CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
title
AN ORDINANCE related to land use and zoning, amending page 52 of the Official Land Use Map, Seattle Municipal Code Chapter 23.32, to rezone property at the Fort Lawton Army Reserve Center.
body
WHEREAS, in 2005, the United States Congress authorized the closure of the Fort Lawton Army Reserve Center (“Fort Lawton”), and the U.S. Army published notices that the property will be available for non-military uses and ownership; and
WHEREAS, the United States Army determined that Fort Lawton is surplus to the United States needs in accordance with the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990, Public Law 101-510, as amended, and the 2005 Base Closure and Realignment Commission Report, as approved; and
WHEREAS, the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act authorizes the Department of Defense (DoD) and U.S. Army to make final decisions regarding the disposition of base property and facilities, and the DoD requested The City of Seattle (“City”) submit the application for Fort Lawton, including the redevelopment plan and homeless assistance submission, to the DoD and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); and
WHEREAS, the City, acting as the Local Redevelopment Authority (LRA), solicited and received Notices of Interest for property from homeless assistance providers and other eligible recipients of public benefit conveyances of federally owned property; and
WHEREAS, the City, acting as the LRA, prepared an application in accordance with the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990, Public Law 101-510, as amended, and the 2005 Base Closure and Realignment Commission Report, as approved; and
WHEREAS, the application prepared by the City (“2008 Plan”), which included a redevelopment plan providing for mixed-income housing and parks space, was approved by the City Council in 2008, and in 2010 HUD determined the application complies with the Base Closure Community Redevelopment and Homeless Assistance Act of 1994, 10 U.S.C. § 2687 note, as amended, and its implementing regulations found at 24 CFR Part 586; and
WHEREAS, opponents of the 2008 Plan sued the City, and in 2010, the Court of Appeals upheld a Superior Court decision on the lawsuit, which argued that the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) was required prior to City Council adoption of redevelopment plan legislation; and
WHEREAS, implementation of the 2008 Plan was also stalled by the Great Recession, which diminished its financial viability, the market-rate housing component in particular; and
WHEREAS, in 2013, the City began working with the U.S. Army to plan for interim uses and in 2017 entered into a five-year lease of Fort Lawton; and
WHEREAS, in 2017, public outreach and comment for a modified redevelopment proposal for Fort Lawton began, and in 2018, the City published the Fort Lawton Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), which analyzes probable adverse environmental impacts associated with the modified plan; and
WHEREAS, the Hearing Examiner decided in favor of the City on an appeal of the adequacy of the FEIS; and
WHEREAS, the final Fort Lawton Redevelopment Plan and Homeless Assistance Submission reflects years of collaboration between the City and its partners, Catholic Housing Services of Western Washington, United Indians of All Tribes Foundation, and Habitat for Humanity of Seattle/King County, and involved substantial public outreach and comment; and
WHEREAS, the Fort Lawton Redevelopment Plan balances Seattle’s critical need for affordable housing for households with low incomes and permanent housing for persons experiencing homelessness with the climate and livability benefits of parks and open space, by providing 85 units of supportive housing for seniors, up to 100 affordable rental housing units for households with incomes up to 60 percent of area median income, up to 52 affordable homes for purchase by families with incomes up to 80 percent of area median income, and increased parks and recreation space adjacent to Seattle’s 534-acre Discovery Park; and
WHEREAS, the Fort Lawton Homeless Assistance Submission includes information about homelessness in Seattle; notices of interest proposing assistance to persons and families experiencing homelessness; a legally binding agreement for Fort Lawton property to be used to provide homeless housing; an assessment of the balance with economic and other development needs; a description of outreach taken by the City, including a list of the representatives of people experiencing homelessness who were contacted during the outreach process; and an overview of the citizen participation process, including comments received from at least one public hearing held before submitting the LRA application to HUD; and
WHEREAS, the City will continue to work with Metro to make transit service improvements in the Fort Lawton/Magnolia neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, on February 4, 2019, Mayor Jenny Durkan announced that she will transmit the redevelopment plan for Fort Lawton to City Council, stating that “As we continue to address Seattle’s housing and affordability crisis, this plan builds on our commitment to drive the development of hundreds of more affordable homes while ensuring that our neighborhoods can be vibrant, livable spaces for this generation and the next”; and
WHEREAS, the Fort Lawton Redevelopment Plan includes robust, effective affirmative marketing of housing at Fort Lawton to increase housing choices for protected classes in a high-opportunity neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has reviewed the Fort Lawton Redevelopment Plan and Homeless Assistance Submission and held a Public Hearing to receive public comment; and
WHEREAS, City staff prepared a rezone analysis and final recommendation; and
WHEREAS, the property’s land use designation is Multifamily Residential Area on the City’s Future Land Use Map as envisioned in the Fort Lawton Redevelopment Plan; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The Official Land Use Map, Chapter 23.32 of the Seattle Municipal Code, is amended to rezone property on page 52 of the Official Land Use Map, as shown on Exhibit A attached to this ordinance.
Section 2. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force 30 days after its approval by the Mayor, but if not approved and returned by the Mayor within ten days after presentation, it shall take effect as provided by Seattle Municipal Code Section 1.04.020.
Passed by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2019, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this _____ day of _________________________, 2019.
____________________________________
President ____________ of the City Council
Approved by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2019.
____________________________________
Jenny A. Durkan, Mayor
Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2019.
____________________________________
Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk
(Seal)
Attachments:
Exhibit A - Proposed Rezone