Seattle City Council passed an ordinance that temporarily exempts single-use and mixed-use developments with lodging, residential, or research and development laboratory uses from design review in key urban centers such as Downtown, Uptown, South Lake Union, and First Hill. The ordinance also permits the Director of the Department of Construction and Inspections to grant waivers and modifications from certain development standards, allowing for more flexibility in urban planning and expediting the development process. This is part of an effort to streamline construction projects and foster growth in these high-density areas.
This temporary regulation helps accelerate key developments in Seattle’s urban centers, encouraging growth and supporting the local economy by making the building process more efficient. It reduces administrative burdens and enables more flexibility in addressing the city’s housing and infrastructure needs.