Burgess, González and Herbold Amendment 1 to Council Conditions in Clerk File 314278
Petition of Acorn Development LLC for the vacation of the alley in Block 21, Heirs of Sarah A.
Bell’s 2nd Addition, which is the block between Bell Street, 7 th Avenue, Blanchard Street, and
8th Avenue in the Denny Triangle neighborhood of Seattle
This amendment would amend the Transportation Committee’s recommended conditional
approval of the vacation of the alley on the block bounded by Bell Street, 7 th Avenue, Blanchard
Street and 8th Avenue. Amazon has requested vacation of the alley in order to facilitate the
development of two office towers on the block. In exchange, Amazon will pay the City for the
value of the alley and provide a number of public benefits outlined in the Council’s conditions.
The Transportation Committee voted 4 to 1 to support the vacation with conditions on
December 8, 2015. The Transportation Committee’s proposed conditions are contained in Clerk
File 314278. On December 14, 2105, the Full Council voted to hold the Clerk File for a vote on
January 11, 2016.
This amendment to the Transportation Committee’s proposed conditions would require that
free speech activities, such as hand billing, signature gathering and holding signs be allowed
within the areas provided as public benefits. In addition, the conditions would be amended to
clarify that publicly visible signage specify that these free speech activities are permitted in the
publicly accessible open space on site.
The amendment would amend condition 7 to state:
7. The Petitioner shall develop and maintain the public benefit elements as defined
by the City Council. A Property Use and Development Agreement (PUDA) or
other binding mechanism shall be required to ensure that the public benefit
elements remain open and accessible to the public 24 hours a day with
temporary closures permitted for reasons such as maintenance, safety or private
functions, and to outline future maintenance obligations of the improvements.
Free speech activities such as hand billing, signature gathering, and holding signs, all
without obstructing access to the space, the building, or other adjacent amenity
features, and without unreasonably interfering with the enjoyment of the space by
others, shall be allowed within these public benefit features. While engaged in
allowed activities, members of the public may not be asked to leave for any reason
other than conduct that unreasonably interferes with the enjoyment of the space by
others. Signage clearly identifying public access and allowed free speech
activities is required at the public open space elements and shall require the
review and approval of SDOT Street Vacations. Signage shall be consistent with
signage provided for public amenity space on the site. Any violation of these

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 conditions will be enforced through Chapter 15.90 of the Seattle Municipal Code.
The final design of the public benefit elements shall require the review and
approval of SDOT Street Vacations. SDOT may request additional review by the
Design Commission of the implementation of the public benefit elements or the
pedestrian enhancements, as necessary. Public benefit elements in the right-ofway require additional street use permits and indemnification, public and
private areas must be distinguished and markers in the sidewalk shall be
required. The public benefit requirements include the following features as well
as corresponding development standards, including approximate square footage
dimensions, which shall be outlined in the PUDA:
Public Benefit
On Site
1 8th Ave
Hillclimb

Description


2

Blanchard

Street Setback

3

Bell Street
Setback



12,000 sf publically accessible open space including:
o Accessible ramp from corner of 8th & Bell to mid-block
plaza
o 2854 sf of planting
o 10 trees
o 132 lf seating elements
o Overhead soffit element
1,100 sf setback along the Blanchard Green Street
including:
o 935 sf of planting
o 5 trees
o 59 lf seating elements
1,000 sf setback along the Bell Green Street including:
o 877 sf of planting
o 4 trees
o 20 lf seating elements

Adjacent Public R.O.W.
4 7th Ave
 4,700 sf expanded pedestrian streetscape including:
Improvements
o 1,366 sf of planting
and Cycle
o 7’ wide elevated cycle track running the length of the
Track
block
o 6 street trees (11 total new trees)
o Bus stop
o 5 pedestrian light fixtures
o Enhanced curb bulbs at each corner
th
5 8 Ave
 3,300 sf expanded pedestrian streetscape including:
Improvements
o 663 sf of planting
o 5 street trees (7 total new trees)
o 4 pedestrian light fixtures

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 6

Blanchard

Street
Improvements

7

Bell Street

Improvements

Off-Site Benefits
8 8th & Bell
Intersection
9 Bell Street
Cycle Track

10 Bell Street
Concept Plan








o 74 lf seating elements
o Enhanced curb bulbs at each corner
750 sf expanded pedestrian streetscape including:
o 258 sf of planting
o 4 Street Trees (7 total new trees)
o 4 pedestrian light fixtures
o 74 lf seating elements
o Enhanced curb bulbs at each corner
1,800 sf expanded pedestrian streetscape including:
o 441 sf of planting
o 4 Street Trees (5 total new trees)
o 4 pedestrian light fixtures
o 10 lf seating elements
o Enhanced curb bulbs at each corner
5,350 sf raised intersection and sidewalk to enhance
pedestrian safety
4,500 sf buffered bike lane on the north side of Bell Street
from Denny to 7th consistent with the Center City Bike
Network including:
o Buffered element to be planter or similar element
approved by SDOT
Development of conceptual street plan from 5th Ave to
Denny Way to be adopted by Joint Director’s Rule by
SDOT and DPD.
Purpose of this Street Concept Plan is to inform future
development to reinforce the Bell Street Park design
character

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