YOU.
>>> GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY.
SORRY FOR THE DELAY.
THOSE WATCHING ON THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL AND WONDERING WHAT IS
GOING ON, WE ARE TRYING TO GET
THE MICROPHONES READY.
WELCOME TO THE SUSTAINABILITY
AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
IT IS TUESDAY, JUNE 11th, 2019.
IT IS 5:30 P.M.
MY NAME IS MIKE O'BRIEN.
I AM JOINED BY MY COLLEAGUES.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
IT IS A LOVELY DAY OUTSIDE.
WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING.
WE HAVE ONE AGENDA ITEM TODAY.
WE WILL BE DISCUSSING AN
ORDINANCE AND TAKING PUBLIC
COMMENT ON THAT AS PART OF A
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE.
WE ARE GOING TO START THE
EVENING BY DOING A BRIEF
PRESENTATION AND AN OVERVIEW.
I WILL INVITE ALIE FORWARD OF
THE LEGISLATION BEFORE US.
WHEN THE PRESENTATION IS
COMPLETE, WE WILL PROCEED
THROUGH THE SIGN-UP SHEETS AND
EVERYONE WILL HAVE UP TO TWO
MINUTES FOR TESTIMONY.
I WILL REPEAT THESE RULES WHEN
WE GET THERE.
IF FOLKS WANT TO COME AS A
GROUP, YOU ARE WELCOME TO COME
UP TOGETHER.
AND THE GROUP COLLECTIVELY
WOULD HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO
SPEAK.
YOU CAN SHARE IT ACROSS THE
GROUP OR WHATEVER YOU WANT.
YOU CAN PARTICIPATE IN A GROUP
OR INDIVIDUALLY.
YOU CANNOT DO BOTH.
YOU HAVE TO DECIDE IF YOU WANT
TO BE PART OF A GROUP OR SPEAK
INDIVIDUALLY.
WITH THAT, I WILL GO AHEAD AND
READ THE AGENDA ITEM.
BEING STAFFED TODAY BY A LOT OF
GREAT STAFF.
KELLY IS CLERKING THE MEETING
BUT HER VOICE IS OUT.
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE'S
COUNSEL BILL 119554.
ORDINANCE RELATED TO LAND USE
AND ZONING.
AMENDING SECTIONS 23.44 THOUGHT
014, 22 THOUGHT 44.017, 20 3.
44.020, 20 3. 44.041, 20 3. 45
45.545, 20 3. 84A.002, 20 3.
84A.03 TO, 20 3. 84A.038 OF THE
SEATTLE AMINO CIVIL CODE TO
REMOVE BARRIERS TO THE CREATION
OF ATTACHED AND DETACHED
ACCESSOR DWELLING UNITS AND
ADD A FLOOR AREA RATIO
REQUIREMENT AND SINGULAR --
IN CERTAIN SINGLE-FAMILY ZONES.
I WILL ASK YOU TO INTRODUCE
YOURSELF AND THEN WE WILL JUMP
INTO THE PRESENTATION.
>> COUNSEL CENTRAL STAFF.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE
AND THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR
WORK ON THIS.
>> I WILL START WITH A SLIGHT
I ALWAYS START WITH SO WE ARE
ALL ON THE SAME PAGE IN WHAT WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT.
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS OFTEN
REFERRED TO AS DADU'S, ADU'S.
BACKYARD COTTAGE OR CARRIAGE
HOUSE, ATTACHED ADU'S,
APARTMENTS, ET CETERA.
ATTACHED ARE THOSE THAT ARE
PART OF THE MAIN HOUSE AND
DETACHED ARE A STRUCTURE
SOMEWHERE ELSE ON THE LOT.
SO TONIGHT I WILL PROVIDE A
BRIEF OVERVIEW OF COUNSEL BILL
119554 THAT WAS INTRODUCED
YESTERDAY THAT INTRODUCES
COUNCILMEMBER MIKE O'BRIEN'S
LEGISLATION.
AS I WALK THROUGH SOME OF THE
SECTIONS OF THE PROPOSAL THAT
DIFFER FROM WHAT HAS BEEN
PRESENTED IN PREVIOUS MEETINGS,
THE SLIDES THAT HAVE A LIGHT
GREEN BACKGROUND, SOME PEOPLE
HAVE CALLED THAT BLUE.
IT LOOKS LIKE GREEN TO ME.
I WILL DESCRIBE A FEW POTENTIAL
AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN
IDENTIFIED BY COUNCILMEMBERS TO
DATE.
THERE WILL BE MORE DISCUSSION
AND A VOTE ON THOSE AT THE NEXT
COMMITTEE MEETING ON THE 18th.
THEN WE WILL MOVE INTO THE
PUBLIC HEARING.
AND THEN AS I DESCRIBED, THE
NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO DISCUSS A
POTENTIAL AMENDMENT AND
POTENTIALLY VOTE ON THOSE
AMENDMENTS AND THE LEGISLATION
AT THE JUNE 18th MEETING.
AND THE EARLIEST THAT THE
COUNCIL WOULD TAKE FINAL ACTION
WOULD BE JULY 1st.
>> THE PROPOSAL WOULD
INCREASE THE NUMBER OF
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS
ALLOWED ON A LOT TO TWO.
EITHER TWO ATTACHED ACCESSORY
DWELLING UNITS OR ONE ATTACHED
AND TWO DETACHED.
THE PROPOSAL IS SLIGHTLY
MODIFIED FROM THE PREVIOUS
ITERATIONS.
AND THAT THERE IS NOW A
REQUIREMENT THAT IN ORDER TO
ADD THE SECOND ADU, THE
STRUCTURE WOULD HAVE TO EITHER
MEET A GREEN BUILDING STANDARD
OR BE AFFORDABLE TO HOUSEHOLDS
MAKING LESS THAN 80% OF THE
AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
THE MAXIMUM HOUSEHOLD SIZE.
TODAY, NOT MORE THAN EIGHT
UNRELATED PEOPLE CAN LIVE ON A
LOT IN A SINGLE-FAMILY ZONE.
THAT IS REGARDLESS OF WHETHER
OR NOT IT IS A MAIN HOUSE OR A
MAIN HOUSE AND AN ACCESSORY
DWELLING UNIT.
THE PROPOSAL WOULD ALLOW UP TO
12 UNRELATED PEOPLE ON THE WHAT
IF YOU HAVE TWO ACCESSORY
DWELLING UNITS.
STOP ME IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.
THERE ARE A FEW CHANGES TO THE
MINIMUM LOT SIZE AND THE
MAXIMUM SQUARE FOOTAGE FOR A
DETACHED ACCESSORY DWELLING
UNIT.
TODAY YOU CANNOT BUILD A
DETACHED ACCESSORY DWELLING
UNIT ON LOTS THAT ARE LESS THAN
4000 SQUARE FEET.
THE PROPOSAL WOULD REDUCE THAT
TO 3200 SQUARE FEET.
AND IT WOULD INCREASE THE
MAXIMUM SIZE OF ACCESSORY
DWELLING UNITS TO 1000 SQUARE
FEET.
HEIGHT LIMITS FOR THE DETACHED
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS.
THERE ARE MINOR MODIFICATIONS.
ADDING A FEW FEET FOR LOTS
BASED ON THE WIDTH OF THE LOT.
THE ONE CHANGE FROM THE
PREVIOUS VERSION IS IF YOU LOOK
AT THE TABLE ON THE RIGHT UNDER
THE PROPOSED CHANGES PREVIOUSLY
WE HAD THREE CATEGORIES, LESS
THAN 30 FEET AND WHAT IS NOW
THE 30-40 FEET CATEGORY WAS 30-
50 FEET AND THEN GREATER THAN
50 FEET.
BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM BUILDERS
AND HOW CONSTRUCTION DOES HOW
THE CONSTRUCTION AND IS THE --
INDUSTRY WORKS, THE RANGE WILL
ALLOW FOR MORE PRACTICAL
LIVABLE SPACE FOR DETACHED
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS.
THAT IS THE CHANGE THERE.
IN ADDITION, THE PROPOSAL WOULD
ALLOW A FEW EXTRA FEET FOR IN
HEIGHT TO FACILITATE A GREEN
BUILDING STRATEGY.
SO THE GREEN ROOFS AND THAT
TYPE OF THING.
>> THE PROPOSAL WOULD
INCREASE THE MAXIMUM REAR YARD
COVERAGE ALLOWED ON A LOT.
TODAY, NOT MORE THAN 35% OF THE
LOT OVERALL CAN HAVE
STRUCTURES.
THERE IS NO CHANGE PROPOSED TO
THAT OVERALL STANDARD.
BUT IN ADDITION TO THE 35%
MAXIMUM, THERE IS A REQUIREMENT
THAT NOT MORE THAN 40% OF THE
REAR YARD -- SO 25 FEET OF
THE LOT CAN HAVE STRUCTURES ON
IT.
THIS WOULD ALLOW AN INCREASE TO
60% REAR YARD COVERAGE IF IT IS
A ONE STORY STRUCTURE.
SO IT WOULD FACILITATE A SINGLE
STORY STRUCTURE FOR AGING AND
MOBILITY ISSUES.
UNDER THE EXISTING REGULATIONS,
ONE OFFSTREET PARKING SPACES
REQUIRED FOR AN ACCESSORY
DWELLING UNIT AND ONE OFFSTREET
PARKING SPACE IS REQUIRED FOR
THE MAIN UNIT.
THE PROPOSAL WOULD ELIMINATE
THE REQUIRED PARKING SPACE FOR
THE ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT BUT
PROPERTY OWNERS WOULD STILL
HAVE TO MAINTAIN THE PARKING
SPACE FOR THE PRIMARY DWELLING
UNIT.
UNDER EXISTING REGULATIONS, THE
PROPERTY OWNER MUST OCCUPY
EITHER THE MAIN HOUSE OR THE
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT FOR AT
LEAST SIX MONTHS OF THE YEAR.
SO IT NEEDS TO BE THEIR PRIMARY
RESIDENCE.
THE PROPOSAL WOULD REMOVE THE
OWNER OCCUPANCY.
AND THE PROPOSAL WOULD
INTRODUCE A FLOOR AREA RATIO IN
MOST SINGLE-FAMILY ZONES OF .5,
OR 2500 SQUARE FEET OF FLOOR
AREA WHICHEVER IS GREATER.
SO THE FLOOR AREA RATIO IS THE
RELATIONSHIP OF THE SIZE OF THE
BUILDING TO THE SIZE OF THE
LOT.
THE FLOOR AREA IN THE BASEMENT
OR ANY FLOOR AREA IN AN
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT WOULD
BE EXEMPT.
IN ADDITION, THE PROPOSAL WOULD
EXEMPT UP TO 500 SQUARE FEET IN
ADDITION TO A DETACHED
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT, 500
SQUARE FEET AND ANY ACCESSORY
STRUCTURE SO THAT WOULD INCLUDE
A DETACHED GARAGE, SHED OR THAT
TYPE OF THING.
AND EXISTING HOMES THAT EXCEED
THE LIMIT COULD EXPAND ONE TIME
BY UP TO 27% OF THE EXISTING
FLOOR AREA.
THE PROPOSAL THAT WAS
INTRODUCED YESTERDAY ALSO
MODIFIES THE EFFECTIVE DATE FOR
THE SPECIFIC PROVISION RATHER
THAN THE NORMAL 30 DAYS
EFFECTIVE AFTER THE MAYOR
SIGNS.
IT WOULD HAVE A SIX-MONTH
EFFECTIVE DATE.
THIS ADDRESS IS A CONCERN WE
HEARD ABOUT DELAYS IN BEING
ABLE TO SUBMIT BROKE --
BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS
FOR NEW HOMES TO THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND
INSPECTION AND WOULD ALLOW
PEOPLE WHO ALREADY HAVE PLANS
DEVELOPED TO STILL CONTINUE
WITH THOSE PROPOSALS.
>> IN ADDITION TO THE
SPECIFIC CHANGES, THERE ARE A
FEW OTHER PROVISIONS IN THE
PROPOSED LEGISLATION.
THEY WOULD ADD TREE
REQUIREMENTS WITH CONSTRUCTION
IN THE ADU IF THE LAW IS
ALREADY DEFICIENT AND WHAT WILL
BE REQUIRED FOR TREES ON A
SINGLE-FAMILY LOT AND WOULD
PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY FOR
RESERVATION OF EXISTING TREES.
IT INTRODUCES SOME FLEXIBILITY
FOR CONVERSION OF EXISTING
STRUCTURES TO AN ACCESSORY
DWELLING UNIT.
IT PROVIDES MORE FLEXIBILITY
FOR WHERE THE ENTRANCE IS
LOCATED. IT PROVIDES HEIGHT
EXCEPTIONS FOR PROJECTIONS LIKE
DORMERS THAT ADD INTERIOR SPACE
AND ALSO ADDS IN A PROVISION
THAT WOULD REQUIRE ANNUAL
REPORTING ON ADU PRODUCTION AND
WOULD ASK THAT THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND
INSPECTIONS AND THE OFFICE OF
PLANNING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT WOULD CONDUCT A
SURVEY OF ADU OWNERS AND
OCCUPANTS WITHIN THREE YEARS
AFTER IMPLEMENTATION.
SO THAT IS A QUICK SUMMARY OF
THE PROPOSAL AS IT EXISTS
TODAY.
IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, I
WILL BRIEFLY DESCRIBE SOME OF
THE AMENDMENTS THAT WILL BE
DEVELOPED AND DISCUSSED IN MORE
DETAIL AT THE NEXT COMMITTEE
MEETING.
THE FIRST IS A PROPOSAL BY
COUNCILMEMBER O'BRIEN THAT
WOULD REQUEST THAT SD TRY CAP I
PROVIDES INFORMATION TO THE
HOMEOWNER ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS
TO BE A LANDLORD AND ALSO
PROVIDE TRAINING FOR NEW
LANDLORDS AS THIS WILL OPEN UP
A NEW LANDLORD -- I GUESS
INDUSTRY IS NOT THE RIGHT WORD
BUT A NEW CROP OF LANDLORDS
POTENTIALLY.
A PROPOSAL FROM COUNCILMEMBER
-- THAT WOULD AND USE
CONSTRUCTED AFTER THE EFFECTIVE
DATE OF THIS ORDINANCE.
I WILL NOTE THAT THIS AMENDMENT
WOULD REQUIRE INTRODUCTION OF A
NEW BILL BUT THERE WILL BE
ANOTHER NOTICE REQUIRED SO
THERE WILL BE TIME BETWEEN THE
COMMITTEE MEETING NEXT WEEK AND
WHEN THE EARLIEST DATE THAT THE
FINAL FULL COUNT COUNCIL COULD
VOTE.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBERT HAS
ANOTHER PROPOSAL THAT WOULD
REQUIRE OWNERSHIP OF THE
PROPERTY FOR ONE YEAR PRIOR TO
PERMITTING A SECOND ACCESSORY
DWELLING UNIT.
THIS WOULD BE IN ADDITION TO
MEETING THE GREEN BUILDING
REQUIREMENTS.
BUT IF THEY WERE CHOOSING TO GO
WITH THE AFFORDABLE UNIT ROUTE,
THEY WOULD NOT -- THE ONE
YEAR OWNERSHIP REQUIREMENT
WOULD NOT APPLY.
THIS IS THE PROPOSAL THAT WAS
CONTEMPLATED IN THE PREFERRED
ALTERNATIVE TO HAVE A ONE YEAR
OWNERSHIP REQUIREMENT.
COUNSEL PRESIDENT HARRELL IS
CONSIDERING AMENDMENT THAT
WOULD REQUIRE PARKING SPACE
ONLY WHEN ADDING A SECOND
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT.
AND THEN NUMBER FIVE -- I
FAILED IT TO PUT THE NAME THERE
BUT COUNCILMEMBER O'BRIEN IS
CONSIDERING AN AMENDMENT THAT
WOULD ALLOW THE INCREASED REAR
YARD COVERAGE FOR CONVERSION OF
AN EXISTING ACCESSORY
STRUCTURE.
AS I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, THE
PROPOSAL WOULD ALLOW MORE REAR
YARD COVERAGE FOR SINGLE-STORY
ADU'S.
THIS WOULD ALLOW A PERSON WHO
HAS AN EXISTING STRUCTURE IN
THE REAR YARD TO EXPAND RATHER
THAN TEARING IT DOWN AND
REBUILDING A STRUCTURE TO HAVE
MORE YARD COVERAGE EVEN IF IT
IS MORE THAN A SINGLE STORY
STRUCTURE.
THERE ARE A FEW PROPOSED
CHANGES TO THE REQUIREMENTS.
FROM COUNCIL PRESIDENT HARRELL
TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION ABOUT ANY PARKING
IMPACT THAT MAY BE IDENTIFIED
AFTER IMPLEMENTING ASIAN AND
CONSIDER ANY AMENDMENTS THAT
MAY BE APPROPRIATE INCLUDING
CONSIDERING GEOGRAPHIC BASED
PARKING REQUIREMENTS.
>> A REPORT ON LESSONS
LEARNED AFTER IMPLEMENTATION.
A PILOT PROGRAM THAT WILL
PROVIDE LOANS TO COMPLETE THE
ADU OR CREATE MORE HABITABLE
SPACE FOR LOW INCOME
HOMEOWNERS.
THIS IS A PILOT PROGRAM THAT IS
INCLUDED IN THE HOUSING FUNDING
POLICIES THAT ARE CURRENTLY
BEING CONSIDERED BY THE COUNCIL
AND WOULD PROVIDE ABOUT 5-10
LOANS OVER THE NEXT YEAR TO LOW
INCOME HOMEOWNERS WHO ARE
INTERESTED IN EITHER CONVERTING
A BASEMENT OR AN EXISTING
ACCESSORY STRUCTURE TO AN
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT AND MAY
HELP THEM FUND CONSTRUCTION OF
A NEW ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT
OR CREATING MORE HABITABLE
SPACE WITHIN THEIR EXISTING
HOME.
AND THEN A PROPOSAL FROM
COUNCILMEMBER O'BRIEN TO REPORT
ON USE OF ADU'S FOR SHORT TERM
RENTAL USE.
IF THE AMENDMENT THAT WOULD
PROHIBIT SHORT-TERM RENTAL USE
WAS PASSED, THIS CHANGE WOULD
NOT BE NECESSARY.
IF THE AMENDMENT IS NOT
ADOPTED, THIS WOULD PROVIDE
INFORMATION ABOUT HOW MUCH
SHORT-TERM RENTAL USE ACTIVITY
WE ARE ACTUALLY SEEING AN
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND
WHETHER OR NOT COUNSEL WANTS TO
MAKE A CHANGE IN THE FUTURE
BASED ON THAT INFORMATION.
THAT IS ALL I HAVE.
>> THANK YOU, ALY.
COLLEAGUES, DO YOU HAVE ANY
CLARIFYING QUESTIONS FOR ALY
PENNUCCI ORD IF YOU WANT TO
TALK TO ANY OF THE AMENDMENTS,
THAT IS FINE.
>> I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE MY
MEMORY REFRESHED ON WHAT THE
FEIS SAID ABOUT THE ANTICIPATED
NUMBER OF ADU DADU'S THAT WOULD
BE DEVELOPED.
I WAS LOOKING FOR IT MYSELF.
AS FAR AS SEEING THAT ONLY 2%
OF LOTS THAT COULD HAVE THEM
UNDER THE CURRENT REGULATION
HAVE THEM.
BUT I HAVE NOT GOTTEN ANY
FURTHER THAN THAT.
>> UNDER THE EXISTING
REGULATIONS, WE WOULD EXPECT
ABOUT 1970 ACCESSORY DWELLING
UNITS OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
WITH THE PROPOSED CHANGES, WE
WOULD EXPECT JUST OVER 4400.
SO MORE THAN TWICE AS MANY
WOULD BE CONSTRUCTED IN THE 10
YEAR PERIOD.
IN ADDITION, WE WOULD EXPECT
500 FEWER TEAR DOWNS OVER THAT
SAME PERIOD.
>> SO 4400 CITYWIDE OVER 10
YEARS, BASED ON THE LAND USE
CODE CHANGES.
THERE ARE OTHER CHANGES AND
OTHER WORK HAPPENING IN THE
MARKET THAT MAY INCREASE
PRODUCTION AS WELL.
BASED ON THE LAND USE CODE
CHANGES ALONE.
OKAY.
SUPER HELPFUL.
AND I AM REMINDED THAT THERE IS
ONE ADDITIONAL POTENTIAL
AMENDMENT I AM WORKING ON WITH
COUNCILMEMBER PACHECO WHICH
WOULD BE LOOKING AT
OPPORTUNITIES TO EITHER REQUIRE
OR INCENTIVIZE SPACE FOR A
BICYCLE PARKING ON LOTS TO
ENSURE THAT PEOPLE ARE THINKING
ABOUT DESIGNING THESE SPACES
FOR PEOPLE THAT USE BIKES AS A
PRIMARY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION.
SO THAT WILL LIKELY BE AN
OPTION FOR DISCUSSION NEXT WEEK
AS WELL.
>> COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS FOR ALY.
SEEING NONE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PRESENTATION.
AND WE WILL JUMP INTO THE
PUBLIC HEARING.
I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
FOLKS SIGNED IN.
WE HAD A AND B SHEETS.
I WILL ALTERNATE BETWEEN THOSE
SHEETS AND WORK MY WAY DOWN THE
LIST.
AT THE MOMENT WE HAVE ABOUT 80
FOLKS SIGNED IN.
JUST A REMINDER, FOLKS WILL
HAVE UP TO TWO MINUTES.
IF YOU WANT TO COME FORWARD AS
A GROUP, THERE IS A SLOT ON
HERE TO INDICATE THAT THERE
WHEN YOU COME FORWARD, IF YOU
COME FORWARD WITH THREE OR MORE
PEOPLE, WE WILL PUT FIVE
MINUTES UP ON THE TIMER.
AND JUST REMINDING FOLKS IF YOU
DO NOT HEAR EARLIER, YOU CAN
PARTICIPATE IN A GROUP OR
PARTICIPATE AS AN INDIVIDUAL
BUT YOU CANNOT DO BOTH.
SO WE WILL START OFF WITH MARK
COAT FOLLOWED BY PHILIP DUGAN
AND THEN ELLEN.
>> MY NAME IS MARK CODY.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE.
I AM TESTIFYING IN FAVOR OF
ADOPTING THE PROPOSED ADU
LEGISLATION AS WRITTEN.
I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
PARK SERVICES, A NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION BASED IN
SHORELINE, WASHINGTON THAT
DEVELOPS AND MANAGES SINGLE-
FAMILY PROPERTIES TO RENT TO
EXTREMELY LOW INCOME PEOPLE
WITH DEVELOPMENTAL,
INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOP MENTAL
DISABILITIES.
PARKVIEW CURRENTLY OWNS 15
PROPERTIES IN SEATTLE THAT
HOUSED 61 PEOPLE.
AND I AM PROPOSING -- I AM
URGING THE ADOPTION OF THE
PROPOSED ADU LEGISLATION AS
THAT WOULD LIFT THE OWNER
OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENT AND ALLOW
US TO DEVELOP UP TO 20 MORE
UNITS ON OUR EXISTING
PROPERTIES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> PHILIP.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS PHILIP DUGGAN.
I LIVE IN PINEHURST.
MY FATHER JAMES DUGGAN STILL
LIVES IN MY CHILDHOOD HOME ON
QUEEN ANNE IN DISTRICT SEVEN.
WE ARE LOOKING AT OPTIONS TO
BUILD A BACKYARD COTTAGE
TOGETHER.
I STRONGLY SUPPORT ALL THE
CHANGES YOU HAVE LOOKED AT.
MANY OF THEM WILL HELP MAKE
THIS NEW HOME A REALITY.
MANY OF -- THE PROJECT IS
PERSONAL TO US.
THE HOPE IS THAT SELLING THIS
HOME AND BUILDING SOMETHING
SMALLER IN THE BACKYARD WILL
GIVE ENOUGH LEFT OVER TO MAKE
THAT HAPPEN.
WE ARE MAKING DIFFICULT CHOICES
INCLUDING LOSING MY CHILDHOOD
HOME, THE HOME HE HAS LIVED IN
FOR 40 YEARS.
WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES MAKING
DIFFICULT CHOICES.
THESE CHANGES ARE HELPING TO
PUT US IN CONTROL TO MAKE THOSE
CHANGES BETTER -- MAKE THE
CHOICES BETTER.
IT ALLOWS HIM TO PLAN AHEAD ON
SOMETHING THAT WILL LET HIM AGE
AND PLACE FOR MANY YEARS TO
COME.
AND ALLOW US TO HAVE A
MULTIGENERATIONAL FAMILY IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I LEFT.
THIS WON'T BE THE CASE IF HE
HAS TO FIND SOMEWHERE ELSE TO
BUY OR RENT IN SEATTLE.
YOU WON'T HAVE ANYTHING IN HIS
BUDGET AND HE WON'T FIND
SOMETHING WHERE HE CAN BE SURE
TO STILL AFFORD IT IN 10 PLUS
YEARS FROM NOW.
ALTERNATIVELY, HE COULD END OF
HAVING TO MOVE FAR OUT OF THE
CITY OR COUNTY WHERE WE WON'T
SEE EACH OTHER NEARLY AS OFTEN.
EVEN THE CHANGES THAT ARE NOT
REQUIRED TO MAKE THIS PROJECT
POSSIBLE ARE STILL THINGS I
SUPPORT.
MANY OF THEM GIVE US THE
FLEXIBILITY TO MAKE THIS
PROJECT BETTER.
PARTICULAR INTEREST IN THE
DEVELOPING STANDARDS.
AS I WOULD LOVE TO MAKE IT
LARGER WITH A SECOND BEDROOM SO
IN THE FUTURE -- HOPEFULLY
FAR IN THE FUTURE, IT WOULD BE
EASIER TO RENT OUT TO A FAMILY.
AND I KNOW IT IS NOT GOING TO
BE CONSIDERED BUT I WOULD URGE
YOU TO LOOK AT OPTIONS FOR
MULTIPLE DETACHED ADU'S IN
GIGANTIC YARDS LIKE MINE FOR
THE FUTURE.
I WOULD LOVE TO HOST A HOME
THROUGH THE BLOCK PROJECT AS
WELL.
I'M HAVING TO CHOOSE THROUGH
HELPING MY FATHER AND HELPING
SOMEONE WHO WAS HOMELESS.
I WOULD LOVE TO LOOK AT
OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHER
SPACINGS SUCH AS FRONT YARDS.
EVEN IF IT IS IN FRONT OF THE
SETBACK WITH TINY HOUSES AND
SMALL STRUCTURES, IT MAKES THEM
PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
SO THE HOUSES ARE JOINED
TOGETHER AND SUPPORTING ALL THE
PROPOSED CHANGES AND REMOVING
BARRIERS TO THE CREATION OF
ADU'S.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ELLEN, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU
HAVE A GROUP.
YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY --
RUBY HOLLAND AND PATIENCE
MULATTA.
>> THINK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS ELLEN KNOWN.
THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT
COUNSEL HAS DONE SO FAR TO
ADRESS HOUSING AFFORDABILITY.
I'M HERE TONIGHT WITH MY
PARENTS, GARY, A RETIRED CIVIL
ENGINEER AND JANICE, TEACHER.
THE NORTHWEST HAS BEEN OUR HOW
MY ENTIRE LIFE.
THEY RAISED ME TO BELIEVE THAT
COMMUNITY AND COMPASSION IS WHY
WE ARE HERE TONIGHT.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO OUR
STORY.
I HAVE CALLED SEATTLE HOME
SINCE 1997 AND I RENT ON
CAPITOL HILL SO I CAN LIVE CAR
FREE, WALK OR USE TRANSIT TO
WALK, SHOP AND LIVE.
IT IS WHY I CHOSE MY
NEIGHBORHOOD OVER 20 YEARS AGO
AND WHY I WANT MY PARENTS TO
JOIN ME IN SEATTLE.
10 YEARS AGO, MY PARENTS
DOWNSIZED.
THEY SOLD THEIR HOUSE IN MAPLE
VALLEY THAT THEY WERE TIRED TOO
AND SPENT THE NEXT DECADE
TRAVELING IN AN RV.
THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SPEND
WINTERS IN WARMER CLIMATES AND
SUMMERS IN SEATTLE WITH THEIR
GRANDCHILDREN.
BUT MY FATHER TURNS 78 THIS
YEAR AND MY MOTHER 74.
BOTH DRIVE LESS BUT USE TRANSIT
REGULARLY AND IN THE LAST YEAR,
WE HAVE BEEN HAVING TOUGH
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT STEPS FOR
THE FUTURE.
WHAT MY BROTHER AND I BOTH RENT
ARE NOT BUILDINGS APPROPRIATE
FOR OUR FAMILIES TO LIVE WITH
US.
THEY WANT TO REMAIN INDEPENDENT
FOR AS LONG AS THEY CAN.
THEY ARE IN GOOD HEALTH.
THEY ARE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE.
THEY ARE NOT CANDIDATES FOR
ASSISTED LIVING.
AND AFTER LIVING IN AN RV FOR
THE LAST DECADE, THEIR SPACE
NEEDS ARE MODEST.
A BACKYARD COTTAGE SUMMERLIKE
QUEEN ANNE OR CAPITOL HILL
WOULD BE PERFECT.
A WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOOD NEAR
GROCERY STORES, LIBRARIES AND A
CHURCH COMMUNITY.
WITH EASY BUS CONNECTIONS TO
THEIR DOCTORS ON FIRST AND
CHERRY HILL.
BUT UNDER THE CURRENT
RESTRICTIONS ON ADU'S, THEY ARE
NOT ENOUGH COTTAGES FOR PEOPLE
LIKE THEM TO RENT.
I WANT TO BE THERE TO HELP MY
PARENTS WHEN THEY NEED ME.
TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN, WE NEED
MORE RENTAL OPTIONS AND ALL OF
OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, REDUCING THE
BARRIERS TO THE CREATION OF
ADU'S WILL HELP MAKE THAT A
REALITY.
PLEASE PASS THIS COMMONSENSE
REFORM AND HELP OUR CITY AND MY
FAMILY.
MY PARENTS WANT TO BE YOUR
NEIGHBORS.
>> MY NAME IS JANICE MILL.
IN 1970, MY HUSBAND AND I BUILT
OUR FIRST HOME.
A DUPLEX IN A L SHAPED DESIGN
ON A CORNER LOT IN A SINGLE
FAMILY RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD
IS OWNED BY A PROGRESSIVE CITY
TO ENCOURAGE HOUSING DENSITY.
SINCE THEN, WE HAVE LIVED IN
OTHER OWNERSHIP HOUSING
CONFIGURATIONS FROM A SECOND
DUPLEX AND VARIOUS SIZED HOUSES
IN FOUR STATES.
ALONG THE WAY, WE OWNED AND
MANAGED FOR 30 YEARS A 10 UNIT
APARTMENT BUILDING RENTING TO
UNIVERSITY STUDENTS.
MOST RECENTLY, WE HAVE TRAVELED
MUCH OF EACH YEAR AND A 375
SQUARE FOOT RV.
HAVING TOUCHED ON OVER 40
STATES AND OUR JOURNEYS.
BECAUSE OF THESE EXPERIENCES,
WE HAVE COME TO APPRECIATE
URBAN AND CITY LOCATIONS THAT
PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE WALKABLE
TO DESIRED AND REQUIRED
SERVICES.
WHEN ELLEN ASKED US TO CONSIDER
SEATTLE AS OUR NEXT HOUSING
LOCATION AND EXPLAINED THE
PROPOSED ADDED ADU ZONING
OVERLAYS, WE INCLUDED THE ADU
AND SEATTLE TO OUR LIST OF
FUTURE OPTIONS.
WE URGE PASSAGE OF THE ADU
REFORMS THEREBY ADDING
ADDITIONAL CREATIVE SOLUTIONS
TO THE HOUSING NEEDS OF
SEATTLE.
THANK YOU.
>> I AM THE ONE WITH THE
SLOPPY HANDWRITING.
>> WHAT IS YOUR NAME?
>> SHAWN HOSFORD TO.
>> FIRST WE WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR ALL THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE
ON BEHALF OF OUR CITY.
I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DO A ADU
AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IN
BROADVIEW FOR THE LAST --
FOUR YEARS AND HAVE BEEN HELD
UP BY THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT
BECAUSE THEIR SOLUTION FOR THIS
IS THAT I HAVE A 10,000 SQUARE-
FOOT LOT AND I PUT A BACKYARD
COTTAGE THERE.
BUT I HAVE NEIGHBORS DOWN THE
HILL FROM ME AND WE HAVE WATER
PROBLEMS.
WE HAVE UNDERGROUND SPRINGS AND
BROADVIEW.
IF I DID THAT, IT WOULD AFFECT
THE NEIGHBORS DOWNHILL BECAUSE
I WOULD COVER IMPERVIOUS LAND.
SO I CHOSE NOT TO DO THAT
BECAUSE MY PARENTS TAUGHT ME TO
BE A GOOD COMMUNITY MEMBER AND
I HAVE BEEN WAITING TO PUT A
CARRIAGE HOUSE ON TOP OF OUR
GARAGE FOR FOUR YEARS NOW.
SO I REALLY URGE YOU TO PASS
THIS.
IN THAT TIME OF OUR LIVING IN
THIS HOUSE FOR 29 YEARS, WE HAD
OUR DAUGHTER LIVED WITH US.
IT IS A SMALL 1930s HOUSE.
ABOUT 1800 SQUARE FEET.
RIGHT NOW MY MOTHER-IN-LAW
LIVES WITH US.
MY MOTHER HAS MOVED IN AND OUT
OF OUR HOUSE THREE DIFFERENT
TIMES.
WE HAD MY BROTHER-IN-LAW LIVE
WITH US AND A FRIEND LIVE WITH
US.
ALL OF THE FAMILY IS FINE TO
LIVE IN OUR HOME WITH US THAT I
WANT TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IN OUR CITY.
I AM AGHAST AS A THIRD-
GENERATION SEATTLE NATIVE.
AND SOMEBODY WHO LIVES ON
STOLEN INDIGENOUS LAND, THAT WE
DON'T DO BETTER FOR EACH OTHER.
IT JUST MAKES MY BLOOD BOIL.
AND SO I REALLY URGE YOU TO
ALLOW ME TO PROVIDE HOUSING
THAT IS SO NEEDED AND OUR CITY.
AS YOU CAN SEE WHEN YOU DRIVE
THE FREEWAYS.
FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED AFFORDABLE
HOUSING.
THANK YOU.
>> PATIENCE, YOU WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL AUSTON AND
THEN LAURA BERNSTEIN AND KELSEY
HAMLIN.
>> THANK YOU.
FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS
PATIENCE MULATTA AND I AM WITH
THE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
CONSORTIUM OF SEATTLE KING
COUNTY.
AND I AM HERE TODAY FIRST OF
ALL TO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK
YOU HAVE DONE TO BRING US THIS
FAR.
TO ME, WE SEE THIS AS A LOW
HANGING FRUIT TOOL THAT WE
SHOULD BE ABLE TO PASS WITHOUT
HAVING TO SPEND THREE YEARS OF
PROCESS.
SO I HOPE THAT THIS IS THE TIME
THAT WE ARE GOING TO THE FINISH
LINE.
OUR MEMBERS ARE WORKING ACROSS
THE COUNTY AND ACROSS THE CITY
HERE TO PROVIDE HOUSING, EVEN
IN SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES.
YOU HAD -- ONE OF OUR MEMBERS
WITH PARKING SERVICES PROVIDING
HOUSING FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE LOW
TO MODERATE INCOME AND WITH
SPECIAL CONDITIONS THROUGHOUT
THE CITY.
THEY HAVE 15 PROPERTIES THAT
COULD BE HAVING MORE CAPACITY
WITH ACCESS DWELLING UNITS BUT
THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO
PRODUCE THOSE UNITS BECAUSE OF
THE EXISTING BARRIERS.
BECAUSE OF THE OWNER OCCUPANCY.
BECAUSE OF THE OFFSTREET
PARKING REQUIREMENTS.
WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO UPLIFT
THOSE BARRIERS.
WE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE MORE
PRODUCTION.
AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE
ADDITION OF THE OPTION FOR
NONPROFIT DEVELOPERS TO BE ABLE
TO PLAY IN THIS SPACE WITH THE
AVAILABILITY OF THEM BEING ABLE
TO PRODUCE INCOME RESTRICTED
HOMES.
WE APPRECIATE THE LANGUAGE AND
WE SUPPORT THE LEGISLATION AND
HOPE TO SEE IT MOVE FORWARD.
WE ALSO HAVE MEMBERS WORKING IN
THE CITY ON REPORTS TO LOOK AT
HOW ACCESS TO ALL UNITS ARE A
TOOL AND ENABLING HOMEOWNERS TO
GET SUPPLEMENTAL INCOME.
WITH THAT, WHEN THE REPORT IS
HERE, WE WILL BE ABLE -- WE
WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE WITH
YOUR DATA THAT SHOWS THAT THIS
IS A TOOL THAT HELPS IN
ADDRESSING THE HOUSING CRISIS
AND WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL TAKE
IT UP AND SEE ACROSS THE FINISH
LINE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
AND RUBY, I APOLOGIZE.
RUBY IS NEXT.
YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL
AUSTON.
AND FOR FOLKS TRACKING THE
NUMBERS, RUBY IS 3A.
>> MY NAME IS RUBY HOLLAND.
ETHNIC CLEANSING IS THE PLAN TO
REMOVAL -- TO REMOVE ETHNIC
OR RACIAL GROUPS BY A FORCE OR
COERCION FROM A GIVEN TERRITORY
BY A MORE POWERFUL ETHNIC GROUP
OFTEN WITH THE INTENT OF MAKING
EVERYONE THE SAME RACE.
ETHNIC CLEANSING OF NONWHITES
IS COMMON PRACTICE IN SEATTLE.
THE CHINESE EXPLOSION OF 1886,
THE JAPANESE OF 1942 AND THE
MHA OF 2019.
THIS TIME WE WON'T GO OUT
QUIETLY INTO THE NIGHT.
WE WILL TAKE TO SOCIAL MEDIA
AND ALERT THE WORLD THAT RACIST
JENNY DURKAN AND HER POWERFUL
CARTEL IS CARRYING OUT A
CAMPAIGN OF ETHNIC CLEANSING
AGAINST NONWHITES IN ORDER TO
CREATE AN ALL WHITE SEATTLE.
WE WON'T LET UP UNTIL WE PUT AN
END TO THIS SCOURGE.
I AM ASKING ALL PEOPLE YOUNG
AND OLD TO JOIN OUR SOCIAL
MEDIA CAMPAIGN BY -- AND BY
CONTRAST, THE O'BRIEN ADU PLAN
CAN BRING FAMILIES TOGETHER,
BRING BACK THE MIDDLE CLASS AND
CAN BRING HOMELESS SENIORS,
COLLEGE STUDENTS AND WORKING
FAMILIES OFF THE STREETS.
THE BENEFITS OF ADU'S BELTWAY
THE NEGATIVES.
THE MAIN OBJECTION TO ADU'S IS
OLD-SCHOOL THINKING.
ANYONE WILL BUY HOMES AND
CONVERT THEM TO RENTALS.
MARTY KAPLAN, 2017.
NEW SCHOOL THINKING.
WITH THE TRUCK AND NAIL BED, WE
CAN CREATE OUR ON ADU'S.
RUBY HOLLAND, 2019.
MY SOLUTION FOR MARTY KAPLAN.
CREATE AN URBAN VILLAGE IN THIS
NEIGHBORHOOD AND DECLARE THEM
AT HIGH RISK OF DISPLACEMENT.
I PROMISE YOU THAT THEY WILL
FALL IN LOVE WITH ADU'S AND
DADU'S.
MIKE, I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORT
TO SAVE SEATTLE FROM ITSELF.
THANK YOU.
>> MICHAEL, YOU CAN FOLLOW
RUBY.
>> THE MAIN COMMITTEE CHAIR
O'BRIEN AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS MICHAEL AUSTON.
THE COMMISSION APPRECIATES THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE OUR,
SOMATIZATION TO PROMOTE THE
ACCESSORY OF DWELLING UNITS IN
SETTLE.
THE COMMISSION STRONGLY
SUPPORTS THE PROPOSAL AS ADU'S
AND DADU'S SUPPORT MANY OF THE
HOUSING GOALS AND THE COPPER
HAS A PLANTER THEY CAN PROVIDE
ALTERNATIVES AND SINGLE FAMILY
NEIGHBORHOODS FOR A VARIETY OF
DIFFERENT HOUSEHOLD TYPES
INCLUDING SINGLES, FAMILIES
WITH CHILDREN AND
MULTIGENERATIONAL HOUSEHOLDS.
WE BELIEVE THAT EXPANDING THE
CONSTRUCTION OF ADU'S CAN
PROVIDE MORE FLEXIBILITY AND
ACCESSIBILITY FOR NEW HOUSING
OPTIONS THROUGHOUT SEATTLE.
WE ARE PLEASED TO SEE THE
COUNCIL IS MOVING FORWARD WITH
MANY OF THE PLANNING
COMMISSION'S PREVIOUS
RECOMMENDATIONS, ESPECIALLY
REMOVING THE OWNER OCCUPANCY
REQUIREMENT, MODIFYING THE CODE
TO ALLOW ONE ADU PER LOT.
REMOVING THE REQUIREMENT FOR
OFFSTREET PARKING AND APPLYING
FLOOR AREA RATIO LIMITS ON
DEVELOPMENT IN SINGLE-FAMILY
ZONES.
WE ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH CITY STAFF AS THEY
CONTINUE TO DEVELOP ADDITIONAL
STRATEGIES FOCUSED ON
AFFORDABILITY AND EQUITABLE ADU
PRODUCTION INCLUDING CREATIVE
FINANCING APPROACHES IN A
COORDINATED SOME PROVIDE
CONSTRUCTION PROCESS.
THOSE ADDITIONAL EFFORTS CAN
HAVE A LARGER IMPACT AS IT
BEARS TO ADU PRODUCTION BY THIS
LEGISLATION.
WE COMMEND THE LEADERSHIP
COUNCIL MEMBER O'BRIEN AND THE
WORK OF CITY STAFF FROM THE
OFFICE OF PLANNING COMMITTEE
DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF.
WE WORK CLOSELY WITH COMMUNITY
MEMBERS TO IDENTIFY THOSE
PROPOSED POLICY OPTIONS.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION
SUPPORTS THE CURRENT PROPOSAL
AND ENCOURAGES COUNSEL TO
APPROVE THE LEGISLATION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MICHAEL.
>> LAURA IS NEXT.
SHE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY KELSEY
HAMLIN AND THEN MARTY KAPLAN.
>> WE ARE SPEAKING AS A
GROUP.
>> YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES.
>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY HOW
MUCH I SUPPORT THIS PROPOSAL.
ME AND MY FAMILY LIVE IN A
QUADRO PLEX THAT STARTED OFF AS
A ADU.
WE ARE IN A FORMER GARAGE AND
IT HAS LOUT -- IT HAS ALLOWED
US TO LIVE IN A WALKABLE
NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WE WOULD NOT
HAVE ACCESS TO OTHERWISE.
I WANT MORE PEOPLE TO HAVE THAT
OPPORTUNITY.
THANK YOU.
>> I AM SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF
LAURA.
I GOT INVOLVED WITH THIS
BECAUSE I GREW UP IN AN
INTERGENERATIONAL HOUSEHOLD.
WHEN I WAS FIVE, MY PARENTS AND
MY GRANDPARENTS BUILT IN
ADDITION TO MY GRANDPARENTS --
SO THEY COULD LIVE WITH US AND
PROVIDE CHILDCARE.
WHEN WE MOVED FROM NEW YORK TO
CALIFORNIA, THE SAME THING
HAPPENED.
IT WAS A TRANSITION IN OUR LIFE
AND HAVING ADU DOWN THE BLOCK
WHEN WE WERE BUILDING THE NEW
ADDITION FOR THEM TO MOVE IN
ALLOWED THEM TO LIVE TWO HOUSES
DOWN UNTIL THEY COULD MOVE IN
WITH US.
MY ENTIRE LIFE, IT WAS
COMPLETELY NORMAL TO LIVE WITH
ME, MY GRANDPARENTS.
MY BROTHER DID THE SAME THING.
MY BROTHER MOVED IN WITH HIS
KIDS WITH MY PARENTS PICKED
THAT KIND OF LIVING HAS ALLOWED
THEM TO STAY TOGETHER IN SANTA
MONICA, A VERY EXPENSIVE CITY.
I GOT PERSONALLY INVOLVED FOR
THAT REASON.
AS A HOUSING ACTIVIST, I SEE IT
AS ONE TOOL IN THE TOOL KIT.
ONE MORE STRATEGY.
IF WE DON'T DO THIS, THAT IS
2000 FAMILIES -- THIS IS
FAMILY HOUSING.
IT IS 2000 FAMILIES THAT WON'T
úHAVE HOUSING IN OUR CITY.
FOR THOSE 2000 FAMILIES, IT IS
A BIG DEAL.
EVEN THOUGH IT IS A DROP IN THE
BUCKET TO WHAT WE NEED.
THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF MEMBERS
ONLINE.
WE HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF EVENTS.
IT IS A DIVERSE GROUP OF FOLKS
IN TERMS OF CLASS AND RACE AND
IDENTIFICATION AND ABILITIES.
THIS IS A REALLY GOOD OPTION
FOR FOLKS WITH DISABILITIES TO
AGE AND PLACE AND TO BUILD ADA
ACCESSIBLE UNITS.
ANY BARRIERS WE PUT IN PLACE, I
CAUTION COUNSEL TO BE SPARSE
WITH AMENDMENTS IF ANY AT ALL
BECAUSE EVERYTHING WE DO IS ONE
MORE FAMILY THAT CANNOT LIVE IN
OUR CITY.
SO PLEASE BE CAREFUL WITH YOUR
AMENDMENTS.
AND MOORE FULLY SUPPORTS THE
LEGISLATION AND EVERYTHING I
HAVE SAID TONIGHT ABOUT
INCLUSIVITY IN THESE
COMMUNITIES THAT ARE OFF-LIMITS
TO FAMILIES RIGHT NOW COULD BE
SAID ABOUT DUPLEXES AND TRY
FLEXES AND MORE.
SO WHEN MOORE TALKS ABOUT
BACKYARD COTTAGES, WE ARE
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE AND
ADDING OTHER KINDS OF HOUSING
LIKE YOU HEARD MELISSA LIVES
AND WITH HER FAMILY.
THESE ARE THE KINDS OF HOUSING
OPTIONS THAT WE NEED IN OUR
CITY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> KELSEY.
>> I'M KELSEY HIM HIM.
I WORK AT SIDELINE INSTITUTE AS
A SUSTAINABILITY THINK TANK FOR
CASCADIA.
THE WAY THIS LEGISLATION AND
MANY OTHER HOUSING POLICIES ARE
OFTEN PORTRAYED WOULD LIKELY
MAKE SOMEONE NOT AS ENGAGED
THINK THE POLICIES ARE NOT
WANTED IN SEATTLE.
I'M HERE TO TELL YOU OTHERWISE.
I DID NOT REALIZE IT UNTIL I
STARTED WORKING HERE BUT MY
FATHER LIVED IN A REMODELED
GARAGE APARTMENT AFTER HIS
FIRST DIVORCE.
AND A MOTHER-IN-LAW SUITE AFTER
HIS SECOND.
I WAS NINE AND 16 OF THOSE
TIMES AND DID NOT SEE ANY
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THOSE HOMES
AND NORMAL HOMES THAT I
VISITED.
MY DAD WAS MIDDLE-CLASS THE
WHOLE TIME YET HE DESPERATELY
NEEDED HELP FROM HIS FRIENDS
WITH -- IN ORDER TO GET BACK
ON HIS FEET.
NOW I ALSO KNOW THAT ADU'S CUT
EMISSIONS BY NEARLY HALF PER
HOUSEHOLD DUE TO ENERGY
MATERIALS AND TRANSPORTATION.
COMPARED TO A SINGLE DETACHED
HOME INCLUDING MODERN MANSIONS.
SO TO THOSE GRIPING ABOUT SMALL
SPACES AND ASKING ABOUT THE
CHILDREN, I SAY TO YOU, IS IT
NOT MORE IMPORTANT THAT
CHILDREN HAVE A PLANET TO LIVE
ON?
AS A CHILD, I DID NOT HAVE ANY
QUALMS.
I STILL DON'T.
ADU'S GIVE PROPERTY OWNERS MORE
AUTONOMY OVER FAMILY NEEDS.
LIKE MY DAD'S.
UNLIKE WITH MANSIONS, ADU'S CAN
CREATE ACCESSIBLE HOUSING WHICH
ENSURES MORE HOUSING FOR AGING
RESIDENTS AND/OR THOSE LIVING
WITH DISABILITIES.
ON A RELATED NOTE, WHEN A
MANSION WHERE HE PLACES A
MODEST HOME, IS A SIGN OF
SEATTLE'S GROWING DISPARITIES
WHICH IS UNFORTUNATELY EXACTLY
WHAT CITY POLICIES INCENTIVIZE
ACROSS 75% OF SEATTLE.
THAT IS RIGHT.
THREE FOURTHS.
22 ARE ONE SMALL STEP TO CURB
SUCH EXTRAVAGANT SPACE TAKING.
THEY INSTEAD MAKE ROOM FOR AT
LEAST ONE MORE HOUSEHOLD ON THE
VERY SAME LOT.
THANK YOU.
MARTY KAPLAN.
>> MARTY KAPLAN WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY 6A WHICH IS JERRY
BARTLETT AND THEN BILL --
SIMPSON AND THEN BOB MORGAN.
>> WE HAVE A GROUP.
>> GOOD EVENING.
I AM MARTIN KAPLAN, ARCHITECT
AND CHAIR OF THE QUEEN IN LAND
USE REVIEW COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU FOR THE HONOR OF
REPRESENTING OUR COMMUNITY AND
THOUSANDS OF CONCERN TO
CITYWIDE NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS
AND SEATTLEITES.
TONIGHT I URGE YOU TO BE
PARTICULARLY CONSIDERATE BEFORE
ACTING, REDUCING OR IMPACTING
PROPERTY RIGHTS OF OVER 350,000
CITIZENS WHO RESIDE IN OUR
SINGLE-FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS.
IN OUR APPEAL OF THE ADEQUACY
OF THE ADU THE HEARING EXAMINER
PURPOSELY AVOIDED WEIGHING IN
ON THE LEGISLATION DIRECTING
THE DECISION TO YOU INSTEAD.
CRITICALLY, THE FIRST SENTENCE
IN HER DECISION READS "GIVEN
THE GROUNDBREAKING NATURE OF
SOME OF THE FEATURES OF THE
PROPOSED LEGISLATION, IT IS
IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW WHETHER
NONE, SOME OR ALL OF THE ILL
EFFECTS CLAIMED BY THE
APPELLANT WILL COME TO PASS."
THIS SENTENCE IS EXTRAORDINARY
AS SHE ADMITS TO SIGNIFICANT
UNCERTAINTY REGARDING POTENTIAL
UNSTUDIED AND UNMITIGATED
IMPACT FROM THIS LEGISLATION.
TO BE CLEAR, WE SHARE SIMILAR
GOALS AND FINDING RESPONSIBLE
SOLUTIONS TO SMARTLY
ACCOMMODATING OUR GROWTH.
AS YOU KNOW, I AM A LONG TIME
DENSITY ADVOCATE.
I HELPED CRAFT THE CURRENT
LEGISLATION ALLOWING ADU'S
CITYWIDE BY SERVING AS A
SEATTLE PLANNING COMMISSIONER
BETWEEN 2004 AND 2012.
WE FOUND THROUGH A THREE YEAR
TRIAL PERIOD THAT THE INPUT
FROM OTHER CITIES THAT INFORMED
THE RESEARCH AND LEGISLATION,
MET THE MEASURE OF SMARTLY
ADDING DENSITY IN A MANNER THAT
RESPECTED EVERY SEATTLEITES.
AND WE INVITED NEIGHBORHOODS TO
OUR TABLE.
TE PROPOSAL BEFORE YOU TODAY
DISMANTLES THESE REGULATIONS
THAT GUIDED OUR RESEARCH AND
FOUNED THE CURRENT CODE.
KNOWS CITY IN THE USA HAS
PROPOSED THE UNPRECEDENTED
CHANGES THAT ARE NOW BEFORE YOU.
INSTEAD OF NEIGHBORHOOD INPUT
AND PARTNERSHIP, YOU CHOSE TO
RELY UPON PLANNING ADVOCATES
AND COMPUTER MODELING TO
MEASURE POTENTIAL IMPACT FOR
EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD AND CITIZEN.
WE ASK THAT WITH ANY
LEGISLATION, YOU DIRECT A TRIAL
PERIOD WITHIN A LIMITED AREA TO
CONFIRM THE UNSUPPORTED
CONCLUSIONS PRESENTED WITHIN
EIS.
AND THE EIS CONCLUDED THERE
WOULD BE LITTLE IF ANY IMPACT
ASSOCIATED WITH REMOVING THE
OWNER OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENT.
NUMBER ONE ARE ISSUES THAT
CONCERN CITIZENS AND
NEIGHBORHOODS RELATING TO THE
OBVIOUS UNRESTRAINED
CONSTRUCTION OF AFFORDABLE
HOMES.
UNPRECEDENTED POPULATION
DISPLACEMENT AND INCREASE IN
HOUSING VALUES AND TAXES.
NATIONWIDE IMPACT STUDIES,
EXPERT OPINIONS COUPLED WITH
COMMON SENSE, UNDERLINE A
SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT
CONCERN.
UNDER THIS PROPOSAL, EVERY
PROPERTY OVER 3200 SQUARE FEET
CAN CONVERT TO INVESTOR-OWNED
TRIPLEX SPECULATIVE DEVELOPMENT
OTHERWISE CALLED MULTIFAMILY.
WHICH HAS BEEN EXPANDED THROUGH
MHA ALREADY.
IMPACT ASSOCIATED OVER THE
PARKING REQUIREMENTS ALLOWING
THREE UNITS PER LOT AND UNTIL
PEOPLE LIVING IN ONE PROPERTY.
THIS ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL POLICY
COMPLETELY IGNORES
DIFFERENTIATION, AGE, AND
RESTRUCTURE CAPACITIES AND ALL
ELSE THAT SHOULD INFORM THE
LARGEST CHANGE IN LAND USE AND
HISTORY.
INCREASES AND DENSITIES, CARS,
UTILITIES AND PEOPLE SHOULD
RESPECT OBVIOUS DIFFERENCES AND
CONCURRENT INFRASTRUCTURE AND
BE ALLOWED AND LOCATED WHERE
BEST ACCOMMODATED.
ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL.
NUMBER THREE, IMPACT ASSOCIATED
WITH RESTRICTING THE SIZE OF
HOMES TO .5FAR.
THIS PROPOSAL IGNORES THE
TAKING OF PRIVATE PROPERTY
RIGHTS AND IN FACT STRONGLY
ENCOURAGES MEGA BUILDINGS THAT
THE LEGISLATION PURPORTS TO
EVENT -- TO PREVENT.
AMONG MANY PROBLEMS IN THIS
PROPOSAL, A DEVELOPER CAN TAKE
A 5000 SQUARE-FOOT PIECE OF
PROPERTY, BUILD A MAXIMUM 2500
SQUARE-FOOT HOUSE AND TWO
ATTACHED 1000 SQUARE-FOOT ADU'S
AND A 1750 SQUARE FOOT BASEMENT
YIELDING A 6250 SQUARE-FOOT BOX
ON A 5000-FOOT LOT.
IS THAT WHAT WE WANT?
I DON'T THINK THAT IS WHAT YOU
WANT.
BUT THAT IS WHAT YOU CAN DO
UNDER THIS PROPOSAL.
ADDITIONALLY, THE LIMITATION
WILL FORCE FAMILIES OUT OF
SEATTLE AND ONLY PROMOTE
MAXIMIZING NON- AFFORDABLE
MARKET RATE CONDOS.
THERE ARE MORE ISSUES WE WILL
ADDRESS IN THE ACCOMPANYING
LETTER.
WE ASK THAT YOU THOUGHTFULLY
CONSIDER THE IMPORTANT
AMENDMENTS THAT I WILL GIVE TO
YOU IN A SECOND.
PLEASE NOTE THAT OUR APPEALS
WERE FOCUSED UPON PROCESS AND
LACK OF COMMUNITY INPUT ONLY
PAIR WE WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT
MANY OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO
REVISE THE CURRENT CODES AND
REDUCE BARRIERS TO BUILDING THE
DADU'S -- ADU'S.
NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE BEEN SHUT
OUT OF THE IMPORTANT WORK OF
CRAFTING ECONOMICALLY VIABLE
POLICIES.
LET'S NOT BE RECKLESS.
LET'S DO IT RIGHT.
WE HAVE ONE CHANCE.
LET'S DO THIS TOGETHER.
IT IS 350,000 NEIGHBORHOOD
RESIDENTS.
IT IS WHAT THEY DESERVE.
THANK YOU.
>> I APOLOGIZE, FOLKS.
YOU WERE GIVEN CARDS WHEN YOU
SIGNED IN FOR YOUR SLOT.
WHEN YOU ARE DONE, IF YOU WANT
TO DROP THE CARDS IN THE
COMMENTS LOT, WE WILL MAKE SURE
WE GET THOSE BACK.
YOU MUST BE JERRY.
>> I AM JERRY BARTLETT.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING THE
ABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO TALK
ABOUT WHAT EXACTLY THIS RULE AN
ORDINANCE IS TALKING ABOUT.
I BELIEVE AND I SUPPORT THIS
ORDINANCE.
I DO, FROM A DIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE I THINK IT
IS GOING IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION.
WHAT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT IS
SOLAR INFRINGEMENT.
AND I DON'T SEE A LOT OF ISSUES
FOCUSED ON THE FACT THAT --
CURRENTLY I LIVE IN A HOUSE.
THERE WAS A MEGA HOUSE BUILT
NEXT DOOR.
MY SUN SETS AT 4:00 IN THE
AFTERNOON.
NOT 9:00.
THE PLANTS ON MY PROPERTY, THE
TREES ON MY PROPERTY ARE
SUFFERING BECAUSE THEY DON'T
HAVE DIRECT SUNLIGHT.
I WAS ORIGINALLY UPSET ABOUT
THAT FROM A PERSONAL
PERSPECTIVE THAT MY PLANTS WERE
SUFFERING BECAUSE THERE WOULD
BE LESS CO2 UPTAKE WHICH WOULD
REDUCE CLIMATE CHANGE RELATED
ISSUES.
BUT THEN I LOOK AT THE MEGA
HOUSE PICK THE MEGA HOUSE IS
REALLY MORE LIKE A PARKING LOT.
IT HAS A BLACK ROOF THAT
ABSORBS HEAT AND DOES NOTHING
FOR ENERGY.
IF I HAD SOLAR PANELS, I WOULD
NOT BE ABLE TO USE THE
SUNLIGHT.
THERE ARE A LOT OF EXEMPTIONS
TO THE HOUSING RULES LIKE
OVERHANG AND SIDEWALKS AND
DRIVEWAYS AND TRANSFERS GET --
ADU PARKING THAT BASICALLY
MAKES THESE HOUSES IN THESE
AREAS NOT PLANT UPTAKE
POSSIBLE.
THE TREES BEING PLANTED THAT
ARE REPLACING HUNDRED FOOT FIRS
ARE 10-FOOT DOGWOODS THAT GO
INTO A CONCRETE BASIN AND YOU
CANNOT PLANT SOMETHING THAT HAS
A BIGGER ROOT STRUCTURE.
I JUST WANT TO REALLY FOCUS ON
THE FACT THAT WHETHER IT IS
THIS NEW ORDINANCE OR THE
EXISTING ORDINANCE, THAT WE
FOCUS ON THE VALUE OF CARBON
AND CARBON SEQUESTERING BY THE
PLANTS CURRENTLY IN THE
COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> BILL SIMPSON.
>> THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT FOUR.
I AM IN A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME.
I LIVE IN WHAT YOU WOULD CALL A
BASEMENT APARTMENT ON THE
GROUND LEVEL NEAR THE TOP OF
THE HILL.
IT IS A BASEMENT APARTMENT.
GROUND LEVEL.
MY NEIGHBORS HAVE A MOTHER-IN-
LAW APARTMENT IN THE BACK OF
THE HOUSE.
AND SO I VOLUNTEER A LOT WITH
THE SIERRA CLUB WHICH IS HOW I
GOT INVOLVED IN THIS HOUSING
ISSUE.
I VOLUNTEER A LOT WITH ISSUES
LIKE HOUSING AND
TRANSPORTATION, ENERGY AND ALL
OF THESE ISSUES REALLY CONNECT
TO EACH OTHER.
THE SIERRA CLUB, WE SUPPORT
MORE DENSE HOUSING OPTIONS
BECAUSE IT CUTS DOWN ON
EMISSIONS FROM TRANSPORTATION
WHICH ARE THE BIGGEST CAUSE OF
EMISSIONS IN SEATTLE.
AND IF PEOPLE LIVE IN MORE
DENSE AREAS, THAT PROMOTES MORE
WALKING AND PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION.
AND SO THIS PROMOTES MORE SAFE,
HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE
COMMUNITIES AND SO I THINK I
SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION
ESPECIALLY AS A FOLLOW-UP TO THE
MHA POLICY THAT WAS RECENTLY
PAST.
MOST OF SEATTLE IS STILL SINGLE-
FAMILY ZONING.
I THINK DOING THE ADU'S AND
DADU'S AND BACKYARD COTTAGES
ARE A GOOD WAY TO ADD MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS IN
SINGLE-FAMILY AREAS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> BOB. BOB MORGAN IS NEXT.
>> YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
SARA SWANBERG, SHELLY COHEN AND
KAREN LUCAS.
>> GOOD EVENING
COUNCILMEMBERS.
I AM BOB MORGAN.
I DO NOT SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL
EXCEPT FOR THE ANTI- MCMANSION
-- I THINK YOU PACKED TOO MUCH
TOGETHER TO SWALLOW AT ONCE.
I SUGGEST THREE AMENDMENTS IF
YOU DO GO AHEAD WITH THIS
LEGISLATION.
ONE WOULD BE THE CHANGE -- TO
CHANGE THE NAME OF THE ZONE.
IT IS A TRIPLE FAMILY ZONE.
THE TITLE SINGLE-FAMILY IS JUST
NOT ACCURATE ANYMORE.
I ALSO WOULD LIKE YOU TO
REQUIRE A REZONE PROCESS AND
SUB AREAS TO APPLY THE NEW
PROVISIONS.
THERE WAS A GREAT SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL MEMBER NAMED SAM SMITH.
AND HE HAD A PHRASE HE USED
CALLED THE MEAT ASK APPROACH.
IT APPLIED TO PROPOSALS LIKE
ACROSS-THE-BOARD PRESENTED
BUDGET CUTS BECAUSE THEY DON'T
CONSIDER HOW THEY AFFECT
DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES
DIFFERENTLY.
THIS IS MEAT ASK ZONING.
THERE IS NO REGARD FOR AREA
úCHARACTERISTICS SUCH AS
TOPOGRAPHY LIKE AN OPEN SPACE
PARKING -- TYPICAL LOT SIZES
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE FAR
LIMIT.
I THINK YOU SHOULD REQUIRE A
SUB AREA REZONE ORDER TO PUT
THIS KIND OF SIGNIFICANT CHANGE
IN THE CITY.
THREE, MAINTAIN THE OWNER
OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENT OF THE
PROPOSAL FOR A ONE-YEAR
ABSENTEE OWNERSHIP REQUIREMENT.
I THINK THAT WILL BE A PIECE OF
CAKE TO WORK AROUND FOR ANY
SELF-RESPECTING LLC WITH
VENTURE CAPITAL BACKING.
THAT WON'T BE A PROBLEM.
THE CONCLUSION THAT THE
PROPOSAL WILL REDUCE TURNDOWNS
IS BASED ON AN UNFAIR
COMPARISON.
TO BE FAIR, YOU NEED AN OPTION.
WITH THE MCMANSION KILLING FIR
LIMIT ADDED TO THE CURRENT ZONE
AND SEE WHO HAS MORE TEARDOWN.
I THINK YOU WILL GET A
DIFFERENT RESULT.
ARE THE OPPONENTS TO THIS NOT
CONCERNED ABOUT AFFORDABILITY?
THERE IS NOT MUCH CHANCING IT
WILL BE AFFORDABLE.
A 3000 SQUARE-FOOT BACKYARD
COTTAGE RENTS FOR $2400 A
MONTH.
MCMANSION, YOU COMPARED TO THAT
BUT THAT IS A RED HEARING
BECAUSE IT CAN BE ADDRESSED
OTHER WAYS.
YOU WILL JUST MAKE SOME RICH
DEVELOPERS EVEN RICHER.
TO OTHER OPPONENTS OF THE
CHANGES WHO FEEL LAME-DUCK
COUNSEL SHOULD NOT VOTE ON SUCH
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO OUR
CITY, I SAY PLEASE MAKE IT OUT
TO CANDIDATE FORUMS AND GET
PLEDGES THAT THEY WILL REPEAL
THIS LEGISLATION IF THEY HAVE
TO.
THANK YOU.
>> BOB.
WE ARE GOING TO SHELLEY.
>> SARA YOU ARE FIRST AND
THEN SHELLEY.
>> I HAVE BEEN ON COMMUNITY
WITH NORTHEAST SEATTLE FOR 13
YEARS AND ON TWO STANDING
ADVISORY COMMITTEES.
DURING THIS TIME, I HEAR TERMS
LIKE CHARACTER, LIVABILITY,
URBAN, TRIPLEX USED AS A VERB.
THESE ARE ALL TERMS THAT I HAVE
COME TO BELIEVE OVER THE YEARS
ARE USED AS KIND OF A CALL OF
ARMS OF WHITE PEOPLE.
TO MAINTAIN THE A RATED
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT EXIST IN THE
CITY.
SO THAT THE A RATED
NEIGHBORHOODS REMAIN GOOD
MEANING WHITE.
AND THAT OUR SCHOOLS REMAIN
GOOD MEANING WHITE.
THIS LEGISLATION WON'T
NECESSARILY BRING MORE BROWN
PEOPLE INTO MY NEIGHBORHOOD BUT
CERTAINLY -- CERTAINLY HAVING
THIS LEGISLATION MIGHT JUST
MAKE ALL THE WHITE SINGLE-
FAMILY HOMEOWNERS IN MY
NEIGHBORHOOD MORE RICH.
BUT IT CERTAINLY WILL SEND A
MESSAGE THAT THE CITY ONES TO
DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE RACIAL
INEQUITY THAT EXISTS HERE.
SO FOR THAT REASON, I SUPPORT
THIS LEGISLATION.
SO ONE THING THAT I WOULD LIKE
TO SEE IS AN AMENDMENT AND THAT
THERE ARE A LOT OF ADU'S THAT
EXIST WITHOUT BEING PERMITTED.
AND I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL
IF THOSE PEOPLE COULD BE
GRANDFATHERED IN SO THAT IT CAN
ALL BE LEGIT.
THANK YOU.
>> CHAIR O'BRIEN AND
COUNCILMEMBERS, FOR THE RECORD,
I AM SHELLEY COOL AND.
AND TONIGHT I AM PUTTING ON MY
BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAT.
REAL CHANGE EXISTS TO PROVIDE
OPPORTUNITY AND A VOICE FOR LOW
INCOME AND HOMELESS PEOPLE
WHILE TAKING ACTION FOR
ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND RACIAL
JUSTICE.
YOU ARE AMENDMENTS MR. CHAIR
CAN DO THAT. THEY WILL ALLOW
PROJECTS, NONPROFIT PROJECTS
LIKE THE BROUGHT -- THE BLOCK
PROJECT WHICH IS AN AMAZING
PROJECT.
THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT
FAMILIAR WITH IT, BECOME
EDUCATED.
BECAUSE THEY COULD SINGLE-
HANDEDLY SOLVE HOMELESSNESS.
IT WON'T.
BUT IT COULD BECAUSE THEIR GOAL
IS TO GET ONE DWELLING UNIT IN
THE BACKYARD OF EACH
RESIDENTIAL BLOCK IN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE.
I THINK THERE ARE TWICE AS MANY
RESIDENTIAL BLOCKS AS THERE ARE
NEEDED FOR HOMES.
AND YOU ARE REDUCING THE
MINIMUM SIZE AND ALLOWING TWO
ADU'S ON ONE BLOCK.
I ENCOURAGE YOU -- AND THERE
ARE OTHER NONPROFITS THAT ARE
DOING SIMILAR THINGS.
A LITTLE DIFFERENT BUT STILL.
THE IMPORTANCE THOUGH IS
LOOKING AT OTHER IDEAS THAT CAN
FURTHER ALLOW ADU'S IN BLOCKS,
IN COMMUNITIES.
THE BLOCK PROJECT IS COMMUNITY.
AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE ALL
HERE FOR.
A REAL COMMUNITY TO MAKE REAL
CHANGE.
THANK YOU.
>> KAREN IS NEXT FOLLOWED BY
WALTER WALSH THAN NANCY HELM
AND JESSICA DIXON.
>> MY NAME IS KAREN LUCAS.
I AM AN ARCHITECT AND A
HOMEOWNER IN THE MADISON ALLEY
NEIGHBORHOOD.
I AM HERE AND I'M ALSO A MEMBER
OF THE HOUSING SEATTLE TASK
FORCE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON ADU
POLICIES THE LAST SEVERAL
YEARS.
THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF
ARCHITECTS SEATTLE CHAPTER
SUPPORTS COUNCILMEMBER
O'BRIEN'S LEGISLATION WITHOUT
AMENDMENTS.
THEY ARE PARTICULARLY
SUPPORTIVE OF THE PARTS OF THE
LEGISLATION THAT ADDRESS WHAT
WE EXPERIENCE WITH OUR CLIENTS
AS THE BIGGEST BARRIERS TO ADU
CONSTRUCTION TODAY.
REMOVING PARKING REQUIREMENTS,
INCREASING SIZE AND RELAXING
OWNER OCCUPANCY RULES.
WE ALSO STRONGLY SUPPORT THE
FAR LIMITATION ON HOME SIZE
THAT WOULD BOTH INCENTIVIZE
DENSITY AND PROMOTE GOOD DESIGN
BY ENCOURAGING DESIGNERS AND
BUILDERS TO CREATIVELY ADDRESS
SPACE AND FUNCTIONALITY ISSUES.
ENCOURAGING ADDITIONAL ADU'S IS
A FILL WE CAN PROVIDE THAT IS
APPLICABLE TO ALL OF THE
SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOODS.
AS OUR SAID HE WORKS TO ADDRESS
DEEP DEFICITS AND OVERALL
HOUSING AVAILABILITY AND
SPECIFICALLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AVAILABILITY, THIS IS A NEEDED
STEP TO START TO OPEN UP ALL OF
OUR NEIGHBORHOODS TO EVERYONE
IN THE CITY.
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO APPROVE
THIS LEGISLATION AND ITS KEY
COMPONENTS.
I ALSO WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU --
THERE IS A TOUR OF EIGHT ADU'S
THIS SATURDAY.
THERE IS MORE INFORMATION ON
THE WEBSITE.
THANK YOU.
>> WALTER.
>> GOOD EVENING.
I WALTER WALSH, UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON LAW PROFESSOR AND
OWNER OCCUPANT OF THE
GRANDFATHERED DUPLEX IN THE
SINGLE-FAMILY ZONES UNIVERSITY
PARK.
THREE AMENDMENTS.
ONE, ENCOURAGE CO-OPS COME A
SPLIT OWNERSHIP AND BAN ADU
CONDOMINIUM IS ASIAN.
OWNERSHIP MAY BE SPLIT ONLY BY
ESTABLISHING A RESIDENTIAL CO-
OP AS DEFINED IN THE CONVERSION
ORDINANCE.
DO NOT ALLOW SPLIT OWNERSHIP
THROUGH COMBATANT -- A
CONDOMINIUM.
TWO, REQUIRE NON- OCCUPANT
LANDLORDS TO RECORD THE
COVENANT OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE
SEATTLE CO-OP CONVERSION
ORDINANCE WHEN SELLING RENTED
ADU'S.
BEFORE SALE TO THE PUBLIC, TO
USE AS CO-OP UNITS, NONE
OCCUPANT INVESTOR LANDLORDS
MUST COMPLY WITH OLDER CODE
OBLIGATIONS AS DEVELOPERS
INCLUDING OFFERING TENANTS
PROTECTIONS.
EXPAND THE SIERRA CLUB
ORDINANCE TO INCLUDE RENT,
SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLINGS AS WELL
AS RENTED ADU'S AND SINGLE-
FAMILY DWELLINGS.
THREE, DO NOT ALLOW DINGLE
STRUCTURE DOUBLE AADU --
UNDER THE SAME ROOF AND SINGLE-
FAMILY ZONES.
THE FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE WILL
JEOPARDIZE THE ENTIRE ADU
ORDINANCE.
RESTORE COUNSELOR O'BRIEN'S
2016 ALTERNATIVE TO THE SINGLE-
FAMILY DWELLING WITH ONE
ATTACHED AND ONE DETACHED ADU.
DUPLEX MEANS A SINGLE STRUCTURE
CONTAINING ONLY TWO DWELLING
UNITS, NEITHER OF WHICH IS A
ADU.
BUT THE CODE DEFINES A TRIPLEX
MORE SIMPLY AND WITHOUT ANY
QUALIFICATION AS A SINGLE
STRUCTURE CONTAINING THREE
DWELLING UNITS.
THE LAND USE CODE DOES NOT
DEFINE DOUBLE ADU LOTS WITH
DADU'S AS A TRIPLEX BUT IT DOES
DEFINE DOUBLE ADU LOTS WITHOUT
DADU'S AS A TRIPLEX.
IF ALLOWED A SINGLE STRUCTURE
CONTAINING A PRIMARY DWELLING
AND TWO ATTACHED ADU'S WOULD
FALL INTO BOTH DEFINITIONS,
SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLING UNIT AND
TRIPLEX.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, WALTER.
>> NANCY.
>> I'M NANCY HELM.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY
AND FOR THE WORK YOU ARE DOING
ON BEHALF OF OUR CITY.
I LIVE IN A SINGLE-FAMILY
NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS JUST
OUTSIDE THE GREEN LAKE AND
ROOSEVELT URBAN VILLAGES.
WE NEED MORE PEOPLE IN THIS
WALKABLE LIKABLE TRANSIT RICH
NEIGHBORHOOD.
MAKING IT EASIER FOR ME AND MY
NEIGHBORS TO BUILD ADU'S AND
DADU'S IS THE MINIMUM WE SHOULD
BE DOING.
SEATTLE IS A GREAT PLACE FOR
BABY BOOMERS LIKE ME TO AGE IF
WE HAVE A LOT OF HOUSING
OPTIONS, GREAT TRANSIT AND THE
ABILITY TO WALK TO PARKS,
RESTAURANTS, STORES, ET CETERA.
WE CAN GIVE UP OUR CARS, MAKE
-- MOVE INTO BACKYARD COTTAGES
AND LIVE WELL IN AGE DIVERSE
NEIGHBORHOODS.
I FULLY SUPPORT THE SQUARE
FOOTAGE LIMITS.
REMOVAL OF OWNER OCCUPANCY
REQUIREMENTS AND ELIMINATION OF
OFFSTREET PARKING REQUIREMENTS.
WE NEED HOUSES FOR MIDDLE-
CLASS, NOT MCMANSIONS.
PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BUILD MORE
UNITS ON A PROPERTY SHOULDN'T
BE LIMITED TO THE PROPERTIES
THEY LIVE ON.
AND IF STORAGE SPACE FOR
PERSONAL VEHICLES ON THE PUBLIC
RIGHT-OF-WAY IS A PROBLEM, THEN
SDOT NEEDS TO DO A BETTER JOB
OF MANAGING THE RESOURCE.
FOUR YEARS IS WAY TOO LONG TO
WAIT FOR THIS COMMONSENSE
REFORM THAT WILL MAKE OUR CITY
MORE LIVABLE AND MORE CLIMATE
RESILIENT.
LET'S DO IT.
>> NEXT, JESSICA.
JESSICA, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED
BY RICHARD SCHWARTZ AND THEN
ELAINE YOUNG AND THEN BROOKE
BROUGHT A. JESSICA, JUST FOR
FOLKS TRACKING CARDS, SHE IS
10A.
>> HELLO.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE
TONIGHT.
I AM A RESIDENT OF THE
GREENWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD AND HAVE
LIVED THERE FOR ABOUT 30 YEARS
IN A SINGLE FAMILY ZONE.
I LIVE IN A MULTIGENERATIONAL
HOUSE ON A SINGLE-FAMILY LOT.
I LIVE NEXT DOOR TO A
GRANDFATHERED IN DUPLEX WITH
FOUR PEOPLE UPSTAIRS AND FOUR
PEOPLE DOWNSTAIRS.
I LIVE ACROSS THE STREET FROM
SIX YOUNG MEN LIVING VERY
AFFORDABLY IN A SMALL RENTAL
HOUSE AND THEY ARE SHARING
BEDROOMS.
AND I AM GLAD THESE ACCESSORY
DWELLING UNITS EXIST IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE.
IN FACT, I WANTED TO BUILD AN
ACCESSORY DWELLING IN MY
BACKYARD FOR 15 YEARS SINCE THE
ORIGINAL LEGISLATION WAS PASSED
AND HAVETHOUGHT ABOUT IT.
BUT I HAVE NEVER HAD ENOUGH
MONEY, THE KIND OF MONEY IT
TAKES TO BUILD AN ACCESSORY
DWELLING UNIT.
SO I WAS INTERESTED WHEN THE
CITY PROPOSED LAST YEAR,
TWEAKING THE PARAMETERS SUCH AS
ALLOWING A LITTLE MORE HEIGHT
AND REMOVING THE PARKING
REQUIREMENTS.
BUT I AM HERE TO ASK YOU, THAT
YOU MAINTAIN THE OWNER
OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS.
WITHOUT THIS IN PLACE, WE ARE
OPENING UP OUR NEIGHBORHOODS TO
SPECULATION BY REIT AND GLOBAL
INVESTORS.
I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE IMPACT
THIS WILL HAVE ON OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS INCLUDING THE
LOSS OF TREES AND PERMEABLE
GROUND WHICH NOT ONLY AFFECTS
THE LIVABILITY OF THE
NEIGHBORHOODS BUT ULTIMATELY
THE HEALTH OF PUGET SOUND AND
THAT IS NOT SUSTAINABLE.
THANK YOU.
>> IF YOU WANT TO KEEP HER
TWO MINUTES, I WOULD COME BACK
THEN.
RICHARD SCHWARTZ.
>> GOOD EVENING.
IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE A BIT OF
AN ECHO CHAMBER GOING HERE
TODAY SO I WILL TAKE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER A SOMEWHAT
DIFFERENT ANGLE BUT AN
IMPORTANT ONE.
LATE LAST FRIDAY AFTERNOON, I
RECEIVED AN E-MAIL NOTICE ABOUT
THIS PUBLIC HEARING RELATING TO
AN EXTREMELY SIGNIFICANT PIECE
OF PROPOSED LEGISLATION.
JUST TWO BUSINESS DAYS NOTICE
FOR SOMETHING SO IMPORTANT DID
NOT SEEM VERY APPROPRIATE.
I QUICKLY READ THROUGH THE
PROPOSAL AND REALIZED A
QUESTION ON ONE ASPECT OF IT.
I NOTICED THAT IF THERE WERE
QUESTIONS, WE SHOULD CALL STEPH
OR ALICIA AT COUNCILMEMBER
O'BRIEN'S OFFICE.
LESLIE DANIELS ANSWERED THE
PHONE.
I TOLD HER WHAT MY QUESTION
WAS.
SHE SAID I WOULD NEED TO SPEAK
TO ALICIA BUT SHE WAS GONE FOR
THE DAY.
I THEN ASKED WHAT THE TIMEFRAME
WAS FOR MOVING THE PROPOSAL
FORWARD AND FOR FUTURE PUBLIC
COMMENT.
SHE SAID I WOULD NEED TO SPEAK
TO STEPH OR KELLY WHICH WAS
ALSO GONE FOR THE DAY.
SINCE IT WAS SO LITTLE TIME
BETWEEN THE NOTICE COMING OUT
LATE FRIDAY AT THE PUBLIC
HEARING, I ASKED LESLIE WHAT I
SHOULD DO TO GET MY QUESTION
ANSWERED BEFORE THE HEARING.
SHE SAID SHE COULD HAVE ALICIA
CALL ME MONDAY MORNING.
I ASKED IF THERE WAS SOMETHING
SHE COULD DO TO MAKE SURE
ALICIA GOT THE MESSAGE.
SHE SAID SHE WOULD PUT IT
DIRECTLY ON HER KEYBOARD SO SHE
WOULD BE SURE TO SEE IT.
MONDAY CAME AND WENT.
NO CALL.
TODAY CAME AND WENT, NO CALL.
SO TO SUMMARIZE, VERY SHORT
NOTICE GIVEN FOR A VERY
IMPORTANT HEARING.
THE PEOPLE CITED TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS ARE NOT AVAILABLE.
THE PROMISE FOR THEM TO GET
BACK TO ME BEFORE THE MEETING
IS NOT FULFILLED.
SO WHY DID I DECIDE TO FORSAKE
A BEAUTIFUL SUNDAY AFTERNOON TO
COME DOWN AND SPEAK ABOUT THIS
TODAY?
IT IS BECAUSE AN ELECTION IS
COMING UP.
IF YOU ARE THE AVERAGE CITIZEN
AND CANNOT CALL THE CITY AND
SAY, I AM SO AND SO FROM AMAZON
OR I AM SO AND SO FROM THE
CASCADE BY CLUB OR I AM SO AND
SO FROM VULCAN, YOU SHOULD
PROBABLY EXPECT TO HAVE THE
SAME EXPERIENCE I JUST
DESCRIBED.
IF YOU THINK YOU DESERVE MORE
RESPECT THAN THIS FROM YOUR
CITY COUNCIL NUMBERS AT
OFFICIALS, YOU BETTER START
QUIZZING THE CANDIDATES IN A
VERY SPECIFIC MANNER ABOUT HOW
THEY PLAN TO BE MORE RESPONSIVE
TO THE LITTLE GUY.
THE SITUATION IS JUST ANOTHER
SMALL EXAMPLE IN A CONSISTENT
PATTERN ON THE PART OF THE CITY
DEMONSTRATING A CASUAL
DISRESPECT FOR PEOPLE IT IS
SUPPOSED TO SERVE.
IS IT ANY WONDER THAT MANY
CITIZENS REACH THE CONCLUSION
THAT THE CITY'S REPORTED
INTEREST AND INVOLVEMENT SIMPLY
IS WINDOW DRESSING AND AS A
RESULT, DROP OUT AND GIVE UP ON
THE PROCESS.
FINALLY I JUST WANTED TO ADD
THAT I WOULD LIKE TO EXCLUDE
MR. INGOLD FROM SOME OF MY
COMMENTS.
BOTH MYSELF AND THE MEMBERS OF
MY COMMUNITY HAVE FOUND THAT
YOU AND YOUR OFFICE ARE WILLING
TO RESPOND TO CONCERNS RAISED
AND IT IS APPRECIATED.
>> THANK YOU RICHARD.
NEXT WE HAVE LANE YOUNG.
>> I'M LANY YOUNG.
I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY
SUPPORT FOR THE ADU'S OVERALL
AND MOST OF THE PROVISIONS
PROPOSED.
I AM -- I PARTICULARLY
APPRECIATE THE ATTEMPT TO USE
THE F ASCAP -- FAR FOR
SMALLER HOMES TO CREATE
DISPROPORTIONATELY LARGE
STRUCTURES.
WITH THAT SAID, I CONCUR WITH
MARTY KAPLAN THAT THE DEAL
SEEMS TO NEED A LITTLE WORK
THAT I DID NOT UNDERSTAND
PREVIOUSLY.
I AM HERE HOWEVER TO STRONGLY
OPPOSE THE REMOVAL OF THE OWNER
OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENT FOR ALL
THE REASONS ARTICULATED SO FAR
AND SOME WHICH WILL BE COMING
I'M SURE.
I FEAR CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT
WHERE PROPERTIES CAN BE PASSED
ON TO ERRORS TO A PERPETUAL
INCOME STREAM REGARDLESS OF IF
THEY LIVE ACROSS THE STREET
COME ACROSS TOWN OR ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, REMOVING THEM FROM THE
LOCAL MARKET FOR GENERATIONS
AND REMOVING PRIDE OF
OWNERSHIP, THAT THE PRIDE OF
OWNERSHIP INCENTIVE TO MAINTAIN
THESE PROPERTIES.
I WOULD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU
TO RECONSIDER THAT ONE
PROVISION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, LAINEY.
>> BROOKE. BROOKE, YOU WILL
BE FOLLOWED BY GREG HILL AND
THEN DALIA FLOR AND JESSICA
WEST.
>> MY NAME IS BROOKE AND I AM
HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF
INCREASING OUR ABILITY TO BUILD
MOTHER-IN-LAW'S, GRANNY FLATS,
BACKYARD COTTAGES AND ALL OF
THAT.
THE ABILITY TO RENT AN
AFFORDABLE ADU HAS BEEN
CRITICAL TO MY FAMILY TO LIVE
IN SEATTLE AND MAKE A LIFE FOR
OURSELVES WORKING AS ARTISTS,
TEACHERS AND NONPROFITS AND
MORE.
BACK IN 2008, I MOVED BACK HOME
TO SEATTLE TO WORK ON THE OBAMA
CAMPAIGN.
I WAS NOT MAKING A LOT OF MONEY
AND NEEDED TO FIND A PLACE
QUICKLY SO I COULD GET TO WORK.
LUCKILY, A FAMILY MEMBER HAD A
SMALL BASEMENT APARTMENT THAT I
COULD RENT CHEAPLY.
I KNEW I COULD COUNT ON THIS
AFFORDABLE ACTION BECAUSE YEARS
EARLIER, MY SISTER LIVED IN
THIS VERY SAME UNIT AFTER SHE
GOT OUT OF COLLEGE WHEN SHE WAS
JUST STARTING OUT AND WORKING A
MINIMUM WAGE JOB.
NOW I AM FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO
OWN THIS HOME AND AGAIN THIS
LITTLE BASEMENT APARTMENT HAS
BEEN AVAILABLE TO HELP OUT YET
ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER.
LAST FALL, THE HOUSE THAT MY
MOTHER, LATE MOTHER AND
STEPFATHER RENTED FOR OVER 30
YEARS, WAS SCHEDULED TO BE
REDEVELOPED.
MY STEPFATHER IS ON A WAITING
LIST FOR SENIOR APARTMENT BUT
IT COULD TAKE YEARS FOR A PLACE
TO BECOME AVAILABLE.
SO AGAIN, IT IS THAT LITTLE ADU
TO THE RESCUE.
MY FATHER IS ABLE TO STAY IN
THE NEIGHBORHOOD HE HAS LIVED
IN FOR DECADES AND I GET TO
KEEP A FAMILY MEMBER OR CLOSE.
THIS IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF HOW
THE ADU'S PROVIDE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, SUPPORT
INTERGENERATIONAL LIVING AND
HELP MAKE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
WELCOMING TO ALL KINDS OF
PEOPLE.
ADU'S ARE NOT A NEW IDEA.
THEY HAVE BEEN CONTRIBUTING TO
NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER FOR
DECADES.
LET'S BUILD ON WHAT WE KNOW
WORKS BY MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR
MORE PEOPLE TO HAVE ACCESS BY
PASSING THE MOST FLEXIBLE,
LEAST RESTRICTIVE LEGISLATION
POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU.
>> GREG.
>> FOR MOST FAMILIES, BUYING
A HOUSE IS OUR GREATEST
INVESTMENT.
THE EXISTING ADU DADU ORDINANCE
WAS CAREFULLY CRAFTED BY THE
OPINIONS OF MANY PEOPLE TO
PROVIDE MORE HOUSING WHILE
RESPECTING NEIGHBORS AND
FAMILIES.
IT RECOGNIZES THAT CONTEXT AND
SCALE MATTER.
TREES MATTER.
GARDENS MATTER.
THE PROPOSAL RECOGNIZES THAT
THE MAJORITY OF FAMILIES DO NOT
WANT TO BE CONTRACTORS AND THEY
DON'T WANT TO BE LANDLORDS.
SO THE SOLUTION IS, GET RID OF
THEM.
HOW WILL HAVING SEATTLE HOMES
OWNED BY INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS
FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIVE IN
THE STATE OR EVEN IN THE
COUNTRY, WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN
HERE AND DON'T PLAN TO VISIT
-- HOW WILL THAT MAKE THE
NEIGHBORHOOD STRONGER?
AND HOW WILL IT CREATE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING?
IT IS NOT GOING TO.
FOR THE PAST YEARS, WE HAVE
HEARD THAT IF YOU BUILD A DADU,
YOU CAN PAY OFF YOUR CURRENT
MORTGAGE.
IT IS BALONEY.
THIS PROPOSAL FAVORS THE
WEALTHY.
NOT FAMILIES.
NOT THE POOR.
THANK YOU.
>> DALIA.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBERS.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER O'BRIEN
AND STAFF FOR THE THOUGHTFUL
LEGISLATION AND FOR RESPONDING
TO COMMUNITY CONCERNS.
AS YOU WELL KNOW, SEATTLE'S
SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE IS
INTENDED TO LIFT UP THE VOICES
OF THOSE MOST HARMED BY PAST
ACTION AND POLICY AND USING
THAT RACIAL EQUITY TOOLKIT
SEEMS TO HAVE INFORMED YOUR
WORK.
MY FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR RUBY
HOLLAND HAS ENCOURAGED,
INFORMED AND SUPPORTIVE PEOPLE
ACROSS THE CITY AT RISK OF
DISPLACEMENT.
NOT ONLY IN HER BELOVED CENTRAL
AREA NEIGHBORHOOD BUT
THROUGHOUT THE CITY AS WELL.
SHE IS ADVOCATING FOR PEOPLE
WHO CHOOSE TO STAY, WHO WISHED
TO REMAIN IN THEIR HABITAT.
MANY SEATTLE HOMEOWNERS,
PARTICULARLY THE ELDERLY AND
PEOPLE OF COLOR, RECEIVE WEEKLY
OR DAILY OFFERS TO PURCHASE
THEIR HOME BY MAIL, PHONE OR IN
PERSON.
MY HOPE IS THAT THE PROPOSED
LEGISLATION WILL BE A TOOL FOR
A LONG TIME SEATTLE RESIDENTS
TO REMAIN IN THEIR HOME AND
PROVIDE AFFORDABLE RENTALS FOR
FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS WHO
MIGHT OTHERWISE BE PRICED OUT
AND TO COUNTER THE TREND FOR
HOMOGENEOUS NEIGHBORHOODS, ON
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND REAL
ESTATE SPECULATION.
I HOPE IT PROVIDES AFFORDABLE
HOUSING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND
FAMILIES AND RESIDENTS WHO HAVE
LOST NOT ONLY HOPE FOR HOME
OWNERSHIP BUT AFFORDABLE RENTAL
HOUSING.
I LIVE A FEW BLOCKS FROM RUBY
ON A BLOG ZONE FOR SINGLE AND
MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES.
IT IS A MIX OF OWNERS AND
RENTERS, LONG-TERM RENTERS ARE
AN ASSET AND CONTRIBUTE MUCH TO
THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THEY KNOW WHO LIVES HERE.
THEY KNOW THE HISTORY OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND OUR COLLECTIVE
PLACE AND IT.
THEY GARDEN AND BLOCK WATCH AND
TAKE CARE OF ONE ANOTHER IN
THEIR HOMES WHETHER IT IS AN
APARTMENT OR A HOUSE JUST AS
PROPERTY OWNERS DO THAT I DON'T
OUR CITY TO JUST BECOME A
PLAYGROUND FOR THE WEALTHY.
MY LIFE IS MORE FULL AND RICH
WITH FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS THAT
COME FROM A DIVERSE DEMOGRAPHIC
AND CULTURAL DEMOGRAPHIC.
WE RAISED OUR SUN IN A SMALL
MULTIFAMILY PROPERTY ON THE
SAME BLOCK FOR 25 YEARS.
IT IS 1200 SQUARE FEET.
IT WAS ENOUGH FOR US AND IT IS
EVEN ENOUGH NOW WHEN THEY
TEMPORARILY MOVE HOME AS
ADULTS.
THANK YOU.
>> JESSICA, YOU WILL BE NEXT.
YOU ARE FOLLOWED BY PETER AND
THEN JONATHAN'S EAGER.
>> GOOD EVENING COUNSEL AND
STAFF.
I AM HERE TO SPEAK AS A MEMBER
OF WELCOMING -- ON BEHALF OF
ADU REFORM.
MY FRIEND NEEDS TO REMAIN
ANONYMOUS DUE TO HER HOUSING
SITUATION.
I WILL CALL HER VICTORIA.
VICTORIA BOUGHT HER 1939 HOUSE
FOR THE PURPOSE OF RUNNING
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING IN HER
COMMUNITY.
SHE HOUSES THE HOUSING
UNSTABLE, PEOPLE WHO SUDDENLY
LOST LEASES, PEOPLE SAVING
FUNDS FOR SECURITY DEPOSITS,
PEOPLE LEAVING UNHEALTHY OR
VIOLENT HOUSING SITUATIONS SUCH
AS DOMESTIC HOUSES.
THEY SAY VICTORIA'S HOME RENT
FREE FOR THREE MONTHS TO GET
TIME AND SPACE TO GET
STABILIZED.
IF YOU WALKED PAST VICTORIA'S
HOUSE, YOU WOULD NOT KNOW YOU
WERE LOOKING AT IT AND
DEFINITELY OWNED TRANSITIONAL
HOUSING.
TWO TRANSITIONAL ROOMS ARE
UPSTAIRS AND TWO IN THE
BASEMENT.
EACH TRANSITIONAL BEDROOM IS
FULLY FURNISHED.
THERE IS A COMMUNITY PANTRY AND
THE ROOMS ARE FITTED WITH A
MINIATURE FRIDGE.
IN ADDITION THERE IS A SMALL
BACKYARD COTTAGE USED FOR
TEMPORARY STAYS.
SINCE THE BEGINNING SIX YEARS
AGO, SHE HAS BEEN ABLE TO
ASSIST 47 PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOUSING AND SECURITY.
SHE HAS ASSISTED 17 INDIVIDUALS
IN 2018 ALONE.
VICTORIA WANTS TO PROVIDE MORE
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING BUT DOES
NOT HAVE THE SPACE TO PROVIDE A
PARKING SPACE TERAWATT IS BIG
ENOUGH AND EVEN HAS PLUMBING
THAT RUNS MOSTLY TO THE
BACKYARD.
LIKE MANY SEATTLE HOMES, IT IS
CLOSE TO THE SIDEWALK ON TOP OF
A HILL.
VICTORIA IS ALSO PLANNING FOR
HER FUTURE AS WELL AND WANTS TO
BUILD A HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE
UNIT.
SHE SUFFERS FROM CHRONIC HEALTH
ISSUES AND KNOWS THAT AS SHE
AGES, SHE WON'T BE ABLE TO
NAVIGATE HER STAIRS.
TO HELP VICTORIA, WE NEED TO
REMOVE THE PARKING REQUIREMENT,
ALLOW MULTIPLE STRUCTURES AND
CHANGE THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE
ALLOWED TO LIVE IN THE SPACE.
IN THE END, WHAT WE ARE LOOKING
AT ARE IMPACTFUL YET MODEST
CHANGES TO THE CURRENT POLICIES
REGARDING BACKYARD COTTAGES AND
BASEMENT APARTMENTS.
WITH THESE FEW CHANGES, PEOPLE
LIKE VICTORIA CAN CONTINUE AND
EXPAND UPON THE COMMUNITY
ASSISTANCE THEY ALREADY
PROVIDE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU JESSICA.
PETER.
>> THANKS TO THE
COUNCILMEMBERS HERE, THANK YOU
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT
ON 119554.
MY NAME IS PETER REESE.
I'M AN ARCHITECT.
I HAVE BEEN WORKING THROUGHOUT
SEATTLE FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS.
I AM A SUPPORTER OF THE UNITS
AS A VEHICLE TO PROVIDE MORE
HOPE FOR THE HOUSING IN THE
CONTEXT OF STABLE RESIDENTIAL
NEIGHBORHOODS.
I AM ALSO IN FAVOR OF MOST OF
THE PROPOSED CHANGES THAT
RELATE TO MORE GENEROUS
DEVELOPING STANDARDS AND EASING
THE REQUIREMENTS FOR ON-SITE
PARKING.
I AM HOWEVER STRONGLY OPPOSED
TO THE PROPOSAL OF LIMITING THE
REQUIREMENT FOR OWNER OCCUPANCY
ON THE PROPERTIES DEVELOPED
WITH ADU'S.
THE OCCUPATION OF AN OWNER
OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENT WOULD IN
THEORY WAKE -- BRING SMALL-
SCALE MULTIFAMILY DEPONENTS AND
WOULD IN PRACTICE UNDERMINE THE
FOLLOWING POLICY OBJECTIVES
THAT WE AS A CITY ARE PURSUING.
FIRST IS THE ISSUE OF EQUITY.
ALONG WITH THE PRIMARY GOAL OF
PROVIDING MORE HOUSING, ADU'S
HAS A SECONDARY GOAL OF
ALLOWING FOR HOMEOWNERS TO PUT
HIS FEET AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS.
OFTEN ALLOWING PEOPLE WHO MIGHT
OTHERWISE BE PRICED OUT OF
THEIR HOMES TO STAY.
WHEN THE REQUIREMENT GOES AWAY,
THE SINGLE HIM FAMILY HOUSING
MARKET IS OPENED UP FOR THOSE
WITH ENTITIES WITH ACCESS TO
CAPITAL TO FURTHER CONCENTRATE
THE OWNERSHIP IN THE HANDS OF
THE FEW.
SECOND IS THE GOAL OF BUILDING
STRONG NEIGHBORHOODS.
NEIGHBORHOOD STRENGTH GROWS
OVER TIME.
OLDER RESIDENTS GIVE WAY TO
YOUNG FAMILIES.
NEWCOMERS BRING FRESH IDEA AND
LONGTIME RESIDENTS ARE FREE TO
AGE AND PLACE.
WHEN A HOME BECOMES A THREE
UNIT RENTAL PROPERTY WITH AN
ABSENTEE LANDLORD,
OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEW
HOMEOWNERS TO MOVE AND
DISAPPEAR.
SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS RELY ON
STRONG RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN
NEIGHBORS AND HOMEOWNERSHIP IS
A STRONG CONTRIBUTOR TO THOSE
RELATIONSHIPS.
FINALLY, THERE IS THE QUESTION
OF AFFORDABILITY.
THE CENTER FOR HOUSING
INNOVATION AT CALIFORNIA
BERKELEY RECENTLY SURVEYED AND
FOUND THAT RESIDENT HOMEOWNERS
WERE NOT THE UNITS AT LOW
MARKET RATES APPROXIMATELY 58%
OF THE TIME.
AND THAT RENTAL INCREASES ARE
LESS FREQUENT THAN COMMERCIALLY
OPERATED HOUSING.
WITHOUT THE REQUIREMENT FOR
OWNER OCCUPANCY, THE
AFFORDABILITY ADVANTAGE WOULD
GO AWAY.
AND THE COMMERCIAL RENTAL
MARKET WOULD ENSUE.
IN CLOSING, I WOULD LIKE TO
REITERATE MY SUPPORT FOR THE
PROPOSAL DOES MOST OF THE
PROPOSED LEGISLATION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> JONATHAN. YOU WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY PAT GRIFFITH AND
THEN LOUISA MILLER.
JONATHAN, YOU ARE 14A.
>> MY NAME IS JONATHAN.
I AM A PROPONENT OF ADU'S.
I AM PLANNING ON BUILDING ONE
IN MY OWN HOME.
THANK YOU FOR WORKING TOWARD
THESE GOALS.
ADU'S ARE A GREAT THING FROM
MANY PERSPECTIVES,
ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC AND
THEY HELPED TO CREATE OF A
DIVERSE HOUSING STOCK.
THAT IS IMPORTANT IN HELPING TO
SOLVE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS WE
ARE CURRENTLY FACING.
I AM AN ARCHITECT.
I WORK ON BOTH MULTIFAMILY AND
RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS.
I HAVE LIVED HERE IN SEATTLE
FOR OVER 10 YEARS.
MY CONCERN WITH THIS BILL IS
THE FX -- FAR RESTRICTIONS.
THIS WOULD EFFECTIVELY CUT THE
DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL OF SINGLE-
FAMILY ZONES UP TO HALF.
THIS IS A DRASTIC CHANGE THAT
COULD HAVE EFFECTS ON PROPERTY
VALUES AND MAY CREATE A
POTENTIAL INEQUITY.
LARGER HOMES WILL STILL BE ABLE
TO BE BUILT.
YOU WILL JUST NEED TO BE MORE
PRIVILEGED TO OWN A LARGER LOT
OR MULTIPLE LOTS TO DO SO.
IN THIS WAY, THE FAR
RESTRICTION WOULD HAVE MORE OF
AN IMPACT ON OWNERS OF SMALLER
TYPICAL LOTS.
WE ARE A GROWING CITY AND WE
NEED TO BE BUILDING CREATIVE
PROJECTS THAT ENCOURAGE
DIVERSITY OF HOME TYPE FOR
DIVERSITY OF LIFESTYLES.
MANY OF THE SINGLE-FAMILY
HOUSES HERE IN SEATTLE ARE OVER
100 YEARS OLD AND IN NEED OF
MAINTENANCE AND SUSTAINABILITY
UPDATES.
THE WAY I SEE IT, THERE ARE
ANSWERS TO ADDRESSING SEATTLE'S
NEED FOR HOME TYPE DIVERSITY
REQUIRING SMALLER HOMES WON'T
MAKE THAT BETTER.
IT WILL JUST MAKE THEM SMALLER
AND LESS FUNCTIONAL FOR
HOMEOWNERS.
ONE SOLUTION COULD BE A FAR OF
.75 WHICH WOULD LIMIT THE
LARGEST HOMES BUT ALLOW HOMES
OF THE AVERAGE SIZE BEING BUILT
TODAY.
IF YOU WANT TO BUILD YOUR HOUSE
WITH THE ADU, FACILITATE
MULTIGENERATIONAL HOUSING OR
HAVE ROOM TO RUN A SMALL
BUSINESS, YOU NEED THE SQUARE
FOOTAGE TO DO IT.
PERSONALLY MY VISION FOR THE
FUTURE IS ONE WHERE HOMEOWNERS
CAN HAVE THE ADU AND SPACE FOR
ALL OF THOSE THINGS IN AN
EFFICIENT PACKAGE THAT DOES NOT
IMPOSE ON NEIGHBORS.
PLEASE TAKE MORE TIME TO
CONSIDER THIS FAR RESTRICTION
AND WHAT IT WOULD DO TO OUR
CITY.
THANK YOU.
>> PAT.
>> MY NAME IS PAT GRIFFITH.
I AM A 45 YEAR SEATTLE
RESIDENT.
WE LIVE IN QUEEN AND IN THE
SAME HOUSE WE BUILT AT THE END
OF THE DEPRESSION 44 YEARS AGO.
I SUPPORT THE CONCEPT OF ADU'S
BUT I FEEL THIS PROPOSAL GOES
TOO FAR AND TOO FAST.
IT HAS INADEQUATE GUARANTEES OF
AFFORDABILITY AND IT DOES NOT
GUARANTEE THAT THE UNITS WILL
NOT BE CONVERTED TO SHORT-TERM
RENTALS.
IT ENCOURAGES INVESTOR
OWNERSHIP AT THE RISK OF
PRICING OUT FIRST-TIME
HOMEBUYERS AND FAMILIES THAT
WILL BUILD AND SUSTAIN
NEIGHBORHOODS LONG-TERM.
YOU ONLY NEED TO TAKE A DRIVE
DOWN MLK OR RAINIER AVENUE AND
SEE ALL OF THE INVESTOR WANTS
TO BUY YOUR HOME SIGNS.
WE HAVE THE CAPABILITY NOW WITH
BACKYARD COTTAGES BUT WE DO
HAVE AN ISSUE BECAUSE I
UNDERSTAND THAT ABOUT 40% OF
THOSE ARE BEING USED FOR SHORT-
TERM RENTALS.
AND THOSE DO NOT HELP THE
HOUSING STOCK.
WE NEED HOUSING THAT PEOPLE WHO
ACTUALLY LIVE AND WORK HERE CAN
AFFORD.
LET'S CRUNCH THE NUMBERS A
LITTLE BIT.
BECAUSE AS SOMEONE ELSE EARLIER
SAID, MANY HOMEOWNERS ARE NOT
NECESSARILY WILLING TO BECOME
LANDLORDS.
WE HAVE BEEN LANDLORDS BEFORE.
IT KEPT THE RENT MODEST.
BUT WE UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES.
SOMETHING THAT MANY FAMILIES OR
RETIREES ARE NOT WILLING TO DO.
AND THE ADU IS LIKELY TO COST
$200,000 OR MORE.
AND IT WOULD INCLUDE MONTHS OF
CONSTRUCTION AND INCONVENIENCE
FOR BOTH THE OWNERS AND
NEIGHBORS.
PRINCIPAL INTEREST TEXT
MAINTENANCE AND A REASONABLE
RETURN ON INVESTMENT WOULD
BRING THE MONTHLY RENT REQUIRED
TO AROUND $2000 MEANING
ATTENDANT WOULD HAVE TO HAVE AN
INCOME OF $70,000 A YEAR.
THAT IS MORE THAN MOST
TEACHERS, DAYCARE WORKERS,
STUDENTS AND NONPROFIT WORKERS.
I WOULD URGE YOU TO GO SLOW ON
THIS PROPOSAL AND WORK WITH
NEIGHBORHOODS TO ACHIEVE A
WORKABLE AND AFFORDABLE
SOLUTION AND PLEASE DON'T RUSH
THIS THROUGH BEFORE OUR NEW
COUNSEL IS ELECTED AND SEATED.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, PAT.
>> LOUISE MILLER IS NEXT.
LOUISE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
ANGELA COMPTON AND THEN MARK
MINARD.
IS LOUISA HERE?
ANGELA?
I MISSED IRA APPLETON.
IS IRA HERE?
SKIPPING OVER LOUISA.
YOU ARE UP NOW AND THEN IT WILL
BE MARKED.
>> IRA APPLEMAN.
I OBJECT TO THIS LAME-DUCK CITY
COUNCIL'S CONTINUING WERE ON
SINGLE-FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS.
WHICH VIOLATES RCW36072
REQUIREMENT THAT SINGLE FAMILY
HOUSING BE PROTECTED.
PREVIOUSLY THE COUNCIL
ELIMINATED SINGLE-FAMILY ZONING
IN URBAN VILLAGES.
NOW COUNSEL BILL 119554
INCENTIVIZES TWO ADDITIONAL
ADU'S PER LOT REMOVING PARKING
AND SETBACK REQUIREMENTS MAKING
SINGLE-FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS TO
FECTEAU MULTIFAMILY
NEIGHBORHOODS.
I APPRECIATE THE FREUDIAN SLIP
FROM STAFF THAT DRAFTED THE
SUMMARY AND FISCAL NOTE 4G
WHICH SAYS ABOUT THE BILL QUOTE
"THE LONG-TERM GOAL IS
INCREASING HOSING OPTIONS AND
SINGLE-FAMILY ZONES."
RESIDENTS GET HOSED BY HAVING
SINGLE FAMILY BECOME
MULTIFAMILY WITHOUT THEIR
KNOWLEDGE OR CONSENT.
THEN THEY GET HOST AGAIN BY
BEING CALLED RACISTS FOR
VALUING SINGLE-FAMILY
NEIGHBORHOODS.
IN 2015, MAYOR MURRAY TRIED BUT
FAILED BECAUSE OF PUBLIC OUTCRY
TO ELIMINATE SINGLE-FAMILY
NEIGHBORHOODS AND PROMISED TO
THE CITY WOULD NOT GO THERE
AGAIN.
I OFFERED THE FOLLOWING
EXHIBITS TO SUPPORT MY VIEW.
THE DRAFT REPORT AND LETTER
FROM COCHAIRS LEAKED TO THE
SEATTLE TIMES THAT CLAIMS
"SINGLE-FAMILY ZONING IS NO
LONGER REALISTIC OR
SUSTAINABLE."
AND "IT IS RECOMMENDED WE
ABANDON THE TERM SINGLE-FAMILY
ZONE."
AND THE JULY 29TH 2015 MURRAY
STATEMENT THAT HE WILL NOT
RECOMMEND PURSUING THE
RECOMMENDATIONS TO CHANGE
SINGLE-FAMILY ZONES.
FINALLY, THE ARTICLE ON WHAT
HAPPENED AT THAT TIME, SEATTLE
UP ZONING PROPOSAL COLLAPSES
LIKE THE MARINERS.
THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD NOT
BREAK THE MAYOR'S PROMISE THAT
SINGLE-FAMILY ZONES WOULD NOT
BE CHANGED AS RECOMMENDED BY
THE COMMITTEE.
AND I ALWAYS WONDER WHY, IF YOU
THINK THIS REALLY HAS PUBLIC
SUPPORT, RATHER THAN THE
SUPPORT OF PUBLIC INTEREST --
SPECIAL INTEREST, WHY NOT HAVE
AN ADVISORY VOTE TO SEE WHAT
PEOPLE IN SINGLE-FAMILY
NEIGHBORHOODS ACTUALLY THINK.
THANK YOU.
>> MARK, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED
BY ANGELA COMPTON AND THEN BEN
WADSWORTH.
>> GOOD EVENING.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN
SEATTLE IN THE MAGNOLIA
NEIGHBORHOOD.
WHEN I WAS 25, I MARRIED, MOVED
TO BALLARD AND THEN EDMONDS.
I RETURNED TO SEATTLE IN 1993.
I LIVED BY CHOICE IN A 10 UNIT
CONDO IN THE EAST QUEEN AND
NEIGHBORHOOD.
WHAT IS A NEIGHBORHOOD?
WEBSTER DEFINES IT AS A, A
SECTION LIVED IN BY NEIGHBORS
USUALLY HAVING A DISTINCT
CHARACTERISTIC.
AND B, NEIGHBORLY RELATIONSHIPS
. YOUR ADU BILL HAS THE
SECTION PART RIGHT BUT THE
DISTINCT CHARACTERISTICS AND
NEIGHBORLY RELATIONSHIPS PART
IS WRONG.
IF YOU PUSH THIS BILL, THE
UNIQUE CHARACTER OF EACH
NEIGHBORHOOD WILL BE DESTROYED.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VESTED
HOMEOWNERS WILL ERODE AS A
STEADY FLOW OF FUNDS OF
STRANGERS -- AS A STEADY FLOW
STRANGERS FILL EVERY BACKYARD.
I CHOOSE TO LIVE IN A
MULTIFAMILY ZONED NEIGHBORHOOD.
THOUSANDS OF SINGLE-FAMILY
HOMEOWNERS DID NOT.
THEY PURCHASED A HOME WITH AN
EXPECTATION OF A CERTAIN
QUALITY OF LIFE.
WHICH INCLUDES SAFETY, SERENITY,
CONVENIENCE AND SPACE TO
BREATHE AND PARK.
THESE VALUES THAT THEY CHOSE
WILL BE STRIPPED AWAY. DEATH
BY 1000 CUPS, IF YOU PASS THIS
ADU BILL.
I ALSO FIND THE METHODOLOGY
USING CHERRY PICKED COMPUTER
MODELS TO JUSTIFY BROAD AND
SWEEPING CHANGES IN
NEIGHBORHOOD ZONING TROUBLING.
A RUSH SOLUTION TO A COMPLEX
WELL. USUALLY DOES NOT END
I THINK THIS IS THE CASE WITH
YOUR ADU BILL.
IF YOU ALLOW THIS BILL TO
BECOME A LAW, YOUR LEGACY WILL
BE A DISSERVICE TO THE CITIZENS
YOU TOOK AN OATH TO REPRESENT.
THANK YOU.
I WILL PASS OVER ANGELA TOO.
WE WILL GO TO BEN WADSWORTH
FOLLOWED BY GLENN -- AND
BRIAN RULE.
BRIAN IS 18A FOR THOSE TRACKING
WHERE WE ARE.
>> MY NAME IS BEN WADSWORTH.
I HAVE BEEN A HOMEOWNER FOR 20
YEARS.
LARGELY BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO ADD ADU'S TO THE TWO
HOUSES I HAVE LIVED IN.
I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE.
TODAY MY BROTHER AND I OWN A
RENTAL HOUSE IN MAPLE LEAF.
THE HOUSE WAS ORIGINALLY
PURCHASED BY MY BROTHER WHO
LIVED THERE FOR FIVE YEARS
BEFORE HIS CAREER TOOK HIM TO
COLORADO.
DURING THAT TIME, HE CONVERTED
THE DETACHED GARAGE INTO A
BACKYARD COTTAGE AND RENTED IT
OUT TO PAY HIS MORTGAGE.
WHEN HE MOVED AWAY, I PURCHASED
HALF OF THE HOUSE FROM HIM
BECAUSE HE DID NOT WANT TO BE
AN ABSENTEE LANDLORD.
GOOD LANDLORDS WITH HEAVY
TENANTS -- AND TO BE FRANK,
THE HOUSE LOOKS BETTER THAN THE
OWNER-OCCUPIED HOUSES ON THE
STREET.
HOWEVER GIVEN THAT THE HOUSE IS
NOT OWNER-OCCUPIED, WE CANNOT
RENT OUT THE COTTAGE AND IT
SITS MOSTLY EMPTY.
THE EXISTING HOUSE IS ONLY
11,000 SQUARE FEET AND THE LOT
IS CLOSE TO 8900 WITH A BACK
ALLEY.
THE EXISTING COTTAGES 450
SQUARE FEET.
WE ARE EAGER TO IMPROVE AND
EXPAND THE COTTAGE . WE ARE
CONFIDENT WE CAN DO THAT WITH
LITTLE IMPACT ON THE NEIGHBORS.
THERE IS PLENTY OF SPACE ON THE
LOT FOR PARKING.
NOTARIES WOULD HAVE TO BE
REMOVED AN EXCESS OF THE ALLEY
WOULD MAKE THE COMINGS AND
GOINGS OF TENANTS QUITE
DISCRETE.
HOWEVER THE CURRENT OWNER
OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENT IS
PREVENTING US FROM USING THE
SPACE AS A RENTAL.
GIVEN SEATTLE'S HOUSING CRISIS
AND THE NEED FOR MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE
DESIRED SINGLE FAMILY
NEIGHBORHOODS, IT IS TRAGIC
THAT WE HAVE A VACANT HOME ON
OUR PROPERTY.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PASS
LEGISLATION IS WRITTEN AND GET
RID OF THE OWNER OCCUPANCY
REQUIREMENT AND LET'S PROVIDE
MORE OPPORTUNITY IN THE
NEIGHBORHOODS.
THANK YOU.
GLENN IS NEXT.
>> THANK YOU COUNSEL.
I HAVE LIVED IN SEATTLE SINCE
1967 OVER 50 YEARS.
I MOVED HERE WITH MY THEN
SINGLE MOTHER.
WE LIVED IN A STUDIO IN THE
GREEN LAKE NEIGHBORHOOD NESTLED
AMONG OTHER HOUSES.
SINCE THEN, I HAVE LIVED IN 10
DIFFERENT SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOODS
INCLUDING CAPITOL HILL, QUEEN
AND, BALLARD, WALLINGFORD. I
BOUGHT MY OWN SINGLE-FAMILY
HOUSE IN 1993 IN MAPLE LEAF.
I HAVE OWNED IT FOR 26 YEARS.
I AM NOW ONE OF THE LONGEST
RESIDENTS ON MY BLOCK.
I KNOW MOST OF MY NEIGHBORS AND
MOST OF THEM KNOW ME.
BOTH OWNERS AND RENTERS.
I FULLY SUPPORT THE CITY'S
ALTERNATIVE.
MOST OF THE PEOPLE I KNOW
INCLUDING MY NEIGHBORS ALSO
SUPPORT IT.
THE IDEA THAT NEIGHBORHOODS
DON'T WANT THIS IS JUST A FALSE
NARRATIVE PUSH BY A SMALL LOCAL
MINORITY OF FOLKS THAT WANT YOU
TO BELIEVE THAT THEY SPEAK FOR
THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
THEY DON'T.
FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME THAT HOPES
TO KEEP MY HOUSE INTO
RETIREMENT, THIS IS A USEFUL
TOOL TO HELP US AGE IN PLACE BY
DOWNSIZING IN PLACE.
AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO
RECOGNIZE THAT SEATTLE'S
HISTORY OF ZONING WAS BUILT ON
TWO PILLARS.
ONE PILLAR WAS CLASSISM.
THE OTHER PILLAR WAS THE
AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRIAL.
I PREFER THAT MY ELECTED
LEADERS ALIGN OTHER PILLARS ON
WHICH TO SHAPE OUR ZONING
POLICY IN THE CITY I HAVE
CALLED HOME SINCE 1967.
PLEASE VOTE YES.
>> THANK YOU.
BRIAN, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
JESSICA AND THEN GLENN MOORE.
>> MIKE O'BRIEN, THIS IS YOUR
LEGISLATION NOW SO I WILL TALK
TO YOU.
WHEN IT FIRST APPEARED, IT WAS
SIMPLY ED MURRAY'S PLAN TO A
LOOK -- PLAN TO ELIMINATE
SINGLE-FAMILY ZONING.
THEN ENCOURAGING BACKYARD
COTTAGES AND ENCOURAGING
DADU'S.
ALL OF THE NAME CHANGES FOR THE
SAME LEGISLATION WAS CONFUSING
AND MADE TRACKING YOUR
LEGISLATION NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE.
I ASK YOU, WAS THAT IGNORANCE
OR INTENTION?
MIKE O'BRIEN, WHEN YOU ARE
SAVED 1 MILLION TO STUDY DADU'S
AND REFUSED TO SPEND A DIME ON
COMPLETING CODE REQUIRED COME
WAS THAT IGNORANCE OR
INTENTION?
MIKE O'BRIEN, WHEN YOU BECAME
THE COUNCIL'S ENVIRONMENTAL
LIST IN 2015, DID YOU EVER
THINK YOU WOULD RECEIVE MORE
THAN 600 CITIZEN SUGGESTIONS ON
HOW TO MAKE YOUR DRAFT
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
BETTER?
WHEN THE CITY DEFENDED THE
LEGALITY OF YOUR E I KEPT S,
YOU ARGUE NEITHER THE MERITS
NOR THE ALL IMPORTANT CONTENT
OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
STATEMENT BUT ON THE RIGHT OF
THE CITY TO CHOOSE WHETHER TO
CONSIDER -- WHAT TO CONSIDER
BASED ON THE SIDELINES.
WAS THAT IGNORANCE OR
INTENTION?
WHEN YOU FOCUSED ON INCREASING
PEPPERED HOUSING IN TRANSIT
DEFICIENT CAR GHETTOS -- WHEN
HE RECEIVED OVERWHELMINGLY MORE
CITIZEN COMMENTS WHICH URGED
YOU TO KEEP THE OWNER OCCUPANCY
REQUIREMENT FOR DADU'S WHICH
THE LEGISLATION REMOVES THE
REQUIREMENT AND WHEN HE REFUSED
TO ADDRESS THE NEGATIVE IMPACT
OF YOUR LEGISLATION WITH
HUNDREDS OF PARTICIPANTS AT
YOUR SO-CALLED COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT MEETINGS, WAS THAT
IGNORANCE OR INTENTION?
MIKE O'BRIEN, WHEN I WAS TOLD
THAT YOU LIVE IN A BIG HOUSE ON
A BIG LOT IN A MULTIFAMILY
ZONE, THAT RAISED QUESTIONS
ABOUT YOUR MOTIVATION FOR THIS
LEGISLATION.
I WAS TOLD YOU ABOUT ALL THREE
HOUSES NEXT TO YOURS TO BUFFER
YOUR HOUSE FROM DENSITY AND
DEVELOPMENT AND THAT RAISED
MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR
MOTIVATION.
BUT WHEN YOUR HOUSEHOLD TRIED
TO BLOCK A FIVE UNIT
MULTIFAMILY FROM GOING IN NEXT
DOOR TO YOU, I THINK WE ALL
UNDERSTAND YOUR MOTIVATION AND
PROBABLY YOUR LACK OF IGNORANCE
ON THOSE PREVIOUS POINTS.
FOR MIKE O'BRIEN, NEXT DOOR
DADU'S, DEVELOPMENT AND DENSITY
ARE GOOD FOR EVERYONE BUT MIKE
O'BRIEN.
SO CITY COUNCIL, I INVITE YOU
NO CHANGES TO THE CODE AND NO
TO THIS LEGISLATION.
THANK YOU.
>> JESSICA.
>> I SHOULD NOT BE HERE RIGHT
NOW.
I SHOULD BE GRADING
UNDERGRADUATE ESSAYS, ANALYZING
DATA, RIDING RESULTS, WRITING
RESULTS WERE WORKING TOWARD MY
DIRECTORIAL DEGREE IN COGNITIVE
PSYCHOLOGY.
BUT ALAS I AM HERE.
I AM HERE BECAUSE THE OWNER
OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENT ON ADU
UNITS IS THREATENING MY CURRENT
HOUSING.
I'M HERE BECAUSE SHOULD THE
OWNER OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENT ON
ADU UNITS STAND, I MAY NOT BE
ABLE TO FIND APPROPRIATE
HOUSING I CAN AFFORD WHICH PUTS
MY EDUCATION AND FUTURE AT
RISK.
I SHOULD NOT BE HERE RIGHT NOW
BUT I AM HERE TO PUT A FACE TO
THE RENTERS WHO WAS HOUSING --
WHO THESE HOUSING RESTRICTIONS
AFFECT AND FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO STAY IN MY CURRENT HOUSING
AND TO KEEP REMOUNT A LITTLE
FUNKY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GLENN MOORE, YOU ARE 19A.
YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE --
DEVELOPER.
>> I WISH I COULD SAY IT AS
ELOQUENTLY AS OUR ARCHITECT
FRIEND WHO SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT
-- THE OWNER OCCUPATION
REQUIREMENT.
IT WAS PERFECT.
WE ARE SHEPHERDS OF A SMALL
PORTFOLIO.
SO WE COULD BE IN THE
DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS IF WE
WANTED TO.
BUT IT IS NOT A BUSINESS MODEL
THAT I SEE AS WORKING FOR US.
BUT FROM A COST STANDPOINT.
AND AN ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE IN
THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AS YOU PUSH YOUR PENCILS AND
COST OUT WHAT IT TAKES TO PUT
TOGETHER A PROJECT, MOST PEOPLE
WOULD TURN AWAY AND THAT LEAVES
THE DOOR COMPLETELY OPEN TO THE
LLC DEVELOPMENT MONEY FROM OUR
TOWN AND THERE GOES OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS.
I COULD BE THAT DEVELOPER BUT I
CAN'T, IN GOOD CONSCIENCE, DO
THAT TO THE NEIGHBORS THAT WE
ARE GOING TO IMPACT.
IF WE WANT TO HAVE A DADU OR A
ADU OR A PROJECT FOR ANY
HOMEOWNER, IF THAT IS A
BUSINESS MODEL THAT WORKS FOR
THEM, GO AHEAD.
I AM FINE WITH THE REST OF THE
ORDINANCE.
BUT LIVE.
LIVE IN WHAT YOU CREATE.
>> MY NAME IS MR. DEVELOPER.
AS MY NAME SUGGESTS, I MAKE A
LOT OF MONEY BY PULLING HOUSES
AND SELLING THEM FOR A HEFTY
PROFIT.
I FULLY SUPPORT THIS ADU
LEGISLATION BECAUSE OTHER
DEVELOPERS -- AND I WILL
BECOME MORE WEALTHY BECAUSE OF
A TRICK I WANT TO THINK CITY
COUNCIL FOR NOT REQUIRING THAT
HOMES THE OWNER OCCUPIED SINCE
THAT WOULD STOP DEVELOPERS FROM
DEVELOPING YOUR PROPERTY.
IN ADDITION TO REQUIRING OWNER
OCCUPANCY TO ENSURE RENT STAY
AFFORDABLE, CITY COUNCIL COULD
HAVE REQUIRED LOW INTEREST
LOANS TO BUILD THE CURRENT 16
IF THE RENT WAS KEPT AFFORDABLE
AND NOT EXCEEDING 5% OF YOUR
INCREASES.
BUT YOU DID NOT DO THAT AND FOR
THAT, THE DEVELOPERS THANK YOU.
YOU COULD HAVE WRITTEN THE ADU
LEGISLATION TO LIMIT ADDITIONAL
BUILDING TO ATTACHED ADU'S IN
THE SAME FOOTPRINT TO SAVE
TREES AND OPEN SPACE.
WE DEVELOPERS THANK YOU FOR NOT
DOING THAT SO YOU CAN NOW BUILD
FARMOR AND LARGER MORE TO SELL
FOR MORE MONEY.
WITH ALL THE DEVELOPMENT GOING
ON, THERE IS CURRENTLY
DIFFICULTY FINDING CONSTRUCTION
WORKERS AND HOUSING
TRADESPEOPLE.
EXPANDING ADU'S WILL MAKE
FINDING THE WORKERS MUCH HARDER
AND MORE EXPENSIVE.
DEVELOPERS HAVE THE MONEY TO
HIRE THOSE WORKERS BUT MOST
HOMEOWNERS DON'T AND FOR THAT
REASON, WE DEVELOPERS ARE AGAIN
THANKFUL THAT YOU DO NOT
REQUIRE HOME OCCUPIED UNITS.
THE ADU'S WILL INCREASE THE
VALUE OF HOUSES WHICH WILL
INCREASE TAXES MAKING IT HARDER
FOR LOWER INCOME PEOPLE TO STAY
IN THEIR HOMES BECAUSE THEY
CANNOT AFFORD THE TAXES.
DEVELOPERS OF COURSE HAVE THE
MONEY TO BUY THE PROPERTIES.
ANOTHER BENEFIT FOR DEVELOPERS
-- . SOUTH SEATTLE ALSO HAS
THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF
PEOPLE OF COLOR.
MOST ARE VERY LOW DENSITY.
SO A LOT OF THE DEVELOPMENT
THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IS
GOING TO BE IN SOUTH SEATTLE
DISPLACING THE PEOPLE OF COLOR
THAT CURRENTLY LIVE THERE.
FOR THAT REASON, DEVELOPERS
ALSO THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS
ADU LEGISLATION.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT IS JOAN WELLS ARE.
YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY COLLEEN
MACKLE AND EMILY JOHNSON.
>> MY NAME IS JOHN WEISER.
I AM REQUESTING CITY COUNCIL
REJECT CB119544 PRESENTED
BECAUSE OF SUBSTANTIAL
REVISIONS TO IT ARE REQUIRED TO
PROPERLY ACCOUNT FOR AND
MITIGATE DETRIMENTAL IMPACT
THAT IT WOULD HAVE ON THE
EXISTING SINGLE-FAMILY STOCK
AND THE VITALITY OF OUR SINGLE-
FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS.
FATAL FLAWS IN CB11955 --
119544 ARE DUE TO INADEQUATE
SCOPING IN THE RESOLUTION
30169.
ISSUED IN 2015 AND BLATANT
DISREGARD OF JUDGE TANNER'S THE
REJECTION FOR COMPLETING THE E
I KEPT S WITH APPROPRIATE SCOPE
INCLUDING STUDYING THE ADVERSE
INDIRECT IMPACT OF LEGISLATION.
WHICH RESOLUTION 316059 SIMPLY
DIRECTED CONSIDERATION OF
STRATEGIES TO INCREASE THE
AVAILABILITY OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IN SEATTLE.
IN HER RULING REQUIRING THE
CITY OF SEATTLE COMPLETE THE
EIS ON ITS PROPOSED BACKYARD
COTTAGES INITIATIVE, JUDGE
TANNER DIRECTED STUDY OF THE
ADVERSE INDIRECT IMPACT THE
LEGISLATION WOULD HAVE ON
HOUSING AND CAUSE DISPLACEMENT
OF POPULATIONS.
THE SUBSEQUENT SCOPE WAS TOO
NARROW BECAUSE IT DID NOT
CONSIDER OR OFFER MITIGATION OF
THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS
THAT THE NEW LARGER AND MORE
DENSELY BUILT NONOWNER OCCUPIED
DADU'S AND ADU'S WILL HAVE ON
THE EXISTING REMAINING SINGLE-
FAMILY HOUSING STOCK IN THAT
NEIGHBORHOOD AFTER THE ADU'S
AND DADU'S ARE CONSTRUCTED.
JUDGE TANNER'S DIRECTION WAS
NOT FOLLOWED BECAUSE THE IMPACT
ON THE OWNERS OF THE EXISTING
SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSING STOCK
THAT REMAIN AFTER ADJACENT IN
THE NEARBY ADU AND DADU
DEVELOPMENT WAS NOT STUDIED.
THE CITY OF SEATTLE HAS ALLOWED
DADU CONSTRUCTION SINCE 2010
AND IN LAW APARTMENTS SINCE
1994.
CONSEQUENTLY, DECADES OF
ADJACENT SINGLE-FAMILY ASSESSED
PROPERTY EVALUATION RECORDS ARE
AVAILABLE TO STUDY AND TO
EXTRAPOLATE FROM. YET THE CITY
FAILED TO CONSIDER ANY ACTUAL
RESULTS IN ECONOMIC IMPACT ON
ADJACENT AND NEARBY SINGLE-
FAMILY STRUCTURES REMAINING
FROM THE EXISTING ADU'S AND
DADU'S AND DID NOT EXTRAPOLATE
THE IMPACT DUE TO THE PROPOSED
LARGER AND EVEN MORE DENSELY
CONSTRUCTED ADU'S PROPOSED
INCREASING THE NUMBER OF
UNRELATED OCCUPANTS TO 12.
PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION OF DADU'S
AND ADU'S ON EVEN SMALLER LOTS.
THE PROPOSED ELIMINATION OF
REQUIRED ON-SITE PARKING FOR 12
OCCUPANTS, ANALYSIS OF EACH OF
THESE PROPOSALS AND THE
CUMULATIVE IMPACT OF THESE
PROPOSALS IS AN ESSENTIAL
COMPONENT TO A PROPERLY SCOPED
EIS.
THANK YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU
FOR HEARING OUR COMMENTS.
A COUPLE THINGS.
SEATTLE HAS BUILT OUT AND
ABSORB MUCH OF ITS PLANNED
GROWTH TARGETS FOR THE GROWTH
MANAGEMENT ACT AND THAT IS OUR
MANTRA.
THAT IS WHAT THE STATE REQUIRES
US TO DO.
AND WE HAVE DONE IT.
SO HERE WE ARE TAPPING INTO THE
SINGLE-FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS.
FOR EXAMPLE, TODAY I REPRESENT
2100 HOUSEHOLDS AND MORE THAN
4000 PEOPLE.
LAST YEAR WE HAD ON BOARD AND
BUILT 1070 RESIDENTIAL UNITS
FOR ABOUT 2000 MORE FOLKS
COMING ADJACENT TO OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD.
THESE ARE LOCATED NEAR TRANSIT.
AND IT IS MORE WALK ABILITY.
THIS PROPOSAL WOULD ADD TWO OR
THREE TIMES THE POPULATION INTO
THE SAME PIPELINE.
LAST YEAR AND OUR PIPELINE, IT
WAS LITERALLY CLOGGED WITH
PAPER PRODUCTS.
SEWERS WERE SHUT DOWN AND E.
COLI WAS SPILLED INTO UNION BAY
AND THE SEWER SYSTEM COULD NOT
HANDLE THE SINGLE-FAMILY
RESIDENTIAL TYPES FOR THAT MANY
NEW FOLKS.
LET ALONE THIS IS BEFORE THE
CHANGES IN THE REGULATIONS.
LCC HAS LONG SUPPORTED THE
ADU'S AND DADU'S AS AN OPTION
AND WE ASK THAT THE EXISTING
REGULATIONS BE RETAINED.
OWNER OCCUPANCY IS NUMBER ONE.
BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOR.
MAINTAINING THE GARBAGE CANS,
NOISE -- AND BUILDING
RELATIONSHIPS WITH NEIGHBORS.
JUST BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOR.
THAT IS IMPORTANT.
NOISE VIOLATIONS IN OUR CITY
ARE AT A LEVEL THREE VIOLATION.
YOU WILL NOT GET A POLICE
OFFICER TO RESPOND.
THEY ARE TOO BUSY AND THERE IS
NOT ENOUGH OF THEM.
A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS.
THE HEIGHT SHOULD NOT BE
INCREASED.
IT IS INTERESTING THAT COUNSEL
TALKED TO THE DEVELOPERS AND
NOT HOMEOWNERS TO SEE IF THAT
WOULD BE OKAY WITH THEM FOR
ACCESSORY DWELLINGS.
AND FINALLY ON AFFORDABILITY,
THESE UNITS WILL NOT ADD TO THE
HOUSING STOCK.
THEY ARE EXPENSIVE TO BUILD.
YOU HAVE TO GET A BANK LOAN.
THAT GOES DOWN TO THE NEW FAR
REQUIREMENTS.
IF YOU HAVE TO ADD
ACCESSIBILITY DWELLING, YOU
HAVE TO GET TWO BANK LOANS AND
IT IS A BLOCKAGE FOR PEOPLE TO
HAVE ACCESS FOR A SINGLE FAMILY
PROPERTY.
THEY WILL HAVE TO BUILD THE E
THOUGHT CAP U PROBABLY TO GET A
BANK LOAN FOR A 5000 SQUARE-
FOOT LOT TO MAKE IT PAY.
THANK YOU.
>> EMILY, YOUR NEXT.
YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY ADAM
KENDALL AND THEN MIKE STOCKER.
>> I AM HERE TODAY TO SPEAK
IN FAVOR OF ADU'S AND TO THINK
THE COUNCIL BUT ESPECIALLY YOU,
MIKE, FOR THE FOUR YEARS IT HAS
TAKEN US TO GET HERE.
THE TRUTH IS THAT THIS IS SUCH
A BABY STEP THAT I AM
STRUGGLING TO FEEL THE
ENTHUSIASM THAT I WOULD LIKE TO
FEEL.
IT SEEMS TO BE ON THE VERGE OF
PASSING.
SEATTLE HAS A HOUSING CRISIS.
THE WORLD HAS A CATASTROPHIC
CLIMATE CRISIS AND IT IS
ALREADY OPERATING COMMUNITIES
DEVASTATED AND THE ECOSYSTEMS
AND KILLING HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE EVERY YEAR
AND IT IS GETTING MUCH WORSE.
HERE IN SEATTLE, EMISSIONS HAVE
BEEN RISING IN RECENT YEARS
PRIMARILY DUE TO DRIVING.
THE FACT THAT SOME PEOPLE CAN'T
PUT THESE TWO THINGS TOGETHER
AND UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEED TO
WELCOME MORE PEOPLE INTO
WALKABLE URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS
WELL SERVED BY TRANSIT IS A
TRAVESTY.
IT IS HEARTLESS.
DO THEY THINK THAT THEIR
CHILDREN WILL CARE MORE ABOUT
THE PARKING THAN STABLE FOOD
SYSTEMS?
DO THEY THINK THAT WE SHOULDN'T
MAKE ROOM FOR THE CHILDREN
ALREADY DISPLACED IN CENTRAL
AMERICA?
DENSITY MEANS THAT FREQUENT
TRANSIT IS ECONOMICALLY
SENSIBLE.
DENSITY MEANS THAT PEOPLE HAVE
CARBON FOOTPRINTS THAT ARE A
QUARTER TO A HALF OF THOSE IN
THE SUBURBS.
DENSITY MEANS THAT WE ARE
COMMITTING TO BEING A CITY THAT
GROWS AND CHANGES AND MAKES
ROOM FOR PEOPLE.
DENSITY MEANS WE ARE HEALTHIER
AND LOCAL BUSINESSES CAN
THRIVE.
TO FIGHT TO PRESERVE YOUR
NEIGHBORHOOD AND ANGER IS BOTH
WRONG AND SELF-DEFEATING.
SO THANK YOU COUNCIL FOR
LISTENING TO THE OVERWHELMING
MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT
THIS BABY STEP.
WE NEED VASTLY MORE HOUSING,
MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
WORKFORCE HOUSING AND MARKET
RATE HOUSING.
THIS WILL MAKE SEATTLE A
MODESTLY GENTLER CITY AND IT
WILL BE A PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE
ON THE RISING REGIONAL
EMISSIONS AND THE RISING
HOUSING PRICES.
WHEN THIS IS DONE, LET'S GET TO
THE REAL WORK OF REMAKING OUR
CITY INTO THE BEAUTIFUL
WELCOMING PROGRESSIVE PLACE WE
KNOW THAT IT CAN BE.
YOUNG PEOPLE WORLDWIDE ARE
DEMANDING THEIR RIGHT TO A
STABLE FUTURE AND WE OWE IT TO
THEM TO DO THIS AS QUICKLY AS
WE CAN.
THANK YOU.
>> ADAM.
>> I AM ADAM.
NO ONE IMPORTANT.
SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSING HIS BED
LAND-USE. IF I'M CORRECT, WHEN
YOU DO THE COST OF A SINGLE-
FAMILY HOUSE, HALF THE COST IS
ACTUALLY FOR THE PLOT OF LAND,
THE PROPERTY.
SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSING CREATES
URBAN SPRAWL AND ARTIFICIAL
SCARCITY OF LAND WHICH DRIVES
UP THE COST OF LAND WHICH
DRIVES UP THE COST OF HOUSING.
SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSING IS BAD
FOR CLIMATE CHANGE.
IT IS BAD FOR WALKABLE TRANSIT
FRIENDLY CITIES AND IT INDUCES
DRIVING.
IF SEATTLE WERE AS DENSE AS NEW
YORK CITY, WE COULD SUPPORT THE
CURRENT POPULATION ON JUST ONE
THIRD OF THIS SPACE THAT THE
CITY CURRENTLY TAKES UP WHICH
WOULD MAKE HOUSING WAY CHEAPER.
IF SEATTLE WERE AS DENSE AS
PARIS, WE COULD SUPPORT THREE
TIMES AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE
CURRENTLY DO ON JUST HALF OF
THE LAND AND THAT WOULD BE MORE
WALKABLE AND TRANSIT FRIENDLY.
AND WITH THAT OTHER HALF OF THE
CITY FREED UP, IT COULD BE USED
FOR PARKS.
WE COULD EVEN RETURN IT TO THE
INDIGENOUS AS LAND REPARATIONS.
THE ABOLISHING OF SINGLE FAMILY
HOUSING ALONG WITH OTHER DE-
GROWTH POLICIES SUCH AS
ABOLISHING INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY, SURVEILLANCE,
PRISONS, MILITARY, POLICE,
MONOPOLY, THE STATE, CARS AND
OTHER THINGS, WE RESULT IN
HOUSING BEING AT LEAST 33%
CHEAPER.
HOUSE CARE AT LEAST 66%
CHEAPER.
THE OVERALL COST OF LIVING
WOULD BE REDUCED BY UP TO 80%.
AND EMISSIONS WOULD BE REDUCED
BY OVER 90%.
AND INCOME WOULD ACTUALLY GO
UP.
SO BASICALLY WHY I'M HERE IS TO
SAY THAT ANYTHING THAT MAKES
THE CITY MORE DENSE IS GOOD.
>> THANK YOU, ADAM.
>> MIKE.
>> THIS LOOKS LIKE A GROUP.
WE WILL GIVE YOU FIVE MINUTES.
YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY ZACH
AND THEN SUSAN.
>> THANK YOU COUNSEL.
MY NAME IS MIKE STECKLER.
I AM HERE WITH MY SON MICHAEL
JUNIOR AND MY DAUGHTER
ALEXANDRA.
WE CALL HER CUPCAKE I WOULD
LIKE TO TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND AFFORDABLE
HOMEOWNERSHIP IN SEATTLE.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT MY OWN
PERSONAL STORY FIRST.
WHEN I WAS 25, I GOT OUT OF
COLLEGE AND I WAS READY TO
START MY LIFE AND I WANTED TO
BUY A HOME.
AT THE TIME, I JUST MET WITH
THE REALTOR.
I LOOKED AT A FEW HOUSES AND
MADE AN OFFER.
A MONTH LATER, I WAS MOWING MY
OWN LAWN AND WASHING MY OWN
WINDOWS AND TALKING TO MY
NEIGHBORS AND GETTING INVOLVED
IN MY COMMUNITY.
AS TIME WENT ON, I MET AND
EVENTUALLY MARRIED MY WIFE AND
WE DECIDED TO PUT OUR TWO
HOUSES TOGETHER AND GET ONE
HOUSE THAT WE ALWAYS WANTED.
IT WAS A HOUSE IN THE WEDGEWOOD
AREA.
WE ENDED UP -- THE WEDGEWOOD
HOUSE WAS ACTUALLY ON A PLOT OF
LAND THAT USED TO BE A GIANT
ORCHARD.
IN THE 20s, WITH ALL THE PEOPLE
MOVING INTO SEATTLE, THE
ORCHARD WAS DIVIDED INTO
BUILDING LOTS AND THE HOME WAS
PUT ON ONE OF THOSE LOTS.
WE HAD OUR CHILDREN IN THAT
HOME.
WE RAISED THEM IN THAT HOME.
THEY ALL WENT OFF TO COLLEGE
AND CAME BACK TO SEATTLE AND
GOT TERRIFIC JOBS IN THE CITY
THEY LOVE.
AND THEN THEY MOVED BACK HOME.
THEY WANTED TO BE HOMEOWNERS
BUT THE COST IN SEATTLE IS TOO
HIGH.
WHEN THE KIDS WERE SMALL, WE
BOUGHT A RENTAL HOUSE DOWN THE
STREET.
IT WAS A MODEST TWO-STORY HOUSE
WITH AN ATTACHED GARAGE ON A
CORNER LOT AND A BIG BACKYARD.
WITH THIS LEGISLATION, WE COULD
BUILD ANOTHER SMALL MODEST TWO-
STORY HOUSE WITH A DETACHED
GARAGE IN THE BACKYARD AND WE
WOULD LIKE TO SELL THAT HOUSE
TO OUR KIDS.
WITH THE MOMMY DADDY DISCOUNT.
AND THEN THEY COULD BE
HOMEOWNERS.
AND IF WE WANTED TO SEE OUR
KIDS, WE COULD JUST WALK DOWN
THE STREET AND WE WOULD NOT
HAVE TO GET IN THE CAR AND
DRIVE ACROSS TOWN AND THROUGH
TRAFFIC AND WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO
GET ON THE FREEWAY AND DRIVE TO
ANOTHER CITY.
A CITY THAT THEY MIGHT BE ABLE
TO AFFORD TO BUY A HOUSE IN.
THE WORST THING WOULD BE THAT
WE WOULD AVOID SEEING OUR KIDS
OR OUR POTENTIAL GRANDCHILDREN
BECAUSE IT IS AN INCONVENIENCE.
SO I URGE THE COUNCIL TO PASS
THIS PROPOSAL FOR DADU'S.
AND I ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK
MIKE O'BRIEN FOR PROPOSING THIS
AND SEEING IT THROUGH.
>> THANK YOU, MIKE.
>> ZACH.
>> I OWN A HOME WITH MY WIFE
AT RAINIER BEACH.
I URGE THE COUNCIL TO ADOPT THE
LEAST RESTRICTIVE ADU
LEGISLATION POSSIBLE.
IT WILL HOUSE UP -- HELP US
TO ADDRESS THE HOUSING
SHORTAGE.
IT WILL MEAN FEWER OF MY
FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS WILL BE
PRICED OUT OF THE CITY AND I
WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THEM AS
MUCH.
IT WILL ALSO HELP US TO FIGHT
CLIMATE CHANGE.
PERSONALLY, I REALLY WANT TO
BUILD A BACKYARD COTTAGE
MYSELF.
IT WILL MEAN ONE I CAN RENT
OUT.
IF THIS LEGISLATION PASSES,
PARTICULARLY WITH LOWER PARKING
REQUIREMENTS, THE LOT COVERAGE
CHANGE AND THE INCREASE IN
SQUARE FOOTAGE, IT WILL MEAN
THAT ON MY PROPERTY, I CAN
BUILD THE ADA ACCESSIBLE UNIT
WHICH WOULD MEAN IN THE FUTURE,
WHEN MY PARENTS OR MAYBE MY IN-
LAWS GET TO THE POINT THAT THEY
NEED TO BE IN AN ASSISTED CARE
FACILITY, THEY COULD LIVE WITH
US AND AGE AND PLACE.
I THINK IT WOULD BE REALLY COOL
TO HAVE A MULTIGENERATIONAL
HOUSEHOLD WHICH IS NOT
CURRENTLY POSSIBLE.
>> MY NAME IS DANIELLE
WALLACE.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT ONE AND
SOUTHWEST SEATTLE.
I AM HERE TO SUPPORT THE DADU
CHANGES IN LEGISLATION.
I BELIEVE IT IS A CRUCIAL STEP
IN ADDRESSING THE HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY CRISIS IN OUR
CITY.
IT IS ONE SMALL STEP OF MANY
MORE THAT WE NEED.
I THINK IT IS NO ACCIDENT THAT
AT THE SAME TIME IN OUR CITY,
WE ARE SEEING SKYROCKETING
HOUSING PRICES AND SEEING AN
INCREASE IN NEIGHBORS BECOMING
HOMELESS.
IN A CITY BUILT ON RACIST LAND-
USE POLICIES, WE HAVE MUCH TO
DO TO COUNTERACT THESE MANY
INJUSTICES.
I PERSONALLY AM FORTUNATE TO
LIVE AND OWN AND A 770 SQUARE-
FOOT HOUSE.
AND I AM HOPEFUL THAT THESE
DADU AND ADU CHANGES MAY ENABLE
ME TO BUILD A ADU OR DADU AND
OUR GARAGE TO HOUSE MY PARENTS
ONE DAY.
OR POTENTIALLY CONTRIBUTE TO
THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK IN
OUR CITY.
THE PROPOSED CHANGES WOULD
ALLOW ACCESS TO NEIGHBORS WHO
WOULD NOT OTHERWISE HAVE ACCESS
TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
THEY WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO
TRANSIT USE AND TO WALKABLE
RESOURCES AND COMMUNITY.
AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT
THE LEGISLATION WITH MINIMAL
CHANGES.
ESPECIALLY CONSIDER FURTHER
LEGISLATION.
>> I LIVE IN THE 770 SQUARE-
FOOT HOUSE AS WELL IN DISTRICT
ONE.
THE LEGISLATION IS GREAT FOR MY
FAMILY AND FOR THE FLEXIBILITY
WE NEED AND DIFFERENT STAGES OF
OUR LIVES TO CONTINUE TO LIVE
IN THIS HOUSE AND CONTINUE TO
LIVE AS A PART OF THIS
COMMUNITY AND EXPAND IT TO
WELCOME MORE NEIGHBORS TO OUR
HOME AND INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
OVERALL.
I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO
SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS THE OWNER
OCCUPIED AMENDMENT POTENTIALLY.
WE HAVE A NEIGHBOR NEXT DOOR
WHO LIVES IN ANOTHER 770 SQUARE-
FOOT HOME.
A GREAT NEIGHBOR.
HE HAS A SMALL FAMILY.
I'M THRILLED TO HAVE THEM
LOOKING OVER OUR HOUSE WHEN WE
ARE GONE.
QUITE FRANKLY, IT HEAVILY TAKES
BETTER CARE OF THE YARD THEN I
DO.
BUT I WILL BE OKAY WITH THAT.
HE IS A RENTER.
I AM GLAD NOBODY PUT IT --
THE OWNER-OCCUPIED REQUIREMENT
ON HIS SINGLE-FAMILY HOME.
I THINK WE SHOULD NOT DO THE
SAME WITH TRANSFER -- DADU
LEGISLATION.
HOWEVER WE NEED UNITS, THE CITY
NEEDS MORE HOMES.
AGAIN I COME BACK TO THE
HOMELESS CRISIS.
AND THERE ARE A LOT OF CLAIMS
THAT WE ARE NOT DOING ENOUGH TO
HANDLE THAT.
THERE ARE A LOT OF CAUSES OF
HOMELESSNESS.
AND HOMELESSNESS REQUIRES
HUMANITY AND COMPASSION.
BASICALLY HOMELESSNESS IS NOT
ENOUGH HOMES.
THIS LEGISLATION WOULD ADD MORE
HOMES.
IT IS A DROP IN THE BUCKET.
IT IS NOT AS MUCH AS WE NEED
BUT IT IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION AND I ENCOURAGE YOU
TO PASS IT WITH LOW
RESTRICTIONS.
THANK YOU.
>> I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY
THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN
OWNER OCCUPIED UNIT AMENDMENT
PROPOSED.
THE AMENDMENT THAT PROPOSES THE
OWNERSHIP AMENDMENT -- THE
REQUIREMENT FOR THE PROPERTY TO
HAVE BEEN IN OWNERSHIP FOR A
YEAR BEFORE THE DEVELOPMENT OF
A SECOND UNIT.
THERE IS NOT A REQUIREMENT FOR
THE OWNER TO LIVE ON-SITE AND
THAT AMENDMENT.
>> OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE OTHER
FOLKS ASKING FOR OWNER OCCUPIED
TODAY.
THERE IS NO PLANNED AMENDMENT
THAT I AM AWARE OF.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY.
SUSAN WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
CARRIE BOGNER AND CHRISTINE
HANNAH.
YOU ARE 23A.
IF YOU ARE TRACKING THE
NUMBERS, THAT IS WHERE WE ARE.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR O'BRIEN
AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT WE
NEED TO INCREASE DENSITY IN THE
CITY.
PROVIDING MORE HOUSING AND MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
HENCE THE CITY'S RECENT UP
ZONING AND ENLARGEMENT OF URBAN
VILLAGES.
FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS, BACKYARD
COTTAGES HAVE ALLOWEDTHE MOST
LOTS.
THE CITY'S PROPOSED LEGISLATION
FOLLOWING THE APPEAL OF THE
ADEQUACY OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT STATEMENT RAISES MANY
EXTREMELY TROUBLING CONCERNS.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE
WHOLESALE ELIMINATION OF EVERY
SINGLE-FAMILY NEIGHBORHOOD IN
SEATTLE -- ONE OF THE MOST
ATTRACTIVE FEATURES OF THIS
BEAUTIFUL CITY -- AND I HAVE
LIVED THROUGHOUT THE UNITED
STATES -- WE HAVE MANY VARIED
AND DISTINCTIVE NEIGHBORHOODS.
BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE DEPUTY HEARING EXAMINER AND
HER DECISION REGARDING THE
APPEAL OF THE ADEQUACY OF THE
EIS WROTE AND I QUOTE "GIVEN
THE GROUNDBREAKING NATURE OF
SOME OF THE FEATURES OF THE
PROPOSED LEGISLATION, IT IS
IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW WHETHER
NONE, SOME OR ALL OF THE ILL
EFFECTS CLAIMED BY APPELLATE
WILL COME TO PASS."
YIKES.
SHOULD WE SIMPLY PROCEED ON
BLIND FAITH?
I THINK NOT.
KNOW WHETHER CITY HAS EVER
ATTEMPTED MAKING SUCH SWEEPING
POLICY CHANGES.
WE SHOULD BE WARY WITHOUT A
COMPLETE, THOROUGH, IN-DEPTH
STUDY OF ALL THE POTENTIAL
IMPACT ASSOCIATED WITH UP
ZONING, TRIPLING DENSITY AND
THE ELIMINATION OF EVERY SINGLE-
FAMILY NEIGHBORHOOD.
THIS PROPOSED LEGISLATION WHICH
THREATENS TO TURN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE ON ITS END, PERMANENTLY
ALTERING NEIGHBORHOODS, SHOULD
NOT BE MADE BY A LAME-DUCK CITY
COUNCIL OVER SUMMER VACATION.
WE AS CITIZENS DESERVE BETTER
ACCOUNTABILITY AND STEWARDSHIP.
LET'S BE SMART.
CREATIVE AND NOT ACT
IMPULSIVELY.
SUDDENLY TURNING SEATTLE HOMES
INTO RENTALS AND DISPLACING
FAMILIES WHO WANT YARDS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THIS
HEARING.
I LIVE IN MONTLAKE.
I HAVE LIVED THERE 25 YEARS.
I HAVE A 1985 HOUSE.
IT IS WAY TOO BIG FOR ME.
ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO, WE PUT
THE ADU UNIT IN BECAUSE WE SAW
THE TAXES INCREASING AND WE
WANTED TO STAY WHERE WE WERE.
FOUR YEARS AGO, THE ADU, WHICH
WE RENT BELOW-MARKET, WE HAVE
HAD THE SAME PEOPLE AND WHO ARE
MULTIRACIAL.
FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
FOUR YEARS AGO, THAT RENTS
COVERED ABOUT 90% OF OUR
EXPENSES.
TODAY, 60%.
THE TAXES HAVE GONE UP SO MUCH.
WE WOULD LIKE TO RETIRE IN
PLACE.
AND SO HAVING A SECOND ADU WILL
HELP US DO THAT.
WE ARE PART OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE LIKE THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE WANT TO STAY.
WE WANT TO STAY IN SEATTLE AND
IF WE CAN'T DO THIS, WE WILL
HAVE TO MOVE.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AND THANK
YOU FOR THIS LEGISLATON OR
WHATEVER YOU CALL IT.
>> WE WILL CALL IT
LEGISLATION.
THANK YOU.
>> CHRISTINE. CHRISTINE, YOU
WILL BE FOLLOWED BY MATT
HUTCHINS AND THEN ANDY CATS.
>> HELLO EVERYBODY.
MY NAME IS CHRISTINE HANNAH.
I AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE
LEGISLATION.
MANY OTHER FOLKS HAVE TALKED
ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND
SOCIAL INJUSTICE AND CHARACTER
REASONS FOR THIS LEGISLATION.
I WILL POKE AT -- I WILL
FOCUS ON PERSONAL REASONS.
MY HUSBAND AND I BOUGHT OUR
1908 HOME IN BALLARD AND IT HAS
1400 SQUARE FEET OF LIVING
SPACE AND A 1700 SQUARE FOOT
BASEMENT.
WE HAVE GRAND BOYS AND THE
NEEDS FOR SPACE HAVE INCREASED.
THIS WILL ALLOW US TO PROVIDE
FLEXIBILITY FOR OUR FAMILY WHEN
WE NEED IT.
AND WHEN OUR KIDS LEAVE FOR
COLLEGE OR OTHERWISE FLY THE
COOP, THE ABILITY FOR US TO
RENT THAT SPACE WILL HELP US
PAY FOR THEIR COLLEGE
EDUCATION, SAVE FOR RETIREMENT
AND PAY FOR THE INEVITABLE
MEDICAL BILLS THAT WILL COME
WITH AGING.
ON THAT NOTE, BETWEEN MY
HUSBAND AND I, WE HAVE FOUR
SETS OF PARENTS THANKS TO
DIVORCE.
WE FULLY EXPECT THAT ONE OR
MORE OF THEM WHO VARY IN AGE
FROM 70-84 AND MOSTLY LIVE IN
OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY,
THEY WILL NEED OUR CARE WHEN
THAT TIME COMES.
WE WOULD LIKE THEM TO BE CLOSE.
WE WOULD LIKE TO BE CLOSE TO
THEM.
WE WOULD LIKE OUR CHILDREN AND
THEIR GRANDPARENTS TO KNOW EACH
OTHER.
THEY REALLY CAN'T AFFORD TO GET
A PLACE HERE OR TO MOVE INTO AN
ASSISTED LIVING PLACE.
AND WE KNOW THAT THE ONLY
OPTION IS FOR THEM TO LIVE WITH
US.
SO WE NEED THE FLEXIBILITY THAT
THIS PROPOSAL WOULD MAKE
POSSIBLE.
WE ARE LUCKY WE BOUGHT OUR
HOUSE AT A TIME WHEN IT WAS
RELATIVELY AFFORDABLE.
ARE LITTLE PLACE WAS OUR LITTLE
PLACES SO EXPENSIVE THAT --
WE COULD NOT BUY THE HOUSE WE
LIVE IN TODAY.
I KNOW THERE IS NO WAY THAT
THEY COULD DO THAT.
I STRONGLY DISAGREE THAT THIS
LEGISLATION WOULD PUSH FAMILIES
OUT.
I THINK THE EFFECT MAY BE THE
OPPOSITE.
BECAUSE THE ONLY WAY A MIDDLE-
CLASS FAMILY CAN AFFORD TO BUY
A HOME IN SEATTLE AS IF THEY
HAVE THE OPTION OF RENTING
ADDITIONAL SPACE.
AND THAT MAY BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS LEGISLATION.
I KNOW THAT WE WOULD HAPPILY
RENTS A ADU OR BACKYARD COLLEGE
TO A STABLE LONG-TERM RENTER IF
WE DID NOT NEED THE SPACE
OURSELVES.
THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE
LEGISLATION COULD INCREASE
DIVERSITY IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS
WOULD BE HUGHLEY WAS A HUGELY
VALUABLE CONTRIBUTION TO THE
CITY OF SEATTLE.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THE
LEGISLATION TO THIS POINT.
I HAVE BEEN WAITING THREE YEARS
TO SEE IT HOPE DOES HAPPEN.
AND I HOPE SOMETHING LIKE THIS
COULD HAPPEN VERY QUICKLY.
>> I AM MATT HUTCHINS.
I AM AN ARCHITECT AND A
HOMEOWNER.
I LIVE IN WEST SEATTLE THOUGHT
CAP ONE AND A MEMBER OF THE
HOUSING TASK FORCE.
MOST OF ALL, I AM A DAD.
I KIND OF GOT INTO HOUSING
ADVOCACY BECAUSE I WANTED TO
HAVE A PLACE FOR MY DAUGHTER
WHEN SHE WAS BORN TO GROW UP
AND BE ABLE TO LIVE IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WE LEFT.
WHEN THIS PROCESS STARTED, SHE
WAS A TODDLER.
SHE HAS NO ABOUT TO ENTER 1st
GRADE.
SO I HOPE THAT WE CAN MOVE FAST
ON THESE ISSUES SO THAT WE
MIGHT BE ABLE TO BUILD A PLACE
BEFORE SHE IS IN COLLEGE.
OFTEN TIMES, WE HAVE HEARD THAT
THIS IS SOME SORT OF A ONE-SIZE-
FITS-ALL PROPOSAL.
BUT AS AN ARCHITECT WHO HAS
DESIGNED MANY OF THESE, I CAN
TELL YOU THAT THERE IS NO ONE
SIZE.
EACH OF THESE ENDS UP BEING
HIGHLY CUSTOMIZED TO ITS SITE
AND THE RESPONSE TO THE OWNER
AND WHAT THE OWNER WANTS.
NO TWO ARE EVER ALIKE.
WE SEE LONG ONES.
WE SEE SKINNY ONES.
WE SEE ONES THAT JOG AROUND
TREES.
ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE REALLY
IMPORTANT TO HOMEOWNERS WHEN
THEY ARE DOING THIS SORT OF DIY
DEVELOPMENT FOR THE HOUSING
THAT THEY WANT TO DIVIDE FOR
-- THAT THEY WANT TO PROVIDE
FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND
RENTAL.
I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE YOU
GUYS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
PRESERVING AS MUCH FLEXIBILITY
IN THIS LEGISLATION.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT WE
DON'T INSTITUTE A BAN ON SHORT-
TERM RENTAL.
THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT WAYS THAT PEOPLE
START TO FINANCE THESE.
IT IS KIND OF ONE LEG OF THE
THREE LEGGED STOOL BETWEEN LONG
TERM RENTAL, SHORT-TERM RENTAL
AND FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
DON'T GET RID OF THAT BECAUSE
IT IS KEY TO THE BIGGEST
DIFFICULTY WHICH IS FINANCING.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE ARE FOCUSED ON PROVIDING
MORE HOMES FOR PEOPLE AND
NEIGHBORS.
THANK YOU.
>> ANDY, YOU WILL BE NEXT.
YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY MIKE
AND THEN JESSIE SIMPSON.
>> THIS IS A TERRIFIC
ORDINANCE.
IT IS A LONG TIME COMING.
IT IS A GREAT START ON FILLING
IN MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING.
I CANNOT TOP THE FAMILY STORY
THERE.
I AM A RENTER IN DISTRICT
THREE.
I HAVE A MOM WHO IS IN A SINGLE-
FAMILY HOME IN THE HER 70s.
AND THEY ARE IN A RACE AGAINST
HER MOBILITY ISSUES TO FIGURE
OUT A LIVING ARRANGEMENT WHERE
SHE CAN BE CLOSE TO FAMILY,
HAVE HER INDEPENDENCE AND
MAINTAIN DURABILITY TO GET
AROUND WITH POTENTIALLY BAD
KNEES AND DECLINING DRIVING
SKILLS.
AND THE ADU DADU OPTION WOULD
BE TREMENDOUS FOR THE FAMILY.
YOU HEARD THIS SEVERAL TIMES
TONIGHT.
IT HAS BEEN A LONG NIGHT.
THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS THAT
STILL WANT TO TALK.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME
TO SPEAK.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER O'BRIEN
FOR SPEARHEADING THIS.
I DON'T AGREE WITH YOU ON
EVERYTHING AND I HAVE SEEN YOUR
REPUTATION THIS EVENING.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
SPEARHEADING THIS.
I AM A REALTOR AND A DADU OWNER.
I AND MY PARTNER LIVE IN MAPLE
LEAF.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
PACHECO.
AND THIS PROPOSAL IS SOMETHING
THAT I STRONGLY SUPPORT WITHOUT
AMENDMENT.
HOUSING IS VERY COMPLEX IN
SEATTLE TODAY.
AND IN RESPONSE TO MANY OF THE
THINGS I HAVE HEARD HERE THIS
EVENING, I AM CHANGING WHAT I'M
GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT.
BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN THIS FROM
ALL ANGLES.
WE HAVE SOLD HOUSES TO
DEVELOPERS.
WE HAVE SOLD HOUSES TO
INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE PURCHASED
THE HOME JUST TO BUILD DADU'S.
OUR FIRST TENANT AND OUR DADU
BOUGHT A HOME AND DECIDED TO
BUILD A DADU AND THEN WE SOLD
THE HOUSE.
IT DID NOT GO TO A DEVELOPER.
IT WENT TO A FAMILY.
WITH AGING PARENTS WHO THEY
WANTED NEARBY THEM.
IT CLOSED LAST MONTH.
THIS IS THE REALITY OF THIS.
INDIVIDUALS MAKING THEIR
DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR HOUSING.
AND IT IS GOOD.
WE WOULD LIKE TO AGE IN PLACE
AND OUR HOME AND SO WE HAVE
CREATED ADDITIONAL SPACE THAT
WE WOULD HOPE TO EVENTUALLY
PERMIT AS A THIRD LIVABLE
RENTABLE SPACE ON OUR PROPERTY.
OUR INTENT IS NOT TO BE
ABSENTEE LANDLORDS THAT GET
WEALTHY AT THE EXPENSE OF
SOMEONE WHO WOULD MAYBE WANT
THIS HOUSE.
IT IS TO AGE IN PLACE AND TO BE
ABLE TO AFFORD AND STAY IN THE
CITY.
I THANK YOU FOR THIS.
I SUPPORT THIS.
PLEASE PASS THIS ORDINANCE.
>> THANK YOU, MIKE.
>> JESSIE, YOU WILL BE NEXT.
YOU ARE FOLLOWED BY CLAUDIA
BOCK AND THEN BARBARA QUINN.
>> MY NAME IS JESSIE SIMPSON.
I GREW UP IN WEST SEATTLE.
NOW I RENT ON CAPITOL HILL.
ALL TOO OFTEN, I HEAR FROM
FRIENDS AND STRANGERS ALIKE
THAT THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE
IN SEATTLE AND THEY DON'T FEEL
LIKE THE CITY IS FOR THEM
ANYMORE.
SEATTLE IS IN THE MIDST OF A
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS
AND WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE
CAN TO CREATE MORE HOMES IN THE
CITY.
I SUPPORT ADU REFORM FOR THESE
REASONS.
WE WILL PRODUCE THOUSANDS OF
DESPERATELY NEEDED HOMES.
AND ALONE IT IS INSUFFICIENT TO
ADDRESS THE CRISIS.
THE ADU'S PROVIDE OPTIONS FOR
MORE PEOPLE TO LIVE AND OUR
RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS.
THEY HELP SENIORS AGE IN PLACE.
THEY HELP WITH
INTERGENERATIONAL LIVING.
YOU HAVE HEARD ALL THESE GREAT
STORIES TODAY.
IF THE FINANCING IS DONE RIGHT,
THEY CAN EVEN OPEN UP
OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOW INCOME
HOMEOWNERS TO REMAIN IN THEIR
COMMUNITIES BY RENTING OUT
SPACE.
I URGE YOU TO PASS THIS REFORM
AS IS AND MAXIMIZE THE NUMBER
OF HOMES WE CAN CREATE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JESSIE.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBERS
FOR THE CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH
YOU TONIGHT AND FOR ALL OF YOUR
ATTENTION TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING
IN THE CITY.
MY NAME IS CLAUDIA BOCK.
MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE LIVED IN
OUR HOME UNTIL -- SINCE 1989
AND RAISED OUR CHILDREN IN A
MODEST 1918 HOUSE.
I AM HERE TO SHARE MY STORY AND
A SENSE OF URGENCY THAT YOU
PASS THIS LEGISLATION.
AS THE COST OF SEATTLE HOUSING
HAS SKYROCKETED, WE HAVE LOOKED
TOWARDS FINDING A WAY FOR OUR
SCHOOLTEACHER DAUGHTER AND
HUSBAND TO STAY IN SEATTLE AND
A WAY FOR US TO AGE IN PLACE.
OUR DETACHED GARAGE IS IN
SERIOUS NEED OF REPAIR AND OUR
ATTENTION HAS BEEN THAT THE
EFFORT WOULD BE JOINED WITH THE
CONSTRUCTION OF A DADU WITH A
PLAN THAT WE WOULD MOVE INTO
THE DADU AND OUR CHILDREN WOULD
MOVE INTO THE HOUSE.
OUR HOPE IS TO FIND A WAY TO
KEEP THE HOUSE AS AN
INTERGENERATIONAL FAMILY ASSET,
DOWNSIZE APPROPRIATELY,
PRESERVE THE CHARACTER OF OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD AND WHAT
INTEGRATING A BACKYARD COTTAGE
WITH RENOVATION OF THE GARAGE
AND BUILDING IN A WAY THAT IS
ATTENTIVE TO A LARGE CHERRY
TREE AND OUR NEIGHBORS BEING
RESPECTFUL OF THOSE THINGS.
WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO MOVE
FORWARD ON THIS FOR MORE THAN
THREE YEARS NOW STYMIED BY THE
STRANGE RESTRICTIONS OF THE
CURRENT ZONING THAT HAVE MADE
BUILDING A SMALL BUT REASONABLY
SIZED BACKYARD COTTAGE
CONNECTED IN SOME WAY TO THE
GARAGE WHICH HAS BEEN VIRTUALLY
IMPOSSIBLE TO DO SO.
THE DELAYS IN THOUGHT
FINALIZING ADU LEGISLATION ARE
PARTICULARLY CHALLENGING FOR US
AS WE ARE DEALING WITH THE
REOCCURRENCE OF CANCER FOR MY
HUSBAND.
EACH TIME A DECISION IN THIS
LEGISLATION IS DELAYED, WE ARE
FILLED WITH INCREASED
FRUSTRATION BECAUSE OF A
CRITICAL COMPONENT IN MAKING
THIS CONSTRUCTION AFFORDABLE
FOR US IS THAT WE USE HIS
EXPERIENCE IN CONSTRUCTION TO
CONTROL COST.
WE ARE IN A RACE AGAINST TIME
SINCE HIS CANCER IS NO TERMINAL
AND I'M SURE WE ARE NOT THE
ONLY PEOPLE IN OUR CITY WHO
FACE A VARIETY OF CHALLENGING
LIFE SITUATIONS WHERE DELAYS
ARE MORE THAN AN INCONVENIENCE.
WE NEED YOUR HELP NOW.
PLEASE I URGE YOU TO PASS
COMMONSENSE REFORM THAT WILL
LET US MOVE AHEAD AND PROVIDE
MORE ABUNDANT AND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IN OUR CITY.
THANK YOU.
>> BARBARA.
YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY PAUL
CHAPMAN AND PATRICK TAYLOR AND
THEN RYAN ROSENBERG.
RYAN IS 28B.
>> GOOD EVENING.
I'M BARBARA QUINN.
I AM REPRESENTING THE
UNIVERSITY PARK COMMUNITY CLUB
TONIGHT.
I AM ACTUALLY A FOURTH-
GENERATION SEATTLE LIGHT.
BUT HAVE LIVED IN MY OWN HOME
IN THE UNIVERSITY DISTRICT FOR
43 YEARS.
I AM SPEAKING ONLY ON THE
SUBJECT OF OWNER OCCUPANCY.
AND I AM HERE TO TELL YOU ABOUT
BOOTS ON THE GROUND EXPERIENCES
WITH DEVELOPERS BUYING AND
MANAGING PROPERTIES IN THE
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT VERSUS A
COMPUTER MODEL KIND OF EIS
INTERPRETATION.
WE HAVE EXPERIENCED DEVELOPERS
CONSTANTLY WANTING TO BUY OUR
HOMES.
I GET OFFERS FROM REAL ESTATE
PEOPLE WITH INTERESTED CLIENTS.
SOMETIMES THOSE OFFERS EVEN
HAVE AN EARNEST MONEY ATTACHED
TO THEM WHEN I GET THEM IN THE
MAIL.
WE HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED
DEVELOPERS COMING IN.
EVEN WITH -- BUYERS SAYING IT
IS A FAMILY AND IT TURNS OUT
OT TO BE A FAMILY.
IT HAS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT FOR
US TO LIVE WITH ABSENTEE
LANDLORD PEOPLE IN GENERAL.
WE HAVE COURSE HAVE THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON AS A
TOTAL SOURCE OF RENTAL INCOME
DAY AND NIGHT AND ALL YEAR
AROUND.
SO THAT IS MAYBE MORE OF A
PROBLEM FOR US THEN OTHER
NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE AREA.
BUT THEY WILL OFTEN COME IN AND
CHECK BOTH HOUSES INTO SMALL
UNITS.
IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET THE
CITY TO ENFORCE THEIR OWN
ZONING AT THIS POINT.
LEAVING US SKEPTICAL OF THE
CITY'S ABILITY TO DO THAT WITH
DEVELOPER OWNERSHIP.
PEOPLE THAT WILL BUILD AND THEN
MOVE AWAY.
WE HAVE EXPERIENCED VANDALISM,
LATE-NIGHT PARTY NOISE, TRASH
AND EVEN ONE INCIDENT OF A
GUNSHOT WOUND AT A PARTY IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD LAST YEAR.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT WOULD
NEVER OCCUR WITH OWNER OCCUPIED
OF SOMEBODY LIVING ON THE
PROPERTY.
ONE OF THE UNITS, WE DON'T CARE
WHICH, BUT SOMEBODY WHO WAS
THERE, BOOTS ON THE GROUND,
MAKING SURE THAT THE
NEIGHBORHOOD STAYS LIVABLE.
THE OTHER THING IS THAT OFTEN
THE DEVELOPERS COME IN AND
OUTBID YOUNG FAMILIES THAT
WOULD BE OUR NEIGHBORS IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND ON A GOOD
NOTE, THESE HOUSES DO HAVE
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND
THE HOUSES AND IT PROVIDES A
WAY FOR THESE YOUNG FAMILIES TO
BE ABLE TO AFFORD HOUSING THAT
THEY OTHERWISE WOULDN'T.
SO THERE ARE A LOT OF GOOD
THINGS ABOUT ADU'S AND DADU'S
AND SO ON.
BUT REALLY THEY HAVE TO BE ONE
UNIT OCCUPIED BY THE OWNER.
>> THANK YOU.
PAUL.
>> I AM PAUL.
I LIVE IN WALDEN CREEK.
YOU ARE LOOKING INTO THE FACE
OF THE SO-CALLED RICH DEVELOPER
TRASH.
I AM BUILDING A ADU RIGHT NOW
SO I CAN WELCOME MORE NEIGHBORS
IN A RENT THAT WILL LIKELY LOSE
ANY MONEY.
ONE DAY I WOULD LIKE TO BUILD A
BACKYARD COTTAGE SO I CAN MOVE
IN THERE OR HAVE MY CHILDREN
MOVE IN THERE.
I AM ALL IN ON THE ADU REFORM.
UNFORTUNATELY WHILE VANCOUVER
SPENT FOUR MONTHS TO EXPAND
HOUSING FROM THREE UNITS TO
FOUR UNITS, A VOCAL MINORITY OF
DELAY IS MUCH NEEDED REFORM BY
FOUR YEARS.
THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL AND
THINK ESPECIALLY TO MIKE
O'BRIEN FOR SURVIVING THE
SEATTLE PROCESS AND DRIVING
FORWARD THIS IMPORTANT
LEGISLATION.
IT IS NOW TIME TO PASS THIS
REFORM.
I ENCOURAGE COUNSEL TO REJECT
AMENDMENTS THAT MAKE IT HARDER
TO BUILD ADU'S.
THANK YOU MIKE FOR CONSIDERING
AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD EDUCATE
LANDLORDS ON REQUIREMENTS.
THIS WILL HELP US NEW LANDLORDS
DO THE RIGHT THING.
PLEASE REJECT COUNCILMEMBER
HARRELL'S PARKING PROPOSAL THAT
WOULD PREVENT HOUSING FROM
BEING BUILT.
PLEASE REJECT RESTRICTIONS ON
SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
THESE WILL PREVENT HOUSING.
WE ALREADY HAVE ADEQUATE
RESTRICTIONS ON SHORT-TERM
RENTALS.
IN ADDITION, I ENCOURAGE
COUNSEL TO CONSIDER NOW OR IN
THE NEAR FUTURE, ADDITIONAL
CHALLENGES THAT WILL MAKE IT
EASIER TO BUILD ADU'S.
THIS COST ME THOUSANDS OF
DOLLARS VERSUS A MAN CAVE WITH
A WET BAR.
CONSIDER REMOVING SEWAGE HOOKUP
FEES FOR COTTAGES WHICH ADD
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO THE
COST.
CONSIDER OPTIONS TO EASE
FINANCING, CONSIDER REMOVING
DECKS FROM COVERAGE LIMITS.
LET'S DO THE SMALL STUFF IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION SO WE CAN GET
ON TO RE- LEGALIZING STORES AND
FLOORS ACROSS THE CITY.
>> PATRICK TAYLOR.
RYAN ROSENBERG.
MOVING ALONG.
KAREN TRIPS IN.
CHAD MILLER.
CHAD IS COMING.
MARK FOLTZ.
DON PENNELL AND JUSTIN --
>> GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS CHAD MILLER.
I CURRENTLY LIVE WITH MY
PARTNER AT HOME IN MOUNTLAKE.
I SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION AS
WRITTEN.
IN THE EARLY 90S, I MOVED TO
SEATTLE AND WAS HONORABLY
DISCHARGED FROM THE NAVY.
AT THE TIME, I WAS SOLELY IN
THE LOWER END OF THE ECONOMIC
SPECTRUM OF THE WEALTHY CITY.
WE RENTED IN QUEEN ANNE FOR 12
YEARS AND A GRANDFATHER HOME
HAD BEEN CONVERTED TO THREE
APARTMENTS THAT WAS NOT OWNER
OCCUPIED.
THIS TYPE OF HOUSING PROVIDED
ME A COMFORTABLE HOME FOR 12
YEARS WHICH I USE THE GI BILL
TO ATTEND SEATTLE CENTRAL
COMMUNITY COLLEGE, THE
UNIVERSITY WASHINGTON AND WORK
FOR A LONG TIME BEFORE MY FIRST
HOME.
I SEARCHED TO FIND AND PURCHASE
A HOME IN MADISON VALLEY WITH
THE ADU'S IS A -- TO SUPPORT
MY HOUSING COST AND PROVIDE THE
OPPORTUNITY I RECEIVED EARLIER
IN LIFE TO A DIVERSE GROUP THAT
COULD ENRICH MY NEIGHBORHOOD
AND ENRICH MY LIFE.
OVER THE YEARS, I HAVE RUN INTO
ARTISTS, STUDENTS AND MANY
RACIALLY DIVERSE PEOPLE.
IF YOU YEARS AGO, I MET A
WONDERFUL PARTNER AND WE MOVED
INTO HER HOME.
NOW I AM LEFT WITH A HOME THAT
I CAN ONLY LEGALLY HAVE FILLED.
IT LEAVES ME WITH THE OPTION TO
SELL THE HOME AS IS, REMODEL TO
A MORE FINANCIALLY ATTRACTIVE
MEGA HOME TO SELL OR TO
CONTINUE TO LOSE MONEY.
ALL THESE OPTIONS REDUCE THE
UPPER DEFENDANT -- 75% OF
SADDLE IS SINGLE-FAMILY.
THIS IS UNATTAINABLE BY THE
DIVERSE PEOPLE I WANT TO BE
INCLUDED AS MY NEIGHBORS.
AGAIN, PLEASE PASS THE
RESOLUTION AS WRITTEN AND
PLEASE CONTINUE TO INCLUDE THE
OWNER-OCCUPIED EXCEPTION.
WE NEED THE FULL HOUSING IMPACT
OF THIS LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE.
THANK YOU.
>> MARK.
>> HELLO COUNCILMEMBERS.
I AM MARK FOLTZ.
I AM A HOME OWNER.
I AM SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE
HOMES LEGISLATION THAT
LEGALIZES MORE HOMES ACROSS THE
CITY.
WALLINGFORD IS A GREAT
NEIGHBORHOOD.
I MOVED HERE WITH MY FAMILY IN
2008.
THE COST OF A HOME IN MY
NEIGHBORHOOD IS PROHIBITED
BECAUSE ZONING ONLY ALLOWS
EXPENSIVE OLD HOMES TO BE TORN
DOWN AND REPLACED BY EAT LARGER
AND EVEN MORE EXORBITANT ONES.
THIS KEEPS PEOPLE WITHOUT
WEALTH FROM BEING ABLE TO LIVE
HERE.
IT IS SAD WE SHOULD BE KEEPING
THE HOMES WE HAVE AND ALLOWING
NEW HOMES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD
AND NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE
CITY.
HERE IS A PICTURE OF WHAT MY
HOUSE LOOKS LIKE.
IT USED TO BE A DUPLEX.
THERE WAS A SHED IN THE BACK.
IT COULD EASILY BE REPLACED
WITH A BACKYARD COTTAGE OR A
BLOCK HOUSE WHICH WOULD ALLOW
ANOTHER FAMILY TO LIVE IN MY
NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE ONLY ONE IS
ALLOWED NOW.
I WOULD BE WILLING TO RENT TO
THAT BELOW MARKET RATE
ESPECIALLY WITH INCENTIVES OR
HELP WITH PERMITTING AND THINGS
LIKE THAT.
I THINK THIS WOULD BE A CHEAP
AND EFFECTIVE WAY TO GENERATE
MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACROSS
THE CITY.
ACCESSORY HOMES ARE GREAT
BECAUSE THEY ALLOW MORE
FAMILIES TO LIVE IN HIGH
OPPORTUNITY NEIGHBORHOODS NEAR
PARKS, SCHOOLS AND WHERE THEY
WORK.
THEY ALLOW FAMILIES TO LIVE
ALONGSIDE THEIR KIDS.
WE HAVE HEARD A LOT OF STORIES
ABOUT THAT EARLIER.
WITH PARENTS.
THOSE THAT OWN THEIR HOMES CAN
AFFORD TO GENERATE INCOME FROM
THEIR INVESTMENT.
AS WE HAVE SEEN IN LOS ANGELES
AND VANCOUVER, THERE IS A LARGE
AMOUNT OF DEMAND FOR ACCESSORY
HOMES.
I ASK YOU TO PASS LEGISLATION
THAT ALLOWS AS MANY ACCESSORY
HOMES AS POSSIBLE TO BE BUILT
SO WE CAN ALL BENEFIT SOONER.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER O'BRIEN
AND YOUR STAFF FOR SEEING THE
LEGISLATION THROUGH.
>> THANK YOU, MARK.
>> I ACCIDENTALLY SCRIPT --
SKIPPED OVER GREG.
WE WILL GO THROUGH -- OVER TO
DAWN AND JUSTIN.
JOVAN.
SHERRY NEWBOLD, DANIEL WALLACE
AND ANDY FUSSELL.
>> MY NAME IS JUSTIN ALLEGRO.
I AM FROM UPPER QUEEN IN.
I AM HERE TO OFFER MY STRONG
SUPPORT FOR THIS LEGISLATION
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP IN MOVING IT
FORWARD.
I BELIEVE YOU ALL KNOW THE
MERITS OF THIS LEGISLATION AS
WELL AS I DO.
MAYBE I WILL JUST TELL MY
STORY.
MY FATHER-IN-LAW DIED IN 2011
AND LEFT MY WIFE A TRUST.
WE USED IT TO GET A SINGLE-
FAMILY HOME NEAR AN ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL FOR OUR KIDS.
AND ALTHOUGH WE MAKE A LITTLE
MORE THAN AREA MEDIAN INCOME,
WE DO NOT HAVE A MORTGAGE.
WE BOUGHT IT STRAIGHT UP.
DOING NOTHING BUT RESTING ON
THE INTERGENERATIONAL
PRIVILEGE, MY HOME IS VALUED AT
$1.3 MILLION.
IN NO WAY IS EVERY LONG-TERM
HOME OWNER OR RENTER IN THE
CITY A SIMILAR BENEFICIARY OF
INTERGENERATIONAL WEALTH AS I
AM BUT WHEN POWER AND PRIVILEGE
KEEP IN PLACE THE STATUS QUO
BENEFITS, PEOPLE LIKE ME ARE
THE ONLY FOLKS THAT SEE
ACCESSING HOUSING STOCK IN THE
FUTURE.
>> I AM A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME
OWNER 2 MILES FROM DOWNTOWN
THAT WOULD WELCOME DRAMATIC
ZONING CHANGES TO INCENTIVIZE
MORE HOUSING SUPPLY AND CREATE
MORE RENTAL OPPORTUNITIES IN MY
BACKYARD.
I DON'T CARE WHO OWNS A HOME.
I CARE ABOUT ALL OF MY CURRENT
AND FUTURE NEIGHBORS INCLUDING
THE 50% OF MY NEIGHBORS THAT
RENT.
THIS IS NOT A DRAMATIC PROPOSAL
AND THE LEAST WE CAN DO -- IT
IS THE LEAST WE CAN DO AS THE
CURRENT SAWANT AND POLICY IS
NOT SUFFICIENTLY PROVIDING
HOUSING.
I AM ASKING THAT YOU
DISINCENTIVE I'VE TURNDOWNS AND
REMOVE REQUIREMENTS FOR OWNER
OCCUPATION AND I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK OVER
THE LAST FOUR YEARS THAT HE
WILL HAVE DONE TO MOVE THIS
FORWARD.
SO THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT.
SHERRY.
SHERRY AND THEN JOE AND THEN
ANDY AND THEN DANIELLE.
>> HELLO EVERYONE.
THANK YOU FOR STAYING WITH US
THIS EVENING AND ALLOWING US TO
SPEAK.
MY NAME IS SHERRY NEWBOLD.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SHARE
THREE REALLY QUICK STORIES THIS
EVENING.
FIRST, I AM A HOMEOWNER IN
GREENWOOD.
AND I HAVE A DADU AT MY HOUSE
AND I LOVE IT.
I HAVE RENTED IT OUT LONG-TERM
TO SOMEONE FOR THE PAST --
OVER FOUR YEARS.
I ALSO WOULD LOVE TO ADD A ADU
TO THE BASEMENT OF MY HOME.
WE HAVE A SMALL HOME BUT WE
DON'T NEED ALL OF THAT SPACE.
SECONDLY, I HAVE -- I AM VERY
FORTUNATE THAT I OWN A SMALL
RENTAL HOUSE IN WEST SEATTLE.
AND IT IS ABOUT 700 SQUARE FEET
AND IS AT THE BACK OF AN 8000
SQARE-FOOT LOT.
AND I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO BE
ABLE TO CONVERT THAT HOUSE TO A
DADU AND ADD A MODEST HOUSE
NEAR THE FRONT OF THE LOT.
POSSIBLY WITH A ADU ATTACHED IF
I COULD AFFORD IT WHICH WOULD
DOUBLE OR TRIPLE THE AMOUNT OF
HOUSING ON THAT PARTICULAR LOT.
THIRD, I AM A RESIDENTIAL
ARCHITECT THAT HAS DESIGNED
OVER 20 ADU'S AND DADU'S AND I
CAN TELL YOU FROM FIRST-HAND
EXPERIENCE THAT ALL OF THE
PROPOSED CHANGES ARE VERY MUCH
NEEDED TO MAKE THESE MORE EASY
FOR PEOPLE TO BUILD.
AND LESS EXPENSIVE.
MANY PEOPLE INCLUDING MYSELF
HAVE BEEN WAITING THIS LONG SLOG
FOR THIS LEGISLATION TO PASS SO
THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD
INCREMENTALLY ADDING HOUSING TO
OUR CITY.
JUST THINK.
I COULD ADD TWO OR THREE UNITS
MYSELF.
PLEASE PASS THIS LEGISLATION AS
WRITTEN AND MAKE IT AS EASY AS
POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO ADD
ADU'S AND DADU'S.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> JOE.
>> ANDY.
DANIELLE.
>> GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS ANDY FUSSELL.
I AM A HOMEOWNER IN QUEEN IN.
THIS ISSUE IS DIFFICULT BUT IT
IS ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT.
IN MY PARTICULAR CASE, I WAS
HAPPILY RETIRED IN NAPA,
CALIFORNIA THREE YEARS AGO
DRINKING WINE AND TAKING
úWINEMAKING CLASSES AT THE
COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
MY DAUGHTER CALLED.
SHE LIVES IN SEATTLE.
SHE SAID, I THINK I NEED YOU
AND DAD FOR THIS FAMILY STUFF.
WHAT PARENT COULD RESIST?
SO WE STARTED LOOKING FOR HOMES
IN SEATTLE AND DID NOT KNOW
WHERE THE KIDS WOULD LIVE.
WHERE WOULD WE LIVE?
WE ARE WITH A LIVE?
I WAS TALKING TO PARENTS THAT
COMMUTED FOR ONE HOUR TO GET TO
THE CITY.
THEN WE SAW A HOUSE WITH A DADU
BEHIND IT AND WE SAID, THAT
MIGHT WORK.
SO IT TOOK US A YEAR TO FIND A
SPACE WHERE WE COULD BUILD A
DADU.
IT HAPPENED TO BE QUEEN AND ON
THE WEST SIDE OF THE HILL.
5300 SQUARE-FOOT LOT.
A REALLY OLD ONE THOUSANDS
WHERE FOOT HOUSE THAT YOU WOULD
NOT WANT TO LIVE IN.
AND PLENTY OF ROOM FOR THE DADU
IN THE BACKYARD.
WE PLANNED TO BUILD A SECOND
STORY.
THE KIDS COULD LIVE THERE AND
RAISE THEIR FAMILY.
WE COULD LIVE IN THE DADU.
WE SPENT SIX MONTHS WITH AN
ARCHITECT AND CEMENTED PLANS IN
APRIL 2018 AND WE ARE STILL
WAITING FOR APPROVAL.
HAS BEEN THE WORST YEAR PLUS IN
MY LIFE BUT THAT IS PROBABLY
FOR ANOTHER HEARING.
THE ISSUE IS THAT FOR THIS
DADU, WE TRIED TO DESIGN IT
WITH 800 SQUARE FEET.
YOU CANNOT LIVE IN 800 SQUARE
FEET.
THE OTHER 200 SQUARE FEET WOULD
ALLOW US TO HAVE A SECOND
BEDROOM.
MY DAUGHTER OR FRIENDS COULD
COME VISIT.
MY WIFE COULD HAVE A PLACE TO
DO HER QUILTING.
THE ISSUE IS, I DON'T WANT TO
PARK A CAR IN THE FRONT OF MY
DADU.
I WANT TO HAVE FLOWERS IN THE
GARDEN.
ON OUR STREETS, THERE IS PLENTY
OF ROOM FOR CARS.
THE NEIGHBORS WANT MORE CARS.
BECAUSE ALL KINDS OF CARS AND
TRUCKS ARE SENT TO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE PARKED CARS ON BOTH SIDES OF
THE STREET.
TRAFFIC WILL SLOW DOWN.
LET'S USE OUR STREETS OR
PARKING.
THE OTHER ISSUE, I SOLD MY CAR
AND I TAKE THE BUS.
IT WORKS GREAT FOR ME.
IF YOU CAN'T GIVE ME SPACE IN
THE HOUSE, GIVE ME SOME HEIGHT
LIKE THIS ROOM.
I LIVE IN A SMALL BASE.
LET IT BE HIGH.
LET ME QUICKLY ADDRESS CONCERNS
ABOUT THIS FROM THOSE WHO LIVE
ON QUEEN AND AND THE BIG
INVESTMENT AS THEIR HOME.
I UNDERSTAND THEIR CONCERN.
ANYTHING THAT COULD DECREASE
THE INVESTMENT COULD BE
TERRIBLE FOR THEM.
I PAID $800,000 FOR THE HOUSE.
I HAD TO OUTBID DEVELOPERS.
THEY COULD NOT GO THAT HIGH.
I SPENT ANOTHER $200,000 ON
ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS.
THE DADU ON HOUSE RENOVATIONS
WILL BE ANOTHER MILLION
DOLLARS.
IT IS A 2 MILLION-DOLLAR
INVESTMENT.
I KNOW THERE ARE SIGNS THAT YOU
CAN DO DADU'S FOR 250,000.
YOU PROBABLY CAN.
IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, IF YOU
WANT TO MATCH THE HOUSE, YOU
SPEND A LOT OF MONEY AND IT
WILL BE A NICE PLACE TO LIVE
NEXT TO.
ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORS ARE REALLY
SUPPORTIVE.
I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF
MONEY.
I'M GOING BACK TO COLLEGE NOW
TO SEATTLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO
STUDY PROGRAMMING SO I CAN GO
BACK TO WORK AND PAY FOR THIS
PLACE.
MY SON AND DAUGHTER-IN-LAW WILL
BUY IN.
SHE IS A NURSE PRACTITIONER AND
WORKS 12 HOUR SHIFTS.
HER HUSBAND TOILS IN THE
HALLWAYS OF ONE OF THE MAJOR
CORPORATIONS HERE IN THE CITY.
AND THEY WILL TAKE OUT A
500,000 PLUS LOAN.
IF THEY WERE NOT DOING THAT,
THEY WOULD BE BUYING A HOUSE IN
BREMERTON.
THIS GIVES THEM A CHANCE TO BUY
INTO THE CITY AND LIVE HERE.
I TELL MY DAUGHTER, DADU STANDS
FOR DAD AND YOU.
SO LET'S MAKE THAT COME TRUE.
THANK YOU MIKE AND THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBERS.
>> ALL RIGHT FOLKS, YOU STUCK
IT OUT.
I'M GOING TO READ THROUGH A LOT
OF NAMES.
DANIELLE, WHITNEY. WHITNEY IS
COMING.
JOSEPH REYNOLDS.
AND THEN, ALICIA REEVES.
DAVID LAWSON, SUMMER HANSEN.
WE ARE UP TO NUMBER 36.
WHITNEY.
>> I WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT THE HOMEOWNER
PROSPECTIVE.
AND A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT WAY.
I HAVE A PARTNER AND HE IS ONE
OF THOSE DREADED TECH DUDES.
WE WERE REALLY FORTUNATE TO BUY
A HOUSE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT
WE REALLY LIKE.
WE HAVE BEEN RENTING THERE.
HE BOUGHT A HOUSE LAST YEAR.
HE WOULD REALLY LIKE TO BUILD A
DADU IN THE BACKYARD BUT
BECAUSE OF REGULATIONS AND WE
HAVE AN APARTMENT IN THE
BASEMENT, WE CAN'T.
HERE IS A GUY FINALLY MAKING
GOOD MONEY BEING A TECH DUDE
AND HE WANTS TO DO THE RIGHT
THING.
HE WANTS TO BE A LANDLORD.
HIS VISION IS TO HAVE BASICALLY
THREE UNITS IN THE SINGLE-
FAMILY ZONE.
AND WE WOULD GO SOMEPLACE ELSE
AND MAYBE DO THE SAME THING.
AND THEN WE WOULD BE DEVELOPERS
I GUESS.
I DON'T KNOW.
AND I KEEP HEARING THESE PEOPLE
DEMONIZE DEVELOPERS.
I KIND OF WONDER WHO BUILD
THEIR HOUSES IN THE FIRST
PLACE.
WE KEEP HEARING ABOUT HOW EVIL
DEVELOPERS ARE.
LET'S FIGURE OUT A PATHWAY TO
HELP PEOPLE DO THE RIGHT THING
AND BUILD MORE HOUSING AND MORE
MODEST HOUSING AND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING.
FOR ME, THIS IS THE WAY TO DO
IT.
SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO ADD
MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY.
RESIST THE URGE TO REQUIRE A
PARKING REQUIREMENT.
I LIVE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD
THAT HAS A LOT OF APARTMENT
BUILDINGS.
AND I CAN STILL PARK MY CAR FOR
FREE ON THE STREET.
IT REALLY IS NOT A PROBLEM.
I REASSURE YOU.
JUST ON THAT NOTE TOO, I MIGHT
AS WELL ADD THAT I DON'T THINK
IT IS FAIR THAT WE KEEP PUTTING
RENTERS ON -- WE NEED TO
ALLOW RENTERS AND LOW INCOME
PEOPLE TO LIVE IN SINGLE-FAMILY
ZONES WHICH WOULD BE
MULTIFAMILY ZONES I SUPPOSE.
LIVE IN AREAS THAT THE REST OF
US DO.
I THINK RENTERS SHOULD BE ABLE
TO WALK OUT AND HELP ME GARDEN
OR PLAY WITH MY DOG WITH ME AND
NOT HAVE TO LIVE ON A BIG
SPEEDY ARTERIAL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> JOSEPH.
ALICIA.
IF WE MISS SOMEONE, THEY CAN
COME AFTER.
>> GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS ALICIA LOUISE.
I AM HERE OF PRESENTING THE
MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF
KING AND SNOHOMISH COUNTY.
ADU'S PROVIDE AN AFFORDABLE
FAMILY FRIENDLY HOUSING
SOLUTION THAT CAN BE EASILY
BUILT IN EXISTING
NEIGHBORHOODS.
THEY ARE ALSO A GREAT TOOL TO
STOP THE DISPLACEMENT AS OWNERS
AND RENTERS REALIZE FINANCIAL
INCENTIVES TO STAY IN THEIR
COMMUNITY.
FOR ADU'S TO CREATE THE
GREATEST POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE
COMMUNITY, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT
THERE ARE NO OWNER OCCUPANCY OR
PARKING REQUIREMENTS.
AS AN EXAMPLE, CALIFORNIA'S
RECENT ADU REFORM DID AWAY WITH
THESE REQUIREMENTS AND IT LED
TO A 30 FOLD INCREASE IN ADU
PERMITS.
IT IS VERY PROMISING.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER O'BRIEN
FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS
ISSUE.
WE SUPPORT THIS.
WE DO HAVE ROOM FOR DISCUSSION
ON THE FAR ARE --
REQUIREMENTS BUT WE WILL
PROVIDE THOSE IN A LETTER TO
COUNCILMEMBERS THAT IS
FORTHCOMING.
THANK YOU.
>> DAVID LAWSON.
SUMMER HANSEN.
SUMMER, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
CYNTHIA JOHNSON AND JANICE
BROWN.
>> I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT
THIS BILL.
I THINK IT WILL ENCOURAGE MORE
SMALL, AFFORDABLE AND DIVERSE
HOUSING IN SEATTLE.
AND IT IS A GREAT WAY TO MAKE
EFFECTIVE USE OF THE SPACE THAT
WE HAVE HERE IN THE CITY.
I THINK THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
ARE A GREAT START TO MAKE IT
EASIER FOR YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE ME
TO AFFORD LIVING IN SEATTLE'S
BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER THE
ADDITION OF ALLOWING TINY
HOUSES ON WHEELS AND BACKYARDS
AS WELL.
MY NAME IS SUMMER HANSEN.
I AM A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER.
I HAVE A COMMUNITY FOCUSED JOB
IN BALLARD WHICH ENCOURAGES
SUSTAINABLE LIVING AND I LIVE
IN FREMONT WITH MY BOYFRIEND
MICHAEL WHO WORKS IN
CONSTRUCTION TO HELP OUR CITY
GROW.
I AM VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT
SUSTAINABLE LIVING AND I LOVE
LIVING IN A DENSITY BECAUSE IT
ALLOWS ME TO USE PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION.
BUT RIGHT NOW, MY INCOME DOES
NOT COVER MY COST OF LIVING AND
I FEEL LIKE I AM THROWING MONEY
DOWN THE DRAIN BY RENTING.
NOT TO MENTION OUR RENT IS
INCREASING SUBSTANTIALLY EACH
YEAR.
I WANT TO BE FINANCIALLY STABLE
AND ABLE TO INVEST IN MY OWN
HOME LIKE THE GENERATION BEFORE
ME.
I WANT TO BE ABLE TO
COMFORTABLY COMMUTE TO MY PLACE
OF WORK.
WE HEARD ABOUT THIS PUBLIC
HEARING TODAY BECAUSE THE TWO
OF US SPENT THE AFTERNOON AT
THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTIONS
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO
MAKE OUR DREAM COME TRUE.
WE WANT TO BUILD A TINY HOUSE
ON WHEELS AS A CREATIVE PROJECT
AND AN INVESTMENT IN A MORE
STABLE FUTURE.
WE CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY A HOUSE
BECAUSE OF THE LAND PRICES IN
SEATTLE AND THIS WOULD BE AN
OPTION FOR US TO OWN A HOME
WITHOUT NECESSARILY OWNING
LAND.
IT ALSO WOULD BE A REALLY GREAT
WAY TO OFFER AN EASY AND QUICK
WAY TO MAKE INCOME FOR
HOMEOWNERS WHO WON'T
NECESSARILY HAVE THE ENERGY
THAT WE HAVE TO BUILD AN EXTRA
HOME.
SO I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER THIS
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL
OF YOUR HARD WORK.
>> THANK YOU, SUMMER.
>> CYNTHIA OR JANICE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU.
IT IS GREAT THAT WE HAVE THESE
NEW ADU'S AND DADU'S.
AND WE ARE ALLOWING
FLEXIBILITY.
I DO HAVE SOME RESERVATIONS
ABOUT NOT HAVING THE LANDOWNER
-- RESPONSIBLE HOMEOWNERS
INVOLVED.
I LIVED IN THIS DISTRICT IN THE
70s.
IT WAS LIKE RAGING PARTIES AND
FIGHTS ON THE STREET AS THE
WOMAN SAID BEFORE.
UNLESS YOU HAVE BOOTS ON THE
GROUND, YOU WILL LOSE THAT.
I THINK IT IS SIGNED TO HAVE
ADU'S AND DADU'S INCREASE
DENSITY AND THE FLEXIBILITY
THAT WE HAVE TO CHANGE THAT.
THE LAST THING I WOULD LIKE TO
SAY IS THAT SINCE WE ARE GOING
TO ALLOW THE MCMANSIONS TO KEEP
GOING FOR ANOTHER SIX MONTHS, I
THINK THIS ISSUE SHOULD WAIT
UNTIL THERE IS A LITTLE MORE
INPUT.
THE SEATTLE TIMES DID SAY THAT
WE SHOULD WAIT UNTIL THE LAME-
DUCK CITY COUNCIL IS OUT.
SO I THINK WE ARE MAYBE GOING
TOO FAST AND I THINK THERE
SHOULD BE SOME LIMITS TO THIS
PROPOSAL.
THANK YOU.
>> JANICE, YOU WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY -- MICHAEL CAMP,
ELSA OLSON, FRANCIS COSTIGAN,
SHNE NESBITT AND PAT FELD.
>> BUSY NIGHT.
I'M JANICE BROWN.
I AM A CONDO OWNER.
I AM A NORTHWEST NATIVE.
I GREW UP AND HAVE LIVED IN
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
AND SOME OF THE THINGS I WOULD
LIKE TO TOUCH ON HAVE TO DEAL
WITH MORE OF A MACRO VIEW.
WHEN I FIRST MOVED BACK HERE 25
YEARS AGO TO TAKE CARE OF AN
ILL MOTHER, THE GROWTH
MANAGEMENT ACT HAD JUST BEEN
INCORPORATED INTO OUR AREA.
AND THAT WAS TO CONTAIN THE
GROWTH IN THE SUBURBAN SPRAWL.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH THAT NOW
IS THAT ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT
MOVED -- I SOLD CONDO
DEVELOPMENTS FOR MANY YEARS.
I AM A REAL ESTATE BROKER.
NOW WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE
MOVED TO THE SUBURBS THAT WANT
TO COME BACK TO OUR CITY THAT
IS EXCITING.
THE KIDS ARE GROWN.
THEY ARE OFF TO COLLEGE.
LET'S GO HAVE FUN IN THE CITY.
AND OUR SISTER CITY ACROSS THE
LAKE DOES NOT HAVE MUCH OF A
NIGHTLIFE.
SO THERE IS AN ENTICEMENT WITH
-- AS GOOD AS WE HAVE GOTTEN
AS A CITY.
I WAS HERE WHEN THE LAST OF THE
PEOPLE TURN OUT THE LIGHTS AND
IT WAS NOT A FUN TIME.
CHANGE HAPPENS CONSTANTLY.
NOTHING EVER STAYS THE SAME.
WHEN PEOPLE COMPLAINED TO ME
ABOUT CHANGE AND GROWTH, I SAY
TO COMPARE IT TO DETROIT AND
NOTHING IS FLATLINED.
YOU WILL EITHER GO UP OR DOWN.
I THINK YOU WOULD MUCH RATHER
BE ON AN UPWARD TREND.
FOR THE ADU, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND
-- THE PEOPLE WORRIED ABOUT
DEVELOPERS COMING IN, I PROMISE
YOU THERE IS NOT ENOUGH MONEY
TO COLLECT ENOUGH LITTLE ADU
SPOTS.
IT WILL BE GREAT FOR PEOPLE
THAT WANT TO HAVE SOMEONE TO
AGE IN PLACE.
WE HAVE TWO-STORY HOUSES WHERE
PEOPLE HAVE MOBILITY ISSUES.
IS THE PERFECT WAY TO PUT A
RELATIVE ON A ONE LEVEL PLACE
AND AGE IN PLACE BECAUSE NOBODY
WANTS TO GO INTO ASSISTED
LIVING.
THANK YOU.
>> MICHAEL. FRANCIS.
FOLLOWED BY CHARLES, SHANE, PAT
BELL, ALEX PRESTON, BONNIE
WILLIAMS AND RICHARD ELLISON.
IF ANY OF YOU ARE HERE, GET
READY.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK AND THINK
YOU COUNCILMEMBERS FOR
EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE THUS
FAR TO ENCOURAGE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IN OUR CITY.
I WANT TO TALK FROM PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE.
VERY RECENT.
AT AGES 34 AND 37, MY PARTNER
AND I ARE FAR FROM ABLE TO
AFFORD TO BUY A HOUSE IN
SEATTLE.
BUT JUST ABOUT A WEEK AGO, WE
MOVED INTO A BACKYARD COTTAGE
IN VICTORY HEIGHTS AND IT HAS
BEEN LIFE-CHANGING WHICH IS NOT
SOMETHING I SAY LIGHTLY.
WE MOVED FROM AN OLDER NOT AN
EXPENSIVE STUDIO APARTMENT IN
THE HEART OF CAPITOL HILL
SEEKING A QUIETER, HEALTHIER
LIFESTYLE, HOPING TO ALSO SAVE
MONEY.
WE ARE NOW PAYING LESS FOR RENT
FOR A MUCH HIGHER QUALITY OF
LIFE LIVING IN A MUCH MORE
ENERGY-EFFICIENT SPACE BUILT
FROM LARGELY REPURPOSED
MATERIALS WHERE WE CAN GROW A
GARDEN, SAFELY BIKE AND WALK TO
STORES AND RECREATION AND CATCH
TRANSIT TO WORK JUST A BLOCK
AWAY.
WHILE THE SQUARE FOOTAGE IS
SMALL, THE HIGH CEILINGS AND
WINDOWS MAKE OUR COTTAGE
SPACIOUS AND ALLOW FOR A LOFT
OR STORAGE SPACE.
LIVING IN A SMALLER PEACEFUL
SPACE MEANS WE ACCUMULATE LESS
AND IT ALLOWS US TO LIVE SIMPLY
AND SPEND OUR MONEY, TIME AND
ENERGY IN OTHER MORE MEANINGFUL
WAYS SUCH AS ATTENDING CITY
COUNCIL HEARINGS.
WE DON'T HAVE TO MOVE OUTSIDE
OF SEATTLE WHICH WE WERE AFRAID
OF.
I KNOW THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE MY
AGE THAT DON'T HAVE THE OPTION
TO BUY AND SEATTLE AND ARE
FACING SKYROCKETING RENTS AND
LESS THAN DESIRABLE LIVING
SITUATIONS AND WOULD EMBRACE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE IN A
ADU OR DADU RATHER THAN LIVE
OUTSIDE OF THE CITY.
IT IS ONE WAY TO INDUCE MIXED
INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS AND
INCREASE DENSITY AND EQUITY.
AND WAREHOUSING NEAR TRANSIT
AND DOABLE.
I FULLY SUPPORT THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENT TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO
ADU AND DADU CONSTRUCTION.
AND ALLOW THE RESILIENCY.
THANK YOU.
>> CHARLES, ALEX, PAT --
HOW FAR DID I GET?
BONNIE.
>> MY NAME IS ALEX PRESTON.
I AM A RENTER AND A SERVICE
INDUSTRY WORKER AND NORTH
SEATTLE AND I AM HERE TODAY AND
SUPPORT OF ENVIRONMENTALLY
RESPONSIBLE LAND USE POLICY
THAT WILL PROMOTE MIXED INCOME
NEIGHBORHOODS IN ALL CORNERS OF
THE CITY.
LEGISLATION BEING DISCUSSED
TODAY WILL BRING THE CITY
CLOSER TO MEETING ITS HOUSING
AND SUSTAINABILITY GOALS AS WE
FACE PARALLEL AFFORDABILITY AND
CLIMATE EMERGENCIES. WE KNOW
THAT KEEPING SO MUCH LAND ZONED
STRICTLY FOR DETACHED SINGLE-
FAMILY LOTS ONLY IS VERY COSTLY
FROM A CARBON FOOTPRINT
STANDPOINT.
AND IT IS ALSO EXCLUSIONARY BY
NATURE.
THE CITY'S PLANNING COMMISSION
HAS REPORTED THAT MORE FLEXIBLE
ZONING THAT ACCOMMODATES A
VARIETY OF SITUATIONS IS
CRITICAL FOR KEEPING FOLKS IN
PLACE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
AND IT IS NECESSARY FOR THE
LAND-USE POLICY DECISIONS.
REMOVING BARRIERS TO
RESIDENTIAL STRATEGIES WILL
ALLOW MORE PEOPLE TO LIVE
CLOSER TO JOBS, CULTURAL
AMENITIES AND SMALL BUSINESSES.
AND IT WILL IMPROVE THE CITY'S
WALK ABILITY.
AND ELIMINATING -- IT WILL
SHIFT PRIORITY AWAY FROM
VEHICLE STORAGE AND TOWARD
LIVABLE WELL-CONNECTED
COMMUNITIES.
SO AS SOMEONE THAT WOULD LIKE
TO CALL SEATTLE HOME FOR MANY
YEARS TO COME AND SOMEONE THAT
WOULD LIKE MORE NEIGHBORS WITH
A VARIETY OF BACKGROUNDS, I
HOPE THAT THE COUNCIL WILL
ADOPT THE ADU REFORM AS
PROPOSED.
>> THANK YOU.
RICHARD.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ENDURANCE TONIGHT.
KIND OF ALONG ONE.
I AM NOT SUPPORTING THE
LEGISLATION.
I DO SUPPORT THE CURRENT CODE.
I THINK IT HAS BEEN CRAFTED
VERY CAREFULLY.
I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME
BARRIERS THAT PEOPLE WOULD LIKE
TO GO WAY.
PARKING IS PROBABLY ONE OF
THEM.
I WANT TO BRING OUT THE FEIS
-- THE PARKING STUDY AS I
UNDERSTAND IT WAS ONLY DONE 5
MILES AWAY FROM THE CORE OF
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE.
úSO I DON'T THINK ALL
NEIGHBORHOODS ARE THE SAME AND
I THINK THAT ANYTHING CLOSE TO
THE CORE IS GOING TO BE MORE
OVERWHELMED WITH ADDITIONAL
PARKING WAIVERS OR THE
REQUIREMENT ELIMINATED.
SO I THINK THAT PEOPLE NEED TO
UNDERSTAND THAT -- 5 MILES
FROM THE COURT CAN IMPACT
NEIGHBORHOODS QUITE A BIT.
WE IN WALLINGFORD HAVE A LOT OF
OVERFLOW FROM UW AND SOME OF IT
IS HANDLED BUT NOT ALL OF IT.
AND AS WE CONTINUE WITH MHA
APARTMENT BUILDINGS, THEY ARE
ALLOWING NO PARKING.
WE GET MORE AND MORE.
WE GET LIGHT RAIL BUT WHEN WILL
IT END?
AND WE HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN
OTHER THAN, IT IS ALL GOING TO
WORK OUT.
SO I ALSO HAVE SEEN SOME CUTE
BACKYARD COTTAGES.
WELL-DESIGNED.
TO ME, A COTTAGE AT 800 SQUARE
FEET IS A COTTAGE.
WHEN YOU START DOING TWO-STORY
OR 2000 SQUARE FEET -- I'M
SORRY.
THAT IS NOT BRINGING THE MOTHER-
IN-LAW IN OR A CHILD.
THEY ARE AN ADVANTAGE TO
FAMILIES.
I GET THAT.
THE AFFORDABILITY ASPECT IS
HIGHLY EXAGGERATED AND IT IS
NOT THAT YOU CAN'T GET INTO A
NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE WALLINGFORD
BECAUSE THERE ARE DUPLEXES AND
SMALL APARTMENT BUILDINGS ALL
OVER THE PLACE.
I AM SURROUNDED BY THEM.
I THINK THAT YOU NEED TO
REMEMBER THAT NEIGHBORHOODS
WITH MHA ON MARCH 18th OPENED
UP 69,000 ADDITIONAL CAPACITY.
IN WALLINGFORD, 700 SINGLE-
FAMILY HOMES WERE ELIMINATED
AND CONVERTED TO LOWRISE.
AS I UNDERSTAND THE
LEGISLATION, IT IS CITY WIDE.
I DON'T THINK ALL SINGLE-FAMILY
HOME OWNERS WANT TO PAY HIGHER
TAXES FOR THE INCREASED
CAPACITY OR HAVE THE 2500
SQUARE-FOOT RESTRICTION WHICH
ALSO RESTRICTS THE REMODEL OF A
HOME, OF AN OLDER HOME.
THOSE ARE THINGS I REALLY
OBJECT TO.
I THINK THE CODE IT SHOULD BE
KEPT AS IT IS WITHOUT -- IF
THERE IS A WAY TO PUT COTTAGES
INTO THE URBAN VILLAGES WITH
ALL THE INCREASED CAPACITY, THE
SIGLE-FAMILY ZONES WENT AWAY.
AND THERE ARE 12 PEOPLE TO A
LOT.
ME, THAT IS MULTIFAMILY AND
THAT IS WHERE IT BELONGS.
>> RICHARD. DID I GO BEYOND
THAT -- AFTER SHANE, WE WILL
SKIP OVER RICHARD.
JOELLE BROTHERS.
JAY WHO HAS AN EAR, BRITTANY,
DAVID AND JOHN -- MY.
>> I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR HAVING US TODAY.
I AM HERE TO SAY THAT I AM IN
SUPPORT OF THE DADU
LEGISLATION.
I HAVE BEEN TRYING FOR THREE
YEARS TO BUILD ONE ON MY
GARAGE.
THE GARAGE INTERIOR, SQUARE
FOOTAGE ACCOUNTING FOR THE
OVERALL DADU SQUARE FOOTAGE.
CONSTRUCTION COST HAS GONE UP
SIGNIFICANTLY.
I AM DOING THE DEAL DILIGENT
-- THE DUE DILIGENCE.
I WANT TO SAY THERE ARE A LOT
OF DADU'S IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD
AND THOSE ARE SOME OF MY
FAVORITE PEOPLE IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
THAT IS ALL.
>> THANK YOU FOR STICKING
AROUND, SHANE.
>> HELLO.
I AM RICHARD ELLISON.
I HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT TREES
BEFORE AND I WILL SPEAK ABOUT
TREES AGAIN.
CAN SEATTLE GROW MORE DENSE AND
STILL SAVE THE TREE CANOPY?
WHY SHOULD WE SAVE THE TREE
CANOPY?
THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.
IT WILL BE HOTTER TOMORROW THEN
IT IS TODAY.
IT IS NICE AND COOL HERE BUT
ACCORDING TO THIS, IT IS 85.
HOW HOT WILL IT BE TOMORROW?
86 OR 90.
IN APRIL OF 2019, WE SET A NEW
RECORD OF NINE DAYS OF RAIN IN
A ROW.
EXCEEDING EIGHT DAYS OF RAIN IN
A ROW IN ANOTHER YEAR.
LAST YEAR, WE SET RECORD HEAT
OF 86 DEGREES AND MAY --
EXCUSE ME, WE SET RECORD
TEMPERATURES IN MAY OF 86
DEGREES ONE DAY.
THE HOTTEST IT HAS EVER BEEN.
HOW HOT WILL IT BE THIS YEAR?
THE RECORD HEAT IS EXPECTED TO
BE -- SET TOMORROW.
SO DO WE NEED TREES?
THEY PROVIDE SHADE.
THEY PROVIDE HABITAT.
THEY PROVIDE THINGS TO PROTECT
US FROM THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND
EFFECT IF IT CAN HAPPEN.
KING FIVE NEWS SAYS IN 2018, WE
HAD 11 DAYS ABOVE 90 DEGREES.
THAT IT WAS A NEW RECORD.
IT WAS ONLY 12 DAYS WHICH WAS
THE RECORD IN 2015.
WE DID NOT QUITE BREAK THAT
LAST YEAR.
11 DAYS OVER 90.
THE HOW TO IN SEATTLE WAS 103
IN JULY OF 2009.
AGAIN, OUR TREES IMPORTANT?
YES, THEY ARE.
WHY?
THE WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH SAYS HOSPITALIZATION FOR
HEAT RELATED ILLNESSES IN
WASHINGTON IS ABOUT 25-113 PER
YEAR.
WITH 50% OF THE PEOPLE 65 YEARS
AND OLDER.
EXTREME HEAT EVENTS, HEAT WAVES
ARE PREDICTED TO HAPPEN MORE
OFTEN AND LAST LONGER DUE TO
CLIMATE CHANGE.
YOU ARE A PERSON TRYING TO DEAL
WITH CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECTS,
RIGHT?
AT THE RECENT URBAN FORESTRY
SYMPOSIUM IN SEATTLE --
>> YOUR TIME IS UP IF YOU CAN
WRAP UP.
>> A SEATTLE PARKS
REPRESENTATIVE SAID THAT THE
URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT MAKES
IT 7 DEGREES HOTTER IN SEATTLE
THAN THE RURAL AREAS.
SO WE ARE SAVING SEATTLE --
PROTECTING THE TREES IN THE
RURAL AREA SO WE WILL BURN
OURSELVES UP HERE.
WE WILL HAVE INCREASED
MORTALITY HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THERE IS A LOT MORE TO BE
SAID ON THIS ISSUE AND I URGE
YOU TO READ ABOUT IT.
>> ANGELA.
>> THAT EVENING.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE
TONIGHT.
I KNOW IT HAS BEEN A LONG
NIGHT.
I GOT HERE AT NUMBER 4:20 P.M.
I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK
AGAIN.
I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROPOSED
ADU DADU LEGISLATION AND I
WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO PASS
THIS LEGISLATION.
I GREW UP IN SEATTLE AND I HAVE
SEEN THE WAY SEATTLE HAS BEEN
CHANGING.
AND I THINK THIS TALK IS FOR
THE ENTIRE REGION.
AND I THINK THE ONE THING THAT
HAS BEEN NOTED TONIGHT AND
NEEDS TO BE EMPHASIZED IS THAT,
FOR EVERY HOME THAT WE ARE NOT
BUILDING IN SEATTLE, WE HAVE TO
BUILD SOMEWHERE ELSE AND THAT
CREATES BRAWL.
WE NEED TO BE BUILDING UP OUR
CITIES AND MAKING IT AN URBAN
LIVABLE AREA SO WE CAN PROVER
-- PRESERVE OUR GREEN SPACE
AND FARMLAND.
IN MY LIFETIME, ISSAQUAH HAS
BASICALLY DISAPPEARED FROM THE
FOREST LAND THAT IT WAS WHEN I
WAS A CHILD.
IF WE HAD BUILT UP SEATTLE
THOUGHTFULLY AND IF WE HAD
REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT THE WAY WE
WERE BUILDING OUR ENTIRE REGION
AND COMMUNITY, IT IS FOREST
LAND WE COULD HAVE SAVED TODAY
AND WE COULD BE ENJOYING.
INSTEAD THERE IS A MULTIMILLION
HOMES ON THAT LAND WHERE THERE
USED TO BE FOREST LAND.
IN ADDITION TO JUST THE
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT THAT THE
LEGISLATION WILL MAKE, I
SUPPORT THE LIVABILITY
STANDARD.
I AM A FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE
STUDENT AND FIRST GENERATION
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE.
NONE OF MY PARENTS GRADUATED
FROM HIGH SCHOOL.
I AM WORRIED ABOUT THEIR
FUTURE.
MY DAD IS CURRENTLY HOUSING IN
SPOKANE.
MY MOM AND MY STEPDAD PAY MORE
THAN HALF OF THEIR RENT IN
SOUTH TACOMA AND I DON'T KNOW
WHERE THEY WILL BE IN 20-30
YEARS.
I WOULD LOVE IF SOMEDAY I COULD
BE A HOMEOWNER WHERE MY PARENTS
COULD LIVE SO THEY DON'T HAVE
TO BE HOMELESS ON THE STREETS
LIKE SO MANY OF MY MOST
VULNERABLE NEIGHBORS THAT I
KNOW.
SO PLEASE PASS THIS
LEGISLATION.
THANK YOU.
>> LET ME CALL MORE NAMES.
ERICA BUSH, NANCY ROOTS.
YOU CAN COME UP IN ANY ORDER.
>> I AM THE CHAIR OF THE
SEATTLE CLUB SEATTLE GROUP AND
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT CLIMATE
CHANGE.
WE HAVE LONG BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF
ADU'S AND WE ARE EXCITED TO SEE
THE LEGISLATION MOVING FORWARD.
THEY ARE AN IMPORTANT TOOL TO
COMBAT THE HOUSING CRISES.
FROM 2011 UNTIL 2018 SEATTLE
RENT ROSE 59% AND HOME VALUES
BY 85%.
THIS HAS PUSHED MORE AND MORE
RESIDENTS OUT TO THE SUBURBS
WHERE THEY MUST STRIVE TO REACH
CULTURAL AMENITIES.
AND DEVELOPMENT PRESSURE IN THE
SUBURBS ALSO DAMAGES OR
ELIMINATES VULNERABLE WETLANDS,
FORESTS AND AGRICULTURAL LAND.
IN A TIME OF CLIMATE CRISIS,
REFUSING TO ACT ON THESE ISSUES
IN ANY WAY WE CAN IS A
DERELICTION OF DUTY.
INCREASING PEOPLE'S FREEDOM TO
CREATE ADU'S CREATES MORE
SPACE.
IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE
TO CHOOSE TO WALK, BIKE OR RIDE
THE BUS.
IT LETS FAMILIES STAY TOGETHER
AS SENIORS AGE AND PLACE.
IT HELPS US TO CREATE AND
CONTINUE THE MISSION OF
CREATING A CITY AS ACCESSIBLE
AND SUSTAINABLE FOR EVERYONE
AND I AM EXCITED TO SEE IT
HAPPEN.
THANK YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS JOSH BROTHERS.
I AM FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE A
20 PLUS YEAR RESIDENT OF
SEATTLE.
I OWN A HOME AND LIVE IN THE
PORTAGE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I LOVE LIVING HERE AND WANT
THIS TO REMAIN MY HOME.
UNFORTUNATELY, I AM CONCERNED
THAT THOUGH FAR LIMITS WILL
PREVENT ME FROM KEEPING THIS AS
MY HOME.
I AM FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO LIVE
IN A RELATIVELY MODEST HOME
ABOUT 100 YEARS OLD WITH MY
WIFE AND MY TWO CHILDREN.
WHEN WE MOVED INTO THE HOME,
OUR HOPE WAS THAT WE WOULD BE
ABLE TO DO CONSTRUCTION BECAUSE
OF THE WAY THE HOME WAS SET UP
TO ACCOMMODATE US AND OUR
GROWING FAMILY.
HOWEVER THE .5 RENTAL LIMIT
WILL PREVENT US FROM MAKING THE
EXPANSION ON OUR HOME TO MAKE
IT A SPACE WE WANT TO LIVE IN.
WE ARE NOT LOOKING TO CREATE A
MCMANSION OR MASSIVE HOUSE.
WE ARE LOOKING TO EXPAND AND
REMODEL, TO CREATE A SPACE THAT
ACCOMMODATES MY FAMILY AND THE
GROWING NATURE OF THAT.
AND I REALLY DON'T WANT TO
LEAVE SEATTLE.
I DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN THE
SUBURBS.
BUT THESE LIMITS ARE GOING TO
FORCE ME TO DO THIS.
I WOULD URGE THE COUNCIL TO
TRULY THINK ABOUT THE LIMITS,
THE FAR LIMIT AND THINK ABOUT
INCREASING THE LIMIT OR
ELIMINATING IT COMPLETELY TO
ALLOW FAMILIES LIKE ME TO
REMAIN IN SEATTLE.
THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS ERICA BUSH.
I AM HERE TO SUPPORT THE ADU
REGULATION ON BEHALF OF THE
COMMITTEE ON HOMELESSNESS.
I AM ALSO A HOMEOWNER IN
DELRIDGE.
I AM ORIGINALLY FROM NEW YORK
CITY.
I LIVE ON THE MOST DIVERSE
BLOCK I HAVE LIVED ON MY ENTIRE
LIFE.
I HAVE NEIGHBORS FROM ALL OVER
THE WORLD.
THEY ARE AMAZING AND THEY ARE
ALL RENTERS FOR THE MOST PART.
AND I MOVED TO SEATTLE BECAUSE
I THINK IT IS ONE OF THE MOST
BEAUTIFUL PLACES I HAVE EVER
BEEN.
I MOVED HERE BECAUSE I WAS ABLE
TO HAVE A GARDEN AND I WAS ABLE
TO HAVE GREEN SPACE AND I WAS
ABLE TO SORT OF CELEBRATE THE
OUTDOORS KNOWING I COULD NOT DO
THAT ON THE EAST COAST.
I WANT TO BE ABLE TO ALLOW
OTHER PEOPLE TO COME TO THE
CITY AND DO THE SAME AND AN
AFFORDABLE AND DIVERSE WAY AND
I THINK THIS WOULD ALLOW THAT
TO HAPPEN.
AND SO I GREATLY SUPPORT WHAT
YOU ARE TRYING TO DO.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORT.
AND I THINK THAT IT WILL
CONTINUE TO MAKE THE CITY A
PLACE FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO
CAME HERE TO FIND OTHER PEOPLE
THAT LOVE GREENERY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU HONORABLE
COUNCIL FOR LISTENING TO US
TODAY.
MY NAME IS DAVID MERINGUE.
I AM AN ARCHITECT OF MAGNOLIA.
NO ONE OBJECTS TO DWELLING
UNITS ESPECIALLY THOSE OFTEN
DESCRIBED AS BACKYARD COTTAGES
OR GRANNY FLATS.
TUCKED AWAY IN A DAYLIGHT
BASEMENT.
NO ONE OBJECTS TO HOMEOWNERS
WITH RENTAL REVENUE ESPECIALLY
IF THAT MEANS BEING DISPLACED
SO WHAT IS THERE TO BE
CONCERNED ABOUT?
IN THE DECADES TO FOLLOW, THE
CITY COUNCIL WILL NOT BE AROUND
TO EXPLAIN THE CITY'S INCREASED
URBAN TEMPERATURES AS A RESULT
OF LOSING THE TREE CANOPY.
THE APPEAL ON THE ADU DISMISSED
ANY CONCERNS RELATIVE TO THE
TREE CANOPY.
SO IT DOESN'T MATTER.
YET SEATTLE IS THE TENTH WORST
IN THE NATION RELATIVE TO THE
URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT.
THE MAPS PROVE THAT INCREASED
SURFACE TEMPERATURE RESULTS
FROM AREAS WITH FEWER TREES.
WHY DOES IT MATTER HERE?
TWO THIRDS OF SEATTLE'S TREES
ARE ON SINGLE-FAMILY PROPERTIES
FOR THESE DADU'S.
AND ADDITIONAL UNITS WILL BE
BUILT.
TWO THIRDS.
SO AS WE TAKE DOWN THE TREES,
WHAT HAPPENS TO IT?
THE CURRENT STATS FOR
DEVELOPMENT ON SINGLE-FAMILY
LOTS TODAY SHOW THAT THE TREE
CANOPY IS LOSING AN AVERAGE OF
25%.
CURRENTLY SINGLE-FAMILY IS 32%.
THEY ARE SHOWING RIGHT NOW THAT
LOTS DEVELOPED ARE ALL THE WAY
DOWN TO 24%.
WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU?
WE HAVE A PROBLEM ON OUR HANDS
THAT WE CANNOT JUST GLANCE OVER
AND SAY, WE ARE PROVIDING
ADDITIONAL HOUSING.
WE ALSO HAVE TO ACCOMMODATE THE
TREES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, DAVID.
>> I WILL READ OUT THE LAST
THREE NAMES THAT SIGNED UP.
AND THEN ANYONE CAN.
NICHOLAS KILLIAN, MICHAEL
MADDOX AND CALVIN JONES.
>> I AM NANCY WITH -- I AM
A CL NATIVE.
I HAVE A RENTAL HOUSE IN WEST
SEATTLE.
WE HAVE HEADED IN THE FAMILY
FOR ABOUT 25 YEARS.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR THE
WORK YOU HAVE DONE ON THIS.
IT IS JUST EXCELLENT REALLY AND
GOOD COMMUNITY WORK.
WE NEED DENSITY FOR SOCIAL
JUSTICE, FOR HOUSING, FOR
TRANSIT.
I HAVE BEEN INTERESTED TODAY
AND HEARING THE DIFFERENT
ARGUMENTS FOR WHY THAT IS NOT A
GOOD THING.
WHAT I HAVE HEARD IS THAT BAD
DEVELOPERS, RENTERS ARE BAD
PEOPLE.
I HAVE HEARD WE ARE GOING TO
LOSE ALL THE TREES.
I JUST DON'T BELIEVE THAT IS
CORRECT.
I REALLY DON'T THINK THAT WILL
COME TO PASS.
FIRST OF ALL, IT IS EXPENSIVE
TO BUILD A ADU.
WE HAVE A DETACHED GARAGE AND A
1400 SQUARE-FOOT HOUSE ON
11,000 SQUARE-FOOT LOT THAT IS
7500 MINIMUM.
YOU CANNOT SUBDIVIDE IT.
WE WILL DO THE ADU ON THE
DETACHED GARAGE.
IT WILL BE EXPENSIVE.
IT IS NOT SOMETHING A DEVELOPER
WOULD GO AND DO.
THEY WOULD ACTUALLY -- EITHER
SIDE OF US ARE HUGE HOUSES ON
THESE BIG LOTS.
THAT HUGE HOUSE -- THAT IS WHAT
WILL HURT THE TREE CANOPY.
NOT AS TAKING A LITTLE DETACHED
GARAGE AND BUILDING ON TOP OF
IT.
WE ARE NOT EVEN GOING TO TAKE
DOWN ANY TREES TO DO THIS.
IT IS -- A TREE CANOPY SHOULD
NOT BE THAT MUCH OF AN ISSUE.
BAD DEVELOPERS, I DON'T KNOW.
WILL BE A BAD DEVELOPER BECAUSE
WE HAVE A RENTAL HOUSE AND WE
RENT IT OUT AND WE LIVE
SOMEWHERE ELSE?
WE LIVE IN THE SAME
NEIGHBORHOOD.
OUR RENTERS ARE GREAT.
THEY ARE GOOD NEIGHBORS TO OUR
OTHER NEIGHBORS.
IT IS JUST NOT THE CASE.
SHORT-TERM RENTALS, I THINK I
MENTIONED THIS BEFORE IN E-
MAILS.
I THINK THERE IS THE
POSSIBILITY THAT WE COULD TAKE
THE DETACHED GARAGE AND SHORT-
TERM RENTAL IT.
THAT IS THE POSSIBILITY.
WE WILL HAVE TO BE REALLY
CAREFUL.
WEEK MAY NOT GET AS MANY LONG-
TERM RENTALS AS YOU WOULD
EXPECT FROM THIS LEGISLATION.
I STILL SUPPORT IT AS IT
STANDS.
THE ONE AMENDMENT I WOULD MAKE
WOULD BE -- WHAT WE WOULD
LIKE TO DO IS MAKE IT HIGH
ENOUGH SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY
SEE THE VIEW OVER THE SINGLE-
STORY 1400 SQUARE-FOOT SECOND-
STORY.
THE HEIGHT LIMITATIONS FOR A 50
SQUARE-FOOT WIDE LAWTON ARE
EQUAL OR GREATER.
-- IF WE CAN CHANGE THAT --
BASICALLY, THERE IS AN EQUAL OR
GREATER THEN.
WE WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT
YOU REMOVE THE GREATER THAN AND
PUT EQUAL THERE.
SO THAT WE HAVE A LITTLE MORE
HEIGHT AVAILABILITY ON THAT 50
SQUARE-FOOT -- 50-FOOT WIDE
LOT.
ALSO STREAMLINING THAT WILL
REALLY HELP PEOPLE NOT HAVE TO
SPEND SO MUCH MONEY TO DO
THESE.
I JUST DON'T THINK WE ARE GOING
TO HAVE DEVELOPERS COMING IN
AND BUYING UP PROPERTY AND
DOING THIS.
I THINK THAT IS JUST NOT GOING
TO HAPPEN.
IT IS EXPENSIVE TO BUILD THESE
THINGS.
IT IS THINGS FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE
GRANDPARENTS AND KIDS IN.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS NICHOLAS.
I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THE
EVOLUTION OF THIS EFFORT FOR A
WHILE AND IT HAS BEEN
INTERESTING.
THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU HAVE
PUT IN AND I AM GRATEFUL FOR
THAT.
I LIVE -- I HAVE LIVED IN
SEATTLE FOR SEVEN YEARS.
I AM LIVING IN MAGNOLIA.
I HAVE AN OUT -- 8000 SQUARE-
FOOT LOT.
I AM LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE ONE OF
THE TECH DUDES HERE.
I COULD NOT AFFORD A HOUSE
HERE.
WHEN I LOOKED FOR A HOUSE, IT
WAS HARD TO FIND A HOUSE THAT
FIT MY NEED.
I DID NOT CARE FOR A BIG HOUSE.
I WANTED A SMALLER HOUSE.
JUST ME AND MY GIRLFRIEND.
I DON'T NEED A LARGE HOUSE.
I LOOKED FOR A SMALL HOUSE.
IT WAS NOT THAT EASY.
I ENDED UP BUYING A HOUSE THAT
WAS ABOUT 2000 SQUARE FEET
WHICH IS MORE THAN WHAT I NEED.
WITH THE HOPE THAT ONE DAY I
WILL BE ABLE TO BUILD A ADU
THAT WOULD BE MORE IN LINE WITH
WHAT I WANT TO BUILD AND LIVE
IN.
SO WITH THE NEW RULE, I WOULD
BE ABLE TO BUILD A 1000 SQUARE-
FOOT ADU WHICH ALLOWS ME TO
HAVE A SMALL SECOND BEDROOM SO
I CAN HAVE GUESTS OVER AND HAVE
A NORMAL FAMILY LIFE.
AND THAT WOULD BE GREAT AND I
COULD RENT THE BIGGER HOUSE FOR
A FAMILY THAT NEEDS A BIGGER
SPACE.
SO I THINK THIS IS GREAT.
ONE THING -- AND I WON'T
REPEAT EVERYTHING.
IT IS OBVIOUS MOST PEOPLE ARE
IN FAVOR.
ONE THING THAT I THINK IS
INTERESTING IS THE TREE CANOPY
THING.
I LOVE TREES AND I WANT TREES
TO REMAIN.
NOBODY IS TALKING ABOUT GREEN
ROOFS.
THAT COULD HELP SIGNIFICANTLY
LOWER THE EFFECT OF THE HEAT
ISLAND THAT THE CITY HAS.
I'M DESIGNING A ADU WITH AN
ARCHITECT THAT HAS A GREEN
ROOF.
IT IS EXPENSIVE.
IT HAS A COST.
HOPEFULLY IT WILL LOOK GOOD.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE IN THE
LONG TERM.
IN THE LONGER-TERM, MORE
INCENTIVES FOR PEOPLE TO BUILD
GREEN ROOMS.
THEY ARE EXPENSIVE TO BUILD AND
I THINK THEY WOULD BE VALUABLE
FOR THE CITY.
THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS JOHN AND I HAVE
LIVED IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD
FOR 31 YEARS.
IN VICTORY HEIGHTS.
I HAVE A DOUBLE LOT.
I AM A HOMEOWNER.
I PLANTED 12 TREES.
TWO BLOCKS FROM MY HOUSE, TWO
WEEKS AGO, A DEVELOPER CAME IN
TO A FORESTED LOT AND RIPPED
OUT EVERY TREE IN THE ENTIRE
LOT -- NOT 5 FEET FROM THE
BORDER BUT THE ENTIRE LOT ALL
THE WAY TO THE PROPERTY LINE.
AND HE DUG DOWN 2-3 FEET AT
THAT LINE AND MADE A BEAUTIFUL
STRAIGHT-LINE SCULPTURERIGHT
ALONG EVERYBODY'S PROPERTY
LINE.
HE TOOK OUT TREES THAT WERE
NESTED ALONG ALL OF THESE OTHER
CONIFER TREES.
SO IT IS TRUE THAT -- THE
RESIDENTS HAVE A BLESSING THAT
OUR TREES ARE FILTERING THE AIR
AND COOLING THE CITY.
AND THE NEIGHBORS THAT I KNOW
FROM 30 YEARS, ARE FURIOUS AT
THIS DEVELOPER.
AND HE TOOK OUT ONE TREE THAT
HAD ALMOST 150 RINGS.
AND HE DID THAT IN THE CENTER
OF FOR THESE TWO BIG MANSIONS
WILL BE PUT.
AND HE COULD HAVE AVOIDED IT
BUT HE RIPPED IT OUT AND HE HAD
THE STUMP REMOVED AS FAST AS HE
COULD.
WITHIN THREE DAYS.
THESE TREES WERE TAKEN AWAY.
AND THE POOR COUPLE WHO ORDER
THIS TO THE NORTH ARE NOW, THE
ENTIRE LOT IS NOW GONE FROM A
PART SHADE ENVIRONMENT TO FULL
SUN.
SO HOW IS THAT VEGETATION GOING
TO MAKE IT?
TREE ROOTS HAVE BEEN RIPPED OUT
ON ALL THREE BORDERS.
WE ARE FURIOUS.
MY TIME IS THAT.
I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU
PEOPLE HAVE DONE.
YOU HAVE A HEAVY LOAD.
AND WE ARE NO LONGER LIVING IN
WARD AND THE CLEAVERS.
WE HAVE TO THINK OF NEW
SOLUTIONS AND I APPRECIATE WHAT
YOU HAVE DONE.
>> I AM RUN CHAMBERS.
I AM OWNER OCCUPIED.
THE BOOK -- WE TALKED ABOUT
POINTS.
ONE OF THE POINTS IS, DOES SHE
SAYS IF ANYTHING GOES WRONG,
THE OWNER IS THERE.
YOU HANDLE IT THEN.
I HAVE TO SAY THAT I REALLY
LIKE THAT IDEA. LET'S KEEP
THAT IN THERE AND NOT JUST FOR
ONE YEAR BUT KEEP IT IN THERE.
THANK YOU.
>> MICHAEL MADDOX IS HERE.
CALVIN JONES.
ANYONE ELSE I SOMEHOW SKIPPED
OVER YOUR NAME OR YOU DIDN'T
SIGN UP, COME UP BEHIND
MICHAEL.
>> WELCOME.
>> GOOD EVENING
COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS MICHAEL MADDOX.
I AM A RESIDENT OF THE EAST
LAKE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE I LIVE
WITH MY 16-YEAR-OLD SON.
BORN ON CAPITOL HILL.
AS RENTERS, WE LIVE IN A 50 PLUS
UNIT APARTMENT BUILDING.
WE DON'T HAVE GUNSHOTS OR NOISY
PARTIES.
WE HAVE A GREAT COMMUNITY OF
FOLKS THAT CARE ABOUT EACH
OTHER.
WE WALKED TO THE BUS STOP AND
THE GROCERY STORE AND
RESTAURANTS AND COMMUNITY
AMENITIES WE HAVE.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE DON'T GET
TO WALK TOO MUCH IS PARKS.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE SEE IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE IS THAT PARKS,
THE BEST PARKS IN THE CITY --
DISCOVERY PARK AND LINKIN PARK,
WE SEE THESE AMAZING JEWELS
THAT WE HAVE.
EXTRAORDINARY AMAZING
INVESTMENT IN THE CITY FOR
DECADES.
THEY ARE TYPICALLY SURROUNDED
BY DETACHED HOMES.
AND FAMILIES LIKE MINE CANNOT
AFFORD TO PURCHASE OR RENT.
WE CANNOT EVEN RENT BECAUSE THE
COST IS TOO HIGH.
IT IS ALLOWING US THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE GREAT
GEMS.
IS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE AS
MENTIONED EARLIER.
WE SEE SO MUCH DENSITY FOCUSED
ON THE ROADWAYS WHICH MEANS WE
ARE BREATHING IN THE AIR OF
CARS AND ALL THE CONGESTION
THROUGHOUT SEATTLE.
AND AND EAST LAKE NEIGHBORHOOD
WHICH WAS REZONED FROM SINGLE-
FAMILY TO LR1, TO LR3 AND STILL
HAS -- WE ARE RIGHT
UNDERNEATH INTERSTATE FIVE.
THIS IS A PUBLIC HEALTH ASPECT.
WITH RESPECT TO THE DEVELOPER
COMMENTS WE HAVE HEARD A LOT OF
TONIGHT, AS WAS NOTED, THE
HOUSING THROUGHOUT THE CITY WAS
ALL BUILT BY DEVELOPERS.
BUT THE EVIL DEVELOPERS WE
OFTEN HEAR ABOUT ARE BUILDING
THE HIGH-RISES AND MID- RISES
THROUGHOUT SEATTLE.
WE ARE LOOKING AT WHAT CAN BE
DONE WITH LOW DENSITY HOUSING
OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILY SIZED
UNITS.
WE ARE LOOKING AT DEVELOPERS
WHICH HIRE FOLKS THAT ARE
EXITING INCARCERATION AND
LEADING TO A SIGNIFICANTLY
DECREASED RECIDIVISM RATE AS A
RESULT.
THESE ARE THE GOOD TYPE OF
DEVELOPERS THAT I BELIEVE WE
WANT TO SUPPORT AS A COMMUNITY.
I KNOW MANY OF YOU HAVE
SUPPORTED THIS FOR YEARS.
IT HAS BEEN ON THE DOCKET.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
PLEASE GET THIS LEGISLATION
DONE SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD
WITH GREATER HOUSING DIVERSITY
AND OUR CITY.
THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS CALVIN JONES
AND I AM A RENTER AND DISTRICT
3 AND AN ORGANIZER.
I WOULD LIKE TO START BY
ADDRESSING SOME OF THE RHETORIC
TONIGHT.
JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS.
RENTERS DON'T NEED HOMEOWNER
BABYSITTERS AND SHOULD BE
LEGALLY ALLOWED TO LIVE
ANYWHERE HOMEOWNERS LIVE.
RE- ZONES THAT ALLOW RENTERS TO
MOVE INTO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD DO
NOT CONSTITUTE PROPERTY THEFT.
RENTERS, WHEN THEY MOVE INTO
THE NEIGHBORHOOD, DON'T DAMAGE
THE CHARACTER BUT ADD TO IT.
I WAS WALKING AROUND MY
NEIGHBORHOOD THE OTHER NIGHT
AND I STUMBLED ACROSS THREE NEW
MANSIONS THAT WERE BUILT AT THE
CORNER OF 29TH AND DENNY.
I LATER LOOKED THEM UP AND THEY
WERE 4000 SQUARE FEET AND
SELLING FOR OVER $2 MILLION A
POP.
NOT A SINGLE TREE ON ANY OF THE
THREE LOTS.
IN THE MIDST OF A HOUSING
CRISIS, WE HAVE LAWS THAT
VIRTUALLY GUARANTEE THIS
ULTRALUXURY MANSION SIZED
HOUSING AND 69% OF THE
RESIDENTIAL LAND.
AND TO ME, THAT IS
UNCONSCIONABLE.
I LIKE TO DREAM OF A WORLD
WHERE THE LEGISLATION HAD
ALREADY PAST.
INSTEAD OF THREE LUXURY
MOUNTAINS -- MANSIONS, WE
WOULD SEE SIX MORE ACCESSIBLE
DWELLING UNITS.
THOSE ARE SIX FAMILIES THAT CAN
LIVE LOW CARBON LIFESTYLES
RIDING ON THE BUSES NEARBY.
SIX MORE FAMILIES CAN ENJOY THE
ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL TREE
CANOPY AT WASHINGTON PARK.
SIX MORE FAMILIES CAN PATRONIZ
THE STRIP ON MEDICINE VALUE AND
SIX MORE THAT WE GET TO WELCOME
INTO THAT WONDERFUL CITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK
COUNCILMEMBER O'BRIEN.
I ENCOURAGE THE PASSAGE OF
LEGISLATION.
INCLUDING THE ABILITY TO BUILD.
AND LET'S GO EVEN FURTHER.
LET'S LEGALIZE MORE TYPES OF
HOUSING AND RAISE MORE
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY.
THANK YOU.
>>> MY NAME IS CARL.
I HAVE LIVED IN SEATTLE FOR TWO
YEARS.
I AM FROM NORTH CAROLINA.
I RECENTLY WENT HOME TO SEE MY
PARENTS.
THE FIRST DAY OF IS BACK, MY
MOM WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT MY
NEIGHBOR HE WAS POWER WASHING
HIS HOUSE FROM NOON UNTIL 9:00
PM.
IF THAT IS WHAT NEIGHBORHOOD
CHARACTER IS, SOMEONE LET ME
KNOW.
I HAVE BEEN A RENTER MY WHOLE
LIFE.
I STARTED THINKING ABOUT THE
LIFESTYLE THEY LIVED WHEN I WAS
BEING RAISED.
MY DAD DROPS A HALF HOUR, 45
MINUTES TO WORK EACH WAY.
MY MOM WORKS 15 MINUTES AWAY.
LIVING HERE AND WHEN THEY VISIT
ME, THEY GOT TO LOVE SEATTLE.
A POINT OF PRIDE FOR ME IS THAT
I REALLY LOVE SEATTLE TOO.
I STARTED THINKING ABOUT, HOW
COULD THEY LIVE IN SEATTLE.
THEY ARE FROM NORTH CAROLINA.
THE IDEA OF THEM BEING ABLE TO
BUY A HOUSE IN SEATTLE --
WOULD NOT EVEN TALK ABOUT IT.
TO BE IDEA FOR ME TO HAVE A
PLACE AND FOR THEM TO LIVE IN
THE BACKYARD OR BE ABLE TO --
NOT BE TOO CLOSE BUT CLOSE
ENOUGH THAT YOU CAN SEE THEM
EVERY NOW AND THEN AND THEY CAN
SEE THE GRANDKIDS AND THEY CAN
HAVE SEPARATE KITCHENS.
SEPARATE BEDROOMS.
I THINK IT WOULD BE A REALLY
GREAT THING FOR US TO HAVE.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING
THIS LEGISLATION TO PUT US IN A
POSITION WHERE MORE PEOPLE WILL
BE ABLE TO BE IN THESE
SITUATIONS WHERE THEY CAN
SUPPORT THEIR FAMILY OR SUPPORT
PEOPLE THAT WANT TO LIVE IN
THESE ADU'S.
SO THANK YOU.
>> IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT
WOULD LIKE TO TESTIFY TODAY?
I THINK EVERYONE HAS TESTIFIED.
>> SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE
THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THANK YOU ALL.
THAT WAS THREE AND HALF HOURS
JUST ABOUT.
SO QUITE AN ENDURANCE RACE.
I KNOW SOME FOLKS WERE HERE AN
HOUR BEFORE WE EVEN STARTED.
SO WE REALLY VALUE THE COMMENTS
ACROSS THE SPECTRUM AND I
APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
A QUICK TIMING UPDATE.
WE WILL BE BACK ON THE
COMMITTEE A WEEK FROM TODAY.
SO JUNE 18th AT 2:00 P.M.
AT THAT POINT, WE WILL TAKE UP
THE LEGISLATION AND CONSIDER
AMENDMENTS.
WE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE
AMENDMENTS A LITTLE BIT TODAY
THAT MYSELF AND OTHER
COLLEAGUES ARE CONSIDERING TO
THE BASE LEGISLATION.
IT IS POSSIBLE OTHER AMENDMENTS
WILL COME FORWARD.
MY GOAL WOULD BE TO PASS
SOMETHING OUT OF COMMITTEE.
ORIGINALLY, WE HAD HOPED IT
WOULD GO TO THE FULL COUNSEL OF
THE FOLLOWING WEEK.
THERE ARE ADDITIONAL LAND USE
REQUIREMENTS WE WILL BE PUTTING
OUT MONDAY.
THE SOONEST WE CAN VOTE ON
LEGISLATION WOULD BE TWO WEEKS
FROM YESTERDAY -- ACTUALLY
THREE WEEKS FROM YESTERDAY.
SO JULY 1st.
OBVIOUSLY IF THINGS COME UP AND
WE NEED TO DO MORE WORK, AND IT
GETS MORE COMPLICATED, MY GOAL
IS TO HAVE THIS DONE BY JULY
1st OR REALLY CLOSE AFTER THAT.
WHATEVER FORM WE CAN GET IT TO
THE COUNCIL.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL OF YOUR
WORK.
THANK YOU FOR STICKING IT OUT.
WE MADE IT.
>> THANK YOU FOR STAFFING US
UNTIL THE END.
WITH THAT, WE WILL BE
ADJOURNED.