Form revised February 6, 2008

 

 

FISCAL NOTE FOR NON-CAPITAL PROJECTS

 

Department:

Contact Person/Phone:

DOF Analyst/Phone:

Legislative

Rebecca Herzfeld/684-8148

Michael Jenkins/615-1674

Not Applicable

 

Legislation Title:

AN ORDINANCE related to land use and zoning, amending Seattle Municipal Code (SMC)  Title 23 Sections 23.02.020, 23.34.024, 23.34.028, 23.42.042, 23.42.124, 23.42.130, 23.44.006, 23.44.017, 23.44.022, 23.44.036, 23.44.041, 23.45.002, 23.45.004, 23.45.005, 23.45.006, 23.45.009, 23.45.014, 23.45.050, 23.45.052, 23.45.056, 23.45.059, 23.45.060, 23.45.068, 23.45.082, 23.45.090, 23.45.106, 23.45.108, 23.45.110, 23.45.116, 23.45.144, 23.45.148, 23.45.152, 23.47A.004, 23.47A.006, 23.54.015, 23.54.020, 23.54.030, 23.57.011, 23.58A.004, 23.58A.013, 23.58A.014, 23.69.022, 23.84A.006, 23.84A.025, 23.84A.032, 23.86.019, 23.90.018, 23.90.020, 23.91.002, and 25.05.675 in Title 25; consolidating the regulations for public facilities and public schools in new chapters of the Code, 23.51A and 23.51B; adding new sections 23.45.502, 23.45.504, 23.45.506, 23.45.508, 23.45.510, 23.45.516, 23.45.522, 23.45.524, 23.45.526, 23.58A.016 and 23.58A.018; and repealing Sections 23.45.007, 23.45.047, 23.45.048, 23.45.054, 23.45.057, 23.45.058, 23.45.064, 23.45.066, 23.45.068, 23.45.070, 23.45.072, 23.45.073, 23.45.074, 23.45.075, 23.45.076, 23.45.080, 23.45.088, 23.45.092, 23.45.094, 23.45.096, 23.45.098, 23.45.100, 23.45.102, 23.45.112, 23.45.122, 23.45.124, 23.45.126, 23.45.128, 23.45.140, 23.45.142, 23.45.146, 23.45.150, 23.45.154, 23.45.160, 23.45.162, 23.45.164, and 23.45.166, and all the exhibits in these sections; in order to support multifamily housing, implement Comprehensive Plan and Neighborhood Plan policies, to adopt an affordable housing incentive program, to add provisions for open space and landmarks incentives, and to promote the general health, safety and welfare.

 

Summary of the Legislation:

The legislation would amend the Multifamily Chapter of the Land Use Code to further the goals and policies of the City's Comprehensive Plan and Neighborhood Plans.  The legislation substantially revises the regulations for Midrise and Highrise zones.  It also reorganizes the Multifamily Chapter to clarify and simplify the Code, and to prepare for future revisions to the Lowrise zones, which are scheduled for 2010.  Key amendments would:

ˇ         Revise the development standards for Midrise and Highrise zones;

ˇ         Add rooftop height exceptions in all multifamily zones to encourage sustainable features, such as wind energy power generators;

ˇ         Add incentive zoning options for Midrise and Highrise zones, including bonus height and floor area for affordable housing, public open space, green street setbacks, and landmark preservation;

ˇ         Simplify the Code by combining the rules for public schools in single family and multifamily zones into a single new chapter, consolidating the use provisions in multifamily zones into a chart, and making similar improvements; and

ˇ         Amend several other sections of the Land Use Code to correct cross-references and update definitions.

 

Background: 

The current multifamily zoning was originally adopted in 1982.  Since then, the zoning has been incrementally amended over the years, adding additional layers of requirements and procedures, some of which have become redundant, unnecessary, or outdated.  These conditions add to the cost of development and work against Comprehensive and Neighborhood Plan goals for affordable housing, design excellence, and sustainable development.  The proposed legislation is Phase 1 of a two-phase effort to amend the Multifamily Chapter of the Land Use Code to address these issues.

 

 

____    This legislation does not have any financial implications. 

 

___X_ This legislation has financial implications. 

 

This legislation would generate a minimal amount of additional fee revenues, which would offset minimal additional work for permit review staff in the Department of Planning and Development and the Seattle Department of Transportation.

 

ˇ         What is the financial cost of not implementing the legislation? 

 

If floor area bonus provisions are not enacted, the City will receive less funding for affordable housing.

 

ˇ         What are the possible alternatives to the legislation that could achieve the same or similar objectives

 

Alternatives to the proposal that would achieve the same or similar objectives would likely result in similar or greater impacts on the amount of time required to review projects under the new standards.

 

ˇ         Is the legislation subject to public hearing requirements: 

 

The City Council is required to hold a public hearing on the proposal. The Council will conduct a public hearing on November 30, 2009.