VOLUME 1:

Dra� Environmental Impact Statement

APRIL 2018

PREPARED FOR

City of Seale Department of Construc�on and Inspec�ons

IN COOPERATION WITH

Seale Center, Office of Economic Development, and Seale Department of Transpora�on

PREPARED BY

Environmental Science Associates

SEATTLE CENTER ARENARENOVATION PROJECT

 

 

700 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2000 | PO Box 34019 | Seattle, WA 98124-4019 | 206-684-8600 | seattle.gov/sdci

April 23, 2018 Seattle Center Arena Renovation Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement Dear Affected Agencies, Organizations, and Interested Parties: The City of Seattle (City) is proposing to renovate the existing KeyArena at Seattle Center to provide a modern multi-purpose entertainment and sports center that will host concerts, sporting events, family shows, community-oriented events, and numerous other events, and that could accommodate a professional National Hockey League (NHL) and/or National Basketball Association (NBA) franchise. The proposal would also continue to accommodate current uses including the Seattle Storm Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) franchise. For the purposes of this EIS, the renovated arena is referred to as the “Seattle Center Arena.” The Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) is the Lead Agency under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) for the proposal and has prepared this Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) to analyze potential environmental impacts resulting from the proposed renovation of KeyArena. Seattle Center, the Office of Economic Development (OED), and Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) are consulting agencies and partners in the EIS process for the Seattle Center Arena Renovation Project. The City proposes to enter into a lease and development agreement with a private developer, Oak View Group, LLC (OVG), who would design and obtain permits for the renovation and operation of the arena during the lease term. The scope of this Draft EIS has been determined in accordance with the Seattle SEPA Ordinance (SMC 25.05). A public notice was issued on September 7, 14, and 18, 2017, stating that the project would require an EIS and inviting public and agency comment on the scope of the Draft EIS. On September 28, 2017, a public meeting was held at Seattle Center to provide opportunity for the public to discuss and identify probable significant environmental impacts that should be addressed in the Draft EIS. A total of 41 comment letters and oral testimonies were received during the scoping period and were used by SCDI to inform the issues and alternatives evaluated in the Draft EIS. Three alternatives are analyzed in this Draft EIS, including the No Action Alternative, Alternative 1: The Oak View Group (OVG) Proposal, and Alternative 2: Modified Proposal. The Draft EIS describes the affected environment, potential impacts of the three alternatives, and mitigation measures for the following topics: land use, transportation, earth, historic and cultural resources, recreation, noise and vibration, visual resources, air quality and greenhouse gases, public services and utilities, plants, and cumulative impacts. Key environmental issues are primarily related to potential construction and operations impacts to traffic and transportation, as well as historic and cultural resources, noise and vibration, and visual resources. The City is requesting review and comment on this Draft EIS from members of the public, organizations, and local, state, and federal agencies. The City will consider all comments provided during the 45-day comment period on the Draft EIS, which ends on June 7, 2018. A public hearing will be held on May 14,