School Departures Advisory Committee - John Marshall Interim School
We are seeking volunteers to serve on an advisory committee to review and make recommendations related to development standard departures requested by Seattle Public Schools for John Marshall School, located at 520 NE Ravenna Blvd, Seattle, WA 98115.
Seattle Public Schools (SPS) is requesting the following modifications, also known as “departures,” from City zoning regulations per Seattle Municipal Code (SMC) 23.51B, and the Public School Departures Process, SMC 23.79:
- Increased building height
- Reduced setbacks
- Reduced bicycle-parking
- Adding an electronic reader board
SPS has a detailed presentation of the requested modifications which you can view on our website.
What Does Volunteering Involve?
The advisory committee will meet for up to three public meetings at John Marshall School over a three-month period. It is made up of at least eight members, who include community members, a representative from SPS, and the City of Seattle. The committee will receive briefings from SPS, gather and evaluate public comments on the departure requests.
Following these meetings, the committee will make a recommendation to the Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections (SDCI) to either grant or deny the requested modifications. The committee may also recommend relevant conditions to be applied if granting these changes to minimize its impact on the surrounding neighborhood. SDCI will make the final decision on if and how the modifications to zoning will happen.
How Do I apply?
To apply for the committee, community members must be neighbors who reside or own a business or property within 600 feet of the school, residents in the surrounding neighborhood, a representative at large to represent city-wide education issues, PTA members, or parents of students. Other committee members will include a representative from the School District and City of Seattle.
To be eligible for this committee, you must be a neighbor, business owner, or property owner within 600 feet of the school. A parent or guardian of students at the school, a community member who uses the school or nearby spaces, or anyone in the area who is interested in how the school plans to change its building or property.
To apply, please send a letter of interest either by e-mail or regular mail to:
Dipti Garg
Office of Planning and Community Development
P.O. Box 94788, Seattle, WA, 98124-7088
Email: Dipti.Garg@seattle.gov
Letters of interest should be received by October 9, 2026. For more information contact Dipti Garg at Dipti.Garg@seattle.gov.
Be Involved in Shaping Your Neighborhood
The City of Seattle is committed to promoting diversity in its boards and committees; women, young adults, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, sexual and gender minorities, persons of color, and immigrants are highly encouraged to apply.
The Major Institutions and Schools Program provides a way for neighbors of Seattle's hospitals, universities, public schools, and colleges to be directly involved in the development plans for those institutions to ensure neighborhood viewpoints are considered when those plans are made. It is a program of Seattle Office of Planning and Community Development.
We will announce upcoming meetings, reports, and other related documents in the near future.