Shoreline Planning Commission Public Hearing on Outdoor Seating Code Amendments - July 21, 2022
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Shoreline Planning Commission Public Hearing on Outdoor Seating Code Amendments - July 21, 2022
The Shoreline Planning Commission held a public hearing on July 21, 2022, to consider proposed development code amendments allowing expanded outdoor seating in association with eating and drinking uses. The amendments build on temporary regulations (Ordinance 985, effective July 27, 2020) that have been extended four times during the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff presented survey and focus group results, proposed code changes, and a newly added ventilation standard suggested by Seattle-King County Public Health. No public testimony was received. The Commission unanimously voted to recommend approval of the amendments to the City Council.
Staff Presentation & Discussion
- Kate Lee, planner in the Planning Community Development Department, presented the background: five businesses filed outdoor seating registrations on private property, with two still active. An online survey (March–April 2022) received 25 responses from business operators. Staff also met with a small focus group of three local restaurant/bar/brewery owners.
- The proposed amendments allow outdoor seating only in association with eating or drinking uses, permit conversion of off‑street parking into seating areas, and establish design standards for furniture. No additional off‑street parking is required for creating these spaces.
- Parking conversion limits:
- Single‑tenant sites: up to 4 parking spaces or 30% of required off‑street parking, whichever is greater.
- Multi‑tenant sites: up to 4 required parking spaces per tenant, or 30% of required off‑street parking, whichever is less.
- A ventilation standard was added based on a comment from Seattle-King County Public Health received June 21, 2022.
- Commissioners expressed appreciation for the outreach to business owners and the addition of the ventilation requirement. Vice Chair Wamishon Jay noted the amendments promote both vibrancy and public health. Chair Sager, Commissioner Lin, and others voiced support.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public signed up to speak or testified.
Key Outcomes
- Motion: Commissioner Callahan moved to recommend approval of the proposed outdoor seating development code amendments (as shown in Attachment A) to the City Council. Vice Chair Wamishon Jay seconded.
- Vote: All present commissioners voted aye (Commissioners Callahan, Galusca, Lin, Mauzier, Vice Chair Wamishon Jay, Chair Sager). Commissioner Brynn was absent with notice. The motion passed unanimously.
- Next Steps: The Commission's recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council, which is scheduled to discuss the item on August 15, 2022, and take tentative action on September 12, 2022.
Other Business
- Director’s Report: Planning Manager Andrew Bauer announced a commission retreat scheduled in two weeks. An email was sent to commissioners regarding the start time (5:30 PM vs. later). The retreat will be held at City Hall (third-floor conference room) with an outdoor rooftop terrace option for dining. The agenda includes working through business items and socialization.
Meeting Transcript
As soon as they hit the webinar in process, we go ahead. Recording in progress. Good evening. I'd like to call to order the shoreline planning commission public hearing for Thursday, July 21st, 2022. First item on the agenda is roll call. Thank you. Commissioner Callahan. Here. Commissioner Galusca. Present. Commissioner Lin. Here. Commissioner Mauzier. Here. Vice Chair Wamishon Jay. I'm present. And Chair Sager. Here. Thank you. And Commissioner Brynn is absent with notice. Thank you. Thank you. I'm sorry, Brinson. Thank you. Next item on the agenda is the approval of the agenda. Does anybody wish to make any changes? Okay, I'm seeing none. Next item is general public comment. Do we have anybody signed up for general public comment today? We do not. Great. Thank you. That brings us to our public hearing portion. Tonight's public hearing is regarding outdoor seating development code amendments. Purpose for the hearing is to obtain public testimony and for the commission to develop a recommendation to forward to the city council on this topic. The process for the public hearing is as follows. The city will present its staff report. The commission will be given an opportunity to ask clarifying questions. Individuals will be given an opportunity to testify. After all testimony has been received, the commission will begin deliberation and may ask the questions of the staff or individuals who testified. The commission will vote and then close the public hearing. I now wish to open the public hearing. Good evening. I'm Kate Lee, a planner in the planning community development department here to present on this item tonight of outdoor seating. So this is the agenda for the presentation. I'll briefly go over the background, the public outreach on this proposed development code amendment, go over the proposed code and outline next steps in the process. So ordinance number 985 was effective on July 27th, 2020, and these regulations have been extended four times. The purpose was to allow increased flexibility with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. And five businesses have filed outdoor seating registrations on private property, none within the right-of-way, and two of those on private property continue to be in use. So there was an online survey held from March to April of this year.
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