AN ORDINANCE relating to land use and zoning; amending Seattle Municipal Code Section 23.47.012 to allow expansion of an existing administrative office use for a single entity with over 500,000 square feet of gross floor area within the Station Area Overlay District in the University District Northwest Urban Center Village.

WHEREAS, support for economic development is expressed in goals and policies in the Comprehensive Plan and in the adopted University Community Urban Center Neighborhood Plan; and

WHEREAS, this ordinance is consistent with City Council adopted Resolution 30605, recognizing the need for economic revitalization in the University District, directing the Executive to provide recommendations about ways to stimulate economic activity in the University District in support of the neighborhood businesses; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. Subsection B of Section 23.47.012 of the Seattle Municipal Code is amended, a new subsection D is added and the remaining subsections are relettered accordingly, which Section was last amended by Ordinance 121359, as follows:

23.47.012 Structure height and floor area ratio.

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B. Floor Area Ratios. Structures sixty-five (65) feet in height or less shall not be subject to floor area ratio provisions. Mixed use structures shall meet the standards for mixed use development, as described in Section 23.47.008.

1. Floor area ratios (FARs) shall apply to structures in zones with eighty-five (85) foot, one hundred twenty-five (125) foot and one hundred sixty (160) foot maximum height limits according to Chart C, except as provided by subsections B.2, B.3 and D of this section.

CHART C PERMITTED FLOOR AREA RATIO (FAR)

Height Limit Zones

Structures Higher than 65 Feet 85' 125' 160' Mixed-use structure total 6 6 7 Any single use within a mixed-use structure 4.5 5 5

Single-purpose structure total 4.5 5 5

2. The following FAR provisions apply to lots zoned NC3 with a one hundred and sixty (160) foot height limit and located within the First Hill Urban Village:

a. Residential floor area is exempt from FAR limits; and

b. The maximum FAR for nonresidential uses within mixed use structures is seven (7); and

c. The maximum FAR for nonresidential structures is five (5); except that the FAR may be increased to seven (7) when a structure's street front at street level is occupied by retail sales and service uses and meets the development standards for nonresidential uses as provided in subsections 23.47.008 B and C.

3. Within the Station Area Overlay District within the University District Northwest Urban Center Village, for office structures permitted prior to 1971, the area of the lot for purposes of calculating permitted FAR is the tax parcel created prior to the adoption of this ordinance on which the existing structure is located provided the office structure is to be part of a functionally related development occupied by a single entity with over five hundred thousand (500,000) square feet of area in office use. The floor area of above grade pedestrian access is exempt from the FAR calculations of this subsection.

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D. Within the Station Area Overlay District within the University District Northwest Urban Center Village, maximum structure height may be increased to one hundred twenty-five (125) feet and permitted FAR is eight (8) when all of the following are met:

1. The lot is within two (2) blocks of a planned or existing light rail station;

2. The proposed use of the lot is functionally related to other office development, permitted prior to 1971, to have over five hundred thousand (500,000) square feet of gross floor area to be occupied by a single entity;

3. A transportation management plan for the life of the use includes incentives for light rail and other transit use by the employees of the office use;

4. The development shall provide street level amenities for pedestrians and shall be designed to promote pedestrian interest, safety, and comfort through features such as landscaping, lighting and transparent facades, as determined by the Director; and

5. This subsection can be used only once per functionally related development.

Section 2. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force thirty (30) days from and after its approval by the Mayor, but if not approved and returned by the Mayor within ten (10) days after presentation, it shall take effect as provided by Municipal Code Section 1.04.020.

Passed by the City Council the ____ day of _________, 2005, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this _____ day of __________, 2005. _________________________________ President __________of the City Council

Approved by me this ____ day of _________, 2005. _________________________________ Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor

Filed by me this ____ day of _________, 2005. ____________________________________ City Clerk

June 23, 2005 version 2 ta