Seattle Sun Newspaper - Vol. 8, Issue 1, January 2004
Copyright 2003 Seattle Sun. Please feel free to use the article below in your research. Be sure to cite the Seattle Sun as your source.
Land Use
By CLAYTON PARK
DCLU changes name to DPD
The Seattle Department of Design, Construction and Land Use changed its name to Department of Planning and Development on Oct. 26.
The reason: to reflect the department's broadened mission, which now includes long-range planning, in addition to continuing its regulatory roles, reviewing and approving construction projects and enforcing housing and zoning standards.
It isn't the first time that the department has changed its name. When it was formed in 1889, it was called the department of "Buildings, Bridges and Wharves," which was, within only a few years, shortened to the "Building Department." In 1980, it was renamed the "Department of Construction and Land Use" or DCLU. The word "design" was added to the department's title in 1999 when the department's mission was expanded "to confirm the value the community places on high-quality design," according to the department's monthly newsletter.
Today, the department has a staff of 348 workers and issues 23,000 permits annually. Each year, DPD staff make 80,000 inspections and process 4,600 code compliance complaints. The department's budget for 2003 was $45 million.
The department's Web site address is now www.seattle.gov/dpd.
Ravenna tavern planned
Terranomics, the owner of the Third Place Books store in the Ravenna neighborhood that opened earlier this year, has applied for a master use permit to change the use of a 1,500-square-foot storage space to a tavern in the basement of an existing commercial building at 6500 20th Ave. NE. The public may submit written comments regarding the application to the Department of Planning and Development through Dec. 24. For more information, call Lucas DeHerrera of DPD at 615-0724.
Fremont apartment building
The City approved a master use permit on Dec. 11 to change the use of a substation at 3619 Albion Place N. in the Fremont neighborhood to a 17-unit apartment building. The project includes a two-story addition atop portions of the existing building and parking for 21 cars at and below grade. Appeals of this decision must be received by the Hearing Examiner no later than Dec. 25. For details, call Paul Janos of DPD at 233-7195.
Stoneway QFC gets green light
Quality Food Centers received a master use permit on Dec. 8 that will allow the supermarket chain to build a 35,000-square-foot QFC with 26 residential units above the store at 3920 Stone Way N. The project will include parking for 150 cars below grade and for six cars at grade. An existing building that formerly housed a Safeway store will be demolished to make way for the new construction. Appeals of this decision must by received by the Hearing Examiner no later than Dec. 22. For details, call Bruce Rips of DPD at 615-1392.
Maple Leaf cell tower
AT&T Wireless Services Inc. submitted an application on Dec. 4 for a master use permit that would allow the company to install a cell phone tower that would have 12 panel antennas at 8620 Roosevelt Way NE in the Maple Leaf neighborhood. For details, call Tamara Garrett of DPD at 684-0976.
Church to expand
The Center for Spiritual Living, located at 5801 Sand Point Way NE, received a master use permit on Dec. 4 that will allow it to remodel its existing building and construct a 59,495-square-foot addition. The project will include additional parking for 70 cars that will give the church a total of 195 parking spaces. Three accessory structures will be demolished to make way for the new construction. For details, call Christopher Ndifon of DPD at 684-5046.
Golden Gardens improvements
The City granted a shoreline substantial development permit on Dec. 4 to the Parks Department that will allow existing paved walkways next to the bathhouse at Golden Gardens Park to be widened. The project will include creation of new paved walkways and seat walls. The deadline for appealing the decision to the Washington State Shoreline Hearings Board is Dec. 25. For details, call Lucas DeHerrera of DPD at 615-0724.
Ravenna mixed-use project
An application was submitted on Nov. 27 for a master-use permit to construct a three-story mixed-use building at 4915 25th Ave. NE in the Ravenna neighborhood. The proposed building would include 40,000 square feet of administrative office space on the first and second floors and 16 apartment units on the top floor. Parking for 100 cars would be provided on two below-grade levels. For details, call Bruce Rips of DPD at 615-1392.
Wallingford subdivision
An application was submitted on Nov. 27 for a master-use permit to subdivide a single parcel at 4412 Burke Ave. N. in the Wallingford neighborhood into four unit lots. A separate application has also been filed that would allow for the construction of townhouses on each of the subdivided lots. For details, call Cheryl Mosteller of DPD at 684-5048.
Broadview subdivision
An application was submitted on Nov. 27 for a master-use permit to subdivide a single parcel at 306 N. 133rd St. in the Broadview neighborhood into four unit lots. A separate application has also been filed that would allow for the construction of townhouses on each of the subdivided lots. For details, call Leslie Clark of DPD at 684-3151.
Green Lake cottages
A developer has submitted a preliminary proposal to build a cottage housing development of up to 21 units with accessory parking at 8016 Ashworth Ave. N, just north of Green Lake. The site is zoned Single Family 5000, meaning that only houses of 5,000 square feet or less are currently allowed in that area. For details, call Scott Kemp of DPD at 233-3866.