The City Council will be holding public meetings to discuss proposed changes to the Living Building Pilot Project (LBPP). The changes, authored by the Seattle Department of Planning & Development, would extend the life of the program beyond the end of the year and add needed flexibility to encourage development of more deep green buildings, like Stone34. Public Hearing, July 9, 5pm, City Hall, 2nd floor. FNC has not taken a position on these program changes but does support Stone34. You can send a letter of support to City Council Members directly. Land Use Committee members are Richard Conlin, Chair <Richard.conlin@seattle.gov> (206-684-8805) ; Tim Burgess, Vice Chair <tim.burgess@seattle.gov> (206-684-8806); Mike O’Brien <mike.obrien@seattle.gov> (206-684-8800), Sally Clark <sally.clark@seattle.gov> (206-684-8802); or email all council members at <council@seattle.gov> Live addresses here: http://www.seattle.gov/council/councilcontact.htm
These further meetings will also be important. All meetings are held at Seattle City Hall in Council Chambers at 600 5th Ave.
- Wednesday, July 11, 9am – City Council Land Use Committee meeting
- Wednesday, July 25, 9am – City Council Land Use Committee meeting
- Monday, July 30, 2pm – City Council Meeting – Vote
Stone34 needs supporters at all of these meetings to tell the Council they should approve the recommended changes to the LBPP. Meetings begin with a public comment period where anyone wishing to speak (for no more than 2 minutes) is asked to sign in prior to the start of the meeting. Speakers are advised to arrive early to get signed up to speak early. For more details email Linda Mitchell, Community Outreach/Stone34 <linda@lindamitchell.org> or call at 206/720-9922.
The majority of articles posted on the homepage seem to involve one proposed building. This Stone 34 is outside Fremont’s boundaries. Yet FNC takes no position on the Living Building pilot program changes. I find this curious, as that building can only be approved if the current rules are changed.
The unattributed articles seem to lack balance and the objective details that a reasonable person relies upon to make informed decisions. Let’s be clear what support implies.
The Living Building Pilot Program amendments would allow developers substantial departures from current zoning laws. The proposed departures would:
· Allow maximum building height increases of up to 20 feet above zone height limits;
· Exempt ground floor retail space from maximum floor area ratio (FAR) limits, allowing substantially larger buildings;
. Eliminate any height limits for rooftop structures.
Other changes to the Living Building code would apply throughout the city.
Those details affect Fremont. Land use regulations, neighborhood planning, urban quality, and livable communities are important, and compatible with living building. However, the program needs to respect and not run over the common good in the pursuit of “flexibility”. Our neighborhood would be better served by looking closely at the program, rather than promoting a particular project.
I appreciate FNC’s support of this project. The departures seem very reasonable for this kind of building. Fremont, and Seattle, have an opportunity here to lead the nation by supporting this kind of very deep green (beyond LEED Platinum) construction that will, I believe, create an example for others to emulate. It’s an opportunity that doesn’t come along very often and I hope that neighbors concerned about their views will take a longer term perspective here. We can’t afford the “I like green but not HERE” mentality for too much longer.
Thanks for your comments. Stone34 actually is located within the Fremont Urban Village boundaries, thus FNC took a close look at the project, its value as a model of a market rate deep green building, its considerable benefits to the neighborhood including bringing in over 300 jobs and vitalizing a dull corner by making it a hub for bicycle activity on the Burke-Gilman and its context. FNC board members attended numerous community meetings and design review sessions and saw the building design change radically, and for the better, in response to community input and concerns. FNC voted to support Stone34 we did not take a position on the proposed changes to the Living Building Pilot Project. (posted by Linda)
Brooks CEO Jim Weber said his company would bring up to 200 to the location, not “over 300 jobs.”
We’ve heard both numbers–one includes Brooks’ planned expansion, apparently. Still, 200 jobs not to be sneezed at.
He said 200 now, planning to grow to 300 or 350. You don’t buy space for that many if you’re not going to hit it.