLES THERE.
AND SO I THINK THAT THE
COMMUNITY WAS READILY TO
EMBRACE SORT OF A MORE OPENNESS
TO THE ARCHITECT STYLES.
BUT, THERE WAS, SO NO PREFERRED
LOOKING AT HIGH QUALITY CH
MATERIALS.
AND ALSO RECOGNIZING THAT THERE
ARE WAYS THAT I THINK THE
BOTTOM PICTURE ILLUSTRATES THAT
EVEN A CONTEMPORARY BUILD CAN
GO PICK UP SYSTEM QUEUES FROM
THE VERY WONDERFUL AND RICH
OLDER BUILDINGS IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND CREATE
EXCITING ARCHITECTURE.
SO THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS,
THAT WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME
TALKING ABOUT.
I WOULD SAY THE OTHER BIG TOPIC
THAT WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME
TALKING ABOUT IS HOW TO GET ART
INTO SOME OF THE BUILDINGS AND
SO HERE IS AN EXAMPLE FROM THE
NEIGHBORHOOD OF WHERE ART HAS
BEEN KIND OF USED TO REALLY
ENLIVEN A STREET THAT LEADS TO
THE SEATTLE CENTER.
SO I THINK THE COMMUNITY BE
LOOKING TO DO THAT IN THE
FUTURE.
AND AGAIN, HERE IS JUST AN
EXAMPLE OF SOME OF THE GUIDANCE
THAT TALKS ABOUT THAT RANGE OF
STYLES.
AND HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF THE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ART IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> SO THAT IS OUR QUICK RUN
THROUGH.
>> ANY FINAL THOUGHTS THAT YOU
WANT TO SHARE, AS WE CLOSE OUT
THE DISCUSSION THIS MORNING?
>> I THINK SHE DID A GREAT JOB
IN SNOUT OUTLINING, WE HAVE HAD
A LOT OF CHANGES, THE REZONE,
AND AS SOMEONE WHO SAT ON THE
DIVINE REVIEW BOARD WHILE-
-DESIGN REVIEW WHILE THAT WAS
GOING ON, IT IS REALLY GREAT TO
START TO SEE THE GUIDELINES.
WE HAVE BEEN REALLY HAPPY WITH
THE PROCESS FROM THE
NEIGHBORHOOD STANDPOINT.
>> YES, I HAVE A LITTLE MORE
TOED A. --TO SAY.
FIRST I WANT TO THANK THE
COUNCIL FOR PROVIDING THE
FUNDS, BECAUSE WE HAVE WANTED
TO UPDATE THE GUIDELINES FOR
SOME TIME.
I ALSO WANT TO DO A SHOUTOUT TO
THE UPTOWN LAND USE REVIEW
COMMITTEE.
QUESTION HAVE A FAIRLY LARGE
GROUP OF VERY SMART, CAPABLE,
THOUGHTFUL PEOPLE WHO REALLY
LOVE UPTOWN AND THEY SPEND A
LOT OF TIME THINKING ABOUT
GROWTH AND WHAT THE UPTOWN
COMMUNITY SHOULD LOOK LIKE AS
WE GROW IN THE FUTURE.
EVERYONE IS, WE EMBRACE DENSITY
AND GROWTH, AND WE REALLY WANT
UPTOWN TO BE, OR HAVE A LOT
MORE DENSITY IN IT.
AND THEN, HELPS US THINK ABOUT,
SO WHAT SHOULD THAT LOOK LIKE?
I WILL ALSO SAY, IT HAS BEEN
VERY IS FRUSTRATING FOR US, AS
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THAT THE
CURRENT DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR
UPTOWN ARE VERY OLD AND OUT OF
DTE.
THE GENESIS ARE REALLY WANTING
TO UPDATE THESE HAS BEEN SIX
YEARS SINCE WE DID THE URBAN
DESIGN FRAMEWORK, WHICH
DESIGNS, IT IS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
PLAN OF WHAT WE WANT UPTOWN TO
LOOK LIKE.
ALSO WITH THE UPTOWN ARTS AND
CULTURE DESIGNATION, WE WANT A
LOT MORE PHYSICAL CELEBRATION
OF ARTS AND CULTURE AND
DIVERSITY, BOTH, AND A LOT OF
IT PHYSICAL AND VISUAL
DIVERSITY AS WELL AS DIVERSITY
IN THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE.
BECAUSE OUR ARCHITECTURE ALONE
CANNOT CREATE A WONDERFUL
NEIGHBORHOOD.
I THINK THE DIVERSITY AND
ENCOURAGING MORE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND ARTISTS TO LIVE
THERE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE IT
A MORE RICH AND DIVERSE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
AGAIN, IT IS FRUSTRATING TO US
AT THE DESIGN REVIEW BOARD,
THEY ARE STILL EVALUATING
PROJECT UPTOWN BASED ON OLD,
OUT OF DATE GUIDELINE WHEN WE
HAVE GROWN AND CHANGED SO MUCH
AND THERE IS JUST A BIG
DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE VALUES
OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WHERE
WE ARE GOING IN THE OLD, OLD
DESIGN GUIDELINES.
SO, WE DO DESIRE THE NEW DESIGN
GUIDELINES TO BE APPROVED AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
I LATE TO THINK ABOUT FEBRUARY
6th, BUT WE WILL LIVE WITH
WHATEVER PROCESS THERE IS.
I ALSO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
WAS NOT REALLY CAPTURED AS WELL
IS WE REALLY WANT A LOT OF
CREATIVE LIGHTING, CREATIVE
SIGNAGE, COLOR REFLECTING.
SO WHEN MEET WITH DEVELOPERS
THAT WILL BUILD THERE, WE
REALLY ENCOURAGE THAT DIVERSITY
BECAUSE IT IT IS GOING TO
MAYBE THE NEIGHBORHOOD MORE
INTERESTING FOR PEOPLE THAT
VISIT.
AND THAT IS ONE THING THAT WE
HAVE, WE HAVE REALLY HIT A WALL
ON WITH DESIGN REVIEW BOARD,
WHO DISCOURAGES ALL OF THE
THINGS WE WANT TO DO.
SO, AGAIN, THE SOONER WE CAN
GET THESE GUIDELINES IN PLACE,
THE BETTER.
AND HOW DO YOU WRITE A
GUIDELINE FOR FUNKY?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF
PROJECTS ARE COMING UP, ONE OF
THEM ON 1st NORTH THAT WILL BE
ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE
LIGHT RAIL STATION ENTRY.
FLAY WANTED TO, AND--THEY
WANTED TO, AND WE ENCOURAGE THE
USE OF COLOR IN THE EXTERIOR
MATERIALS AND WE THOUGHT IT
WOULD BE FUN AND DIFFERENT AND
THE DESIGN REVIEW BOARD MIXED
IT.
SO WE WE HAVE BEEN SAYING IS
WHAT WE WANT TO SEE.
THE CURRENT DESIGN GUIDELINES
DISCOURAGE MURALS.
WE WANT MURALS AND WE HAVE THIS
WONDERFULLER ARTS AN UPTOWN
COALITION THAT WE ENCOURAGE ALL
DEVELOPERS TO GO MEET WITH THEM
TO GET IDEAS ON WHAT WOULD BE
GOOD FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU
KNOW, THEY HAVE JUST COME UP
WITH A NEW BRANDING, WE WILL
HAVE BANNERS TO CELEBRATE
UPTOWN, WE ARE WORKING VERY
TIGHTLY WITH SEATTLE CENTER AND
OVG AND THE NHL FOLKS TO HAVE
OUR BRANDING INCLUDE ALL THREE
OF US AND INCLUDE OUR LOGOS AND
BRANDS.
AND THEY ARE REALLY WORKING
WITH THE UPTOWN ARTS AND
CULTURE COALITION TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE WE ARE PUSHING A
CELEBRATION OF DIFFERENT
THINGS.
SO COLOR, MATERIALS, TEXTURES,
BANNERS, MURALS, FUNKY SIGNS,
THESE ARE GOOD THINGS, AND MORE
LIGHTING.
WE CANNOT WAIT TO SEE WHAT THE
LIGHTING AND SIGNAGE THAT OVG
COMES UP FOR THE SEATTLE ARENA,
BECAUSE WE THINK IT CAN REALLY
ENHANCE AND BE A PLUS FOR THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> I JUST WANT TO, FOR ONE,
THANK THE UPTOWN COMMUNITY FOR
RECOGNIZING HOW THESE KINDS OF
DESIGN ELEMENTS, WHILE THEY IN
THEMSELVES, ARE, CANNOT CREATE,
OUT OF WHOLE CLOTHE, A DIVERSE
COMMUNITY, THEY ARE AN
IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF ATTRACTING
DIFFERENT KINDS OF PEOPLE TO
WANT TO LIVE AND WORK IN THAT
NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO I AGREE, IT IS A REALLY
IMPORTANT ELEMENT AND I
APPRECIATE YOU GUYS LIFTING IT
UP.
>> AND WE CANNOT GO ANY FASTER
BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY DO NOT HAVE
A BILL YET.
SO WE ARE STILL WAITING ON THAT
BILL, BUT I THINK IT IS BEING
TRANSMITTED THIS WEEK.
>> I WILL MOVE IT.
>> YES.
>> WE GOT WAIT FOR A BILL AND
THEN WE HAVE TO HAVE A PUBLIC
HEARING ON THAT BILL AND THEN
WE HAVE TO VOTE THAT BILL OUT
OF COMMITTEE.
SO IT IS GOING TO BE JUST
ANOTHER EIGHT WEEKS OR SO, BUT
WE WOULD LOVE TO YOU ALL BACK
AGAIN ON THE 6th AND SAYING A
LOT OF THE POSITIVE THINGS IN
THE PUBLIC HEARING TO GET THIS
ACROSS THE FINISH LINE AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
JOINING US THIS MORNING.
WE APPRECIATE THIS AND YOUR
APAIS SHE THINKS.
THAT IS IT--YOUR PATIENCE.
THAT IS IT FOR YOU.
HAPPY NEW YEAR AND WE WILL BE
HERE IN JANUARY, AS A
COMMITTEE, WE WILL BE HERE IN
JANUARY AS A SELECT COMMITTEE,
BUT OUR NEXT FULL COMMITTEE
MEETING IS NOT UNTIL FEBRUARY
6th.
WE ARE ADJOURNED.