City of Seattle

Department of Construction and Inspections  Nathan Torgelson, Director

CITY OF SEATTLE ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTIONS Project Number: 3023261 Clerk File Number: 314346 Applicant: University of Washington Address of Proposal: 4000 15

th

 Avenue NE SUMMARY OF PROPOSAL

Council Land Use Action to adopt a new Major Institution Master Plan for the University of Washington Seattle Campus. A rezone is required for a modification to MIO height limits. The  proposal includes potential development of six million square feet. An Environmental Impact Statement has been prepared by the University of Washington. The following decisions are required:

1.

 

Adoption of a Major Institution Master Plan

 – 

 SMC 23.69.006.B 2.

 

Amendments to the MIO Height Designations

 – 

SMC 23.34 3.

 

Substantive SEPA Review

 – 

 SMC 25.05

SEPA - Substantive decision (to approve, condition or deny based on SEPA policies) Pursuant to SEPA substantive authority provided in SMC 25.05.660, the proposal is recommended subject to compliance with the conditions identified below.

 

Project No. 3023261

 

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2

 

CONTENTS I.

 

INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................5

 

A.

 

Existing Conditions ...............................................................................................5

 

B.

 

MIO Height District Changes ...............................................................................6

 

C.

 

Campus Plan Overview.........................................................................................7

 

D.

 

Public Comment....................................................................................................9

 

E.

 

CUCAC Recommendations and SDCI Responses .............................................10

 

II.

 

ADOPTION OF A MAJOR INSTITUTION MASTER PLAN - ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ....................................................................................18

 

A.

 

Agreement between the City of Seattle and The University of Washington ......18

 

B.

 

City of Seattle Comprehensive Plan: Policies relating to Major Institutions .....21

 

1.

 

Transportation .........................................................................................21

 

2.

 

Housing ...................................................................................................23

 

3.

 

Open Space .............................................................................................25

 

4.

 

Design .....................................................................................................28

 

5.

 

Community Involvement ........................................................................33

 

6.

 

Historic Preservation ...............................................................................34

 

7.

 

Community Involvement ........................................................................35

 

8.

 

Zoning .....................................................................................................35

 

9.

 

Transportation .........................................................................................36

 

10.

 

Housing ...................................................................................................38

 

III.

 

AMENDMENTS TO THE MIO HEIGHT DESIGNATIONS (SMC 23.34)

 – 

 ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ...............................................................39

 

A.

 

Part One Analysis - General Rezone Criteria ....................................................39

 

B.

 

Part Two Analysis

 – 

 MIO Criteria ......................................................................55

 

 

Project No. 3023261

 

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IV.

 

OTHER ISSUES ...........................................................................................................60

 

A.

 

Supreme Court Decision .....................................................................................60

 

B.

 

Shoreline Public Access Plan..............................................................................64

 

C.

 

Street Vacations and Skybridges ........................................................................67

 

V.

 

SEPA- ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ..................................................68

 

A.

 

Procedural SEPA (University of Washington) ...................................................68

 

B.

 

Substantive SEPA (Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections) .........68

 

1.

 

Short-Term Impacts ................................................................................69

 

a.

 

Construction Impacts ..................................................................69

 

 b.

 

Air Quality- Greenhouse Gas Emissions ....................................70

 

c.

 

Environmental Health .................................................................71

 

2.

 

Long-Term Impacts ................................................................................71

 

a.

 

Greenhouse Gas Emissions .........................................................71

 

 b.

 

Earth ............................................................................................71

 

c.

 

Energy .........................................................................................72

 

d.

 

Height, Bulk and Scale ...............................................................73

 

e.

 

Cultural Resources ......................................................................74

 

f.

 

Historic Resources ......................................................................75

 

g.

 

Housing .......................................................................................76

 

h.

 

Land Use

 – 

 Relationship to Plans/Policies/Regulations .............76

 

i.

 

Light/Glare ..................................................................................77

 

 j.

 

Wetlands and Plants/Animals .....................................................78

 

k.

 

Drainage, Water Quality, Public Services, and Public Facilities ......................................................................................78

 

l.

 

Public Views ...............................................................................81