Legislation sponsored by Councilmember Tom Rasmussen creating the Pike/Pine Conservation Overlay District was adopted by Ordinance 123020 in June 29, 2009 and became effective on August 7, 2009. The Pike/Pine neighborhood is located between Interstate 5 and 15th Avenue East, between First Hill and Capitol Hill (see map). The new legislation amends the Land use Code to address concerns about the loss of neighborhood character in Pike/Pine due to redevelopment, and is intended to promote conservation of neighborhood character by:
- Promoting mixed-use development;
- Keeping new development compatible and in the scale of the neighborhood;
- Encouraging small, diverse local businesses;
- Saving older buildings of character; and
- Retaining and attracting arts and cultural uses.
With the conclusion of Phase I of the Pike/Pine study, DPD staff is now beginning work on Phase II. Phase II activities include:
- revisions to the Pike/Pine Urban Center Village Design Guidelines to further address design and conservation issues, including issues related to the recently adopted overlay provisions, and
- development of a proposal for a transfer of development rights (TDR) program as a conservation tool for the Pike/Pine neighborhood.
Action Timeline
Upcoming Phase II tasks for protecting the character of the Pike/Pine Neighborhood are outlined below, with Phase II continuing into 2010, according to the following schedule:
| PHASE II | |
| Action: | Date: |
| 1. Revised Design Guidelines | |
| Consultant assesses existing design guidelines | September 2009 |
| Public meeting sponsored by P/PUNC | October 2009 |
| Consultant’s report and public meeting on proposed changes to design guidelines | February 2010 |
| DPD prepares preliminary text draft of design review guidelines document for sub-committee review and comment | April 2010 |
| DPD presents draft guidelines to P/PUNC for review and comment | May 2010 |
| DPD staff finalizes design guidelines and transmits to City Council for Review | June 2010 |
| Council review of proposed guidelines complete | August 2010 |
| 2. Pike/Pine TDR Program | |
| DPD assesses options for Pike/Pine TDR program | Third quarter 2009 – first quarter 2010 |
| DPD discussion paper on major issues and outlining alternative TDR proposals for public review | Second quarter 2010 |
| Draft proposals of Land Use Code amendments to establish Pike/Pine TDR program and SEPA review | Third quarter 2010 |
Cultural Overlay District Advisory Committee
A related effort that affects Pike/Pine is the work of the Cultural Overlay District Advisory Committee, or CODAC. The City Council established this committee in June 2008 to devise creative ideas for the long-term promotion and preservation of cultural, arts, and entertainment activities and spaces in Seattle neighborhoods. CODAC includes three representatives from Pike/Pine. The final recommendations of the CODAC were submitted to the City Council, and a resolution to accept the recommendations was adopted on August 12, 2009 (Resolution 31155).
