Record No: CB 119600    Version: Council Bill No: CB 119600
Type: Ordinance (Ord) Status: Passed
Current Controlling Legislative Body City Clerk
On agenda: 10/7/2019
Ordinance No: Ord 125964
Title: AN ORDINANCE relating to environmental review; amending Sections 3.02.110, 25.05.035, 25.05.055, 25.05.070, 25.05.100, 25.05.440, 25.05.448, 25.05.545, 25.05.680, 25.05.800, 25.05.900, and 25.05.914 of the Seattle Municipal Code to clarify timelines and the content of administrative appeals, to authorize the development of Director's Rules to clarify the content of environmental documents, and to make corrections and technical amendments.
Sponsors: Abel Pacheco, Mike O'Brien
Attachments: 1. Att 1 - Summary of Environmental Protections
Supporting documents: 1. Summary and Fiscal Note, 2. Proposed Amendment 1, 3. Proposed Amendment 2, 4. Proposed Amendment 3 (added 10/8/19), 5. Proposed Amendment 4 (added 10/8/19), 6. Central Staff Memo (8/7/19), 7. Central Staff Memo (9/4/19), 8. Proposed Substitute, 9. Amendment 1, 10. Amendment 2, 11. Amendment 3, 12. Amendment 4, 13. Amendment 5, 14. Amendment 6 (added 9/11/19), 15. Signed Ordinance 125964, 16. Affidavit of Publication

CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
title
AN ORDINANCE relating to environmental review; amending Sections 3.02.110, 25.05.035, 25.05.055, 25.05.070, 25.05.100, 25.05.440, 25.05.448, 25.05.545, 25.05.680, 25.05.800, 25.05.900, and 25.05.914 of the Seattle Municipal Code to clarify timelines and the content of administrative appeals, to authorize the development of Director's Rules to clarify the content of environmental documents, and to make corrections and technical amendments.
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BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Findings
A. The Mayor and City Council find that the State authorizes categorical exemptions for infill development, which have been effective as a factor that encourages new development to locate within urban centers and urban villages consistent with the City's Comprehensive Plan. This pattern of growth favoring centers and villages is leading to greater efficiencies of residential living and activity patterns that encourage greater use of mass transit and enliven individual neighborhoods and the City. As such, the maximum categorical exemption level for infill development should be authorized to continue to support these positive trends. This kind of efficiency will be increasingly important as Seattle continues to accommodate new residents and employees and to encourage diversity of housing options located near mass transit systems and a variety of transportation choices.
B. The Mayor and City Council find that these efficiencies are due, in part, to increased certainty for developers about the timeline for development and project delivery. Increasing infill development categorical exemptions is a recommendation of the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda Advisory Committee, and the Mayor and City Council find that the infill development categorical exemption is an incentive and regulatory change pursuant to RCW 36.70A.540 for the purposes of impleme...

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