Consistent with the City's long-range goals for the area, the City Council voted 7-1 (CM Licata voted No; CM Harrell disqualified himself) this afternoon to approve a land use amendment that will allow construction of three medical research buildings in the South Lake Union neighborhood at Mercer Street and Dexter Avenue North. (I blogged earlier about this topic here, a link that includes a video summary of my position.)
Today's action is another step toward creation of an Urban Center environment in South Lake Union that encourages much higher job and residential density and development of bio-tech and medical research facilities.
The public review process for these changes started last summer and was extensive, including neighborhood meetings, Council hearings, a great deal of lobbying by neighborhood and University of Washington representatives, and debate among council members. Some argued that approving the rezone now would compromise the ongoing neighborhood planning process, but I found that the changes being sought by the UW were consistent with the existing neighborhood plan, last modified in 2007, and would advance vital medical research.
While the ongoing neighborhood planning is important, so too is our effort to grow this area and create the overall environment that has been chosen for South Lake Union. As former Mayor Charles Royer is purported to have said, "Seattle likes to chew but not swallow." I think it's very OK to swallow during the meal (neighborhood planning). I would have opposed the rezone had it been inconsistent with the existing neighborhood plan.
The final Council action lowered the maximum height limit allowed on the parcels that were rezoned to 120 feet, plus up to 15 feet for rooftop mechanical equipment, and added an open space and street-scape activation requirements.