Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell signed a bill exempting certain development projects in the city’s downtown core from the full design review process, aiming to boost housing, employment opportunities, and general economic activity. The legislation, part of the Mayor’s Downtown Activation Plan (DAP), is expected to trim down six to nine months off the project planning and construction timeline, by waiving the design review requirement for the next three years, according to the information from the City of Seattle Official Website.
Addressing business leaders and developers, Harrell highlighted the move as a means to revitalize Seattle’s downtown core as a safe, active, and vibrant environment, conducive to families, workers, and visitors alike. Embodied in the DAP, the exemption strategically facilitates the growth of the city’s residential and economic sectors by streamlining processes that have traditionally acted as stumbling blocks. While design aesthetics will take a back seat, projects must still adhere to codes and regulations set forth by the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections.
The exemption targets new residential, hotel, and research & development projects located in the downtown core and extends to surrounding neighborhoods like South Lake Union and First Hill, among others. The abridged process does not mean developers have the green light to bypass safety; proposals will undertake separate permitting checks to ensure compliance with land use, building codes, and health and safety requirements, as noted by the City of Seattle Official Website…