The Seattle City Council Planning, Land Use, and Neighborhoods committee met on Wednesday to discuss revisions to the multifamily land use code.
The Department of Planning and Development (DPD) is recommending revisions be split into two bills: one for mid-rise and high-rise zones, with some details applicable to multifamily zones (this could be approved by the city council as soon as December 14), and one for low-rise multifamily zones (due to outstanding environmental review requirements, this bill would not be voted on until May).
One major feature of the multifamily code revision is shifting from an open space standard to a residential amenity standard for public or open space. Under a residential amenity standard, multifamily housing developers would no longer have to provide open space at ground level or in publicly visible or accessible spaces. It could be provided above grade, on private or common area decks and balconies, or completely within the building. Residential amenity space would have to equal at least 5% of lot area, and up to 50% of residential amenity space could be provided in enclosed common spaces.
The committee took several minutes to debate access to non-required parking spaces. Under the code revision, in urban centers, residential units would not have required parking. However, councilmembers were divided on whether width of parking access aisles and size of parking spaces should be regulated for non-required parking.
The committee also discussed permitting small rooftop wind turbines in residential areas.
Finally, the committee reviewed the recommendations of the Seattle Planning Commission, including:
- avoiding duplication of code requirements for size of low-rise and mid-rise buildings on large lots
- eliminating parking requirements in Urban Villages (in addition to Urban Centers)
- simplifying the land use code for building height maximums
- establishing minimum density requirements in mid-rise and high-rise zones
- providing greater relief for developers incorporating sustainable building practices
Revised: The public hearing for the mid-rise/high-rise bill will be November 30 at 5:30 PM.
Related: Planning committee sends backyard cottages to Seattle City Council
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