NOTICE OF COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING ON AMENDMENTS TO THE LAND USE CODE GOVERNING URBAN AGRICULTURE

The Seattle City Council’s Regional Development and Sustainability Committee will be holding a public hearing on amendments to the Land Use Code governing urban agriculture uses, including new standards and definitions for “urban farms” and “community gardens”. If adopted, these uses would be permitted in all zones, with some limitations in industrial zones.  The proposal includes development standards for these uses, provisions for deliveries and hours of operations, updated definitions that support food production, and allowances for structures that support agricultural uses, including rooftop greenhouses dedicated to food production.  In addition, a new definition for “Farmers Markets” is also proposed, permitting these outright as retail sales and service uses in Commercial zones.  Changes are also proposed related to the keeping of farm animals in all zones that include a proposed increase from three to eight for the number of domestic fowl permitted on a lot. Prior to the introduction of the legislation to Council, DPD’s provision to prohibit roosters will be removed. The legislation would also permit existing urban horse farms greater than ten acres to operate as a permitted use in single-family zones.

PUBLIC HEARING
The City Council’s Regional Development and Sustainability Committee will hold a public hearing to take comments on the proposal on Wednesday, July 21 at 5:30pm.  The hearing will be held in Council Chamber, 2nd floor, Seattle City Hall, 600 Fourth Avenue. The entrances to City Hall are located on the west side of Fifth Avenue, and the east side of Fourth Avenue, between James and Cherry Streets.  For those who wish to testify, a sign-up sheet will be available outside the Council Chamber at 5:00pm.

Questions concerning the public hearing may be directed to Michael Jenkins, Council Central Staff, by calling (206) 615-1674, via e-mail at: michael.jenkins@seattle.gov or to Phyllis Shulman by calling (206) 684-8805 via email at: phyllis.shulman@seattle.gov.
Print and communications access is provided on prior request. Please contact Phyllis Shulman at (206) 684-8805 as soon as possible to request accommodations for a disability.

Written Comments
For those unable to attend the public hearing, comments will be accepted through 5:00 p.m. July  21, 2010.  Please send comments to:
 
Councilmember Richard Conlin

Legislative Department

600 Fourth Avenue Floor 2

PO Box 34025

Seattle, WA  98124-4025

INFORMATION AVAILABLE
Copies of the proposal are available online at: www.seattle.gov/dpd/urbanagriculture or from the DPD Public Resource Center, 700 5th Avenue, Suite 2000 in the Seattle Municipal Tower, 684-8467.  The Public Resource Center is open 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday.
Questions regarding the proposal or requests for electronic copies may be directed to Andrea Petzel at (206) 615-1256 or andrea.petzel@seattle.gov.

Directions
City Hall is located at 600 Fourth Avenue.  Council Chambers is on the 2nd Floor of City Hall.
Southbound on I-5: Take the James Street exit #165A and turn right on James Street.
Northbound on I-5: Take the James Street exit #164A and turn left on James Street.

After Hours Access:
City Hall is locked after 6:00 pm Mondays – Fridays.  For access to an evening meeting after that time, go to southernmost door on the 5th Avenue entrance.  Directly to the left (south) of the southernmost door, there is an intercom which is manned 24/7.  Press the button and when the guard responds, tell him that you’re attending the meeting in chambers.  They will electronically open the door nearest you.
City Hall Parking

There is no public event parking at City Hall other than a limited number of spaces that can be used for short-term needs.  Nearby parking can be found in the SeaPark garage on Sixth and Cherry.Take the meeting agenda to the attendant at SeaPark to qualify for a special rate of $3. City Hall is located one block due west of the garage.  The vehicle entrances to the garage are on: 1) Cherry, mid-block between Fifth and Sixth Avenues; or 2) Sixth Avenue at James Street; or 3) James, mid-block between Fifth and Sixth Avenues.
Physically Accessible Parking

Call 206-684-8888 to arrange for parking for individuals with state disability parking privileges.  http://www.seattle.gov/parks/projects/downtown/parking.pdf