Committee on the Built Environment
2010 Priorities

As we set out into 2010 I know that much of the committee’s time will be taken up with surprises; topics that require attention out of unforeseen urgency. My goal, though, is to work proactively in a number of land use areas related to safe, affordable, sustainable neighborhoods. Where I can I’ll work to support job training and efforts that move people toward greater stability as we move through this recession.  The following are the main areas of focus for proactive work this year:

Land use in service of great neighborhoods with healthy business districts, affordable housing and great gathering places

We have several efforts under way this year that with careful stewardship can shape the inevitable growth and change of Seattle neighborhoods.

• South Downtown zoning and land use rules (Pioneer Square, the Chinatown/International District)
• Pioneer Square emphasis
• Northgate Design Guidelines
• Comprehensive Plan Updates

Pioneer Square

Land use in service of better looking buildings and better living spaces

At least two projects will carry through more work from starts made in 2009.

• Multi-Family Code – shaping low-rise apartments, condos and townhomes
• Single Family Code Phase II -- including rules for environmentally critical areas)

Urban Canyon, a project by b9 architects, is an award-winning example of pedestrian-friendly lowrise building design

Land use in service of historic preservation and cultural assets

• Landmark incentives review – We’ll talk with building owners, managers and tenants about how to make historic preservation pencil better
• CODAC – Last year we started the ball rolling on defining special arts and culture neighborhoods. This year we’ll create the legal mechanism in the land use code for actually defining an area.
• Pike/Pine Phase II – Last year we created new rules to save iconic buildings and small spaces in the Pike/Pine neighborhood. This year we continue that work by looking at special design guidelines and the possibility of transferable development credits.

Energy Effeciency

Land use in service of more efficient buildings and greater sustainability

• Living Building Challenge – Last year we created special rules for buildings pushing the front edge of sustainability technology. This year we need to see if we passed the right rules to yield a demonstration building.
• Energy Code changes – Energy efficiency will be the goal as we review the city’s rules and how they affect consumption, leakage, affordability and constructability.

Land use in service of neighborhood safety

• Single Family Demolition – Last year we made it slightly easier to remove dangerous eyesore homes. This year we’ll make sure the legislation works as intended without leading to unwarranted destruction of housing.

Land use in service of economic success

• Master Use Permit Extensions and overall permit activity – Last year we extended the lifespan of major project permits. This year we’re carefully watching major project activity to understand the city’s economic condition and related job creation or loss.
• Industrial zoning – This means adjustments to zoning in urban villages (like Ballard) and adaptive reuse of buildings in industrial areas.

Other projects outside the Committee on the Built Environment include smart planning for Seattle’s Central Waterfront (I co-chair a committee on this with Councilmember Sally Bagshaw) and devising smarter ways to discharge homeless, chemically-addicted and mentally ill people from hospitals, treatment and jails so they don’t end up on our streets.

If you have questions about the issues detailed above or about any other issues, please contact me at (206) 684-8802 or at sally.clark@seattle.gov.

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