CB 121276 — Version 1 https://webapi.legistar.com/v1/seattle/Matters/17402/Texts/18780 Screen Reader Users: Make sure settings include reading strikethrough and underline font attributes. The City of Seattle Ordinance Council Bill ..title An ordinance relating to land use and zoning; amending Sections 23.45.506, 23.45.570, and 23.51.A.004 of the Seattle Municipal Code to modify development standards for institutions in multifamily zones. ..body Be it ordained by The City of Seattle as follows: Section 1. Section 23.45.506 of the Seattle Municipal Code, last amended by Ordinance 126157, is amended as follows: 23.45.506 Administrative conditional uses * * * C. Institutions other than public schools not meeting the development standards of Section 23.45.570((, Institutions,)) and Major Institution uses as provided in Chapter 23.69((,)) may be permitted subject to the following: 1. Bulk and ((Siting)) siting. In order to accommodate the special needs of the proposed institution, and to better site the facility with respect to its surroundings, the Director may modify the applicable development standards. In determining whether to allow such modifications, the Director shall balance the needs of the institution against the compatibility of the proposed institution with the residential scale and character of the surrounding area. ((2. Dispersion Criteria. An institution that does not meet the dispersion criteria of Section 23.45.570 may be permitted by the Director upon determination that it would not substantially worsen parking shortages, traffic safety hazards, and noise in the surrounding residential area. 3.)) 2. Noise. The Director may condition the permit in order to mitigate potential noise problems. Measures the Director may require for this purpose include, but are not limited to ((the following)) : landscaping, sound barriers, fences, berms, adjustments to yards or the location of refuse storage areas, location of parking areas and access, structural design modifications, and regulating hours of use. ((4.)) 3. Transportation ((Plan)) plan. A transportation plan is required for proposed new institutions and for those institutions proposing to expand larger than 4,000 square feet of floor area and/or required to provide 20 or more new parking spaces. The Director may condition a permit to mitigate potential traffic and parking impacts pursuant to a Transportation Management Plan or Program as described in directors rules governing such plans or programs. The Director will determine the level of detail to be disclosed in the transportation plan based on the probable impacts and/or scale of the proposed institution. * * * Section 2. Section 23.45.570 of the Seattle Municipal Code, last amended by Ordinance 126858, is amended as follows: 23.45.570�Institutions * * * B. Institutions located in LR, MR, and HR zones shall meet the development standards of the zone, ((of)) this Section 23.45.570, and other sections of Chapter 23.45 except as provided in Section 23.45.506, Chapter 23.51B, Chapter 23.69, and Chapter 23.79. ((Institutions located in MR and HR zones shall meet the development standards of the zone, and shall also meet the standards for parking, dispersion, and odors in subsections G, J, and H of this Section 23.45.570.)) In the event of conflict between the standards in this Section 23.45.570 and other sections of Chapter 23.45, the standards in this Section 23.45.570 shall control. C. Height limits in Lowrise zones((.)) 1. The height limit for institutions shall be the height limit for ((apartments)) stacked dwelling units in the applicable zone, except as provided in this subsection 23.45.570.C. 2. In LR1 ((and LR2)) zones, for gymnasiums, auditoriums, and wood shops that are accessory to an institution, the maximum permitted height is ((35)) 38 feet if all portions of the structure above the height limit of the zone are set back at least 20 feet from all lot lines. Pitched roofs on the auditorium, gymnasium or wood shop with a slope of not less than 4:12 may extend 10 feet above the ((35-foot)) 38-foot height limit. No portion of a shed roof on a gymnasium, auditorium or wood shop is permitted to extend beyond 35 feet. 3. In LR2 and LR3 zones, pitched roofs on an auditorium, gymnasium, or wood shop with a slope of not less than 4:12 may extend 10 feet above the height limit, except that no portion of a shed roof is permitted to extend beyond the height limit. D. Structure width in Lowrise zones((.)) 1. In LR1 and LR2 zones the maximum permitted width for structures in institutional use is 90 feet. 2. In LR3 zones ((The)) the maximum permitted width for structures in institutional use is 150 feet. ((in Lowrise zones is as shown in Table A for 23.45.570. Table A for 23.45.570: Width Limits for Institutions in Lowrise zones (repealed) Table A for 23.45.570: Width Limits for Institutions in Lowrise zones Zone Maximum Width Without Green Factor Maximum Width With Green Factor Lowrise 1 45 feet 75 feet Lowrise 2 45 feet 90 feet Lowrise 3 60 feet 150 feet 2. In order to achieve the maximum width permitted in each zone, institutional structures are required to reduce the appearance of bulk by providing landscaping that achieves a Green Factor score of .5 or greater, pursuant to the standards set forth in Section 23.86.019. E. Structure Depth in Lowrise zones. The maximum permitted depth of institutional structures is 65 percent of lot depth. F. Setback requirements in LR zones 1. Front setback. The average front setback is 10 feet, and the minimum front setback is 5 feet. 2. Rear setback. The minimum rear setback is 10 feet. 3. Side setback a. The minimum side setback is 5 feet. b. If the depth of a structure exceeds 65 feet, an additional side setback is required for that portion of the structure in excess of 65 feet, according to Table B for 23.45.570. In lieu of providing the additional setback for the portion of the structure in excess of 65 feet deep, a lesser side setback may be provided for the portion in excess of 65 feet deep if the average setback for the entire structure is no less than the average of the setback required by subsection 23.45.570.F.3.a and the setback required under Table B for 23.45.570. Table B for 23.45.570 Side setback requirements for institutional structures greater than 65 feet in depth in LR zones (repealed) Table B for 23.45.570 Side setback requirements for institutional structures greater than 65 feet in depth in LR zones Structure depth in feet Side setback requirement in feet Up to 20 in height Greater than 20 up to 40 in height Greater than 40 up to 60 in height Greater than 60 up to 80 in height Greater than 80 in height Up to 70 12 14 16 18 - Greater than 70, up to 80 13 15 17 19 21 Greater than 80, up to 90 14 16 18 20 22 Greater than 90, up to 100 15 17 19 21 23 Greater than 100 16 18 20 22 24 4. Setbacks for specific items. The following shall be located at least 20 feet from any abutting residentially zoned lot: a. Emergency entrances; b. Main entrance door of the institutional structure; c. Operable window of gymnasium, assembly hall, or sanctuary; d. Garbage and trash disposal mechanism; e. Kitchen ventilation; f. Air-conditioning or heating mechanism; g. Similar mechanisms and features causing noise and/or odors as determined by the Director. 5. Accessory structures and projections from principal structures are allowed in required setbacks on lots developed with institutional uses to the same extent that those accessory structures or projections would be allowed for apartments in the zone, except that no accessory structures other than freestanding walls, fences, bulkheads, or similar structures shall be closer than 10 feet to a side lot line abutting another lot in a residential zone.)) E. Landscaping 1. Landscaping that achieves a Green Factor score of 0.5 or greater, pursuant to Section 23.86.019, is required on any lot with: a. Development, either a new structure or an addition to an existing structure, containing more than 4,000 new square feet of non-residential uses; or b. Any parking lot containing more than 20 new parking spaces for automobiles. 2. All required trees shall meet standards promulgated by the Director to provide for the long-term health, viability, and coverage of plantings. These standards may include, but are not limited to, the type and size of plants, spacing of plants, depth, and quality of soil, access to light and air, and protection practices during construction. ((G.)) F. Parking 1. Parking quantity. Parking and loading is required pursuant to Section 23.54.015, except as modified by Section 23.54.020. 2. Location of parking. Parking areas and facilities may be located anywhere on the lot except in the required front setback or side street side setback or offsite according to Section 23.54.025. 3. Screening of surface parking areas. Surface parking areas for more than five vehicles shall be screened in accordance with the following requirements and the provisions of Section 23.45.524. a. Screening shall be provided on each side of the parking area that abuts, or faces across a street, alley, or access easement, a lot in a residential zone. b. Screening shall consist of a fence, solid evergreen hedge, or wall ((between 4 and 6)) at least 3 feet in height. ((Sight triangles must be provided. Fences surrounding sports fields/recreation areas may be 8 feet high. The Director may permit higher fencing when necessary for sports fields. c. The height of the visual barrier created by the screen required in subsection 23.45.570.G.3 shall be measured from street level. If the elevation of the lot line is different from the finished elevation of the parking surface, the difference in elevation may be measured as a portion of the required height of the screen, so long as the screen itself is a minimum of 3 feet in height. 4. Landscaping of surface parking. Accessory surface parking areas for more than 20 vehicles shall be landscaped according to the following requirements: a. One tree per every five parking spaces is required. b. Each required tree shall be planted in a landscaped area and shall be 3 feet away from any curb of a landscaped area or edge of the parking area. Permanent curbs or structural barriers shall protect landscaping, but may include openings to allow movement of stormwater. c. Hardy evergreen ground cover shall be planted to cover each landscaped area. d. The trees and landscaped areas shall be located within the parking area to break up large expanses of pavement and cars.)) ((H.)) G. Odors. The venting of odors, vapors, smoke, cinders, dust, gas, and fumes shall be at least ((ten)) 10 feet above finished sidewalk grade, and directed away to the extent possible from residential uses within 50 feet of the vent. ((I.)) H. Light and ((Glare.)) glare 1. Exterior lighting for institutions shall be shielded or directed away from principal structures on adjacent residential lots. 2. Poles for freestanding exterior lighting are permitted up to a maximum height of ((30)) 32 feet. Light poles for illumination of athletic fields on new and existing public school sites will be allowed to exceed ((30)) 32 feet pursuant to Chapter 23.51B((, Public schools)). I. The Director may allow, as a Type I decision, higher fencing in a required setback when necessary for sports fields. ((J. Dispersion. The lot line of any new or expanding institution other than child care centers shall be located 600 feet or more from any lot line of any other institution in a residential zone with the following exceptions: 1. An institution may expand even though it is within 600 feet of a public school if the public school is constructed on a new site subsequent to December 12, 1985. 2. A proposed institution may be located less than 600 feet from a lot line of another institution if the Director determines that the intent of dispersion is achieved due to the presence of physical elements such as bodies of water, large open spaces or topographical breaks, or other elements such as arterials, freeways, or nonresidential uses, that provide substantial separation from other institutions.)) Section 3. Section 23.51A.004 of the Seattle Municipal Code, last amended by Ordinance 127375, is amended as follows: 23.51A.004 Public facilities in multifamily zones * * * B. The following uses in public facilities are permitted outright in all multifamily zones if the development standards for institutions in Section 23.45.570((, other than dispersion requirements,)) are met, except as otherwise provided in subsection 23.51A.004.B.6: 1. Police precinct stations; 2. Fire stations; 3. Public boat moorages; 4. Utility service uses; 5. Other uses similar to any of the uses listed in this subsection 23.51A.004.B; and 6. Youth service centers existing as of January 1, 2013, in public facilities operated by King County in an LR3 zone within a regional center and replacement, additions or expansions to such King County public facilities. For youth service centers, the development standards for institutions in Section 23.45.570 apply, and subsection((s)) 23.45.570.D ((and 23.45.570.F)) relating to structure width ((and setbacks)) may be waived or modified by the Director as a Type II decision. The Director's decision to waive or modify standards shall be based on a finding that the waiver or modification is needed to accommodate unique programming, public service delivery, or structural needs of the facility and that the following urban design objectives are met. The Director's decision shall include conditions to mitigate all substantial impacts caused by such a waiver or modification. a. Objective 1: Create visual interest along and activate each street frontage. Examples for achieving this objective include, but are not limited to, the following: 1) Incorporate prominent entrances and other features that welcome pedestrians; 2) Add visual interest using architectural detailing of the facade, transparency, decorative materials, or design features; and 3) Use signage consistent with Chapter 23.55 that helps orient pedestrians and adds interest to the street environment. b. Objective 2: Create a continuous pedestrian environment along each frontage of the development in LR3. Examples for achieving this objective include, but are not limited to, the following: 1) Incorporate shade and rain protection, such as awnings, building overhangs, benches, freestanding pavilions, or kiosks; 2) Where site dimensions and program conditions allow, provide a landscaped setback between the structure and sidewalk; and 3) Design new or existing bus stops to integrate transit shelters, benches, and decorative treatments with the adjacent facade. c. Objective 3: Address the bulk and scale of the building by design treatments that transition to the scale of nearby development. Examples for achieving this objective include, but are not limited to, the following: 1) Break down the apparent scale of the building and reduce the impact of blank walls by using modulation or decorative facade elements, such as material, shape, color, architectural detailing, painting, screening, artwork, or vegetated walls; and 2) Use landscaped setbacks where appropriate. * * * This ordinance shall take effect as provided by Seattle Municipal Code Sections 1.04.020 and 1.04.070. Passed by the City Council and signed in open session in authentication of its passage on . President of the City Council on . Katie B. Wilson, Mayor Attested on . Scheereen Dedman, City Clerk Seal LEG MF Institutions ORD Ketil Freeman D1b 2 Template last revised April 2, 2026 DEPT Short Name of Legislation ORD Author's Name V1 2