Committee hears briefing on code amendments to streamline permitting for Ballard and West Seattle light rail

City of Seattle staff and Sound Transit representatives briefed the Land Use Committee on April 30 on Council Bill 120,975, a package of land-use and environmental-code amendments intended to streamline permitting and set design standards for Sound Transit’s ST3 projects, including the Ballard Link Extension and West Seattle Link Extension. The briefing was informational; the committee did not vote on the bill at the April 30 meeting.

Why it matters: The Ballard and West Seattle extensions are among the largest infrastructure projects in Seattle’s history. City staff said the code amendments aim to remove code conflicts, consolidate review where appropriate, and set consistent design expectations for linear transit facilities that cross multiple zoning districts.

City staff described two broad themes for the proposed code package: process improvements and design standards. Process changes include batching and simplifying master use permit (MUP) review, integrating a preliminary construction management plan (PCMP) into the MUP application, and requiring a project-level tree and vegetation management plan (TVMP) that would cover each extension comprehensively rather than resolving tree impacts permit by permit. Lindsay King of the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections said the city expects roughly 59 MUPs for the West Seattle extension and many more for Ballard; staff said…