1918 WALL ST 2018-01-02 MF Import

B. FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS: VARIANCE The following findings and conclusions are based on the criteria established in Section 19.70.060A and B and Ordinance 692-80 (Hearing Examiner) Section 14: The County is seeking a Variance from Section 19.30.060 E.M.C. which establishes a maximum height of buildings in the C-1 zone at 65 feet. The Variance would permit the Jail structure to extend to an average height of 120 feet. The subject property is part of the contiguous Snohomish County Governmental Complex which is an exceptional or extraordinary circumstance that does not generally apply tc other Dro;')erties in the zone. The proposed structure will be generally in s::ale with :he current County Administration Building, as the building will be appro> imately 60 feet taller than the Administration Building but will be constructed on a site approximately 50 feet below the base eleva'ion of the Administration Building. 3. The County proposal does not represent special circumstances which apply to the property that deny it rights and privileges which are enjoyed by other properties in the vicinity under the identical zone cla-.-ifications, but rather that it has a special public responsibility to provide detention facilities which are humane, secure, and an economical use of Public funds. These responsibilities are best satisified by the structure as described. 4. The variance requested will not be detrimental to the public welfare or injurious to the properties or improvements in the vicinity of a zone in which the property is located, inasmuch as the buildings will be separated from the properties of others by public_ streets or alleys. These facilities, together with the existing Carnegie Building, will become a logical extension of the existing County Campus. The proposed structure will not block residential vl ws. 5. The Comprehensive Plan designates this property for Central Business District uses. The purpose section of the B-3 Central Business District zone (Sec. 19.28.O10B) which implements the Comprehensive Plan supports governmental uses in this area by stating the zone is to provide a multi -use character: retail, financial, office, governmental and residential. The County's Master Plan for this block calls for the continued use of the Carnegie Building for office uses, the expansion of the Jail and Work Release facilities and the construction of parking garages. 6. If this Variance is not granted, an unnecessary hardship will continue to the County, the cause of which is beyond its control. Specifically, the County would be obligated to increase the horizontal dimensions of the detention facility at the public expense of increased land acquisitions; decreased parking am expansion opportunities; decreased building setbacks; and decreased opportunities for landscaping. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Based on the above findings and conclusions, the Staff recommends approval of the Special Property Use Permit and Variance for the construction of the Snohomish County Jail in the 3000 block of Lombard Avenue and the same Special Property Use Permit for the remodel of the Employment Security Building at 3015 Oakes Avenue for use as a Work Release facility with the following conditions: --5-