3561 44th Street West Mixed-Use Project

At a glance

Based on human-uploaded captions, which may still contain errors in names and numbers.

What: a four-story mixed-use building with 18 dwelling units and about 2,000 square feet of commercial space at 3561 44th Street West and 4409 Chowen Avenue South (replacing an auto repair building and a duplex). It needs site plan review, a rezoning to add a split zoning overlay district, and two floor area ratio premiums.
Where it stands: on October 20, 2026 the committee denied a neighbor's appeal of the Planning Commission's site plan approval, 7-0 on a roll call, and approved the rezoning on a voice vote.
Next: full City Council vote on both items; final drainage and utility details come later in public works review.

The Planning Commission approved the site plan on September 28 with 11 conditions. The appeal was filed October 8 by an owner of property on the same block, who said he supports the project.
Concerns: the location of a pad-mounted transformer next to a shared driveway (a private alley easement used by seven properties), the need for protective bollards inside the easement, and stormwater drainage toward the easement that could worsen standing water. The appellant asked that the plan be modified and that agreements with easement beneficiaries be required as conditions.
Staff said the approval does not authorize any obstruction of the easement, final drainage is decided later by public works, and the project meets the zoning code and site plan standards; staff recommended denying the appeal.
The applicant's architect said the team is working with the utility, has a plan to avoid drainage into the easement using drain baskets, and has room for bollards and screening. The appellant's spouse said a pending data center ordinance would allow transformers in front or corner side yards for lots without alley access; staff confirmed a minor change like that is in the ordinance but this project does not rely on it.
The city attorney reminded members the quasi-judicial review is limited to site plan standards. Vice Chair Chowdhury moved to deny the appeal and uphold staff findings. Roll call: Rainville, Warren, Shaffer, Chavez, Chughtai, Chowdhury and Osman all aye.

Item 16 moved with a voice vote; Council Member Chavez asked for a follow-up on the data center ordinance before the Council vote.

About 23 minutes across 1 meeting (from transcript timestamps; approximate).

Meeting	Minutes
2026-10-20 - Business, Housing & Zoning Committee	23

2026-10-20 - Business, Housing & Zoning Committee - quasi-judicial hearing; appeal denied 7-0 on a roll call; later in the meeting the rezoning was approved on a voice vote.
2026-09-28 - City Planning Commission - hearing on site plan review and rezoning; two neighbors raised transformer, easement and drainage concerns; staff findings adopted 5-0.

Marked agenda: the site plan review appeal was denied and the rezoning adding the SZ Split Zoning Overlay District was approved.