Concerned neighbors understand that Loyal Heights Elementary needs to increase capacity and make long overdue updates and improvements, but we want a plan that balances the needs of the school district with the needs of the neighborhood! Your presence at this meeting is crucial and will let the district know that the conversation about the proposed plan is not over! Please join your community and neighbors to give feedback and voice concerns about the proposed Loyal Heights Elementary remodel and expansion. This could be the last opportunity to do so!

Public is invited to attend a meeting and provide comments on
Tuesday, September 15th at 6:30 pm in the school lunchroom

A public meeting is scheduled to discuss the Seattle School District’s request for a waiver from City zoning regulations to modernize Loyal Heights Elementary School and construct an addition to the building.

The Seattle School District is requesting changes to City zoning regulations for the following:

1) Increase lot coverage from the 35% allowed to 50%.
Impacts: Loss of open space, decreased recreational space for students and the surrounding community, loss of grass field, loss of basketball court.

2) Increase maximum height from the 35 ft. allowed to 60 ft.
Impacts: Significant visual impact, loss of light, height of building out of scale with the surrounding homes and businesses.

3) Reduce setbacks to 0 ft. in some locations.
Impacts: Loss of trees, loss of landscaping, imposing structure built out to the sidewalks in some areas, very large school on very small lot.

4) Eliminate requirements to provide off-street parking.
Impacts: Current school has no onsite parking - increase in student population, faculty, and staff will have severe impact on neighbors and businesses and district plans do not include parking estimates for the proposed preschool, increased traffic heightens safety issues for walkers and crossing guards these issues will be exacerbated by lack of parking.

5) Allow continued on-street bus loading.
Impacts: Narrow streets already make it difficult for the 2 current buses - adding an addition 2-3 buses will add to this problem, bus zone along 25th will need to be larger to accommodate more buses which further impacts parking concerns, school district plans do not include potential bussing impacts from the proposed preschool.

This meeting will include a School District presentation on the requested changes before the Development Standards Departure Advisory Committee, a group composed of neighbors and School District and City representatives. After the presentation, the public is invited to make comments concerning the request.

Following public testimony, the committee will make a recommendations to either grant outright, grant with conditions, or deny the requested zoning modifications; or it can decide to hold additional meetings if it feels more information is needed. The final decision is made by the Seattle Department of Planning and Development.

If community members cannot attend the meeting, written comments can be submitted to:
Maureen Sheehan
Seattle Department of Neighborhoods
P.O. Box 94649
Seattle, WA 98124-4649
maureen.sheehan@seattle.gov