Standards for uses in public facilities
Seattle Mun. Code § 23.60A.207
in effectA. If a use in a public facility is not set out in the use tables for the environment in which the use is proposed, the use is allowed, allowed as a special use, allowed as a shoreline conditional use or prohibited as follows: 1. Uses in public facilities that are substantially similar to uses allowed, allowed as a special use, allowed as a shoreline conditional use or prohibited in the shoreline environment where the public facility is sited are allowed, allowed as a special use, allowed as a shoreline conditional use, or prohibited, subject to the same use regulations, development standards, special use requirements, and shoreline conditional use criteria that govern the similar use. A proposed use in a public facility that is substantially similar to more than one use is regulated pursuant to the most restrictive regulations. 2. Unless specifically prohibited, uses in public facilities that are not substantially similar to uses specifically regulated in the standards for the shoreline environment where the public facility is sited may be allowed by the Council, with the concurrence of Ecology, according to the provisions of Chapter 23.76 , Subchapter III, Council Land Use Decisions, with public projects considered as Type IV quasi-judicial decisions and City facilities considered as Type V legislative decisions. B. City Council approval of modifications. The Council, with the concurrence of Ecology, may waive or modify applicable development standards or special use requirements under Chapter 23.60A for uses allowed or allowed as a special use under subsection 23.60A.207.A according to Chapter 23.76 , Subchapter III, Council Land Use Decisions, with public projects considered as Type IV quasi-judicial decisions and City facilities considered as Type V legislative decisions. C. Expansion of Uses in Public Facilities. Uses allowed, allowed as a special use, allowed as a shoreline conditional use, or allowed with modifications pursuant to subsections 23.60A.207.A or 23.60A.207.B may be expanded as follows: 1. Major Expansion. A major expansion of a public facility use occurs when the proposed expansion would not meet development standards or exceed either 750 square feet or 10 percent of its existing area, whichever is greater, including but not limited to gross floor area and areas devoted to active outdoor uses other than parking. Major expansions of uses in public facilities allowed in subsections 23.60A.207.A and 23.60A.207.B are allowed following the standards and procedural requirements in those subsections. 2. Minor Expansion. An expansion that falls below the major expansion threshold level is a minor expansion. Minor expansions of uses in public facilities are allowed subject to Chapter 23.76 , Procedures for Master Use Permits and Council Land Use Decisions, for a Type I Master Use Permit if the development standards of the zone in which the public facility is located are met. (Ord. 124105 , § 3, 2013.)
Source: Seattle Municipal Code (Municode library)URL: https://library.municode.com/wa/seattle/codes/municipal_codeFetched: 7/25/2026