DPD Approves Swedish/Sabey Request for Master Plan Extension
The Department of Planning and Development (DPD), on February 28, issued a decision finding that the request by Swedish Medical Center to extend the expiration of the Providence Master Plan was a “minor amendment”. The effect of that decision is that the current Master Plan which, by its terms, was set to expire in 2009, now will be extended until August 2011.
The Squire Park Community Council wrote to DPD opposing the request for an extension. SPCC is concerned about the possibility that Swedish Medical Center and or the Sabey Corporation, the owners of the former Providence Campus, would continue the practice of Sabey in the last few years of proposing developments quite different from the developments authorized in the current Master Plan. DPD has authorized each of those proposals as “minor amendments”. The next area of development on the Providence campus will most likely be the east side of 18th Avenue. The current Providence MIMP authorizes a day care center and an inn serving patients’ families for that street. Sabey and Swedish have stated that they do not intend to develop a day care center and inn.
The DPD decision allowing the extension of the current Master Plan states that “(i)f the Hospital chooses to develop in a manner substantially different from that identified in the Master Plan, it would have to either propose a major amendment to the Plan, or draft a new master Plan.” (for the full decision: http://web1.seattle.gov/dpd/luib/Notice.aspx?BID=291&NID=7566 and follow the link to “see interpretation”)
This language seems to set out a significant bar to any near-term new development on 18th Avenue that is much different in height, bulk, scale, and use than the day care or inn buildings.
Development that might be considered as part of a new Master Plan after the current one expires in 2011, will have to go through a more complete public and DPD review. The Citizens Advisory Committee for the campus has recently begun a discussion with the institution and with DPD on a long range vision for future (post 2011) campus development. All interested residents are encouraged to stay aware of the CAC meetings. See www.squirepark.org for a schedule of meetings, or sign up for the list service, squirepark@yahoogroups.com