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SEATTLE DESIGN COMMISSION

SEA-MC tit. 3, subtit. IV, ch. 3.58
in effect

Seattle Mun. Code § 3.58.010 Commission established

3.58.010 - Commission established There is established, as of October 1, 1968, a Seattle Design Commission to act in a consulting capacity advisory to the City in connection with environmental and design aspects of capital improvement projects, light rail transit facilities, and private or public-agency proposals for the long-term use of public rights-of-way, or the permanent use of a street, alley, or other public right-of-way subject to a vacation. The Seattle Design Commission shall serve functions and carry out duties as provided in this Chapter 3.58. (Ord. 127228, § 1, 2025; Ord. 125586, § 1, 2018; Ord. 96977, § 1, 1968; Ord. 96897, § 1, 1968.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 3.58.020 Capital improvement project defined.

3.58.020 - Capital improvement project defined. "Capital improvement project" shall mean any on-or above-grade structure including buildings and additions to buildings, bridges, viaducts, streets, arterial and highway improvements, park developments, landscaping, fencing gates, lamp standards, signs, street furniture, and all similar installations including below-grade structures which are regularly visible to the public including tunnels, arcades and underground passageways, to be erected on land belonging to the City, financed in whole or in part with City funds, or subject to the approval of the City. (Ord. 96897, § 2, 1968.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 3.58.030 Membership

3.58.030 - Membership Subject to the provisions of this Chapter 3.58, the Commission shall act in a consulting capacity, advisory to the Mayor, the City Council, and appropriate City officials in connection with environmental and design aspects of capital improvement projects of the City and private or public-agency proposals for the long-term use of public rights-of-way, or the permanent use of a street, alley, or other public right-of-way subject to a vacation. The Commission shall consist of nine members appointed by the Mayor, subject to confirmation by a majority of the City Council, and may be removed by the Mayor, subject to such confirmation. Membership shall include two licensed architects, one professional fine artist, and one lay member; and at least one and no more than two from each of the following categories, for a maximum total of five: professional urban planner, professional environmental or urban designer, landscape architect, and licensed professional engineer. The Mayor shall solicit recommendations for membership from the American Institute of Architects, Seattle Chapter; the American Planning Association, Puget Sound Section of the Washington State Chapter; the American Society of Landscape Architects; the Consulting Engineers Council of Washington; the American Society of Civil Engineers; the Seattle Arts Commission; and other professional organizations for the non-lay members. The lay member shall be selected because of particular qualifications in matters related to the Commission's purpose. In addition to the members set forth above, one designated young adult position shall be added to the Seattle Design Commission pursuant to the Get Engaged Program, Chapter 3.51. The terms of service related to this young adult position are set forth in Chapter 3.51. (Ord. 125586, § 2, 2018; Ord. 121568 § 7, 2004; Ord. 120914 § 3, 2002: Ord. 119619 § 1, 1999: 102107 § 1, 1973; Ord. 96897, § 3, 1968.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 3.58.040 Term of office; recusal

3.58.040 - Term of office; recusal A. Each member shall serve for a term of two years, with four members' terms ending in one year and five members' terms ending in the next consecutive year. Members are eligible for reappointment to one additional two-year term. A person appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term. The membership of the Commission shall not be limited to residents of the City or residents of the state. B. No member of the Commission, during his or her term of office and for six months thereafter, shall be individually eligible for employment by, or to contract with, the City in connection with any capital improvement project reviewed by this Commission, and no member shall be involved in such capital improvement project work during such time. If a member's employer, or a firm in which a member is a partner or has an ownership interest, is under contract or under consideration for a contract with the City during his or her term of office, the member shall divulge this information in a meeting of the Commission, and shall recuse himself or herself from any and all deliberations regarding such project until project completion or until the member's employer or firm is no longer under consideration for contract on such project. (Ord. 125272, § 1, 2017; Ord. 120479, § 1, 2001; Ord. 106623, § 1, 1977; Ord. 96977, §§ 2, 4, 1968; Ord. 96897, § 4, 1968.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 3.58.050 Compensation—Engaging consultants

3.58.050 - Compensation—Engaging consultants A. Compensation for the professional or skilled services rendered by members of the Commission while serving in a consultant capacity to the City in meeting sessions shall be $25 for each hour, including the time of travel to Commission meetings, provided that the total compensation paid to any member shall not exceed $200 for any one day in meeting sessions of the Commission. Commission members shall be reimbursed for actual costs incurred by them in performing the duties of the Commission including the cost of travel to Commission meetings. Members of the Commission shall not participate on a design team under consideration for appointment by the Commission or be recommended for appointment by the Commission for a design contract. B. Subject to prior approval by the Executive Director of the Seattle Design Commission, the Commission may retain consultants to advise the Commission. The consultants shall be chosen by the Commission for their recognized competence and experience in evaluating and advising on the matter before the Commission. All costs related to engaging the consultants shall be paid by the applicant whose proposal necessitated the need for the consulting services. (Ord. 125586, § 3, 2018; Ord. 96897, § 5, 1968.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 3.58.060 Organization—Quorum—Support staff

3.58.060 - Organization—Quorum—Support staff The Chairman of the Commission shall be designated by the Mayor, subject to confirmation by the City Council, to serve for a period of one year. The Commission shall elect other officers as it may deem necessary and shall adopt administrative procedures as required to accomplish the purposes of this Chapter 3.58. Five appointive members shall constitute a quorum. Actions constituting Commission recommendations shall secure the approval of the majority of those present. The City shall provide appropriate staff, and one staff representative shall serve as Executive Secretary of the Commission and be responsible for all records. The Executive Secretary of the Commission shall prepare and distribute agenda for Commission meetings. The Executive Secretary of the Commission shall advise and arrange for compensation and reimbursement of expenses as may be authorized. (Ord. 125272, § 2, 2017; Ord. 96977, § 3, 1968; Ord. 96897, § 6, 1968.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 3.58.070 Purpose of Commission

3.58.070 - Purpose of Commission The Commission shall serve in an advisory capacity. Its function is to advise and assist the City in the development and execution of capital improvement projects. Its role is that of recommending such aesthetic, environmental and design principles, and policies that it considers appropriate and advantageous in guiding the development of such projects. No City capital improvement project shall be designed, placed under contract for design or constructed without first being referred to the Commission for its review and recommendation. Minor interior remodeling projects and private structures shall not be reviewed by the Commission unless such structures are specifically referred to the Commission by the City. The Commission shall either make its recommendations on any matter submitted to it within 30 days after submission or provide a statement within 30 days after submission indicating the date by which it intends to make the recommendation. If it fails to do so, it shall be considered to have recommended approval. (Ord. 124843, § 1, 2015; Ord. 96897, § 7, 1968.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 3.58.080 Advisory duties

3.58.080 - Advisory duties The advisory and review function of the Commission shall include: A. Studying capital improvement projects before design starts and formulating recommended aesthetic, environmental, and design principles and objectives that the Commission believes should be sought in developing the project. These recommendations should be discussed with the project designers and appropriate City officials before starting design work. B. Reviewing capital improvement projects during the design period and recommending approval or changes upon completing the schematic design phase, the design development phase, and the construction document phase. It shall be the Commission's function to advise and assist the project designer and appropriate City officials in developing the project. The Commission may recommend changes in the project designer's work or recommend approval. Commission review of the construction document phase shall mean review relative to compliance with previously-determined environmental and aesthetic objectives. C. Assisting City officials in selecting project designers. At the request of the City department with responsibility for managing a capital improvement project, individual Commission members shall serve on the selection panel that recommends design services for executing the projects. D. Reviewing requests for street, alley, or other public place vacations pursuant to Chapter 15.62; skybridge petitions pursuant to Chapter 15.64; or other above-grade significant structure term permit applications pursuant to Chapter 15.65. The Commission shall provide the Council with a recommendation on the proposed application or petition and any proposed public benefits associated with a petition. E. Reviewing light rail transit facility projects and providing recommendations to the Director of the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections and the Director of Transportation, pursuant to Section 23.80.006. (Ord. 127228, § 2, 2025; Ord. 125586, § 4, 2018; Ord. 120479, § 2, 2001; Ord. 96897, § 8, 1968.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 3.58.090 Fees and charges for Design Commission review

3.58.090 - Fees and charges for Design Commission review The Commission will bill non-City applicants seeking long-term or permanent use of a right-of-way through a street, alley, or other public place vacation pursuant to Chapter 15.62, a skybridge term permit pursuant to Chapter 15.64, or a significant structure pursuant to Chapter 15.65 at the hourly rate of $120 an hour per Commissioner for subcommittee review, or $847 an hour for full Commission review. Billing will be sent to the Seattle Department of Transportation for inclusion in the plan review costs charged to the applicant or will be billed directly to the applicant by the Seattle Department of Transportation. For projects billed through the Seattle Department of Transportation, applicant payments made to the Seattle Department of Transportation will be transferred from the Transportation Fund to the Office of Planning and Community Development to support the Commission's work. Fees incurred by the Design Commission may be waived, in whole or in part, at the discretion of the Commission with the concurrence of the City Budget Director in the following circumstances: A. When Commission fees, if charged, would be disproportionate to the sums available for the project and could cause abandonment of the project for the following types of projects: art-works, projects funded by grants and donations, neighborhood self-help projects undertaken by volunteers and nonprofit organizations, and small public agency capital improvements; B. For low-income and special needs housing projects subject to Commission review. (Ord. 125982, § 1, 2019 [replaced entire text]; Ord. 125586, § 5, 2018; Ord. 124919, § 6, 2015 [cross-reference update and other cleanup]; Ord. 124843, § 2, 2015; Ord. 123361, § 48, 2010 [department head name change and other cleanup]; Ord. 119274, § 2, 1998; Ord. 114250, § 1, 1988.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 3.58.100 Public Benefits Subcommittee

3.58.100 - Public Benefits Subcommittee A. The Commission may convene a Public Benefit Subcommittee to review public benefit proposals related to petitions for vacations of public rights-of-way and make recommendations to the full Commission regarding the proposals. The subcommittee will evaluate petitioner-initiated proposals that include public benefit features that do not require upgrading the public realm or creating open space, such as: affordable housing, financial payments to social service agencies, or financial payments to City agencies or other similar entities that provide job training or other similar programs. B. The subcommittee will be comprised of Commission members, City staff, and additional members with expertise in community development, low-income housing, workers' rights, and other areas of relevant expertise not otherwise existing on the Commission. The Commission will recruit and appoint the additional members, following Commission rulemaking that establishes the recruitment and appointment process. The subcommittee will not comprise a quorum of Commission members. C. When appropriate, the subcommittee will hold evening meetings as needed and accept public comment on the public benefit proposal before making a recommendation to the Commission. (Ord. 125586, § 6, 2018.)
Source: City of Seattle, Seattle Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/wa/seattle/codes/municipal_code?nodeId=TIT3AD_SUBTITLE_IVCO_CH3.58SEDECOFetched: 11/1/2026

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