SDOT’s Street Use Division manages the City’s rights of way (ROW), regulating activities that impact safety, mobility and the environment. In these last few years of unprecedented growth, we’ve taken a more holistic approach to right-of-way management.
- We closely coordinate public and private projects, bringing contractors, residents, and businesses together to problem-solve.
- We’ve created tools to enhance planning: an online Traffic Control Plan Base Map, a Construction Management Plan (CMP) template and multiple Site Plan and Traffic Control Plan (TCP) templates.
- With our new Project Coordination Office, we’re looking further out for project planning – one to five years – to coordinate impacts to existing city infrastructure. The earlier we plan, the more we protect public assets, maintain mobility, streamline processes and improve service.
So, what if we took this idea even further, before conflicts exist? Coming in at the early design stage, we could reduce impact challenges for communities and planners. Enter the innovative Development Review Program. This new program starts with enhanced SDOT engagement during the early stages of private development projects. The chart below shows our previous practice versus SDOT’s new enhanced role. The improved coordination will help make private development review more thorough and efficient.
The program is in partnership with the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspection (SDCI) with SDOT increasing its engagement on development projects through the Master Use Permit (MUP) process. The MUP is a single permit that integrates all process, procedure, and review elements—and through this new collaborative City effort, will help ensure positive results. Development Review Program goals include:
- Aligning private development with city priorities and multimodal operations
- Providing high quality customer service with consistent information to the public and direction to developers
- Identifying opportunities to better leverage private development for city transportation system improvements
Working together with the development community to design the city keeps it connected and vibrant— a better outcome for all!
If you’re interested in learning more about the effort, contact Sara Zora at sara.zora@seattle.gov.