23.42.041

A. As shown on Map A for 23.48.740 in the Uptown Urban Center, Map A for 23.48.240 in the South Lake Union Urban Center, and Downtown Map 1G in the Downtown Urban Center, and excluding Special Review and Historic Districts, a use provided for interim street activation purposes set forth in this Section 23.42.041 is allowed to fulfill street-level use requirements in addition to uses allowed by the zone, for an interim period according to the provisions of this Section 23.42.041 . 1. Eligibility. To qualify, an applicant must meet the following: a. The Department must have issued a certificate of occupancy for the structure before May 12, 2025. b. The applicant must submit a complete application for the interim street-level use within 36 months after the effective date of this ordinance. 2. Structures with existing permit conditions or development standard limitations related to street-level uses for floor area ratio pursuant to Chapter 23.48 , Section 23.49.011 , or bonus floor area achieved for general sales and service uses pursuant to Sections 23.49.012 and 23.49.013 , or related to past changes of use to existing structures, may have uses for interim street activation purposes pursuant to this Section 23.42.041 and will not require additional developer contributions, except as indicated in applicable provisions. 3. The use of a space may return from an interim street-level use to the previously established use at the property owner's or applicant's option; provided that, if the previously established use was a nonconforming use, Section 23.42.110 shall not apply in this instance. 4. Notwithstanding the future expiration of this Section 23.42.041 , an approval for interim street-level uses or a permit that is issued or approved for issuance before the expiration of this Section 23.42.041 may continue as a non-conforming use consistent with Sections 23.42.100 through 23.42.110 . B. Permitted uses 1. In addition to the street-level uses permitted by the applicable zone, the following uses are permitted as other permissible street-level uses for the purpose of interim street activation, as shown on Map A for 23.48.740 in the Uptown Urban Center, Map A for 23.48.240 in the South Lake Union Urban Center, and Downtown Map 1G: a. Arts facilities, including art installations, that do not conflict with Chapter 23.55 ; b. Bicycle commuter shower facilities that are accessory to office uses; c. Food processing and craft work; d. Horticultural uses; e. Institutions, except hospitals or major institutions; f. Lobbies, gyms, meeting rooms, shared working spaces, and other similarly active uses accessory to residential or lodging uses limited to a street frontage of 30 feet; g. Medical services; h. Museums; i. Public parks; j. Public restrooms; k. Sales and services, non-household; l. Offices; m. Research and development laboratories; and n. Any similar use or activity that is determined by the Director to have the likelihood of attracting and increasing pedestrian activity in the area such as extending the duration of activity beyond 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday or increasing the variety of goods and services available. 2. The Director shall require the most active portions of interim street activation uses allowed by Section 23.42.041 , such as lobbies, waiting areas, and retail sales, to abut the street-facing facade along street frontages where street-level uses are required by the zone. C. Development standard flexibility 1. FAR exemption a. In the Downtown Urban Center, floor area in uses provided for interim street activation purposes shall not be chargeable floor area when located at street level or no higher than one story above street level, when consistent with the provisions of subsection 23.49.011.B. b. In Seattle Mixed zones in the South Lake Union and Uptown Urban Centers, notwithstanding requirements in subsections 23.48.005.D, 23.48.220.B.2, and 23.48.720.C.4, floor area in uses provided for interim street activation purposes shall not be chargeable floor area when located at street level or no higher than one story above a street-level story. c. In Downtown Urban Center locations eligible for interim street activation, notwithstanding subsection 23.49.011.B.1.b.4, a mezzanine within a street-level use is not chargeable floor area even if it interrupts the floor-to-floor heights within the minimum depth stated in subsection 23.49.011.B.1.b.2. d. In South Lake Union and Uptown Urban Center locations eligible for interim street activation uses, notwithstanding subsection 23.48.040.C, a mezzanine within a street-level use is not chargeable floor area even if it interrupts minimum floor-to-floor heights and minimum depth stated in subsection 23.48.040.C.3. e. For the purposes of this subsection 23.42.041.C.1, for floor area above street level, changes from residential use to a commercial use provided for interim street activation purposes is subject to mandatory housing affordability (MHA) provisions of subsection 23.58B.020.B. 2. Minimum depth of street-level use a. In Downtown Urban Center locations eligible for interim street activation (Map 1G of Chapter 23.49 ), notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 23.49.011.B.1.b.2, a street-level use may have a minimum depth of 8 feet from the street-facing facade. b. In South Lake Union and Uptown Urban Center locations eligible for interim street activation, notwithstanding subsection 23.48.040.C, a street-level use may have a minimum depth of 8 feet from the street-facing facade. (Ord. 127198 , § 1, 2025.)