>>> GOOD EVENING.
IT IS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21 IT
IS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2019.
THIS IS THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON
CITYWIDE MANDATORY HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY.
THIS MEETING WILL NOW COME TO
ORDER.
IT IS 5:30 2 PM.
I AM VICE CHAIR OF THE SELECT
COMMITTEE ON CITYWIDE MANDATORY
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND I AM
JOINED THIS EVENING I
COUNCILMEMBERS SAWANT AND WAREZ
-- JUAREZ.
I KNOW THERE ARE OTHERS
INTENDING TO JOIN US.
COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON WHO IS
THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE IS
UNABLE TO BE WITH US AS HE IS
ON VACATION WITH HIS FAMILY AND
HE IS FULFILLING A-- EXCUSE ME?
I'M GOING TO RUN A TIGHT SHIP
HERE.
I'M NOT GOING TO TOLERATE ANY
HECKLING.
UNDERSTOOD?
THERE ARE PEOPLE ON THE CITY
COUNCIL WHO DESERVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND TIME WITH
THEIR FAMILY AND THAT WILL BE
RESPECTED.
COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON IS
UNFORTUNATELY NOT ABLE TO CHAIR
THE COMMITTEE EVEN THOUGH HE
HAS CHAIRED EVERY OTHER SINGLE
COMMITTEE THAT THIS SELECT
COMMITTEE HAS HAD.
COUNCILMEMBER O'BRIEN AND
HARRELL WILL NOT BE ABLE TO
JOIN US AND COUNCILWOMEN BACK
SHOT WILL BE ARRIVING LATER
THIS-- BAGSHAW WILL BE JOINING
US THIS EVENING.
I KNOW THAT EVERYBODY'S STAFF
IS WATCHING THIS MEETING.
IT IS BEING STREAMED LIVE ON
THE SEATTLE CHANNEL.
THE COUNCILMEMBERS ARE GOING TO
BE ABLE TO WATCH THIS VIDEO
ONCE IT UPLOADS ONTO THE
SEATTLE CHANNEL WEBSITE.
I KNOW AND TRUST THAT THEY WILL
BE WATCHING.
THE CHAIRS REPORT.
THIS IS THE 19th MEETING OF THE
SELECT COMMITTEE ON CITYWIDE
MANDATORY HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
AND THE SIXTH EVENING PUBLIC
HEARING WE HAVE HELD ON THIS
PROPOSAL.
SINCE MHA WAS FIRST UNVEILED AS
A RECOMMENDATION IN 2015 THE
CITY HAS CANVASSED 10,000
HOUSEHOLDS AND HELD MORE THAN
200 MEETINGS TO HEAR FROM
COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT
MANDATORY HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
LEGISLATION.
THIS INCLUDES MORE THAN 40
COUNCIL LED PUBLIC MEETINGS,
OPEN HOUSES THROUGHOUT THE CITY,
AND 16 URBAN VILLAGE COMMUNITY
DESIGN WORKSHOPS.
THE IMPACTS OF THE PROPOSAL
WERE ANALYZED IN DRAFT AND
FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
STATEMENTS AND AFTER A YEAR-
LONG APPEAL, THE ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT STUDY WAS UPHELD BY AN
INDEPENDENT HEARING EXAMINER.
THE CITY OF SEATTLE HAS NOT--
CONDUCTED ANALYSIS TO IMPACTS
OF HISTORIC RESOURCES AND
RELEASED THAT TWO YEARS AGO--
TWO WEEKS AGO.
THE COUNCIL ON CITYWIDE MHA MET
14 TIMES WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT ON EVERY MEETING
AND HOSTED FIVE EVENING
MEETINGS THROUGH THE CITY.
AN ADDITIONAL SIX MEETINGS WERE
SCHEDULED FOR THIS YEAR TO
DISCUSS AMENDMENTS RESULTING
FROM THIS EXTENSIVE ENGAGEMENT
PROCESS.
AFTER TONIGHT'S FINAL PUBLIC
HEARING THE SELECT COMMITTEE
WILL RECONVENE ON MONDAY,
FEBRUARY 25 AFTER CITY COUNCIL
TO VOTE ON A MANDATORY HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY LEGISLATION AND
ON ANY AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE
BEEN SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBERS.
A VOTE OF THE FULL CITY COUNCIL
IS EXPECTED TO OCCUR ON MARCH
18 A VOTE OF THE FULL CITY
COUNCIL IS EXPECTED TO OCCUR ON
MARCH 18, 2019 AT ITS REGULARLY
SCHEDULED 2:00 MEETING.
BEFORE WE START THIS PUBLIC
HEARING THERE ARE A FEW THINGS
I'VE BEEN ASKED TO INFORM THE
AUDIENCE ABOUT.
BEFORE I DO THAT, I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE A FULL
HOUSE TODAY AND I WANT TO THANK
ALL OF THE CITY COUNCIL STAFF
AND CITY HALL SECURITY AND
EVERYONE ELSE ON THE
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF WHO HAVE
BEEN ABSOLUTELY INSTRUMENTAL IN
MAKING SURE WE CAN WELCOME
EMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND THEY
WILL ALL BE WORKING REALLY LATE.
I HOPE YOU WILL JOIN ME IN
THANKING THEM FOR THEIR PUBLIC
SERVICE THIS EVENING.
[ APPLAUSE ] I'M GOING TO SHARE
SOME INFORMATION WITH YOU ALL
AND BEFORE I SHARE THIS WITH
YOU DON'T AT ME ON TWITTER.
I'M JUST THE MESSENGER.
THERE HAS BEEN AN EXTENSION OF
PARKING AVAILABLE AT THE GARAGE.
AGAIN, DO NOT AT ME.
I AM JUST COMMUNICATING
INFORMATION.
IF YOU CHOSE TO DRIVE A VEHICLE
THIS EVENING, IT WILL REMAIN
OPEN UNTIL 11 P AT THE RATE OF
FIVE DOLLARS.
PUBLIC TRANSIT IS ALWAYS
AVAILABLE TO US INCLUDING
MYSELF BECAUSE THAT'S HOW I
WILL BE GETTING HOME.
WE ARE EXPECTING A LARGE NUMBER
OF SPEAKERS AND WANT TO PROVIDE
EVERYONE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK
. WITHOUT FURTHER ADO WE WILL
GO AHEAD AND BEGIN MOVING TO
THE PROCESS OF ESTABLISHING THE
PROTOCOLS FOR BEGINNING THE
PUBLIC HEARING.
WILL OUR WONDERFUL CLERK PLEASE
READ THE SHORT TITLES OF AGENDA
ITEMS ONE THROUGH THREE?
>> AGENDA ITEM 1. THE SEATTLE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO CHANGES
AND ANNUAL AMENDMENT PROCESS.
119444, IN ORDINANCE RELATING
TO MANDATORY HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY.
119 119445, RELATED TO LAND USE
AND ZONING.
>> I'M GOING TO OPEN UP THE
PUBLIC HEARING FOR COMMENT ON
THESE BILLS BEFORE US.
A SIGN UP SHEET WAS PROVIDED
AND HAS BEEN AVAILABLE SINCE
5:00. MEMBERS OF GROUPS
ORGANIZATIONS OR COALITIONS
WITH SIMILAR INTERESTS ARE
ENCOURAGED TO COMBINE THEIR
TESTIMONY.
GROUPS MUST HAVE 4 OR MORE
PEOPLE AND WILL BE ALLOCATED UP
TO FIVE MINUTES TO COMMENT ON
ALL THREE AGENDA ITEMS.
WE REQUEST THOSE WHO STAND WITH
THE GROUP ONLY DO SO ONCE.
INDIVIDUAL COMMENTS WILL BE
ALLOTTED UP TO TWO MINUTES TO
COMMENT ON ALL THREE ITEMS.
I WILL BE CALLING THREE NAMES
AT A TIME TO MAKE YOUR WAY TO
ONE OF THE MICROPHONES.
I ASK THAT YOU BEGIN COMMENTS
BY STATING YOUR NAME SO I'M
CHECKING OFF NAMES ON THE SIGN-
UP SHEET.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY NOT BE
ABLE TO MAKE YOUR WAY UP TO ONE
OF THE TWO PODIUMS, IF YOU
COULD RAISE YOUR HAND I BELIEVE
WE HAVE A ROVING MICROPHONE
THAT WE CAN TAKE TO YOU.
IF WE HAVE DIFFICULTY WITH
MOBILITY GETTING UP TO ANY OF
THE TWO MICROPHONES PLEASE MAKE
SURE YOU LET US KNOW BY RAISING
YOUR HAND AND WE WILL GET A
MICROPHONE TO YOU TO FACILITATE
YOUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE PUBLIC
TESTIMONY FROM YOUR CURRENT
SEAT.
THOSE WHO SIGNED UP HAVE BEEN
GIVEN A CARD WITH A NUMBER
INDICATING THEIR POSITION ON
THE SPEAKING LIST.
WHEN YOU COME UP TO SPEAK
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU PUT YOUR
CARD IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT BOX
OR YOU CAN SIMPLY LEAVE IT ON
THE PODIUM BY THE MICROPHONE
WHERE YOU SPOKE.
THERE IS ALSO A PUBLIC COMMENT
BOX WHICH I THINK IS MICROPHONE
BE.
YOU CAN DROP OFF A WRITTEN
PUBLIC COMMENT IF YOU DID NOT
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIGN UP
OR IF TONIGHT GOES TOO LONG AND
YOU HAVE TO LEAVE.
OR IF YOU JUST WANT TO SHARE
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, YOU CAN
PLACE YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT CARDS
IN THAT BOX WHICH WILL BE
DELIVERED TO ALL COUNCILMEMBERS
BY THE CLERK AT A LATER TIME.
JUST, AS I READ YOUR NAME EACH
ONE OF YOU WILL HAVE A NUMBER
AND I'M GOING TO READ FROM A
LIST LETTER A AND B. LISTEN FOR
A OR B. EACH OF THE MICROPHONES
ARE DESIGNATED MICROPHONE A AND
MICROPHONE B. AS I CALL YOUR
NAME I WILL ASK THAT YOU QUEUE
UP BEHIND YOUR DESIGNATED
MICROPHONE CONSISTENT WITH THE
NUMBER ASSIGNED TO YOU SO WE
CAN MAKE SURE WE ARE MOVING
THIS ALONG.
I WILL DO MY BEST TO REMIND YOU
ALL ABOUT HOW TO FILE IN FOR
YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS SO WE CAN
HAVE A NICE, SMOOTH EVENING.
I BELIEVE WE ARE GOING TO BE AT
CAPACITY OR ARE CLOSE TO
CAPACITY.
BECAUSE CHAMBERS ARE AT
CAPACITY WE WILL HAVE AN
OVERFILL ROOM WHICH WILL BE THE
ROOM DOWNSTAIRS.
UNFORTUNATELY WE UNDERSTAND
THAT IT WAS BOOKED UNTIL JUST A
FEW MOMENTS AGO, SO IF YOU HAVE
NOT BEEN ABLE TO ENTER INTO
COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND ARE
WANTING TO GET INTO THE OVERFULL
OVERFILL ROOM IT WILL BE
AVAILABLE AT APPROXIMATELY FIVE
DUCK 45.
HANG TIGHT.
WE PROMISE THAT WE WILL MAKE
SURE WE HAVE SEATS FOR YOU TO
SIT IN IN THE ROOM AS SOON AS
THE PRIOR EVENT CLEARS OUT AND
WE ARE ABLE TO SET UP THAT ROOM.
AGAIN, WE APPRECIATE YOUR
PATIENCE AND YOUR COOPERATION
AS WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
HAVE AN EFFICIENT MEETING WHERE
WE CAN HEAR FROM ALL OF THOSE
FOLKS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP.
I THINK I'VE COVERED IT ALL.
HAVE I MET HIM CLERK?
-- MDM.
CLERK.
>> I'M GOING TO BE READING
FOLKS NAMES.
IF YOU ARE AN INDIVIDUAL
SPEAKER YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES OF
PUBLIC COMMENT.
GROUPS OF FOUR OR MORE ARE
ALLOTTED FIVE MINUTES.
IF THE COMMENT EXCEEDS THE TIME
ALLOTTED A BUZZER WILL REMIND
THEM OF EXPIRED TIME IN THE
MICROPHONE WILL SHUT OFF.
WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED PLEASE
LINED UP LINEUP BASED ON THE
DESIGNATION THAT I CALL AFTER
YOUR NUMBER WHICH WILL HELP
EVERYONE MANAGE THEIR TIME
EFFICIENTLY.
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CALL
THREE NAMES AND I'M GOING TO BE
GOING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN A
AND B. THE FIRST PERSON SIGNED
UP IS ERIN, 1A, AND THE SECOND
IS PATIENTS FOLLOWED BY ALICE
LOCKHART.
>> HELLO COUNCIL, THANKS FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY.
I REPRESENT THE 4000 MEMBERS WE
HAVE IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
OUR MEMBERS ARE TRY CHILDCARE
PROVIDERS AND FOLKS WHO SERVE
PATIENTS AND STUDENTS AND
DIDN'T GET INTO THIS WORK TO
GET RICH.
THEY DO IMPORTANT WORK THAT
HELPS THE CITY FUNCTION AND FOR
THAT THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET
A FAIR PAYCHECK AND A ROOF OVER
THEIR HEADS.
BUT BECAUSE OF OUR EVER-
INCREASING RENT THEY'VE EITHER
ALREADY MOVED OUT OR ARE FORCED
TO GRAPPLE WITH THAT EVERY DAY.
MIDDLE AND LOW INCOME WORKERS
WILL CONTINUE TO GET PRICED OUT
OF THE CITY IF WE DON'T
INCREASE HOUSING STOCK AND THAT
MEANS OF ZONING NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE ARE NOT MAKING MORE LAND SO
IF WE WANT TO REMAIN DIVERSE WE
HAVE TO LOOK BEYOND THE
ALLIANCE OF SINGLE USE
PROPERTIES.
YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT THEIR IS A
LACK OF AFFORDABLE CRISIS STATE.
WHEN YOUR CHILD CARE PROVIDER
MAKING $12 AN HOUR MEANS YOU
ARE AT THE RAZORS EDGE TO BE
PRICED OUT.
AND THE ABILITY TO BE LICENSED
IS SO EXPENSIVE THAT MOST OF
OUR MEMBERS CANNOT AFFORD TO DO
IT WHICH HAS A RIPPLE EFFECT ON
FAMILIES WHO CANNOT FIND GOOD
PLACES FOR THEIR KIDS TO BE
WHEN THEY ARE OUT THERE WORKING
THE WAGES THAT PAY THE RENTS.
IF WE DON'T BUILD MORE HOUSING
AND MORE TYPES OF HOUSING THIS
WILL ONLY GET WORSE WHICH IS
WHY WE ARE SUPPORTING THIS A
PUZZLE AND AMENDMENT A 15 TO
CREATE CHILDCARE CENTERS AND
MEET THIS PROBLEMS.
THE MHA AS A RESULT OF BUSINESS
LABOR LAW AND PROFIT
NONPROFITS AS WELL AS THE FOLKS
UP HERE AND YOU WILL COMPROMISE
TO MAKE SOMETHING SERVE A
NUMBER OF PEOPLE HERE AND MAKE
A MEANINGFUL IMPACT.
WE MUST DO OUR PART AND WE
SUPPORT THIS MEASURE.
APPLAUSE-- [ APPLAUSE ]
>> 1B PATIENTS FOLLOWED BY 1B
ALICE.
>> MY NAME IS PATIENCE MALAWA
IN THE COALITION FOR SEATTLE
FOR EVERYONE.
WE SUPPORT MHA AND WE URGE YOU
TO MOVE FAST IN ADOPTING THE
CITYWIDE LEGISLATION.
FOR YEARS HAS BEEN TOO LONG FOR
A TOOL TO BE PUT IN PLACE.
FOR YOU TO WORK TOWARD THE GOAL
OF THE HOUSING HOMES THAT THIS
CAN PRODUCE AND WE ARE
CONCERNED THAT THOSE DEDUCTIONS
ARE REALLY GOING TO REDUCE THE
CAPACITY FOR US TO INCREASE
HOUSING OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE NEAR
TRANSIT AND OPEN SPACES AND
JOBS.
THIS IS WHERE WE SHOULD BE
GOING.
WE SHOULD BE GOING TO A PLACE
WHERE WE ARE INCREASING HOUSING
FOR PEOPLE IN THOSE SPECIFIC
AREAS.
WAGES HAVE NOT KEPT UP WITH THE
HOUSING COSTS.
FAMILIES ARE STRUGGLING, LOWER
INCOME HOUSEHOLDS HAVE FELT THE
IMPACT.
WE ARE INVITING YOU AS YOU
CONSIDER FINAL LEGISLATION TO
MAKE IT STRONG AND BOLD FOR US
TO MEET THE GOALS THAT WE ARE
FACED WITH AS YOU ALL KNOW.
THE INCREASE HAS BEEN GOING ON
AND MORE PEOPLE NEED HOUSING
AND THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR
US TO MITIGATE THAT NEED.
THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US
TO MEET DISPLACEMENT THAT HAS
BEEN HAPPENING.
PLEASE PASS MHA AND PASS IT AS
FAST AS YOU CAN.
>> NEXT WE HAVE ALICE LOCKHART
WHO IS TO A 2a, AND-- 2b.
>> GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I'M ALICE LOCKHART AND THIS IS
NANCY HELM.
WE WILL BE SPEAKING FOR 350
SEATTLE'S HOUSING TEAM.
MHA IS SO CLOSE TO THE FINISH
LINE.
WE ARE HERE TO REMIND EVERYONE
THAT HOUSING IS A CLIMATE ISSUE
AND EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO CAN
LIVE IN THE CITY WITH A 4th TO
1/2 OF THE CARBON FOOTPRINT AND
EVERY TREE THAT IS NOT CUT DOWN
TO MAKE ROOM FOR HOUSING, EVERY
LITTLE BIT COUNTS.
WE URGE COUNCIL TO VOTE DOWN
THE AMENDMENTS THAT INCREASE ,
I'M SORRY, THE AMENDMENTS IN
AREAS WITH HIGH OPPORTUNITY AND
LOW RISK OF DISPLACEMENT THAT
INCREASE PROPOSED DESIGNATIONS
RELATIVE TO THE MAP. THESE
WOULD PERPETUATE SEATTLE'S
LEGACY OF RACHEL COVENANTS AND
EXCLUSIONARY ZONING.
IT WOULD HINDER THE CITY'S
ABILITY TO CREATE A LEFT--
ENOUGH LOW CARBON THOUGH INCOME
HOUSING TO MEET CLIMATE GOALS.
THUS OPENING OPPORTUNITIES TO
LIVE IN THOSE SAME TRANSIT RICH
AND OPPORTUNITY RICH AREAS, AS
WELL AS SUPPORTING THE CROWN
HILL ZONING CHANGES WHICH DON'T
OVERALL WE CAN-- MAKE MHA
WEAKER.
THEY INCREASE HEIGHT LIMITS
AGAINST SOME LOW RISE CHANGES
FOR A NEAR NET ZERO EFFECT ON
PROPOSED GROWTH.
THEY WERE DEVELOPED WITH
CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF THE
NEEDS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AREAS
WITH THE HIGHEST DISPLACEMENT
RISK AS WELL AS A CONSULTATION
PROCESS THAT REACHED OUT TO NOT
ONLY HOMEOWNERS AND ALSO
RENTERS.
THANK YOU NANCY.
THAT IS FINISHED FOR US.
>> HOLD ON NANCY.
I'M GOING TO START CALLING
ADDITIONAL NAMES.
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ARE MAKING
YOUR WAY FROM YOUR STREET SEAT
TO THE PODIUM.
NANCY HELM WILL BE 2B FOLLOWED
BY 3A, 3B.
>> ON CONTINUING THE TESTIMONY
OF SEATTLE 350.
WE URGE THE COUNCIL TO VOTE
AGAINST AMENDMENT B-6 AND
SUPPORT YOUR THOUGHT FOR WORK
ON THE REMAINDER OF THE CONSENT
PACKAGE INCLUDING AMENDMENTS
THAT INCREASE AND ALLOW
INCREASED HOUSING CAPACITY.
AMENDMENTS THAT INCREASE CITY
LIVABILITY, AMENDMENTS
MOTIVATED BY CONSIDERATIONS OF
EQUITY, AMENDMENTS THAT IMPROVE
DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS,
AMENDMENTS THAT FAVOR INCREASED
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
AMENDMENTS THAT FAVOR ENERGY
EFFICIENCY OR A GREEN BUILDING.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK AND
THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR BRINGING
IT TO A STRONG CONCLUSION BY
SUPPORTING THE CONSENT PACKAGE
AND VOTING DOWN AMENDMENTS THAT
RESTRICT ACCESS TO SEATTLE'S
LOW DISPLACEMENT RISK IN
TRANSIT AND OPPORTUNITY RICH
NEIGHBORHOODS.
AGAIN, WE FEEL STRONGLY THAT
THE CITY CANNOT POSSIBLY MEET
ITS CLIMATE GOALS WITHOUT
INCREASED HOUSING IN TRANSIT
RICH AND OPPORTUNITY RICH
NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE URGE PASSAGE OF MHA
PROBABLY.
>> AP HEARD, THREE A 3A
FOLLOWED BY LISA, FOR A--
LETTER FOR-- 4 LETTER A.
>> SOMETIMES WITH THE PASSAGE
OF TIME IT CAN BE HARD TO
REMEMBER HOW HARD IT WAS TO GET
TO A DEAL.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON GETTING
TO THE GRAND BARGAIN AND I
WORKED ON A FAILED ATTEMPT TO
GET TO A DEAL IN ANOTHER
ADMINISTRATION.
I SPENT DOZENS OF HOURS IN
MEETING AND THEN THE MURRAY
MINISTRATION WHERE WE FINALLY
GOT TO A DEAL.
MHA IS ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL
PIECES, THE CRITICAL PIECE THAT
HAS EVERYONE HAVE ACCESS TO THE
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.
PEOPLE WHO STARTED OUT AND NEW
IMMIGRANTS AND MIGRANTS WHO
DESERVE THE CHANCE TO BE HERE.
PLEASE PASS MHA WITH NO CHANGE
TO THE FEE STRUCTURE OR IMPACT
FEES THAT WERE NEVER PART OF
THE GRAND BARGAIN.
ALSO, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE
AMENDMENT OF THE P DESIGNATION
ON 90th NORTHWEST AND MARY
AVE., NORTHWEST.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL OF YOUR
EFFORTS ON THIS.
MUCH APPRECIATED.
>> 3B TIM PAR HIM-- PAR M.
>> I'M SPEAKING ON HIS BEHALF.
>> YOU DON'T LOOK LIKE A TIM.
>> WHAT IS YOUR NAME?
>> VERONICA GUNTHER.
>> DID YOU SIGN UP AT A LATER
TIME?
>> I'M ON THE PLANNING
COMMISSION AND SPEAKING ON HIS
BEHALF BECAUSE HE'S OUR CHAIR
AND NOT ABLE TO GET IN.
>> I WILL HAVE YOU GO AND FOR A-
- 4A IS LISA AND 4B IS LISA
SIEGFRIED.
>> THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING AN
OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON THE
MANDATORY HOUSING AFFORDABILITY.
THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT TOOLS TO HELP ADDRESS
SEATTLE'S HOUSING CRISIS, AND
PARTICULARLY THE COMMISSION
REMAINS EXCITED FOR THE
POSSIBILITY OF THE PROGRAM TO
DISTRIBUTE DEVELOPMENT CAPACITY
TO AREAS WITH LOW DISPLACEMENT
RISK AND HIGH ACCESS TO
OPPORTUNITY.
THIS MEANS MORE DEVELOPMENT IN
AREAS WITH EXISTING RESOURCES
AND IF THE PROGRAM IS MANAGED
TRUE TO ITS INTENT.
MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING WILL BE
AVAILABLE THROUGH PAYMENT AND
PERFORMANCE INTO MHA.
THIS IS VITAL FOR PROVIDING
HOUSING CHOICES FOR THOSE WHO
WOULD OTHERWISE NOT BE ABLE TO
LIVE IN SEATTLE AND MORE
SPECIFICALLY, IN HIGH COST
AREAS.
AS STEWARDS OF THE PLAN THE
COMMISSION HAS EMPHASIZED THE
NEED TO ALIGN IT WITH GOALS AND
POLICIES ARTICULATED IN THAT
PLAN.
TODAY WE WOULD LIKE TO CALL
ATTENTION TO THE FOLLOWING
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS THAT ARE
INCONSISTENT WITH THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE
PLANNING COMMISSION HAS
DEVIOUSLY PROVIDED TO STAFF.
THE SPONSORED MAP AMENDMENTS
HOLD OUT FOR AN INDIVIDUAL VOTE
DURING THE COMMITTEE MEETING
ARE NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE
HOUSING GOALS OR LAND-USE GOALS
FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLANS
SUCH AS HOUSING GOALS ONE
THROUGH FOUR AND GOALS TWO
THROUGH EIGHT.
WE ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO
CONSIDER CITYWIDE EQUITY
IMPLICATIONS OF THOSE THAT
PROVOKE PROPOSED THE ACTIONS OF
MHA.
DISTRICTS 1, 4 AND 6 HAVE 25
AMENDMENTS REDUCING UP ZONES IN
AREAS WITH A LOW RISK OF
DISPLACEMENT.
ADDITIONALLY THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENT CREATES A QUALIFY
ABLE TRIGGER FOR COMMUNITY
PLANNING WITHIN THE MORGAN
JUNCTION URBAN VILLAGE AND
COMMIT THROUGH PLANNING AND THE
JUNCTION REGARDLESS OF EQUITY.
WE HAVE THIS TABLE FOR THE REST
OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS.
>> WE WILL NOW HEAR FROM LISA
FOLLOWED BY SARAH JANE FOLLOWED
BY FIVE A-- FOLLOWED BY RUBY
HOLLAND.
>> I'M SPEAKING TO MHA AND WHY
MY HUSBAND AND I ARE LEAVING
SEATTLE.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THE TAX
STRUCTURE OF THE CITY AND STATE
MEANS THAT VENTURE CAPITALISTS
SPECULATORS AND DEVELOPERS WILL
CONTINUE TO POUR IN AND FILL
BLOCK AFTER BLOCK AFTER BLOCK
OF UGLY BOXES. THE TRUE
REFLECTION OF THE NEW SEATTLE.
I DON'T THINK WE CAN STOP IT
AND IT WON'T BE FIXABLE IN OUR
LIFETIMES IF EVER.
WE ARE LUCKY.
MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE HAD
SPECTACULAR HOUSING KARMA AND
PART OF THE WAY THROUGH THIS IT
BECAME CLEAR TO US THAT NOT
ONLY SHOULD WE LEAVE BUT WE
HAVE SOMEPLACE TO RUN TO.
I WAS WORRIED WE WOULD BE
LOOKED AT AS INTERLOPERS BUT
ALL I HAD TO DO WAS SAY WE ARE
BEING PUSHED OUT OF SEATTLE,
AND THEY UNDERSTOOD AND
WELCOMED US WITH OPEN ARMS.
I WORRIED BECAUSE LET'S FACE IT.
WHEN THE TECH TRASH GETS BORED
WITH STRIPMINING SEATTLE WHERE
THEY GOING TO TRY TO FOLLOW US?
AND THEN QUEENS FOUGHT BACK AND
ONE. THE TRASH TECH PEOPLE CAN
BE STOPPED.
IT MAY BE TOO LATE FOR SEATTLE
BUT THERE ARE PLACES THAT CAN
BE SAVED WHERE EVERYONE HAS
VALUE.
IT'S TIME TO RUN.
IF YOU POSSIBLY CAN, IT'S TIME
TO LEAVE.
FIND THOSE PLACES AND PROTECT
THEM AND GOOD LUCK.
I DON'T THINK I HAVE ANYTHING
ELSE TO SAY TO YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> SARAH JANE FOLLOWED BY RUBY
HOLLAND FOLLOWED BY IRA
APPLEMAN.
>> GOOD EVENING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
I WANT TO SAY I'M HERE IN
SEATTLE FOR THE LONG HAUL. I'VE
BEEN HERE 21 YEARS AND WILL BE
HERE FOR 20 MORE.
THE MHA IS FUNDAMENTALLY FLAWED
AND IN ALL LIKELIHOOD VIOLATES.
IN CASE IT SHOULD BE REVERSED,
WE NEED A STRONG FALLBACK
CLAUSE AND I TRUST YOU WILL
INCLUDE THAT IN THE REGISTRATION
LEGISLATION.
IT WOULD BE A SHAME TO GIVE
THIS AWAY FOR NOTHING.
I SUPPORT THE ANTI-DISPLACEMENT
PROPOSAL WHICH WOULD REQUIRE
DEVELOPERS TO MITIGATE THE
IMPACTS RESULTING FROM LOSS OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN AREAS OF
THE SITTING THAT ARE CONSIDERED
BOTH HIGH RISK OF DISPLACEMENT
AND LOW ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY.
IN OTHER WORDS, THOSE
COMMUNITIES WITH THIS PORTION IT
DISPLACEMENT OF COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR LIKELY TO OCCUR.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT MHA HAS
DONE ANYTHING ABOUT DISPLACEMENT
SO BOTH ONE-FOR-ONE REPLACEMENT
AND INVENTORY ARE NECESSARY TO
MANAGE SO WE CAN COUNT WHAT
WE'VE GOT.
WE CAN'T MANAGE WHAT WE DON'T
COUNT.
AND INVENTORY OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING OF ALL OF THE RENTS,
PLEASE.
WE ALSO NEED A PLAN FOR
PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC
RESIDENCES.
WE'VE DONE NOTHING ABOUT THE
UNREINFORCED MASONRY BUILDINGS,
AS YOU KNOW.
MANY OF THESE ARE OLDER
AFFORDABLE BUILDINGS AND WE
NEED TO PUT THAT INTO THE PLAN.
IN TERMS OF OTHER HISTORIC
RESOURCES, THERE'S NOTHING IN
THE PLAN.
WE ABSOLUTELY NEED A COMMITMENT
TO PRESERVING WHAT WE HAVE,
WHAT IS OUR HISTORIC HERITAGE.
BEYOND THAT THESE DETAILED
ISSUES CAN ONLY BE FIXED BY
NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING.
I BEG YOU TO RESTORE
NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING.
THANK YOU.
>> BEFORE WE MOVE ON I WANT TO,
THE CLERK HAS HANDED A NOTE TO
LET ME KNOW THAT THE OVERFLOW
ROOM IS NOW OPEN.
IF YOU ARE WAITING FOR OVERFLOW
SPACE, THE ROOM IS NOW OPEN AND
YOU ARE WELCOME TO WAIT IN THEIR
FILE YOUR TURN COMES UP NEXT WE
HAVE RUBY HOLLAND FOLLOWED BY
IRA FOLLOWED BY KATE MARTIN.
>> MOVIES GOING TO SPEAK-- RUBY
IS GOING TO SPEAK.
>> MY FATHER DIED WHEN I WAS
THREE YEARS OLD AND DESPITE
GREAT ODDS MY MOTHER PURCHASED
A HOME IN SEATTLE'S RED LIGHT
CENTRAL DISTRICT FOR HER
CHILDREN.
THROUGHOUT SEATTLE THERE ARE
FAMILIES LIKE OURS WHO HAVE
STRUGGLED TO PURCHASE THE
AMERICAN DREAM FOR THEIR
FAMILIES.
NOW THESE SAME FAMILIES ARE
THREATENED WITH DISPLACEMENT.
IF YOU THINK WE ARE GOING TO
TURN OVER OUR PROPERTY TO A
RICH FATCAT WHO WANTS TO OWN
ALL OF SEATTLE SO THAT SOME
HIGH INCOME WORKERS WHO HAVE
NEVER STRUGGLED A DAY IN THEIR
LIVES ARE STILL EXPLORING THE
WORLD AND NOT YET SETTLED CAN
LIVE IN OUR PLACE.
WRONG ANSWER.
NOT HAPPENING.
[ APPLAUSE ] FOR THOSE OF YOU
WHO HAVE TRIED TO FORCE US TO
SELL OUR PROPERTY LET ME REMIND
YOU THAT PIGS GET RICH, HOGS
GET SLAUGHTERED.
PLEASE DON'T BE A HOG.
I REQUEST THAT YOU AMEND THE
MHA TO NOT UP ZONE THE URBAN
VILLAGE AND CREATE AN ANTI-
DISPLACEMENT PLAN FOR YOUR
RESIDENCE.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT..
THE POLITICAL GRANDSTANDING.
YOU SAVED THE SENIORS WHILE
TURNING A BLIND EYE TO THE
THREE SENIORS OF COLOR ALLOWING
THEM TO BE THE SACRIFICIAL LAMBS
OF THE HOUSING CRISIS.
IT IS HYPOCRISY AT ITS FINEST.
TO ALL THE FIREFIGHTERS NURSES
TEACHERS AND COPS PRICED OUT OF
SEATTLE AND ALL OF THE HARD-
WORKING FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN,
COLLEGE STUDENTS AND SENIORS
WHO FIND YOURSELVES LIVING IN
THE STREETS AND IN YOUR CARS,
YOUR INCOME WILL NEVER BE
ENOUGH FOR THE DEVELOPERS WHO
WILL OPT OUT OF HAVING
AFFORDABLE UNITS ON SITE.
PLEASE SUPPORT THE MIKE O'BRIEN
ANTIDISPLACEMENT PLAN AND GET
ALL OF YOU BACK IN THE CITY AND
OFF OF THE STREETS.
THANK YOU.
>> IRA FOLLOWED BY KATE MARTIN
FOLLOWED BY MARIA, SEATTLE
BEACON HILL PRESERVATION
COALITION.
>> IRA APPLEMAN.
I OFFER THREE COMMENTS.
NUMBER ONE, I OBJECT TO THE
CITY COUNCIL TAKING FINAL
ACTION ON MHA AT ITS MARCH 18
MEETING BECAUSE IT'S UNLAWFUL
TO TAKE ACTION BEFORE THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD HAS ENDED.
NOTICE PUBLISHED ON JANUARY 22,
2019 LISTS THE END OF COMMENT
PERIOD IS MARCH 29 THE END OF
COMMENT PERIOD IS MARCH 29,
2019.
REGARDLESS OF HOW LONG THE
COMMENT PERIOD MUST BE BY LAW
IT IS UNLAWFUL NOW TO REDUCE
THE COMMENT PERIOD SINCE MUCH
OF THE PUBLIC WILL LIKELY DIRECT
THEIR COMMENTS BASED ON THE
FIRST NOTICE AFTER THE CITY
COUNCIL HAS ALREADY VOTED IN
THE CURRENT SCHEDULE.
NUMBER TWO, I ATTENDED THE
LIVER BIT LIVABILITY NIGHT OUT
ON APRIL 19, 2016.
MURRAY AS MAYOR PROMISED THE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING WOULD BE
INCLUSIONARY WITH A NEW
DEVELOPMENT.
THE MAYOR SAID MHA WOULD FAIL
IF THE AFFORDABLE UNITS WERE
NOT INCLUSIONARY.
THE ONLY WAY TO ASSURE THAT AN
APPROPRIATE NUMBER OF
AFFORDABLE UNITS WILL BE DEALT
AND NEW SEATTLE DEVELOPMENTS
ARE ACTUALLY FOR EVERYONE IS TO
REQUIRED BY LAW THAT THEY BE
INCLUSIONARY.
YOUR LEGISLATION IS EXCLUSIONARY
BASED ON A FEE IN LIEU BECAUSE
SEATTLE DEVELOPERS DO NOT WANT
MODERN INCOME RESIDENTS LIVING
IN THEIR BUILDINGS.
THREE, MHA APPEARS TO BE THE
MOST COMPLICATED LEGISLATION IN
THE HISTORY OF SEATTLE.
NOTICE CANNOT POSSIBLY BE
AFFECTED BECAUSE VIRTUALLY ALL
SEATTLE RESIDENTS ARE UNAWARE
ON HOW MHA WILL AFFECT THEM.
AFTER CITY COUNCIL HAS SORTED
OUT THE CURRENT MASS, BEFORE
FINAL PASSAGE, THE CITY COUNCIL
SHOULD NOTICE ALL AFFECTED
RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS
TO ALLOW COMMENT ON THE ACTUAL
LEGISLATION BEING CONSIDERED.
THERE'S PLENTY OF TIME LEFT FOR
EFFECTIVE PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT,
THAT IS, FOR EFFECTIVE
DEMOCRACY.
THANK YOU.
>> MARIA'S GROUP FOLLOWED BY
KATE MARTIN FOLLOWED BY FRANK
FAY.
>> WE ARE NOW HERE.
GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR ALL THE HARD WORK.
WE ARE FROM THE SEATTLE BEACON
HILL HISTORIC PRESERVATION
COALITION AND I'D LIKE TO
INTRODUCE QUICKLY OUR MEMBERS
FROM BEACON BUSINESS COUNCIL
AND BEACON ARTS AND MARTY
McKENNA AND DEVON HOLLINGSWORTH
WHO IS A LIFELONG RESIDENT.
PLEASE HELP US PRESERVE OUR
HISTORY AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS
OF OUR RESIDENTS BUT LET'S
HONOR THE OWNERS OF THIS SACRED
LAND.
LET'S HONOR OUR RESIDENTS.
>> OTHERWISE KNOWN AS NORTH
AMERICAN TIMES AND PRESIDENT OF
JAPANESE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
>> ONLY HANSEN FORMER SEATTLE
MAYOR AND COFOUNDER OF LAKE
FOREST PARK AND 29 POUNDS.
>> PIONEERED MIXED-USE HOUSING
BUILDINGS WITH APARTMENTS IN
THE BACKS AND STORES IN THE
FRONT.
BEACON HILL HAS 49 PROPERTIES
ELIGIBLE FOR HISTORICAL LAND
MARKING.
>> PLEASE PASS HISTORIC
MITIGATION FOR BEACON HILL.
>> THAT WAS THE MOST EFFICIENT
USE OF FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU.
>> KATE MARTIN FOLLOWED BY
SEVEN BE FOLLOWED BY MARY PAT.
>> GREETINGS COUNCILMEMBERS.
I AIN'T NO HOLLOW CRACK GIRL.
THERE IS NO AFFORDABILITY IN
HALA OR MHA.
YOU GUYS ARE SHINING HIS TROPHY
AFTER MAKING A DEAL WITH THE
DEVIL.
THE CRUMBS OF PSEUDO-AFFORDABLE
HOUSING PER URBAN VILLAGE IS A
JOKE AND SO IS THE REDLINING
IDEA THAT UNITS GET BUILT AND
ANOTHER NEIGHBORHOOD.
I BETTER THROW A BONE TO THE
VOTERS TACTICS.
I AM A PLANNER AND WE HAVE MORE
THAN ENOUGH GROWTH CAPACITY
INCLUDING OUR SINGLE-FAMILY
NEIGHBORHOODS.
BETTER TO LEAVE ALL AS IS AND
GET BETTY DEVELOP BUSY
DEVELOPING INCENTIVES THAT
PRODUCE SOMETHING AND ONLY
OFFER INCENTIVES TO THOSE WHO
EAT LOTS OF CARROTS.
WE NEED A BOTTOM-UP
NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING BECAUSE
COMMUNITIES ARE NOT JUST
CALCULATING DENSITY.
THEY ARE THE FABRIC OF OUR
LIVES, THE PLACES WE BUILD
BUSINESSES.
THEY ARE OURS AND WE TRUSTED
YOU TO RESPECT THAT BUT WE ARE
NOT.
WE HAVE AN EXCESSIVE BUSINESS
SPACE BUT THE KEY TO THE DOOR
WILL NOT COME OPEN FOR THE
MIDDLE CLASS BECAUSE THE WAY WE
CAN BUILD OUR WAY OUT OF THIS
IS FALSE OF.
THEY CONTINUE TO CAUSE HOUSING
AND BUSINESS COSTS TO
SKYROCKET, OF ZONING, AND
SPECULATION.
LOW INTEREST RATES AND CHEAP
CAPITAL.
BOOMING ECONOMIES AND PROXIMITY
TO TRANSIT.
LABOR SHORTAGES AND EXPANSIVE
MATERIALS AND PAINFULLY LONG
PROCESSING OF PERMITS, TAX
POLICY THAT REWARDS HIGH
HOUSING COSTS.
WHY DON'T YOU STOP SMOKING THE
HALA CRACK, GO ON SOME STACY
TASTY CARROTS AND BRING ON
POSITIVE CHANGES FOR THE NEXT
GENERATION.
>> FRANK FAY, MARY PAT FOLLOWED
BY CATHERINE HOLLIDAY.
>> I AM FRANK AND WE ARE A
NEIGHBORHOOD, NOT A HOUSING
PRODUCTION ZONE.
THAT IS WHAT IS BAKED INTO THE
CAKE.
IT WILL DEMOLISH EXISTING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, DISPLACED
LONG-TIME RENTERS, DIMINISH THE
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, DO AWAY
WITH YARDS TREES AND SUNLIGHT,
DISREGARD HISTORIC BUILDINGS
AND NEIGHBORHOODS, AND IT DOES
NOTHING FOR FIRST-TIME
HOMEBUYERS AND SEEMS VERY CLEAR
THAT IT DOES MORE HARM THAN
GOOD.
IT MAY NOT PRODUCE MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS THAT
IT DESTROYS.
WHEN STEVE WALKER DIRECTOR OF
THE OFFICE OF HOUSING WAS ASKED
AT A MEETING HOW NEIGHBORS ARE
TO COPE, HE REPLIED THAT THE
CITY EXPECTS YOU TO MOVE OUT.
THIS IS THE NEW REDLINING.
CURRENT RESIDENTS ARE OCCUPYING
SPACE THAT WEALTHY PEOPLE COULD
BE LIVING IN.
SO, CURRENT RESIDENTS MUST GIVE
UP HOMES, GIVE UP
NEIGHBORHOODS, GIVE UP
NEIGHBORS, GIVE UP COMMUNITIES
AND GET OUT.
THE PURPOSE OF THE CITY COUNCIL
IS NOT TO SERVE DEVELOPER
PROFITS AND THEREFORE, THE CITY
COUNCIL SHOULD REJECT THE
REDLINING OF THE MHA.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> MARY PAT FOLLOWED BY
CATHERINE HOLLIDAY FOLLOWED BY
CAROLYN ROSENBERG.
>> MY NAME IS MARY PAT. MHA IS
FUNDAMENTALLY FLAWED.
THEY MAKE FALSE PROMISES.
THERE ARE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
THAT I BELIEVE HELP MITIGATE
THE DAMAGE THAT MHA WILL CAUSE.
IF IT IS REALLY GOING TO
BENEFIT MORE THAN JUST THE
DEVELOPERS WHO CRAFTED IT, IT'S
IMPERATIVE THAT THE AMENDMENT
BE ADOPTED.
GUARANTEEING NO NET LOSS OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, REMOVE THE
ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL RULE THAT
DISPLACES THE MOST DIVERSE
NEIGHBORHOODS BY ADDING
FLEXIBILITY AND LEAVE SOUTH
PARK WHICH IS A DIVERSE
COMMUNITY THAT DOES NOT QUALIFY
AS AN URBAN VILLAGE.
IT NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE NATURAL
ENVIRONMENT BY PROTECTING AND
RESTORING THE SHRINKING T CAN
BE.
ACKNOWLEDGE THE LACK OF IMAGES
TO EVALUATE RESOURCES IN EVERY
NEIGHBORHOOD.
PLANNING VOLUNTEERS CAN BE USED
TO DEVELOP CRITERIA AND
PRIORITIZE OUR LOCAL GYMS.
STREAMLINE THE PROCESS OF
EVALUATING HISTORICAL RESOURCES
AS WAS DONE FOR THE DESIGN
REVIEW. UNLESS WE-- TO MAXIMIZE
PROFITS THE RESULTS WILL BE
MASSIVE DISPLACEMENT WITHOUT
PRESERVATION OF RESOURCES OR
OLDER, AFFORDABLE BUILDINGS.
THE SMALL AMOUNTS OF HOUSING DO
NOT UPSET THE LARGE LOW MARKET
RATE HOUSING.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE CATHERINE
HOLLIDAY FOLLOWED BY CAROLYN
ROSENBERG FOLLOWED BY DEB BARKER
.
>> IT DOESN'T REQUIRE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE PLACE
OF DEVELOPMENT.
IT REQUIRES IMPACT FEES THAT
ARE TOO LOW.
A LOOK AT NEW UNITS AROUND THE
CITY, CAN YOU AFFORD THESE?
WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS PROPOSED
DISPLACEMENT ORDINANCE MUST NOT
BE SHIFTED TO THE LAND USE
COMMITTEE BUT DECIDED AS SOON
AS POSSIBLE IN THE MHA SELECT
COMMITTEE ON OR BEFORE THE 25th
OF THIS MONTH AND ADDRESSES
MORE SPECIFICS SUCH AS TENANT
RELOCATION, ASSISTANT LICENSES,
AND THE NEED TO TRACK
DISPLACEMENT RISKS.
141 REPLACEMENT OF DEMOLISHED
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, YOUR
AMENDMENT REALLY DOES ADDRESS
MORE SPECIFICS THAT NEED TO BE
ADDRESSED THAT NEED TO BE IN
THE CURRENT LEGISLATION.
>> CAROLYN, DEB BARKER, AND
CINDY BARKER.
>> GOOD EVENING.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO TALK WITH YOU.
I'VE HEARD MANY PEOPLE SPEAK
ABOUT THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IN SEATTLE.
I THINK AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A
VERY IMPORTAN THING.
WE NEED TO KEEP PB PEOPLE IN
THE CITY AND WELCOME PEOPLE,
BUT WE ALSO NEED TO PROTECT OUR
TREES.
I'M A CLIMATE ACTIVIST.
I CARE FOR TREES BECAUSE OF MY
LOVE FOR THEM BUT I ALSO CARE
BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY PROVIDE A.
THEY PROVIDE FLOOD CONTROL IN
THE CITY.
THEY PROVIDE A REDUCTION IN
HEAT IN THE CITY.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW, BUT
SEATTLE I THINK HIS NUMBER FOUR
, WHICH MAY BE INCORRECT, BUT A
HIGH NUMBER IN TERMS OF THE
NATION.
WE HAVE A LOT OF HEAT ISLANDS
ALREADY.
WHEN YOU CUT DOWN TREES YOU ARE
GOING TO HAVE MORE AND PEOPLE
ARE GOING TO DIE BECAUSE OF
HEAT.
YES WE NEED HOUSING BUT WE ALSO
NEED TO REDUCE ASTHMA RISK AND
KEP OUR TREES. WE ALSO NEED TO
PREVENT FLOODS AND KEEP TREES.
THERE ARE WAYS TO DO THAT AND I
APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER
O'BRIEN AND JOHNSON'S AMENDMENT
BECAUSE IT DEALS WITH TREES AND
TREE PROTECTIONS.
I THINK YOU MAY HAVE HAD
SOMETHING TO DO WITH THAT AS
WELL LISA.
I ALSO APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'VE
DONE BECAUSE IF WE ARE GOING TO
HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING WE NEED
TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM BEING
DISPLACED.
AND, I BELIEVE WE NEED TO KEEP
TREES FROM BEING DISPLACED AS
WELL.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> DEB BARKER FOLLOWED BY CINDY
BARKER FOLLOWED BY--
FITZGERALDS.
>> YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM A
LOT OF PAID SPEAKERS TONIGHT.
I'M NOT ONE OF THEM.
YOU ARE ALSO GOING TO HEAR FROM
A LOT OF COMMUNITY-BASED
SPEAKERS.
YOU GET TO LISTEN FOR A LONG
TIME THIS EVENING AND THEN MAKE
SOME SMART DECISIONS.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF MORGAN
JUNCTION, AND URBAN VILLAGE IN
WEST SEATTLE.
WE ARE MEMBERS OF THE SEATTLE
COALITION FOR AFFORDABILITY
LIVABILITY AND EQUITY BECAUSE
WE OBJECTED TO THE ONE-SIZE-
FITS-ALL MHA SILVER SLIPPER.
WE ARE AN URBAN VILLAGE WITH
THE GOAL OF MAINTAINING
PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE ENTRY-
LEVEL FAMILY SIZE HOUSING IN
OUR URBAN VILLAGE.
TO THAT END WE REQUEST
ADOPTIONS OF RESOLUTIONS AND
AMENDMENTS THAT ADDRESS THAT
GOAL.
MORGAN JUNCTION IS AN URBAN
VILLAGE, BUT THE VERY STRONG
PLANNING EMPHASIS, WE HOPE YOU
WON'T BE DISMISSED BECAUSE WE
PARTICIPATE IN CARE. MORGAN
JUNCTION'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
AMENDMENT, LET ME SAY THAT
AGAIN.
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
AMENDMENT TO REQUEST
NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING ARE SMART,
AND THEY COULD, OR MAYBE SHOULD
BE APPLIED CITYWIDE.
WHAT A CONCEPT.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION WHO
MENTIONED THE FACT THAT THEY
FELT THAT MAYBE WE WERE GETTING
TOO MUCH OUT OF THIS PROVISION
WAS REMINDED THAT NEIGHBORHOODS
CAN HAVE INDIVIDUAL PLANS.
IN THIS CASE THAT PLANNING GOAL
COULD BE SENT CITYWIDE.
I ALSO SUPPORT COUNCILMAN
HERBOLD -- COUNCILWOMEN
HERBOLD'S OFFICIAL.
IT'S A NO-BRAINER AND I WANT TO
HEAR IT DECIDED HERE AT THE MHA
LEVEL.
>> CINDY FOLLOWED BY--
FITZGERALD.
>> CINDY BARKER.
I LIVE IN MORGAN.
MY COMMENTS ARE NOT NECESSARILY
ABOUT MORGAN BUT I WANT TO ADD
TO ONE THING SHE SAID.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS
UNDER THE MISTAKEN IMPRESSION
THAT A POLICY IN OUR OWN URBAN
VILLAGE POLICY ELEMENT COMMITS
THEM TO DOING PLANNING WITH US
AND IT DOES NOT.
IT IS INTENDED TO BE FOR THE
STAKEHOLDER GROUP TO START THE
CONVERSATION AROUND PLANNING,
SO THAT IS AN ERROR AND WE
POINTED THAT OUT AND THEY
CONTINUE TO MAKE THAT ERROR.
TONIGHT I WANT TO MAKE FOUR
POINTS.
WHEN SEATTLE'S LARGEST
DEVELOPER SENT YOU A LETTER
TELLING YOU THE CLUB AMENDMENT
IS NOT NEEDED AND THE SCALE
DOES NOT NEED TO BE REMOVED AND
THEY CAN STILL BUILD TO THAT
WITHOUT CONTRIBUTING TO
AFFORDABILITY, A HORN SHOULD
HAVE GONE OFF THE.
YOU ARE ABOUT TO LOSE CONTROL
OF THE SHIP.
WHEN RESTRICTING ACCESS TO
AIRILY AREAS AND CALLING THEM
OPPORTUNITY RICH AREAS, THAT
SHOULD BE A RED FLAG.
EVIDENCE AND THOUGHTFUL
DECISION-MAKING IS NEEDED TO
BALANCE OUR PAST AND FUTURE.
THE THIRD POINT IS THAT I'M IN
SUPPORT OF COUNCILWOMEN HERBOLD
. SHOULD BE PASSED AS PART OF
THE MHA PACKAGE.
FOURTH, I STILL AWAIT AS I
REQUESTED AT THE LAST COMMITTEE,
THE VISUALS ON WHAT THE
AMENDMENT CHANGES WOULD BE
DOING.
WE SPENT TWO YEARS TELLING
PEOPLE WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE
AND AT THE LAST MINUTE YOU ARE
CHANGING THE SCALE.
WE THINK THAT SHOULD BE
DISCLOSED FOR FULL TRANSPARENCY.
FINALLY WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE
AFFORDABILITY ISSUE.
WE DEPEND ON YOUR
THOUGHTFULNESS TO DO THE BEST
FOR ALL THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE.
IT IS NOT THE TIME FOR
IDEOLOGIES TO NARROW YOUR
VIEWS.
PLEASE BE PRINCIPLED AND
ENCOMPASSING WHEN FINISHING THE
GRAND BARGAIN.
>> MY NAME IS MHA TO --
JUCINTA FITZGERALD.
I'M GRATEFUL FOR FIGHTING FOR
BETTER AND CONTINUED UP SONES.
I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT THE MHA
IS SUCH A SMALL STEP BUT I'M
GRATEFUL IT'S IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION.
I HOPE ONE DAY WE WILL REACH
THE POINT WHERE THE URBAN
CENTERS WITH RESIDENTIAL
DENSITY PLANS OF ABOUT 15
HOUSES PER ACRE ARE NOT ZONED
FOR SF 5000. I ACTUALLY DID NOT
WANT TO BE HERE TO SPEAK
TONIGHT.
MY INTENTION WAS THAT MY
PARTNER WOULD BE HERE TO SPEAK
AND AS SOMEONE THAT A LOT OF
PEOPLE HERE MAY CALL TECH TRASH,
I DON'T ALWAYS FEEL WELCOME TO
SPEAK OUT.
AS AN IMMIGRANT AND SOMEONE
MAKING A LOT OF MONEY FROM TECH
, I'VE ALREADY BOUGHT A NICE
PLACE IN A MULTIFAMILY COMPLEX
AND I WILL BE FINE.
PEOPLE LIKE ME WILL KEEP MOVING
HERE AND KEEP BUYING PLACES AND
THE CHILDREN OF ANYONE HERE
BEFORE WANT TO.
MY PARTNER GREW UP IN WHIDBEY
ISLAND.
HIS PARENTS LIVED IN THE
REDLINED DISTRICT IN THE 80s.
HE AND HIS BROTHER MOVED HERE
AND DON'T HAVE ANY ANTICIPATION
OF BEING ABLE TO AFFORD THEIR
OWN PLACE.
THEY ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE
GOING TO BE PUSHED OUT.
SO HE'S NOT HERE TO SPEAK FOR
HIMSELF BECAUSE HE WORKS A
REGULAR JOB AND COULDN'T JUST
LEAVE AT 3 PM LIKE I DID.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HERE
BECAUSE REGULAR PEOPLE HAVE
JOBS AND COULDN'T LEAVE IN TIME
TO GET ON THIS LIST.
I WANTED TO REPRESENT HIM AND
EVERYONE ELSE WHO COULDN'T MAKE
IT AND SAY THAT WE SHOULD PASS
THE MHA AND START WORKING ON
THE NEXT STEP.
THANK YOU.
>> ELAINE FOLLOWED BY BROOKE,
FOLLOWED BY NATALIE WILLIAMS.
>> MY NAME IS ELAINE.
I LIVE IN THE MADISON MILLER
URBAN VILLAGE AND OUR COMMUNITY
AS PART OF THE SEATTLE
COALITION FOR AFFORDABILITY AND
LIVABILITY.
I HEAR PEOPLE WHO ARE
REPRESENTING MEMBERS OF THE
LABOR MOVEMENT.
YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE FINDING
THEY CANNOT FIND AFFORDABE
HOUSING IN THIS CITY.
WHAT IS UNFORTUNATE IS THAT
THEY BELIEVE THAT THE MHA PLAN
IS GOING TO ACTUALLY MAKE THOSE
NEIGHBORHOODS IF THEY WANT TO
LIVE IN THEM, ACCESSIBLE.
WHERE I LIVE, MORE THAN 500
UNITS ARE PUBLICLY AND
PRIVATELY SUBSIDIZED AND THEY
WILL ALL BE AT RISK.
THERE ARE MANY CENTERS WHICH
ARE TRANSITIONAL HOUSES OR
PLACES FOR PEOPLE WITH
DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS,
WOMEN'S SHELTERS AND A SIZABLE
AMOUNT OF HOUSING. BOTH
INDIVIDUAL HOUSING AND BRICKS
AND MORTAR BUILDINGS WITH A
LARGE POPULATION OF PEOPLE WHO
ARE WORKFORCE HOUSING.
THAT STANDS TO BE LOST AND
PROPORTIONS WHAT THEY ARE GOING
TO REPLACE IT WITH IS VERY
DISPROPORTIONATE.
IN FACT THERE IS NO INCENTIVE.
THE DEVELOPERS ARE INCENTIVIZED
TO BUILD TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL
OF MARKETABILITY BECAUSE OF THE
FEES THEY ARE PAYING.
THAT BARGAIN DOES NOT ACTUALLY
PAN OUT OF THE AFFORDABILITY
THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE WHAT IS
DRIVING THIS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> BROOKE FOLLOWED BY NATALIE
WILLIAMS FOLLOWED BY DAVID WARD.
CONGRATULATIONS.
WE'VE MADE IT THROUGH THE FIRST
20 FOLKS AND WE NOW HAVE A LOT
MORE PEOPLE.
>> THANK YOU FOR TAKING ALL OF
THIS TIME TO LISTEN TO ALL OF
THESE PEOPLE ON A CRITICAL
ISSUE.
I LIVE IN THE ROOSEVELT AREA
AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR
OF MHA AND ASK THE COUNCIL TO
PASS LEGISLATION THAT MAXIMIZES
OUR ABILITY TO BUILD MORE
DIVERSE TYPES OF HOME
THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
THIS IS A ONCE IN A GENERATION
OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE ACCESS
TO EDUCATION, JOBS, TRANSIT,
AND BUILD A MORE SUSTAINABLE
CITY.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE KINDS OF
HOUSING THAT THESE CHANGES WILL
ALLOW US TO BUILD I THINK OF
THE RENEWAL ROOSEVELT
DEVELOPMENT WHICH IS RIGHT IN
MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
THREE OF THESE ARE AFFORDABLE
UNITS.
THE DESIGN FITS INTO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY SURROUND A
COURTYARD AND ARE IN WALKING
DISTANCE OF A VIBRANT DISTRICT.
THESE TOWNHOMES ARE BUILT ON
LOTS THAT ONCE HAD THREE SINGLE-
FAMILY HOMES.
OR I THINK OF THIS BUILDING
WHICH IS RIGHT AROUND THE
CORNER FROM ME.
THIS IS A STACKED APARTMENT
BUILDING AND YOU CAN EASILY
WALK BY IT NEVER KNOWING THAT
IT WAS PROVIDING DENSITY.
THIS KIND OF HOUSING CANNOT BE
BUILT IN MOST OF OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS WITHOUT MAKING
CHANGES TO THE ZONING.
MUCH OF SEATTLE WILL BECOME A
DEFECT DON'T GATED COMMUNITY
FILLED WITH NOTHING BUT LUXURY
SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES COSTING
UPWARDS OF $1 MILLION.
THAT IS NOT THE KIND OF FUTURE
WE SHOULD ASPIRE TO.
I'VE BEEN COMING TO OPEN
HOUSES, PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR
OVER FOUR YEARS AND THAT'S A
LOT OF DISCUSSION DEBATE IN
PROCESS.
WE HAVE LOST THE OPPORTUNITY TO
BUILD THOSE AND ARE LOSING THE
OPPORTUNITY TO GET A FORCIBLE
HOT FUNDING.
LET'S NOT WAIT ANY LONGER.
I URGE THE COUNCIL TWO-EDGED
REJECT AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD
SCALE IT BACK AND SET A COURSE
THAT WILL MAKE US AN INCLUSIVE
CITY TRUE TO OUR PROGRESSIVE
VALUES.
THANK YOU.
>> NOW WE HAVE NATALIE WILLIAMS
FOLLOWED BY DAVID WARD FOLLOWED
BY BRITNEY.
>> I LIVE IN WEST SEATTLE AND
STAND TONIGHT TO HELP ME MAKE
THIS SIGN OBSOLETE.
I'M ASKING THAT THE ZONING BE
AMENDED TO ACTUALLY REQUIRE
DEVELOPERS TO PROVIDE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
RIGHT NOW THEY CAN BUY OUT SO
IT'S NOT REALLY A REQUIREMENT.
IT'S A SUGGESTION.
THE DEVELOPERS THAT I'VE TALKED
TO IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT ARE
BULLDOZING AFFORDABLE RENTALS
AND DISPLACING THE BAKER'S
ASSESSMENT THAT WORK IN MY
NEIGHBORHOOD ARE BUILDING BIG
FILE CABINET LOOKING BUILDINGS
AND PROVIDING MORE HOUSING FOR
THE AFFLUENT.
THEY ARE BUILDING EXPENSIVE
CONDOS, NOT PROVIDING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND TELL ME
THEY DO NOT PLAN TO.
I'M ASKING YOU TO AMEND THIS
LEGISLATION, TO REQUIRE THEM TO
PROVIDE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
THAT THIS ACRONYM SUPPOSEDLY
SAYS IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
THANK YOU.
>> DAVID WARD, BRITTANY, AMY
CARLSON.
>> MY NAME IS DAVID WARD A. I
BELIEVE THEY ARE FLAWED AND
DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS.
I THINK IT IS ESSENTIAL TO HAVE
A CLAWBACK BECAUSE WITHOUT THAT
WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT WHAT
LITTLE HOUSING IS ALREADY IN
THE PACKAGE IS ABLE TO STAY
THERE.
I SUPPORT THE STRONGEST
POSSIBLE DISPLACEMENT
LEGISLATION.
I SUPPORT LISA SAWANT'S
PROPOSAL AND WOULD LIKE TO GO
FURTHER TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE
NO NET LOSS AND A ONE-TO-ONE
REPLACEMENT. THIS IS NECESSARY
BECAUSE MHA CREATES SO LITTLE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
IT'S ONLY 3-10% MEANING THAT 90-
97% OF HOUSING WILL NOT BE
AFFORDABLE WHICH MEANS IT WILL
NOT BE HOUSING FOR EVERYONE.
EIS SAID HIS IT IS 70 IT IS 77%
PEOPLE OF COLOR, THE HIGHEST
PERCENTAGE OF INCREASES AND
HIGHEST VACANCIES IN THE CITY
OUTSIDE OF DOWNTOWN.
PEOPLE ARE GETTING DISPLACED
ALREADY IN THE RAINIER VALLEY.
ALSO, IT HAS 60% OF THE 10,000
PROPERTIES LIKELY TO BE
REDEVELOPED.
MEETING AGAIN PEOPLE ARE LIKELY
TO BE DISPLACED FROM SOUTH
SEATTLE.
IF THERE IS A LOSS OF EVEN A
SINGLE CULTURAL BUSINESS OR
COMMUNITY INSTITUTION IT CAN
MAGNIFY DISPLACEMENT.
YET, THERE ARE MORE THAN 600
LIKELY BUSINESSES THAT HAVE
ALMOST ALL OF THE CULTURAL
INSTITUTIONS IN SOUTH SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU MR. WARD.
>> BRITNEY FOLLOWED BY AMY
CARLSON FOLLOWED BY ALEX
ZIMMERMAN.
BRITNEY, I REALLY LIKE YOUR
SHIRT BUT ON WOMEN I THINK
THAT'S VERY REFLECTIVE OF THIS
EVENING'S COMPOSITION.
[ LAUGHTER ] I THINK YOU FOR
WEARING THAT SHIRT TO
COMMEMORATE ATTENDANCE THIS
EVENING.
>> MY NAME IS BECCA.
I'M THE CHAIR OF THE SIERRA
CLUB SEATTLE GROUP AND WE ARE
SPEAKING AS A GROUP TONIGHT.
YOU SHOULD HAVE AROUND 160
SUPPORTIVE MESSAGES IN YOUR
INBOX FROM OUR SUPPORTERS.
I PERSONALLY AM ALSO A SINGLE-
FAMILY HOME OWNER LIVING WITHIN
THE BOUNDARIES OF THE OTHELLO
REZONE.
I AM A STRONG SUPPORTER OF THE
PASSAGE OF THE MHA.
I WILL WELCOME MORE DENSITY.
>> CAN YOU PLEASE STOP THE
CLOCK?
MR. ZIMMERMAN, I'M GOING TO ASK
YOU TO TAKE YOUR SEAT.
>> I APOLOGIZE FOR THE
INTERRUPTION.
>> HOUSING HOW HOUSING TYPES
WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR MORE
NEIGHBORS TO MOVE IN.
WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT BEING
PROENVIRONMENT ALSO MEANS THAT
YOU ARE PRO-DENSITY AND BRITNEY
WILL SAY MORE ABOUT THAT.
>> THE SIERRA CLUB SUPPORTS
INCREASED UP SONES.
URBAN AFFORDABLE HOUSING MATTERS
. SMALL AND MULTIFAMILY HOUSING
IS MORE ENERGY-EFFICIENT THAN
LARGE SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSING AND
THEREFORE A SMALLER CARBON FOR.
WHEN PEOPLE CAN AFFORD AND
AFFORD TO DRIVE LESS, AND WALK
BIKE IN-TRANSIT MORE.
BUILDING MORE HOUSING ALSO
REDUCES DEVELOPMENT PRESSURE AND
AGRICULTURAL AREAS FOR WILD
FOREST AND RECREATIONAL AREAS.
THESE ARE THINGS WE CHERISH AND
WE NEED TO PROTECT THOSE
CITIZENS AS WELL.
RESEARCH OUTREACH AND ANALYSIS,
IT IS TIME TO PASS THESE
COMMONSENSE CHANGES AND CREATE
THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT OUR
CITY MORE SO DESPERATELY NEEDS.
>> I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE
CLUB EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND I
WANTED TO SAY A FEW WORDS AS A
PERSON WHO LIVES NEAR RAPIDLY
INTENSIFYING AREA.
I AM IN A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME
BUT A LOT OF MINE ARE IN NEW
MULTIFAMILY BUILDINGS.
DURING THE LAST SNOWSTORM WE
HAD A BLAST.
EVERYONE WAS THERE IN THE ALLEY.
WE SHARED SLEDS, SHOVELS, AND
IT DIDN'T MATTER.
SOME OF US WERE RENTING, SOME
OF US WERE FROM THE MULTIFAMILY
BUILDING.
THE GUY WITH THE BEST SHOVEL
WAS ON THE END SHOVELING
BECAUSE HIS PROPERTY MANAGER
WOULDN'T DO IT.
THERE'S A SENSE OF COMMUNITY
THAT EXTENDS BEYOND WHAT KIND
OF HOUSING WE LIVE IN.
WHEN I TALKED TO MY NEIGHBORS I
DON'T HEAR ALL MAN THERE'S
ANOTHER APARTMENT.
I HEAR WE CAN WALK PLACES.
LOOK THE BUS IS LATE.
MAYBE IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE
CAN, IF THERE WAS A BETTER BIKE
LANE.
MY NEIGHBORS ARE WELCOMING AND
I WANTED TO JUST CONVEY THAT.
EVEN THOUGH I AM IN A SINGLE-
FAMILY HOME, THERE'S A LOT OF US
THAT ARE PSYCHED ABOUT THE
HIGHER DENSITY AND THE
DIVERSITY THAT IT'S BRINGING,
AND THE BUSINESSES AND WALK
ABILITY THAT IT RINGS WITH IT.
>> I VOLUNTEER ON THE TASK
FORCE THAT TRIES TO FIGHT
AGAINST FOSSIL FUELS, ADVOCATE
FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY, AND
VOLUNTEER WITH THE SEATTLE
GROUP AS WELL.
I LIKE VOLUNTEERING BECAUSE IT
GETS TO THE INTERSECTION
NULLITY OF TRANSPORTATION,
HOUSING, AND ENERGY USE.
I THINK THIS IS A VERY
IMPORTANT THING TO PASS BECAUSE
IT WILL INCREASE DENSITY, AND
IF WE DON'T HAVE MORE DENSITY
WE GET MORE SPRAWL BECAUSE MORE
PEOPLE ARE MOVING INTO SEATTLE.
SO UNLESS WE WANT TO STOP
PEOPLE FROM MOVING TO SEATTLE I
THINK WE CAN WELCOME PEOPLE AND
HAVE MORE DENSE HOUSING TO BE
ABLE TO DO THAT.
IF WE HAVE MORE DENSE HOUSING
TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS WILL BE
BETTER.
IT WILL BE MORE FEASIBLE TO
HAVE ELECTRIC CARS OR WALK OR
TAKE THE BUS AROUND TOWN.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
WE SUPPORT THE MOST ROBUST
VERSION OF THE LEGISLATION THAT
YOU CAN PASS.
THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE ABOUT 140 MORE
PEOPLE SIGNED UP SO WE ARE
GOING TO BE HERE UNTIL THE VERY
END AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE
THAT FOLKS UNDERSTOOD THAT WE
HAVE 140 FOLKS SIGNED UP.
THIS LOVELY PUBLIC COMMENT BOX
IS STILL AVAILABLE FOR THOSE OF
YOU WHO MAY NOT BE ABLE TO
STICK AROUND UNTIL 10:00 AT
NIGHT WITH US.
OF COURSE YOU ARE STILL
ENCOURAGED TO FIND ALL OF YOUR
FRIENDS AND SIGN UP AS A GROUP
AND PROVIDE PUBLIC TESTIMONY IN
FIVE MINUTES.
JUST A FRIENDLY REMINDER.
>> I REALLY LIKE THOSE BOXES.
>> WE DO READ THE COMMENTS LEFT
IN THAT BOX.
NEXT WE HAVE AMY CARLSON
FOLLOWED BY ALEX ZIMMERMAN
FOLLOWED BY ANDY.
>> I LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY AND
I'M GOING TO ADDRESS MY COMMENTS
TO SOME SPECIFIC ISSUES.
FIRST OF ALL, SOME GENERAL
ISSUES AND THEN SOME SPECIFIC
ISSUES.
GENERAL ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED
INCLUDE DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEES.
MAKING SURE INFRASTRUCTURE IS
IN PLACE BEFORE DOING THE
DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDE A REPORT
OF THE SUCCESS OF UPS ZONING
THAT IS ALREADY COMPLETED IN
AREAS CLOSE TO DOWNTOWN, INCLUDE
A PROVISION THAT INCLUDES
COMMUNITY COUNCILS AND
NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING.
MY ISSUES HAVE TO DO WITH CLEAN
AND,-- THE BOSTON QUEEN AND LOT
WHICH IS WAY OUT OF CHARACTER
OF WITH THE REST OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND I'VE SPOKEN TO
A LOT OF THE SMALL-SCALE
BUSINESSES IN THE AREA.
THEY ARE EITHER NOT AWARE OF
THIS OR ARE VERY MUCH OPPOSED.
THE OTHER AREA IS WEST OF QUEEN
ANNE AVENUE WHERE THERE IS
PROPOSED HEIGHT CHANGES.
IF THOSE GO IN THERE SHOULD BE
PROTECTION FOR THE NEIGHBORHOODS
ADJACENT TO THAT AREA.
IN CONCLUSION, THE UP SONES AND
SUPPRESSION OF NEIGHBORHOOD
VOICES AND PLANNING ARE A GIFT
TO MAXIMIZE PROFITS.
THE RESULTS WILL BE MASSIVE
DISPLACEMENT AND GENTRIFICATION
WITHOUT PRESERVATION OF OLDER
AFFORDABLE BUILDINGS.
THE SMALL AMOUNT OF SUBSIDIZED
HOUSING DOES NOT OFFSET THE
LOSS OF OLDER, LOW MARKET
HOUSING.
THIS PROPOSAL SHOULD GO BACK TO
THE DRAWING BOARD FOR FURTHER
REVIEW OF NEGATIVE IMPACTS.
THE TOP DOWN ONE SIZE FITS ALL
PLAN IS NOT APPROPRIATE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> ALEX ZIMMERMAN FOLLOWED BY
RANDY FOLLOWED BY CHRIS OLSON.
HELLO MY LOVELY SWEET SUGAR
FUHRER.
I WANT TO SPEAK TO YOU.
ALREADY FOR BARBECUE YOU KNOW?
EACH YEAR SPEECH LOOK LIKE YOU
ARE A PRESENTING AMERICAN.
IT HAS BEEN VERY NICE.
WHY?
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENED
FOR THE FOUR OR FIVE YEARS?
THE GOVERNMENT HAVE BLOOD AND
MONEY FROM US.
WHY ARE YOU SO NICE?
BECAUSE YOU ARE STUPID OR SMART?
EVERYBODY KEEP PASSING AND SAFE
CONDITIONS.
I SPOKE TO YOU BECAUSE IT'S
VERY IMPORTANT, SO CLEAN THIS
DIRTY CHAMBER FROM THIS KILLER
WHO KILLED NOT ONLY A PUBLICIST
BUT 1000 PEOPLE EVERY YEAR.
YOU LOSE EVERYTHING RIGHT NOW.
I LIVE IN THE CITY FOR 22 YEARS
AND I SING EVERYTHING-- SEE
EVERYTHING.
NOTHING WILL BE CHANGED, SO
WAKE UP. YOU ARE AMERICAN.
STAND UP AND CLEANSE THIS DIRTY
CHAMBER FROM THESE?.
LOOK, IT'S A KILLER.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT IS I SPOKE
TO YOU RIGHT NOW, REMEMBER ALEX
ZIMMERMAN STAND UP AND MAKING
REAL CHANGES. CLEANSE THIS
DIRTY CHANGER FROM THIS CROOK
AND MAN KILLER.
>> WELL--
>> SORRY EVERYBODY.
>> AT LEAST HE DIDN'T SPEAK
UNTIL THE VERY END.
WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON THROUGH
, RANDY FOLLOWED BY CHRIS OLSON
FOLLOWED BY MIKE RUBY.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE
SEATTLE KING COUNTY REALTORS
HERE TO ENCOURAGE THAT YOU MOVE
SWIFTLY WITH COMPLETION OF THE
MHA PROGRAM.
SEATTLE IS IN A DESPERATE NEED
FOR HOUSING SUPPLY AT EVERY
PRICE POINT AND IT WILL BE
IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE WAVES ON
AFFORDABILITY UNLESS WE CONFRONT
THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM THAT
THERE IS NOT ENOUGH HOUSING
RELATIVE TO DEMAND.
IT'S BY WHY RENTAL AND
OWNERSHIP HOUSING IS
SKYROCKETING WITH THE MOST
SEVERE IMPACTS OF THOSE AT THE
LOWER END OF THE SPECTRUM.
IN YOUR WORK IS A CRITICAL
PIECE OF THE SOLUTION.
NO QUESTION THESE ARE TOUGH
VOTES IN LEADERSHIP IS MUCH
APPRECIATED.
I THINK THERE IS VALUE IN
REMEMBERING HOW WE GOT HERE AND
WHY WE NEED TO GET MORE OUT OF
OUR EXISTING LAND BASE.
25 YEARS AGO, OUR REGION STATE
AND CITY TOOK A COURAGEOUS
STAND AGAINST SPRAWL AND WE
OPPOSED AN URBAN GROWTH
BOUNDARY.
WE AGREED TO CHANNEL GROWTH
INTO CITIES AND COMMITTED TO
PRESERVING FOREST FARMS AND
WILD LANDS.
WE SUCCEEDED LARGELY IN
CONSERVING THESE RESOURCES.
THROUGHOUT THE REGION WE
DIRECTED GROWTH INTO URBAN
AREAS AND CREATED NEW AND
RENEWED COMMUNITY IS LIKE
CAPITOL HILL, SOUTH LAKE UNION
AND COLUMBIA CITY WITH MORE ON
THE WAY.
IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO
THEN AND STILL IS.
FROM THE VERY BEGINNING WE
FAILED TO BE REALISTIC ABOUT
THE SUPPLY OF HOUSING THAT WE
NEEDED ON THE URBAN SIDE OF THE
GROWTH BOUNDARY.
HAVING SET UNREALISTICALLY LOW
TARGETS IN THE CITY AND COUNTY,
WE ARE BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL
AND NEED TO MAKE UP TIME.
YOUR WORK IS CRITICAL.
IT WILL USHER IN AFFORDABILITY
AND RELIEF TO A CONSTRAINED
MARKET.
PLEASE MOVE FORWARD ON MHA IN
ITS MOST ROBUST FORM.
>> CHRIS ALSTON AND MIKE RUBY.
IF RUSS WANTS TO GET READY.
THANK YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS CHRIS OLSON AND I
MADE NORTH CAPITOL HILL
RESIDENT.
I LIVE ONE BLOCK FROM I-FIVE ON
THE HILL FACING EAST LAKE.
I'M HERE REPRESENTING MYSELF
AND SOME OF MY NEIGHBORS TO
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR VOTE
AGAINST ONE SPECIFIC RECENTLY
ANNOUNCED AMENDMENT TO THE
PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE.
DISTRICT 4 AMENDMENT 4-18 WILL
INCREASE THE ZONING ON BOYLSTON
AVENUE TO MIDRISE.
THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE
ALREADY INCREASES ZONING TO
APPROXIMATELY 40 FEET.
AMENDMENT 418 WILL INCREASE IT
EVEN MORE TO MIDRISE AROUND 80
FEET.
BOYLSTON IS THE ROAD ON THE
EAST LAKESIDE, 80 FEET MIDRISE
BUILDINGS WILL TRAP POLLUTANTS
AND ACT LIKE A NOISE WHILE
REVERBERATING NOISE ONTO THE
SIDE OF THE FREEWAY.
IN A RECENT STUDY, IT AVERAGED
72 DB IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHICH
IS AS LOUD AS A VACUUM CLEANER.
IT IS REASONABLE TO EXPECT THAT
TALL BUILDINGS WILL INCREASE
THAT NOISE AND TRAP POLLUTANTS.
EVEN A SMALL INCREASE IN EITHER
WILL DRASTICALLY IMPACT THE
LIVABILITY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD
AND WE BELIEVE THIS GOES
AGAINST THE STATED PURPOSE TO
PROMOTE PUBLIC HEALTH SAFETY
AND GENERAL WELFARE.
ADDITIONALLY, THE OLDER HOUSES
ARE ALREADY SOME OF THE MOST
AFFORDABLE AND WE DON'T THINK
THAT BUILDING NEW DEVELOPMENTS
THERE WILL MAKE THEM AFFORDABLE.
MIDRISE IS BELONG NEAR
TRANSPORTATION HUBS.
I'M NOT HERE TO ARGUE AGAINST
DENSITY OR AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
ONLY TO ARGUE AGAINST A SINGLE
MISAPPLICATION OF THE SOLUTION
WHICH WILL CAUSE REAL HARM.
THANK YOU.
>> BEFORE WE MOVE ON, I'M JUST
NOTICING THAT WE ARE RECEIVING
MORE GUESTS INSIDE OF CHAMBERS
FROM THE OVERFLOW ROOM.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE
ALREADY SITTING DOWN, IF YOU
HAVE A SEAT NEXT TO YOU THAT IS
EMPTY CAN YOU PLEASE RAISE YOUR
HAND?
FOR THOSE FOLKS ON THE BACK
WALL, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO FIND
A SEAT, PLEASE LOOK FOR ONE OF
THESE RAISED HANDS AND MAKE
YOURSELF COMFORTABLE BECAUSE WE
HAVE ABOUT 135 PEOPLE OR SO TO
MAKE OUR WAY THROUGH.
YOU ARE GOING TO BE STANDING
FOR A WHILE, SO PLEASE HELP US
MAKE ROOM FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO
HAVE ENTERED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HELPING
EACH OTHER OUT.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MIKE
RUBY FOLLOWED BY RUSS SAUNDERS
FOLLOWED BY ALLISON.
>> COULD WE WAIT A SECOND UNTIL
IT QUIETS DOWN?
SURE BUT WE ARE GOING TO GO
AHEAD AND START THE TIME.
>> MY NAME IS MICHAEL RUBY AND
I'M PRESENTING ON THE MHA.
THE ADDENDUM TO THE HISTORIC
RESOURCES ISSUED TWO WEEKS AGO
IS INADEQUATE AND MISLEADING AS
RESPECT TO THE HISTORIC
PRESERVATION.
THEY WOULD BE THREATENED BY THE
PROPOSED ZONE OF MUCH OF THE
AREA.
IT IS POSSIBLE TO MAKE SOME
EVALUATION AND INFORMATION FROM
THE PRESENTED MATERIAL. IT DOES
CORRECTLY POINT OUT THAT THERE
ARE FOUR STRUCTURES LANDMARKED
AND ONE THAT IS DETERMINED TO
BE NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE.
IF WE LOOK CAREFULLY, WE FIND
THAT IT IS AN ADEQUATE.
THERE IS ALMOST NOTHING THERE
EXCEPT FOR A MAP WHICH SEEMS TO
HAVE IDENTIFIED 87 PROPERTIES AS
WITH AN IN-DEPTH PRESERVATION.
BASED ON THE MAPS AND DATABASES
AVAILABLE IN THE CITY THERE
APPEAR TO BE 115 PROPERTIES IN
THE SAME AREA.
THE PROCESS IS REALLY ONLY
BEGINNING TO DEVELOP A HISTORIC
PRESERVATION DISTRICT.
UNLIKE ACTIONS ELSEWHERE, WE
ARE MOVING VERY DELIBERATELY
WANTING TO CONSULT AND WORKS
WITH WORK WITH FOLKS WHO WOULD
BE IMPACTED BY SUCH ACTIONS.
THAT DOES TAKE TIME.
WE SEE THERE ARE MANY
PROPERTIES SUBMITTED TO THE
STATE AS NATIONAL REGISTER
ELIGIBLE.
THIS PROCESS IS ONLY BEGINNING.
IT TAKES TIME TO MATURE AND I'M
SURE THAT MANY OTHER PROPERTIES
WILL BE DEEMED ELIGIBLE.
THE ACTIVITY AROUND REZONING
HAS FORCED THE ISSUE IN TERMS
OF TRYING TO NARROW DOWN A
LARGE AREA THAT HAS FIRM ROOTS
AND STOCK THAT SHOULD BE
ACCORDING SOME RECOGNITION.
>> WE ARE GOING TO MOVE TO RUSS
FOLLOWED BY ALLISON.
>> THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME.
I REPRESENT MY FAMILY'S
BUSINESS, HANDY ANDY RENTAL
THAT HAS BEEN GOING FOR 40
YEARS.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE ZONING
CHANGE AND ITS INDIRECT
VIOLATION OF THE EIS AND THE
POLLUTION FROM THE TRACKS.
IT'S A MAJOR TRUCK STREET AND
IS THE LARGEST MAJOR TRUCK
STREET NORTH, OUTSIDE OF ANY
URBAN VILLAGE. MANY OF YOU
WORKED ON THE FREIGHT MASTER
PLAN ITS INDIRECT VIOLATION OF
THAT.
THE STREET DOES NOT HAVE A
CAPACITY WITH SIDEWALKS BEING 90
FEET WIDE TO SUPPORT HAVING
UPWARDS OF 8000 APARTMENTS.
IT CREATES A PEDESTRIAN
NIGHTMARE.
THE DENSITY IS RIGHT ALONG
AURORA.
IT'S NOT WHERE WE WANT TO HOUSE
PEOPLE.
THE LOW INCOME SHOULD NOT BE
FORCED TO LIVE NEXT TO A VERY
NOISY AND POLLUTED STREET FROM
THE OMISSIONS.
THAT'S NOT WHAT THE MHA IS
ABOUT.
WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT GIVING
OPPORTUNITIES TO THOSE PEOPLE,
NOT FORCING THEM TO LIVE ON
AURORA WHICH IS COMPLETELY
AGAINST THE WHOLE DOCTRINE THAT
STARTED AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
PLEASE DON'T REZONE AURORA AND
PUSH THOSE PLACES PEOPLE TO
LIVE IN A PLACE THAT IS NOT
QUALITY AND WILL PROVIDE A SAFE
ENVIRONMENT FOR THEM.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE ALLISON
FOLLOWED BY JOHN STUART.
16 B.
>> MY NAME IS ALLISON AND LAST
FRIDAY I BECAME A HOMEOWNER IN
DISTRICT FOR AND SO TONIGHT
WITH FULL RECOGNITION OF THE
PRETTY IMMENSE GENERATIONAL
PRIVILEGE THAT ALLOWED ME TO
REACH THE MILESTONE. MAYBE I
SHOULD SAY YES ON MY BLOCK
SINCE I DON'T HAVE A-- BUT I'M
STILL PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT.
I'M ALSO HERE TO SUPPORT AS A
STAFF MEMBER FOR SEATTLE'S
LARGEST NONPROFIT IT ALLOWS US
TO DO THINGS IN THE CITY AND I
WILL TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT
DISTRICT FOR.
ONE NEW THING IS THAT THROUGH
THE KITCHEN WINDOW I CAN SEE A
BRAND-NEW BUILDING THAT WE
OPENED LAST YEAR WITH 133
AFFORDABLE HOMES.
SINCE 2008 WE HAVE OWNED AND
OPERATED 70 AFFORDABLE
APARTMENTS IN WALLINGFORD AND
WE ARE WORKING TO BUILD 256
HOMES IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO
THE UPCOMING LIGHT RAIL STATION.
THESE ARE TREMENDOUS
OPPORTUNITIES.
THIS IS THE KIND OF HOUSING
THAT WE BUILD AND THAT OTHER
NONPROFITS BUILD BUT THE KIND
OF HOUSING BEING DELAYED BY NOT
HAVING ENOUGH CITY FUNDING.
THEIR COMPLETION DATES OR START
DATES ARE BEING PUSHED OUT AND
WE THINK THE CITY FOR GIVING US
WHAT YOU DO.
MHA IS GOING TO HELP GET US
THERE.
IT'S GOING TO DOUBLE THE AMOUNT
OF FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR THE
FUNDING GETTING BUILT FROM
RESIN-- TO GREENWOOD TO REGNIER
BEACH.
I WANT TO ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL
TO ENACT MHA FULLY AND ROBUSTLY
AND DO IT EXPEDIENTLY.
>> JOHN STUART FOLLOWED BY--
FOLLOWED BY TOM ALLEN.
>> I'M HERE WITH-- WE ARE A
WASHINGTON STATE NONPROFIT HERE
IN SUPPORT OF 2 AMENDMENTS
PROPOSED BY COUNCILMEMBER
JOHNSON, FOR-- FOR A AND FOUR--
40-- 4.4 LETTER A AND 4.4 B.
>> THIS WAS IDENTIFIED AS AN
IMPORTANT MITIGATING MEASURE.
WE HOPE THAT EVERY MEMBER WILL
VOTE FOR THESE AMENDMENTS.
WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON FOR
PRESENTING THESE AND
COUNCILMEMBER HARRELL. THE
MISSION OF THE FRIENDS IS TO
PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE
HERITAGE AS A SHARED COMMUNITY
RESOURCE FOR ALL.
IT TOOK MORE THAN 2000
VOLUNTEER HOURS TO COMPLETE THE
APPLICATION FOR THE WASHINGTON
STATE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGY
AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION FOR
THE NORTH HISTORIC DISTRICT.
IT IS NOW LISTED ON BOTH THE
WASHINGTON STATE HERITAGE
REGISTER OF HISTORIC RACES AND
THE NATIONAL REGISTER. 242
HOMES ARE WITHIN DISTRICT
BOUNDARIES AND MANY WERE BUILT
IN THE FIRST DECADES OF THE
1900S.
EDWARD CURTIS WAS CREATING HIS
TRIBUTE IN THESE SAME THREE
DECADES.
LET'S THINK OUTSIDE THE FRAME.
VOLUNTEERS CANVASSED THE
RESIDENTS AND VISITORS WITH A
PETITION STATING THAT THE
PROPOSED OF ZONE SHOULD NOT BE
ENACTED WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES
OF THE NATIONAL HISTORIC
DISTRICT.
THE PETITION RESULTED IN 562
SIGNATURES IN SUPPORT OF THE
STATEMENT.
THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE HAS
RECOGNIZED THE ARCHITECTURE IS
HISTORIC, REMARKABLY COHESIVE,
INTACT, AND WELL-MAINTAINED.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEAVE
A LEGACY AND WE WOULD LIKE YOU
TO TAKE PART IN THIS. WE ENSURE
YOU THAT WE ALSO SUPPORT
INCREASING AFFORDABLE HOUSING
OPTIONS IN SEATTLE AND
RECOGNIZE THE SCOPE OF THE
PROBLEM BUT DO NOT SEE THIS AS
PROTECTING THE INTEGRITY OF THE
ARCHITECTURALLY SIGNIFICANT
NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE ARCHITECTURAL INTEGRITY OF
THE NEIGHBORHOOD, ONCE IT IS
DESTROYED, CAN NEVER BE
RECLAIMED.
WE URGE YOU TO ADOPT THE
AMENDMENTS PROTECTING THIS
HISTORICALLY-- IDEA AND THANK
YOU FOR SHOWING UP THIS EVENING.
>> THANK YOU.
>>-- FOLLOWED BY TOM ALLEN.
>> HELLO COUNCILWOMEN.
THANK YOU TONIGHT FOR THE
TESTIMONY.
I LIVE IN THE URBAN VILLAGE IN
A MODEST SINGLE-FAMILY ONE BED
ONE-BATH HOUSE AND I'VE LIVED
THERE FOR THE LAST 11 YEARS.
MY STREET DOES NOT HAVE MANY
SIDEWALKS SO WHEN THE SNOWSTORM
HIT MY NEIGHBORS COMPRISED OF
THREE HOUSE OWNERS AND RENTERS
SPENT 2 1/2 HOURS CREATING A
PATH ON OUR BLOCK TO PREVENT
FLOODING FROM THE SNOW MELT.
I'M A SINGLE INCOME HOUSEHOLD
AND MY VISION FOR THE FUTURE IS
TO CREATE ANYTHING. AS I PLAN
FOR MY ENTIRE MINT I CAN CREATE
EXTRA INCOME SO I CAN EITHER
RENT OUT THE UNIT AND MY LARGE
720 SQUARE-FOOT HOUSE.
I'M IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THE
AMENDMENTS AS THEY PROVIDE ME
WITH THE PLATE FRAMEWORK--
INSTEAD OF LR ONE.
IF MY PROPERTY WERE TO BE ZONED
LR 1 WHICH IS THE
RECOMMENDATION OF EXECUTIVE
LEGISLATION, I WILL NOT PURSUE
THE PLANS AS IT WOULD NOT MAKE
SENSE BASED ON THE PROPOSED
ZONING.
ONE THIRD OF THE BLOCK THAT
RENTERS LIVE IN, IN ADDITION TO
THAT IT IS LOW INCOME HOUSING
ACROSS THE STREET FROM ME.
WE KNOW ONE ANOTHER AND WE ARE
COMMUNITY.
ULTIMATELY I WOULD LIKE TO
CONTRIBUTE TO IT BY CREATING
HOUSING MYSELF.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> NEXT WE HAVE TOM FOLLOWED BY
MATTHEW.
>> MY NAME IS TOM ALLEN, THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO BE HERE
MUCH LONGER THAN I WILL BE.
EARLIER THIS MONTH I WAS HAVING
BEERS WITH FRIENDS AND ONE OF
THE FRIENDS SAID I'M MOVING IN
A FEW YEARS AND WE ASKED WHY.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL CITY.
BUT, HE CAN'T CONTINUE LIVING
IN A CITY WHERE HE ONE DAY
CANNOT AFFORD TO OWN A HOME.
RENT IS SO HIGH THAT HE CAN'T
SAVE FOR ONE.
I WAS HEARTBROKEN WHEN HE SAID
THIS.
HE'S GONE THROUGH A LOT BUT
THIS HOUSING WAS TOO MUCH THAT
HE HAD TO GIVE UP.
ANOTHER FRIEND HAD TO
UNEXPECTEDLY MOVE OUT OF HER
APARTMENT AND WAS HOMELESS AND
COUCH SURFING FOR MONTHS.
SHE HAD TROUBLE FINDING AN
APARTMENT BECAUSE RENT WAS TOO
HIGH.
MY CHILDHOOD BEST FRIEND THAT I
GREW UP WITH 9 MILES FROM HERE
HAD TO MOVE TO SOUTH TACOMA
BECAUSE THAT WAS ALL THAT HE
COULD AFFORD.
HE DIDN'T WANT TO LIVE THERE
BUT HE KIND OF HAD TO WITH THE
WAY THAT IT WAS GOING EVEN IN A
CITY LIKE RENTON.
THE STATUS QUO IS CAUSING
DISPLACEMENT.
THIS LEGISLATION IS NEEDED AND
WAS NEEDED FIVE YEARS AGO.
AMENDMENTS THAT LOWER THE
NUMBER OF UNITS LEADS TO
HOUSING LOST.
ANY DELAY IS PASSING THIS HURTS
REAL PEOPLE.
HOUSING DELAYED IS HOUSING
DENIED A. LET'S NOT DENY ANYONE.
PLEASE PASS THIS LEGISLATION
AND GO AS BIG AS YOU CAN.
THANK YOU.
>> AND FOLLOWED BY MATTHEW MAUER
FOLLOWED BY JEFF.
WHAT IS IT?
>> I'M AND-- I INVITE ALL OF
YOU TO VISIT CROWN HILL URBAN
VILLAGE.
MUCH LIKE COUNCILMEMBER O'BRIEN
HAS THOUGHTFULLY DONE, YOU ARE
PROBABLY ALREADY FAMILIAR WITH
THE PARKING LOTS AND AUTO
CENTRIC BUSINESSES THAT COULD
USE REVITALIZATION.
IF YOU WALK THE SIDESTREETS,
YOU MAY BE SURPRISED TO SEE
MODEST SIZED HOUSES, MISSING
SIDEWALKS AND POOR DRAINAGE.
DID YOU KNOW THAT INGRAM HIGH
SCHOOL STUDENTS TAKE YELLOW BUS
SERVICES TO HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE
THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION--
>> WITH THE WOMAN WITH THE SIGN,
IF YOU WANT TO HOLD IT, HOLD IT
STEADY.
IT'S DISTRACTING AND WE HAVE A
HARD TIME WATCHING.
I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING BUT
I'M TRYING TO HEAR THE
SPEAKERS.
SO IF YOU COULD SIT HERE
QUIETLY, THANK YOU.
>> SHOULD I GO BACK TO THE BUS
SERVICE?
>> IN ANY CASE YOU WILL NOT SEE
ANY LIGHT RAIL STATIONS OR
COMMUNITY CENTERS OR LIBRARIES
AND YOU MAY AGREE WITH THE
AMENDMENTS THAT MIGHT MAKE A
LOT OF SENSE NOT JUST FOR THE
NEEDS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD BUT
THE OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL.
AMENDMENTS ALSO ACCURATELY
REFLECT COMMUNITY INPUT.
I WAS A PARTICIPANT IN THE
FOCUS GROUPS THAT INCLUDED
REPRESENTATIVES FROM ALL OVER
THE CITY, AND THE DRAFT MAPS
THAT CAME OUT OF THE PROCESS
FEATURED ZONING ON MOST OF THE
SIDESTREETS AND MAXIMIZED
HEIGHTS ON CURRENTLY
UNDERUTILIZED MATERIALS.
I TOOK NOTES OF THE WORKSHOP
WHERE OWNERS AND RENTERS
COMMENTED ON THE DRAFT MAPS.
THE PRIMARY FEEDBACK WAS
ACCEPTANCE OF ZONING AND
SUPPORT FOR MUCH-NEEDED
DEVELOPMENT ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD
ARTERIALS.
I BELIEVE THAT COUNCILMEMBER
O'BRIEN'S AMENDMENTS WERE
CRAFTED VERY WELL IN FINDING A
BALANCE BETWEEN THE NEEDS THAT
THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS AND THE
OPPORTUNITIES THEY HAVE AS WELL.
COME VISIT US.
>> MATTHEW FOLLOWED BY JEFF
FOLLOWED BY ANTON.
WE ARE A PROUD MEMBER OF THE
SEATTLE FOR EVERYONE COALITION,
A BROAD PARTNERSHIP OF DIVERSE
ADVOCATES WHO BELIEVE IN THE
PROMISE OF MHA.
THE PROMISE INCLUDES CREATING
MORE INCOME RESTRICTED HOUSING
WHILE CREATING HOUSING UNITS AT
THE SAME TIME.
AT LEAST 175 HOUSING UNITS TO
MEET THE CURRENT DEMAND, MHA
HAVE DONE RIGHT AND CAN HELP US
GET THERE. WE ARE HERE TO
SUPPORT CONTINUED EFFORTS AND
ASK YOU TO REJECT AMENDMENTS
THAT REDUCE THE ABILITY TO
CREATE MUCH-NEEDED HOUSING THAT
WILL COME FROM MHA.
WE REJECT THE WIDE SWATH OF
AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN
ENACTED WITH SIGNIFICANTLY
REDUCED CAPACITY WITHIN THE MHA
BOUNDARIES FOR HOUSING.
WE ASK YOU REJECT THE
COMMERCIAL AFFORDABILITY
AMENDMENTS WHICH IS A ONE-SIZE-
FITS-ALL MANDATE FILLED WITH
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT
WILL IMPACT THE VIABILITY OF
RETAILERS THROUGHOUT SEATTLE.
FINALLY, WE URGE YOU TO REJECT
AMENDMENT BE THREE AND ANY
OTHERS THAT AIM TO CHANGE THE
REQUIREMENTS BEFORETHE PROGRAM
HAS HAD A CHANCE TO BE FULLY
IMPLEMENTED.
TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO FEES AND
REQUIREMENTS WITHOUT EMPIRICAL
EVIDENCE INDIRECT BREACH OF THE
GRAND BARGAIN.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT
THE LAWS OF IMPLYING SUPPLY AND
DEMAND APPLY TO HOUSING AND IF
WE DON'T HAVE ANY MHA AND NO UP
SONES IT DOES NOT MAKE SEATTLE
ANY LESS DESIRABLE AND PEOPLE
WILL STILL WANT TO MOVE HERE IF
WE DON'T HAVE HOUSING FOR
PEOPLE TO GO THEY WILL HAVE TO
COMPETE FOR THE STOCK IN TURN
INCREASING PRICES FOR EVERYBODY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
ALL OF YOU TO ENSURE THAT IT
WORKS AS INTENDED.
PLEASE.
>> I'VE LIVED IN WELLING FOR 10
YEARS AND THANK YOU FOR STAYING
LATE TO HEAR OUR TESTIMONY.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PASS MHA AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
THE PROCESS HAS BEEN DRAGGED
OUT FOR FOUR YEARS DURING WHICH
RENT HAS SKYROCKETED AND MANY
PEOPLE HAVE BECOME HOMELESS AND
MANY OTHERS UNDER HOSED AND
DRIVEN OUT OF TOWN.
SINGLE-FAMILY ZONING WAS
ENTRENCHED IN THE RACIST
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF 1923.
HARLAN BARTHOLOMEW WHO HIRED A
CONSULT AS HE WAS IN MANY WEST
COAST CITIES. IT'S TO PRESERVE
THE MORE DESIRABLE RESIDENTIAL
NEIGHBORHOODS AND PREVENT
MOVEMENT INTO THE FINAL
DISTRICTS I COLORED PEOPLE.
BEFORE 1923 MULTIFAMILY HOMES
WERE ALLOWED ANYWHERE YOU ARE
ALLOWED TO BUILD A FRAMED
BUILDING.
SUBSEQUENT REVISIONS MADE IT
SUCCESSFULLY HARDER TO BUILD
ANYWHERE AND NOW DUPLEXES ARE
EVEN PROHIBITED.
THE HOUSING CRISIS IS SELF-
INFLICTED AND IT'S LONG PAST
THE TIME WE SHOULD HAVE
DIRECTED THIS.
PLEASE PASS THIS SO WE CAN MOVE
ON TO MORE SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES.
TO TURN TO A DIFFERENT TOPIC,
TWO YEARS AFTER HURRICANE
KATRINA, 11,700 PEOPLE WERE
RENDERED HOMELESS AND A NUMBER
THE NUMBER WAS SIMILAR TO THE
LAST ONE NIGHT COUNT.
THEY HAVE BROUGHT THIS BY 90%
FOR A HOUSING FIRST APPROACH
WHICH IS PERMANENT HOUSING
RATHER THAN SHELTERS OR
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING.
FAMILIES WHO BECOME HOMELESS
AND ARE PERMANENTLY HOUSED,
THEY ARE WORKING TO BRING THAT
NUMBER DOWN.
VETERANS WHO BECOME HOMELES
ARE NOW HOUSED IN AN APARTMENT
PERMANENTLY WITHIN 30 DAYS OF
BECOMING HOMELESS, AND THUS FAR,
ONLY SEVERAL EXISTS.
STOP TALKING, START DOING.
>> ANTON AND HIS GROUP.
NICOLE GRANT FOLLOWED BY LEE.
>> WE ARE REPRESENTING THE
AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF
ARCHITECTS IN SEATTLE.
I AM AN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER
AND LIVE IN DISTRICT 6.
>> MY NAME IS ANTON AND I WORK
ON AS A RENTER.
>> I'M AN URBAN DESIGNER AND A
RENTER.
>> I'M AN INTERIOR
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER AND
REPRESENT TO FIX DISTRICT 7.
>> LICENSED ARCHITECT AND I
REPRESENT DISTRICT 5.
>> AS I SAID, I LIVE IN THE
HEART OF GREENWOOD AND OF
RECENTLY SEEN A LOT OF CHANGE
REGARDING DEVELOPMENT IN MY
NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE THE
INCREASING HOUSING STOCK.
I'M EXCITED FOR IT AS I SEE
GREAT POTENTIAL FOR DENSITY.
I SUPPORT THE OF ZONING
PROPOSED THROUGHOUT MY
DISTRICT.
HOWEVER, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT
THE AMENDMENTS THAT LIMIT THE
INCREASED DENSITY.
WE ARE PREDOMINANTLY A SINGLE-
FAMILY RESIDENTIAL AREA IN THE
AMENDMENTS AIM TO KEEP IT AS
SUCH.
THIS IS AN IRRESPONSIBLE ACTION
AS COMMUNITIES CONTINUE TO GROW
AND ALL THAT'S AVAILABLE ARE
COSTLY CONDOS.
THIS IS A COMMON TREND AND THE
AMOUNT AMENDMENTS AIMED TO
DERAIL THE INITIAL PURPOSE.
RENT AND HOUSING COSTS CONTINUE
TO BE UNAFFORDABLE AS THOSE
THAT LIVE IN RESIDENTIAL ZONING
CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO HOUSE
IT.
THE MHA WAS MET TO ADDRESS
THESE AND NOT CONTRIBUTE TO
THEM.
PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW THESE TO BE
WITHIN THE MHA AND ENSURE THAT
ITS ORIGINAL PURPOSE IS
PRESERVED.
>> I WAS STRUCK BY HOW QUICKLY
THE MUTUALLY AGREED-UPON GOALS
WHICH HAD BEEN PAINSTAKINGLY
DEVELOPED OVER FOUR YEARS ARE
CHIPPED AWAY BY HOMEOWNERS
WANTING TO PROTECT THE CURRENT
LIFESTYLE IN THEIR NECK OF THE
WOODS.
STATED GOALS OF HELPING SEATTLE
GROW EQUITABLY AND SUSTAINABLY
CANNOT BE ACHIEVED THIS WAY.
SEATTLE IS HOME TO ALL OF US
WHETHER WE OWN RENTER STRUGGLE.
ADDRESSING THESE NEEDS IS A
CITYWIDE EFFORT REQUIRING A
COHESIVE POLICY WHICH ALLOCATES
AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS
THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
DISTRICTS SHOULD BE UP SONES
BASED ON ACCESS TO TRANSIT AND
ABILITY TO EXPAND ACCESS TO
OPPORTUNITIES.
I URGE COUNCILMEMBERS TO
REMEMBER THE SHARED VISION OF
INCLUSIVE LADY AND COMMUNITY
VIBRANCE WHICH ARE DEVELOPED
WITH TARGETED OUTREACH TO A
BROAD ARRAY OF RESIDENCE AS
THEY CONSIDER THESE AMENDMENTS.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE
TONIGHT.
I LIVE IN A CENTRAL AREA NEAR
LITTLE SAIGON.
THERE ARE A LOT OF SMALL
BUSINESSES THAT ARE GOING TO BE
DISPLACED DUE TO THE NEW
DEVELOPMENT.
THERE'S AN EASY OPEN ETHIOPIAN
RESTAURANT AND A VIETNAMESE
CAFC THAT WON'T BE HERE MUCH
LONGER BECAUSE THERE ARE LAND-
USE SIGNS IN FRONT OF THE
BUSINESSES.
IT'S ALMOST ASSURED THAT THESE
BUSINESSES WILL NOT BE ABLE TO
AFFORD THE RETAIL SPACES BUILT
THERE.
DISPLACED IS IT REALLY THE
RIGHT WORD.
I THINK THEY ARE JUST GONE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT ACCOMMODATING
MORE PEOPLE MEANS THAT
BUILDINGS WILL BE TORN DOWN AND
RENTERS, BOTH INDIVIDUALS AND
BUSINESSES WILL BE FORCED TO
MOVE.
HOWEVER, THE SITUATION IS AS
BAD AS IT IS TODAY BECAUSE OF
DECADES OF BAD POLICY.
THE EXCLUSIVELY SOUGHT TO
PRESERVE THE COMFORTS AND
PRIVILEGES BESTOWED UPON SINGLE-
FAMILY ZONES BY LIMITING
MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENTS. THIS
HAS CONCENTRATED RENTERS IN
SCARCE AREAS AND THE SCARCITY
HAS RESULTED IN HIGHER COST OF
LIVING IN HIGHER RATES OF
DISPLACEMENT AS THE LAND
UNDERNEATH THE RENTERS HAS
INCREASED FASTER THAN OTHER
ZONES.
WHY SHOULD RENTERS BEAR THE
BURDEN OF GROWTH WHILE
HOMEOWNERS CONTINUE TO REAP THE
AWARDS?
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
CORRECT THIS BY OF ZONING
DIFFERENT CITY LAND.
COUNSEL MUST RESIST PRESSURE TO
FURTHER DENSE AND I TO DENSA.
COUNSEL MUST RESIST THE CAUSE
TO TRADE THESE AS THEY ARE JUST
ATTEMPTS TO PRESERVE THE STATUS
QUO.
PEOPLE TALK ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT
IT IS TO REMOVE DEEP-SEATED
BARRIERS THAT ENTRENCH
INEQUALITY.
THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO
REMOVE SOME OF THOSE BARRIERS
OR AT LEAST CHIP AWAY AT THEM.
>> NICOLE GRANT FOLLOWED BY LEE.
>> NICOLE GRANT, I'M THE HEAD
OF THE COUNTY LABOR COUNCIL AND
THE SEATTLE LIFER.
I'M HERE TO SAY PLEASE PASS MHA.
THERE ARE 150,000 WORKERS
MOVING TO KING COUNTY EVERY
YEAR.
SOME OF THEM ARE RELATIVELY
WELL COMPENSATED SUCH AS TECH
WORKERS WHO COME FROM ALL OVER
THE WORLD TO SEATTLE TO CREATE
AND MAINTAIN THE INTERNET.
I USE IT EVERY DAY.
THANK YOU.
SOME OF THEM ARE WORKERS IN
PRECARIOUS WORK WHO COME FROM
ALL OVER THE WORLD AND WORK AT
HUBER-- WORK AS A RIDESHARE
DRIVER AND THEY NEED HOUSING AS
WELL.
PLEASE PASS THE VERSION OF MHA
THAT GOES TOWARD THE GOAL OF
CREATING THE HOUSING THAT THESE
TENS UPON TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
WORKERS WHO ARE MOVING HERE
EVERY YEAR NEED A. ON BEHALF OF
THE LABOR MOVEMENT, WE WELCOME
ALL WORKERS TO OUR CITY.
>> LEAVE FOLLOWED BY DYLAN
FOLLOWED BY DOUGLAS. I'M SORRY
BUT I CANNOT SAY YOUR LAST NAME.
>> THINGS WERE BEING HERE AND
HEARING US.
I'M SPEAKING TODAY IN STRONG
SUPPORT OF COUNCILMEMBER MIKE
O'BRIEN'S AMENDMENTS.
HE AND STAFF HAVE WALK THROUGH
THE NEIGHBORHOOD MULTIPLE TIMES
AND HIS AMENDMENTS WILL NOT
ONLY HELP CONTRIBUTE TO
MANDATORY HOUSING AFFORDABILITY,
THE GOING TO BENEFIT AND CREATE
-- THE NEIGHBORS MOVING IN AND
THE HUNDREDS OF APARTMENTS THAT
ARE BEING BUILT OR PERMITTED OR
THE NEW NEIGHBORS THAT WILL
WELCOME THEM, WE WANT TO THANK
THE COUNCIL ALSO.
THANK YOU FOR APPROVING
NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING AND
THAT'S JUST GETTING STARTED.
IT'S EXCITING TO SEE WHAT MAY
BE POSSIBLE AS WE MOVE FORWARD
AS THESE CHANGES ARE
IMPLEMENTED.
WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO CREATE
A VIBRANT AREA THAT IS
CURRENTLY SINGLE BIG BOX STORES
AND BIG PARKING LOTS IN AREAS
THAT CAN BE REVITALIZED TO
REPLACE SOME OF THE BUSINESSES
THAT WE'VE LOST.
WE ARE ESPECIALLY EXCITED FOR
THE AMENDMENTS THAT WILL EXTEND
INTO AREAS THAT ARE ZORN AND
ZONED.
IN MY BLOCK, THREE OF MY
NEIGHBORS ARE TEACHERS, ONE IS
A FIREFIGHTER, THEY ARE ALL
UNION MEMBERS.
WE HAVE A METALWORKER AND A
NURSE.
THERE ARE SEVERAL INCLUDING
MYSELF WHO BOUGHT HOMES ON $.70
TO A DOLLAR OF WAGES EQUITY.
WE ALSO HAVE THREE HOUSEHOLDS
OF FAMILIES WHO RENT AND A
GROUP HOME OF A FAMILY THAT
RENTS.
OUR HOMES WERE AFFORDABLE AND
WE CANNOT SEE THE SAME NOW.
>> WE'VE MADE IT THROUGH THE
FIRST 40.
WE HAVE ABOUT 100 FOLKS LEFT.
IT IS 17:17 P.M.
WE ARE GOING TO STAY HERE UNTIL
THE VERY END SO LET'S KEEP
GOING THROUGH THE LIST.
THE NEXT PERSON IS DYLAN
FOLLOWED BY DOUGLAS FOLLOWED BY
RANDY.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND
WORKING LONG HOURS TO HEAR OUR
TESTIMONY.
I'M A HOMEOWNER WHERE I'M PROUD
TO BE REPRESENTED BUT I'M HERE
TO TESTIFY AGAINST YOUR
AMENDMENT AND IN FAVOR OF THE
FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF MHA UP
SONES.
I GREW UP IN RURAL VERMONT ON
FORMER FARMLAND WITH 10 ACRES.
I REMEMBER FALLING ASLEEP TO
THE SOUND OF CRICKETS AND COULD
GO CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING OUT OF
MY BACK DOOR.
NEEDLESS TO SAY I'M SOMEONE WHO
APPRECIATES GREEN SPACE, TREES,
AND SUNLIGHT.
I'M ALSO IN URBAN STUDIES MAJOR
SO I UNDERSTAND HISTORIC
PRESERVATION AND AGREE THAT BIG
BUSINESS HAVE TOO MUCH POWER IN
OUR POLITICS, BUT HERE'S THE
TRUTH.
NONE OF THOSE ENTITLES ME TO
DENY ANYONE ELSE'S RIGHT TO
HOUSING.
I LOVE MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
I LIVE NEXT DOOR TO PEOPLE WHO
HAVE BEEN THERE FOR MORE THAN
40 YEARS AND DOWN THE HILL FROM
ART GALLERIES. IT'S A LEAVING,
BREATHING PLACE WHERE PEOPLE
FROM ALL SORTS OF BACKGROUNDS
WILL NEED TO LEARN FROM EACH
OTHER.
ZONING LAWS HAVE NOT KEPT PACE
FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO MOVE
INTO NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE MINE.
MORE PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE IN MY
NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS HOUSING
AVAILABLE.
IT'S LIKE BUILDING A WALL
AROUND THESE NEIGHBORHOODS AND
PUTTING UP A DO NOT ENTER SIGN,
SAYING ONLY PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO
HAVE SECURE HOUSING NOW SHOULD
BE ABLE TO LIVE THERE.
IF WE HAD NOT PURCHASED OUR
HOME 18 MONTHS AGO WE WOULD NOT
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD LIVING
WHERE WE DO NOW AND I WOULD BE
EXCLUDED.
I NOTICED THAT PEOPLE OF MY
DEMOGRAPHIC ARE WELL
REPRESENTED I WANT TO POINT OUT
THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE NOT
HERE TONIGHT.
WE CANNOT BUILD A WALL AROUND
THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT MAKE UP
THIS CITY.
PLEASE PASS WITH ALL OF THE UP
SONES, THANK YOU.
DOUGLAS FOLLOWED BY RANDY
FOLLOWED BY DEBORAH.
YOU ARE THE NORTH CAPITAL HILL
GROUP.
>> I'M DOUG, ON BEHALF OF
DAKOTA PLACE DAKOTA PL., PARK,
I WAS ASKED TO SPEAK FOR A
COUNCIL COMMITTEE TO SECURE AN
ADVOCATE FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING
TO BUY THE PARK.
THAT OCCURRED AND WE THANK THEM
FOR DOING THAT BUT IT'S A
LANDMARK PARK.
IT'S A FORMER POWER SUBSTATION
AND FRIENDS OF DAKOTA PL., PARK
, IT IS MY ROLE TO ADVOCATE FOR
THE PROTECTION OF THE PARK. I
THINK REALLY WE WANT SEATTLE TO
BE BETTER AND PERHAPS HAVE A
DIFFERENT VIEW OF HOW IT WILL
BE BETTER BUT REGARDLESS OF HOW
IT'S BUILT IN THE FUTURE, WE
HAVE TO HAVE PARKS.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE SAYING WE ARE
GOING TO BUILD ADDITIONAL
BUILDINGS WITHOUT PUTTING IN
POWER OR PLUMBING.
WE HAVE TO HAVE PARKS AND AS
THE CITY BECOMES MORE DENSE, AS
WE BUILD MORE HOUSING
AFFORDABLE OR OTHERWISE, IT
DOESN'T MATTER.
WE NEED PARKS.
THE ADDENDUM THAT WAS DONE, WE
WOULD ARGUE, WAS AN ADEQUATE.
EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A LANDMARK
PARK IT IS NOTHING BUT A.ON A
MAP AT THE BACK PAGE OF THE
REPORT.
IT DOESN'T TALK ABOUT THE
IMPACTS, WHAT COULD BE DONE TO
MITIGATE, AND WE WOULD ARGUE
AND ADVOCATE FOR EITHER WORK ON
HISTORIC ASPECTS, HISTORIC AND
CULTURAL STRUCTURES AND
FACILITIES OR THAT AMENDMENTS
BE MADE SO THAT ESSENTIALLY AND
AREA BE CARVED OUT.
I'M ALSO HERE IS A HOMEOWNER
AND I CURRENTLY LIVE IN AN AREA
THAT HAS PROPOSED INCREASED
ZONING. THAT INCREASED ZONING
WILL NO LONGER HAVE ADJACENCY
REQUIREMNTS.
I ADVOCATE FOR THE INCLUSION OF
THOSE.
>> DEBORAH FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL
MESH.
MARSH?
RANDY.
>> MY NAME IS RANDY AND I'M THE
SELF-PROCLAIMED PRESIDENT OF
THE 41st AVE., SOUTHWEST
TRUNCATED BLOCK ASSOCIATION NOT
TO BE CONFUSED WITH THE MORGAN
JUNCTION ASSOCIATION.
I'VE TALKED TO EVERY HOMEOWNER
AND EVERYONE OF US WANTS TO
REDEVELOP EVENTUALLY.
I'VE BEEN THERE 65 YEARS AND
THE IDEA OF 30-40 PEOPLE
REPLACING, MY WIFE AND I
DELIGHTS ME.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW REDUCING
OR INCREASING THE HOUSING SUPPLY
SOMEHOW REDUCES IT.
SOME OF THESE AMENDMENTS THAT
HAVE COME UP REDUCING THE UP
SONES PASS, THEN WE ARE KIND OF
TURNING OUR BACK ON THE CONCEPT
OF URBAN VILLAGES.
AND, THE IDEA OF PROTECTING AND
REMAINING SINGLE-FAMILY AREAS.
YOU'VE GOT TO REACT TO THE
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
MOVING HERE WHICH I KIND OF
LIKE.
A LOT OF THEM I'VE MET AND IT'S
FUN TO TALK TO IF YOU CAN GET
YOUR PHONES AWAY FROM THEM.
I FIND GRABBING IT AND PUTTING
IT IN MY POCKET HELPS.
>> DOES THE TRIP TRICK.
GETS YOUR ATTENTION.
>> WE SPENT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS
ON THIS STUDY AND PLANNING AND
IT'S TIME TO VOTE FOR IT AND
GET RID OF THE NOT IN MY
BACKYARD KIND OF AMENDMENTS.
AND, JUST PASS THE THING.
IT'S GOING TO RESULT IN MORE
HOUSING WHETHER PEOPLE THINK SO
OR NOT.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> 22 IS DEBORAH. YOU'VE GOT
YOUR GROUP WITH YOU HERE?
AND THEN MICHAEL MARSH FOLLOWED
BY NICK WOODS.
>> MY NAME IS DEBORAH AND I AM
ONE OF 50+ HOUSEHOLDS AND
GROWING KNOW NOW, AGAINST
REZONE MISUSE.
SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORS ARE HERE
TONIGHT.
I WOULD LIKE TO READ A FEW
STATEMENTS TONIGHT AND I THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
WE ARE NOT OPPOSED TO
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I WAS A PUBLIC DEFENDER, SOME
OF US ARE ON THE MARY'S PLACE
BOARD AND WE SUPPORT THE
CURRENT ZONING IN THE AREA WEST
OF BOYLSTON.
UNDER THE TEXT AMENDMENT
PROPOSAL THE ALLOWED HEIGHTS IN
THE ZONE WILL INCREASE BY 10
FEET.
THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE WOULD
INCLUDE THAT INCREASE BUT NO
MORE.
WE ARE HERE TO OBJECT AND ASK
YOU TO VOTE NO ON THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENT FOR 18.
THAT AMENDMENT WOULD UP SONES
THIS AREA WHICH WOULD REPRESENT
AN INCREASE IN ALLOWEDHEIGHT
FROM THE CURRENT 40 FEET TO 80
FEET.
THIS SHOULD BE REJECTED FOR 4
REASONS.
IT'S THE LOSS OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND WILL UNDERCUT
EFFORTS TO PROVIDE ENCOURAGE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
ENCOURAGE DEMOLITION OF THE
MOST AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO BE
REPLACED WITH LESS AFFORDABLE,
HIGHER-PRICED HOUSING. WHILE
INCREASED DENSITY MIGHT LEAD TO
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN SOME
AREAS, THAT WILL NOT BE THE
CASE HERE.
THINGS TO THE ADDENDUM, WE KNOW
THAT THERE ARE SIX HISTORIC
BUILDINGS SOUTH OF EAST LUISA.
THEY SHOULD BE SPARED FROM
DEMOLITION INCENTIVES EMBODIED
IN THE UP ZONE.
THE UP ZONE IS GOING TO CREATE
UNNECESSARY ADVERSE IMPACTS FOR
THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD.
WHILE THOSE MAY BE TOLERABLE IF
NECESSARY TO ACCOMMODATE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HERE IT
WILL ARISE FROM A PROPOSAL THAT
WILL UNDERCUT AFFORDABLE
HOUSING GOALS AND RISK THE LOSS
OF HISTORIC RESOURCES.
THIS SHOULD BE REJECTED.
WE ARE ALL ALSO HERE BECAUSE OF
THE NOISE AND SAFETY ISSUE.
THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE
CHAPTER 25 AWAIT HIS NOISE
CONTROL.
IT IS A CRIME TO VIOLATED.
IT CAN BE PUNISHABLE BY UP TO
SIX MONTHS IN JAIL AND A $3000
FINE.
NOISE MEANS THE INTENSITY
DURATION AND CHARACTER OF
SOUNDS FROM ANY AND ALL SOURCES.
PUBLIC NOISE MEANS ANY
UNREASONABLE SOUND WHICH EITHER
ANNOYS, INJURES, INTERFERES
WITH, OR ENDANGERS THE COMFORT
OF THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF AN
ENTIRE COMMUNITY OR
NEIGHBORHOOD.
ALTHOUGH THE EXTENT OF THE
DAMAGE MAY BE UNEQUAL.
RALPH LIVES IN THE HARVARD
BUILDING WHICH IS APARTMENTS ON
HARVARD AVE., EAST AND WAS
LIVING THERE WHEN THE FREEWAY
WALL WAS BUILT AROUND 2005 THAT
DEFINITELY INCREASED THE NOISE
FROM THE FREEWAY.
THERE HAS BEEN A STUDY DONE AND
REFERRED TO, BUT THAT STUDY WAS
IN 2009.
THE TRAFFIC HAS INCREASED
SUBSTANTIALLY.
UNDER 2508 NOISE CONTROL THERE
IS SUPPOSED TO BE AN
ADMINISTRATOR THAT IS CITIZENS
AND CITY DEPARTMENTS REDUCING
THE NOISE IMPACT AND PLANNING
OFFICIALS EVALUATING THE NOISE
COMPONENT IN PLANNING AND
ZONING ACTIONS.
THE NOISE ISSUE ALSO RESULTS IN
A SAFETY ISSUE.
WE HAD A BURGLARY AT MY HOUSE
WERE IN A PERIOD OF A FEW HOURS
PEOPLE TOOK A CROWBAR, BROKE
THROUGH DOUBLE PANE GLASS, AND
SHATTERED THE LIVING ROOM WITH
GLASS.
YET MY NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR SUSIE
DIDN'T HEAR IT AT ALL.
SHE WAS SITTING RIGHT THERE.
THAT'S ONE OF OUR PROBLEMS WITH
SAFETY.
ANOTHER RESIDENT WROTE THIS.
AS RESIDENTS AND HOMEOWNERS,
TRAFFIC NOISE IS ALREADY A
MAJOR ISSUE.
TO HOLD A CONVERSATION AFTER
HAVING STEPPED OUT OF OUR FRONT
DOOR WE MUST RAISE OUR VOLUME
TO A YELL. WE HAVE TRIPLE PANE
WINDOWS AND HIGH DENSITY
INSTALLATION, BUT THAT'S WHAT
WE ARE DOING.
TO BUILD THIS WALL THAT WE ARE
GOING TO FACE, BECAUSE WE ARE
ON HARVARD AND BROADWAY AND THE
HOUSE IS BEHIND US A. WE SIT
ABOVE I-5 AND THE NOISE IS
ALREADY TREMENDOUS AND CAUSING
HARM.
I'M GOING TO READ TO YOU FROM
ANOTHER PERSON WHO TOOK THE
TIME TO WRITE THIS.
I'M WRITING THIS LETTER AS A
CONCERNED SEATTLEITE BORN AND
RAISED ON CAPITOL HILL.
>> YOU ARE OUT OF TIME.
I'M SO SORRY.
WE ARE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY OF THE
STATEMENTS IF YOU HAVE NOT
MAILED THEM TO US YET.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
I WILL LEAVE THE IS.
>> CAROL HAS SUBMITTED HERS AS
WELL.
>> 20 3B IS MICHAEL MARSH
FOLLOWED BY NICK WOODS FOLLOWED
BY ANNA.
>> MY NAME IS MICHAEL MARSH.
I AM A BOARD MEMBER. HHH WORKS
TO HELP TO PROTECT MEMORIAL
PRESERVED PAK AND MAKE IT A
MORE INVITING AREA FOR NATIVE
BIRDS AND OTHER NATIVE ANIMALS.
THE MAIN FEATURE, I SHOULD SAY
IT'S JUST EAST OF DISCOVERY PARK
IN MAGNOLIA.
THE MAIN FEATURE IS A DEEP
FOREST AND RAVINE WHERE GREAT
BLUE HERON'S HAVE NESTED AT
LEAST SINCE 1993.
WE CONDUCT WORK PARTIES TO
RESTORE NATIVE VEGETATION AND
WE MONITOR THE BREEDING
ACTIVITY OF THE HERONS.
WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT TWO
THINGS.
THE OF ZONING OF BUILDINGS
BORDERING THE MEMORIAL
PRESERVED PARK, AND NOISE FROM
CONSTRUCTION IF MORE
DEVELOPMENT OCCURS THERE.
CONSTRUCTION NOISE AND UNUSUAL
VISIBLE ACTIVITY SUCH AS LARGE
CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AND TREE
FELLING SCARES THE BIRDS AND IN
THE EARLY PART OF THE YEAR IN
PARTICULAR, MAY MAKE THEM
DECIDE TO ABANDON THEIR USUAL
NESTING COLONY.
THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION AND INDUSTRY HAS
ESTABLISHED A DIRECTORS RULE
FOR GREAT BLUE HERON MANAGEMENT.
THE RULE PROHIBITS MOST
ACTIVITIES THAT MAY CAUSE THEM
NOT TO NEST.
WHILE THE RULE DOES NOT
DIRECTLY ADDRESS BUILDING
RIGHTS, IT ADDRESSES TREE
FELLING AND REQUIRES THAT ANY
DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE LIMITED
TO BE CONSISTENT WITH BASELINE
DEVELOPMENT CONDITIONS IN THE
VICINITY INCLUDING LIGHT AND
AMBIENT NOISE LEVELS.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE BASELINE
WOULD BE THE COMMUNITY AROUND
IT.
>> THANK YOU MR. MARSH.
V NICK WOODS FOLLOWED BY ANNA.
>> MY NAME IS NICK WOODS.
I'M A TECH WORKER WHO MAKES $19
AN HOUR.
I MOVED TO SEATTLE WITH MY CAT
AND A NISSAN ALTIMA. I CAME
HERE FOR TWO REASONS.
I WANTED TO LIVE MORE
SUSTAINABLY AND I WANTED TO GET
A JOB.
I GOT THE FIRST WISH FULFILLED
RATHER QUICKLY.
A 16-YEAR-OLD DRIVER WHO JUST
GOT HIS LICENSE TOTALED MY CAR
AND I'VE BEEN WITH KING COUNTY
METRO EVER SINCE.
I'VE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THE ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITY AVAILABLE AND START
TO BUILD A CAREER FOR MYSELF,
BUT IT'S HARD TO TAKE THE BUS
TO YOUR HOME AND IT'S HARD TO
INVEST YOURSELF SPENDING THREE
HOURS A DAY COMMUTING.
I'M HOLDING ON BUT I HAVE A LOT
OF PRIVILEGE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO
DON'T WHO ARE HOLDING ON THAT I
DEFINITELY LOOK AT TWO.
I WANT TO CALL ALL OF YOU TO
MAKE SEATTLE INTO A MORE
EQUITABLE SEE CITY AND A MORE
SUSTAINABLE CITY.
PLEASE PASS MHA AND REJECT ALL
AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD DOWN ZONE
ANY PART OF IT.
WE CAN'T AFFORD TO CREATE FEWER
AFFORDABLE HOMES AND I WANT TO
CALL ON ALL OF YOU TO GO
FURTHER.
I LIVE IN AN APARTMENT WHERE WE
PAID $2000 FOR IN THE
ELECTRICAL WIRING IS ATROCIOUS.
WE CAN'T RUN TWO APPLIANCES AT
THE SAME TIME.
IT'S A FIRE HAZARD AND-- ARE
ALL DEAD.
STEELWORKERS DESERVE SOMETHING
BETTER THAN BROKEN DOWN HOUSING.
I CALL ON ALL OF YOU TO LEAD,
PASS THIS BILL AND KEEP
FOCUSING ON HOUSING.
AND A FOLLOWED BY-- FOLLOWED BY
RICHARD.
ANNA?
>> I'M WITH ENTERPRISE
COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
WE ARE A NATIONAL AFFORDABLE
HOUSING NONPROFIT THAT IS
COMMITTED TO ADVANCING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE KNOW THAT MANY OF THE PAST
OPPORTUNITIES BEGIN WITH A
QUALITY STATUS SAFE AND
AFFORDABLE HOME.
WE HAVE NOT HEARD MUCH FROM
DEVELOPERS SO I'M GLAD TO OFFER
OUR POSITION AS AN ORGANIZATION
THAT WORKS CLOSELY WITH A LOT
OF DEVELOPERS HERE IN THE
REGION.
WE ARE CONCERNED BY SEVERAL
AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD REDUCE
THE SCALE OF ZONING CHANGES,
PRINCIPALLY IN THE DISTRICTS
WHERE THERE ARE A LOT OF
REDUCTIONS HAPPENING AND IN
AREAS NEAR CURRENT OR PLANNED
HIGH-FREQUENCY TRANSIT.
BY REDUCING THE ABILITY TO
BUILD MORE HOUSING, WE ARE
EFFECTIVELY CLOSING THOSE AREAS
TO LOWER INCOME SEATTLE
CITIZENS THAT CANNOT AFFORD TO
BUY OR RENT IN THOSE
NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE NEED TO BUILD HOUSING AND
INCREASE AFFORDABILITY SO THAT
ALL PARTS OF THE CITY ARE OPEN
TO EVERYONE.
LESLIE WE URGE CITY COUNCIL TO
RECONSIDER THE CLAWBACK
PROVISION WHICH WOULD ESTABLISH
STEPS TO REVERSE ADDED CAPACITY
AND REGULATIONS OF THE PROGRAM
IS FOUND TO BE UNLAWFUL.
THIS ONLY CREATES A RISKIER AND
UNCERTAIN DEVELOPMENT
ENVIRONMENT MAKING IT HARDER TO
BRING IN MUCH-NEEDED AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AT THE SCALE NEEDED TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSING CRISIS.
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE WORK
YOU'VE DONE TO BRING MHA HERE
TODAY.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO STRONG AND
BOLD IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MOST
ROBUST MHA POSSIBLE.
>> RICHARD FOLLOWED BY GREG.
>> I AM MISSING MY FAVORITE
GUYS WHO HELPED DESIGN THIS.
I WISH THEY SHOWED UP AT I'M
GLAD YOU ARE HERE.
I'M FUNDAMENTALLY VERY OPPOSED
TO THE MHA.
I AM VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I DON'T THINK IT'S THE WAY WE
ARE GOING TO GET THERE.
I WROTE A COMPREHENSIVE LEVER
LETTER INCLUDING LINKS TO NEW
STUDIES SHOWING THE DENSITY NOT
LEADING TO AFFORDABILITY.
IT'S LEADING TO THE OPPOSITE.
I SEE THAT HAPPENING ALL AROUND
ME. THE INFILL IS LUXURY,
HIGHER TEXT, AND THE HOUSING IS
EXPENSIVE.
I WANT TO FOCUS ON SOMETHING
NOT BEING ADDRESSED WHICH IS
THE LOSS OF AFFORDABLE RENTALS
FOR BUSINESSES.
AS I LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING
IN CROWN HILL, THE UNIVERSITY
DISTRICT, IT'S TRAGIC.
I'M A SMALL BUSINESS.
I COULD NEVER STARTED IN
SEATTLE.
I STARTED IN A WARREN OF TRUE
DIVERSITY OF EVERY TYPE OF
BUSINESS YOU CAN IMAGINE.
IMPORTERS, ENGINEERS,
ARCHITECTS, PHOTOGRAPHERS,
VIDEO PEOPLE, ALL KIND.
THE RENT STARTED AT $100 FOR A
10 X 20 SPACE.
I LEFT YEARS LATER AND MY RENT
WAS $250.
I HAD TO MOVE OUT OF MY OFFICE
A LONG TIME AGO AND MOVED TO MY
HOUSE.
20% OF THE HOUSING IS RENTALS
AND IT'S AFFORDABLE AND THAT'S
WHERE THE BUSINESSES HAVE GONE.
AS YOU SCRAPE OFF THE SMALL
BUSINESSES AND REPLACE THEM
WITH NO BUSINESS BASIS, THERE'S
NO PLACE TO GO PARTICULARLY IF
YOU TAKE AWAY HOUSES.
HOUSES ARE WHERE BANDS PRACTICE
AND WORK CULTURE IS MADE.
YOU CANNOT HAVE A BAND PRACTICE
IN A MICRO APARTMENT.
YOU CAN'T HAVE A CULTURAL CITY
WHEN IT'S BASICALLY FILLED WITH
HOUSING FOR A CORPORATE
WORKFORCE.
WE USED TO HAVE A VISION OF
SEATTLE AS A CULTURAL CAPITAL
AND I DON'T SEE IT HAPPENING
WITH THE CURRENT ZONING.
>> RICHARD ELLISON FOLLOWED BY
GREG HILL FOLLOWED BY STEPHANIE
BOWMAN.
>> I AM HERE TO SUPPORT THE
TREE REGULATIONS AND THE
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS IN THE
ANTIDISPLACEMENT AMENDMENTS AS
PROPOSED BY COUNCILWOMEN
HERBOLD.
I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE
IDEA THAT MAYBE SEATTLE ENTRIES
CAN COEXIST.
HOW DO WE BUILD MORE DENSE AND
SAVE THESE TREES?
THE CURRENT ORDINANCE DOES NOT
DO THAT.
IT ALLOWS FOR FEES IN LIEU OF
MITIGATION AND FEES IN LIEU OF
SAVING THE TREES.
IF YOU GO TO REMOVE THESE YOU
CAN DO IT.
THE DEVELOPER SAYS I WOULD LOVE
TO SAY THIS BUT I'M SORRY.
SO THE TREES ARE NOT PROTECTED
BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
THEY SAY WILL YOU SHOULD TRY TO
SAVE THESE BUT PLEASE TRY BUT
IT'S NOT WORKING.
CURRENT ENFORCEMENT IS NOT
WORKING.
THEIR PROPOSALS ARE ONLY FOR
FEES IN LIEU OF MITIGATION FOR
CUTTING THESE TREES.
16-2008 SAID HERE'S A TREE
PROTECTION ORDINANCE. IT'S NOT
BEING ENFORCED.
AGAIN, THE MAYOR IN 2017 TRIED
TO MAKE A RULE SAYING PLEASE
ENFORCE THE TREE PROTECTION
ORDINANCE.
CURRENTLY, AN EXCEPTIONAL TREE
IS NOT PROTECTED.
THAT'S A HERITAGE TREE
DESIGNATED BY THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
IT'S A RARE OR EXCEPTIONAL TREE
BY VIRTUE OF ITS SIZE, SPECIES,
CONDITIONS, CULTURAL HISTORIC
IMPORTANCE IMPORTANCE, AGE, OR
AS A GROVE OF TREES.
THE COMMUNITIES SAY THIS IS THE
MOST FAMOUS TREE AND WE'VE BEEN
WORSHIPING THIS TREE FOR YEARS.
IT'S 30 INCHES OF A DIAMETER,
GREAT HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE.
IT'S NOT PROTECTED.
THERE'S NO CLAUSE THAT SAYS YOU
HAVE TO SAVE THE TREE OR EVEN
TRY TO SAVE THE TREE.
YOU ARE ALLOWED TO PAY A FEE.
THIS IN AN EXCEPTIONAL TREE
SACRIFICE ZONE BILL.
THANK YOU.
>> GREG HILL FOLLOWED BY
STEPHANIE BOWMAN FOLLOWED BY
JESSICA.
>> MY NAME IS GREG, I LIVE IN
WALLINGFORD.
I AM IN A SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSE
AND SINGLE-FAMILY ZONE.
INITIALLY IT WAS SLATED TO BE
UPS OWNED BUT AFTER I SPOKE
OUT, IT WAS UPS OWNED TO L2--
UP ZONED. MY NEIGHBORS AND I
GOT THESE DOOR HANGERS TO SAY
HOW GREAT IT WILL BE BUT
NEGLECTED TO SAY YOU WILL BE
SURROUNDED BY FOUR-STORY
APARTMENTS.
SO FAR THE NEIGHBORS DON'T
REALLY KNOW IT'S MY FAULT.
ARE THEY NEEDED?
NOT ACCORDING TO THE COMPOUND.
THERE'S PLENTY OF CAPACITY.
WE'VE HAD THE LARGEST
COMMERCIAL EXPANSION SINCE
WORLD WAR II WHICH HAS PUT A
LOT OF PRESSURE ON RENT.
IN THE LAST TWO YEARS
RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION HAS
ROARED BACK AND WENT TO
STARTING TO STABILIZE ALL
WITHOUT MHA OF ZONING.
THE SUPER WEALTHY HAVE DECIDED
THEY WANT TO INVEST IN REAL
ESTATE.
IT'S GOOD FOR MONEY-LAUNDERING,
STASHING CASH, GOOD DEAL.
SCAMS ARE COMING ONLINE IN NEW
YORK, LONDON, LITTLE ROCK, ALL
VER THE PLACE.
WE CAN SEE HOW HOUSING BECOMING
A COMMODITY IS IN SEATTLE
BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THE PRICE
WILL GO WAY UP.
IF YOU INCREASE THE HEIGHT,
IT'S NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR
TOWNHOUSE CONSTRUCTION IN AN
ECONOMICAL WAY.
YOU ARE BASICALLY SAYING WE
NEED TO GET RID OF FAMILIES.
THEY ARE BAD.
THEY DON'T WORK FOR THE CITY.
MORE REALISTICALLY, THEY DON'T
WORK AS WELL FOR THE SUPER RICH
AND THEIR REAL ESTATE
INVESTMENTS.
QUESTIONS?
WHY ARE YOU INTENT IN DRIVING
UP FAMILIES?
WHY ARE YOU CONTINUING TO DE
FOREST THE CITY?
--
>> THANK YOU GREG.
STEPHANIE BOWMAN FOLLOWED BY
JESSICA FOLLOWED BY RENCE.
>> I'M A BEACON HILL RESIDENT
FOR THE LAST 13 YEARS AND ALSO
A FORMER BOARD MEMBER FOR
PLYMOUTH HOUSING GROUP.
I ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND DENSITY
IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
I'M HERE TO TESTIFY ABOUT THE
OVERLY BROAD CITYWIDE UPZONE
BEING A BLUNT INSTRUMENT IN THE
WRONG APPROACH PARTICULARLY FOR
BEACON HILL, THE MOST DIVERSE
NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CITY.
THE TWO MAJOR EMPLOYERS ARE THE
VA AND PAC-MAN.
WE ALSO HAVE THE-- DEVELOPMENT
WHICH HAS OVER 200 UNITS OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SINCE THOSE PROJECTS HAVE
EXPANDED OVER THE LAST TWO
YEARS, WE NOW HAVE BACKUP SMILES
LONG ON 15th AVE.
AND SPOKANE STREET.
RESIDENCE LITERALLY CANNOT TURN
ONTO THE ROAD.
KIDS ARE WAITING TO BE ABLE TO
CROSS THE STREET.
THIS IS WHAT IS CALLED
CONCURRENCY.
WE DO NOT HAVE THAT IN BEACON
HILL.
WE WANT TO WELCOME MORE
RESIDENTS TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD
AND AGAIN BELIEVE IN DENSITY
BUT ARE HERE TO IMPLORE YOU TO
TAKE A MORE SURGICAL APPROACH.
LET THE URBAN VILLAGE FILL IN
BEFORE YOU EXPAND IT EVEN MORE.
WE LITERALLY DON'T HAVE THE
INFRASTRUCTURE TO BE ABLE TO
HANDLE IT.
WE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO BUT
WE NEED YOU TO TAKE A MORE
REASONABLE APPROACH.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR
SERVICE.
JESSICA FOLLOWED BY RENCE
FOLLOWED BY GORDON.
>> MY NAME IS JESSICA.
I'M FROM WALLINGFORD AND I'M
HERE TO SPEAK A FAVOR IN FAVOR
OF MHA. I DO NOT AGREE WITH ANY
OF THE AMENDMENTS THAT
RECOMMEND DOWN ZONING.
SEATTLE IS A PROGRESSIVE CITY,
úOR AT LEAST I THOUGHT, BUT IT
SEEMS TO ME THAT SEATTLE IS
LIBERAL ONLY UP UNTIL WE HAVE
TO MAKE ROOM IN OUR PERSONAL
LIVES AND COMMUNITIES FOR
OTHERS.
IT'S NO SECRET THAT WHERE YOU
LIVE DETERMINES YOUR ACCESS TO
INCOME AND TRANSPORTATION.
SEATTLE IS FACING A CHASM
BETWEEN HAVE AND HAVE NOT.
INCREASING PEOPLE'S ACCESS TO
AREAS OF OPPORTUNITY SHOULD BE
THE FIRST THING IN OUR MINDS.
HOUSING IS IMPORTANT FOR
MARGINALIZED GROUPS BUT HERE I
AM SEEING PROPOSED DOWN ZONES
IN OUR MOST AFFLUENT
NEIGHBORHOODS.
SEATTLE SHOULD BE WORKING
TOWARD ELIMINATING INSTITUTIONAL
ACTS OF DISCRIMINATION.
ONE OF THE STEPS TO DO THAT IS
TO LIFT THE BAN ON APARTMENTS
IN URBAN VILLAGES.
LET'S TALK EQUITY.
WE HAVE GREAT SCHOOLS,
WONDERFUL PARKS, AND SHOULD BE
OPEN TO SHARING THIS
OPPORTUNITY WITH AS MANY PEOPLE
AS POSSIBLE.
MY NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL HAS
BECOME FAMOUS FOR THEIR
OPPOSITION IN HALA.
WE HAVE THE INFAMOUS ORANGE
SIGNS.
I'VE ATTEMPTED TO WORK WITH MY
NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL AND HAVE
CONVERSATIONS.
I AM A RENTER AND HAVE BEEN
ATTENDING THESE MEETINGS. OFTEN
I AM THE ONLY RENTER IN THE
ROOM.
THE GENERAL DEMOGRAPHICS ARE
WHITE SINGLE-FAMILY HOMEOWNERS,
MIMEO MANY OF WHOM ARE OVER THE
AGE OF 50.
40% OF NEIGHBORHOOD UNITS ARE
SINGLE-FAMILY HOME IN 60% ARE
MADE UP OF APARTMENTS CONDOS
AND TOWNHOMES.
WHY AM I THE ONLY RENTER?
WITH THESE DEMOGRAPHICS IS IT
REALLY ACCURATE FOR MY COUNSEL
TO REPRESENT CLAIM THEY
REPRESENT THE NEIGHBORHOOD
VOICE?
AND THEY ENTERED INTO THE SCALE
WITHOUT ASKING US.
>> RENCE FOLLOWED BY GORDON
FOLLOWED BY RILEY LOVE.
EITHER WAY IT'S A COOL LAST
NAME.
>> COUNCILMEMBERS, THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME.
I AM A SEATTLE NATIVE AND GREW
UP ON THE NORTH SIDE OF.
IWAS MOTIVATED TO COME HERE
AND GET INVOLVED BECAUSE OF THE
ISSUE OF RACIAL AND ECONOMIC
INJUSTICE.
I CAME HERE PREPARED TO GIVE
FULL SUPPORT OF MHA BUT THEN WE
HEARD FROM MS. RUBY HOLLAND WHO
CAME OUT WITH STRONG DISCOMFORT
ABOUT CERTAIN ASPECTS.
IF SHE FEELS THAT WAY, I DO AS
WELL.
I THINK IT'S TIME FOR SOME OF
OUR HISTORICALLY WHITE
NEIGHBORHOODS TO DO THEIR PART
TO ABSORB THE POPULATION GROWTH
IN SEATTLE.
THE CENTRAL DISTRICT ALREADY
HAS DONE ITS PART WHEN IT COMES
TO DENSITY, DEVELOPMENT, AND
BUILDING OUT OF THE LIGHT RAIL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU RENCE.
>> GORDON FOLLOWED BY RILEY
FOLLOWED BY DAVID.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND
TAKING OUR INPUT.
I WANT TO FOCUS ON THE LAST
WORD OF THE TITLE TONIGHT.
AFFORDABILITY.
I OWN PROPERTY IN SEATTLE AND
I'VE SEEN MY TAXES MORE THAN
DOUBLE OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS
NOT BECAUSE I'VE DONE ANYTHING
EXTRA TO IMPROVE THE PROPERTY,
BUT BECAUSE OF RISING PROPERTY
VALUES.
YOUR PROPOSAL INCLUDES UPZONING
A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF
PROPERTIES.
IF IT GOES THROUGH, EVERY ONE
OF THOSE PROPERTIES WILL
EXPERIENCE AN INCREASE IN
PROPERTY TAXES NOT BECAUSE
THEIR HOME HAS BECOME ANYMORE
VALUABLE, BUT BECAUSE OF THE
LAND UNDERNEATH IT.
AS SOON AS DEVELOPERS START TO
BUY INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD EVERY
PROPERTY WILL BE REVALUED TO
THOSE COMPARABLE VALUES AND
EVERY WORKING FAMILY NO MATTER
WHAT THEIR INCOME LEVEL OR
SOCIAL STATUSES, WILL BE PAYING
MORE.
HIGHER PROPERTY TAX BILLS FOR
THE HOMEOWNERS AND THE RENTERS
TRANSLATE INTO A WINDFALL FOR
THE CITY BUT THAT COULD SPELL
EVICTION NOTICE FOR THOSE
ALREADY STRUGGLING TO STAY IN
THEIR HOMES.
>> HOW DOES THIS NOT CONSTITUTE
A LANDGRAB AND THE DEVELOPERS
WAITING TO SWOOP IN?
IT'S ALREADY HAPPENING AND IT'S
ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE.
YOU NEED TO SERIOUSLY RECONSIDER
YOUR PROPERTY TAX EVALUATION
PROCESS.
I UNDERSTAND YOU NEED TO
INCREASE HOUSING DENSITY TO BE
ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THE INFLUX
OF PEOPLE IN A GROWING ECONOMY
AND THAT YOU WANT TO MITIGATE
HOUSING COSTS AND PRESSURES
CAUSED BY COMPETITION OVER A
LIMITED HOUSING SUPPLY.
IF THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE TRYING
TO DO, WHY NOT CALL YOUR
PROPOSED ORDINANCE WHAT IT
REALLY IS.
A MANDATORY HOUSING DENSITY
ORDINANCE.
I THINK THIS ILL-ADVISED
PROPOSAL NEEDS TO GO BACK TO
THE DRAWING BOARD FOR A LITTLE
MORE WORK.
>> RILEY FOLLOWED BY DAVID.
RILEY?
GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE.
DAVID.
>> MY NAME IS DAVID.
I WORK AS A HOUSING ASSISTANT
CASE MANAGER DONE AT THEIR MAIN
SHELTER.
I WORKED FOR THEM FOR ABOUT 3
1/2 YEARS AND LOW INCOME HOUSING
, THERE'S NOT NEARLY ENOUGH OF
IT IN THIS CITY.
SOMEBODY FROM BELLWETHER
HOUSING WAS HERE EARLIER.
SOMETIMES WHEN I HAVE AN EXTRA
MOMENT GO TO THEIR WEBSITE AND
LONGINGLY BROWSE. BECAUSE THEY
NEVER HAVE OPENINGS.
THE PEOPLE THAT I'M TRYING TO
GET INTO HOUSING ARE JUST OUT
OF LUCK.
IT'S INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO DO
MY JOB.
IT'S INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO
STAY MOTIVATED TO DO MY JOB
BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW
WELL I KNOW THE SYSTEM.
IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW HARD I
TRY.
IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW HARD MY
CLIENTS TRY.
IF THEY GET HOUSED, IT'S DUMB
LUCK.
I BASICALLY HAVE NOTHING TO DO
WITH IT AND IT IS SIMPLY BECAUSE
THERE IS NOT ENOUGH HOUSING.
WE NEED MORE.
THAT IS COMPLETELY IGNORING THE
FACT THAT A TON OF MY COWORKERS
LIVE IN EXACTLY THE SAME HOUSING
THAT MY CLIENTS ARE TRYING TO
GET INTO.
THOSE ARE THE LUCKY ONES ABLE
TO GET INTO HOUSING NEARBY, NOT
THE ONES THAT ARE LIVING WAY UP
IN EVERETT OR DOWN INTO, AND
FEDERAL WAY AND TRYING TO
COMMUTE TO THIS INCREDIBLY
STRESSFUL JOB. WE JUST NEED
MORE HOUSING.
IT JUST NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
>> THANK YOU DAVID.
NEXT UP WE HAVE ANNE-MARIE
FOLLOWED BY RHONDA BUSCH
FOLLOWED BY CALVIN JONES.
>> MY NAME IS ANNE-MARIE A
LONGTIME RESIDENT AND 14 YEARS
IN MEDICINE MILLER URBAN
VILLAGE.
I HAVE STUDIED THE
DOCUMENTATION AND ABSOLUTELY
SUPPORT THE GOAL OF BUILDING
MORE LOW INCOME HOUSING.
I DO ALSO NOTE THAT THE
WEALTHIER NEIGHBORHOODS OF
MADISON PARK AND OTHERS ARE NOT
IMPACTED BY THIS RED
LEGISLATION.
THE RED LINE THAT RUNS IN FRONT
OF MY HOUSE IS STILL VERY ALIVE
TODAY IN 2019.
I'VE ACTIVELY ENGAGED MY
NEIGHBORS AND WALKED THE
PROPOSED CHANGES BLOCK BY BLOCK.
THE MAD MILLER HAS DIVERSITY IN
OCCUPATIONS INCLUDING TEACHERS
HEALTH WORKERS AND GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES.
MANY LOWER INCOME NEIGHBORS,
MANY OF THE PEOPLE I JUST
MENTIONED LIVE IN EXISTING
SHARED HOUSING, MOTHER-IN-LAW
UNITS, BASEMENT APARTMENTS, AND
AUXILIARY DWELLING UNITS.
THIS IS IN STARK CONTRAST TO
THE NEW DEVELOPMENT OF $2800 A
MONTH IN 3500 A DOLLAR A MONTH
APARTMENTS AND $500,000 CONDOS
BEING BUILT. THE PLANS FOR THE
VILLAGE WILL DISPLACE THE
EXISTING LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME
RESIDENTS, THE RESIDENCE THAT I
JUST MENTIONED.
THE HOUSING THAT EXISTS IN
MOTHER-IN-LAW APARTMENT
APARTMENTS AND SHARED HOUSING
IS NOT COUNTED IN ANY OF THE
STUDIES.
IT'S NOT CONSIDERED BY MHA AND
HALA AT ALL.
WE ARE AT RISK OF HIGH
DISPLACEMENT BECAUSE THESE
UNITS HAVE NOT BEEN COUNTED.
I INVITE YOU TO REVISIT SOME OF
THE DETAILS AND THE INCOME I
WILL LEAVE WITH YOU.
>> RHONDA BUSCH FOLLOWED BY
CALVIN JONES FOLLOWED BY BONNIE
WILLIAMS.
>> THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR
HISTORIC PRESERVATION HAS
STATED THAT ALL PLACES ARE
CRITICAL TO PEOPLE'S SENSE OF
WHO THEY ARE, THEIR CAPACITY TO
FIND MEANING AND ENVISION A
FUTURE.
WE LOOK ACROSS THE CITY AND
THESE ARE PLACES ONCE
THREATENED.
IN ANY OTHER URBAN VILLAGES--
UNDER ATTACK.
HISTORIC HOUSING ARE NOT
MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE AND VERY
MUCH GO HAND-IN-HAND.
NOT EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IS THE
SAME NOR SHOULD ANY AD DENSITY.
PLANNING FOR THIS ADDED DENSITY
REQUIRES INTERACTIVE DISCUSSIONS
WITH NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS. THE
CITY HAS FAILED TO FOLLOW UP TO
DATE WITH THESE.
THIS IS A HISTORIC DISTRICT IN
NEED OF OFFICIAL DESIGNATION
ANCHORED BY SEVEN LARGE
LANDMARK STRUCTURES AND ONE OF
THE BEST EXAMPLES OF EARLY
CENTURY ARCHITECTURE.
WITH THE PROPOSED ZONING CHANGES
THEY ARE SCHEDULED FOR 95 20
107% PROJECTED GROWTH WITH AN
AVERAGE FOR ALL OF 38-39%.
EXPOSING THE HISTORIC RESOURCES
TO IMPACT AND CHANGE OF SCALE,
THIS DOES NOT REFLECT THE VOICE
OF 30 RESIDENTS. I ASK YOU TO
CONSIDER THE WORDS OF THE MAYOR
AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEED TO
GO HAND-IN-HAND FOR LEGITIMATE
PLANNING WHILE MAINTAINING THE
HISTORIC FABRIC THAT GIVES A
SENSE OF PLACE.
>> FOLLOWED BY 30 1B, DON'T
CAVE.
>> MY NAME IS CALVIN JONES AND
A RENTER AND ORGANIZER.
I'M HERE TO PREVENT THE PASSAGE
OF MHA. I'M LUCKY ENOUGH TO
AFFORD A THREE-BEDROOM APARTMENT
IN MADISON VALLEY AND MY
FAVORITE PART IS THERE IS A
DECENT AMOUNT THAT CREATES LOTS
OF ROOM FOR NEIGHBORS.
MY NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR TAUGHT ME
HOW TO GARDEN WHICH IS NO EASY
TASK.
MY CHILDREN ARE PROBABLY THE
ONLY TWO PEOPLE IN THE WORLD
WHO THINK WE ARE COOL.
AS LUCKY AS I AM, BECAUSE
HOUSING IS EXPENSIVE FOR OUR
GENERATION, ZONING IS A
GENERATIONAL ISSUE. WHEN 70% IS
ZONED FOR THE MOST EXPENSIVE
TYPE OF HOUSING AND THE LEAST
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY, THAT
CREATES HUGE PROBLEMS FOR YOUNG
PEOPLE.
SOME PEOPLE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO
BUY HOMES BUT IS CONSIDERING
EMISSIONS THAT WILL DRIVE
FAMILY CHANGE THAT MY
GENERATION MAINLY WILL BEAR THE
BURDEN OF.
IN ORDER TO DEAL WITH THIS WE
HAVE TO PASS AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE AND THEN WE HAVE TO
TAKE A HARD LOOK AT THE SINGLE-
FAMILY ZONING LAWS.
I DEEPLY BELIEVE IT'S TIME TO
LEGALIZE MORE TYPES OF HOUSING
FOR ALL OF SEATTLE.
>> BONNIE WILLIAMS, AND AFTER
BONNIE-- ARE YOU READY?
>> WE HAVE ABOUT 80 FOLKS LEFT.
160 MINUTES, DOING THE MATH,
THAT'S CLOSE TO THREE HOURS.
I AM COMMITTED UNTIL THE VERY
END AS LONG AS YOU ALL ARE
GOING TO HANG OUT WITH ME.
>> I LIVE IN WALLINGFORD AND MY
FEELING IS THAT MHA IS A FLAWED
LEGISLATION IN CREATING 6000
UNITS HAS A HIGH ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT ON NEIGHBORHOODS WHEN
EVERY LOT IS BUILT TO THE MAX.
BUILDINGS DISAPPEAR ALONG WITH
SUNLIGHT.
ELECTED DISTRICT COUNCILMAN
SHOULD REPRESENT THEIR
DISTRICTS.
I AM FROM DISTRICT 4 AND LIVE
IN WALLINGFORD AS I SAID.
AT THE FEBRUARY 8 MEETING I WAS
CHEERING SILENTLY TO HEAR THE
DISTRICT COUNCIL PEOPLE DEFEND
THEIR VIEWS ON ZONING
REDUCTIONS GOING FROM LOW RISE
TO RSL BECAUSE THEY LISTEN TO
THEIR TAXPAYING CONSTITUENTS.
OTHER AT-LARGE COUNCILMEMBERS
PRETTY MUCH OPPOSED ANY
CONCESSIONS FOR NEIGHBORHOODS.
HERE WE ARE AT THE 11th HOUR
WITH MHA AND COMP PLAN
AMENDMENTS, AND STILL SUSPENSE
ABOUT WHETHER THERE IS ANY
FLEXIBILITY IN THE GRAND
BARGAIN TO ACTUALLY GIVE SOME
RELIEF TO NEIGHBORHOODS.
IF WE HAD EFFECTIVE
NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING, WE WOULD
KNOW BY NOW BUT EACH URBAN
VILLAGE ZONING MAP WITH LOOK
LIKE.
I SUPPORT THE MAPS THAT APPEARED
FOR WALLINGFORD.
416 417 FOR 18, AND POSSIBLY
EAST FREMONT. THIS WOULD GIVE A
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MITIGATION
TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHICH HAS A
95% GROWTH TARGET WHICH IS
EXTREMELY HIGH.
WE ARE OF COURSE CONCERNED
ABOUT HISTORIC PROPERTIES AND
LANDMARKS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I CANNOT VOTE FOR THIS PACKAGE
AS I COULD BE DISPLACING MYSELF
ALONG WITH MY NEIGHBORS BY
SUPPORTING IT.
>> THANK YOU.
YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> DON FOLLOWED BY-- BEEN.
I WAS GOING TO SAY SOME BORING
THINGS ABOUT SOME OF THE
AMENDMENTS BUT I HEARD THAT GUY
FROM VULCAN COME UP AND TALK
ABOUT HOW THE-- IS GOING TO BE
OUT OF BUSINESS AND I JUST
WONDERED IF ANYBODY ELSE HAS
HEARD ABOUT A STORY LIKE THAT.
ARE THEY SITTING AROUND PLAYING
CARDS AND LEARNING TO PLAY THE
UKULELE, OR ARE THEY NOT IN THE
MIDDLE OF ONE OF THE BIGGEST
BUILDING BOOMS IN HISTORY?
LIKE NOTABLE AROUND THE WORLD.
COULD YOU ACTUALLY BUILD MORE
HOUSING IF YOU HAD UP SONES?
I'M NOT SAYING THERE IS NO
PROBLEM.
THERE'S A PROBLEM, BUT UPZONING
WILL NOT SOLVE THAT BECAUSE
IT'S NOT A ZONING PROBLEM.
TO THE AMENDMENTS, LOOK AT
WHERE THEY ARE UPZONING.
THEY CALL THESE HIGH
OPPORTUNITY AREAS BUT PEOPLE
WHO CAME TO TALK ABOUT US ABOUT
THAT COULD NOT GIVE US A
COHERENT EXPEDITION FOR WHAT
OPPORTUNITIES YOU GET BY
APPEARING IN ONE OF THESE
NEIGHBORHOODS.
ACTUALLY THERE IS A HIGH COST.
I THINK THAT THAT'S PROBABLY
SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT
THINKING ABOUT.
ANYWAY, THE AMENDMENTS.
WHAT A CAN OF WORMS.
YOU'VE HEARD A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THE TREE ORDINANCE WHICH WAS
SUPPOSED TO BE A SEPARATE THING.
IT'S KIND OF CONTROVERSIAL AND
GOT PUT ON THE BACK BURNER.
PARTS OF IT, IT'S BASED ON
CANOPY COVERAGE IN THE URBAN
FORESTRY IS ACTUALLY ON RECORD
AS OPPOSING THAT.
>> AND HE FOLLOWED BY BEN
FOLLOWED BY TIERNAN.
>> THANK YOU FOR STICKING IT
OUT AND ALL OF YOUR STUFF. I'M
GOING TO SLOW IT DOWN.
IT HAS BEEN A LONG DAY AND YOU
WILL HEAR FROM PLENTY OF MIDDLE-
AGED WHITE DUDES.
I STRONGLY SUPPORT PASSING AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
IT'S BEEN A LONG RUN. LET'S GET
THIS DONE AND MOVE ON TO BIGGER
AND BETTER THINGS.
I'D LIKE TO DEFER OR REJECT THE
AMENDMENTS FOR DISTRICTS ONE,
TWO, FOUR, AND SIX.
THIS IS A WAY TO WATER DOWN A
MINUSCULE AMOUNT OF REAL
LEGISLATION THAT AFFECTS 6% OF
SINGLE-FAMILY ZONES.
LET'S MOVE PAST THIS AND
NEGOTIATE ISSUES ELSEWHERE.
I'M GOING TO ADDRESS THE TALK
OF ENVIRONMENTALISM AND I'M NOT
GOING TO DO A BETTER JOB.
EACH SINGLE-FAMILY HOME NEEDED
TREES TO BE CUT DOWN.
THERE'S ONE SIDE OF SET OF
RULES FOR FOLKS WHO GOT HERE
AND ANOTHER. WE CAN TALK ABOUT
THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF
SPRAWL, THE IMPACT OF HEALTH,
OPPORTUNITY TO JOBS AND ACCESS
TO SCHOOLS THAT COME WITH
PROXIMITY TO THESE AMENITIES
AND BENEFITS.
AND ADDING MISSING HOUSING IS A
FAIR WAY OF DOING THAT.
IT'S WHAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF
US AND IS A GOOD START.
>> BEN, TIERNAN, AND COREY
CROCKER.
>> I AM BEEN PLUCKY.
I'M OVERCOMING MY FEAR OF
PUBLIC SPEAKING BECAUSE I
BELIEVE MHA IS EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT.
I KNOW WE CARE DEEPLY ABOUT
SEATTLE. I FIRST MOVED HERE IN
99 BUT SINCE THEN I'VE HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE IN A LOT OF
DIFFERENT PLACES.
I'D LIKE TO SHARE MY EXPERIENCE
WITH THAT.
ONE PLACE I LIVED WAS IN
BROOKLYN.
MY PARENTS ARE ORTHODOX AND
BROOKLYN GAVE ME AN EXPERIENCE
OF LIVING IN DENSE APARTMENTS.
LITTLE SHOPS, BAKERIES, FISH
STORIES, PEOPLE WOULD WANT TO
THEIR LOCAL STORES AND HAVING A
CAR WAS THE EXCEPTION RATHER
THAN THE RULE.
LATER I LIVED IN JERUSALEM AND
THERE I SAW EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD
HAD A PLAYGROUND WHERE KIDS CAN
PLAY. IT'S AMAZINGLY KID
FRIENDLY.
I'VE ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY
TO VISIT IN EUROPE AND SOME OF
THESE ARE ASTOUNDINGLY
BEAUTIFUL.
I WANT TO SAY THAT INSTEAD OF
FIGHTING DENSITY WE SHOULD BE
LOOKING TO IMPROVE DENSITY.
IT'S NECESSARY TO HOUSE THE
INFLUX OF PEOPLE SO LET'S TRY
TO MAKE IT GOOD DENSITY RATHER
THAN ARGUING ABOUT WHETHER IT'S
GOING TO HAPPEN OR NOT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LISTENING.
>> I THINK YOU HANDLED PUBLIC
SPEAKING JUST FINE.
TIERNAN, COREY, AND SONIA.
>> MY NAME IS TIERNAN MARTIN.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
SERVICE ON THIS LONG NIGHT.
TONIGHT I'M HERE SPEAKING TO YOU
AS A PROGRAM MANAGER. FOR THOSE
WHO DON'T KNOW US IT'S A
NONPROFIT ENVIRONMENTAL
PLANNING ORGANIZATION. FOR 29
YEARS WE HAVE WORKED ACROSS
WASHINGTON STATE TO PREVENT
SPRAWL AND PROMOTE EQUITABLE
GROWTH UNDER THE FRAMEWORK OF
THE GROWTH MANAGEMENT ACT.
I URGE THE COUNCIL TO SEIZE
THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PASS
MANDATORY HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
CITYWIDE IN ITS MOST EXPEDIENT
AND ROBUST HOUSING PRODUCTIVE
FORM.
THE RAPID GROWTH WITNESSED BY
THE CITY AND REGION HAVE FORCED
MANY NEIGHBORS TO-- A BURDEN
THAT IS JUST AND UNSUSTAINABLE.
A VERY SOBERING STATISTIC IS
STATED, THAT THERE ARE ONLY
OVER 45,000 HOUSEHOLDS THAT IF
THEY WANT TO STAY IN THE CITY
ARE FORCED TO SPEND 50% OR MORE
ON HOUSING.
THE FIGURE THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE
THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN PUSHED INTO
HOMELESSNESS SHOULD PUSH US TO
ACT.
IF WE WANT TO FIX THAT WE NEED
TO IMPLEMENT A POLICY THAT DOES
THREE THINGS.
MORE HOMES BUILT QUICKLY AND
AFFORDABLY, A RELIABLE FUNDING
SOURCE, AND TO PUT THEM NEAR
TRANSIT SCHOOLS AND ALL OF THE
OTHER FOUNDATIONS OF URBAN
NEIGHBORHOOD LIFE.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT YOUR
FELLOW LEGISLATORS OF FIGHTING
FOR SOME PRO-HOUSING BILLS AND
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE THE
TRADITION OF LEADERSHIP THAT
SEATTLE HAS PLAYED.
PASS THE MOST ROBUST HOUSING
FORM AND PASS IT NOW.
THANK YOU.
>> COREY, SONJA, AND LEO.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
STAYING.
A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IN THE
DISTRICT.
MANY OF US WELCOME INCREASED
DENSITY.
THE FIRST THREE ZONE BROUGHT
HIGHLIGHT DEVELOPMENTS TO AN
AREA AT HIGH RISK OF
DISPLACEMENT.
WE WERE THE FIRST NEIGHBORHOOD
TO REQUIRE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
MISSING ARE THE CONCURRENT
BENEFITS PROMISED CITIZENS BY
THE GROWTH MANAGEMENT ACT.
ONE BENEFIT THAT WE ALREADY HAVE
AND RISK LOSING WITH THE SECOND
REASON OUR UNIQUE SMALL
BUSINESSES ALONG THE UNIVERSITY
WAY, NORTHEAST.
TO PUT CONCERNS INTO
PERSPECTIVE, THE EXISTING HEIGHT
IS ABOUT 17 FEET. THE CURRENT
ZONING IS ABOUT 65 FEET.
THE UPZONED BUILDINGS AND THE
HEIGHT FROM 320 FEET, FROM THE
GROUND TO MY HEIGHT, YOU CAN
IMAGINE THE RISK TO THESE SMALL
BUSINESSES.
IT IS ALREADY IMPACTING THEM
AND A MAJORITY ARE OWNED BY
WOMEN OR PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO
ARE ELIGIBLE FOR LEGACY
BUSINESS STATUS.
SOME OF THAT WE HAVE ALREADY
LOST OR RISK LOSING.
WE HAVE A SPECIAL CASE, A PRIME
CANDIDATE FOR THE HISTORIC
DISTRICT AND IT DESERVES
PRESERVATION.
PLEASE HELP US TO SAVE THIS BY
KEEPING IT OUT OF THE SECOND
UPZONE.
WE'VE GIVEN SIGNIFICANTLY TO
MHA AND WE WELCOME NEW
RESIDENTS.
JOIN THE RALLY THIS MONDAY FROM
5:00-9:00 AT BIG-TIME BREWERY
AND SIGN OUR PETITION ONLINE.
WE'VE BREWED A SPECIAL BREWERY.
COME AND TAKE A TASTE.
SEE YOU ON MONDAY.
>> SONJA.
SONJA IS GONE?
OKAY.
LEO BRENNAN, JOE WALL, AND
DENISE.
LEO?
>> WE HAVE A HOUSE IN THE
ROOSEVELT NEIGHBORHOOD IN
SEATTLE.
>> CAN YOU GET A LITTLE CLOSER
TO THE MIKE?
>> WE HAVE A HOUSE IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD JUST SOUTH OF THE
NEW LIGHT RAIL STATION.
IT IS PRESENTLY SINGLE-FAMILY
ZONING AND IT WILL BE GETTING A
REZONED WHICH WE ARE QUITE
HAPPY ABOUT.
HOWEVER, WE ARE ADJACENT TO A
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY WAS IT'S
BASICALLY-- WHICH IS BASICALLY
THAT WHOLE BLOCK OF BEING
ABSORBED.
WE FEEL THIS STEP IS TOO MUCH
COMPARED TO WHAT WE WOULD BE.
THERE ARE FEW SINGLE-FAMILY
PROPERTIES IN THAT SAME BLOCK
AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE CITY
COUNCIL, I GUESS YOU CAN'T DO
IT THIS TIME, BUT IN THE
FUTURE, TO MAYBE TRY AND MAKE
THAT ZONING THE WHOLE BLOCK AND
MAKE THE WHOLE BLOCK THE SAME
ZONING.
THANK YOU
>> JOE WALL FOLLOWED BY DENISE
FOLLOWED BY BART.
>> THANK YOU FOR PUTTING IN THE
TIME TO HEAR PEOPLE SPEAK ON
THIS ISSUE.
I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF UPZONING
AS A SOLUTION TO OUR HOUSING
PROBLEMS IN SEATTLE.
I'VE LIVED HERE SINCE 1960 AND
EXPANSION OF RENTAL PROPERTY
AND CONDOMINIUMS OVER THE
COURSE OF TIME HAS NOT REALLY
LOWERED RENT OR MADE SINGLE-
FAMILY HOMES MORE AFFORDABLE OR
LOWER TAX BURDENS.
HAND-IN-HAND WITH EVERY
BUILDING BOOM WE'VE GONE
THROUGH, THINGS HAVE GONE UP.
I'VE HEARD DISCUSSION OF SUPPLY
AND DEMAND.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE SUPPLY
IS CONTROLLED BY PEOPLE WITH
MONEY WILLING TO INVEST IN
LAND.
I'M HAVING A HARD TIME DECIDING
LET'S OVERBUILD SEATTLE.
FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE RENTERS, IF
WE EVER ASPIRED TO OWN THE HOME
WE NEED TO LEAVE A FEW OF THEM
AROUND.
IF YOU DRIVE AROUND AND SEE THE
LAND-USE SIGNS, THEY ARE
COMPARABLE COMMONPLACE.
IF YOU WANT TO BE A LIFETIME
RENTER AND NEVER OWN A HOME,
GET BEHIND MHA BECAUSE OF THIS
IS A THING TO KEEP YOU RENTING
FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS I WANT
TO MENTION.
THEY GO ALONG WAY INTO THE
STICKS AND YOU CAN THROW
SEATTLE ON THE FIRE.
TERRELL THEY ARE LIVING IN
NORTH BEND AND IT'S GOING TO
KEEP PUSHING IT OUT.
>> DENISE BART, AND LINDA.
>> MY NAME IS DENISE.
I LIKE TO THINK THE CITY
COUNCIL FOR LISTENING TONIGHT.
IT'S HARD TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE
PROCESS TURNED INTO SUCH A
SPECIALINTEREST BLOODBATH.
VIRTUALLY EVERYONE SUPPORTS
CREATING AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUT
THE ISSUE HAS ALWAYS BEEN HOW.
RAMPING UP GENTRIFICATION TO
FUND SUBSIDIZED APARTMENTS IS
NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
THE DELAYS AND DYSFUNCTION OF
THE WELL INTENDED PLAN ARE A
DIRECT RESULT OF DISMISSING
NEIGHBORHOOD PARTICIPATION IN
ITS EARLIEST DEVELOPMENT.
AND EQUITABLE RESULT REQUIRES
AN EQUITABLE PROCESS.
WE NEED A WAY TO NURTURE AND
MAINTAIN A CIVIL DIALOGUE WITH
CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES.
A DIALOGUE TO BUILD CONSENSUS
BASED ON PRAGMATISM AND RESPECT.
WE NEED NEIGHBORHOOD OUTREACH
CENTERS, A BRICK AND MORTAR
DESTINATION IN EACH OF SEATTLE'S
SEVEN DISTRICTS. AND
REPRESENTATIVES.
WE NEED AN ACTUAL PLACE TO
CREATE AND SUSTAIN A DESIRED
EVOLUTION I'D LIKE TO CONCLUDE
BY ACKNOWLEDGING MY SUPPORT FOR
THE ANTIDISPLACEMENT PROPOSAL.
AGAIN, AS I CALL YOUR NAME
PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO YOUR
DESIGNATED PODIUM.
>> LET ME EXPRESS MY DEEP
APPRECIATION AND FULL SUPPORT.
>> SORRY ABOUT THAT.
>> TO ALL THE CITIZENS AROUND ME
WHO HAVE TAKEN A LOT OF TIME
OUT OF THEIR BUSY LIVES TO
PROVIDE INPUT INTO THE PROCESS.
MY NAME IS BART AND I'M A
RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOR.
I ALSO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF
SERVING SERVING ON THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS FOR BELLWETHER
HOUSING WHO MANAGES HOMES FOR
PEOPLE WITH LIMITED INCOMES. WE
CURRENTLY MANAGE 2000
AFFORDABLE UNITS WITH ANOTHER
1000 IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.
MY DAY JOB AS A TRAFFIC ENGINEER
AND MAKE IT EASIER TO OFFER
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.
I CAN SPEND MORE YEARS
ADDRESSING TRANSPORTATION
CHALLENGES.
LOTS OF WORK TO BE DONE.
A ROOT CAUSE OF TRAFFIC
CONGESTION IS THE INABILITY TO
FIND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IT
INCREASES COMMUTE TIMES AND
TRAVEL COSTS.
THIS IS LOST TIME THAT COULD BE
SPENT ON OTHER ACTIVITIES THEN
SITTING IN TRAFFIC.
LOWER DENSITY DOES NOT
EFFECTIVELY SUPPORT THIS
SERVICE.
POTENTIAL TRANSPORTATION
BENEFITS JUST ADD OTHER REASONS.
THE FAMILIES OF ALL WALKS OF
LIFE LIVE CLOSE TO THE AMENITIES
THAT SEATTLE OFFERS.
SCOTT.
>> MY NAME IS LINDA AND I LIVE
IN THE ROSENFELD AREA SECTION 4
OR DISTRICT FOR.
I LIVE IN THE NORTHWEST CORNER
OF IT, SO WE ARE BORDERED BY I-
FIVE, THE LAKE CITY OFFRAMP AND
ROOSEVELT AVENUE.
WE HAVE A POCKET NEIGHBORHOOD
THAT IS MY BELOVED NEIGHBORHOOD
IN MY SUPPORT SYSTEM.
I AM HERE TO SAY THE UPZONING
THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING AS PART
OF THE URBAN VILLAGE, ROOSEVELT
HAS A LIGHT RAIL STATION
GETTING READY TO BE FUNCTIONAL.
WE HAVE AN URBAN VILLAGE, AND
WE ARE GOOD, AT LEAST GOOD IN
THE INCREASED DENSITY AND
POLLUTION DUE TO TRAFFIC.
THEY HAVE KIND OF GONE OVERBOARD
AND THE HOUSING BEING BUILT,
AND NOW THEY WANT MORE AND MORE
AND THEY ARE GOING INTO THESE
NEIGHBORHOODS AND ABOUT TO
BECOME AN EXTINCT SINGLE-FAMILY
PROPERTY OWNER. I AM AN URBAN
FARMER, I GREW TOMATOES AND
HAVE LIVED THERE 28 YEARS.
ROOSEVELT WAS A VERY AFFORDABLE
PLACE TO MOVE.
WHEN I MOVED THERE IN 91, THE
PROPERTY VALUES HAVE ALMOST
TRIPLED. I'M GOING TO BE ZONED
OUT OF MY HOUSE, AND I WAS
RANDOMLY ASSIGNED LR ONE SO NOW
I CAN'T BUILD MY MOTHER-IN-LAW
IN THE BACKYARD.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A NICE
LOCATION FOR A LITTLE
SUPPLEMENTAL HOUSE LIKE THAT.
OF MY HOUSES, THEY ARE MOSTLY
YOUNG FAMILIES AND THERE'S NOT
GOING TO BE ANY ROOM.
I'M DUE FOR AN APARTMENT I
THINK.
>> CHRIS FOLLOWED BY SCOTT
FOLLOWED BY KAREN.
>> I LIVE IN A 100-YEAR-OLD,
NOT PARTICULARLY NICE CRAFTSMAN
BUT IT HAS CHARACTER. I CAME
HERE THINKING I WAS PRO-DENSITY
AND HOUSING BUT AFTER LISTENING
TO HALF THESE PEOPLE TALK I
FEEL LIKE I'M AN ELITIST
BECAUSE I LIVE IN A HOUSE, GOD
FOR BID.
I BOUGHT IT 16 YEARS AGO AND IF
IT MAKES YOU FEEL ANY BETTER I
CAN'T AFFORD TO GET OUT OF IT
BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD TO MOVE
ANYWHERE ELSE AND AT THE HOUSE,
BUT I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
LIKE HALF OF PEOPLE THAT HAS
HISTORICAL CHARACTER IS THAT I
WOULD LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER THE
NEED FOR HISTORICAL
PRESERVATION IN ADDITION TO THE
NEED FOR MORE HOUSING.
THERE ARE AREAS WHERE WE CAN
BUILD A LOT OF HOUSING AND WE
DON'T HAVE TO SACRIFICE THE
HISTORIC DISTRICT THAT'S
RIDICULOUS. I LIVE IN A REALLY
OLD HOUSE AND SOMETIMES I FEEL
LIKE I'M JUST THE CARETAKER AND
REALLY HIM.
WE HAVE LIVED THERE TO COME
BACK AND TAKE TOURS. IN THE
INTEREST OF IMPROVING THE
HOUSING SITUATION TO OPEN THE
DOOR TO THE HISTORY THAT HAS
MADE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS SPECIAL.
YOU WON'T GAIN MUCH BY DOING
THAT AND YOU RISK LOSING A LOT
OF HISTORICAL CHARACTER THAT
MAKES THE AREA SPECIAL.
I WILL GET OUT OF MY HOUSE SO
I'M NO LONGER A THREAT TO
SOCIETY.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PERSEVERANCE TONIGHT AND
HOSTING THIS HEARING.
I AM A SEATTLE RENTER AND
CONTRARY TO WHAT WE'VE HEARD IT
DOESN'T MATTER HOW LONG I'VE
LIVED HERE.
I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT THE
PROPOSED UPZONE'S HAVE STAYED
INTACT.
I WELCOME MORE NEIGHBORS. I
SOMEDAY WOULD LIKE TO OWN A
HOME AND RAISE A FAMILY IN THE
CITY BUT WITH RAPID INCREASES I
DON'T SEE A PATHWAY WITHOUT
POLICIES LIKE MHA.
SEATTLE NEEDS MORE OPTIONS IN
MULTI-BEDROOM APARTMENTS.
$1 MILLION SINGLE-FAMILY HOME
IS NOT THE ONLY PLACE IT'S
POSSIBLE TO HAVE A FAMILY.
MORE OPTIONS ME TO BE AVAILABLE
SO PEOPLE HAVE CHOICE RELATIVE
TO WHAT THEY NEED A. I'M WORRIED
THAT THE UPZONE'S ARE NOT LIAR
LARGER OR THAT WE HAVE NOT HAD
ENOUGH PROCESS AND DEBATE.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS LONG
ENOUGH AND THE MHA HAS BEEN
SHAVED INTO A MODEST BUT ROBUST
PROGRAM.
IT'S THE LEAST WE CAN DO TO
HELP REGULAR FOLKS STAY IN OUR
CITY AND REDUCE CARBON
FOOTPRINTS.
LET'S IMPROVE THE PROGRAM
PROGRAM TO HELP BUILD A MORE
SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE
SEATTLE.
>> KAREN, TIM, LAURA.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
PERSEVERING AND STAYING WITH US.
WE'VE BEEN ENGAGED WITH YOU FOR
4 YEARS AND IT HAS BEEN A LONG
HAUL.
I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TOWARD
AMENDMENTS.
-- A STRONG PROPONENT, WE HAVE
WORKED LONG AND HARD TOWARD
THIS END.
WE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR TO
SUPPORT UPZONING AND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING BUT IT IS ALSO VITAL
THAT WE PRESERVE AND PROTECT
THE FEATURES THAT MAKE
ROOSEVELT AN EXCEPTIONAL
NEIGHBORHOOD TO LIVE IN.
WE WANT THAT PRESERVED FOR
THOSE PEOPLE THAT WE HOPE TO
WELCOME.
THE HISTORIC DISTRICT BUTTS UP
TO THE URBAN VILLAGE. ANY
AMENDMENT WOULD BE A LOSS BUT
IF YOU DO NOT INCLUDE
AMENDMENTS FOR 4A-- THESE
NEIGHBORHOODS AND AMENDMENTS
PROTECT 100-YEAR-OLD
NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE HOME DID NOT MAGICALLY
APPEAR AND TO TIME TO DEVELOP
AND GROW.
WE NEED TO SUPPORT THEIR
MAINTENANCE.
YOU MAY NOT KNOW THE PARK THAT
BUTTS UP TO THE AREA, IT USED
TO BE FULL OF OLD-GROWTH TREES.
400-YEAR-OLD TREES THAT WE GO
TO NATIONAL PARKS TO SEE.
THOSE TREES WERE BOUGHT BY THE
CITY, CUT DOWN AND SOLD FOR
FIREWOOD, AND THEY ARE GONE.
WITHOUT TAKING THIS MEASURE AND
ADOPTING THESE AMENDMENTS, YOU
RISK THIS ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME
OPPORTUNITY THAT ANOTHER
SPEAKER SPOKE TO TWO REALLY
TAKE ACTION AGAINST AFFORDABLE
DENSITY BUT ALSO PROTECTING THE
HISTORIC NATURE.
>> 30 8B IS TIM.
LAURA, AND SOMETHING BATES.
WHAT IS IT?
SOMETHING BATES.
TIM?
>> I'M NOT LAURA, AND SHE
PASSED ME HER CARD.
>> ARE YOU SOMEWHERE ELSE?
>> I WAS 50 SO I GUESS I'M NOW
38.
>> YOU OR KATIE?
>> I WILL STRIKE YOU OUT OF 50.
>> THANKS FOR EVERYONE USING
OUR CIVIC DUTY AND
COUNCILMEMBERS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
I'M A RENTER IN DISTRICT FOR
AND AN ACADEMIC STUDENT
EMPLOYEE AND PROUD MEMBER OF
UAW 4121. I FOUND THAT MY LIFE
HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY FOR
THE BETTER SINCE I'VE GOTTEN TO
LIVE NEAR WHERE I WORK.
I HAVE A 10 MINUTE COMMUTE, A
45 MINUTE COMMUTE TO BUSES
SORRY FOR WALLINGFORD PEOPLE
FOR PARKING ON YOUR STREET,
BECAUSE OF THE ANXIETY OF
GETTING TO WORK.
I TROLLED CRAIGSLIST TO FIND AN
APARTMENT I COULD LIVE IN.
I MAKE HALF OF THE INCOME IN MY
DISTRICT AND IT TOOK SO LONG TO
FIND A PLACE TO LIVE.
MOST OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE NOT
SO LUCKY.
I WANT TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF
EMILY MYERS. SHE IS ALSO A
RENTER BUT IS HIGHLY RENT
BURDENED.
SHE IS AN ACADEMIC STUDENT
EMPLOYEE AND SHE LIKE MANY OF
MY PEERS HAVE EXPERIENCED
THREATS OF EVICTION AND BEING
FORCED TO TO CHOOSE BETWEEN
INTERNET AND FOOD.
SHE IS NOT ABLE TO AFFORD
INTERNET AND HAS TO STAY AT WORK
UNTIL THE LATE HOURS OF THE
NIGHT AND EARLY MORNING.
IN MANY WAYS SHE IS LUCKY
COMPARED TO OTHER EMPLOYEES WHO
HAVE TO TAKE EXPRESS BUSES WHO
ONLY RUN DURING CERTAIN HOURS
OF THE DAY, PUTTING FOSSIL FUELS
. LOW INCOME STUDENTS WHO
CANNOT AFFORD TO GET IN
EDUCATION. WE HEAR OF
UNDERGRADS DROPPING OUT AND WE
NEED HOUSING.
BOTH MYSELF AND EMILY STRONGLY
OPPOSE ANY AMENDMENTS THAT
WOULD AFFECT DISTRICT FOR
UPZONE'S TO REDUCE THE NUMBER
OF AFFORDABLE UNITS AVAILABLE.
>> DOUG HOLTON FOLLOWED BY 40 BE
.
>> I'M FROM EAST FREMONT AND I
APPRECIATE THE AMENDMENTS
PROPOSED AS MITIGATIONS. THOUGH
MY NEIGHBORS COULD NOT BE HERE
WE SUPPORT AMENDMENT 4 TO 16 IN
PARTICULAR WHICH SUBSTITUTES
SMALL IN PLACE OF SOME LOWRISE.
SMALL LOT AS DIVERSITY TO
HOUSING TYPES AND HELPS RETAIN
GREEN SPACE.
THIS AMENDMENT HAS LITTLE
IMPACT ON DENSITY GOALS.
ADJACENT PARCELS HAVE BEEN SOWN
DIFFERENTLY TO COMPENSATE US
SHIFTING THE DENSITY IN
RESPONSE TO PUBLIC INPUT. MANY
SENIORS AND DIVERSE DISSENT
LIVES, IT'LL PROVIDE SPACE FOR
AN OCCASIONAL TREE AND SUPPORT
FOR SMALLER LANDLORDS, NOT JUST
CORPORATE LANDLORDS.
WE HAVE OVER 30 LETTERS OF
SUPPORT FROM RENTERS AND OWNERS
WHICH HAVE BEEN SENT TO ROB
JOHNSON'S OFFICE.
I WILL SUPPORT AMENDMENT 4-16
AND THE MINOR MODIFICATION THAT
IT MAKES.
WE THANK ROB FOR WORKING WITH US
AND WE ENCOURAGE OTHER COUNCILS
TO ALSO SHOW SUPPORT FOR
AMENDMENTS. I WOULD LIKE TO SHOW
SUPPORT FOR PROTECTION EXCEEDING
-- CREATING A PERMIT SYSTEM TO
TRACK MEDIUM-SIZED TREES AND
ENFORCING REGULATIONS TO
PROTECT THEM.
ALSO, TO FIND A METHOD TO
CREATE SET BACKS WHICH ALLOW US
TO CONTINUE TO GROW TREES.
URBAN FOREST IS ALSO CRITICAL.
YOU HAVE TO GET THE EQUATION
RIGHT TO HAVE GOOD DENSITY.
YOU NEED SPACE FOR PEOPLE AND
TREES.
THANK YOU.
>> DOUG FOLLOWED BY BRIDGET AND
THEN JESSICA DIXON.
>> THANK YOU FOR PERSEVERING
THROUGH ALL OF THIS.
I WORK FOR THE FIRST HOME
IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION.
YOU'VE HEARD MY SPIEL.
IT WORKS TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S
A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE EVERYONE
CAN THRIVE.
I'D LIKE TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
BACK SHAW FOR INTRODUCING AN
AMENDMENT TO CONTINUE INCENTIVE
ZONING. THE FIRST HILL
IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION IS IN
SUPPORT OF MHA.
FOR PERSPECTIVE, OUR UPZONE'S
ARE 110 FEET, NOT TOWNHOMES.
SO KEEP IT IN PERSPECTIVE.
WE ARE IN SUPPORT.
I URGE ALL COUNCILMEMBERS TO
SUPPORT INCENTIVE ZONING AS
PROPOSED BY COUNCILMEMBER BACK
SHAW TO GIVE US THE TOOLS TO
BUILD OUR DESPERATELY NEEDED
OPEN SPACES, TO ENHANCE OUR LUSH
TREE CANOPY, AND ALLOW FOR
HISTORIC PRESERVATION AS A
HISTORICALLY SUSTAINABLE OPTION.
OPTIONS.
>> BRIDGET FOLLOWED BY JESSICA
AND THEN WE WILL HEAR FROM
GREGORY FLOOD.
>> MY NAME IS BRIDGET.
I'M VERY NERVOUS BUT I THINK
THIS IS IMPORTANT.
I'M HERE TO VOICE MY SUPPORT
FOR MHA.
I HAVE LIVED IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD FOR 15 YEARS.
I AM PRIVILEGED ENOUGH TO OWN
MY HOME.
I'VE BEEN DISAPPOINTED TO NOTICE
THAT DURING MY EMPLOYMENT
HISTORY IN THE FOOD SERVICE
INDUSTRY MY FELLOW COWORKERS
INCREASINGLY TO CANNOT AFFORD
TO LIVE WHERE THEY WORK.
IT FORCES THEM TO COMMUTE BY
CAR.
WE NEED SUPPORT FOR INCREASED
DENSITY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
AND IN FACT WE NEEDED IT 15
YEARS AGO.
WE HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION TO
WELCOME ALL DIFFERENT TYPES
ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ALSO SERVE
OUR COMMUNITIES.UNDO THE HARM D
OUR COMMUNITIES BY OUR RACIST
HISTORY OF REDLINING.
WE MUST DO MORE.
I WISH MHA DID NOT INCLUDE AN
OPTION FOR DEVELOPERS TO PAY
INTO A FUND INSTEAD OF BUILDING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN
NEIGHBORHOODS WITH ACCESS TO I
OPPORTUNITY LIKE MINE.
IT ONLY PERPETUATES THE CYCLE
OF DISCRIMINATION.
SEATTLE'S HISTORY OF REDLINING
IS WELL KNOWN AND WE ARE
OBLIGATED TO BREAK THE CYCLE
NOT CONTINUED.
IF WE WILL NOT SUPPORT DENSITY
IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, WE MIGHT
AS WELL OWN UP TO OUR ARROGANCE
AND PRIVILEGE AND BUILD A
PHYSICAL WALL AROUND SEATTLE TO
DICTATE WHO CAN AND CAN'T LIVE
HERE BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY BEEN
DOING THAT FOR MANY YEARS.
URGE YOU, CITY COUNCIL, TO
REPRESENT ME AND THE MANY LIKE
ME WHO WANT TO WELCOME MANY
PEOPLE TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
PLEASE DO NOT BE SWAYED BY THE
SMALLER VOICES WHO WISH TO KEEP
THIS IN PLACE.
>> OKAY, 40A IS JESSICA DIXON,
FOLLOWED BY 40B, FOLLOWED BY
41A, LINDA CORVUS.
AND, I THINK WE HAVE ABOUT 10,
20, 30, 40, ABOUT 62 FOLKS LEFT.
SO, JESSICA DIXON.
>> HI.
>> THANKS FOR BEING HERE
TONIGHT.
I AM A 30 YEAR RESIDENT OF THE
CITY OF SEATTLE.
AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE
TREE ORDINANCE, OR THE TREES.
AS THE CLIMATE WARMS, SEATTLE
WILL INCREASINGLY EXPERIENCE
THE HEAT ISLAND EFFECT DURING
THE SUMMER MONTHS.
THIS IS WHEN THE AVERAGE MEAN
TEMPERATURE OF AN AREA WHICH IS
PREDOMINANTLY BUILDINGS AND
STREETS IS BETWEEN 5 AND 25
DEGREES HOTTER THAN THE
NEIGHBORING, LESS DEVELOPED
AREAS.
HEAT ISLANDS INCREASED DEMAND,
AIR POLLUTION AND GREENHOUSE
GAS EMISSIONS AND RESULTING
HEAT RELATED ILLNESSES
INCLUDING RESPIRATORY
DIFFICULTIES, EXHAUSTION, HEAT
STROKE, AND HE RELATED
MORTALITY.
CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND
ACROSS THE WORLD ARE REALIZING
THE VALUE OF TREES, BELIEVE IT
OR NOT, AND ATTENUATING THE
EFFECT.
IN FACT, REPORT AFTER REPORT,
TREES AND VEGETATION ARE LISTED
FIRST AS A STRATEGY TO COMBAT
THIS PROBLEM.
DEVELOPERS ANTICIPATING MHA ARE
ROLLING OUT THEIR PLANS AND
PROJECTS NOW.
EVERY DAY.
AND, SEATTLE'S BIG TREES ARE IN
THEIR WAY.
I SUPPORT UPDATES TO THE TREE
ORDINANCE AND IN PARTICULAR THE
PROVISIONS IN SECTION 5 OF THE
COUNCIL, PERTAINING SPECIAL
TREES AND EXPANDING THE
DEFINITION OF EXCEPTIONAL
TREES, CREATING A PERMIT
PROCESS FOR THE REMOVAL OF
SIGNIFICANT TREES DEFINED AS 6
INCHES IN DIAMETER AND ADDING
REPLACEMENT REQUIREMENT FOR
SIGNIFICANT TREE REMOVAL AND
TRACKING.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JESSICA.
41B IS GREGORY FLOOD, FOLLOWED
BY 41A, LINDA CORVUS, FOLLOWED
BY 42A, MEGAN CREWS.
>> GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS GREG FLOOD.
I WISH THIS WAS THE CITY
COMING TOGETHER TO PARTNER WITH
MHA BUT IT'S NOT AND THAT IS
SAD.
I'VE LIVED IN SEATTLE FOR 41
YEARS AND HAVE BEEN A GOOD
CITIZEN, LEASING IMPROVEMENTS
IN MY COMMUNITY, AND I HOPE MY
KIDS CAN OWN A HOME ONE DAY.
I WAS SICKENED WHEN MAYOR
MURRAY AND COUNCIL DISBANDED
THE COMMUNITY COUNCIL, PITTING
PRINTER AGAINST HOMEOWNER.
BUT, I GUESS NO ONE EXPECTS THE
SPANISH INQUISITION.
WELCOME TO GOVERNANCE IN THE
AGE OF TRUMP WHEN OUR LEADERS
HAVE A CONSTITUENTS WITH FALSE
DATA INTENDED TO MISLEAD AND
FRIGHTEN.
THE SAD PART IS THAT THIS LONG
PROCESS COULD LIKELY BE
COMPLETE BY NOW HAD A LESS
ADVERSARIAL APPROACH BEEN
ADOPTED.
I'D LIKE TO PUT TO REST THE
REPEATED FALSE CLAIM THAT MHA
WILL REMEDY PAST ISSUES OF
ECONOMIC COVENANTS OR REDLINING.
THIS MAP, CREATED JOINTLY BY
KING COUNTY AND SEATTLE LOOKED
AT EACH PARCEL IN SEATTLE AND
PLACED A TINY GREEN SPECK FOR
ANY SPARKLE THAT IMPOSE
COVENANTS OR REDLINING.
TAKE A CLOSE LOOK.
NOTICE THAT NOT ONE OF THE
AREAS ACTUALLY IMPOSE COVENANTS
WILL SEE ONE IOTA OF MHA RATHER
THAN CAPITOL HILL.
I FEEL THAT WE AS A HE WILL
REGRET THIS LEGISLATION AS OUR
SMALLER, MORE AFFORDABLE HOMES
WHICH USED TO THAT SOLD TO
OTHER FAMILIES WILL NOT BE
INTERCEPTED BY HIGH PROFIT
DEVELOPMENT FIRMS, AND PROFIT
UNDER MHA AND TORN DOWN,
CREATING WASTE AND HARM TO THE
ENVIRONMENT.
MHA WILL REDUCE ACCESS BY
AVERAGE CITIZENS TO THE OLDER,
OPPORTUNITY, 85% OF MILLENNIALS
ARE STILL IN THEIR HOME BUT
THERE WILL BE FUTURE STARTING
HOMES UNDER MHA.
SEATTLE HAS AN ABUNDANCE OF
RENTALS, ACCORDING TO "THE
SEATTLE TIMES," 20% ARE VACANT
DOWNTOWN.
RENTS ARE STARTING TO
STABILIZE.
MHA SHOULD INSTEAD FOCUS ON HOW
TO INCREASE OWNERSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES.
>> THANK YOU, GREGORY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> 41A IS LINDA.
AFTER 41A IS 42A, MEGAN CREWS,
FOLLOWED BY RYAN DORIANO.
>> HI, THERE AND THANKS FOR
STICKING IT OUT.
MY NAME IS MEGAN CORVUS.
I'VE BEEN LIVING IN SEATTLE FOR
YEARS.
WALLINGFORD, BACK IN THE '90s
BECAME A RESIDENTIAL URBAN
VILLAGE.
THAT MEANS IT HAS A LOT OF
RESIDENCE.
IT'S NOT AN URBAN HUB, NOT AN
URBAN CENTER, SO, THE PROPOSED
UP STONES WILL AFFECT 700
SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES.
THEY EACH, THE MHA, WILL
ENCOURAGE DEVELOPERS TO BUY UP
THOSE SMALL, BEGINNER HOMES AND
REPLACE IT WITH AN 18 UNITS,
SMALL UNIT APARTMENT BUILDING,
WITH NO PARKING ON STREETS THAT
HAVE ALREADY AN RPC.
SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD PLAN?
I DON'T THINK SO.
AND, IN FACT, IT'S GOING TO
DECREASE THE STOCK OF SINGLE-
FAMILY HOMES FOR OWNERSHIP.
SO, ALL THOSE FOLKS THAT WANT TO
OWN HOMES WON'T GET ONE.
OF ZONING 700 SINGLE-FAMILY
HOMES SHOULD BE A HUGE RED FLAG.
I'M SURE THERE ARE WAYS TO
REVISE THE PROPOSAL TO OBTAIN
THE DENSITY THAT THE CITY
WANTS.
AND, I'M TOTALLY FOR MORE
DENSITY.
IN FACT, WALLINGFORD HAS PLENTY
OF DENSITY CAPACITY IN ITS
CURRENT ZONING.
BUT, LET'S NOT GO THERE.
SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS
RESIDENTIAL URBAN VILLAGES
SHOULD NOT BE TREATED THE SAME
AS URBAN HUBS AND URBAN
CENTERS.
PLEASE VOTE NO ON THE MHA.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IS MEGAN CREWS, FOLLOWED BY
42A, RYAN 42A, FOLLOWED BY
43B.
I LIVE ON A BLOCK OF HISTORIC
AND OTHER MARK BUILDINGS.
OUT BLOCK IS ABOUT TO BE
OVERTAKEN BY LUXURY DEVELOPMENT
WITH TWO TOWERS STANDING SIDE-
BY-SIDE.
ONE IS 50 STORIES TALL IN THE
OTHER IS 16 STORIES TALL.
NEITHER HAS AFFORDABLE HOUSING
IN FACT, THE 523 UNITS, THERE
IS A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF STUDIO
APARTMENTS THAT WILL MARKET
VALUE BE SOLD FOR 500,000 OR
MORE.
WE'VE ASKED FOR DESIGN
MITIGATIONS TO THIS PROJECT BUT
DEVELOPERS ARE NOT INTERESTED
IN ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO CUT
INTO THE BOTTOM LINE.
WE'VE ASKED THE CITY FOR
PROTECTION BY WAY OF
AMENDMENTS.
BUT WE ARE TOLD THAT OUR
SUGGESTIONS ARE NOT GERMANE TO
MHA.
SO, HERE WE ARE.
I BELIEVE MHA IS WELL INTENDED,
BUT LEGISLATION INDEED IN NEED
OF DUE PROCESS.
MANY HERE TONIGHT HAVE
EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT THEIR
NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE FUTURE
UNDER MHA.
I THINK DOWNTOWN IS A PREVIEW.
MY NEIGHBORS AND I FEEL LIKE
CANARIES IN A COMA AND
STRUGGLING TO BREATHE.
THE PROBLEM ISN'T DENSITY.
IT'S HOW THIS PROGRAM IS BEING
ADMINISTERED.
IT DOES HAVE NOW CONTROLS.
DEVELOPERS MAY HAVE THE RIGHT
TO BUILD 50-STORY TOWERS
WITHOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
BUT THAT SHOULD NOT COME
WITHOUT RESPONSIBILITIES.
ALL NEIGHBORS ON A BLOCK AND
MAINTAIN ACCESS TO DAYLIGHT,
PRIVACY, AND RIGHT OF WAYS LIKE
THE ALLEY.
THAT'S NOT HAPPENING
VOLUNTARILY AND IT WON'T
WITHOUT PROJECTIONS.
NOW THAT WE ARE SEE HOW THIS
PLAN PLAYS OUT, IT'S TIME TO
MAKE ADJUSTMENTS BEFORE IT'S
TOO LATE.
WE NEED A DENSITY BILL OF
RIGHTS TO BRING ACCOUNTABILITY
TO PROJECT APPROVAL.
THIS WILL LET ALL PARTIES KNOW
WHAT THEY CAN EXPECT.
RAISING FUNDS FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IS PROGRESSIVE.
THANK YOU.
TELLING EXISTING STAKEHOLDERS
THEY HAVE TO LOSE THEIR RIGHTS
IS NOT.
>> 42A IS RYAN FOLLOWED BY
43A, LAUREN SWIFT, FOLLOWED BY
43B, KEITH RICKARDS.
>> MY NAME IS RYAN AND I LIVE
IN A LOVE NEAR AURORA.
AND, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW,
AURORA AVENUE IS NOT A WELL
DIAGNOSED STREET.
IT'S A STREET THAT'S DESIGNED
AROUND A CAR AND ITS LAND-USE
IS A DYING LEGACY.
NOBODY IS BUILDING HOUSING ON
AURORA.
AURORA ISN'T BUILDING BUSINESS
OR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY EITHER.
JOBS HAVE DECREASED BY 15%.
URBAN VILLAGE RESIDENTS ARE
ASKED TO UPSET THE STONES
BECAUSE HOUSING IMPROVES OUR
DENSITY.
WE ASKED FOR THE SAME
COMMITMENT FROM OUR URBAN
COMMERCIAL PLANTS.
AURORA'S CURRENT ZONING DOES
NOT ENCOURAGE OR REQUIRE
HOUSING TO BE BUILT.
THE REASON WILL CORRECT THAT.
RATHER THAN ALLOWING STORAGE
UNITS, IT WILL REQUIRE HOUSING
UNITS.
AND THIS IS ABOUT HOUSING
PEOPLE AND NOT THINGS.
IT'S ABOUT CREATING LOW
OPPORTUNITY IN LOW ACCESS
AREAS.
IT'S ABOUT BUILDING HOUSING
NEAR TRANSIT.
MHA LID WAS THIS STRETCH OF
AURORA AS OPPORTUNITY AND I DO
NOT DISAGREE.
HOURS BLOCKS ARE DEEP WITH
FRONTAGE ON SAFE, QUIET
NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS.
THE MORE HOUSING THERE IS THERE,
THE MORE HOUSING THERE WILL BE.
URBAN VILLAGES HAVE CARRIED 75%
OF SEATTLE'S HOUSING GROWTH FOR
THE LAST 25 YEARS.
IT'S TIME FOR THE REST OF
SEATTLE'S NEIGHBORHOODS TO
CONTRIBUTE.
UP STONES SHOULD NOT BE LIMITED
TO JUST URBAN VILLAGES.
ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS SHOULD
BE CONTRIBUTING TO MORE DENSITY.
FULL TIME OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS
PROVIDED HOUSING GROWTH, TOO.
A FULL-TIME HOUSING GROWTH
OCCURRED IN AND BEYOND OUR
IMAGINATION BOUNDARIES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
43B IS LAUREN SWIFT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I'M NOT SEEING 43B.
43A IS KEITH RICKARDS.
FOLLOWED BY 44B, SUZANNE GRANT,
FOLLOWED BY 44A, JoANNE BIGGS.
>> MY NAME IS KEITH RICKARDS.
I'M A LONG-TERM RESIDENT OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR
BEING HERE AND GIVING ME THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BRING A VERY
SMALL PARCEL, COLLECTION OF
PARTIALS TO YOUR ATTENTION.
THEY ARE CURRENTLY ZONED LR2-
LC, IN THE SOUTHWEST GREENWOOD
NEIGHBORHOOD.
I HAVE A MAP INDICATING THE
AREA OF INTEREST.
IT'S MY REQUEST THAT THESE
PROPERTIES NOT BE UP SEWN FOR
THE HEIGHT REQUIREMENT, AND I'D
LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT MY
REASONS I. THERE IS NOT IN OR
ADJACENT TO AN URBAN VILLAGE,
YOU CAN SEE THIS ON THE MAP
THAT I AM PROVIDING.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS
ALREADY EXIST ALONG THESE
COUPLE OF BLOCKS, ALONG 6th
AVENUE NORTHWEST.
OF ZONING THESE BLOCKS WILL PUT
SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT PRESSURE
ON THE EXISTING HOUSES.
REDEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA HAS
ALREADY CREATED MULTIMILLION
DOLLAR TOWNHOMES AND THAT'S NOT
REALLY ONE OF THE GOALS FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I HAVE THE ILLUSTRATION HERE OF
A SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSE THAT WAS
TORN DOWN.
AND, TV TOWN HOUSES WERE BUILT
ON THAT PROPERTY UNDER THE
EXISTING ZONING.
MY LITTLE PHOTOSHOP TRICK HERE
AT THE NEW HEIGHT LIMIT TO THIS
AREA.
UP-ZONING THIS WILL HAVE A
SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE
ADJACENT SINGLE FAMILY HOMES IN
THIS AREA.
I'M SUGGESTING THAT THIS FEW
PROPERTIES NOT BE UP-ZONED FOR
THE HEIGHT REQUIREMENT, AND LET
DEVELOPMENT DO WHAT IT MAY IN
THIS AREA.
THANK YOU.
>> SORRY.
MY MICROPHONE SEEMED LIKE IT
WENT OUT FOR A MINUTE.
OKAY, SO, WE WILL NOW HEAR FROM
SUZANNE GRANT, FOLLOWED BY 44A,
JODI BIGGS, FOLLOWED BY 45B,
WHITNEY REARICK.
>> THANK YOU, I'M SUZANNE GRANT
AND I OPPOSE THE PROPOSED
HEIGHT LIMIT ON THE TOP OF
QUEEN ANN HILL.
THIS DECISION MUST BE DENIED OR
DELAYED.
I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT COUNSEL
PERSONS JOHNSON AND O'BRIEN DO
NOT RESPECT US ENOUGH TO BE
HERE, BUT, COUNCILPERSON
BAGHAW, I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE.
I HAVE ASKED MANY TIMES TO TALK
WITH YOU TO NO AVAIL.
WE ARE TRYING TO SAVE A HUGE
TO TREAT FROM THE DEVELOPER'S
SAW, BUT, THERE MAY STILL BE
TIME.
REGARDING THE NEW HEIGHT LIMITS
PROPOSED ON THE TOP OF QUEEN
ANN HILL NOW, THEY ARE WRONG.
THE TRAFFIC THERE NOW IS AWFUL.
THOSE OF US WHO KNOW TO AVOID
DRIVING THERE UNLESS WE HAVE TO
BUT SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO,
BUYING A GALLON OF MILK,
CARRYING IT HOME, WALKING OR
BUSTING AND THEN WALKING UP A
STEEP QUEEN ANN HILL IS HEART.
I'VE DONE IT.
AND IT'S NOT POSSIBLE FOR
EVERYBODY.
YOU HAVE NOT TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT
THE ADVERSE EFFECTS, THE
RAISING THE HEIGHT LIMIT OF
SAFEWAY, 275 FEET, SEVEN
STORIES WILL HAVE ON TRAFFIC
AND LIVABILITY.
THE FABLE THAT PEOPLE DON'T
WANT TO OR WON'T DRIVE PERSISTS
IN SPITE OF THE EVIDENCE THAT
THEY WANT TO AND DO DRIVE.
EVEN CAR SHARES NEED ROADS TO
DRIVE ON, AND PLACES TO PARK.
ROADS ON QUEEN AND ARE NOT
BEING SCHEDULED TO ACCOMMODATE
ANY MORE CARS, NOR ARE WE
SCHEDULED TO HAVE A LIGHT RAIL
STATION ON THE TOP OF QUEEN ANN
HILL.
SO, WHY IS THAT ENTITY BEING
INCREASED TO THE EXTENT OF 75
FEET HIGH AT SAFEWAY?
REGARDING THE YOUNG PEOPLE
TONIGHT YOU ARE ADVOCATING
AGAINST SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES,
THEY MAY WELL CHANGE THEIR
MINDS WHEN THEY WANT TO RAISE A
FAMILY.
HAVE A YARD FOR THEIR KIDS AND
PETS.
AND THEN IT WILL BE TOO LATE.
WE ALSO NEED TO SAVE THE TREES
AT SINGLE FAMILY HOMEOWNERS
PROTECT.
WHERE IS THE LANGUAGE IN THE UP-
ZONED PROPOSALS THAT CREATES
PARKS?
WHY AREN'T YOUNG PEOPLE
ADVOCATING FOR PARKS AND TREES?
IN CONCLUSION, THE MHA RULING
AND THE RAISING HEIGHT LIMITS
MUST BE DELAYED AND TURNED OVER
TO COUNCILMEMBERS WHO ARE NOT
RUNNING AWAY LIKE COWARDS, BUT
WHO ARE WILLING TO STAY AND
LIVE WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF
THEIR VOTES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO 44A,
JODI BIGGS FOLLOWED BY WHITNEY
REARICK.
>> HI, MY NAME IS JODI BIGGS.
YOU'VE HEARD FROM A COUPLE OF
MY NEIGHBORS IN NORTH KITCHELL
HILL.
I'M HERE WITH THEM, SPEAKING
OUT SPECIFICALLY AGAINST
AMENDMENT 14.
>> JODI, CAN YOU GET JUST A
LITTLE CLOSER TO THE MIC?
>> THIS ONE?
>> THE TALL ONE IS FINE.
>> EVEN BETTER.
>> PERFECT.
>> THE AMENDMENTS PROPOSED IN
418 WHICH WOULD INCREASE THE
HEIGHT TO 75 FEET ALONG
BOYLSTON AND EAST LAKE, WILL
DIRECTLY REFLECT NOISE BACK TO
US.
FOR CONTEXT, THE MEASUREMENT OF
NOISE ALONG MY STREET, EAST,
RIGHT IMMEDIATELY ABOVE I-5 IS
72 DECIBELS ON AVERAGE.
TO PUT THAT IN CONTEXT, IN THIS
ROOM, I TURNED ON A DECIBEL
METER IN MY PHONE, WHILE WE HAD
SOME OF OUR LOUDEST APPLAUSE,
IT REACHED 60 DECIBELS.
72 IS MORE THAN DOUBLE THAT.
GETTING MORE NOISE REFLECTED
BACK, CAN BECOME ACTUALLY A
HEALTH ISSUE.
EXPOSURE TO 80 DECIBELS FOR
PERIODS OF EIGHT HOURS OR MORE
CAN BE KNOWN TO CAUSE
SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO HEARING.
OUR LAND USE IS TO PROTECT
SAFETY, PROTECT GENERAL WELFARE.
ANOTHER ISSUE THAT I THINK HAS
NOT BEEN DISCUSSED AROUND THIS,
THOUGH, IS, OUR STREET IS USED
BY THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, IN
NORTH KEPRELL HILL AND ACROSS
SEATTLE BY FAMILIES WHO WANT TO
COME AND WATCH THE FIREWORKS
OVER LAKE UNION.
BUT, EVERY DAY, I SEE CARS THAT
ARE STOPPED, PEOPLE GET OUT AND
TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS.
WHAT AMENDMENT 418 WOULD DO IS
TO TAKE THAT AWAY FROM THE
COMMUNITY AND GIVE IT ALL TO
THE PEOPLE WHO CAN AFFORD THE
PENTHOUSE APARTMENTS FOR THESE
MIDRISE TOWERS THAT WILL BE
BUILT ACROSS THE STREET.
SO, I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THAT
WE KEEP SEATTLE BEAUTIFUL FOR
SEATTLEITES, AND NOT FOR THE
FEW WEALTHY PEOPLE WHO CAN
AFFORD THIS.
>> THANK YOU, JODI.
SO, COLLEAGUES, WE HAD ABOUT 48
PEOPLE LEFT, ASSUMING THAT
EVERYBODY IS HERE.
THAT'S ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF
WORTH OF PUBLIC TESTIMONY LEFT
AT TWO MINUTES PER PERSON.
SO, THAT WOULD PUT US AT ABOUT
10:30.
P.M.
AND SO, I JUST WANT TO AGAIN
ENCOURAGE FOLKS WHO WANT TO
AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THE PUBLIC
COMMENT CARD TO USE THAT IF
THEY FEEL LIKE THEY NEED TO,
AND, IF YOU HAVE FRIENDS IN THE
AUDIENCE WHO YOU WANT TO TEAM
UP WITH, AND TAKE FIVE MINUTES,
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ORGANIZE
YOURSELVES TO DO THAT NOW.
OTHERWISE WE WILL BE HERE UNTIL
WE GET TO THE VERY LAST PERSON
WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 10:30
P.M.
SO, THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES, FOR
STICKING IT OUT WITH US.
SO, NEXT UP IS 45B, WHITNEY
REARICK, FOLLOWED BY 45A,
PHILIP DUGAN, FOLLOWED BY 46B,
-- SIMPSON.
WHITNEY?
ALL RIGHT, THAT'S TWO MINUTES
LESS.
PHIL?
>> HI.
MY NAME IS PHILIP DUGGAN, AND I
OWN A HOME IN PINEHURST IN
DISTRICT 5 NEAR NORTHGATE.
I'M TOO TIRED AND HUNGRY TO
REFERENCE SPECIFIC AMENDMENTS,
BUT I SUPPORT MAXIMIZING THE
ABILITY TO BUILD MORE HOUSING
IN THE AREA AND THROUGHOUT THE
REST OF THE CITY, ESPECIALLY
WITH THE COMING LIGHT RAIL.
I GREW UP ON QUEEN ANNE
SURROUNDED BY DUPLEXES AND
APARTMENT BUILDINGS IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD, NEXT TO HOMES
THAT WOULDN'T BE ALLOWED
ANYMORE.
AND I THOUGHT THEY WERE GREAT.
AND I SUPPORT THE CHANGES
THERE, TOO.
I HAD FRIENDS WHO LIVED IN THAT
SORT OF HOUSING, WHO WOULDN'T
HAVE BEEN THERE IF IT WASN'T
FOR THOSE OPTIONS AND I
WOULDN'T HAVE GROWN UP WITH
THEM AS FRIENDS.
MHA ISN'T ENOUGH BUT IT'S WHAT
WE'VE GOT RIGHT NOW AND I THINK
WE SHOULD PASS IT WITHOUT
DILUTING IT AND THEN CONTINUE
TO DO MORE.
PERSONALLY, MY FATHER IS GOING
TO HAVE TO SELL MY CHILDHOOD
HOME ON QUEEN ANNE AND MOVE
SOON SO THAT HE'S ABLE TO
RETIRE.
HE NEEDS THAT MONEY TO BE ABLE
TO RETIR.
AND SO, AS HE DOWNSIZES, I'M
HOPING HE WILL BE ABLE TO STAY
CLOSE, AND I WOULD LOVE TO BE
ABLE TO BUILD A DETACHED ADU IN
MY OWN YARD, SO THAT HE CAN AGE
IN PLACE NEARBY.
CURRENTLY, THAT IS ALLOWED,
BUT, I WOULD ALSO BE REALLY
EXCITED BY THE IDEA OF A BLOCK
PROJECT AND BEING ABLE TO HOST
A HOME IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND, CURRENTLY, IT LOOKS LIKE I
CAN'T DO TWO DADUS, EVEN IF I'M
DOING A ADU.
I LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT, MY LOT
IS GIGANTIC, I COULD EASILY
HAS BOTH OF THOSE BUT NOT
CURRENTLY LOT.
BUT I'D LOVE TO BE ABLE TO BOTH
HELP DIRECTLY WITH THE HOMELESS
PROBLEM AND HOST MY FAMILY,
INTERGENERATIONAL LIVING AND
THOSE SORT OF THINGS.
SO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
PLEASE APPROVE MHA AND CONTINUE
DOING MORE.
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU, PHILIP.
OKAY, 46B IS BILL SAMPSON,
FOLLOWED BY 46A, RALPH NAMON,
FOLLOWED BY 47B, ROYCE BIXBY.
BILL?
NOPE?
IS THERE A BILL SAMPSON IN THE
HOUSE?
NOT SEEING ONE, WE WILL MOVE
ON.
ARE YOU RALPH?
>> THANK YOU.
I'M RALPH NAIMON.
I'M HERE WITH THE GROUP OF
NEIGHBORS.
WE LIVE IN HARVARD AVENUE EAST
JUST ABOVE THE INTERSTATE 5
FREEWAY.
AND, WE ARE HERE TO -- OR I'M
HERE AT LEAST FOR MY PART TO
DISCUSS THE ISSUE OF NOISE,
THAT WOULD BE CREATED BY AN UP
ZONE IN THE AREA BETWEEN
BOYLSTON, AND EAST LAKE, IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD.
MY WIFE AND I ARE SEATTLE
NATIVES, MY MOTHER WAS A
SEATTLE NATIVE, AS A MATTER OF
FACT.
LOVE THIS CITY.
I'M NOT HAPPY WITH WHAT IT'S
BECOMING BECAUSE OF THE
CONGESTIN AND THE TRAFFIC AND
THE NOISE.
IT'S NOT THE CITY THAT I HOPE
TO RAISE MY CHILDREN.
TO GIVE YOU A VERBAL
DESCRIPTION OF WHERE I LIVE, WE
ARE RIGHT ABOVE THE FREEWAY.
THERE IS ABOUT A 60, 70 FOOT
WALL ACROSS THE STREET FROM US
DOWN IN HARVARD.
AND THEN THERE ARE 10 LANES OF
FREEWAY.
THERE IS FOUR IN EACH
DIRECTION, PLUS THE EXPRESS
LANES GOING DOWN THE MIDDLE.
ACROSS FROM US, ON THE WEST
SIDE OF THE FREEWAY IS ABOUT A
25-FOOT NOISE WALL, AND BEYOND
THAT AND ADJACENT TO IT IS
BOYLSTON STREET WHICH IS ONE OF
THE AREAS THAT WOULD BE SUBJECT
TO THE UP ZONE.
MY WIFE AND I LIVED IN THIS
NEIGHBORHOOD, OR IN THIS
PARTICULAR CONDOMINIUM, BEFORE
THE WALL ACROSS THE WAY WAS
BUILT.
AND, THOUGH THERE WAS FREEWAY
NOISE, IT WASN'T INTOLERABLE.
THE BUILDING OF THAT LAW MADE
THINGS MUCH WORSE FOR US.
I CAN SAY THAT FOR EXAMPLE, THE
SOUND OF AN AIRPLANE GOING BY I
WAS REFERRED TO EARLIER, AND
IT'S AN, THE DECLARATION OF
POLICY, IS THE POLICY TO
MINIMIZE EXPOSURE OF CITIZENS
TO THE PHYSIOLOGICAL AND
PSYCHOLOGICAL DANGERS OF
EXCESSIVE NOISE AND TO PROTECT
PROMOTE AND OBSERVE THE PUBLIC'S
SAFETY AND WELFARE.
IT'S THE EXPRESS, IN A MANNER
WHICH PROMOTES COMMERCE, THE
USE VALLEY VALUE AND ENJOYMENT
OF PROPERTY, SLEEP AND REPOSE
AND THE QUALITY OF THE
ENVIRONMENT.
THE CITY ALSO HAS PUBLISHED A
CHART THAT I'M SURE YOU'RE
FAMILIAR WITH, TYPICAL
ENVIRONMENTAL NOISE SOUND
LEVELS AND RESPONSES, AT 80
DECIBELS, THAT IS THE SOUND OF
HIGHWAY TRAFFIC ON THE
EXPRESSWAY AT 25 METERS.
THAT IS, JUST TO PUT IT IN
PERSPECTIVE, 70 DECIBELS MAKES
TELEPHONE USE DIFFICULT, 100
DECIBELS IS VERY LOUD.
WE ARE PROBABLY AT THAT 80
DECIBEL LEVEL BECAUSE OF OUR
PROXIMITY TO THE FREEWAY.
ADDING THE HIGH-RISES, THE MID-
RISES, IF YOU WILL, IS ONLY
GOING TO ADD TO THAT NOISE THAT
WE ARE EXPERIENCING NOW, AND
WILL MAKE USE OF OUR DECKS, AT
THE FRONT OF OUR CONDOMINIUM
UNUSABLE.
IT WILL BE TOTALLY UNFAVORABLE
TO SITTING ON THE DECK AND
ENJOYING FOR EXAMPLE, THE VIEW
AND THE FIREWORKS.
BOYLSTON AND BELOW, IT'S A NICE
NEIGHBORHOOD, THERE ARE MANY
SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES THERE.
BOYLSTON HAS VIRTUALLY NO
PARKING EXCEPT FOR A SMALL PART
OF IT, THE STREET BELOW THAT, I
CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE
STREET BELOW THAT, HAS PARKING
ON BOTH SIDES AND THERE'S
REALLY ONLY ROOM FOR ONE CAR TO
PASS IF YOU HAVE TO PASS
ANOTHER CAR GOING THE OPPOSITE
DIRECTION YOU BETTER FIND A
DRIVEWAY OR SOMETHING TO PULL
OVER INTO.
ADDING HIGH-RISE WILL ONLY ADD
TO THE CONJUNCTION CONGESTION
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. IT'S MY
BELIEF THAT, AM I DONE?
>> THAT'S FIVE MINUTES, THANK
YOU.>> 40 7B, ROYCE, FOLLOWED BY
STEVE ZEMKE.
>> HELLO.
I LIVE IN WEST SEATTLE AND I
HAVE A HOME ON 32nd AVENUE
SOUTHWEST, WHICH I THINK YOU
MIGHT BE FAMILIAR WITH THAT
ENCLAVE THERE, WHILE I THINK IT
SHOULD BE OF SOUND, I DON'T
THINK THAT, WELL THE LIGHT RAIL
STATION COMES IN RIGHT THERE,
AND IN YOUR AMENDMENT, YOU SAID
THAT SHOULD REMAIN SINGLE-FAMILY
, THAT'S WHERE I LOOKED.
RESIDENTIAL SMALL LOT, WHICH IS
STILL LOW, AND WE LIVE IN A
CANYON, I THINK YOUR RELATIVE
IS UP ON THE UPHILL SIDE, THEY
HAVE, IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT
UP THERE BUT DOWN WHERE I LIVE,
IT'S KIND OF A CANYON, AND THEN
LEAVING THAT LOW, I FEEL
UNPROTECTED. IT WOULD BE BETTER
AS MIDRISE, WHICH WAS THE
FIRST, I THINK THAT WENT
THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL, A LOT OF
EXPERTS RECOMMENDED THAT, I
DON'T THINK IT SHOULD REMAIN
LOW, IT'S JUST, I HAVE A FAMILY
AND A DOG AND STUFF, SO ALSO, I
KIND OF FEEL LIKE, SOME OF THE
AMENDMENTS MAINTAIN AREAS OF
AFFLUENCE AND WHITE PRIVILEGE,
STRUCTURALLY, AND I WOULD LIKE
TO SEE WEST SEATTLE BE MORE
AFFORDABLE AND WELCOME DIVERSITY
, AND I THINK THE AMENDMENT
DOESN'T ALLOW FOR THAT AS MUCH.
I THINK IT WOULD BE A FORM OF
STRUCTURAL RACISM THAT I DON'T
BELIEVE IN.
I'M A LITTLE LOW LED SUGAR
RIGHT NOW, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU
CAN TELL BECAUSE I'VE BEEN HERE
LATE, BUT MY FAMILY IS EATING
PIZZA WITHOUT ME.
BUT I CARE SO MUCH ABOUT THIS
ISSUE THAT I THOUGHT I WOULD
STICK AROUND AND I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU LISTENING AND
YOUR REPRESENTATION ON THIS
ISSUE.
>> THINK YOU, ROYCE.
I HOPE YOU GET TO GO HAVE PIZZA
WITH YOUR FAMILY SOON.
JUST, YEAH, LET ME KNOW WHERE
YOU ARE AT.
SO, I'M GOING TO INVITE MYSELF
TO YOUR FAMILY PARTY.
THERE ARE COOKIES, HOWEVER
FLOATING AROUND IN COUNSEL
CHAMBERS THINKS TO RENCE, RIGHT?
THANKS TO CALVIN, HE'S GOT
CLIFF BARS AND OTHER SNACKS IF
YOUR BLOOD SUGAR IS GETTING
LOW, PLEASE BUILD COMMUNITY IN
CHAMBERS AND HELP EACH OTHER
OUT.
REALLY QUICKLY BEFORE MR. ZEMKE
GIVES US HIS PUBLIC TESTIMONY,
I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO GIVE
AUDIENCE MEMBERS A REMINDER
THAT SEATTLE CITY HALL IS ONE
OF OUR EMERGENCY SHELTERS AT
NIGHTTIME, IN THE CITY, AND THE
SHELTER YOU WILL BE SEEING A
LOT OF ACTIVITY AT CITY HALL AT
9:30 PM, SO IF YOU ARE EXITING
CITY HALL AT 9:30 PM, WE ASK
FOR YOU TO RESPECT THE PRIVACY
OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WHO
ARE WHO ARE ENTERING INTO CITY
HALL PURPOSES OF HAVING A WARM
AND SAFE NIGHT. IF YOU JUST BE
CONSCIENTIOUS OF YOUR EXIT AND
YOUR ROAMING ABOUT CITY HALL TO
RESPECT THOSE FOLKS ABILITY TO
ACCESS THE CITY HALL SHELTER.
WE WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE
THAT.
>> 40 7A IS STEVE ZEMKE
>> GOOD EVENING, THANKS FOR
STAYING AND LISTENING, I KNOW
THAT'S PART OF YOUR JOB, IT'S A
DIFFICULT JOB BECAUSE THERE ARE
LOTS AND LOTS OF IDEAS AND WAYS
OF LOOKING AT THINGS.
I WANT TO NOTE A COUPLE OF
RANDOM OBSERVATIONS, HAVING
DEALT WITH THIS ISSUE FOR QUITE
A WHILE.
30 YEARS AGO I WAS INVOLVED IN
THE EFFORT TO TRY AND PASS THE
GROWTH MANAGEMENT ACT IN
WASHINGTON STATE, SET UP THE
GROWTH BOUNDARIES TO ALSO DEAL
WITH THE OBVIOUSLY URBAN
VILLAGE CONCEPT, ETC.,
OBVIOUSLY, THINGS CONTINUE TO
CHANGE AND NEEDS CONTINUE TO
CHANGE BUT WE ARE NOW DEALING
WITH AN ISSUE OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING BUT I WANT TO GIVE A
COUPLE OF QUICK OBSERVATIONS.
PART OF IT IS LOOKING AT THE
NAME AND NOT GETTING STUCK IN
THE NAME ALONE BECAUSE IT'S THE
SAME AS WHO'S OPPOSED TO GOOD
GOVERNMENT, WHO SUPPOSED TO
HEALTHY FOOD, I THINK ONE OF
THE THINGS THE CITY HASN'T DONE
IS TAKEN THAT FORWARD-LOOKING
VIEW AND THINKING, WHAT IS THE
OPTIMAL SIZE THE CITY SHOULD
ACTUALLY BE?
WE CAN RESPOND TO OUTSIDE
PRESSURES INSIDE PRESSURES,
ETC., WHAT KIND OF A CITY DO
YOU WANT TO ULTIMATELY BE?
I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT THAT
IN TERMS OF ARE THERE LIMITS TO
THE GROWTH IN THE CITY AND WHAT
ARE THE CHANGES THAT WE
EXPERIENCE AS A CONSEQUENT.
FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT SAY ON
THE COUNCIL, IT REMAINS AN ISSUE
THAT IS CRITICAL TO THE CITY.
I THINK WE CAN LOOK AT OTHER
PLACES HERE IN TERMS OF WHAT WE
ARE DOING HERE, ONE COMES TO
MIND, OREGON IS PROPOSING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING BEING BUILT
ACROSS THE STATE, THEY ARE
LOOKING AT IT BEING, ALL THE
FAMILY UNITS BEING BUILT, THAT
COMPRISES 25% OF THE BUILDING,
WE ARE LOOKING I THINK,
MINUSCULE, AT THE ISSUE, IF THE
ISSUE IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
WHY ARE WE LOOKING AT HOW DO WE
DO THAT, NOT JUST A QUESTION OF
INCREASING DENSITY, DENSITY IN
AND OF ITSELF IS NOT THE ANSWER
TO THE KIND OF CITY THAT WE
WANT TO BE.
I SUPPORT LISA HER BULBS ANTI-
DISPLACEMENT AMENDMENT, I
SUPPORT TREE PROTECTIONS, ETC.,
THOSE ARE ISSUES WE NEED TO
LOOK AT.
THANK YOU.>> 40 B, DAVE FOLEY,
IS DAVE STILL HERE?
OKAY 40 A MICHAEL ROSS, 49 B,
EDWARD LINCOLN LIPKIN.
>> OBVIOUSLY I'M NOT EVER, MY
NAME IS ELIZABETH AND I'M
UPSETTING MYSELF AS I'M
CURRENTLY RUNNING TO REPLACE
DOLLY BACK SHAW IN 2019, FIRST
AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU FOR
VACATING, SECOND OF ALL I WOULD
LIKE TO SHINE THE LIGHT ON THIS
AFFORDABLE HOUSING ISSUE,
BECAUSE IT SOUNDS A BIT LIKE
PROPAGANDA TO ME AND I DO
BELIEVE THAT YOU AS A CITY ARE
BASICALLY SHORTSELLING EVERY
LAST BIT OF OUR PUBLIC LAND TO
DEVELOPERS GIVING THEM A
MASSIVE TAX CREDIT, THEREFORE
RAISING THE VALUE OF LAND IN
NEARLY EVERY AREA THAT
SURROUNDS THESE NEW LITTLE I
DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU WOULD CALL
THEM, CUBICLE BUILDINGS, THOSE
BURDENS GET PAST TO THE OTHER
BUILDING OWNERS THAT ARE PASSED
DOWN TO THE RENTERS, VIA THE
INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAXES.
FURTHER, THE OTHER WAY YOU GET
YOUR MONEY IS THROUGH SALES
TAX, THERE'S A HUGE CRUISE
INCHES, I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHY
YOU DECIDED TO CLOSE THE
BATTERY TUNNELS, CHOSE TO LEAVE
THE MAGNOLIA BRIDGE UP AND
GIVEN IT WAS A SAFETY CONCERN
AND I'D ALSO SUGGEST THIS IS
MORE OF A HOMELESSNESS PROBLEM
THEN AFFORDABLE HOUSING ISSUE.
SO I WOULD URGE YOU TO USE THE
VERY LAST BIT OF THE VACANT
LAND THAT WE HAVE LEFT THAT THE
CITY STILL OWNS AND IS NOT
SHORT SOLD TO ALDERTON TO ALL
THE DEVELOPERS TO USE SHIPPING
CONTAINERS, CONVERT THEM INTO
HOMES AND THEN SELL THEM ON THE
FREE MARKET, ONCE THE PROBLEM
IS SOLVED.
AND I'D ALSO LIKE YOU TO KEEP
THOSE TUNNELS OPEN.
BECAUSE THAT IS JUST THE
BIGGEST WASTE OF SPACE I'VE
EVER SEEN AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE
ANYTHING ELSE TO DO WITH THE
VIADUCT, MAYBE YOU SHOULD DUMP
IT INTO THE OCEAN AND
RETROGRADE IT JUST LIKE YOU DID
WITH DENNY HILL IN THE 1800S.
THANK YOU.>> YOU ARE ISABEL
WARNER?
>> BELL, AND YOU WERE SIGNED UP
AS NUMBER 57, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP IS 40 9A,
TOBY BAYLOR FOLLOWED BY 50 B,
MARK FOLTZ, FOLLOWED BY 52A,
TRACY, TRACY FILTER.
>> I'M NOT OPPOSED TO INFILL
DENSITY, IT'S HOW IT'S DONE
THAT MATTERS TO US.
DISPLACEMENT, WHETHER OR NOT
YOU VOTE FOR THE MHA, THE
ORDINANCE WOULD HELP MITIGATE
THE IMPACT OF DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S AN INTEGRAL PART OF MHA,
AND THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED
THE SAME TIME AS THE SPELL,
DISPLACEMENT, THE GROWTH AND
EQUITY ANALYSIS USED IN EIS IS
INACCURATE, FREMONT WAS LABELED
A LOW DISPLACEMENT
NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT FREMONT HAS
EXPERIENCED THE HIGHEST
DISPLACEMENT OF UNDER 50% AMI
HOUSEHOLD IN THE LAST 15 YEARS,
MANY NEIGHBORHOODS ARE LIKE
THAT, AND ACCURATELY
CHARACTERIZED. DISPLACEMENT,
THE INDEPENDENT CITY HEARING
EXAMINER RULED THAT ECONOMIC
DISPLACEMENT DOES NOT NEED TO BE
ADDRESSED IN EIS, THIS IS
WRONG.
DISPLACEMENT, IN 2015, THE
CITY'S RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
INITIATIVE TEAM, PROVIDED
GUIDANCE TO THE COLOR
COMMITTEE, A KEY RECOMMENDATION
WAS THAT HOMEOWNERSHIP NEEDS TO
BE ENCOURAGED AND MAINTAIN,
ESPECIALLY IN COMMUNITIES AT
RISK OF RSJDISPLACEMENT.
THE CITY FAILED TO CONVENE
REVIEW TEAM UNTIL THE DRAFT WAS
PUBLISHED, NEVERTHELESS THE
TEAM CAME OUT AND SAID, YOU
BLEW IT, IT DIDN'T COVER RACE
AT ALL.
SO, NOTHING IN THE EIS ABOUT
HOMEOWNERSHIP, IT'S GOING TO
ACCOMPLISH EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE
OF WHAT YOU PLANNED. AND ON THE
ENVIRONMENT, THE US SIERRA CLUB
PEOPLE SAID IT'S FOR THE
ENVIRONMENT, THE WAY THE PEER-
REVIEWED LITERATURE SAYS, IT'S
NOT ACCURATE.
PLANETWIDE DO NOT GET MORE
EFFICIENT BY GROWING, IT
DOESN'T WORK.
>> THANK YOU, TOBY.
50B MARK FULD, FOLLOWED BY 52A
TRACY, FOLLOWED BY 51B LAUREN
McGONIGAL.
>> HELLO MANY SMARTPHONES, I'M
A HOMEOWNER I WAS NOT PAID TO
BE HERE.
I'M PART OF A GROUP OF FOLKS
CALLED WELCOMING WALLINGFORD,
WHO BELIEVES THAT WALLINGFORD
WOULD BENEFIT FROM NEIGHBORS OF
ALL KINDS, AFTER 3+ YEARS
INVOLVEMENT IN THIS PROCESS,
IT'S CLEAR THAT NOT EVERYONE IS
COMFORTABLE WITH THE IDEA OF
SHARING OUR SPACE WITH MORE
NEIGHBORS AS IF HAVING NEW
NEIGHBORS ALWAYS MEANS TAKING
SOMETHING AWAY FROM PEOPLE THAT
ARE ALREADY HERE.
THAT'S CERTAINLY NOT TRUE IN
NEW YORK, OTHER CITIES HAVE HAD
THE PRIVILEGE OF VISITING, THAT
ARE VERY LIVABLE AND HAVE ROOM
FOR LOTS OF PEOPLE, LOTS OF
FAMILIES IN ALL THEIR
NEIGHBORHOODS, MEANWHILE IN
SEATTLE, WE CAN'T STOP PEOPLE
FROM COMING, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE
WITH WEALTH, AND THIS KIND OF
ZERO-SUM MENTALITY HAS LED TO
ESCALATING, ASTRONOMICAL HOME
PRICES, AND THE FACT THAT THE
PEOPLE IN MY LIFE CAN'T AFFORD
TO LIVE ANYWHERE CLOSE TO ME.
I DON'T BELIEVE MHA IS THE
SOLUTION, BUT IT'S A GOOD STEP
TO LEGALIZE MORE HOUSING,
CREATE GUARANTEED AFFORDABLE
HOMES, THE DOWN ZONING
AMENDMENTS, PROPOSED IN SOME
DISTRICTS WOULD MEAN FEWER NEW
HOMES IN FEWER AFFORDABLE
HOMES.
THEY JUST MEAN MORE PEOPLE
WOULD BE UNABLE TO LIVE IN
SEATTLE IN THE FUTURE AND THEY
SHOULD BE REJECTED.
IN CLOSING, A LOT OF PEOPLE
HAVE TALKED ABOUT HISTORIC HOMES
, I'D BE SAD IF MY 113-YEAR-OLD
HOUSE GOT REPLACED BY NEW HOMES
SOMEDAY.
BUT I'D RATHER HAVE NEW HOMES
THEN SOME MEGA-MANSION, WHICH
IS WHAT HAPPENED TODAY.
CITIES ARE MADE OF PEOPLE, NOT
HOUSES IN SEATTLE NEEDS ROOM
FOR MORE PEOPLE, PLEASE PASS
MHA AS PROPOSED BY OBESITY AS
SOON AS POSSIBLE AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE.
OPCD, IS TRACY HERE?
>> 51B IS LAUREN McCONAUGHEY.
LEARN?
NO?
>> 53A IS STEVE CASTILLO. SO
STEVE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY 50
2B, PAUL CHAPMAN, FOLLOWED BY 54
B, BEN ANDERSON.
>> IT'S BEEN ALONG FOR YEARS
AND ARE STILL NOT LISTENING,
IT'S VERY VERY INTERESTING THAT
THIS IS BEING TALKED ABOUT AS
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, YET, I HAVE
REAL RELUCTANCE TO DEMAND AT
LEAST THE HOUSING THAT IS LOST
IS REPLACED, THIS IS SUPPOSED
TO BE FOR HAVING NEIGHBORHOODS
OF DIVERSITY, AND SO WE CANNOT
FORCE DEVELOPERS TO PUT THE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHERE YOU
ARE BUILDING THE NEW HOUSING,
WE HAVE TO GHETTO IZE AND THIS
WILL MAKE THINGS BETTER, NO I
DON'T THINK IT WILL MAKE IT
BETTER, THIS IS ABOUT MAKING
DEVELOPMENT MORE PROFITABLE, IF
YOU WERE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THEN YOU
WOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT
THE AMOUNT BEING LARGER THAN
THE DISPLACEMENT.
IT IS AT THIS POINT, WHERE MOST
PEOPLE LOOK AT IT, SAY YOU ARE
GOING TO GET MORE DISPLACEMENT,
WE HAVE NO SHORTAGE OF HOUSING
FOR THE WEALTHY IN THIS CITY,
NONE.
LOOK AT HOW MANY UNITS ARE
COMING ONLINE RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE PLENTY OF HOUSING, BUT
THE HOUSING IS NOT AFFORDABLE.
THAT IS THE PROBLEM.
AS YOU GO FORWARD WITH THIS
PLAN, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE
MORE AND MORE OF THE AFFORDABLE
UNITS ARE GOING TO GO DOWN, AND
SO, WE WILL BUILD THESE NEW
UNITS, AND FROM FIVE YEARS, WE
WILL GET PART OF IT BACK UNDER
MHA, AND IT WON'T BE UNTIL 20
YEARS UNTIL WE HAVE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AGAIN IN THE CITY, WE
ARE MAKING THE CITY MORE AND
MORE UNAFFORDABLE,
DENSIFICATION IN THIS CASE, IS
BEING USED TO PUSH MORE AND
MORE PEOPLE OUT OF THE CITY,
AND YOU ARE DOING A FABULOUS
JOB.
IF YOU WANT TO HAVE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT
THAT PROBLEM AND THE DEVELOPERS
ARE NOT GOING TO FINANCE IT
VOLUNTARILY.>> 52B IS PAUL
CHAPMAN, FOLLOWED BY 54A BEN
ANDERSON, THEN WE WILL 53BHEAR
FROM STEVE WILKINS.
>> PAUL CHAPMAN?
OKAY, BEN?
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBERS FOR
WAITING THIS OUT.
I'M FROM WALLINGFORD, I'M HERE
TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF MHA . I
WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE 26 EXPRESS
BUS HERE FROM A COUPLE OF
HOUSES DOWN FROM MINE
>> IT'S BEEN MORE THAN FOUR
YEARS THEN WE DECLARED AN
EMERGENCY, I'VE HAD TWO KIDS IN
THAT TIME, WE CONTINUE TO ADD
JOBS WAY FASTER THAN WE ADDED
HOUSING, WHICH MEANS THE MATTER
WHAT WE DO, SOMEONE IS BLOCKED
OUT OF TOWN.
THIS DELAY AND THE LACK OF
SCOPE AND IMAGINATION MEANS WE
ARE NOT TREATING THIS LIKE THE
EMERGENCY WE SAID IT WAS . WITH
THAT SAID, PLEASE ENACT MHA
FULLY AS A FIRST STEP AS SOON
AS POSSIBLE AND CONTINUE TO TAKE
OLDER STEPS IN THE FUTURE TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN
ACCOMMODATE THE JOB GROWTH
WE'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING.
>> STEVE WILKINS?
55A MIKE RICHARDS?
FOLLOWED BY 54B ETHAN GOODMAN.
MIKE, MIKE RICHARDS?
NO MIKE?
NOPE.
OKAY.
ETHAN GOODMAN, JIM SULLIVAN. 50
6A, FOLLOWED BY 50 5B 55B
MARTIN LEBOVITZ.
>> THIS PAST MY BEDTIME.
>> ME TOO.
>> WE HAVE A HOMELESSNESS
EMERGENCY AND RENTS AND HOME
PRICES AS YOU KNOW ARE SKYHIGH.
IN DESPERATION AND EVIDENTLY
UNDER THE INFLUENCE, OF THOSE
WHO WILL ENJOY FINANCIAL BENEFIT
, YOU'VE ALL INDICATED YOUR
INTENT TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES,
IN PART, BY CHANGING THE RULES
IN SINGLE-FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS,
TO ELIMINATE OFFSTREET PARKING
REQUIREMENTS, TO ALLOW ABSENTEE
LANDLORDS TO FILL UP MY
NEIGHBORS LOTS WITH DETACHED
RENTAL UNITS, AND TO ALLOW
ABSENTEE LANDLORDS, AS MANY AS
12 UNRELATED TENANTS.
ABSENTEE LANDLORD, HAVING JUST
INVESTED INTO LANDLORDS ON MY
NEIGHBORS HOUSE WILL BE UNDER
SIGNIFICANT DEBT OBLIGATION,
AND SHE WILL NEED TO HAVE 12
TENANTS TO SHARE THE SKYHIGH
RENT SHE IS FOUND SHE CAN
CHARGE, THE 12 TENANTS WILL
BRING WITH THEM, 8 TO 12
VEHICLES EACH WILL OCCUPY MOST
OF THE AVAILABLE PARKING ON MY
STREET.
LUCKY FOR ME, I CAN KEEP MY OLD
BEATER IN MY BASEMENT GARAGE.
WHEN TWO OR THREE OUT-OF-STATE
INVESTORS OR AN INVESTOR
CONSORTIUM REQUIRED SEVERAL
MORE HOUSES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD,
TO PARK AND GROW THEIR MONEY
AND PROCEED TO MAKE SIMILAR
IMPROVEMENTS, I WILL LOOK
FORWARD TO MY STREET FOREVER
CONGESTED WITH CARS BOTH PARKED
AND REPEATEDLY CIRCLING, TO TRY
AND SNAG PARKING.
IS THIS WHAT YOU HAVE IN MIND
FOR US?
>> THANK YOU.
JIM?
THE NEXT PERSON IS 55B MARTIN
THE NEXT PERSON I HAVE IS
CALLING THE COWARD MACULAR, 57B
GARWIN LONG
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
A COUPLE OF THINGS, I'M
REPRESENTING THE COMMUNITY
CLUB, WE DO SUPPORT THE GOALS
OF MHA, AND IT'S MORPHED AND
CHANGED, WE'VE WRITTEN OVER
SIX DIFFERENT COMMENTS, I'M
GOING TO SHORTEN IT UP.
ONE OF THE BIG CONCERNS WE HAVE
IS THE FEE PAID AVAILABLITY
FOR DEVELOPERS TO PUT THE MONEY
INTO THE POT. PEOPLE WILL BE
DISPLACED WHERE THEY LIVE AND
THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT
CONCEPT, ESPECIALLY AS SENIORS,
THE DOCTORS THE HAIRDRESSERS,
YOU WALK TO THE BAKERY, THAT
MIGHT BE AN UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCE AND I WOULD SAY
THAT THE INCENTIVE FOR BUILDING
ON SITE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING
SHOULD BE FAR GREATER AND THE
PENALTY FOR BUILDING AWAY
SHOULD BE AT GREATER COST TO
HELP MITIGATE THAT, ALSO,
SINGLE-FAMILY OWNERSHIP, MANY
OF YOU DO, MANY PEOPLE SPOKE
TONIGHT, THAT SHOULD NOT BE
CONSIDERED A RACIST LIFESTYLE,
PLEASE, IT SHOULD BE ACTUALLY
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO
PLAY THE DRUMS LOUDLY AT THEIR
HOMES WITH FOUR WALLS THAT YOU
DON'T HAVE TO SHARE WITH YOUR
NEIGHBOR AND ALSO AN
OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD WEALTH AND
ACCUMULATE AND WORK A LITTLE
HARD AND HAVE SOMETHING AS AN
ESTATE MISTAKE AS THEY GO TO
THEIR LIFESTYLES.
CIRC RESOURCES, WE SUPPORT THE
AMENDMENTS TO RETAIN THE
CHARACTER OF THE OLDER
BUILDINGS, THE OLDER BUILDINGS
OFTEN HAVE FLEXIBILITY FOR
GREATER VARIETY OF LIFESTYLES,
AND FINALLY WE SUPPORT ALL THE
GREEN AMENDMENTS, I'M GOING TO
READ A QUOTE FROM RICHARD BLUE
WHO'S GOING TO INFORM US ABOUT
WHY THOSE 200,000 TREES WILL
MATTER.
THE FUTURE BELONGS TO THE
NATURE SMART FAMILIES AND THE
PLITICAL LEADERS WHO DEVELOP A
DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE
TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF NATURE
AND HOW IT WORKS, BALANCE THE
VIRTUAL WITH THE REAL, THE MORE
HIGH-TECH WE BECOME THE MORE
NATURE WE NEED.
THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT, WE ARE DOWN TO
ASSUMING EVERYONE'S HERE, WE
HAVE ABOUT 23 SPEAKERS LEFT ON
THE LIST, THAT'S ABOUT 46
úMINUTES ORTH OF PUBLIC
COMMENT, SO, COMING IN STRONG
AT THAT PREDICTION OF ENDING AT
10:30 PM, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND
CONTINUE.
GARWIN LONG, REBECCA, PING.
>> GOOD EVENING MY NAME IS
GARWIN LONG, WE ARE THE OWNERS
OF THE, ON THE MHA PROPOSAL ,
I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE MHA,
AND WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU ,
THE COUNCILMEMBERS IN EVERY
MEMBER ON THE AGENDA FOR THE
HARD WORK THAT YOU HAVE BEEN
DOING.
HOWEVER, I WOULD LIKE TO POINT
OUT, THAT SOME AREAS MAY NEED
QUITE SPECIAL ATTENTION FOR
CHANGING THE ENVIRONMENT, FOR
EXAMPLE, OUR LOT IS SLATED TO
BE REZONED FROM SINGLE-FAMILY
ZONE, SINGLE-FAMILY 5000,
HOWEVER WE BELIEVE, AS WELL AS
DENSITY AND AFFORDABILITY, THE
REASON, OUR CORNER IS ADJACENT
TO MULTI-FAMILY AND COMMERCIAL
ZONE, A LOWRISE DESTINATION
OFFERS BETTER CONFESSION FROM
SINGLE-FAMILY TO COMMERCIAL,
BECAUSE IT WOULD AVOID ABRUPT
AND CERTAIN CHANGE ATMOSPHERE,
SECOND, OUR LAME RELEASES ON
THE BLUFF, A LOWRISE, WOULD BE
MORE CONDUCIVE TO LOWER THE
TOPOGRAPHY, ELIMINATING THE
STEEP SLOPE, ALSO IT WOULD
CONTINUE MORE GRADUAL TRANSITION
. THIRD, A LOWRISE DESTINATION
WILL ALLOW HIGH DENSITY, WITHIN
1.5 BLOCK WALKING DISTANCE TO
THE NEW CHANGE STATION, AND
LAST, THE VACANT PARCEL
DEVELOPMENT WILL NOT DISPLACE
ANY HOUSEHOLD.
THANK YOU.>> NEXTEP IS NEXT UP,
IS REBECCA.
REBECCA?
NOT HERE, 58B, PING.
FOLLOWING, WILL BE 60A JOHN
CARRILLO, FOLLOWING, WILL BE 59B
SYLVIA, I'M SORRY, I CAN'T MAKE
OUT ALL THE LETTERS IN THE LAST
NAME.
>> MY HUSBAND MENTIONED,
MENTIONED A FEW POINTS I'M THE
OWNER OF, WE HAVE OWNED THAT
LAND FOR MORE THAN 15 YEARS, I
SUPPORT IT BECAUSE IT'S A
VIABLE CITY, IT'S GROWING, I'M
ASKING FOR MORE ATTENTION ON
THE VACANT LAND DEVELOPMENT ON
THE MHA AREA BECAUSE, THOSE
WILL NOT CAUSE DISPLACEMENT, IT
ALSO HAS LESS IMPACT ON
EXISTING COMMUNITIES BECAUSE
INSTEAD, THEY WILL CREATE MORE
AFFORDABLE NEIGHBORHOODS,
ESPECIALLY FOR THE VACANT LAND
NEAR THE TRANSPORTATION, LIKE
LIGHT ARE FADING THE SHE
THE BLACKBERRY GROWS MUCH
FASTER THAN THE CITY AS I
UNDERSTAND.
I WILL THANK YOU AGAIN AND
ESPECIALLY THANK YOU FOR
TONIGHT, SO LATE, EVERYBODY
OFFER US THIS OPPORTUNITY.
>> THANK YOU, PING.
OKAY, NEXT UP IS 60 A, JOHN,
FOLLOWED BY 59 IS 60 A, JOHN,
FOLLOWED BY 50 9B, SYLVIA AND
THEN WE WILL HEAR FROM 60 A,
CHARLES ABLE.
>> I LIVE IN EAST FREMONT AND I
WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT PLEASE
DO SUPPORT FOR 16, ADOPT THE
AMENDMENT, WE ARE MAKING SOME
COMPROMISES ON THE PLAN AND WE
SEEM TO HAVE REACHED SOME KIND
OF RELATIVE EQUALITY BUT I
WOULD LIKE TO SAY THERE SOME
SERIOUS DEFECTS IN THE WHOLE
THING AND THAT IS, IT IS TOO
SLANTED TOWARDS DEVELOPERS WHO
THROW THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AT
ELECTORAL CAMPAIGNS, AND THERE
IS ONE WAY OF SUPPLYING CHEAP
HOUSING, THAT IS THE ACCESSORY
UNIT THING, AND YOU COULD HAVE
IT CONSIDERABLY CHEAPER. AS FAR
AS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BEING A
NEST OF RACIST ELECTED I WOULD
LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT MINORITY
GROUPS ARE LEAVING IN DROVES
BECAUSE THEY CAN'T LEAVE THE
LIVE THERE ANYMORE.
THE TAXES GO UP, SO THE RENTS
GO UP.
AS FAR AS YOU SHOULD SET UP A
PROGRAM THAT WOULD HELP PEOPLE
THAT WANT TO PUT ACCESSORY
UNITS, OUR ACCESSORY UNIT IS
INCREDIBLY CHEAPER THAN ALL THE
STUFF THAT HAS COME IN AND I
WOULD SAY MY MOST SUPPORT IS
FOR GENERALLY LOW COST HOUSING,
USING PUBLIC LAND AND TURNING
IT INTO LOW-COST HOUSING.
THE WHOLE ISSUE OF MONEY
LAUNDERING SHOULD NOT BE
WRITTEN OFF AS SOME DEMANDED
CONSPIRACY THEORY, THERE IS A
WHOLE ARTICLE IN THE NEW YORKER
ABOUT HOW RUSSIAN KLEPTOCRATIC
ARE INVESTING MASSIVELY IN REAL
ESTATE IN THIS COUNTRY AS A WAY
OF WRITING OFF ILL-GOTTEN GAINS
, SO HOW DO YOU HELP PEOPLE WHO
ARE GETTING ORDER OLDER AND
CANNOT AFFORD THESE
ASTRONOMICAL TAXES AND HELP THEM
TO PUT IN AN ACCESSORY UNIT?
>> THANK YOU, JOHN.
59, B, SYLVIA?
NO SYLVIA?
60 B, CHARLES?
HI.
>> I AM SPEAKING TODAY AGAINST
THE AMENDMENT TO REDUCE
ABSORBING TO RSL, SPECIFICALLY
WITHIN DISTRICT 1 DASH THREE,
THE AREA BOUNDED BY GENESEE
OREGON, 41st AND 37.
SINCE THE FALL OF 2016, THE
VERY FIRST PROPOSED MHA ZONING
MAP, THE CITY RELEASE STATED
THE BEST USE FOR THIS AREA
WOULD BE LR TWO.
IN ALL SUBSEQUENT MAPS, THE
CITY MAINTAINED THE ZONING
BECAUSE THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS
PERFECTLY SITUATED BETWEEN
COMMERCIAL AND TRANSIT
DISTRICTS ALONG BOTH CALIFORNIA
AND ALASKAN WAY AND IT IS ONE
OF THE MOST LOGICAL PLACES FOR
SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED DENSITY
IN THE ENTIRE DISTRICT.
UNFORTUNATELY THIS AMENDMENT
HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH
AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR WHAT IS
BEST FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IN COUNCILMEMBERS HERBALS OWN
RECENT BLOG POST SHE
ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS WOULD BE
TO LEGALLY COMPENSATE
HOMEOWNERS IN THE EVENT THAT
THE PROPERTIES ARE TAKEN BY
EMINENT DOMAIN DURING THE
PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION OF THE
LIGHT RAIL EXTENSION.
THIS AMENDMENT INTENTIONALLY
LIMITS THE VALUE BEFORE THE
TAKING, THIS IS THE EQUIVALENT
OF INSIDER TRAINING AND IF THAT
WERE NOT ENOUGH, A LIGHT RAIL
ROUTE HAS NOT EVEN BEEN
SELECTED SO THIS AMENDMENT
EFFECTIVELY STEERS THE TRAIN
TOWARD THESE HOME AND MAKING
THEM SEEM LESS VALUABLE THAN
THE CITIES ON MHA ACKNOWLEDGES
THEY REALLY ARE.
THIS AMENDMENT GOES FAR BEHIND
THE PURVIEW. IF SOUND TRANSIT
CHOOSES TO BUILD OLD A VIBRANT
COMMUNITY WITH MAXIMUM GROWTH
POTENTIAL, THIS IS THE RIGHT
UNDER EMINENT DOMAIN BUT THEY
SHOULD UNDERSTAND THE TRUE COST
OF THAT DECISION.
PLEASE RESPECT YEARS OF
ANALYSIS, COMMUTE HE COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT AND THE PROCESS.
ALLOW THE TRANSIT PROCESS TO
PROCEED FAIRLY AND SEPARATELY.
MHA IS GOOD FOR THE CITY BUT
THIS PORTION OF THE AMENDMENT IS
CONTRARY AND CAPRICIOUS,
LEGALLY DUBIOUS AND HAS NO
PLACE IN THE LEGISLATION.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, 61: A IS LINNC
MAHONEY.
LINNC?
OKAY, 60 1B ARE YOU 62, B?
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND
SERVING SEATTLE, I'M SURE THE
OTHER THREE COUNSEL PERSONS ARE
WATCHING ON TV AS WELL.
THE DECISION YOU MAKE IN MID-
MARCH IS GOING TO IMPACT
SEATTLE FOR DECADES SO IT IS A
VERY IMPORTANT DECISION AND
COUNCILPERSON SHAW FROM DISTRICT
7, WE WILL MISS YOU, SO THANK
YOU FOR BEING HERE.
MY SPOUSE AND I LIVE IN A
MULTIFAMILY HOUSING UNIT, WE
ENJOY IT, BUT WE WILL FOREVER
MISS THE NINE TREES THAT USED
TO BE RIGHT ON THE LOT NEXT TO
US THAT WERE REMOVED BY A
SINGLE DEVELOPMENT IN 2017.
WE NOW LOOK UPON FOUR THREE-
STORY REFRIGERATOR BOXES. I
GUESS THEY ARE CONSIDERED
HOMES, BUT THERE WOULD BE MORE
OF THOSE TYPE OF HOMES AND LESS
OF TREES AS WE LOOK INTO THE
MHA.
THERE ARE THREE MAJOR FLAWS, IF
IT'S NOT TOO LATE, THERE ARE
THREE MAJOR FLAWS I WOULD LIKE
THE CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER
WITH THE MHA.
ONE IS WE CAN HAVE BOTH DENSITY
AND OPEN SPACE WITH OUR PLANS.
RIGHT NOW THE MHA DOESN'T DO
VERY MUCH WITH OPEN SPACE.
TREES MATTER, HABITATS MATTER.
BEFORE YOU HEARD MR. MICHAEL
MARSH TALK ABOUT THE HABITAT
AND I'M GOING TO LEAVE A MAP OF
THAT.
RIGHT NOW THIS AREA IS BEING OF
SOUND OUTSIDE OF THE URBAN
VILLAGE BUT IS STILL ON WEST
GOVERNMENT WAY AND THERE WERE
INCREASES IN THE HEIGHTS RIGHT
WITHIN THAT HABITAT, SO I ASK
IS THAT ANYTHING OUTSIDE OF
URBAN VILLAGE WHICH IS ALSO
BEING OF ZONED WITH THE MHA,
SERIOUSLY LOOK AT THOSE AREAS
THAT ARE ALSO WITHIN EHA
BUFFERS.
ONE OF HER TO IS THE MHA ALLOWS
20 TO 30% INCREASES HOWEVER IT
DOES NOT REQUIRE THE SAME
AMOUNT OF INCREASE FOR THE
NUMBER OF DWELLINGS SO THEY CAN
JUST BUILD YOUR TOWNHOUSES AND
BIGGER UNITS.
NUMBER THREE SINCE I'M OUT OF
TIME IS FEES SHOULD BE MORE
THAN WHAT THEY ARE.>> THANK
YOU, DAVID.
63: A IS MARK HOLLAND.
OKAY, MARK HOLLAND WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY 63: B DEBORAH LEE
GOETSCH.
OKAY, 63: A.
>> I'M AGAINST MHA AND I WANT
TO JUST TRASH THIS WHOLE THING
ACTUALLY.
I'M FROM BEACON HILL AND I'VE
LIVED THERE ABOUT 20 YEARS AND
I'M ALSO FROM THE CITY OF
CHICAGO WHERE BELIEVE ME THEY
DO PLANNING MUCH DIFFERENTLY
THAN THE WAY YOU ARE DOING IT
HERE SO I JUST WANT TO GENERALLY
ADDRESS THIS, DENSITY IS NOT A
MORAL VALUE, BUT HONESTY IS.
UP ZONING IS NOT A MORAL ASK,
BUT TELLING THE TRUTH IS AND
THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO ADDRESS
THE LIE THAT UNDERPINS MHA.
THAT LIE IS THAT 70% OF SEATTLE
'S SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSING, THAT
IS A LIE.
IT IS ACTUALLY 35%.
THE TRUTH IS, PARKS, OPEN
SPACES, GREEN SPACES,
SIDEWALKS, GUTTERS, ALLEYS, ARE
ALL ZONED SINGLE-FAMILY AND
THAT'S WHERE YOU ARE GETTING
THIS NUMBER AND YOU NEED TO
STOP TELLING THE SLY, BECAUSE
IT IS RIDICULOUS, ALL YOU NEED
TO DO IS LOOK AT A MAP.
WHY WOULD THEY LIE?
FOR GREED.
WHOSE GREED?
DENSITY VULTURES.
DENSITY BOLSHEVIKS, THEY'RE
COMING TO TOWN AND THEY ARE
GOING TO BURN YOUR SINGLE-
FAMILY HOUSE TO THE GROUND.
THEY'LL PUT UP A HUGE BUILDING
IN ITS PLACE WHERE YOU ARE ONLY
GOING TO GET 65 FT.B2 OF SPACE.
DENSITY BOLSHEVIKS DON'T CARE
WHAT YOU THINK, THEY WILL CHOP
DOWN THE TREES, MAN, THEY WILL
DRIVE YOU TO DRINK.
DENSITY BOLSHEVIKS WON'T LEAVE
YOU ALONE UNTIL YOU ARE LIVING
IN A BOX AND CHEWING A BONE.
DENSITY BOLSHEVIKS WISH FOR PIE-
IN-THE-SKY.
THEIR DREAMS ARE TOO SMALL AND
THE BUILDING TOO HIGH.
DENSITY BOLSHEVIKS, PEOPLE LIKE
TO LIVE IN HOUSES AND THAT'S
THE WAY IT IS GOING TO STAY.
THANKS.
>> 63: B IS DEBORAH.
DEBORAH?
NOT YOU COUNCILMEMBER WAR AS.
IT IS DEBORAH WITH A H. 64: A
CHRISTIANNE KLEIN? 64: A? 64 60
4B? WE HAVE A WARRIOR WHO WAS
WILLING TO STAY HERE TILL 2 AM,
I'M NOT SURE WOULD'VE BEEN HERE
WITH YOU.
I APPRECIATE THE SPIRIT.
>> HELLO, FRIENDS.
>> GIVE ME A SECOND.
65 60 5A, LET ME DO A QUICK
ROLL CALL.
EDWARD KING'S MEN, STILL HERE?
NO?
HOW ABOUT JOYCE FERRELL, 66: A?
PAULETTE MURPHY, 65: B? 66: B,
DANIEL SCHWAB EAT?
OKAY, PRESENT.
HOW ABOUT SUSAN WAND OR WARD?
72: A? 73: A, ANDREW SING?
NO 73: A? 71: B? THERE YOU ARE.
72: B, NICHOLAS CAMACHO?
73: B, EVE KELLER?
OKAY, SO WE'VE GOT ONE, TWO,
THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, FOLKS
TO GO INCLUDING WINNING, SO
PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU LONG ENDURING
COUNCILMEMBERS AND LONG
ENDURING COMPATRIOTS HERE.
I AM WINNIE SPERRY, I HAVE
LIVED ON CAPITOL HILL FOR 49
YEARS AS A RENTER, A HOMEOWNER,
A PARENT, A MEMBER OF MY
COMMUNITY, A LUCKY PERSON, A
TEACHER, AND SO FORTH, AND I
HAVE SEEN A LOT HAPPENED WITH
LAND-USE IN THIS CITY.
BUT ANYWAY, LET'S HOP ALONG AS
THE EVENING HAS EXTENDED, I
HAVE REDUCED MY WORDS, HERE.
THE FIRST THING I WANT TO SAY
IS I SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER
HERBALS ANTI-DISPLACEMENT
AMENDMENTS.
I SUPPORT ONE FOR ONE
REPLACEMENT OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, TEAR ONE DOWN, PUT
ANOTHER AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNIT
UP.
I SUPPORT THE CLUB BACK
PROVISION AND THERE'S ONE MORE
THING, LET'S DOWNSIZE THE
UNIVERSITY AVENUE, LET'S DO
THAT.
OKAY, NOW I WOULD LIKE TO SAY
THIS, I AM FROM THE 60s AND IN
THE 60s WE PRACTICED
PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY.
WHAT I HAVE SEEN WITH MHA AND
THE GRAND BARGAIN, THE GRAND
BARGAIN IS A FLAWED, FALSE
PROMISE.
IT WAS PUT TOGETHER,
ESSENTIALLY BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
, HERE IS A VERY GOOD STORY
ABOUT HOW THIS HAPPENED, IT IS
ON THE NET, YOU CAN GET IT, IT
WAS FROM THE A SEATTLE TIMES
OCTOBER 7 OCTOBER 7, 2015.
IT WAS PUT TOGETHER BY A FEW
PEOPLE, EX-MAYOR ED MURRAY,
COUNCILMEMBER MICHAEL BRIAN,
AND A GO TO LAWYER, VERY
úSKILLED, CAPABLE MAN NAMED JAC
McCULLOUGH.
>> THANK YOU, WINNIE, YOUR TIME
IS UP, UNFORTUNATELY.
>> TO THE DEVELOPERS LOVE,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I STAYED SO LONG, I GOT TO SAY
SO LITTLE.
>> TWO MINUTES GOES BY VERY
QUICKLY, I CAN APPRECIATE THAT.
66: B, DANIEL?
AND THEN DANIEL WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY 71: B, GLENN
BOLLMAN.
AND THEN WE WILL HEAR FROM 72: A
SUSAN WAND AND 72: B, NICHOLAS
CAMACHO.
>> THANK YOU FOR MUCH.
MY NAME IS DANIEL, THAT YOU FOR
BEING HERE SO LATE.
I'M KIND OF -- I AM A RESIDENT
OF CROWN HILL DISTRICT 6 AND
I'M A HOMEOWNER AND A
PROPRIETOR OF SEVERAL SMALL
BUSINESSES AND I SUPPORT
MICHAEL BRIAN'S PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS. I STARTED MY SMALL
BUSINESS OUT OF MY 1940S TO
BEDROOM 720 FT.B2 GLOW AND I'M
NOT THE ONLY ONE OF MY
NEIGHBORS WITH A THRIVING SMALL
BUSINESS IN THE COMMUNITY.
I CURRENTLY LEAVE MY COMMUTE
NEIGHBORHOOD EVERYONE DAY TO
COMMUTE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO
BALLARD WHERE I LEASING OFFICE
SPACE.
IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE MORE
ROOM IN MY BACKYARD TO CREATE
SOMETHING.
CREATING A DYNAMIC BUSINESS
CORE IS A CRITICAL TO AN
ENGAGED IN VIBRANT COMMUNITY.
FOCUSING DEVELOPMENT ON THE
MAIN ARTERIAL ACHIEVES BOTH
DENSITY AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR
BUSINESSES.
OVER THE 14 YEARS MY PARTNER
KAREN AND I HAVE LIVED IN CROWN
HILL, WE HAVE WATCHED SEVERAL
SMALL BUSINESSES AS THEY WERE
DISPLACED BY DEVELOPMENT AND WE
ARE CONCERNED ABOUT LOSING MORE
OF THEM.
WE DON'T WANT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
TO BECOME A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE
JUST COME TO SLEEP, BUT GO
ELSEWHERE FOR SHOPPING AND
ENTERTAINMENT, CREATING A
COMMUNITY HEART WILL OFFER
REAT NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR
SMALL BUSINESSES AND EVEN FOR
BIGGER BUSINESSES.
AS A MEMBER BRIAN HAS
PARTICIPATED IN SEVERAL
NEIGHBORHOOD WALKS WHICH WE
APPRECIATE COMING OUT INTO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD IN ORDER TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND HOW TO MAKE THIS
HAPPEN.
HE LISTENS TO THE NEIGHBORS ON
THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND
WE BELIEVE HIS AMENDMENTS WOULD
HELP TO ACHIEVE THE GOAL OF A
VIBRANT WALKABLE COMMUNITY AND
BUSINESS DISTRICT IN CROWN HILL
AND THE ADJACENT AREAS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
71: B IS GLENN, FOLLOWED BY 72:
A, SUSAN WAND FOLLOWED BY 72: B
AND NICHOLAS CAMACHO.
>> I WANT TO THANK ALL THE
COUNCILWOMAN FOR BEING HERE SO
LATE TONIGHT AND I'M GLAD WE
HAVE A MAJORITY HERE.
SORRY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE
PYLON OF MIDDLE-AGED WHITE MEN,
>> YOU JUST CAN'T HELP IT.
>> NOT MUCH I CAN DO ABOUT IT.
I AM A HOMEOWNER AND A PARENT
WITH TWO KIDS, I CANNOT AFFORD
THE HOME I BOUGHT THREE YEARS
AGO, I THINK MHA MUST BE PASSED
, WILL IT SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS?
NO.
A LOT OF PEOPLE RAISED ISSUES
THAT IT WON'T SOLVE, BUT DON'T
LET THAT MEAN DON'T PASS IT, IT
JUST MEANS WE'VE GOT TO KEEP
GOING AND DO MORE.
I CAME HERE ON THE 62 WHICH
GOES TO THE HEART OF
WALLINGFORD, I DON'T LIVE THERE
BUT I THINK IT'S A GREAT PLACE
TO HAVE MORE HOUSING.
MY KIDS WILL NEVER AFFORD TO
LIVE IN THE CITY, I HAVE A 16-
YEAR-OLD SON, THERE IS NO WAY
UNLESS WE MAKE SOME BIG CHANGES.
WILL AFFORDABLE HOUSING BE TORN
DOWN WITH MHA?
YES, IT WILL, IT IS BEING TORN
DOWN NOW THOUGH, IT IS BEING
REPLACED WITH MANSIONS AND I
WOULD RATHER SEE SOME EXPENSIVE
CONDOS THAN MILLION PLUS DOLLAR
MANSIONS. IT'S NOT PERFECT, BUT
IT IS BETTER THAN DOING NOTHING.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT
THAT I HAVE A SINGLE-FAMILY
HOME, BUT IT IS NOT WHAT
EVERYONE HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT
HERE IS A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME.
I HOPE YOU CAN KEEP IN MIND THAT
FAMILIES CAN LIVE IN THINGS
OTHER THAN DETACHED HOUSES.
I AM A PARENT WITH TWO KIDS, I
LIVE IN A MULTIFAMILY UNIT IN
THE EAST GREEN LAKE
NEIGHBORHOOD WHICH IS NOT
SINGLE-FAMILY, BUT IT IS
ADJACENT TO SINGLE-FAMILY.
I'M WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF
ROOSEVELT LIGHT RAIL STATION
AND WE NEED TO GET RID OF
SINGLE-FAMILY ZONING.
IT'S RACIST IN NATURE AND I'M
TIRED OF COMING HERE AND ASKING
EVERYONE.
>> THANK YOU, GLENN.
72: A IS SUSAN FOLLOWED BY 72:
B, NICHOLAS PITT
>> HELLO, I AM SUSAN WARD.
EVERYBODY IN OUR CITY APPLAUDS
THE GOAL OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS ALSO TO
MEAN AFFORDABLE HOMES, IT TAKES
MORE THAN A BOXFUL OF
APARTMENTS TO DO THAT. TO BE A
GOOD HOME IN A CITY, MOBILITY
IS REQUIRED, ACCESS TO TRANSIT,
GROCERY STORES TO CHILDCARE, TO
PARKS AND TREES AND CHILDREN'S
PLAYGROUNDS.
WITHOUT THESE AMENITIES, AND
UNLIVABLE AREA OF RESULTS, NOT
A NEIGHBORHOOD.
IF YOU DO NOT PROTECT EXISTING
OLDER AFFORDABLE HOUSES AND
APARTMENTS IN NEIGHBORHOODS AND
WHAT REPLACES THEM ALSO
REPLACES THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN
THEM.
THAT HOUSING IS NOT BEING
REPLACED BY ANYTHING THEY CAN
AFFORD.
IF YOU DO BUILD SOMETHING THEY
CAN AFFORD, BUT THEN FAILED TO
PRIORITIZE DISPLACED RESIDENTS,
THEY MAY BE PERMANENTLY
DISPLACED.
ONE IDEA FOR PRESERVING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING HAS BEEN TO
CREATE A LOW-COST LOAN FUND FOR
OWNERS OF OLDER AFFORDABLE
HOUSING.
YOU CAN ALSO CONSIDER
ADJUSTMENTS TO THEIR PROPERTY
TAXES IN AREAS WHERE TAXES HAVE
SHOT UP.
IF YOU ALLOW DEVELOPERS TO
BUILD ONLY TWO BEDROOM
APARTMENTS AS A FAMILY UNITS,
YOU ELIMINATE FAMILIES WITH
CHILDREN OF MORE THAN ONE
GENDER OR YOU FORCE THEM TO
SEEK NEW HOUSING AS THEIR
CHILDREN GROW.
IF YOU ELIMINATE OR REDUCE
BUILDING SETBACKS TO SQUEEZE IN
MORE UNITS, YOU CREATE CANYONS
WITH NO SOFTENING GREEN SPACES,
WITH LESS PRIVACY AND STREETS
WITH LESS DAYLIGHT.
IF YOU DO NOT PROTECT TREES
WITH A MORE STRINGENT TREE
CODE, WE WILL LOSE HUNDREDS OF
TREES IN EVERY PART OF TOWN.
TREES WHICH WILL TAKE DECADES
TO BEGIN TO REPLACE.
MAINTAIN PROTECTIONS FOR
EXCEPTIONAL TREES AND FOR
GROVES, MANDATE REPLACEMENT OF
A RATIO OF GREATER THAN 1 TO 1
AND PRIORITIZE NATIVE SPECIES
AND TREES WHICH WILL REACH THE
SAME SIZE.
IF YOU DO NOT MANDATE THE
TREES, PARKS, AND PLAYGROUNDS
BE PART OF EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD
TO BE ABSORBED AND THAT
RESIDENTS BE WITHIN A 10 MINUTE
WALK OF TRANSIT, CHILDCARE,
PARKS, YOU ARE SIMPLY CREATING
GHETTOS.
>> THANK YOU.
72: B IS NICHOLAS AND THE LAST
PERSON SIGNED UP ON THE LIST IS
73: B, EVE.
>> AT EVENING, COUNSEL.
THANK YOU FOR THIS HEARING.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF
THE MHA PROPOSAL.
>> YOU WANT TO USE THE OTHER
MICROPHONE, YOU CAN SEND UP
STRAIGHTER AND YOU WILL FEEL
BETTER.
>> THANK YOU, MUCH BETTER.
>> I AM HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR
OF THE MANDATORY HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY BECAUSE THE
SIMPLE FACT IS SEATTLE HAS BEEN
GEOGRAPHICALLY CONSTRAINED WITH
WATER ON BOTH SIDES AND A LOT
OF SEPALS IN THE MIDDLE SO
THERE IS NO ROOM TO GROW
OUTWARD, WE HAVE TO GROW UP,
THAT IS BASIC TOPOGRAPHY.
OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS,
MEDIAN HOME PRICES HAVE MORE
THAN DOUBLED IN THE ONLY WAY TO
TAME THIS DEMAND FOR HOUSING
WITHIN THE CITY IS TO INCREASE
DENSITY AND SUPPLY.
WITH INCREASE DENSITY OF COURSE
YOU GET EXTRA BENEFITS OF
PEOPLE LIVE CLOSER TO THEIR
HOMES, THEIR SCHOOLS, ALL THE
THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO
THEM AND WITHOUT MANDATING
AFFORDABILITY, THESE BUILDINGS
ARE GOING TO COME WHETHER WE
LIKE THEM OR NOT, THAT IS JUST
A FACT.
THAT'S BASIC ECONOMICS PEOPLE
WILL LIVE YOUR THEY WILL BUILD.
BY REQUIRING DEVELOPERS TO SET
ASIDE MONEY AND BUILD
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE MAKE
SURE IT IS INCLUSIVE TO
EVERYBODY AND BY ABSORBING WE
GET RID OF THE EXCLUSIVITY OF
SINGLE-FAMILY ZONING
REQUIREMENTS.
THAT IS IT.>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
LAST SPEAKER SIGNED UP ON MY
LIST IS EVE KELLER.
73: B. LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT
LEAST.>> MAY BE THE BEST.
HELLO, COUNCILMEMBERS, THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIM.
MY NAME IS EVE KELLER, I'M
PRESIDENT OF THE MOUNT BAKER
HUB ALLIANCE, A VOLUNTEER GROUP
FUNDED BY THE ONLY IN SEATTLE
GRANTS, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
THE MISSION OF OUR ORGANIZATION
IS TO HELP CREATE A VITAL TOWN
CENTER FOCUSED AROUND THE MOUNT
BAKER LIGHT RAIL STATION TO
SUPPORT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES,
AND TO ENHANCE THE SAFETY AND
LIVABILITY OF THIS CROSSROAD
RIDGE UNDERUTILIZED TOWN
CENTER.
PLEASE SUPPORT THE DISTRICT 2
AMENDMENT TO BRING A PARK TO
OUR TOWN CENTER.
NEXT WEEK THE HUB ALLIANCE WILL
BE WELCOMING MERCY HOUSING, OUR
NEW NEIGHBOR TO A MEET AND
GREET EVENT FOR OUR LOCAL
BUSINESS OWNED -- BUSINESS
OWNERS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS
ORGANIZATION.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 4:57
PM, YOU ARE ALL INVITED.
HERE ARE YOUR INVITATIONS.
THE FAMILIES THAT WILL MOVE
INTO MERCY HOUSING'S NEWEST LOW-
INCOME HOUSING DEVELOPMENT WHEN
IT IS FINISHED BEING BUILT IN
THE NEXT YEAR NEED THIS PARK.
AS DO THE RESIDENTS OF THE
ALREADY BUILT ART SPACE LOW-
INCOME HOUSING BUILDING IN THE
LIGHT RAIL PLAZA.
THE HUB ALLIANCE WILL BE
PARTNERING WITH SEATTLE
GREENWAYS, FRIENDS OF MOUNT
BAKER TOWN CENTER AND MERCY
HOUSING, THE FIRST MEMBERS OF A
GROWING COALITION TO REMIND THE
CITY OF SEATTLE TO BREATHE LIFE
INTO A LONG FORGOTTEN
ACCESSIBLE MOUNT BAKER PROJECT.
WE ARE ACTIVATING, SO PLEASE BE
PREPARED.
THE TIME IS RIGHT, AND WE ARE
READY.
WE HAVE ALREADY HAVE A PARK
DESIGNATED TO BE IN THE
ACCESSIBLE MOUNT BAKER PROJECT
AND LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN THIS
TIME.
PLEASE ACCEPT THE AMENDMENT TO
THE MOUNT BAKER FOR DISTRICT TO
USE MOUNT BAKER PARK HISTORIC
DISTRICT, LET'S HOLD THIS
DISTRICT TOGETHER IN ITS
ENTIRETY AND PLEASE DO NOT
UPSELL NET DISTRICT.
THE BEAUTY OF AN HISTORIC
DISTRICT IS IRREPLACEABLE.
DENSITY IS HAPPENING ELSEWHERE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
OKAY, SO EVEN THE LAST PERSON
ON MY LIST, IS THERE ANYONE WHO
IS THE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT
DIDN'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
SIGN UP BUT IS WANTING TO
PROVIDE US WITH PUBLIC
TESTIMONY?
ALL RIGHT, NOBODY IS RUSHING
TOWARD THE MIC, SO WE ARE GOING
TO GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE
PUBLIC HEARING ON COUNSEL BILLS
119443, 119444 AND 119445.
BEFORE WE ADJOURN I JUST WANTED
TO GIVE ANOTHER HEARTFELT THANK
YOU TO NOT JUST ALL OF YOU WHO
CAME AND PROVIDED US WITH
PUBLIC TESTIMONY AND STUCK IT
OUT UNTIL 9:50 5 PM -- 9:55 PM.
WE STILL HAVE QUITE A FEW
PEOPLE HERE SO THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR BEING ENGAGED IN YOUR
CITY AND COMING TO CHAT WITH US
AND SHARE WITH US YOUR
PERSPECTIVE ON THIS REALLY
IMPORTANT PIECES OF
LEGISLATION.
WE MAY NOT ALL AGREE ON THE
ULTIMATE OUTCOME AND I RESPECT
THAT AND APPRECIATE THAT, BUT I
ALSO APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO JUST LISTEN TO EACH OTHER.
LISTENING DOESN'T NECESSARILY
MEAN WILL AGREE 100% BUT IT
DOES MEAN WE HAVE MADE A GOOD-
FAITH EFFORT TO LISTEN TO EACH
OTHER'S CONCERNS AND TRY OUR
BEST TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE
ISSUES.
I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL
THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE
COUNCILMEMBER OFFICES INCLUDING
MY OWN THAT HELPED STAFF US LATE
INTO THE EVENING, BUT A SPECIAL
THANK YOU TO ANSWER MEMBER ROB
JOHNSON STAFF WHO DID A LOT OF
THE ORGANIZING AND HEAVY
LIFTING, THEY ARE ALL IN THE
BACK, REALLY, THANK YOU ALL SO
MUCH FOR MAKING MY JOB AS THE
CHAIR HERE THIS EVENING IN
PLACE OF COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON
SO MUCH EASIER, WE REALLY
APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR WORK AND
YOUR DEDICATION THIS EVENING.
LASTLY, JUST WANT TO THANK OUR
CLERK WHO HAS ALSO BEEN WITH US
ALL NIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND TO OUR SECURITY AT CITY
HALL, THANK YOU ALSO FOR BEING
WITH US, AND AGAIN, ONE LAST
REMINDER, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT
YOU ARE RESPECTFUL ON YOUR WAY
OUT OF THE BUILDING AS OUR
SHELTER HAS BEEN OPEN NOW FOR
ABOUT 30 MINUTES OR SO, SO
PLEASE BE MINDFUL ON YOUR WAY
OUT.
TAKE YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR
STICKING IT OUT.
>> THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR FOR
YOUR WOK.
>> MY PLEASURE, THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE, I KNOW WE ALL HAD A
LONG DAY.
THAT BEING SAID, THIS CONCLUDES
THE FEBRUARY 21 HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY MEETING AT OUR
NEXT MEETING WILL BE MONDAY,
FEBRUARY 25, THAT IS MONDAY,
FEBRUARY 25 AT 2:30 OR THE
CONCLUSION OF THE REGULARLY
SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING
HERE AT CITY HALL IN COUNCIL
CHAMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING, WE ARE
ADJOURNED.