Agenda - Planning Commission - 01/05/2017

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I E l F. aren't planners is the"legalese"that makes I I � up many zoning codes.This language often ' finds its way into presentations and discus- sions with the community or elected officials, 1ig1 - i;: Rl° leading to either more questions or looks of ® an , blank confusion.Planners may be seen as NOTICE OF PROPOSED LAND USE ACTION hiding behind overly complicated text.Avoid F 'Master Use Project#3017401 this fate b taking the time to prepare clear, ddress:630 Boren Ave N �. y me pp I PP cant Contact:Jodi Patterson-O'Hare Phone:425.681.4718 w plain English explanations in your Zoninglol DPD IS CONDUCTING AN ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW OF THE FOLLOWING PROJECT: " ou presentation. TO CONSTRUCTA 16 STORY RESIDENTIAL BUILDING WITH / t 258UNITS AND 7,723.SO.FT.OFRETAILATGROUND LEVEL. i. � � '� PARKING.FOR236VEHICLES WILL BE PROVIDED ATAND J:_ ._J Organizing Your Presentation BELOW GRADE.EMSTINGSTRUCTURETOBEDEMOLISHED. - An hour-tong workshop for acivic organlza- AN ADDENDUM To SOUTH LAKE UNION HEIGHT AND -'DENSITY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT IS BEING '..F tion wilt be quite different from a roundtable PREPARED. 3 Q&A with a group of local developers.Yet both ADDITIONALAPPRoVALREQUIRED:DESIGN REVIEW may require similar information.Therefore, The commentperiod ends 2, butmaybeextendedto by Written request.To submit rfde0 eommeni to bteineddrtlonal Information,contact seatiloapadmentofPlamd and DO at polOPD)7006th AV Ste 2000,POBaX34019,Seattle,WA you may find it useful to draw up a standard 981244019.Contaotbyphone(206)684-8467 remat PRC@ tee.9w:Be re to reler toM ler Use Project#3017401,,. '^ presentation that can be used for a number of different circumstances.Slides should be modular,allowing for sections to be easily removed or reorganized based on the needs of a specific audience. p .. I suggest an order that starts with an 19 1 explanation of the concept of zoning and proceeds through your local zoning code and districts,the zoning map,and finally the de- The Development Community the development process looks like is vital. velopment process. Developers and architects are likely to have a This is especially true if they are in regular clearer understanding of the code,map,and contact with the public or regularly present Part 1:What Is Zoning? development process than other stakeholders at community meetings.The public may not We don't want to scare people off from the in your community.And for good reason— distinguish between a building inspector,your very first slide,but it is unavoidable that col their business depends upon it.Still,chronic land-use director,or an environmental plan- ceptually,zoning can be complicated. misunderstandings may repeatedly manifest ner.Cut down on misinformation and educate Try to strip away as much of the excess in yet another set of misfiled plans,another your colleagues in city government by devet- baggage that has(often inevitably)glommed month of delays due to missed steps in the oping a Zoning 1o1 presentation or course that onto zoning over the years. plan review process,or another missing piece is most pertinent to their role. Feet free to begin from your municipal- of information.Rather than a more general ity's definition of zoning,which you can usu- presentation you may give to members of WHAT IS THE FORMAT? ally find in the Planning and Development the public or local elected officials,you may Now that you have considered the context section of your city's website.But also con- want to highlight or mentally note those areas and the audience,think about the format and sider paring that definition down and focusing where confusion most often tends to manifest. the content.What wilt you present?The code? explicitly on what zoning looks like in your A presentation based primarily around these The map?Your city's plan review and approval community. topics is apt to be useful foryou and the de- process?Will you be talking about zoning For instance,this definition of zoning veloper or architect. more conceptually? from Cornell University's Legal Information At the outset,rememberyour ultimate Institute is relatively succinct,but might be a City Staff and Administrators goal:empowering your audience with the nec- bit too legalistic for your audience: Zoning confusion doesn't spare your col- essary tools and knowledge of zoning,land leagues or other city administrators.The last use,and the development process to offer (zoning is a...)legislative act dividing a contact your local transportation planner may informed feedback.This will require rational jurisdiction's land into sections and regulat- have had with zoning may have been years organization,simplifying concepts(aided ing different land uses in each section in earlier in planning school.The fire chief may heavily by visuals),and reducing or eliminat- accordance with a zoning ordinance. understand her rote in the development re- ing jargon.Planners interested in reducing view process,but might have only the barest jargon are highly encouraged to reference the Here,from New York City's Department understanding of the local zoning map.Ensur- January 2015 issue of Zoning Practice,"Zoning of City Planning,we have a more naturalistic ing your colleagues have a working knowledge Codes in Plain English"(Noble 2015).One of explanation of the purpose of zoning and how of the map,the districts in your city,and what the primary barriers to zoning for those who it may impact people's lives: ZONINGPRACTICE 12.-16 AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION IP09e.5