GOOD AFTERNOON. THE RECESSED IN
SEPTEMBER 2020 -- SEPTEMBER 4,
2024 LAND USE COMMITTEE MEETING
WILL COME BACK TO ORDER EDIT --
AT ITS REGULARLY APPOINTED
TIME. I AM CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE. CLERK, PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL.
>> [ ROLL CALL ]
>>
>> THREE PRESENTS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WILL
OPEN A HYBRID PUBLIC HEARING
PERIOD. TO RESTATE FROM THIS
MORNING, COUNCIL BILL 120833
RELATED TO THE LIVING BUILDING
PILOT PROGRAM WILL HAVE A
PUBLIC HEARING AT A LATER DATE.
THE HEARING THIS AFTERNOON AS
FOR THE OTHER THREE BILLS THAT
WE HEARD IN COMMITTEE THIS
MORNING. WHEN YOU SPEAK,
CLEARLY INDICATE WHICH ITEM YOU
ARE SPEAKING TO . THE THREE
BILLS FOR PUBLIC HEARING TODAY
ARE COUNCIL BILL 120822 RELATED
TO CONGREGANT RESIDENCES,
COUNCIL BILL 120823 RELATED TO
OMNIBUS LAND USE AND ZONING
AMENDMENTS, AND COUNCIL BILL
120824 RELATED TO DESIGN REVIEW
EXEMPTIONS. PLEASE MAKE SURE
YOU LET US KNOW WHICH OF THOSE
YOU ARE SPEAKING TO. WE WILL
GET STARTED. HOW MANY SPEAKERS
DO WE HAVE SIGNED UP?
>> WE HAVE 21 IN PERSON AND 18
ONLINE.
>> OKAY. WE WILL GO AHEAD AND
GIVE EVERYONE TWO MINUTES . WE
WILL START WITH IN PERSON. EACH
SPEAKER WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
WE WILL START WITH 10 IN PERSON
, AND THEN WE WILL ALTERNATE TO
THE FOLKS ONLINE. WHEN YOU HEAR
A CHILD, THAT MEANS YOU HAVE 10
SECONDS LET. BEGIN TO WRAP UP
YOUR COMMENTS SO WE CAN MOVE TO
THE NEXT SPEAKER. THE PUBLIC
HEARING PERIOD IS NOW OPEN. I
WILL HAND IT TO YOU TO START
WITH THE FIRST 10 SPEAKERS
PRESENT IN CHAMBERS.
>> FIRST STEP WE HAVE STEPHEN,
FOLLOWED BY CHRISTIAN.
>> I USUALLY LIKE TO SPEAK
LAST, BUT TODAY I DECIDED TO GO
TO THE TOP OF THE LINE BECAUSE
I HAVE OTHER THINGS I NEED TO
DO. I WOULD SUGGEST YOU EXTEND
YOUR WRITTEN COMMENTS IN YOUR
AGENDA HERE. IT SAYS WRITTEN
COMMENTS ON THE LEGISLATION
WILL BE ACCEPTED UNTIL NOON ON
WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER 4, 2024.
WELL, THAT HAS PASSED. I WOULD
HOPE YOU WOULD ACCEPT WRITTEN
COMMENTS FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD
OF TIME BEYOND THAT. WHAT I AM
MORE CONCERNED ABOUT HERE IS
LOOKING AT THE OMNIBUS BILL,
WHICH CONTINUES TO GO IN THE
WRONG WAY. WE ARE MORE AND MORE
PUSHING PEOPLE OUT OF THE
PROCESS. WE ARE HAVING WHAT THE
DEVELOPERS HAVE WANTED FROM THE
ABSOLUTE BEGINNING, THAT THE
CITY AND THE DEVELOPERS GET
TOGETHER , MAKE A DECISION IN
PRIVATE, AND THE CITIZENS LIVE
WITH WHATEVER YOU COME UP WITH.
AND YOU ALSO HAVE SOME VERY
INTERESTING THINGS. WE HAVE
MORE THAN ONE DEFINITION FOR
WHAT A TREE PROTECTION ZONE IS.
YOUR TREE ORDINANCE IS TOTALLY
INEFFECTIVE FOR DEVELOPMENT
AREAS FOR CITIZENS. IT DOES
APPLY, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO
DEVELOPMENT, IT DOESN'T SEEM
TO APPLY AT ALL. IT IS AN
EXCUSE ON HOW TO GET RID OF
TREES. WE HAD DEVELOPMENT IN
FREMONT WERE THERE WERE A
NUMBER OF SIGNIFICANT TREES ,
AND THE SUGGESTED WAY FOR THE
CITY WAS TO ELIMINATE THEM ALL
, INCLUDING THE HEALTHIEST
ONES. ONE WAS RIGHT NEAR THE
BORDER OF THE PROPERTY RIGHT AT
THE END. IT IS TIME WE BRING
PEOPLE BACK INTO THE PROCESS
AND ADD HOUSING, NOT JUST NEW
HOUSING. THERE ARE TOO MANY
MORE AFFORDABLE OLDER UNITS
DISAPPEARING. YOU HAVE TO RAISE
THE MHA FEES IF YOU'RE REALLY
FOR HOUSING,. GUYS -- TIME.
>> UP NEXT, CHRISTIAN ,
FOLLOWED BY RICK.
>> THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SPEAK TODAY. I LEAD THE
DEVELOPMENT TEAM FOR ALEXANDRIA
REAL ESTATE. WE ARE THE LARGEST
OWNER AND OPERATOR OF
MISSION-CRITICAL LIFE SCIENCE
PROJECTS AND ECOSYSTEMS IN THE
COUNTRY AND THIS REGION. MY
SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL
BILL 120824 . IN PARTICULAR,
THE LIFE SCIENCE HOLIDAY FOR
DESIGN REVIEW IN THE CITY
CENTER. I'M ALSO A FORMER
MEMBER. I KNOW THE PROCESS
WELL. THE LIMITATIONS,
INEFFICIENCIES AND PROBLEMS. AS
IT RELATES TO LIFE SCIENCE, WE
THINK THIS DESIGN REVIEW
MORATORIUM OR THE HOLIDAY FOR
LIFE SCIENCE IS AN IMPORTANT
TOOL IN BRINGING MORE LIFE
SCIENCE PROJECTS TO LIFE IN THE
CITY, ESPECIALLY AT THIS
CRITICAL TIME IN TERMS OF THE
ECONOMY. AT THIS TIME, THERE
ARE ONLY 10% OF CURES FOR
DISEASE TODAY. TOOLS LIKE THIS
HOLIDAY WILL BRING ADDITIONAL
DEVELOPMENT AND CRITICAL JOBS
TO MARKET . WE LOOK FORWARD TO
A CONVERSATION AROUND HOW TO
CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN THE LIFE
SCIENCE COMMUNITY . WE KNOW
THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY,
ANYTHING BEING DONE TO SUPPORT
THE LIFE SCIENCE SECTOR AND THE
SCIENTISTS WILL BE AN IMPORTANT
TOOL. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE RICK , FOLLOWED
BY PARKER.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. WE ARE THE
OWNERS OF THE BUILDING IN
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE ON THE CORNER
OF THIRD AND UNIT. WE OWN AND
OPERATE THE RESTAURANT AND
NIGHTCLUB. I'M SPEAKING ON
BEHALF OF BILL 120 BILL 120824
. I AM IN SUPPORT OF THIS.
DOWNTOWN NEEDS MORE RESIDENCE.
AS OWNERS AT THIRD AVENUE, I
HAVE BEEN AT GROUND ZERO WITH
ALL THE CHALLENGES SURROUNDING
THE POST COVID WORLD. WE
BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT THE
SOLUTION FOR A VIBRANT DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE IS MORE RESIDENCE,
WORKERS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE
SAFE, CLEAN AND WELCOMING
SPACE. AS ONE OF THE CHALLENGES
TO NEW HOUSING , IT IS THE LONG
PERMITTING PROCESS. THE CITY
REPORT SHOWS FULL DESIGN AND
REVIEW , WHICH MOST PROJECTS
ARE REQUIRED TO DO, TAKE 24
MONTHS TO COMPLETE. WITH
ADDITIONAL BUILDING PERMITS, IT
CAN TAKE OVER THREE YEARS FROM
THE DRAWING BOARD TO ACTUAL
CONSTRUCTION. THAT IS TOO LONG.
THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY IS
TIED UP IN RED TAPE. THE HEALTH
OF DOWNTOWN REQUIRES RAPID
INTERVENTION . THE LEGISLATION
IS PART OF THE SOLUTION.
IMPORTANTLY, THIS LEGISLATION
DOES NOT DO AWAY WITH DESIGN
AND REVIEW. IT EMPOWERS THE
CITY STAFF TO WORK WITH PROJECT
ARCHITECTS TO INSURE GOOD
DESIGN . IN 2009 WE OPENED THE
WILD GINGER RESTAURANT IN
BELLEVUE. THAT PROCESS WENT
THROUGH A STAFF DESIGN REVIEW
THAT MATCHES WHAT IS BEING
PROPOSED IN THE LEGISLATION. IT
RESULTED IN A GREAT DESIGN AND
FLOURISHING PROJECT. I WELCOME
WHERE NEIGHBORS. I WANT TO SEE
HOUSING, HEALTH HOTELS,
RESEARCH INSTITUTES LIKE WE
JUST HEARD ABOUT ON THIRD
AVENUE THROUGHOUT THE DOWNTOWN
CORRIDOR. THANK YOU.
>> BEFORE YOU MOVE ON, I WANT
TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT COUNCIL
MEMBERS RIVERA AND WOO ARE HERE
WITH US.
>> NEXT WE HAVE PARKER,
FOLLOWED BY .
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.
I'M HERE WITH THE MASTER
BUILDERS. CB 12 120824 WAS NOT
PROPOSED TO SPARK SOME BATTLE
OR DEBATE OF OPINION BETWEEN
ITS ALLIES AND OPPONENTS OF THE
BILL. ALLIES AND OPPONENTS OF
HOW GROWTH COULD BE MANAGED
DOWNTOWN. RATHER, IT WAS
PROPOSED TO RESPOND TO STATE
REQUIREMENTS , STATE LAWS UNDER
HOUSE BILL 1293 THAT REQUIRE US
TO LOOK CRITICALLY AT HOW WE
CAN MORE OBJECTIVELY , FAIRLY
AND PREDICTABLY MOVE THROUGH
THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS AND
MAKE SURE WE GET HOUSING
ONLINE, HOTELS ONLINE. RESEARCH
FACILITIES ONLINE. IT IS ALSO A
RESPONSE TO THE WELL-DOCUMENTED
FACT BY CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT,
RIGHT NOW, REAL PEOPLE ARE
BEING DENIED HOUSING FOR AN
AVERAGE OF OVER 700 DAYS UNDER
DESIGN REVIEW. OVER 700 DAYS IS
ABOUT TWO YEARS . THE
RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS THE
DECADE-LONG HOUSING CRISIS
MEANS TO MEET SOLUTIONS LIKE
THIS LEGISLATION WITH THE
URGENCY OUR CIRCUMSTANCES
DEMAND. OUR CIRCUMSTANCES ARE
DIRE. AGAIN, IT IS A
DECADE-LONG HOUSING CRISIS. I
HOPE THAT YOU SEE THIS
OPPORTUNITY AS A CHANCE TO ACT,
NOT NEXT YEAR WITH THE COMP
PLAN, NOT 2026 OR BEYOND, BUT
RIGHT NOW, AND REALLY HELP
PEOPLE WHO NEED IT. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE, FOLLOWED BY .
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM THE
ADVOCACY AND POLICY MANAGER AT
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY. I AM HERE
TO EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT FOR
COUNCIL BILL 120824 AND COUNCIL
BILL 120833 , TWO BILLS THAT
ARE NOT JUST ABOUT POLICY, BUT
ABOUT PEOPLE AND THEIR ABILITY
TO FIND A PLACE TO CALL HOME.
SEATTLE IS IN DESPERATE NEED OF
COMMONSENSE HOUSING SOLUTIONS
THAT ALLOW DEVELOPERS ACROSS
THE CONTINUUM TO PROVIDE MORE
HOMES FOR MORE PEOPLE.
STREAMLINING OUR DESIGN REVIEW
PROCESS MEANS WE CAN CUT
THROUGH THE RED TAPE THAT OFTEN
SLOWS DOWN HOUSING PROJECTS AND
ADDS UNNECESSARY BURDENS AND
COSTS . THESE TWO BILLS ARE
GREAT OPPORTUNITIES AND ARE
CRITICAL FOR US TO GET CLOSER
TO OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
OBJECTIVES. BEHIND THESE BILLS
ARE REAL PEOPLE, FAMILIES YOU
NEED HOMES, WORKERS WHO NEED
JOBS, AND COMMUNITIES THAT
THRIVE WHEN WE HAVE MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. HABITAT FOR
HUMANITY URGES YOU TO SUPPORT
THESE BILLS SO WE CAN MOVE
FORWARD TOGETHER IN ADDRESSING
OUR HOUSING CHALLENGES AND
MAKING SEATTLE A PLACE WHERE
EVERYONE CAN FIND A HOME. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
>> NEXT WE HAVE, FOLLOWED BY .
>> -- I MIGHT BE MISPRONOUNCING
YOUR NAME. I WILL CIRCLE BACK.
STEVE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON ,
COUNCILMEMBER I AM SPEAKING FOR
URBAN FOREST . THIS MORNING I
USED A TAPE MEASURE TO SHOW THE
24 FEET FROM HERE TO ALMOST THE
END OF THE ROOM . IT IS TO THE
BACK OF THE ROOM. TWO TREES ARE
23 INCHES AND LARGER, AND
OTHERS ARE SMALLER, ESPECIALLY
DESIGNATED. BUT THAT IS THE
BASIC TREE PROTECTION AREA IN
THE ORDINANCE. IT IS IN THE
OMNIBUS BILL . THERE ARE TWO
DEFINITIONS OF TREE PROTECTION
AREAS THAT MAKE NO SENSE. IS IS
THE BASIC TREE PROTECTION AREA
CANNOT BE MODIFIED DURING
DEVELOPMENT. THAT MEANS THIS
WHOLE AREA THERE IS ROOM FOR A
24 INCH TREE, YOU CANNOT CUT
INTO IT. THAT IS CONTRARY TO
WHAT THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY
OF HORTICULTURE, NORTHWEST
SOCIETY SAY. THEY SAY TO BASE
YOUR TREE PROTECTION AREA ON
THE SPECIES, THE STYLE, THE
CONDITION OF THE TREE. THERE
ARE NUMBER THINGS TO MODIFY.
THE CORRECTION YOU MAKE IN THIS
ORDINANCE IS THE OUTER RED ZONE
AREA OF THE TREE COULD BE
REDUCED 33% . UNDER THE BASIC
TREE PROTECTION AREA, THE
DIRECTOR DOESN'T HAVE THE
ABILITY. THAT MEANS THE
DIRECTOR CANNOT SAVE TREES THAT
CAN'T BE SAVED, WHICH MAKES NO
SENSE TO HAVE THAT IN THE
ORDINANCE. IT SEEMS LIKE YOU
ARE GIVING ME MORE TIME.
>> SORRY. [ LAUGHTER ] ANYWAY .
YOU NEED TO REDO THE BASIC TREE
PROTECTION. IT MAKES NO SENSE.
IT DOES NOT ALLOW YOU TO
PROTECT TREES. I WOULD SAY THAT
INSTEAD IT IS A DEVELOPER'S
DREAM THAT SAYS THEY HAVE THE
AUTHORITY TO REMOVE TREES
WITHIN THAT AREA. IT IS NO
LONGER A TREE PROTECTION AREA ,
IT IS A DEVELOPER TREE REMOVAL
AREA . UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS
COUNTER TO WHAT YOU TRY TO SET
UP IN THE COUNCIL LAST YEAR. SO
WHAT NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH AND
MODIFIED. JUST KEEP THE TREE
PROTECTION AREA AS DEFINED.
>> THAT IS ENOUGH.
>> 1125 060 GIVES HOW THE
DIRECTOR CAN MODIFY THE TREE
PROTECTION AREA. THAT IS WHAT
YOU NEED TO USE FOR ALL TREES ,
INCLUDING IN DEVELOPMENT. ALL
FIVE ZONES ARE COVERED IN THE
ORDINANCE UNDER THAT BASIC --
>> THANK YOU.
>> [ INAUDIBLE ] SORRY ABOUT
THAT. GOING BACK TO . THEY WILL
BE FOLLOWED BY RANDY.
>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS FRITZ
. I AM A HOMEOWNER IN DISTRICT
4. I HAVE OWNED A HOME THERE
SINCE 1988. IT IS A 1500 SQUARE
FOOT HOME WITH TWO OF THE
LOVELIEST TREES YOU CAN
IMAGINE. YOU CAN ALSO IMAGINE
THAT SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS
HOUSE FOR SO LONG THAT I AM
BEING BOMBED BY DEVELOPERS WHO
WANT TO TEAR DOWN THOSE TREES
AND BILL SOME MONSTROSITIES,
SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 3000 AND 5000
SQUARE FEET. I AM HERE. I LOOK
AT THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE AND
WONDER WE ARE NICKEL AND DIMING
AROUND THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM
IS, OF COURSE, THAT DEVELOPERS
ECCENTRICALLY BUILD GIGANTIC
HOMES, AND WE PERSIST TO DO
PRECISELY THAT. WHY AREN'T WE
TALKING ABOUT AN ORDINANCE THAT
OPPOSES HEIGHT LIMITS AS WELL
AS SIZE LIMITS MEASURED BY
SQUARE FOOTAGE? NOT EVERYBODY
NEEDS TO LIVE IN A 1500 SQUARE
FOOT HOME, OBVIOUSLY. NOT
EVERYBODY NEEDS TO LIVE IN A
5000 SQUARE-FOOT HOME EITHER.
WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH
AFFORDABILITY. HOW DOES
ALLOWING DEVELOPERS TO COME IN
AND BUILD THOSE BIG HOUSES HELP
US WITH AFFORDABILITY? IT
DOESN'T, OBVIOUSLY. I WILL ASK
THE COUNCIL TO TAKE ANOTHER
LOOK AT THIS. TAKE ANOTHER LOOK
AT WHAT WE OUGHT TO BE TALKING
ABOUT IN TERMS OF THE ORDINANCE
AND WHAT IS REASONABLE AND
FAIR. GIVEN EVERYTHING ABOUT
CLIMATE CHANGE THAT WE KNOW,
AND HOW IMPORTANT THOSE TREES
ARE FOR HABITAT AND SHADE AND
ALL THOSE OTHER THINGS, WE NEED
TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THIS
WHOLE THING. LET'S PROTECT OUR
TREES BETTER THAN WE HAVE SO
FAR. [ INAUDIBLE ] LET'S
ENFORCE IT WHATEVER IT IS.
>> NEXT WE HAVE RANDY ,
FOLLOWED BY DAVID.
>> I AM A HOMEOWNER IN THE
DISTRICT OF MORALES, PRIMARILY
THROUGH LUCK AND CIRCUMSTANCE.
HOME OWNERSHIP SHOULD NOT BE
DEPENDENT ON LUCK AND
CIRCUMSTANCE. I AM SPEAKING IN
FAVOR OF 120824, THE DESIGN
REVIEW. STREAMLINING THE REVIEW
AND THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS IS
HOW IT WORKS FASTER BUT I WOULD
RATHER PUSH PEOPLE OUT OF THE
PROCESS TO PUSH PEOPLE OUT OF
THE CITY, WHICH IS WHAT THE
OVERLY CUMBERSOME PROPOSITION
THAT PROCESSES HAVE DONE FOR
DECADES AND CONTINUE TO DO
TODAY. CITIZENS LIVING WITHOUT,
DECISIONS MADE BY OUR ELECTED
OFFICIALS AND THEIR DESIGNATED
OFFICERS IS THE BASIS FOR SUCH
AS CONTRACT IN THIS COUNTRY AND
THE POOR -- CORE OF GOVERNMENT
BUDGET. WE B DONE IS TO MAKE
THESE DECISIONS AND ALLOW THEM
TO DO THEIR JOBS. VOTING IS
WHERE OUR VOICE IS MEANT TO BE
HER. THAT IS TO SAY VOTING IF I
WERE FREE TO REGISTER OUR
DISSATISFACTION BUT NOTHING
WILL EVER GET SOLVED IF
EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE HAPPY WITH
ALL OUTCOMES. NOTHING WILL EVER
GET SOLVED OF THOSE WHO ALREADY
HAVE WHAT THEY NEED INSIST ON
PREVENTING THEIR NEIGHBORS FROM
REQUIRE WITH A NEED. BUT
NEITHER GETS TO BE CONSULTED ON
HOW THE CITY OPERATES. IT IS
IMPERATIVE THAT THE CITY
OPERATE MORE SMOOTHLY. MORE BY
THAT HOUSING IS NECESSARY
PREMORBID HOUSING IS LONG
OVERDUE, AND MORE ABUNDANT
HOUSING IS THE ONLY WAY WE
ENABLE OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY TO
WELCOME ALL HER NEIGHBORS AND
GROW IT SUSTAINABLY. I AM FOR
MORE NEIGHBORS, MORE HOUSING
AND EXTENDING A WARM WELCOME TO
ANYONE AND EVERYONE WHO WANTS
TO LIVE IN THE CITY THAT I LOVE
SO MUCH. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE DAVID, FOLLOWED
BY KAYDEN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I LIVE IN
DISTRICT 5 BUT I WILL BE
SPEAKING ABOUT OMNIBUS BILL
120823 ABOUT THE TREE
ORDINANCE. DURING THE MAY 23,
2024 -- MAY 23, 2023 MEETING,
LAND USE, A AT THAT TIME, DAN
STRAUSS, WAS URGING THE
IMMEDIATE PASSAGE OF THE DRAFT
TREE PROTECTION ORDINANCE. HE
SAID THIS IS NECESSARY TO
PROTECT MORE TREES NOW . THIS
WAS APPARENTLY SO THAT WE COULD
HAVE MORE PROTECTION FOR TREES
ON PROPERTIES WITHOUT
CONSTRUCTION. THAT IS TRUE. WE
NOW KNOW THAT THE EXACT
OPPOSITE WAS A CASE FOR
PROPERTIES WITH CONSTRUCTION.
WE SAW THIS PLAY OUT IN 3003
NORTH STREET IN THE WEDGEWOOD
NEIGHBORHOOD. ON THIS PROPERTY
IS A WESTERN RED CEDAR WITH A
DIAMETER OF OVER 50 INCHES. THE
STREAM CAME TO BE KNOWN AS
ASTRA. WEATHER PERMITTING FOR
THIS PROPERTY BEGAN, THIS
EXCEPTIONAL TREE WAS SLATED TO
BE SAVED BECAUSE IT WAS VESTED
UNDER THE OLD ORDINANCE.
HOWEVER, LAST WINTER A STAFF
MEMBER ADVISED THE DEVELOPER
THEY SHOULD HAVE THE PROJECT
VESTED UNDER THE NEW ORDINANCE.
THUS, CUT THE TREE DOWN. THIS
IS PROOF THAT THE NEW TREE
ORDINANCE PROVIDES LESS
PROTECTION FOR TREES. NOW IS
THE TIME TO IMMEDIATELY PASS AN
AMENDMENT TO PROTECT TREES LIKE
ASTRA. YES, WE NEED MORE
HOUSING, BUT PLEASE, NOT AT THE
EXPENSE OF OUR LARGE TREES.
THEY TAKE DECADES TO GROW TO
THE SIZE THEY ARE. WE NEED
THEIR PROTECTION NOW. I ALSO
ASK , WHY ARE SDCI EMPLOYEES
HELPING DEVELOPERS WORK AROUND
REGULATIONS SO THEY CAN CUT
DOWN TREES? I THOUGHT THEY WERE
FOR SEATTLE CITIZENS. THANK
YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE KAYDEN ,
FOLLOWED BY PAT.
>> HELLO. I LIVE IN DISTRICT 3.
LIKE MANY SEATTLEITES, I DON'T
FULLY AGREE WITH A LOT THAT THE
MAYOR HAS TO DO ON A LOT OF
ISSUES, BUT NO ONE AGREES ON
EVERYTHING. THAT IS WHY IT IS
SO IMPORTANT TO MAKE YOUR VOICE
HEARD WHEN YOU DO AGREE WITH
PEOPLE, JUST AS MUCH IS WHEN
YOU DISAGREE. IN THIS CASE,
COUNCIL BILL 120824 IS AN
ESSENTIAL PIECE OF LEGISLATION
THAT CAN BE USED TO COMBAT OUR
HOUSING SHORTAGE AND CRISIS.
THIS BILL PRESENTS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD MORE
HOUSING, MORE EFFICIENTLY BY
CUTTING COSTLY REDTAPE. AS ONE
OF THOSE SELF-DESCRIBED WE ARE
PEOPLE WHO WATCH THESE
MEETINGS, IN MY FREE TIME, I
KNOW HOW RIDICULOUS SOME OF
THESE PROJECT DELAYS CAN BE.
NON-ISSUES ARE TURNED INTO
ISSUES BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE ILL
MOTIVES. THINGS LIKE THE SHAPE
OF A GARAGE DOOR, THE COLOR OF
BRICKS, THE ANGLE OF MASSING ON
ONE SIDE OF THE BUILDING, THE
SIZE OF POTENTIAL BUSHES AND
MORE CAN CAUSE DELAYS OF MONTHS
TO YEARS. THIS PREVENTS US FROM
BUILDING NEW HOUSING WE
DESPERATELY NEED. IN THE MOST
EXTREME CASES, THESE DELAYS
BECOME SO COSTLY THAT PROJECTS
CAN BECOME CANCELED, LEAVING US
WITH VACANT, USELESS LOTS OF
NOTHINGNESS, WHICH IS
SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE THE NEW
HOUSING OR SOMETHING PEOPLE CAN
USE. IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE
THIS WAY. IT SHOULDN'T BE. I,
ALONG WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE
WATCHED THE DNC, WAS ELATED
WHEN PRESIDENT OBAMA CALLED FOR
PASSING BILLS JUST LIKE THIS
ONE TO CUT RED TAPE TO BUILD
MORE HOUSING TO FIGHT THE
NATIONAL HOUSING CRISIS. THESE
CHANGES TAKE PLACE AT THE LOCAL
LEVEL, AND I URGE YOU TO PASS
THIS BILL. THANK YOU.
>> SHOULD WE SWITCH TO REMOTE?
>> WE CAN DO ONE MORE, THEN THE
SWITCH TO REMOTE.
>> NEXT WE HAVE PAT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THIS
BILL, TALKING ABOUT A 24, THE
BILL, AS FAR AS I UNDERSTAND,
IS A THREE-YEAR ENDEAVOR TO
INCREASE HOUSING IN SEATTLE .
WE HEARD THIS MORNING THAT SDCI
IS WORKING ON REWRITING ZONING
IN TOTAL AND WITHOUT A COMPLETE
DATE. IF THEY COULD REWRITE THE
ZONING QUICKLY , WHY DO WE NEED
A THREE-YEAR TEMPORARY
ORDINANCE ? IT SEEMS LIKE WE
SHOULD JUST PRESS SDCI TO
REWRITE THE ZONING AND DO AWAY
WITH THIS NEED FOR THIS
ORDINANCE. I AM IN FAVOR OF
INCREASED HOUSING, BUT IT SEEMS
LIKE THIS IS A PATCHWORK OF
CHANGES TO THE CURRENT
ORDINANCES . I WOULD LIKE TO
SEE SOMETHING THAT IS OVER
ENCOMPASSING. THANK YOU.
>> SWITCHING TO ONLINE
SPEAKERS. FIRST WE HAVE RICHARD
ELLISON, FOLLOWED BY JUNE.
RICHARD, YOU ARE UNMUTED .
>> [ INAUDIBLE ]
>> AN OPPORTUNITY TO CORRECT
SOME OF THE INJUSTICES TO TREE
PROTECTION FROM THE FAILED
UPDATED TREE ORDINANCE.
COUNCILPERSON MORALES, LAST
YEAR ON MAY 23, 2023 AT A CITY
COUNCIL MEETING YOU STATED "I
ALSO AGREE THIS BILL IS NOT
PERFECT, WHICH IS WHY I WILL BE
WORKING WITH MY CONSTITUENTS
AND COLLEAGUES OVER THE NEXT
YEAR TO MAKE SURE THIS BILL
ADDRESSES SOME OF THE CONCERNS,
AND THERE ARE MANY." TREES AND
HOUSING CAN COEXIST. BUT THE
CURRENT ORDINANCE ALLOWING
DEVELOPERS ALMOST COMPLETE
CONTROL OF TREE RETENTION IS A
BLEAK REMINDER THAT THESE TREES
ARE HEADED BY THE MASTER
BUILDERS ASSOCIATION, WHO
CURRENTLY HAS NO CHECKS AND
BALANCES POLITICALLY. THE LOSS
WITHOUT REGARD IN THIS CLIMATE
CHANGE WORLD OF RECORD HOT
SUMMERS AND WET WINTERS IS IN
DIRECT CONFLICT WITH
SUSTAINABLE BUILDING GOALS .
DIRECT CONFLICT WITH THE
QUALITY OF LIFE FOR SEATTLE
RESIDENTS, DIRECT CONFLICT WITH
RATIONAL, ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND
URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING.
THIS COUNCIL MUST MAKE REPAIRS
TO OUR CHARADE OF A TREE
ORDINANCE BY MAKING THE UPDATES
RECOMMENDED BY TREE PACK.ORG
WHICH IS IN A LETTER I SENT TO
THE COUNCIL. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
>> NEXT WE HAVE JUNE, FOLLOWED
BY MATT.
>> PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO
UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> THERE YOU GO. CAN YOU HEAR
ME? THANK YOU. I LIVE IN
DISTRICT 2. URSA COUNCIL TO
REJECT THE TREE PROTECTION
PORTIONS OF THE OMNIBUS BILL .
AS OTHERS HAVE SAID, MEMBERS OF
THIS COMMITTEE WHO VOTED FOR
THE SO-CALLED TREE PROTECTION
ORDINANCE PROMISED TO FIX ITS
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES. THIS BILL
DOES NOT DO THAT. OVER THE PAST
15 MONTHS SINCE THE ORDINANCE
TOOK EFFECT REMOVAL OF TREES
HAS GREATLY ACCELERATED.
HERE'S AN EXAMPLE. IN MY HOME
IN COLUMBIA CITY IN A
RESIDENTIAL SMALL LOT AREA IN A
CENSUS TRACT WITH ONLY 22% TREE
COVER, A 10,000 SQUARE-FOOT LOT
WAS RECENTLY SOLD TO A
DEVELOPER. FOUR OF THE FIVE
TREES ON THE LOT ARE TIER 2 ,
THREE OF THOSE ARE OVER 30
INCHES DIAMETER STANDARD
HEIGHT. THE OTHER ONE IS TIER
3. THE DEVELOPER HAS APPLIED TO
TEAR DOWN THE SINGLE-FAMILY
RESIDENCE ON THE PROPERTY,
CLEAR CUT ALL THE TREES, AND
PULLED SEVEN COTTAGES WITH SIX
PARKING SPACES. ALTERNATIVE
DESIGNS WOULD ALLOW HIM TO
BUILD 5 TO 7 UNITS AND SAVE
SEVERAL OF THE LARGE TREES, BUT
UNDER THE CURRENT ORDINANCE, HE
IS NOT REQUIRED TO CONSIDER
ALTERNATIVES TO SAVE THE TREES.
ACCORDING TO THE TABLE ON PAGE
18 OF THE OMNIBUS BILL, YOU CAN
EITHER SAVE THE SMALLEST TREE
OR PLANT SEVERAL MUCH SMALLER
TREES. SDCI APPROVES THE
PERMIT, THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD
WOULD BE DEPRIVED OF THE
ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH
BENEFITS OF THOSE MATURE TREES,
A SOCIAL GOOD LOSS FOR PRIVATE
GAME. DASH CAM. WE NEED HOUSING
THAT IS HEALTHY AND LIVABLE. WE
ARE DEALING WITH CLIMATE
CHANGE. THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO DO
ITS JOB AND PASS A REAL TREE
PROTECTION ORDINANCE. THANK
YOU.
>> UP NEXT IS MATT, FOLLOWED BY
STEPHEN.
>> I AM NOT SEEING MATT HERE.
WE WILL GO TO STEVE.
>> PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO
UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM A
RESIDENT OF BELLTOWN. THANK YOU
CHAIR MORALES AND LAND USE
COMMITTEE FOR HEARING MY
COMMENTS. BACK FROM COMMENTS
THIS MORNING TO GET THEM ON
THIS AFTERNOON'S RECORD ,
THERE ARE NUMEROUS
RESPONSIBILITIES THAT OUR CITY
COUNCIL CAN DEDICATE --
DELEGATE TO CITY DEPARTMENTS
AND AGENCIES, BUT NONE OF THOSE
INVOLVED DELEGATING THE COUNCIL
AUTHORITY TO ZONE OUR CITY.
WHEN A GENTLEMAN EARLIER SPOKE
OF CUTTING THE REDTAPE AND
HAVING A LOT OF PEOPLE
INVOLVED, WHAT YOU WOULD
EFFECTIVELY BE DOING IS
PROVIDING, INSTEAD OF THE
COUNCIL, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
HAVE CLEAR-CUT PROCESSES FOR
PUBLIC INPUT FOR THINGS AS
IMPORTANT AS ZONING. DELEGATING
THAT TO AN ORGANIZATION, SDCI
WITH OVER 400 EMPLOYEES. THAT
ACTUALLY ADDS MORE PEOPLE TO
THE PROCESS AND CUTS OUT THE
PUBLIC AT THE SAME TIME. IT
DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. I
WOULD SIMPLY ASK YOU TO
CONSIDER YOUR ROLE , AS YOU
HAVE IN THE PAST, YOU UP ZONED
LAST YEAR SPECIFICALLY A
PORTION OF DOWNTOWN. THREE
YEARS AGO YOU CHOSE TO PASS AN
ORDINANCE SPECIFICALLY TO ALLOW
FOR DIFFERENT MODULATIONS OF
BUILDINGS IN BELLTOWN. THOSE
ARE GREAT USES OF YOUR POWERS
OF THE COUNCIL. THEY DID NOT
DELEGATE YOUR AUTHORITY TO
SDCI. THEY CLEARLY PROVIDED FOR
SPECIFIC CHANGES AND SPECIFIC
SECTIONS OF THE CITY. THAT IS
THE POWER WE ENTRUST TO YOU AS
OUR ELECTED LEADERS BECAUSE WE
HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY BETWEEN YOU
AND US. WE DON'T HAVE THAT
ACCOUNTABILITY WITH SDCI. I
WOULD ASK YOU TO PLEASE NOT
ADVOCATE -- ABDICATE THE
RESPONSIBILITY WE ENTRUSTED TO
YOU WHEN WE ELECTED YOU TO HAVE
SDCI MAKE DECISIONS THAT REALLY
ARE VESTED WITH THE COUNCIL.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE, FOLLOWED BY .
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> MY NAME IS MARIA SPEAKING TO
COUNTABLE 120824. I'M A
HOUSING DEVELOPER AND
NEIGHBORHOOD ACTIVIST ENGAGED
IN MAKING OUR URBAN
NEIGHBORHOODS A GOOD PLACE TO
LIVE, WORK AND PLAY. I SUPPORT
THIS BILL BECAUSE IT PROVIDES A
MUCH-NEEDED MODEL FOR DESIGN
REVIEW REFORM. I PERSONALLY
EXPERIENCED THE COST AND TIME
IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS
PROCESS. I SERVED ON THE WEST
OF ON -- DESIGN REVIEW BOARD
TWO TIMES AND SERVED ON SEVERAL
DESIGN REVIEW POLICY
COMMITTEES. I HAVE DIRECTLY
SEEN THE INEFFICIENCY OF THE
CURRENT DESIGN REVIEW PROGRAM,
WHICH DOES NOT, IN MY OPINION,
A BETTER DESIGN. THE CITY'S
EXISTING DESIGN GUIDELINE
ACHIEVE THAT PURPOSE. MY
OBSERVATION AND EXPERIENCE IS
THAT THEY ARE EFFECTIVELY
INCORPORATING GOOD DESIGN BY
DEVELOPERS AND THEIR DESIGN
TEAMS. HAVING DEVELOPED OVER 80
PROJECTS WITH AND WITHOUT A
DESIGN REVIEW REQUIREMENT, THE
PROCESS DOES ADD 9 TO 12 MONTHS
TO PERMIT TIMELINES, ADDING
SIGNIFICANT TIMING COSTS
THAT'S -- UNDER CONSTRUCTION
RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS GOING TO
DELIVER 65 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING THIS YEAR. THE COST OF
THE PROCESS COSTS US MORE THAN
$400,000, PLUS A 10 MONTH
SCHEDULE DELAY. IT IS IMPORTANT
TO SEPARATE THE PERCEPTION THAT
THE DESIGN REVIEW AUTOMATICALLY
ELIMINATES PUBLIC COMMENT.
PROVIDING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR
EACH NEIGHBORHOOD TO PROVIDE
PUBLIC COMMENT REMAINS
IMPORTANT AND NEEDS TO BE
DECOUPLED FROM THE TECHNICAL
DESIGN REVIEW PROCESS. I URGE
YOU TO SUPPORT THIS BILL. WE
NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO REMOVE
THIS BARRIER TO CREATING EASIER
AND FASTER ACCESS TO HOUSING.
THANK YOU.
>> GOING BACK TO MATT, FOLLOWED
BY ERICA . PLEASE PRESS STAR
SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> I AM AN ARCHITECT WHO WORKS
ON MULTIFAMILY AND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING PROJECTS. I AM CALLING
IN FOR BILL 120824. I WAS A
SOUTHWEST DESIGN REVIEW BOARD
MEMBER FOR THREE YEARS. MY
EXPERIENCE ON THE BOARD IS
COMING APART, WHAT HAS INSPIRED
ME TO TESTIFY TODAY IN FAVOR OF
CURTAILING DESIGN REVIEW. THIS
PROGRAM -- PEOPLE WHO
ADMINISTER IT AND VOLUNTEER. IT
DOESN'T GUARANTEE GOOD DESIGN.
IT DOESN'T GUARANTEE THAT THE
COMMUNITY IS INFORMED OR HAS --
OR CAN WEIGH IN ON WHAT IS
HAPPENING. ONLY THING THIS DOES
IS TAKES MORE TIME AND EFFORT
TO GET A BUILDING PERMIT, WHICH
ADDS COST. WE TACITLY
ACKNOWLEDGE THE DESIGN REVIEW
PROCESS IS A BURDEN BY
EXEMPTING THE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING PROJECT FROM IT. TAKE
FOR EXAMPLE TO RECENT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS,
CEDAR CROSSING WITH 254 HOMES
THAT TOOK 24 MONTHS TO GO
THROUGH APPROVALS WITH DESIGN
REVIEW. AND THE ARIES, WITH 200
HOMES, EXEMPT FROM DESIGN
REVIEW, TOOK EIGHT MONTHS LESS.
LESS COST, LESS RISK, AND
ULTIMATELY, LOWER RENTS., A TWO
BEDROOM AT ARIES IS $300 LESS
THAN AT CEDAR CROSSING. CAN YOU
TELL THE DIFFERENCE WHICH
BUILDING WENT THROUGH DESIGN
REVIEW? NO. THE RESIDENTS ARE
HAPPY TO HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE.
WE NEED MORE HOUSING NOW, AND
DESIGN REVIEW IS NOT SERVING
US. PLEASE SUPPORT 120824
TODAY. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE , FOLLOWED BY
RUTH .
>> -- PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO
UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> THANK YOU. I AND PRINCIPAL
DESIGN DIRECTOR PERKINS , A
SEATTLE ARCHITECTURAL FIRM.
I'M SPEAKING TODAY IN SUPPORT
OF THE DOWNTOWN DESIGN REVIEW
HOLIDAY, COUNCIL BILL 120824.
AS AN ARCHITECT, I'VE DESIGNED
MORE THAN 20 DOWNTOWN TOWERS
THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH THE
REVIEW PROCESS. THAT INCLUDES
RESIDENTIAL, HOTEL AND
MIXED-USE, AND RESEARCH
FACILITIES. WE ARE COMMITTED TO
DESIGN EXCELLENCE. THAT
COMMITMENT IS FUNDAMENTAL. OUR
CLIENTS DEMAND IT. WHETHER IT
IS A NEW RESEARCH FACILITY FOR
CANCER TREATMENT OR A
RESIDENTIAL TOWER IN BELLTOWN.
OUR GOAL IS TO CONTRIBUTE
POSITIVELY TO THE URBAN FABRIC
OF DOWNTOWN WITH EVERY PROJECT.
AND NOW, OUR DOWNTOWN NEEDS
MORE VIBRANCY AND HOUSING. THIS
DESIGN REVIEW HOLIDAY BILL WILL
HELP SPEED UP THE CREATION OF
MUCH-NEEDED NEW HOUSING AND
RESEARCH IN SPACE IN DOWNTOWN,
UPTOWN, FIRST HILL, AND SOUTH
LAKE UNION BY GRANTING AN
INTERIM THREE-YEAR DESIGN
REVIEW EXEMPTION . THIS DOES
NOT MEAN THE DESIGN REVIEW HAS
AND A. THE PROFESSIONAL STAFF
OF THE CITY WILL WORK IN
CONCERT WITH PROJECT ARCHITECTS
TO ENSURE GOOD PROJECT DESIGN.
SIMILAR TO THE DESIGN REVIEW
SYSTEM IN MANY OF OUR PEER
CITIES, WE SUPPORT EMPOWERING
CITY STAFF TO WORK WITH
ARCHITECTS ON DESIGN ISSUES.
THE COST AND TIME IMPACTS
ASSOCIATED WITH THE LENGTHY
DESIGN REVIEW PROGRAMS ARE
SIGNIFICANT. THE STUDY BY SDCI
SHOWS PERMITTING WITH FULL
DESIGN REVIEW, WHICH IS
REQUIRED FOR MOST PROJECTS IN
THE DOWNTOWN, TAKES AN AVERAGE
OF 739 DAYS . THAT IS MORE THAN
TWO YEARS IN THE PERMITTING
PROCESS. ROUGHLY 2/3 OF THAT IS
ATTRIBUTED TO THE TIME THAT
CITY STAFF SPENT REVIEWING
PLANS. THE COST IS EXTENSIVE.
FOR DOWNTOWN PROJECTS, DESIGN
REVIEW COSTS CAN QUICKLY EXCEED
MORE THAN $500,000. THESE COSTS
ARE PASSED ON TO THE RENT OF
FUTURE TENANTS. THE DESIGN
REVIEW HOLIDAY IS A POSITIVE
MEASURE TO SPUR NEW
CONSTRUCTION AND HOUSING IN
DOWNTOWN. WE ENCOURAGE CITY
COUNCIL TO ADOPT THE BILL.
>> NEXT WE HAVE RUTH, FOLLOWED
BY TINA.
>> PRESS *6 TO UNMUTE
YOURSELF.
>> I AM PRESIDENT OF SAVE THE
MARKET. I VOLUNTEER -- A
VOLUNTEER NONPROFIT COMMUNITY
ADVOCACY GROUP. WERE DEDICATED
TO INCREASING AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, BUT WERE UNWILLING TO
GIVE UP DESIGN REVIEW WITHOUT
UNDERSTANDING HOW PUBLIC
PARTICIPATION WILL BE
ACCOMMODATED. STAFF NEEDS TO
FOCUS ON DEVELOPING THE
OBJECTIVE DESIGN CRITERIA WE
ALL AGREE IS NEEDED. INSTEAD,
CB 128 24 OPENS THE DOOR FOR
UNLIMITED SUBJECTIVE DESIGN
DEPARTURES EFFECTIVELY IMPOSING
A THREE-YEAR MORATORIUM ON
COMPLYING WITH HB 1293 FOR
MARKET RATE PROJECTS IN THE
GREATER DOWNTOWN AREA. PUBLIC
COMMENTS ADD VALUE TO OUR
FUTURE. FOR EXAMPLE, IN 2018
DURING DESIGN REVIEW ONE
DOWNTOWN RESIDENT DISCOVERED
THAT A DEVELOPER WAS PROPOSING
TO RECLAIM THREE FEET OF THE
PIKE STREET SIDEWALK THAT HAVE
BEEN VACATED OVER A CENTURY
EARLIER . WITHOUT PUBLIC NOTICE
AND ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS,
IT WAS BAKED INTO DESIGN
REVIEW. THIS ERROR MIGHT HAVE
GONE UNNOTICED. THE PROJECT ON
FIRST AND PIKE IS A LANDMARK
STRUCTURE THAT PREDATES
SEATTLE'S PUBLIC MARKET. AN
APPEAL IS PENDING THAT CB
120824 COULD DERAIL . THE
PUBLIC SERVES AS THE EYES ON
THE STREETS , WHICH SEATTLE
SORELY NEEDS. PLEASE DO NOT
PASS CB 120824 . ALLOW THE NEW
DESIGN REVIEW IMPROVEMENTS OF
HB 1293 TO BE UNIFORMLY ENACTED
ACROSS ALL OF SEATTLE. THANK
YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
PARTICIPATE IN OUR DEMOCRACY.
>> NEXT WE HAVE TINA, FOLLOWED
BY SANDERS.
>> PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO
UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM
PRINCIPAL AT . I'M SPEAKING
TODAY ON BEHALF OF TGL OH, A
MULTIDISCIPLINARY DESIGN FIRM
IN SUPPORT OF COUNCIL BILL
120824. I'M ALSO HERE AS A
RESIDENT OF SEATTLE , SOMEONE
WHO COMMUTE INTO DOWNTOWN
DAILY, A BUSINESS OWNER, AND
SOMEONE WHO IS CONCERNED ABOUT
THE TRAJECTORY OF HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY IN OUR CITY. WE
HEARD HOW COUNCIL BILL 120824
WILL HELP SPEED UP CREATION OF
MUCH-NEEDED NEW HOUSING . WE
BELIEVE THIS BILL IS AN
IMPORTANT STEP FOR DOWNTOWN
RECOVERY. ESPECIALLY AS IT
RELATES TO HOUSING CREATION. WE
ALSO BELIEVE THIS BILL IS A
GREAT STEP TOWARDS MEETING
SEATTLE'S HOUSE BILL 1293
OBLIGATION, AND CAN PROVIDE A
MODEL FOR REQUIRED CITYWIDE
DESIGN REVIEW REFORM. THE COST
AND TIME IMPACTS ASSOCIATED
WITH LENGTHY DESIGN REVIEW ARE
PROBLEMS THAT ARE NOT UNIQUE TO
SEATTLE. A RECENT UCLA AUTHORED
STUDY OFFERED THAT 25%
REDUCTION IN PERMITTING
TIMELINES WOULD RESULT IN 33%
INCREASE IN HOUSINGS BUILT. THE
FASTER WE CAN HELP PROJECT
LUTHER PERMITTING, THE SOONER
WE CAN SEATBELT NEW HOUSING.
THAT IS GOOD FOR THE CITY
HOUSING MARKET AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT. THE STUDY BY SDCI
SHOWS PERMITTING WITH FULL
DESIGN REVIEW TAKES AN AVERAGE
OF 739 DAYS. THAT IS MORE THAN
TWO YEARS IN THE PERMITTING
PROCESS. THE COST AND TIME
IMPACT ASSOCIATED WITH LENGTHY
DESIGN REVIEW PROGRAMS ARE NOT
UNIQUE TO SEATTLE, BUT THE
IMPACTS IN SEATTLE ARE
PROFOUND. WE ARE SEEING OUR
CLIENTS SHIFT TO DEVELOPING
ELSEWHERE BECAUSE THE PROCESS
IS EASIER AND LESS COSTLY. THIS
IS A SIGNIFICANT TREND WE ARE
SEEING. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR
CLIENTS BEGIN TO INVEST IN OUR
CITY AGAIN. HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT, TIME IS MONEY.
FULL DESIGN REVIEW CAN COST A
200 UNIT --
>> THE FINAL SPEAKER IN THIS
SET IS SANDERS.
>> PLEASE UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> HELLO?
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> I AM A RENTER IN SOUTHLAKE.
I OPPOSE SUPPORT OF CB 120824
PROPOSED BY THE MAYOR AND
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES. TEMPORARILY
ELIMINATING FULL DESIGN REVIEW.
FULL DESIGN REVIEW DELAYS
PROJECTS AND ADDS EXTRAORDINARY
COSTS. THOSE COSTS EVENTUALLY
GET PASSED ON TO THE PEOPLE
LIVING AND WORKING IN THIS
BUILDING. AS A CITY IS
CURRENTLY STRUGGLING THROUGH A
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS,
IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO
FURTHER INCREASE THE COST TO
RENTERS , PEOPLE WHO ARE
TYPICALLY YOUNGER, PEOPLE OF
COLOR AND TYPICALLY HAVE LESS
FINANCES. NEW CONSTRUCTION
TREND -- [ INAUDIBLE ] WOULD
STILL HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY
THE MORALES DIRECTOR. THIS WILL
LET MORE HOUSING BE BUILT IN
THE CITY SOONER RATHER THAN
HAVING DELAYS WITH USELESS
DISCUSSIONS OVER THE PROPOSED
BUILDINGS WHERE COLOR. THANK
YOU.
>> SWITCHING BACK TO IN PERSON
SPEAKERS. WE HAVE SANDY,
FOLLOWED BY MARTHA BASKIN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU,
CHAIR MORALES. I WANTED TO LET
YOU KNOW . I AM WITH TREE
ACTION SEATTLE. I STAND BY MY
COMMENT THIS MORNING REGARDING
A 24 OMNIBUS BILL. REGARDING
THE LARGE NUMBER OF ZONES,
WHICH ARE COMPLETELY EXCLUDED
FROM TREE PROTECTION. THE FACT
THAT RESIDENTIAL SMALL LOT
TREES ARE INCLUDED SEPARATELY
AND 2344 , AS SDCI NOTED TODAY,
SIMPLY CONFIRMS THAT FRONTLINE
COMMUNITIES HAVE WEAKER TREE
PROTECTION. LAST MONTH SDCI
APPROVED THE REMOVAL OF THE
LAST THREE ON A SOUTH PARK
BLOCK TO BE REPLACED BY A
CONCRETE PATIO. WHEN THE
COMMUNITY SPOKE UP, THE
DEVELOPER CHANGE THEIR MIND ,
AND NOW THEY WILL BUILD AROUND
THE TREE. BUT COMMUNITY PUSH
BACK CAN'T SAVE THE HUNDREDS
OF TREES SDCI IS APPROVING FOR
REMOVAL EACH MONTH. FRONTLINE
COMMUNITIES ARE LOSING MORE
TREES FASTER THAN OTHER
NEIGHBORHOODS. THIS BILL
CEMENTS THE LOOPHOLES INTO
PLACE AND SHOULD BE REJECTED.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE MARTHA,
FOLLOWED BY PATRICK.
>> GOOD TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH
YOU. WHEN THE WORD OMNIBUS IS
AN ADJECTIVE, AS AN OMNIBUS
BILL OR LAW, IT MEANS PROVIDING
MANY THINGS AT ONCE.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE 2024 OMNIBUS
BILL , ALSO KNOWN AS 128203,
PROVIDES MANY WAYS TO FURTHER
UNDERMINE THE COEXISTENCE OF
TREES AND HOUSING ON LOTS
UNDERGOING DEVELOPMENT . IF
FURTHER NEGATES RECOGNITION THE
TREES ARE PUBLIC HEALTH ALLIES
AND WARRIORS IN A NEW CLIMATE
NORMAL WHEN THEIR CANOPIES
PROVIDE RELIEF FROM HEAT
ISLANDS, WILDFIRE SMOKE AND
POLLUTED AIR, AND THE ROOTS
MITIGATE LANDSLIDES AND KEEP A
TOXIC RUNOFF FROM CONTAMINATING
SALMON STREAMS. NEW DEFINITION
FOR TREE PROTECTION AREAS AND
INFLATED ROOT PROTECTION AREAS
ARE NOT SMALL-SCALE AMENDMENTS,
AT THE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTION
CONTENDS IN THE OMNIBUS BILL,
BUT INSTEAD, AMENDMENTS FOR A
CITY WITH ITS HEAD IN THE SAND.
HOW CAN A PROGRESSIVE CITY
REFUSED TO CODIFY RULES FOR NEW
CONSTRUCTION DESIGNS THAT
PROTECT TREES WHENEVER POSSIBLE
ON LOTS UNDERGOING DEVELOPMENT?
HOW CAN A CITY THAT CLAIMS IT
RECOGNIZES CLIMATE CHANGE AND
THE NEED FOR TREE EQUITY IN ONE
CITY DEPARTMENT FURTHER CEMENT
WAYS TO GET RID OF THEM IN
ANOTHER? THE TREE ORDINANCE
PASSED LAST YEAR WAS A PUNCH IN
THE GUT TOO MANY TREE ADVOCATES
WHO SAW IT AS A CLEAR GIVEAWAY
TO DEVELOPERS. AT THE TIME,
MANY COUNCILMEMBERS, INCLUDING
SOME OF YOU HERE TODAY,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, FOR
EXAMPLE, SAID THE FOLLOWING IN
MAY 2023, WHICH I QUOTE IN
PART, "THERE WERE A LOT OF
THINGS I WANTED THIS BILL TO DO
THAT I DIDN'T GET TO ACHIEVE .
THAT IS WHY I WANT TO CONTINUE
WORKING WITH YOU TO CONTINUE
THIS PROCESS. THIS ISN'T A ONE
TIME DEAL. I BELIEVE THAT
HOUSING ENTRIES MUST COEXIST
FOR PUBLIC HEALTH AND CLIMATE
RESILIENCE. I HOPE THAT IS THE
CASE. SADLY, IT IS NOT EVIDENT
IN THE OMNIBUS BILL.
>> NEXT WE HAVE PATRICK,
FOLLOWED BY ALEX.
>> THANK YOU. I AM A COFOUNDER
AND MANAGING PARTNER AT LAKE
UNION, A DEVELOPING COMPANY IN
SEATTLE. WE PRIMARILY DEVELOP
AND 23rd UNIT AND ARE ABOUT TO
COMPLETE A VERY LARGE FOR
BUILDING PROJECT IN THE RAIN
GEAR VALLEY SOUTH OF I-90
CALLED GRANT STREET COMMONS AND
STATE STREET LOFTS. WE CLEANED
UP A VERY CONTAMINATED SITE,
AND WE ARE DELIVERING 940
UNITS, ALMOST HALF OF WHICH ARE
AFFORDABLE . WE ARE DELIVERING
450 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING
TO THAT AREA. I BRING THAT UP
BECAUSE I THINK PRIVATE
DEVELOPERS, WE GET A BAD NAME
OFTEN, BUT SOMETIMES IT'S
FAIR, BUT WE ARE WORKING TO
BRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO THE
CITY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE
PEOPLE REALIZE THAT. I'M HERE
IN SUPPORT ACCOUNTABILITY 0824.
DESIGN REVIEW IN SOME OF OUR
PROJECTS IS TAKEN TO THE THREE
YEARS. THERE IS A COST TO THAT.
TIME IS COST. TIME IS MONEY. WE
HAVE HAD PROJECTS AT 23rd AND
UNION THE COST ADDITIONAL
DESIGN REVIEW, FIVE MEETINGS
THAT ADDS THREE TO $400,000 IN
COST. OFTENTIMES, THAT GETS
TRANSLATED AND PUSHED ONTO
FUTURE RENTERS. WE TRY TO KEEP
COST DOWN. I WOULD LOVE TO
LOWER RENT. BUT COST IS WHAT
DRIVES THE PROJECT . IF WE PAY
MORE FOR A PROJECT, IT HAS TO
BE RECOVERED SOMEHOW. THE COST
LAST. SO TO THE EXTENT THAT WE
CAN REDUCE THE TIME IS TO
PROVIDE QUALITY PROJECTS, WE
SHOULD DO THAT. I AGREE WITH
RICK, WHO IS IN THE AUDIENCE
HERE, ABOUT CREATING DOWNTOWN
HOUSING. I THINK DOWNTOWN IS
THE BEST NEIGHBORHOOD RIGHT NOW
TO BE CREATING MORE HOUSING. TO
THE EXTENT WE CAN SHRINK THE
TIMELINES TO CREATE WAREHOUSING
DOWNTOWN, WE SHOULD DO THAT. IT
IS ALSO GOING TO GO A LONG WAY
IN SOLVING A LOT OF THE PUBLIC
SAFETY PROBLEMS WE HAVE IN THE
CITY, DOWNTOWN ESPECIALLY. IF
WE HAVE PEOPLE LIVING DOWNTOWN
WE HAVE MORE SECURITY. PEOPLE
ARE INVESTED IN THEIR OWN
SECURITY. I WOULD APPRECIATE
YOUR SUPPORT.
>> NEXT WE HAVE ALEX, FOLLOWED
BY KATHY.
>> [ INAUDIBLE ] FASCIST. I AM
AGAINST AMENDMENT 22. I WILL
EXPLAIN TO YOU WHY. YESTERDAY I
SAW A MOVIE. YOUTUBE, EVERYBODY
CAN SEE THIS. NUMBER ONE RIGHT
NOW, THE NUMBER ONE STUPID CITY
IN AMERICA , VERY PROUD OF
THIS, BECAUSE FOR MANY YEARS I
COME HERE AND TALK ABOUT
SEATTLE FASCISTS WITH IDIOTIC
FACE. DEGENERATE , BECAUSE LIFE
NEVER GOT BETTER THE LAST 20
YEARS. IT IS WORSE AND WORSE.
SO HOW CAN WE CHANGE THIS? I
HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS
FOR MANY YEARS. FIRST AMENDMENT
AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH , NOTHING
WILL BE CHANGED. FOR THIS I
WANT TO OPEN BETTER ROOM IN
CITY HALL SO PEOPLE CAN TALK
AND SPEAK ABOUT EVERYTHING
WITHOUT YOUR CONTROL . YOU ARE
FASCISTS. THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT
YOU ARE DOING THIS. I RIGHT NOW
SPEAK TO COUNCILMEMBER
TREADWELL. SHE CAN SUPPORT THIS
AND BRING SEATTLE TOTALLY
CHANGE. YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT
THIS MEANS? FOR ANOTHER 100
YEARS WE CAN GO TO A BETTER
ROOM AND SPEAK FOR THREE
MINUTES WITHOUT YOUR FASCIST
CONTROL. THIS MAKE SEATTLE MORE
SMARTER. THERE ARE ALWAYS
IDIOTS IN THE CITY I LIVE FOR
40 YEARS. WHY DO IDIOTS LIVE
TOGETHER WITH THE 750,000? I
DON'T KNOW. PLEASE, DO
SOMETHING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> NEXT WE HAVE KATHY, FOLLOWED
BY LILY.
>> HELLO , I AM IN DISTRICT 6.
I WANTED TO URGE YOU TO REJECT
OR AMEND CB 120823 . WE WERE
PROMISED THAT WHEN THE TREE
ORDINANCE PASSED THAT THERE
WOULD BE CORRECTIONS TO IT . WE
ARE SEEING ACCELERATED TREE
LOSS . I FEEL THIS CEMENTS THAT
IN PLACE . WE ARE CREATING THE
WORLD AND THE CITY THAT WE WILL
BE TRYING TO SURVIVE IN AS
CLIMATE CHANGE WORSENS . IF YOU
HAVE LIVED HERE ANY AMOUNT OF
TIME, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS
LOOK AT THE OLYMPIC MOUNTAINS
AND TO SAY, THERE IS NO SNOW
ANYMORE. NO MORE GLACIERS . IN
THE WINTER, THE MOUNTAINS LOOK
LIKE WHAT THEY USED TO LOOK
LIKE IN THE SUMMER. WE ARE
SUFFERING A LOT MORE FROM
POLLUTION . I FIND IT VERY
DISTURBING THAT COMMUNITIES IN
SMALL LOTS LIKE SOUTH PARK ,
ALL TREES MAY BE REMOVED WHEN
DEVELOPMENT IS PROPOSED. SOUTH
PARK HAS 12% TREAT CANOPY
COMPARED TO SEATTLE AVERAGE OF
28%. I GREW UP IN THE SOUTH
END. MY FAMILY HAS SUFFERED
GREATLY FROM THE POLLUTION THAT
WE WERE EXPOSED TO. RESEARCH IS
SHOWING THAT TREES ARE
IMPORTANT FOR REMOVING AIR
POLLUTION, WHICH THAT COMMUNITY
SUFFERS FROM. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE LILY, FOLLOWED
BY PAUL.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON , CHAIR
MORALES AND LAND USE COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. I'M SPEAKING ON
BEHALF OF THE 25 MEMBERS OF THE
SEATTLE METROPOLITAN CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE IN SUPPORT OF COUNCIL
BILLS 120824 AND 12082 --
120833. ALL THESE BILLS WILL
LEAD TO MORE HOUSING BEING
BUILT EVERYWHERE AND MORE
PEOPLE LIVING DOWNTOWN. THAT IS
CRITICAL TO REVITALIZING THAT
NEIGHBORHOOD AND MEETING OUR
REGIONAL AFFORDABLE AND MARKET
RATE HOUSING GOALS. WE NEED
MORE TYPES OF HOUSING TO BE
BUILT ALL OVER THE CITY FASTER.
STRINGENT, COSTLY AND LENGTHY
DESIGN REVIEW PROCESSES
DISCOURAGE DEVELOPMENT AND LEAD
TO GREATER COSTS FOR RENTERS
AND HOMEOWNERS DOWN THE LINE.
THE DESIGN REVIEW HOLIDAY
INCLUDED IN COUNCIL BILL 120824
IS ONE WAY THAT A CITY CAN
TEMPORARILY LOWER THE COST OF
HOUSING BY REDUCING BARRIERS TO
BUILD. WE ALSO NEED TO BILL
MORE FAMILY SIZED HOUSING SO
MORE PEOPLE HAVE AFFORDABLE
OPTIONS CLOSE TO WHERE THEY
WORK, AND THEY CAN GROW THEIR
FAMILIES RIGHT HERE IN SEATTLE.
COUNCIL BILL 120833 WILL ENSURE
THAT DOWNTOWN PROJECTS CONTINUE
TO USE THE MHA THREE-BEDROOM
INCENTIVE AND LIVING PILOT
PROGRAM INCENTIVES AND WILL
MORE FAMILY SIZED UNITS IN OUR
DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD. THE
CHAMBER DOES VOTER PULLING
TWICE A YEAR. WE ALWAYS ASK
FOLKS WHAT THEIR TOP PRIORITIES
ARE. CONSISTENTLY, YOUR
CONSTITUENT SITE HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY AS ONE OF THOSE
TOP PRIORITIES. THEY HAVE ALSO
SAID THAT THEY WANT MORE
HOUSING TO BE BUILT ALL OVER
THE CITY AND IN THEIR
NEIGHBORHOODS AS WELL. WE HOPE
THAT YOU PASS BOTH OF THESE
BILLS AND CONTINUE YOUR WORK TO
REVITALIZE DOWNTOWN ENTRY
EQUITABLE AND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING THROUGHOUT OUR CITY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> NEXT WE HAVE PAUL, FOLLOWED
BY CAMILLE.
>> -- PAUL ? OKAY. UP NEXT WE
HAVE CAMILLE .
>> I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE
OMNIBUS BILL A 23. -- 823. I'VE
BEEN GETTING INVOLVED IN THE
TREE LOSS, WITNESSING WHAT
PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH. 90%
OF THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE
CITY THINK ALL SEATTLE TREES
ARE PROTECTED BECAUSE IT IS NOT
CLEAR TO THEM THAT THEY ARE
NOT. THEY DO NOT KNOW THAT A
DEVELOPER JUST HAS TO SNAP
THEIR FINGERS, AND THEY CAN CUT
WHATEVER TREE THEY WANT. MY
NEIGHBORHOOD IS LOSING TREES
EVERY DAY. I WALKED UP TO TWO
ILLEGAL REMOVALS. NOBODY CAN TO
STOP IT. I GOT SEXUALLY
HARASSED BY THE GUY CUTTING THE
TREE DOWN. HE TOLD ME HE WOULD
COME TO MY HOUSE NEXT WITH HIS
CHAINSAW AND CUT MY TREES. I
LIVE A BLOCK AWAY. I HAD TO GO
HOME. I WAS SCARED. THIS IS
WHAT YOU ARE PUTTING US
THROUGH. WE WANT OUR TREES .
90% OF THE PEOPLE OPPOSING THIS
HAVE FINANCIAL INTERESTS . I
GREW UP HERE. I WAS BORN IN 63
HERE IN THE CITY. MY GREAT
GREAT GRANDMOTHER WATCHED THE
GREAT SEATTLE FIRE BURN FROM
HER SECOND GRADE CLASSROOM. I
LOVE THE CITY. I WANT YOU TO
LOVE IT. WHAT YOU THINK IS
GOING TO HAPPEN TO THESE
COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T HAVE
TREES? YOU THINK WE HAVE
PROBLEMS WITH MENTAL HEALTH
NOW? THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE
ANY NATURE AROUND THE. MY
FRIENDS EIGHT-YEAR-OLD SON
LIVES ON ROOSEVELT. A HEAT
ISLAND. NO TREES. NOTHING. DO
YOU THINK THAT IS GOING TO HELP
HIM MENTALLY? THINK ABOUT WHAT
YOU GUYS ARE DOING. WANT TO
KEEP OUR TREES. WHY CAN'T YOU
JUST DO IT? THANK YOU.
>> THE FINAL SPEAKER IN THE SET
IS EN.
>> -- EN -- IAN .
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND
MEMBERS ON THE COMMUNITY. I AM
SPEAKING ON -- IN SUPPORT OF
THE DOWNTOWN HOLIDAY. YOU HEARD
HEARD A LOT ABOUT THE TIMING
ISSUES AND HOW IT TAKES OVER 24
MONTHS TO GET THROUGH DESIGN
REVIEW. THAT CAUSES TRANSLATED
TO RENTERS . I WILL ALSO CENTER
IT ON WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO THE
CITY, WHH IS ALL OF THOSE
PROJECTS , HOUSING, LODGING,
LIFE SCIENCE AND BIOTECH, PAY
MHA FEES TO THE CITY. THOSE
FEES ARE ONLY PAID WHEN YOU GET
THROUGH THE PERMITTING PROCESS.
FROM A CITY PERSPECTIVE, NOT
ONLY DOES IT PROVIDE MORE
HOUSING, MORE LODGING, WHICH IS
ONE OF THE CORE PRIORITIES OF
HER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
STRATEGY, AND WORK
LIFE-SCIENCES, WHICH IS ONE OF
THE LEADING ECONOMIC DRIVERS OF
OUR REGION AND BRINGING PEOPLE
TO WORK DOWNTOWN, BUT IT IS
ALSO SOMETHING THAT SUPPORTS
THE MHA FUND . LAST YEAR IN THE
CITY ZONE MHA REPORT, THERE IS
A 15% REDUCTION IN THE MHA
FUNDS COMING TO THE OFFICE TO
HOUSING. THAT IS IN PART DUE TO
THE FACT THAT IT TAKES 24 PLUS
MONTHS TO GET THROUGH THE
PERMITTING PROCESS BECAUSE YOU
CAN ONLY WRITE THE CHECK TO THE
CITY AT THE END OF THE PROCESS.
NOT ONLY IS THIS AN ECONOMIC
DEVELOP A STRATEGY TO BRING
HOUSING AND LIFE-SCIENCES AND
LODGING FASTER, BUT IT IS THE
ABILITY TO BRING MHA DOLLARS
INTO THE CITY. I WILL SPEAK TO
TO THINK I HEARD FROM THE STAFF
PRESENTATION THIS MORNING.
NUMBER ONE, WHY DO WE DO THIS
NOW? YOU HEARD THEM SAY WE CAN
WAIT UNTIL 2026 ARE BEYOND WHEN
ZONING HAPPENS. IT TAKES OVER
TWO YEARS NOW TO GET THROUGH
THE PROCESS AND ANOTHER TWO
YEARS TO BUILD. THE TIME TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSING CRISIS AND
THE 120,000 NEW HOMES WE NEED
TO BRING INTO THE CITY OF
SEATTLE IN THE DOWNTOWN CORE
AREA TO DO THAT AS PART OF THE
GROWTH STRATEGY IS NOW, NOT TWO
YEARS PLUS PERMITTING TIMELY.
THE SECOND THING IS, I HEARD
TALK ABOUT DELEGATION. THE CITY
ALREADY PASSED THIS INCENTIVE
FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT
SAID THE EXACT SAME STANDARD
FOR DEPARTURES, WHICH IS DOES
IT MAKE MORE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING? THE STANDARD FOR THESE
PROJECTS IS THE EXACT SAME
STANDARD THE COUNCIL IS ALREADY
DONE FOR DEPARTURES. THERE IS
NO DELEGATION BUT THIS IS NOT
ABOUT ZONING. IN THE BACK
>> -- [ INAUDIBLE ].
>> SWITCHING BACK TO ONLINE
SPEAKERS. FIRST WE HAVE DAVE,
FOLLOWED BY BRADLEY. PLEASE
PRESS *6 TO UN-MUTE .
>> HELLO. I AM AN ARCHITECT AND
PAST COMMISSIONER . [ INAUDIBLE
] 120 AND 23, THE OMNIBUS WITH
REGULATIONS ABOUT THE 2023 AND
OTHER THINGS. WHAT NEEDS TO BE
CLARIFIED? WELL, HOW MANY OF
THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY
STAFF KNOW THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN BASIC TREE PROTECTION
AREAS AND TREE PROTECTION AREA.
THEY ARE ESSENTIALLY THE SAME
TERM. ONE -- HOWEVER, BASIC
TREE PROTECTION AREA IS ALL
ABOUT TREE REMOVAL. WHAT IS THE
BASIS OF TREE REMOVAL? WHEREAS,
TREE PROTECTION AREA IS
ACTUALLY ABOUT THE TREE
PROTECTION AREA DURING
CONSTRUCTION. SDCI HAS
CLARIFIED THE DIFFERENCE THREE
WEEKS AGO. AS YOU KNOW , THE
CITY OF SEATTLE MUST FOLLOW THE
MUNICIPAL CODE THAT INCLUDES
THE LAND-USE COMMITTEE TO
REVIEW RECOMMENDATIONS ON THIS
OMNIBUS RELATIVE TO TREE BY
LISTENING TO THE URBAN FORESTRY
COMMISSION. MY SUGGESTION IS TO
SIMPLY EITHER TAKE THIS PORTION
OUT OF THE OMNIBUS OR DO THE
THREE FOLLOWING THINGS. ONE,
REVISE THE TERM BASIC TREE
PROTECTION AREA AND CALL IT
BASIS OF TREE REMOVAL AREA.
TWO, MAKE SURE THAT THE TWO
DEFINITIONS ARE THE SAME AREA.
AS YOU KNOW, THE BASIC TREE
PROTECTION AREA INFLATES THE
SIZE OF THE TREE FROM 250% TO
40%. THREE, 2511 07 OVER TREE
REMOVAL WAS COVERED BASICALLY
EXCLUDES A LIST OF SITES THAT
ARE CONSIDERED IN DEVELOPMENT.
THIS IS CONTRARY TO 2344 .
>> NEXT WE HAVE BRADLEY,
FOLLOWED BY PATIENTS. --
PATIENCE .
>> IT LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE
UNMUTED, BRADLEY.
>> HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> OKAY. SORRY. I WOULD LIKE TO
THANK COUNCIL FOR LOOKING AT
MEANINGFUL REFORM ON THE
PROCESS. COUNCIL BILL 120824. I
AM AN ARCHITECT WITH A FOCUS ON
URBAN HOUSING. I'M ALSO AN
ADVOCATE ON CODE AND URBAN
DESIGN ISSUES, PARTICULARLY
AROUND HOUSING AND THE DOWNTOWN
WATERFRONT. I HAVE BEEN
PRACTICING SINCE 2001. TO TEACH
PART-TIME AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON AND HAVE WORKED ON
HUNDREDS OF PROJECTS ALL OVER
SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOODS. I HAVE
FIRST-HAND EQUITIES IN DEALING
WITH THE DESIGN REVIEW PROGRAM.
AS A RESULT, I'VE BEEN ACTIVE
IN SEEKING DESIGN REVIEW
REFORMS SINCE 2014. I WOULD
LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE
CRITICAL NEEDS OF HER DOWNTOWN
AND LET THE COUNCIL KNOW I
RECENTLY RELOCATED MY OFFICE TO
CAPITOL HILL FROM A STOREFRONT
IN DOWNTOWN WHERE I WAS LOCATED
FOR 17 YEARS. THIS WAS DUE IN
LARGE PART TO A LACK OF
RESIDENCE IN THE DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE AREA. THE LEGISLATION
YOU ARE CONSIDERING PROPOSES TO
EXEMPT PROJECT FROM DESIGN
REVIEW IN DOWNTOWN, UPTOWN, AND
SOUTHLAKE UNION FOR THREE
YEARS. TO SUPPORT THIS BILL
BECAUSE IT WILL HELP GREEK
HOUSING WERE QUICKLY IS WHERE
THE CRITICAL RECOVERY THAT ARE
DOWNTOWN AND ADJACENT
NEIGHBORHOODS NEED. DESIGN
REVIEW ADDS SIGNIFICANT TIME TO
PROJECTS AND DELAYS HOUSING. I
PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED THE
DELAYS IN A YEAR OF MIDRISE
PROJECTS AND CORE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AGREE WITH THIS PROPOSAL THAT
PRIMARILY FOCUSES ON
RESIDENTIAL USES AND HOUSING.
HOUSING IS A CRITICAL ELEMENT
OF DOWNTOWN RECOVERY. AGREE
WITH THE PROVISION THAT ALLOWS
FOR WAIVER OR MODIFICATION. [
INAUDIBLE ] I AGREE WITH THE
ALLOWANCE OF A PERMIT TO
CONTINUE DIVESTING RIGHTS
INCONSISTENT -- I ENCOURAGE THE
MAYORS OFFICE TO HAVE
ADDITIONAL DESIGN REVIEW REFORM
AND FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE TO
RESPOND TO A CREEK CLEAR
OBJECTIVE AND PRODUCTIVE A
PROCESS. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE PATIENCE ,
FOLLOWED BY CYNTHIA.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR MORALES. I
AM WITH THE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
CONSORTIUM. I AM HERE TODAY TO
SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF COUNCIL
BILL 120824 AND COUNCIL BILL
120833 . COUNCIL BILL 120824 IS
A CRITICAL MEASURE TO
ACCELERATE THE CREATION OF
MUCH-NEEDED HOUSING IN AREAS
LIKE DOWNTOWN, UPTOWN,
SOUTHLAKE UNION , GRANTING A
SIMPLE THREE-YEAR DESIGN REVIEW
EXEMPTION. THIS IS A BILL THAT
YOU ALL KNOW WILL SERVE AS A
MODEL FOR PRODUCT -- PROJECT
DESIGN REVIEW ACROSS SEATTLE
AND ALIGNING WITH THE
OBLIGATION THROUGH HOUSE BILL
1293. WE ALL KNOW THAT THE
LACEY DESIGN REVIEW PROCESS
SIGNIFICANTLY DELAYS HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT , AND IT ADDS A LOT
OF COST. IN FACT, A STUDY BY
THE UCLA DOES SUGGEST THAT A
25% REDUCTION IN PERMITTING
TIMELINES WOULD LEAD TO A 33%
INCREASE IN HOUSING PRODUCTION.
I URGE YOUR SUPPORT OF COUNCIL
BILL . AND COUNCIL BILL 1208 33
IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT. IT DOES
AMEND THE CODE TO ENSURE THAT
RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS CAN
BENEFIT FROM THE LIVING
BUILDING , THE PILOT PROGRAM,
AS WELL AS THE THREE-BEDROOM
INCENTIVE. I CANNOT SAY HOW
IMPORTANT IT IS FOR US TO BEGIN
TO INCREASE THE PRODUCTION OF
FAMILY SIZE UNITS, PARTICULARLY
IN DOWNTOWN. IS ALIGNED WITH
OUR GOALS FOR SUSTAINABILITY
AND EQUITY. THIS IS THE TIME
FOR YOU TO ADDRESS THE HOUSING
CRISIS. IN FACT, THE TIME TO
PASS POLICIES WAS YESTERDAY.
THE -- ENERGY TO PASS THE
POLICIES NOW. WE HOPE YOU
SUPPORT COUNCIL BILL 1208
COUNCIL BILL 120824 AND COUNCIL
BILL 120833 . THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE CYNTHIA,
FOLLOWED BY PATRICK.
>> -- I AM NOT SEEING CYNTHIA
PEARSON. WE WILL GO TO PATRICK
TAYLOR.
>> PLEASE PRESS *6 TO UN-MUTE
YOURSELF.
>> HI, I AM A MULTIFAMILY
HOUSING DESIGNER AND COCHAIR OF
THE HOUSING FORCE. I'M HERE
TODAY TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF
DESIGN REVIEW EXCEPTION FOR
DOWN TO. WE ARE IN A LOCAL AND
NATIONWIDE HOUSING SHORTAGE DUE
TO REGULATORY BARRIERS TO NEW
HOMES. THIS HAS REACHED THE
POINT THAT KAMALA HARRIS HAS
TALKED ABOUT THIS AS PART OF
HER HOUSING POLICY PLATFORM.
DESIGN REVIEW IS A SUBJECTIVE
PROCESS THAT HAS BEEN
WEAPONIZED. THE EGREGIOUS
EXAMPLES IN SEATTLE IS HOW IT
HAS BEEN ABUSED. [ INAUDIBLE ]
SDCI HAS DEMONSTRATED IN THE
STAKEHOLDER PROCESS AND REPORT
THEIR HOSTILE TO REFORM . THE
PROPOSED LAW IS A GREAT STEP
FORWARD IN BRINGING -- RATING
IN THE PROCESS OF REDUCING
INVENTORY BARRIERS. DOWNTOWN IN
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY IS
MUCH-NEEDED. I URGE YOU ALL TO
APPROVE IT. I ALSO URGE YOU TO
IGNORE ANTI-HOUSING ACTIVISTS
IN THE OMNIBUS BILL AS WRITTEN
TO REALIZE MUCH-NEEDED HOUSING.
THINK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> NEXT WE HAVE SUZANNE,
FOLLOWED BY DAVID NEWMAN.
>> THERE IS A HOLE IN THE SKY
WHERE THE TREE ONCE WAS,
SOMEBODY IS MAKING MONEY. I AM
URGING YOU TO REJECT OR AMEND
120823. CAN YOU HEAR BIRDS
SINGING? IF I CAN SEE YOUR
HEADS, I ASSUME YOU WOULD SAY
YES. YOU WANT THIS QUALITY OF
LIFE FOR THE CITIZENS FOR WHOM
WE ARE RESPONSIBLE IN SEATTLE.
WHY ARE YOU LETTING THE MAYOR,
AND SDCI TO ALLOW DEVELOPERS TO
REMOVE ALL TREES WHERE
DEVELOPMENT IS PROPOSED IN
RESIDENTIAL SMALL LOT ZONING
WHERE THE TREE CANOPY IS ONLY
12%? CLEAN UP THE TREE
ORDINANCE AS HE PROMISED TO DO
IN 2023 SINCE THE CURRENT BILL
HURT SEATTLEITES. WE WANT
HEALTHY HOUSING FOR ALL.
HOUSING THAT INCLUDES TREES.
TAKE TO HEART THE TESTIMONY
TODAY FROM OTHERS. MAKE -- WITH
INTO THE URBAN FORESTRY
COMMISSION. DIRECTLY DEFINITION
OF TREE PROTECTION AREA AS A
COMMITTED BY DAVID. REMOVING
ARTIFICIALLY INFLATED
PROTECTION FORMULA, THE GO TO
PROVISION TO JUSTIFY REMOVING
ALL TREES FOR CONSTRUCTION. AND
I BELIEVE IN DESIGN REVIEW.
DON'T GIVE IT UP. DO NOT
EXEMPT BUILDING FROM DESIGN
REVIEW. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE DAVID NEWMAN ,
AND THAT IS THE FINAL SPEAKER
ONLINE.
>> THANK YOU. HI, EVERYONE. I
AM AN ARCHITECT IN SEATTLE . WE
ARE EXPERTS IN MICRO HOUSING
DESIGN. OVER THE PAST DECADE WE
HAVE DESIGNED OVER 1000 UNITS
OF THIS KIND OF HOUSING, OVER
20 DIFFERENT PROJECTS HAVE BEEN
DEVELOPED FOR PROJECTS OF HER
OWN, BUT AS LEADERS IN THE
FIELD, IT STILL HAS BEEN ALMOST
5 YEARS SINCE HE STARTED A NEW
MICRO HOUSING PROJECT . IT HAS
BECOME DIFFICULT TO DEVELOP
THIS HOUSING. OUR CITY NEEDS TO
GET BACK TO DOING IT. BUILDING
ORGANIC LOW-COST AFFORDABLE
HOUSING . THE STATE PASSED HB
1998 THAT REQUIRES WE DO THIS.
I'M REALLY PLEASED THE MAYOR
HAS MOVED THE IMPLEMENTATION
LEGISLATION UP WAY AHEAD OF THE
STATE DEADLINE. I HAVE READ THE
REPORT. I CONCUR THESE PROPOSED
CHANGES ARE ALL NECESSARY TO
COMPLY WITH THE STATE LAW. I
JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO
MOVE THIS LEGISLATION FORWARD
QUICKLY SO WE CAN GET BACK TO
BUILDING HOUSING THE PEOPLE
NEED AND THAT THEY CAN AFFORD.
IF I'M FULLY HONEST, THIS IS
NOT ENOUGH TO REALLY RESTART
MICRO HOUSING IN A ROBUST WAY.
WE NEED TO DO MORE WITH THE MFT
PROGRAM WE HAVE THAT IS SO
POORLY ADMINISTERED THAT IS IT
IS NOT REALLY WORKING AS IT
USED TO IT. THE ENERGY CODES
EFFECTIVELY DISCOURAGE SMALL
UNIT HOUSING. LANDLORD-TENANT
LAW HAS BECOME SO IMBALANCED
THAT THEY ESSENTIALLY MADE RENT
PAYMENT OPTIONAL AND A BROKEN
THE BASIC BUSINESS MODEL OF
RENTAL HOUSING. IF YOU'RE
SERIOUS ABOUT BUILDING YOUR WAY
TO LOWER RENTS AND WAREHOUSING,
THERE'S MORE TO BE DONE.
ENCOURAGE YOU TO PASS THE
LEGISLATION IN FRONT OF YOU SO
WE CAN GET ON WITH THE REST OF
IT AND MAKE IT HAPPEN. THANK
YOU SO MUCH.
>> THAT IS THE FINAL ONLINE
SPEAKER. SWITCHING BACK TO IN
PERSON. FIRST WE HAVE SUSAN,
FOLLOWED BY HEATHER .
>> THANK YOU. I AM SPEAKING ON
BEHALF OF OMNIBUS -- REGARDING
OMNIBUS 120823 . COUNCIL
MEMBERS, I BELIEVE YOUR GOALS
ARE TO REFORM THE TREE
AMENDMENT AND TO FIGHT GLOBAL
WARMING AND CLIMATE CHANGE.
THIS NEW OMNIBUS BILL FAILS TO
DO THAT . A BETTER TREE CODE
WOULD NOT ALLOW BUILDING ON 85
TO 100% OF A LOT, WHICH A
DEVELOPER DESIGNED A MEMO TO
THE CODE PERMITS. A BETTER TREE
CODE WOULD NOT ALLOW FURTHER
REDUCING THE TREE CANOPY IN
SOUTH PARK, WHICH ARE BUT HE
HAS ONLY 12% TREE CANOPY. IN
THE FIVE YEARS BETWEEN 2016 AND
2021 255 ACRES OF TREES WERE
LOST IN SEATTLE. THIS YEAR
ALONE, UNDER THE NEW VERSION OF
THE TREE CODE, OVER 1000 HAVE
BEEN CUT, MOST OF THOSE TWO
DEVELOPMENT. THE OMNIBUS BILL
REMOVES TREE PROTECTIONS IN 22
OF 27 LAND-USE ZONES. IT
REMOVES THE ABILITY OF CITY
PLANNERS TO REQUEST DESIGN
CHANGES TO ACCOMMODATE TREES.
IT MAKES TREES AND
ENVIRONMENTAL -- IN
ENVIRONMENTALLY CRITICAL AREAS
EVEN MORE VULNERABLE TO
REMOVAL. SEVERAL SPEAKERS HAVE
POINTED OUT THE MORE
EGREGIOUSLY DESTRUCTIVE
SECTIONS OF OMNIBUS BILL AND
URGE THEM TO BE REMOVED. I URGE
YOU TO START OVER. I URGE YOU
TO REJECT THIS BILL. INSTEAD,
INCREASE PROTECTION FOR TREES
AND DEVELOPMENT. THANK YOU.
>> THE FINAL SPEAKER IS
HEATHER.
>> FRIENDS OF THE MARKET.
FIRST, I WANT TO SAY THAT I
ONLY KNOW ABOUT THIS BILL TO
ELIMINATE DESIGN REVIEW
TEMPORARILY BECAUSE OF ANOTHER
ACT -- ACTIVE CITIZEN. I DON'T
FEEL THERE WAS SUFFICIENT
PUBLIC NOTICE. I WOULD ASK THAT
YOU TABLE IT. IN PARTICULAR,
I'M SPEAKING ABOUT OUR
MISSION. OUR MISSION IS TO
PROTECT MARKET, BUT ALSO THE
SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. THAT IS
IT TO KEEP THE SURROUNDING
COMMUNITY LIKE THE MARKET, IT
IS TO PROTECT THE MARKET
ITSELF, WHICH WE ARE ALL
RESPONSIBLE FOR. THE MARKET HAS
GUIDELINES TO PROTECT NOISE,
VIEWS AND NATURAL LIGHT AND
ENERGY CONTROL, UNLIKE ANY OF
THE OTHER HISTORIC DISTRICTS OR
CITY LANDMARKS. IF THERE IS NO
DESIGN REVIEW IN THE NEXT THREE
YEARS, IT MEANS THAT LOTS OR
BUILDINGS THAT MAY BE
REDEVELOPED ACROSS FIRST AVENUE
FROM THE MARKET , THEY MAY
SHADOW THE MARKET AND TAKE OUT
SOME OF THE NATURAL LIGHT . IF
WE DON'T HAVE NOTICE AND THE
DECISION CANNOT BE APPEALED,
THAT REALLY RAISES A PROBLEM
FOR ALL OF US ON HOW TO PROTECT
THE MARKET. LIKEWISE, ACROSS
WESTERN AVENUE, THERE ARE SOME
LOWER BUILDINGS ACROSS FROM THE
MOST HISTORIC PART OF THE
MARKET IF WE DEVELOPED OR ADDED
ONTO THAT, IT WOULD BE EXEMPT
FROM DESIGN REVIEW, BUT THEY
WOULD BLOCK THE VIEW FOR THE
PUBLIC. I FEEL THIS IS THROWING
OUT THE BABY WITH THE
BATHWATER. I DON'T MEAN
LITERALLY, BUT THIS IS VERY
COMPREHENSIVE. I BELIEVE IN
MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS
WELL, BUT THE MARKET --
PERMANENT MEASURES THAT WOULD
HAVE PERMANENT CHANGES TO THE
MARKET IF SOMEBODY GETS THROUGH
THE LOOPHOLE AND WE HAVE NO SAY
WHATSOEVER. PLEASE JOIN ME IN
PROTECTING THE MARKET
HISTORICAL DISTRICT. THANK YOU.
>> THE FINAL IN PERSON SPEAKER
IS EDWARD.
>> I AM HERE OPPOSING 120824.
THERE WERE A WHOLE LOT OF
DEVELOPERS HERE. THEY WERE
REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS BILL.
I REALLY NOTICED HOW MUCH THEY
REALLY THOUGHT THIS WAS A GREAT
DEAL. LUCKILY, WE CAN ALWAYS
TRUST DEVELOPERS, BECAUSE THEY
ALWAYS HAVE OUR BEST INTEREST
AT HEART, THE NEIGHBORHOOD BEST
INTEREST AT HEART AND THEY'RE
ALWAYS TRYING TO DO THE BEST
THING. SIMILAR TO WESTERN WHERE
THEY CAME IN WITH A DESIGN FOR
A 19 STORY BUILDING AND 12
STORIES. THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING
THAT WAY THROUGH THIS HUGE LONG
PROCESS AND JUST HAVING PROBLEM
AFTER PROBLEM. I DON'T KNOW
WHAT COULD HAVE SLOWED DOWN
THEIR DESIGN REVIEW IF MAYBE
THEY WOULD HAVE MAYBE BUILT IT
AS ZONED RATHER THAN TRYING TO
BUILD IT WELL BEYOND WHAT WAS
ZONED. I THINK THE DESIGN
REVIEW PROCESS IS REALLY
IMPORTANT . I ACTUALLY WORKED
MY WHOLE CAREER INEFFICIENCY. I
LOOK AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER AND
THINK THAT IS REALLY
INEFFICIENT FOR DEALING WITH
MIGRANTS. I THINK OUR DESIGN
REVIEW IS REALLY INEFFICIENT
FOR GETTING THE PROCESS THROUGH
, BUT JUST GIVING WAIVERS TO
THE PROCESS IS NOT A GOOD IDEA.
I DON'T THINK BOEING SHOULD DO
THAT WITH THEIR PRODUCT. I
DON'T THINK WE SHOULD DO THAT
WITH THE PRODUCT THAT IS OUR
CITY. THANK YOU.
>> THAT IS A FINAL SPEAKER WE
HAVE SIGNED UP REMOTELY OR IN
PERSON.
>> OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, EVERYONE ONLINE AND THOSE
WHO CAME DOWN TO CHAMBERSBURG
APPRECIATE HEARING -- TO
CHAMBERS. APPRECIATE HEARING
FROM ALL OF YOU. WE WILL HEAR
ABOUT THIS ON SEPTEMBER 18.
LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU
THERE. THIS CONCLUDES THE
SEPTEMBER 4, 2022 LAND-USE
COMMITTEE MEETING AND PUBLIC
HEARING . THE NEXT COMMITTEE
MEETING IS SEPTEMBER 18 AT
2:00. WE ARE ADJOURNED. THANKS
SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE,
EVERYONE.