Public Safety: Concerns about public safety, particularly in the Commercial Core and Pioneer Square areas of downtown Seattle continue to be a priority for our members. The BOMA Public Safety Task Force (PSTF) has been focused on ways to improve the environment around our member buildings.
One item has been the challenges that will be faced by transit riders. King County Metro announced that they will be adding 36 new Transit Security Officers (TSOs) for on-coach deployment; and 6 additional Transit Security Officers will be part of a 12-month pilot program to improve response times when Metro’s first-line supervisors request support. BOMA will track the effectiveness of these programs and continue to interact with Metro to provide public safety resources.
Look for BOMA’s public safety survey coming out in a few weeks. This is the third annual survey we have done. The information gathered has helped us form our strategies and our messaging to policy makers. Also, we encourage you all to continue to use BOMA’s Public Safety Incident report. This information is very important for us to use to educate our elected officials. Land Use Code
Last month the Seattle City Council passed an ordinance that will temporarily expand the types of uses that can locate in downtown storefronts to help fill vacancies and promote active streets. While in place, a property or business owner could apply for a permit to establish a type of use that is not normally allowed.
The legislation includes the following:
New types of uses at the street level. Currently, only the most “active” types of uses (e.g., retail and bars/restaurants) and a few types of cultural and community facilities (e.g., libraries and childcare) are allowed at street level downtown. The proposal would allow more types of uses, including art installations, co-working spaces, community centers, and medical offices, among others.
Temporary flexibility to support recovery. The proposed ordinance would be in place for 12 months, the maximum amount of time allowed under state law for temporary/interim land use regulations that are proposed with a work plan.
Duration of permit. The proposal is to treat these permits like any other and allow the use to remain after the temporary rules expire. The permitted uses would become nonconforming, meaning they could stay in perpetuity but not expand at street-level. This would allow a tenant to recuperate over time the costs of obtaining permits and making improvements.
Where the temporary flexibility would apply. The proposal would apply to areas Downtown with street-level use restrictions, including the Retail Core (between Virginia and University) and in Belltown (along 1st/2nd/3rd Ave). There would be a custom Director’s Report approach for the Special Review District in Pioneer Square, which is an historic district.
BOMA requested that SDCI expedite tenant improvement permits for these uses and that was included. The ordinance also includes a schedule for the preparation of permanent land use regulations.
Print Page
Email to a Friend
