How To Access the Permit and Property Records for Seattle Development Projects

If you are curious about a project and want to review the documents filed with the city so far, go to the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) search page. On that page you have two choices for searches.

On the left, you can enter the Master Use Project number, which you will find listed on the Notice of Proposed Land Use Action sign posted on the project site. The project number for the Alki 11, for example, is 3014675. The second search option is to enter the address of the project.

When you bring up the project records, you will be able to view: documents submitted by the developer, including architectural plans, an environmental check list, comments submitted by the public during the comment period, correction notices from DPD planners, and more. There can be up to three days lag time from when a document is received by the city and when it is posted on the site, but eventually it is all there for the public to review.

If you want to find out if a permit has been issued or if complaints have been filed, go to the DPD's Permit and Complaint Status page. You will have the same search options.

When you bring up those records, you will find out: the name of the developer, when the permit was applied for, what the zoning is, legal description of property, description of project, related building permits, etc.

Between the two searches, you should be able to get a good idea of where things stand. We have a right to know this information and knowledge is power!

How Many Parking Spaces Are Developers Required to Provide in the Alki Neighborhood?

The short answer is this: For every dwelling unit within the Alki Area Parking Overlay (see map) developers are required to provide 1.5 parking spaces. 

For the long answer, follow the link below to Chapter 23.54 of the Seattle Municipal Code. When you get there, you will find a long document that explains parking requirements for buildings and institutions throughout the city. For specific mention of the Alki neighborhood, scroll down to Table B, "Parking for Residential Uses," then scroll down to item "O." 

Reference: Title 23 - LAND USE CODE

Subtitle III - Land Use Regulations
Division 2 - Authorized Uses and Development Standards 
Chapter 23.54 - QUANTITY AND DESIGN STANDARDS FOR ACCESS, OFF-STREET PARKING, AND SOLID WASTE STORAGE

What Would the Alki 11 Rowhouses Look Like?

I can tell you that the proposed Alki 11 rowhouse project is way out of scale for the neighborhood, but words can't communicate just HOW much out of scale. For that, you need pictures.

Let's start with what's on that property right now.

These three little cottages were home for a total of 5 people, all of whom were evicted to make way for this project. The Alki 11 is expected to provide housing for 33 people. 

Here is an architect's rendering of what the Alki 11 rowhouse project will look like on the 55th Ave SW side, with 5 units facing the street. 

And this is what it will look like on the Wickstrom Ave side, with 6 more units facing the street. The project is so densely built, that only 14 to 16 of the 22 cars it will add to the neighborhood will have off street parking. An estimated 6-8 cars will have to park on the street. 

For comparison, here are two multi-family buildings on the same block. They do not have additional houses behind them. There are 5 households (10 residents), plenty of green space and off street parking for all but one car. 

Density doesn't have to mean sacrificing green space or parking. Right sized developments, thoughtfully designed, can improve a neighborhood. If you have examples of good design in your area, please leave a comment and give the address. Let's use those positive examples to create a vision of what we want for our community.