Here’s your chance to serve on an advisory committee that will recommend whether to grant zoning modifications needed for renovation of the vacant Magnolia Elementary School. Seattle Department of Neighborhoods is seeking seven community members to serve on this committee.

The Seattle School District is requesting a modification (known as a “departure”) from select City zoning regulations for the renovation and addition to the Magnolia Elementary School located at 2418 28th Ave W.  The modifications are:

1) Greater than normally allowed lot coverage.

2) Greater than allowed building height.

3) Less than required setbacks (TBD pending further review).

4) Less than required off-street parking.

5) On-street bus loading and unloading (TBD pending further review).

The committee will convene one to three public meeting(s) at Catharine Blaine K-8 (2550 34th Ave W) during a 90-day period beginning when the committee is appointed. At the meetings, the committee will receive briefings from the School District, and gather and evaluate public comment on the departure requests. Following these meetings, the committee will forward a recommendation to the Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections (SDCI) to either grant or deny the requested modifications. The committee may also recommend relevant conditions to be applied to granting these changes to minimize its impacts on the surrounding neighborhood. SDCI will make the final decision.

Those who can apply to the committee are neighbors who live or own a business within 600’ of Magnolia Elementary School, residents in the surrounding neighborhood, representatives of city-wide education issues, and parents of future MES students. Other committee members will include a representative from the School District and City of Seattle.

To apply, please send a letter of interest by either e-mail or regular mail to:

Maureen Sheehan
Seattle Department of Neighborhoods
PO Box 94649
Seattle, WA 98124-4649

Email: Maureen.sheehan@seattle.gov

Letters of interest should be received by Thursday, April 14.

For more information contact Maureen Sheehan at Maureen.sheehan@seattle.gov or 206-684-0302.

The City of Seattle is committed to promoting diversity in its boards and committees; women, young adults, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, sexual and gender minorities, persons of color, and immigrants are highly encouraged to apply.