CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
title
AN ORDINANCE relating to land use and zoning; adopting interim provisions by amending Sections 23.76.004, 23.76.006, and 23.76.032 of, and adding a new Section 23.42.041 to, the Seattle Municipal Code to facilitate occupancy of street-level spaces downtown during the COVID-19 civil emergency; and adopting a work plan.
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WHEREAS, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, street-level businesses downtown have been impacted and many have gone out of business due to the lack of customers, particularly office workers, tourists, and convention attendees; and
WHEREAS, the Seattle Comprehensive Plan has as a Goal (G1) to: Maintain Downtown Seattle as the most important of the region's urban centers-a compactly developed area supporting a diversity of uses meeting the employment, residential, shopping, culture, service, and entertainment needs of the broadest range of the region's population; and
WHEREAS, the Seattle Comprehensive Plan has as a Policy (P11) to: Regulate uses at street-level in certain areas in order to generate pedestrian interest and activity in conformance with policies for the pedestrian environment. Promote street-level uses to reinforce existing retail concentrations, enhance main pedestrian links between areas, and generate new pedestrian activity where appropriate to meet area objectives without diluting existing concentrations of retail activity. Promote active and accessible uses at the street-level of new development where it is important to maintain the continuity of retail activity. Consider measures to promote street-level space of adequate size and sufficient flexibility to accommodate a variety of retail and service activities. Encourage incorporation, as appropriate, of street-level uses as part of open space public amenity features provided for a floor area bonus to promote activity and increase public use of these spaces. To encourage active and accessible street-...
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