The Seattle School District submitted a request for a departure from certain Seattle Municipal Code Development Standards to accommodate the construction/placement of 4 portable classrooms. The project would reduce the number of parking spaces on site from 191 to 161 and would allow 12 bicycle parking spaces without weather protection, also a departure from code.

Those departures have been recommended  with conditions by the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods.

Full Decision Here

The city initiated the Development Standard Departure Process, pursuant to SMC 23.45.504 and 23.79. The Code requires that the Department of Neighborhoods (DON) convene a Development Standard Advisory Committee (hereinafter referred to as “the Committee”) when the School District proposes a departure from the development standards identified under the Code. These standards are popularly referred to as the “zoning code.”

The purpose of the Committee is 1) to gather public comment and evaluate the proposed departures for consistency with the objectives and intent of the City’s land use policies to ensure that the proposed facility is compatible with the character and use of its surroundings; and 2) to develop a report and recommendation to the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) from DON. (SMC 23.79.008)

As noted above, due to public health mandates on social distancing and limited gatherings related to COVID-19, the Seattle City Council approved legislation on Monday, April 27, 2020 to keep key projects safely moving forward by suspending public meeting requirements.

While this ordinance is in effect, in lieu of the committee holding public meetings, DON staff will accept written public comment and the Director of DON will make a recommendation to SDCI, taking into consideration the public's comments.

Following completion of the Recommendation Report and its transmittal to SDCI, the Director of SDCI will issue a decision. The Director of SDCI will consider the recommendations and will determine the extent of departure from established development standards which may be allowed, as well as identify all mitigating measures which may be required. The Director’s decision is appealable.

In order to accommodate the educational program for this project, the district requested the following departures from development standards found in the land use code. The departure requests are further outlined in the applicant presentation found in the electronic public file under the project number.

Public Comment

The public comment period began via a press release issued by DON on January 19, 2023. The press release was sent to media outlets, and postcards soliciting for public comments were mailed to nearby neighbors and addresses within approximately 600 feet of the school property. DON also created a webpage where the public could submit their comments and instructed SPS to post signs about the public comment period at the perimeter of the school property. The departure information and public comment notice was also published in the City’s Land Use Information Bulletin (LUIB) at DON request. The public comment period ran through February 17, 2023. The comments are included at the end of the DON recommendation posted on the DON website and this project record.

Departure #1 for Parking Quantity (Automobile) SMC 23.54.015 

Vehicle parking numbers are calculated by public assembly areas in schools. The code and previous SDCI decision require 191 automobile parking spaces. SPS proposes 161 automobile parking spaces for a departure of 30 spaces.

DON received several comments opposing or expressing concern about this requested departure. Nearby neighbors raised concerns over the potential increased demand for on-street parking due to the displacement of on-site parking if four new portable classrooms are installed. SPS noted in their response letter to the public comments that they hired Heffron Transportation to perform and document a detailed on-street parking study (Heffron, 2023) using the City of Seattle’s methodology. The city recommends use of this methodology to document the number and type of on-street parking spaces that may exist within a defined study area.

The study area for the on-street parking utilization analysis included all roadways within an 800- foot walking distance from the school site, which is the study area typically required by the city for analyses of this type. The parking supply was inventoried for three representative weekday periods: early morning (7:00 am) when residents are typically home and some school staff may begin arriving, but before most students arrive; mid-morning (10:30 am) when students and staff are at school; and evening (7:30 pm) when some school events may occur.

The study area showed a parking utilization rate of 54% to 61%, confirming there is ample on street parking capacity available to accommodate demand resulting from increased enrollment and displacement of on-site parking spaces due to the addition of portable classrooms. A utilization rate above 80% begins to indicate that parking is heavily used.

DON also received comments suggesting an alternative location for the portable classrooms, including the grass field to the south of the school. SPS noted in their response letter that the Land Use decision dated March 23, 2000, (the Master Use Permit (MUP) application for the 2002 expansion of West Seattle High School) states the playfield (open space) located at the southernmost portion of the site shall be retained indefinitely; thus, this location is not an option to place portable classrooms.

And finally, DON received several comments expressing concerns related to parking access for the disabled, elderly and service providers, specifically in front of the residential structures where they live or provide services. SPS noted in their response letter that residents may request Residential Disabled Parking Zone permits from SDOT. SPS also stated it would not object to 

neighbors petitioning SDOT to establish new parking restrictions (for example, short-term parking limits for some curbside spaces during school hours) for certain locations, and/or to designate some spaces for commercial load/unload purposes only.

The Transportation Technical Report by Heffron Transportation (Heffron, 2023) and the Director’s Decision (March 2000) concerning a Master Use Permit application for the West Seattle High School project are in the project file as appendices to the DON recommendation.

After consideration of the public comments received and SPS’ response, DON recommends:

Recommendation #1 – That the departure to allow reduced vehicular parking quantity be GRANTED as requested by Seattle Public Schools with the following conditions:

1. 1)  Transportation Management Plan (TMP): [School Transportation Management Plan] SPS and the principal of West Seattle High School should establish a TMP [STMP] to educate families about the challenges of parking, and encourage faculty, students, and staff to travel to and from school by walking, biking, carpooling, or taking public transportation. Staff and students should also be considerate not to block or partially block any residential driveways with parked or stopped vehicles.

2. 2)  Residential Disabled Parking Zone: SPS should encourage homeowners to consider requesting a Residential Disabled Parking Zone permit from SDOT and petitioning SDOT to establish appropriate new parking restrictions.

3. 3)  Neighborhood Communication Plan for School Events: SPS and West Seattle High School administration should develop a neighborhood communication plan to inform nearby neighbors of large events each year. The plan should be updated annually (or as events are scheduled) and provide information about the dates, times, and magnitude of large-attendance events. The communication would be intended to allow neighbors to plan for occasional increases in on-street parking demand that would occur with large events.

Departure #2 for bicycle parking performance standards SMC 23.54.015K2

The code requires weather protection for bicycle parking. SPS proposes to provide 12 new bicycle parking spaces without weather protection for a departure of 12 uncovered spaces.

DON did not receive many comments about this requested departure. There were comments that having a secured fence for bicycle parking would be more reasonable.

After consideration of the public comments received, DON recommends:

Recommendation #2 – That the departure to allow less than required weather protected bicycle parking be GRANTED as requested by Seattle Public Schools.

DON Recommendation Summary:
Departure #1 Vehicle Parking Quantity Granted with conditions. Departure #2 Bicycle Parking Performance Standards Granted.