Seattle Department of Neighborhoods – Page 2

Get to Know Our New Deputy Director: Sarah Morningstar

SARAH MORNINGSTAR
Department Deputy Director for Community Investments

AT-A-GLANCE

Where did you grow up: Right here in Seattle!
What neighborhood do you call home: Currently, Eastlake is home, but South Seattle was home for 37 years.
What makes your neighborhood special: I love the variety of housing and architectural styles that make up Eastlake!
Dogs, cats, or both: Both! We’ve a cat and a puppy.
Go-to-coffee order: Two shots over ice with a splash of milk.
Embarrassing moment: Once, while on vacation, I had the opportunity to be a back-up dancer for Robin Williams. Let’s just say I didn’t miss my professional calling.

MORE ABOUT SARAH

For the last two years, Sarah worked as a campaign director with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society where she raised money to support the fight against cancer. Prior to this, Sarah spent 16 years with Seattle Public Schools as both a teacher and vice principal where she worked with students, families, and teachers to close the opportunity gap. In her role with Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, Sarah will oversee established, thriving community building programs such as P-Patch Community Gardening Program, the Neighborhood Matching Fund, Historic Preservation, and Major Institutions and School Program, along with the department’s internal operations.

“I’m excited to identify occasions where we might better serve all Seattleites. I’m also eager to establish new connections with historically underserved communities and to guide our programs’ incorporation of thoughtful, equitable environmental stewardship.”

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Volunteers needed to advise on development plans for Kaiser Permanente

Here’s your chance to advise the City on the development plans of the Kaiser Permanente campus. Seattle Department of Neighborhoods is seeking interested community members from surrounding neighborhoods to participate on the Kaiser Permanente Standing Advisory Committee (SAC). This committee provides feedback on projects planned and under development by the hospital to ensure it complies with its Master Plan. The Master Plan describes zoning rules, long range planning of the property, and transportation planning.

Community members who have experience in neighborhood organizing and issues, land use and zoning, architecture or landscape architecture, economic development, building development, medical services, or just an interest in their neighborhood’s future are encouraged to apply.

The committee meets in the evenings at the campus four to six times a year. Committee members serve a two-year renewable term. If you are interested in serving on this committee, send a letter of interest by either e-mail or regular mail by Monday, July 30 to:

Maureen Sheehan

E-mail: Maureen.Sheehan@seattle.gov

Mailing Address: Seattle Department of Neighborhoods; P.O. Box 94649; Seattle, WA 98124-4649

For more information contact Maureen Sheehan, Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, at 206-684-0302.

The City of Seattle is committed to promoting diversity in its boards and committees; women, young adults, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, sexual and gender minorities, persons of color, and immigrants are highly encouraged to apply.

The Major Institutions and Schools Program provides a way for neighbors of Seattle’s hospitals, universities, and colleges to be directly involved in the development plans for those institutions to ensure neighborhood concerns are considered when those plans are made. It is a program of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods.

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Seattle neighbors can offer early input on new development proposals

As of July 1, neighbors and businesses near proposed developments will receive early notification about the projects. Called Early Community Outreach for Design Review, this new City requirement was adopted by Seattle City Council to ensure that community members located close to a project are aware of the development and to encourage dialogue between the community and developers before the first public design review meeting. This requirement only affects development projects that go through Design Review, which are typically new multifamily, commercial, or industrial buildings above a certain size.

“Early engagement of community allows for a more focused and productive development process where shared interests can be discussed. Many developers are already reaping the benefits of doing community outreach early and often. Having this requirement in place ensures all projects follow this same best practice.”

– Andrés Mantilla, interim director of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods

To involve community members, developers will do three types of early outreach – print, in-person, and digital. Their outreach may take the form of a mailed flyer, community meeting, online survey, or a website, to name a few. Once the outreach is complete, the developer provides documentation sharing the results with Seattle Department of Neighborhoods (DON). If the developer meets the requirements, DON submits the information on behalf of the developer to Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) so that the project can move forward with Design Review. The community can access a summary of information collected during outreach on SDCI’s website.

Seattle Department of Neighborhoods (DON) administers this program in partnership with SDCI. DON staff advises developers on their outreach plans, if requested, as well as provides several resources and tools for developers on its Early Community Outreach for Design Review webpage. The webpage also shares a listing of all projects conducting early outreach with project locations, descriptions, and contact information, as well as an online calendar of outreach events.

The new requirement for early community outreach was adopted by Seattle City Council as part of Ordinance No. 125429 in October 2017. A video that summarizes the Rule and the supporting resources for Seattle City Council can be found in our FAQ.

Learn More

To learn more, community members can participate in a Reddit AMA session for developers on the following dates (find it under SEA_Neighborhoods):

July 10, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
August 14, 8:00 – 9:00 a.m.

In addition, Seattle Department of Neighborhoods will host two information sessions for community members this fall.

To find more information, visit our webpage; and for questions, email DREarlyOutreach@seattle.gov.

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Mayor Durkan seeks new member for International Special Review District Board

Mayor Jenny Durkan invites community members to apply for an open position on the International Special Review District Board. An elected position (Position #1 – Business Owner, Property Owner, or Employee) has become vacant and in accordance with the Board’s Rules and Procedures, will be filled through a Mayoral appointment.

The appointee will complete the remainder of the elected term which ends November 30, 2019. Individuals who live in the District, are a member of a community organization, or demonstrate active interest in the community and have an interest in historic preservation are encouraged to apply.

International Special Review District Board

The seven-member International Special Review District Board reviews facade alterations, signs, new construction, changes of use, and street improvements, and makes recommendations to the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods director for all properties within the International Special Review District. The goals of the board are to maintain architectural character, cultural heritage, social diversity, and through the use of historic preservation, enhance the economic climate in the International Special Review District.

Board meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 4:30 p.m. for one to three hours. Board members may be asked to serve on an additional committee as the Board deems appropriate. In general, members must be able to commit approximately five to six hours per month to Board business.

The ISRD Board is made up of five elected members and two members who are appointed by the mayor and confirmed by Seattle City Council. The five elected members consist of:

Two members who own property in the Chinatown International District, or who own or are employed by businesses located in the Chinatown International District.
Two members who are either residents (including tenants) or persons with a recognized and demonstrated interest in the welfare of the Chinatown International District community.
One member-at-large.

Application Process

Interested applicants must be Seattle residents. Board members serve without compensation. Those interested in being considered should send a letter of interest and resume by Friday, June 29, 2018. Electronic submissions are preferred, if possible.

Please email your letter and resume to: rebecca.frestedt@seattle.gov (reference the International Special Review District in the subject line). To submit a paper copy, please address:

Rebecca Frestedt
International Special Review District
Seattle Department of Neighborhoods
P.O. Box 94649
Seattle, WA, 98124-4649

For more information, contact Rebecca Frestedt at (206) 684-0226.

The City of Seattle is committed to promoting diversity in the city’s boards and commissions. Women, persons with disabilities, sexual and gender minorities, young persons, senior citizens, persons of color, and immigrants are encouraged to apply.

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Landmarks Preservation Board to consider nomination of University of Washington’s Parrington Hall for landmark status

Parrington Hall (Photo by Joe Mabel)

Seattle’s Landmarks Preservation Board will consider nomination of the University of Washington Parrington Hall (4105 Memorial Drive NE) on Wednesday, July 18 at 3:30 p.m. The meeting will be held in Seattle City Hall (600 4th Avenue, Floor L2) in the Boards & Commissions Room L2-80.

The public is invited to attend the meeting and make comments regarding the nomination. Written comments are also accepted and should be received by the Landmarks Preservation Board at the following mailing address by 3:00 p.m. on July 17:

Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board
Seattle Department of Neighborhoods
PO Box 94649
Seattle, WA 98124-4649

A copy of the Landmark Nomination is available for public review at the University Branch Library (5009 Roosevelt Way NE) and the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods office in Seattle City Hall, 600 4th Avenue, 4th Floor (206-684-0228). It is also posted on the Department of Neighborhoods website, under the heading of “Current Nominations.”

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