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SeaTac council approves site-evaluation criteria for proposed civic campus; consulting team to begin feasibility analysis
Summary
The SeaTac City Council approved a set of site-evaluation criteria and authorized staff and consultants to proceed with due diligence and feasibility work to identify candidate parcels for a new civic campus and city hall.
The SeaTac City Council voted to approve a set of site-evaluation criteria and to authorize the city manager and outside consultants to begin feasibility work on potential locations for a civic campus and new city hall.
What the council approved: The site-evaluation criteria approved by the council emphasize (1) the ability of a site to accommodate the core functional program (city hall, parking and a public plaza), (2) accessibility and proximity to transit and walkability, (3) surrounding uses and amenities that support civic life, (4) known site constraints (e.g., soils, contamination, floodplain) and (5) transaction and construction costs including environmental mitigation. The council directed staff to use a stoplight (green/yellow/red) approach to surface strengths, weaknesses and tradeoffs among candidate sites.
Community engagement: Cascadia Consulting Group summarized work to date on public engagement: an initial online and in-person survey (about 300 responses) in multiple languages and outreach at community events. Respondents prioritized accessible, adaptable gathering spaces, food offerings and services — themes the team said would inform programming work as site feasibility proceeds.
Timeline and method: JLL and city staff outlined a parallel three-track approach: site evaluation and massing studies, community programming engagement and a financial feasibility review. Staff said they will apply the approved criteria to a long list of potential parcels, narrow the list to two to four target sites for deeper due diligence, then prepare a feasibility report for council in June with a summary presentation anticipated in July.
Executive-session preview: Councilmembers asked for a confidential executive-session briefing on specific parcels before any public disclosures, citing concerns that public discussion could affect property prices; staff acknowledged that discussion of particular sites may be appropriate in executive session under state law and said a narrowed list could be presented behind closed doors for council review.
Next steps: Staff will (1) apply the criteria to the initial list of candidate sites, (2) request limited access agreements as needed for on-site due diligence, (3) recruit and compensate community liaisons in multiple languages to inform programming, and (4) return with a feasibility report and recommended top sites and financing scenarios by mid-year. The council approved the motion to proceed (voice vote recorded as six in favor).
