23.51A.004

A. Except as otherwise provided in subsections 23.51A.004.D and 23.51A.004.H, uses in public facilities that are most similar to uses permitted outright or permitted as an administrative conditional use under the applicable zoning are also permitted outright or as an administrative conditional use, subject to the same use regulations, development standards, and administrative conditional use criteria that govern the similar use. B. The following uses in public facilities are permitted outright in all multifamily zones if the development standards for institutions in Section 23.45.570 , other than dispersion requirements, are met, except as otherwise provided in subsection 23.51A.004.B.6: 1. Police precinct stations; 2. Fire stations; 3. Public boat moorages; 4. Utility service uses; 5. Other uses similar to any of the uses listed in this subsection 23.51A.004.B; and 6. Youth service centers existing as of January 1, 2013, in public facilities operated by King County in an LR3 zone within a regional center and replacement, additions or expansions to such King County public facilities. For youth service centers, the development standards for institutions in Section 23.45.570 apply, and subsections 23.45.570.D and 23.45.570.F relating to structure width and setbacks may be waived or modified by the Director as a Type II decision. The Director's decision to waive or modify standards shall be based on a finding that the waiver or modification is needed to accommodate unique programming, public service delivery, or structural needs of the facility and that the following urban design objectives are met. The Director's decision shall include conditions to mitigate all substantial impacts caused by such a waiver or modification. a. Objective 1: Create visual interest along and activate each street frontage. Examples for achieving this objective include, but are not limited to, the following: 1) Incorporate prominent entrances and other features that welcome pedestrians; 2) Add visual interest using architectural detailing of the facade, transparency, decorative materials, or design features; and 3) Use signage consistent with Chapter 23.55 that helps orient pedestrians and adds interest to the street environment. b. Objective 2: Create a continuous pedestrian environment along each frontage of the development in LR3. Examples for achieving this objective include, but are not limited to, the following: 1) Incorporate shade and rain protection, such as awnings, building overhangs, benches, freestanding pavilions, or kiosks; 2) Where site dimensions and program conditions allow, provide a landscaped setback between the structure and sidewalk; and 3) Design new or existing bus stops to integrate transit shelters, benches, and decorative treatments with the adjacent facade. c. Objective 3: Address the bulk and scale of the building by design treatments that transition to the scale of nearby development. Examples for achieving this objective include, but are not limited to, the following: 1) Break down the apparent scale of the building and reduce the impact of blank walls by using modulation or decorative facade elements, such as material, shape, color, architectural detailing, painting, screening, artwork, or vegetated walls; and 2) Use landscaped setbacks where appropriate. C. Unless specifically prohibited in subsection 23.51A.004.D, uses in new public facilities not specifically listed in subsection 23.51A.004.B or permitted pursuant to subsection 23.51A.004.A, or that are listed in or permitted pursuant to subsections 23.51A.004.A or 23.51A.004.B but do not meet applicable development standards or administrative conditional use criteria, may be permitted by the City Council according to the provisions of Chapter 23.76 , with public projects considered as Type IV quasi-judicial decisions and City facilities considered as Type V legislative decisions. In making the decision, the Council may waive or grant departures from development standards or administrative conditional use criteria for public facilities, if the following criteria are satisfied: 1. The location of the public facility addresses public service needs, and any waiver or departure from development standards or administrative conditional use criteria is necessitated by those public service delivery needs; and 2. The impact of the public facility on surrounding properties has been addressed in the design, siting, landscaping, and screening of the facility. D. The following public facilities are prohibited in all multifamily zones 1. Jails, except for youth service centers existing as of January 1, 2013, in public facilities operated by King County within a regional center; 2. Work-release centers; 3. Bus bases; 4. Sewage treatment plants; 5. Animal control shelters; and 6. Post office distribution centers. E. Expansion of uses in public facilities 1. Major expansion. Major expansion of public facilities that are permitted by subsection 23.51A.004.C may be approved by the City Council, with public projects considered as Type IV quasi-judicial decisions and City facilities considered as Type V land use decisions, subject to the criteria of subsections 23.51A.004.C.1 and 23.51A.004.C.2. A major expansion of a public facility occurs if an expansion would not meet development standards or, except for expansion of the Washington State Convention and Trade Center, the area of the expansion would exceed either 750 square feet or 10 percent of the existing area of the use, whichever is greater. A major expansion of the Washington State Convention and Trade Center is one that is 12,000 square feet or more in size. For the purposes of this subsection 23.51A.004.E.1, "area of the use" includes gross floor area and outdoor area devoted actively to that use, excluding parking. 2. Minor expansion. An expansion of a public facility that is not a major expansion is a minor expansion. Minor expansions to uses in public facilities that are permitted by subsections 23.51A.004.A, 23.51A.004.B, or 23.51A.004.C are permitted outright. F. Essential public facilities, except for light rail transit facilities, shall be reviewed according to the provisions of Chapter 23.80 . G. Uses in existing or former public schools 1. Child-care centers, preschools, public or private schools, educational and vocational training for the disabled, adult evening education classes, nonprofit libraries, community centers, community programs for the elderly, and similar uses are permitted in existing or former public schools. 2. Other non-school uses are permitted in existing or former public schools pursuant to procedures established in Chapter 23.78 . H. Light rail transit facilities. Light rail transit facilities are permitted uses in all multifamily residential zones. Light rail transit facilities are exempt from the development standards in Chapter 23.45 and shall be reviewed according to the provisions of Chapter 23.80 . (Ord. 127375 , § 83, 2025; Ord. 127228 , § 17, 2025; Ord. 125558 , § 41, 2018; Ord. 125173 , § 8, 2016; Ord. 124610 , § 2, 2014; Ord. 123495, § 57, 2011; Ord. 123209, § 12, 2009.)