News roundup: Development, volunteers needed for Design Review Boards and zoning advisory committee, plus comment period extended for environmental review of ADU/Backyard Cottages proposal

by | Nov 10, 2017

A brick duplex on the corner of NW 70th Street and 6th Avenue NW will be demolished and replaced by seven three-story rowhouses, according to a Department of Construction and Inspections. The project includes seven parking spaces. The project at 515 NW 70th St. will undergo environmental review. You can comment on project 3028381 by emailing [email protected].

The former Walgreens parking lot on Greenwood Avenue North just north of 87th Street is now a paid parking lot.

According to Eater Seattle, Cedar River Brewing is leaving its Phinney Ridge location and owner-brewer Jeff James will take a break before looking for a new location in South Seattle. The sake brewery is currently at 7410-B Greenwood Ave. N., below Opus Co., and in the spot where Lantern Brewing first started before moving to a much larger facility at 938 N. 95th St.

Seattle’s Design Review Boards are looking for 15 new members throughout the city to help evaluate the design of new buildings based on citywide and neighborhood-specific design guidelines. The boards review large mixed-use developments, multifamily housing and commercial projects. The volunteer positions start on April 4, 2018. You can download an application here, and then email it with a cover letter and resume by Dec. 15 to Lisa Rutzick at [email protected].

The city has extended its comment period for its environmental review process on Accessory Dwelling Units/Backyard Cottages.

What are we proposing?

ADUs are small, secondary dwelling units inside, attached to, or in the rear yard of a single-family house. The objectives of our proposal are to:
• make it easier for property owners to permit and build ADUs and backyard cottages
• increase the number and variety of housing choices available in single-family zones
• encourage creation of small-scale, family-friendly homes affordable to a range of households

The proposal we’re studying involves allowing both an attached and detached ADU on the same lot, removing the existing off-street parking and owner-occupancy requirements, and changing some development standards that regulate the size and location of backyard cottages. Based on a decision from the City’s Hearing Examiner in December 2016, this EIS will review the potential environmental impacts of the proposal.

Click here for more information and to comment online.

Seattle Department of Neighborhoods is looking for volunteers to help advise on Seattle Public Schools’ request for a zoning modification to reduce setbacks for field lighting at the new Robert Eagle Staff Middle School at 1330 N. 90th St.

The committee will convene up to three public meetings at Robert Eagle Staff Middle School (1330 N 90th St.) over a three-month period. The committee will receive briefings from the School District, and gather and evaluate public comment on the departure request. Following these meetings, the committee will make a recommendation to the Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections (SDCI) to either grant or deny the requested modification. The committee may also recommend relevant conditions to be applied to granting the change to minimize its impacts on the surrounding neighborhood. SDCI will make the final decision.

Those who can apply to the committee are neighbors who live or own a business within 600’ of Robert Eagle Staff Middle School, residents in the surrounding neighborhood, representatives of city-wide education issues, PTO members and parents of the school. Other committee members will include a representative from the School District and City of Seattle.

To apply, please send a letter of interest by either e-mail or regular mail by Thursday, November 30 to:

Maureen Sheehan
Seattle Department of Neighborhoods
PO Box 94649
Seattle, WA 98124-4649
Email: [email protected]

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