The Department of Planning and Development (DPD) is proposing to amend the Land Use Code (Title 23) to create a Living Building Pilot Program to assist projects in attempting to meet the requirements of the Living Building Challenge. The Living Building Challenge is a green building rating system created by the International Living Building Institute to recognize buildings meeting the highest level of sustainability. The Living Building Challenge requires buildings to meet a series of prerequisites relating to site, energy, materials, water, indoor quality, and beauty and inspiration. The Pilot Program would accept up to 12 projects over a 3-year period. All projects accepted into the program would undergo full design review through the existing design review process pursuant to Chapter 23.41. The scope and criteria for design review departures would be modified to allow, to the extent that Code departures may be necessary, the Board to recommend an expanded range of departures from Code requirements including: limited departures from permitted accessory uses, height, and floor area ratio (FAR). In recommending departures, the board must find that the project meets design guidelines and the goals of the Living Building Challenge.

ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION

DPD has determined that the amendments described above will not have a significant adverse environmental impact, and has issued a Determination of Non-Significance (no Environmental Impact Statement required).

HOW TO COMMENT

This DNS is issued under WAC 197-11-340(2); DPD will not act on this proposal until the end of the comment period. Comments must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. November 19, 2009. Comments should be sent via email to brennon.staley@seattle.gov, or by mail to:

Brennon Staley, Urban Planner
Department of Planning and Development
P.O. Box 34019
Seattle, WA 98124-4019

HOW TO APPEAL

Appeals of the decision to issue a Determination of Non-Significance (DNS) must be submitted to the Office of the Hearing Examiner by 5:00 p.m. November 30, 2009. Appeals should be addressed to the Hearing Examiner and must be accompanied by a $50.00 filing fee in a check payable to the City of Seattle. The appeal must be sent to:

City of Seattle
Hearing Examiner
PO Box 94729
Seattle WA 98124-4729

INFORMATION AVAILABLE

Copies of the DNS and the proposal may be obtained at the DPD Public Resource Center, 700 5th Avenue, Suite 2000 in the Seattle Municipal Tower and on DPD’s website at www.seattle.gov/dpd. The Public Resource Center is open 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday. Questions regarding the proposal may be directed to Brennon Staley at (206) 684-4625 or via email at brennon.staley@seattle.gov.