The Land Use Committee recommended approval of the Major Institution Master Plan (MIMP) for the University of Washington Medical Center Northwest (Clerk File 314511 and Council Bill 120963), adopting the hearing examiner’s findings and conditions and forwarding the matter to the full council.

Council Central Staff summarized the MIMP process: major institutions follow an overlay procedure that includes a Development Advisory Committee (DAC); for this MIMP the DAC convened 16 public meetings and issued a final recommendation in July 2024. SDCI published a conditional recommendation in September 2024; the hearing examiner held an open record hearing in October 2024 and recommended conditional approval in December 2024. The council would need to adopt findings and effectuate the revised major institution overlay map and development standards through the council bill.

The committee voted to add the findings, conclusions and decisions to the clerk file and to recommend passage of the ordinance. Roll calls show Councilmember Moore, Councilmember Rink, Councilmember Rivera and Chair Solomon voted in favor (4‑0). During committee Q&A Councilmember Moore asked about protections for significant trees around the hospital campus; she signaled she will bring an amendment at full council to add greater specificity to tree protections and said the hearing examiner had addressed tree issues to some degree.

Central staff noted that conditions attached to the MIMP derive from three sources: the MIMP approval itself, rezone authority, and additional city SEPA or other authorities. The committee’s recommendation will be transmitted to the full council for final action on April 8, 2025.