SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL - Record No: CB 120631

• Record No: CB 120631
• Version: 1
• Council Bill No: CB 120631
• Type: Ordinance (Ord)
• Status: Passed
• Current Controlling Legislative Body: City Clerk
• On agenda: 9/26/2023
• Ordinance No: Ord 126914
• Title: AN ORDINANCE relating to land use and zoning; amending subsection 23.49.011.B of the Seattle Municipal Code to increase flexibility for lodging uses in the DMR/R 95/65 zone.
• Sponsors: Dan Strauss
• Supporting documents: 1. Summary and Fiscal Note, 2. Director's Report, 3. Presentation (9/13/23), 4. Central Staff Memo (9/13/23), 5. Central Staff Memo (added 9/14/23), 6. SEPA Checklist and DNS, 7. Signed Ordinance 126914, 8. Affidavit of Publication

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
10/6/2023	1	City Clerk	attested by City Clerk
10/6/2023	1	Mayor	returned
10/6/2023	1	Mayor	Signed
9/29/2023	1	City Clerk	submitted for Mayor's signature
9/26/2023	1	City Council	passed	Pass
9/18/2023	1	Land Use Committee	pass	Pass
9/13/2023	1	Land Use Committee	discussed
8/1/2023	1	City Council	referred
7/27/2023	1	Council President's Office	sent for review
7/26/2023	1	City Clerk	sent for review
7/26/2023	1	Mayor	Mayor's leg transmitted to Council

CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
title
AN ORDINANCE relating to land use and zoning; amending subsection 23.49.011.B of the Seattle Municipal Code to increase flexibility for lodging uses in the DMR/R 95/65 zone.
body
WHEREAS, greater Downtown Seattle has experienced significantly increased vacancy rates for commercial office and retail uses since the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, The City of Seattle holds it as a high priority to support economic recovery for Downtown neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, City departments are engaging in planning processes for long-term solutions to increase Downtown activity and vitality, which may include programmatic strategies and capital investments; and
WHEREAS, in addition to long-term strategies, a variety of immediate actions are sought to increase Downtown activation and vitality in the short term; and
WHEREAS, one segment of the Downtown economy that has remained relatively strong at present is lodging; and
WHEREAS, hotel visitors customarily patronize local businesses including restaurants, cultural and entertainment establishments, and other services; and
WHEREAS, hotel uses commonly include vibrant and active storefronts with uses such as gathering places, artistic displays, and restaurants or bars; and
WHEREAS, members of Belltown community organizations approached the Office of Planning and Community Development with a concept to increase zoning flexibility for lodging uses as a means to spur investment and increase street activation; and
WHEREAS, addition of one or more new hotels within a focused geographic area of the Belltown neighborhood would be generally consistent with the City's Comprehensive Plan and the existing mix of land uses in the broader vicinity; and
WHEREAS, the proposed legislation includes protections against conversions of existing buildings to lodging uses; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Bruce Harrell has convened stakeholders for input and is formulating a suite o...