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City of Seattle
Mike McGinn, Mayor
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NEWS ADVISORY
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| SUBJECT: Mayor Signs South Lake Union Biotech Code Amendments
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
12/10/2003 10:40:00 AM |
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Karin Zaugg, 206-733-9810 / Cell: 206-465-8387
Office of the Mayor (206) 684-4000
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Mayor Signs South Lake Union Biotech Code Amendments
SEATTLE - Surrounded by leaders in the biotechnology and biomedical industry, Mayor Greg Nickels signed legislation today in front of the nearly completed Rosetta Inpharmatics biotech lab in South Lake Union.
"I want to thank the City Council for their unanimous vote supporting code changes to allow for more biotech jobs," said Mayor Nickels. "South Lake Union is truly a neighborhood of opportunity. Together, we're seizing the moment to create thousands of new jobs, capture revenue to fund services for all of Seattle, and build a great new neighborhood."
The code amendments recognize the unique needs of biotechnology uses, including the need for increased floor to floor heights and specialized mechanical systems.
During recent years, a number of buildings have been converted or constructed for biotechnology uses or biotech research and development laboratories. A study of these buildings showed that the City's zoning code did not recognize the unique features of biotech uses and created a competitive disadvantage when compared to office and other uses.
Specifically, the approved Land Use Code amendments are described as follows:
- Allow additional height and revise the height measurement technique
- Increase the interior allowance for mechanical systems necessary for laboratory spaces
- Allow increased rooftop mechanical equipment, with setbacks to address height, bulk and scale impacts
- Assign a lower, more appropriate, parking requirement for research and development laboratories
- Clarify the definition of research and development laboratories
"On Monday, the Seattle City Council took a major step toward creating a global center for excellence for life sciences in South Lake Union," stated Jan Drago, City Councilmember. "I am pleased to say that this was a unanimous vote! I was elected to the Council 10 years ago on a platform emphasizing the need for economic development. I see biotech as the next major economic development wave for this City and I intend to do everything I can to make this a reality."
"This is another positive step for the South Lake Union neighborhood," said Nickels. "We're working on ways to create a great area to live, work and play - by bringing more housing, creating more open spaces, improving transportation systems and increasing infrastructure to support a thriving biotech sector."
Learn more about the Mayor's action agenda for South Lake Union on the Mayor's website at www.seattle.gov/mayor/issues/lakeunion.
Read more about the biotech code amendments on the Department of Planning and Development's website at: http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/dclu/news/20030916b.asp.
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Office of the Mayor
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