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Special Use

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A special use permit allows a property owner to request approval for a use that is allowed in the zone only if certain criteria are met. The City reviews the proposal to make sure it fits the neighborhood and meets safety and compatibility standards. Please review Shoreline Municipal Code (SMC) 20.30.330 to learn more about the City’s special use permit regulations. 

How to Apply

Apply for this permit online at the City of Shoreline's eTRAKiT permitting portal. Once you are logged into your account, select Apply/New Permit from the left-hand sidebar and select the following permit type from the drop-down menu: Pre-Intake Record.

Once PIN requests are submitted, the rest of the intake process is facilitated by a permit technician. A permit technician will send further instructions by email to complete the process.

Prerequisites

  • Neighborhood Meeting
    • The neighborhood meeting must be held before the application can be submitted to the City.

Required Documents

  • Permit Application and Critical Areas Worksheet
  • Submittal Fee
    • Please reference the City’s fee schedule for current application fees.
  • Cover Letter
    • Must explicitly address how the proposed use complies with the Special Use Permit (SUP) Criteria (SMC 20.30.330(B)).
    • Must provide a detailed description of the proposed use(s). This should include:
      • Details of any new construction (building size, height, floor area, hardscape coverage, etc.)
      • Number of employees.
      • Hours of operation.
      • Project timeline.
      • Principal and secondary activities. Where new construction is anticipated, provide a conceptual sketch, a project timeline, and identify any permits you will be applying for.
  • Neighborhood Meeting Summary
    • Please see requirements in SMC 20.30.090(C).
    • Must include list of meeting attendees and their contact information (address or email address).
    • Must include a copy of the notice that was mailed, and the mailing list.
    • Summary of concerns, issues and problems expressed during the meeting, and the applicant’s response to each item.
    • A summary of proposed modifications or changes to address neighbor concerns, OR a summary of why the applicant is unwilling or unable to address the concern.
  • Proof of Legal Lot
    • Provide proof that each property involved in the adjustment was created in accordance with the state’s subdivision laws. A legal lot is:
      • One that was created by a formal or short subdivision; or
      • Property that was created before October 1, 1972 in accordance with County regulations in place at the time it was created; or
      • Established prior to state and county subdivision and land use regulations.
    • Proof of legal lot could be a copy of a plat document, lot line adjustment, or a copy of legal conveyance, such as a collection of deeds or real estate contracts. 
  • Site Plan
  • Vicinity Map 
    • Please include the following on the vicinity map:
      • Graphic scale and north arrow. 
      • The exact boundaries of all properties within a 500’ radius of the perimeter of the subject property. 
      • Existing zoning and land use designations of all properties within a 500’ radius of the perimeter of the subject property.
      • The location, width, and name of all public and private roads in the vicinity of the subject property. 
      • The name and location of any public parks, libraries and similar facilities in the vicinity of the subject property. 

Additional Documents (Possibly Required)

  • SEPA Environmental Checklist
    • Required if the project is not categorically exempt as described in SMC 20.30.560 or WAC 197-11-800.
    • Additional fee for SEPA Environmental Checklist review is required at the time of application, as specified in the City's fee schedule.
  • Transportation Impact Analysis
    • Required for each development or project proposal that would generate 20 or more new vehicle trips during the P.M. peak hour consistent most with current edition of the Trip Generation Manual, published by the Institute of Traffic Engineers (ITE), or if the City Traffic Engineer assesses that the project will have significant impacts to the transportation system, even if the 20-trip threshold is not met.
    • The report must follow the guidelines in Appendix E of the City’s Engineering Development Manual.
  • Water Availability Certificate