Corpus

Chapter 23.78 - ESTABLISHMENT OF CRITERIA FOR JOINT USE OR REUSE OF SCHOOLS

Seattle Mun. Code — Chapter 23.78 - ESTABLISHMENT OF CRITERIA FOR JOINT USE OR REUSE OF SCHOOLS
in effect

Seattle Mun. Code § 23.78.002 Application for establishment of criteria

A. The Seattle School District or other holder(s) of record of fee title of a public school structure, or an authorized agent thereof, may apply for the establishment of criteria for nonschool use of an existing or former public school structure. Applications shall be made to the Director of the Office of Planning and Community Development. The Seattle School District or other holder(s) of record of fee title of a public school structure, or an authorized agent thereof, may apply for a rezone of an existing or former public school structure or site pursuant to the provisions in Chapter 23.76 rather than apply for establishment of criteria through a School Use Advisory Committee. B. On receipt of an application, the Director of the Office of Planning and Community Development shall convene a School Use Advisory Committee (SUAC) to secure the comments of the public and make recommendations for school use criteria for the school. The committee shall operate pursuant to rules promulgated by the Director of the Office of Planning and Community Development. The committee shall consist of the following: 1. A representative of the City selected by the Director of the Office of Planning and Community Development, to act as chairperson; 2. A representative of the Seattle School District, or if the structure is no longer owned by the Seattle School District, a representative of the structure owner. 3. Two persons residing or owning property within 600 feet of the site of the school and any adjoining publicly owned property, selected by the Director of the Office of Planning and Community Development in cooperation with the community organization(s) representing the area; 4. A representative of the PTSA or parents' group, selected by the appropriate organization, if "joint use" (both public school classrooms and nonschool uses) is contemplated by the application; or a representative of the neighborhood, selected by the Director of the Office of Planning and Community Development, in cooperation with the community organization(s) representing the area, if joint use is not contemplated in the application; 5. A representative of the neighborhood, selected by the Director of the Office of Planning and Community Development; 6. A representative at large selected by the Director of the Office of Planning and Community Development to represent city-wide education issues; and 7. A representative of the Department shall be invited to sit as a nonvoting member. (Ord. No. 127358 , § 2, 2025; Ord. 123913, § 37, 2012; Ord. 121429 , § 4, 2004; Ord. 115906 , § 2, 1991; Ord. 110381, § 1, 1982.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 23.78.006 Notice provided

A. If notice is required pursuant to this Chapter 23.78 , except mailed notice as defined in Section 23.84A.025 , it may be provided by electronic means if the recipient provides an e-mail address to the Office of Planning and Community Development. Notice to City agencies may be provided through the City's interoffice mail or by electronic means. B. Notification of the application and formation of a SUAC and the first meeting of the SUAC shall be provided by the Director in the following manner: 1. Mailed notice; 2. Inclusion in the Land Use Information Bulletin; 3. Posting one land use sign visible to the public at each street frontage abutting the site except, when there is no street frontage or the site abuts an unimproved street, the Director shall either post more than one sign or select an alternative posting location so that notice is clearly visible to the public; 4. Through the regular processes of a parents' organization, if one exists; and 5. Provision of notice to community organizations known to the Office of Planning and Community Development as representing the local area, and to similar organizations that have requested notice in writing and provided an address for notice. (Ord. No. 127358 , § 3, 2025; Ord. 123913, § 38, 2012; Ord. 121477 § 56, 2004; Ord. 118672 § 31, 1997: Ord. 110381 § 1(part), 1982.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 23.78.010 SUAC responsibilities

The SUAC shall: A. Conduct one (1) or more public meetings within a ninety (90) day period from formation of the SUAC. B. Gather and evaluate public comment; C. Develop criteria for structure and grounds use which are compatible with the surrounding community, including but not limited to: benefits to the community and public; population to be served; community access; use of the school grounds within the context of recreational and aesthetic resources of the neighborhood; mitigation of large structure bulk; traffic impacts: generation, circulation and parking; landscaping and maintenance of grounds; exterior appearance of the structure, including signing; noise; hazards and other potential nuisances; and D. Recommend criteria to the Director of the Office of Planning and Community Development no later than 90 days after its first meeting unless a ten day extension is requested, in writing, by a majority of the SUAC and granted by the Director of the Office of Planning and Community Development. (Ord. No. 127358 , § 4, 2025; Ord. 121429 , § 5, 2004; Ord. 115906 , § 3, 1991; Ord. 110793, § 60, 1982; Ord. 110381, § 1, 1982.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 23.78.012 Duties of Director of the Office of Planning and Community Development

A. The Director of the Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD) shall establish final use criteria and permitted uses for the school structures and grounds based on the School Use Advisory Committee's (SUAC's) recommendations within ten days of the receipt of the recommendations. If the Director of OPCD modifies the recommendations of the SUAC, the reasons for the modification shall be put forth in writing. B. The OPCD Director's decision shall provide notice of the decision within seven days of the date the decision is made in the following manner: 1. Publication in the City official newspaper; 2. Inclusion in the Land Use Information Bulletin; and 3. Notice provided to the applicant, all members of the advisory committee, and persons who have requested specific notice in writing and provided an address for notice. C. The notice of the decision shall state the address of the school and briefly state the decision made by the OPCD Director. The notice shall also state that the school use criteria are subject to appeal and shall describe the appropriate appeal procedure. (Ord. 127358 , § 5, 2025; Ord. 123913, § 39, 2012; Ord. 121477, § 57, 2004; Ord. 115906 , § 4, 1991; Ord. 110381, § 1, 1982.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 23.78.014 Appeal of use criteria

A. Any person substantially affected by or interested in the use criteria may appeal the decision to the Hearing Examiner within a period extending to 5 p.m. of the 14 th calendar day following the date of publication of the use criteria decision. When the last day of the appeal period so computed is a Saturday, Sunday, or federal or City holiday, the appeal period shall run until 5 p.m. the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or federal or City holiday. The appeal shall be in writing and shall state specifically why the appellant finds the criteria inappropriate or incorrect. B. Appeals of school use criteria shall be accompanied by payment of a filing fee as established in Section 3.02.125 . C. The Hearing Examiner shall consider the appeal in accordance with the procedure established for hearing contested cases in Chapter 3.02 . Notice shall be given not less than 20 days prior to hearing. D. Appeals shall be considered de novo. The decision on the evidence before the Hearing Examiner shall be made upon the same basis as was required of the Director of the Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD). The interpretation of the OPCD Director shall be given substantial weight, and the burden of establishing the contrary shall be upon the appellant. The Hearing Examiner shall summarily dismiss an appeal without hearing which is determined to be without merit on its face, frivolous, or brought merely to secure a delay. E. The Hearing Examiner shall issue a decision within 14 days after closing the record and provide it on the same date to the parties of record and to all those who request notice in writing and provide an address for notice. F. The decision of the Hearing Examiner may affirm, reverse, or modify the OPCD Director's decision either in whole or in part. The Hearing Examiner may also remand the decision to the OPCD Director for further consideration. The decision of the Hearing Examiner shall be final and the applicant, appellant, and OPCD Director shall be bound by it. (Ord. 127358 , § 6, 2025; Ord. 123913, § 40, 2012; Ord. 117263 , § 58, 1994; Ord. 115906 , § 5, 1991; Ord. 110381, § 1, 1982.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 23.78.016 Criteria to serve as regulations.

Once the school use criteria are established for a public school structure, they shall be used by the Director as the substantive criteria applicable to applications filed under the Master Use Permit process, Chapter 23.76 , for uses locating in the public school structures and grounds. If the public school structure is demolished, the permitted uses and development standards of the underlying zone shall apply. (Ord. 110381 § 1(part), 1982.)
Source: Seattle Municipal Code (Municode library)URL: https://library.municode.com/wa/seattle/codes/municipal_codeFetched: 7/25/2026