Light Rail Expansion Code Updates - What & Why

What Is Happening Now?

SDCI is proposing to update the Land Use Code to facilitate Sound Transit’s light rail expansion. These code amendments will define clear and consistent regulations for the construction of future light rail transit facilities in Seattle from West Seattle to Ballard.

Our proposed amendments update, clarify, and revise the codes that will be applied to future light rail transit facility permits. The updated codes will provide more detailed requirements and help streamline the permitting process for the new light rail facilities. 

The major elements of our proposed code are:

1. Create new development standards for light rail transit facilities, including the:
   1. Design quality of buildings
   2. Landscaping
   3. Accessibility
   4. Lighting
   5. Weather protection
   6. Signage
   7. Size of streets and sidewalks
2. Establish an advisory review process by the Seattle Design Commission (SDC) to evaluate light rail transit facility design proposals. SDC will then make recommendations to Sound Transit and City Departments about the proposals’ aesthetic, urban design, and functional qualities. 
3. Clarify and streamline permit processes, including:
   1. Facility permits defined as “Type I” Master Use Permit reviews, will maintain public notice and comment periods, and can be appealed to Superior Court for temporary use and station permits to streamline the permitting and construction process and avoid procedural delays.
   2. Other permit reviews will be modified to be more focused on standards specific to light rail transit facilities to make the reviews easier to complete in a timely manner. Our proposed changes to Chapter 23.80 of the Land Use Code will allow permit decisions to focus on relevant topics of design and public access. These updates also confirm the City’s authority to define conditions of approval, or code flexibility if it is needed.
4.  Clarify and streamline the content of review for an environmentally critical area (ECA) exception permit. This allows the applicant to provide the most relevant information for a light rail project. This change will allow the applicant the  flexibility to provide an environmentally protective outcome that varies from fully meeting all ECA code requirements.  
5. Define a “tree and vegetation management plan” requirement for project segments of the light rail system development. The proposal defines a new requirement for light rail transit facility construction to create a project-wide tree and vegetation management plan that accounts for tree management before, during, and after construction.
6. Clarify a one-year review step for a construction noise variance for light rail transit facilities construction. This would maintain the appeal opportunity for the initial decision on the construction noise variance.
7. Amend existing minimum bicycle parking requirements and add new shared scooter and bike share minimum parking requirements. This proposed change defines both opening day and future parking requirements, according to different types of stations: terminus, local, mid-center, and center types. A new proposed code requirement would call for  a variety of parking to account for various types of bicycles.

Project Benefits

This legislation will:

• Allow SDCI to review light rail transit facility permits more efficiently and with clearly defined requirements.
• Specify the standards and process for the Master Use Permits necessary to construct the West Seattle and Ballard Link Extension projects. Streamline the permit review process, maintain public notice and project awareness, and reduce risk in light rail transit facilities’ project schedule.
• Increase overall transportation mobility (transit, reliability, coverage and connections) and limit overall traffic congestion.
• Support the ‘growth centers connected by transit’ themes in Seattle and regional development plans, including “transit-oriented development” around station areas (very efficient use of land).
• Supports affordable housing, economic growth, and development.  

The End Result

Once passed, this legislation supports the development of light rail transit facilities to expand service from West Seattle to Ballard.