>> ALL RIGHT, WELCOME. THIS IS
APRIL 2nd, 2025 LAND USE
COMMITTEE . THE MEETING WILL
COME TO ORDER. IT IS TO: 06 P.M.
I AM MARK SOLOMON, CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE. WILL THE COMMITTEE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] THERE
ARE THREE MEMBERS PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU. LET IT BE KNOWN
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS IS EXCUSED
FROM TODAY'S MEETING. IF THERE
ARE NO OBJECTIONS, THE AGENDA
WILL BE ADOPTED. OKAY. HEARING
NO OBJECTION THE AGENDA IS
ADOPTED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
COMING TO THIS MEETING TO
DISCUSS LAND-USE . THANK YOU TO
OUR CITY CLERKS, CENTRAL STAFF
AND DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION
INSPECTIONS TO HELP US IN
HELPING US PREPARE FOR THIS
MEETING. WITH THAT WE WILL NOW
OPEN UP HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD. PUBLIC COMMENT SHOULD
RELATE TO ITEMS ON TODAY'S
AGENDA AND WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF
THIS COMMITTEE. AS A REMINDER,
PLEASE DO NOT PROVIDE COMMENTS
ON ITEMS SIX THROUGH NINE, WHICH
ARE THE FREMONT CONTRACT REZONED
AND HOSPITAL MASTER IMPROVEMENT
MAJOR INSTITUTION MASTER PLAN AS
THESE ARE QUASIJUDICIAL ITEMS
WHICH THE COUNCIL MAY NOT ACCEPT
COMMENT OUTSIDE OF THE RECORD
BEFORE US TODAY. HOW MANY
SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE SIGNED UP
TODAY?
>> WE HAVE SEVEN IN PERSON AND
SIX ONLINE.
>> THANK YOU. EACH SPEAKER WILL
HAVE TWO MINUTES. WE WILL START
WITH IN PERSON FIRST. CAN YOU
PLEASE READ THE PUBLIC, AND
INSTRUCTIONS?
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
WILL BE MODERATED IN THE
FOLLOWING ORDER. THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS UP TO 20
MINUTES, SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED
IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY
REGISTERED. SPEAKERS WILL
ALTERNATE BETWEEN IN PERSON AND
REMOTE UNTIL THE PERIOD IS
ENDED. SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A TIME
WHEN 10 SECONDS ARE LEFT. MICS
WILL BE MUTED IF THEY DO NOT AND
THEIR COMMENTS TO ALLOW US TO
THE NEXT SPEAKER. THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW OPEN. WE
WILL BEGIN WITH THE FIRST
SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
>> THANK YOU. I AM WITH THE
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE ASSOCIATION.
THE DOWNTOWN SEATTLE ASSOCIATION
SUPPORTS INITIATIVES THAT
ENHANCE DOWNTOWNS VITALITY,
SAFETY AND ECONOMIC GROWTH. WE
ARE HERE TO SUPPORT TWO BILLS
BEING CONSIDERED BY THE
COMMITTEE THAT WILL DO JUST
THAT. DSA SUPPORTS COUNCIL BILL
120771 TO ACTIVATE STOREFRONTS.
EXPANDING STREET USES TO INCLUDE
ARTS, INSTITUTIONAL AND OFFICE
SPACES WILL INVIGORATE DOWNTOWN
STREETSCAPES, ATTRACT PEDESTRIAN
TRAFFIC AND REDUCE VACANCIES.
ACTIVE STOREFRONTS ARE A KEY
COMPONENT TO THRIVING DOWNTOWN.
DRIVING FOOT TRAFFIC AND
CREATING A WELCOMING URBAN
ENVIRONMENT. THIS ALIGNS WITH
THE COMMITMENT TO ECONOMIC
REVITALIZATION AND ENHANCING THE
URBAN EXPERIENCE. DSA SUPPORTS
COUNCIL BILL 120948 EXTENDING
BUILDING PERMIT TIMELINES FOR
PROJECTS VESTED UNDER PREVIOUS
CODES WILL FACILITATE
DEVELOPMENTS SOLD TO TO
FINANCING CHALLENGES. THIS IS
CRUCIAL FOR DELIVERING HOUSING
UNITS AND GENERATING CITY
REVENUE. A VIBRANT ACTIVE
DOWNTOWN WITH OCCUPIED
STOREFRONTS AND ONGOING
DEVELOPMENT NATURALLY PROPOSED A
SAFER ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL. THESE
WILL ENCOURAGE INCREASED FOOT
TRAFFIC AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS
OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND SUPPORT
SEATTLE'S CONTINUED
REVITALIZATION, THANK YOU.
>> NEXT .
>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS SCOTT .
I'M A SENIOR DEVELOPMENT
MANAGER . WE PROVIDE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IN CENTRAL SEATTLE WITH
NEW PROJECTS IN THE RAYNOR
VALLEY AND THE TIMING IS GREAT
ON THIS. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
CONSIDERING CB 12098. I WANT TO
TELL YOU A STORY. THREE WEEKS
AGO WE RECEIVED NOTICE THAT IN
ORDER FOR US TO EXTEND OUR
PERMIT WE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE OUR
PROJECT FROM THE 2015 CODE AND
BRING IT COMPLIANT TO 2021 . IN
ORDER FOR US , ANY EXCEPTIONS WE
ARGUED WE WANTED TO KEEP WE
WOULD HAVE TO ARGUE
EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES. I
PREPARED A LETTER TO SEND TO OUR
EXAMINER AND I WILL SEND TO EACH
ONE OF YOU . LET ME OUTLINE SOME
CIRCUMSTANCES. PANDEMIC AND
POST-PANDEMIC. LESS THAN A
FIVE-YEAR PERIOD THERE WAS MORE
THAN A 22% MINIMUM INCREASE IN
CONSTRUCTION COST DUE TO ALL THE
THINGS THAT OCCURRED AND
PIPELINE AND SUPPLY CHAIN. THAT
WAS NUMBER ONE THAT HITS THE
MULTIFAMILY INDUSTRY. NUMBER TWO
WAS MORE THAN TRIPLING OF
INTEREST RATES WHICH RENDERED
80% OF OUR PROJECTS INFEASIBLE.
WE HAD INVESTORS PULL OUT FROM
OUR PROJECTS OPPORTUNITY ZONE
INVESTORS LEFT THE BUILDING. IT
WAS TOO MUCH RISK. EXTRAORDINARY
CIRCUMSTANCES LEAD TO US DOING
SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY. WE PUT
PROJECTS ON HOLD FOR THE FIRST
TIME. ALSO THIS AFFECTED
EMPLOYMENT AND DEVELOPMENT AND
ARCHITECTURE. THE EXTRAORDINARY
LOW POINT AND CIRCUMSTANCES IN
THE DELIVERY OF UNITS IN 2027 IS
ESTIMATED THAT THE DELIVERY OF
UNITS IN CENTRAL PUGET SOUND
WILL PLUMMET 75% IS ONLY 3700
UNITS WERE DELIVERED. THESE ARE
GOING TO ADD $6.7 MILLION TO THE
COST OF OUR PROJECTS. 6.7
MILLION FOR US TRYING TO BUILD
300 UNITS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING
IN THE RAINIER VALLEY. THIS IS
TREMENDOUS, PLEASE CONSIDER THIS
BILL. THIS HAS BEEN AN
EXTRAORDINARY TIME.
>> NEXT .
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM A
RESIDENT OF SEATTLE. IN MID-2023
THIS COMMITTEE AND THE FULL
COUNCIL APPROVED AMENDMENTS .
MANY OF THESE WERE OPPOSED BY
THE CITIES URBAN FORESTRY
COMMISSION BUT THE COUNCIL AND
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WERE ADAMANT
THIS IS NOW PROTECTING 170,000
TREES THROUGHOUT THE CITY. THE
DATA INDICATES OTHERWISE. THE
MEASURE OF THE EFFECT OF THE
TREE PROTECTION ORDINANCE WOULD
BE HOW MANY TREES ARE REMOVED
AND HOW MANY ACTUALLY PROTECTED.
IN AUGUST 2024 FROM STC I SENT A
LETTER TO COUNCIL SHOWING DATA
ON THESE ITEMS. HE CLAIMED 290
TREES HAD BEEN REMOVED AND 957
TREES WERE PROTECTED. A STUDY
WAS PERFORMED USING STC I DATA
THAT DETERMINE JUST HOW MANY
WERE ACTUALLY PROTECTED. THE
RESULTS OF THE STUDY WERE
DETAILED IN A NEWSPAPER ARTICLE
WRITTEN BY INVESTIGATE WEST AND
PUBLISHED IN SEATTLE TIMES IN
JANUARY OF THIS YEAR. I'VE A
COPY HERE. IT SHOWS IN THIS
ARTICLE STC I IS CLAIMING TO
PROTECT TREES WHERE THERE WAS NO
THREAT TO THE TREES. FOR EXAMPLE
MY NEIGHBOR DID A KITCHEN
REMODEL AND STCI CLAIMS THEY ARE
PROTECTING TREES ON THAT
PROPERTY. THIS HARDLY SOUNDS
LIKE TREE PROTECTION ORDINANCE
WAS DOING ITS JOB. LESS THAN 3%
OF PROTECTED TREES OR REALLY
PROTECTED BY ACTIONS OF STCI OR
THE TREE ORDINANCE. IN THIS LAST
YEAR 2024 THERE WERE OVER 2000
TREES REMOVED IN SEATTLE . FOR
THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE YEAR
1259 TREES WERE REMOVED. AT THIS
RATE OVER 5000 TREES WILL BE CUT
DOWN. THIS IS BASED ON STCI
DATA. I'M ASKING AND BEGGING
YOU TO AMEND THIS ORDINANCE AND
PROTECT OUR TREES SO WE CAN SAVE
THE CITY, THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE LOUIS HAYWARD.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND GOOD
AFTERNOON . MY NAME IS LILY
HAYWARD SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF
THE MEMBERS OF THE SEATTLE
METROPOLITAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
AND WE ARE HAPPY TO SUPPORT
COUNCIL BILLS 120771 AND 120948.
FLEXIBILITY IN STREET-LEVEL
PERMITTED USE ESPECIALLY IN
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE AND SURROUNDING
AREAS IS ESSENTIAL FOR DOWNTOWN
ACTIVATION AND REGIONAL ECONOMIC
GROWTH BOTH OF WHICH ARE STRONG
VOTER PRIORITIES. THAT'S WHY WE
SUPPORT CV 120771 THAT ENABLES
VACANT STOREFRONTS TO CONSIDER
ADDITIONAL TENANTS WOULD BE
INCLUDED IN SPACES WITHOUT
LEGISLATION LIKE THIS. THIS WILL
ENABLE MORE SMALL BUSINESSES TO
CAPITALIZE VACANT COMMERCIAL
SPACE , GENERATING ECONOMIC
ACTIVITY AND IMPROVING
PERCEPTIONS AND REALITY OF
PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
ESSENTIAL FOR THE GROWTH OF OUR
REGION IS CB 120948 MULTIFAMILY
OBJECT STALLED BY THE PANDEMIC
AND CONDITIONS CAN BE COMPLETED.
A 24 MONTH HARDSHIP EXTENSION
FOR BUILDING PERMITS IS AN
APPROPRIATE RESPONSE AND ALIGNS
WITH OUR CITIES GROWTH TARGETS
AND VOTER PRIORITIES TO BUILD
MORE HOUSING IN ALL AREAS OF THE
CITY. THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AND FOR
YOUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO
MAKING OUR CITY MORE AFFORDABLE
AND ACCESSIBLE TO LIVE.
>> POINT OF CLARIFICATION, WE
LOST QUORUM SO WE WILL HAVE TO
PAUSE UNTIL WE REGAIN QUORUM.
STANDBY.
>> WE WILL RESUME OUR
COMMENTARY. YOU CAN CALL THE
NEXT FEW SPEAKERS SO THEY CAN
QUEUE UP.
>> NEXT WE HAVE ALEX TSIMERMAN .
>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS ALEX
TSIMERMAN. I SUPPORT TRUMP. I
HAVE 6000 DATE OF TRESPASS BUT
NOBODY HAVE IN HUMAN HISTORY.
YOU GIVE ME 6000 DATE OF
TRESPASS. I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT
AGENDA NUMBER ONE. HE DON'T
UNDERSTAND WHY NO CHOICE MADE.
6000 TRESPASSES IS VERY UNIQUE
SITUATION BUT YOU FIVE TIMES
PROSECUTE ME SO I'M PROBABLY
BEST OF THE BEST. WHY DON'T
CHOOSE ME TO BE A COMMISSIONER?
MAYBE NEED SOME DIFFERENT
OPINION. I CAN SPEAK AS I COME
HERE I SPEAK AGAIN AND AGAIN AND
AGAIN. NOTHING CHANGED IN CITY.
WORSE AND WORSE AND WORSE. I
LIVE IN SEATTLE , RIGHT NOW ,
HUNDRED $70,000. WHAT HAS COME
TALKING AGAIN AND AGAIN AND
AGAIN AND NOTHING CHANGE. A NEW
AMERICAN REVOLUTION. WHEN YOU
STAND UP WE NEED CHANGE. WE NEED
TO MAKE LIFE BETTER .
>> NEXT UP.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU
CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. THE COMMERCIAL REAL
ESTATE DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION.
I JOINED WITH MY FRIENDS AND THE
SEATTLE CHAMBER IN SUPPORT OF
THE BUILDING PERMIT EXTENSION
LEGISLATION AND STREET-LEVEL USE
LEGISLATION. THESE ARE SOMETHING
I SEE AS TO BOOKENDS OF THE SAME
ISSUE WHICH IS DOWNTOWN RECOVERY
AND RESPONDING TO THE HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY CRISIS. IN TERMS
OF THE PERMIT EXTENSION
LEGISLATION WHAT YOU HEARD FROM
SCOTT FROM COMMUNITY HOUSING AND
OTHERS THESE ARE PROJECTS THAT
ENCOUNTER THE MASTER USE PERMIT
PROCESS AND DESIGN REVIEW
PROCESS , THE APPROVAL PROCESS
AND SITTING HERE WAITING TO HAVE
THE FINANCIAL ABILITY TO
PROCEED. YOU'VE EXTENDED THE
MASTER USE PERMIT SO THIS IS THE
LAST THING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE
TO KEEP THESE ALIVE AND THESE
PROJECTS HAVE NOW SUFFERED
THROUGH COVID, TRUMPET TARIFFS
AND STEEL COST, INFLATION AND
SHOCKS TO THE SYSTEM. THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT WILL HELP KEEP
THE PROJECTS IF APPROVED WHICH
THESE ALL WANT TO GO FORWARD
WILL START CONSTRUCTION JOBS,
PAY FEES AND BRING MUCH-NEEDED
HOUSING AND SPACE ALONG WITH
OFFICE SPACE AND OTHER USES.
THAT IS ONE THING WE WOULD
ENCOURAGE TO CLARIFY THE DATE
AND WE APPLAUD THE COUNCIL AND
THE MAYOR FOR BRINGING THAT
FORWARD. IT IS THE SAME THING.
THESE BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN, THE
NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS THAT
HAVE VACANT SPACES, THEY WANT TO
HAVE RESTAURANTS AND RETAIL
SPACES BUT IN THESE TIMES AS WE
ARE STILL RECOVERING IT IS
NECESSARY TO HAVE FLEXIBILITY
FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE ABILITY TO
BRING IN THINGS LIKE CRAFT
SHOPS, R&D SPACE , LABS AND
OTHER COMPONENTS TO THIS SPACE
AS A TEMPORARY USED TO BRING
PEOPLE DOWNTOWN. I WILL SAY ONE
THING FOR OUR FRIENDS IN THE
COMMUNITY, THOSE ARE JOBS THAT
WORK NOT ONLY TO SOLVE THE
HEALTHCARE CRISIS BUT ALSO ARE
IN THE OFFICE EVERY DAY
CONTRIBUTING TO DOWNTOWN
VITALITY. WE ASK YOU TO SUPPORT
BOTH OF THE BILLS WITH FRIENDLY
AMENDMENTS. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP.
>> WHEN MHA WAS PASSED THERE WAS
A GOAL OF 50% OF PEOPLE TAKING
THE PAYOUT AND HAVING AT LEAST
50% IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE
THE BUILDINGS WERE BUILT .
SEATTLE HAS NOT AT THAT GOAL.
THIS PROMISE WAS TO CITIZENS SO
I ASSUME IT'S WORTHLESS AT THIS
POINT, BUT THIS PROMISE WAS TO
HAVE A VARIETY OF FOLKS IN MOST
NEIGHBORHOODS AND I ORIGINALLY
THOUGHT IT WAS JUST DEVELOPERS
NOT WANTING TO PAY A REASONABLE
DEVELOPMENT P BECAUSE MANY OF US
WERE TOLD THAT THE FEE WAS HIGH
EVEN THOUGH IT WAS THE LOWEST
THAT ANYONE HAD EVER SEEN
ANYWHERE. IT'S NOT DOING THE
JOB OF SPREADING PEOPLE AROUND
THE CITY IN A REASONABLE WAY . I
WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT ACTUALLY
HAPPENED. TO DO THAT YOU'RE
GOING TO HAVE TO RAISE THE MHA
FEE. THIS WILL HAVE MANY
POSITIVE THINGS. IT WILL PROVIDE
MORE MONEY FOR HOUSING FOR
PEOPLE IN THE DEEPEST OF NEED
AND IT WILL PROVIDE HOUSING MUCH
QUICKER BECAUSE IF THE BUILDING
PERMIT IS ISSUED AND THE
BUILDING IS OPEN THAT HOUSING IS
AVAILABLE. IF THEY PAY THE FEE
AT THAT TIME, THEN IT'S GOING
TO BE A COUPLE YEARS, BABY FIVE
YEARS BEFORE HOUSING ACTUALLY
COMES OUT OF THAT FEE. MY HOPE
IS WE WOULD DO IT MUCH QUICKER
RATHER THAN SLOWER , BUT I'M
ONLY A CITIZEN. I'M NOT AN
EXPERT. I ONLY OBSERVE WHAT
REALLY HAPPENS AND NOT WHAT A
THEORETICAL SITUATION , THE
OTHER THING IS YOU SHOULD BE
MONITORING THE NUMBER OF UNITS
ON THE REGULAR MARKET THAT ARE
NOT EXPENSIVE THAT KEEP GETTING
DROPPED OFF.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE ARE MOVING
TO THE VIRTUAL COMMENTERS. FIRST
IS SCOTT KOPELMAN . YOU GOT IT.
>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS SCOTT.
I'M WITH A DEVELOPER OWNER
OPERATOR AND LONG-TERM HOLDER OF
APARTMENT HOME COMMUNITIES IN
THE SEATTLE AREA AND I'M HERE
TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF COUNCIL
BILL 120948 . WE HAVE TWO
APARTMENT HOME PROJECTS IN
SEATTLE WITH MASTER USE PERMITS
, BOTH DESIGNED UNDER THE 2000
TEAM BUILDING CODE. THESE TWO
PROJECTS COMBINED WILL SOMEDAY
PROVIDE APARTMENT HOMES , ALMOST
400 MILLION IN CONSTRUCTION COST
THAT WOULD GENERATE ROUGHLY 40
MILLION IN TOTAL SALES TAX WITH
A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THAT
GOING TO THE CITY . 4.4 MILLION
IN MHA FEES , ALSO BOTH PROJECTS
ARE HIGH-RISE CONSTRUCTION AND
WILL UTILIZE UNION LABOR. WE ON
THE LAND FOR ONE OF THE PROJECTS
AND HAVE A LONG-TERM LEASE FOR
THE OTHER PROJECT AND WE ARE
COMMITTED TO CONTINUING TO
INVEST IN SEATTLE BUT WE HAVE
NOT BEEN ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD
WITH EITHER PROJECT DUE TO
COVID, A LENGTHY LAND-USE STEEL
AND NOW A VERY CHALLENGING
CAPITAL MARKET CONDITION. LAYER
ON TOP OF THAT NEW TRADE WARS
AND TARIFFS WHICH COULD AFFECT
THE PRICE OF EVERYTHING FROM
DRYWALL TO ALUMINUM WINDOWS TO
STEAL. THOSE HAVE ADDED
ADDITIONAL UNCERTAINTY TO OUR
ABILITY TO FINANCE AND BREAK
GROUND IN THE NEAR FUTURE . IN
SHORT, WHILE WE HOPE WE CAN
BREAK GROUND IN A YEAR OR TWO WE
REALLY DON'T KNOW WHEN WE WILL
BE ABLE TO BREAK GROUND WITHOUT
THIS LEGISLATION THE TIME AND
ADDED COST TO REDESIGN OUR
PROJECT AND THE ADDED
CONSTRUCTION COST COMBINED WITH
NEW BUILDING CODES WOULD RENDER
OUR PROJECT UNFEASIBLE OR
SIGNIFICANTLY LONGER. I HOPE YOU
WILL SUPPORT COUNCIL BILL 120948
, THANK YOU.
>> HOW MANY MORE DO WE HAVE
SIGNED UP?
>> WE HAVE THREE ADDITIONAL.
>> JUST WANT TO BE MINDFUL THAT
PUBLIC COMMENTARY PERIOD WILL
AND IN ONE MINUTE. IF THERE'S
NO OBJECTION , THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD WILL BE EXTENDED
FOR AN ADDITIONAL SIX MINUTES TO
ALLOW FOR THE REMAINING SPEAKERS
TO HAVE THEIR OPPORTUNITY. OKAY.
NO OBJECTION? WE ARE EXTENDING
PUBLIC COMMENT FOR AN ADDITIONAL
SIX MINUTES TO ALLOW FOR THE
COMMENTERS TO STATE THEIR PIECE.
>> NEXT WE HAVE STEVE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANKS FOR
EXTENDING AND HEARING MY
COMMENT. I'M A MANAGING
DIRECTOR . I'M HERE TO SPEAK
REGARDING ITEM 12, COUNCIL BILL
120948. WE HAVE AN EXISTING
BUILDING PERMIT AT 235 NINTH
AVENUE WHERE WE PLANNED TO BUILD
A SEVEN STORY OFFICE BUILDING .
THE IMPACT ON THE OFFICE MARKET
CONTINUES TO INCREASE
CONSTRUCTION COST, INTEREST RATE
AND DECREASED DEMAND ADDING AN
ADDITIONAL TWO YEARS WILL ALLOW
MORE TIME FOR THE MARKET TO
IMPROVE ENOUGH . OUR PROJECT
WILL CONTRIBUTE ABOUT 1.5
MILLION FOR THE CITY PROGRAM NOT
TO MENTION UP TO 1000 EMPLOYEES.
THIS LEGISLATION IS VERY
IMPACTFUL BOTH TO OUR PROJECTS
BUT ALSO SEATTLE'S
POST-PANDEMIC RECOVERY . THANK
YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE JEREMY.
>> HI. THANK YOU FOR EXTENDING.
I AM WITH SHELTER RESOURCES. WE
ARE IN AFFORDABLE DEVELOPER BASE
IN PUGET SOUND. WE HAVE A
PROJECT FUNDED BY AN ACQUISITION
LOAN TO BUILD SOME AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND WE PURCHASED IT
UNDER THE OLD CODE. THE
DEVELOPERS THAT DECIDED TO SELL
IT WERE ABLE TO BUY SOMETHING
THAT WAS ALREADY IN CODE. SINCE
THEN WE HAVE BEEN APPLYING FOR
ADDITIONAL FUNDS NEEDED TO BUILD
AND ARE CONTINUING TO DO SO. WE
HAVEN'T BEEN SUCCESSFUL YET.
THERE'S QUITE A BACKLOG OF
AFFORDABLE PROJECTS IN THE
HOUSING PIPELINE. THE
COMMITTEE'S SUPPORT OF COUNCIL
BILL 120948 WILL ALLOW US TO
CONTINUE TO PURSUE FUNDING AND
KEEP THE PROJECT AND APPRECIATE
YOU ALL CONSIDERING THAT ACTION,
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE ALEX. WE CANNOT
HEAR YOU. YOU MIGHT BE MUTED.
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX. ALL RIGHT
. WE STILL CANNOT HEAR YOU.
>> SORRY. MY NAME IS ALEX .
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT FOR
LINCOLN PROPERTY COMPANY. I'M
HERE TO SUPPORT BILL 120771 TWO
ENCOURAGE FLEXIBILITY FOR
STREET-LEVEL USES , ESPECIALLY
TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN USERS.
LINCOLN PROPERTY COMPANY IS AN
OWNER AND OPERATOR OF COMMERCIAL
REAL ESTATE IN THE SEATTLE
MARKET AND WE HAVE INVESTED IN
THE FIFTH AVENUE CORRIDOR
INCLUDING FIFTH WHICH IS A
200,000 SQUARE-FOOT BIOTECH
FACILITY WE DELIVERED LAST FALL
. THIS PROJECT COST WAS OVER
$250 MILLION AND INCLUDED $3
MILLION IN MHA FEES. WE ARE ALSO
INVESTING IN BIOTECH INCUBATOR .
THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS TO
SUPPORT LOCAL BIOTECH STARTUPS
AND THEIR GROWTH IN OUR
COMMUNITY. THE BIOTECH INDUSTRY
IS AN ECONOMIC DRIVER FOR THE
CITY OF SEATTLE AND THESE ARE IN
OFFICE JOBS THAT ACTIVATE
DOWNTOWN. 222 HAS STREET-LEVEL
USES THAT ARE CURRENTLY SLATED
TO BE RETAILED WE WOULD LIKE TO
CONVERT FOR OFFICE AND TENANT
USE. THE TYPES OF THESE USES WE
ARE SEEKING ON THE GROUND FLOOR
WILL NOT HAVE ANY SAFETY OR
NOISE IMPACTS, NO CHEMICALS
LOCATED IN THESE LOCATIONS. THIS
WOULD PROVIDE GREAT ACTIVE
STREET-LEVEL USES THAT WOULD
SUPPORT OUR BIOTECH CLUSTER. WE
HAVE AN ADDITIONAL PROJECT
LOCATED JUST SOUTH OF 222 FIFTH.
IT'S A PERMITTED 200,000
SQUARE-FOOT BIOTECH PROJECT AS
WELL. THE PROJECT IS ON PAUSE
BUT THIS AMENDMENT WOULD BE
HELPFUL TO ACCELERATE THE
PROJECTS FEASIBILITY. WE APPLAUD
THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR THEIR
COMMITMENT TO DOWNTOWN BIOTECH
SECTOR AND ENCOURAGE THIS BILL
TO PASS. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE DAVID HAYNES.
>> THANK YOU. CITY COUNCIL HAS
PUT RESTRICTIONS ON DEVELOPERS
TO DIS-INCENTIVIZE THEM AND
PAINT INTO A FUND AND THEN
CHANGE THE LAW THAT POLITICALLY
CONNECTED UNQUALIFIED NONPROFITS
GET ACCESS TO HUNDREDS OF
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND NOW THE
CITY COUNCIL WHO SHOULD BE
INVESTIGATED IS CONSPIRING TO
SABOTAGE THE MULTITUDES OF
WORKING-CLASS GENERATIONS THAT
NEED 21st CENTURY FOR SWIRL
QUALITY HOMES THAT INSTEAD GET
THESE LOW QUALITY, LOW LEVEL
PIECES OF REAL ESTATE BUILT BY
THESE UNQUALIFIED NONPROFITS WHO
ARE PATTING THE COST WITH
FOR-PROFIT THEY PRIORITIZE
HIRING BASED ON SOME RACIST,
UNCONSTITUTIONAL , SKIN COLOR
PRIORITY THAT MISINTERPRETS
BUILDING HIGHER THAN SIX
STORIES. SO WE CAN CELEBRATE A
MULTITUDE OF LEVELS WITH ROBUST
FLOORPLANS THAT WOULD PROVIDE,
LET'S SAY A QUAD PLEX THAT HAS
SIX STORIES ON ALL FOUR CORNERS,
BUT YOU CONNECT ALL FOUR CORNERS
TO THE CORE VALUE OF THE
COMMUNITY LIVING SPACE. ONE
FLOOR YOU HAVE THE ROOFTOP VIEW
THAT DOESN'T HAVE A BARBECUE,
TOXIC GLASS IN SOMEONE'S WINDOW
AND A FITNESS ROOM YOU HAVE A
VIEW ON AND THEN YOU HAVE YOUR
PERSONAL PRIVATE OFFICE SPACE
AND THEN THE MOVIE CLUBHOUSE
ROOM. YOU DON'T HAVE A DRIVEWAY
DRIVING THROUGH EVERY BLOCK. ALL
THESE CRAZY , LAZY , MODERN
20TH-CENTURY ALWAYS THINK THEY
HAVE THE RIGHT TO DRIVE THROUGH
YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND KEEP YOUR
TREE UP THERE FOR THEM TO PLACE
IN THE AREA WHILE PEOPLE ARE
SABOTAGING THE INTEGRITY OF A
ROBUST BUILDOUT TO CATER TO THE
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CONSORTIUM
AND ALL OF THEIR NONPROFIT
POLITICALLY CONNECTED OPERATIVES
WHO NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED FOR
DONATING AND OPERATING A CHARADE
OF UNQUALIFIED DEVELOPERS THAT
ARE GETTING IN THE WAY .
>> THAT WAS OUR LAST SPEAKER?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. PUBLIC
COMMENTARY HAS CLOSED AND WE
WILL PROCEED WITH THE REST OF
OUR AGENDA. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ ITEMS ONE THROUGH
FIVE INTO THE RECORD?
>> APPOINTMENT 3110 THROUGH
3114, APPOINTMENT OF AARON D.
CLARK AS MEMBER OF THE URBAN
FORESTRY COMMISSION FOR A TERM
TO MARCH 31st, 2026. APPOINTMENT
AND REAPPOINTMENT OF DRUE
HAPPENING , MELANIE COSIO AND
LIA HALL AS MEMBERS OF THE URBAN
FORESTRY COMMISSION FOR TERMS TO
MARCH 31st, 2027. APPOINTMENT OF
LANI CHANG AS A MEMBER OF URBAN
FORESTRY COMSSION FOR A TERM
TO MARCH 31st, 2028.
>> IS LAUREN HERE? YES. PLEASE
COME FORWARD. JOIN US AT THE
TABLE AND INTRODUCE YOURSELVES.
>> HELLO, COUNCIL. I'M THE
URBAN FORESTRY MANAGER AT THE
OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY AND
ENVIRONMENT AND I█'M PLEASED TO
INTRODUCE COUNCIL NOMINEES FOR
THE URBAN FORESTRY COMMISSION.
THERE ARE FIVE NOMINEES AND I
WILL BE INTRODUCING THE TWO
NOMINEES NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT IN
PERSON. THE FIRST NOMINEE IS
AARON D. CLARK FOR POSITION
NUMBER ONE OF WILDLIFE
BIOLOGISTS. AARON IS HERE TODAY
AND I WILL GIVE A BRIEF
INTRODUCTION. AARON, HE/HIM, HAS
OVER TWO DECADES OF EXPERIENCE
WORKING AT THE INTERFACE OF
ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION AND
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. HE'S A
HIGHLY TRAINED ECOLOGICAL
SCIENCE AND BIOLOGY. HE HAS
MOSTLY WORKED IN APPLIED FIELDS
INCLUDING 11 YEARS WITH THE
URBAN GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
SECTOR IN SEATTLE. FOR THE LAST
1.5 YEARS AARON HAS WORKED AS
CONSERVANCY DIRECTOR AT THE
NATIVE WOMEN LED NGO FUND
FOCUSED ON NATIVE LAND RETURN
AND ADVOCACY FOR EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT POLICY AT THE CITY
AND COUNTY LEVEL. THROUGH THE
FORESTRY COMMISSION AARON HOPES
TO ADVANCE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
THROUGH URBAN FORESTRY POLICY
AND EQUITABLE ACCESS TO THE
BENEFITS OF TREES. HE'S EXCITED
ABOUT THE GROWING BODY OF
RESEARCH SHOWING THE VERY REAL
MENTAL HEALTH AND ECONOMIC
BENEFITS HEALTHY URBAN
ECOSYSTEMS CAN PROVIDE ,
ESPECIALLY FOR COMMUNITIES WHO
BEAR THE BRUNT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
DEGRADATION IN THE FORM OF
PREMATURE DEATH AND HEALTHCARE
NEEDS. WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO KEEP
GOING OR WOULD YOU LIKE A MOMENT
TO TALK?
>> KEEP GOING AND THEN WE WILL
DO COMMENTS. YEAH.
>> OUR NEXT AND NOMINEE IS LANI
CHANG. THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO BE
HERE TODAY BUT I WILL INTRODUCE
THEM. THEY ARE THE NOMINEE FOR
POSITION NUMBER THREE WHICH IS
THE NATIONAL RESOURCE AGENCY FOR
UNIVERSITY REPRESENTATIVE. LANI,
SHE/HER, WORKS FOR THE USDA FOR
SERVICE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
REGIONAL OFFICE IMPLEMENTING THE
WILDFIRE CRISIS STRATEGY TO
REDUCE WILDFIRE RISK AND ENHANCE
FOREST RESILIENCE ACROSS OREGON
AND WASHINGTON. IN HER ROLE, SHE
COLLABORATES WITH FOREST AND
COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO ENSURE
EQUITABLE WILDFIRE RISK
REDUCTION . WITH A DIVERSE
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND, LANI
REMAINED PASSIONATE ABOUT
WORKING WITH PEOPLE TO DEVELOP
SOLUTIONS THAT SUPPORT BOTH
COMMUNITY AND ECOLOGICAL
WELL-BEING. SHE HOLDS A MASTERS
IN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND
A BA IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE.
SHE RESIDES IN CAPITOL HILL AND
IS FORTUNATE TO LIVE NEAR
NUMEROUS PARKS AND A THRIVING
URBAN CANOPY. SHE'S EXCITED AND
GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
ADVOCATE FOR THE EQUITABLE
DISTRIBUTION OF THESE BENEFITS
ROUT THE CITY. I WILL MOVE
FORWARD AND INTRODUCE DRUE
EPPING. SHE IS HERE WITH US
TODAY. DRUE IS THE FOR TION NUM
THE ARBORIST POSITION. SHE IS AN
URBAN FOREST PLANNER AND BOARD
CERTIFIED MASTER ARBORIST WITH
IT DECADE OF EXPERIENCE AND A
PASSION FOR TREE EQUITY
INITIATIVES AND WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT . STARTING HER
MUNICIPAL CAREER IN MILWAUKEE,
WISCONSIN AND MOVING TO SEATTLE
IN 2020 HAS GIVEN DRUE A UNIQUE
PERSPECTIVE ON THE WAYS THE
URBAN FOREST CAN BE MANAGED. SHE
HAS A PASSION FOR CONNECTING
PROFESSIONALS AND ADVOCATES
TOGETHER TO WORK ON IMPACTFUL
AND EQUITABLE URBAN FORESTRY
EFFORTS IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY.
DRUE ALSO WORKS ON INCLUSIVE
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS
THROUGH HER POSITION ON THE
PACIFIC NORTHWEST INTERNATIONAL
SOCIETY CHAPTER BOARD AND AS AN
INSTRUCTOR AT SOUTH SEATTLE
COLLEGE. THROUGH ALL OF THESE
ROLES IN THE INDUSTRY HER
OVERARCHING FOCUS IS TO EXPAND
BOTH THE QUANTITY AND
ACCESSIBILITY OF URBAN GREEN
SPACES THROUGHOUT SEATTLE WHILE
DEEPENING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN
THE COMMUNITY AND TREES THAT
MAKE UP THE URBAN FOREST. NEXT
WE HAVE MELANIE OH CASIO HERE
WITH US TODAY. MELANIE IS THE
NOMINEE FOR POSITION NUMBER 11
WHICH IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE REPRESENTATIVE. MELANIE
IS A CONSERVATION BIOLOGIST BY
POT COMMUNITY ADVOCATE AND STEM
EDUCATOR. SHE'S BEEN WORKING TO
CREATE INCLUSIVE SPACES AND
ENVIRONMENTAL STEM FOR THE NEXT
GENERATION OF BIPOC STUDENTS,
RESEARCHERS AND LEARNERS.
MELANIE IS BEGINNING HER CAREER
WITH AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE
INTERSECTION BETWEEN
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND URBAN
FORESTRY. IN HER CURRENT ROLE,
FELONY CONNECTS COMMUNITIES WITH
STEM EDUCATION OFFERINGS AND
EXPANDING CURRICULUM AND
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE LEARNING
AND COMMUNITY PROJECTS. THROUGH
THIS, MELANIE AIMS TO EXPAND
URBAN FORESTRY AND FARMING IN
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES IN
SOUTH SEATTLE. MELANIE HAS
WORKED IN FOREST RESTORATION AND
FLOOD MITIGATION AND FOREST
THINNING WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES
PERFORMING ENVIRONMENTAL
CONSERVATION PROJECTS ON OUR
NATION'S PUBLIC LANDS. FINALLY,
WE HAVE A LIA HALL , EVERY
APPOINTMENT FOR POSITION NUMBER
13 AND LEAH IS OF THE COMMUNITY
NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTATIVE. LIA
HALL WAS BORN AND RAISED IN
SEATTLE AND EXTENDED HOUSEHOLD
OF MIXED ETHNICITY CULTURE OF
MULTIPLE GENERATIONS. AFTER
OBTAINING A GRADUATE DEGREE IN
NEW YORK CITY, LEAH RETURNED TO
THE EMERALD CITY. WE RESIDES IN
REGNIER BEACH WITH HER PARTNER
AND TWO YOUNG CHILDREN. HER
HUSBAND AND BUSINESS PARTNER RUN
A SHOP MOSTLY PRODUCING THE ON
ART AND SIGNAGE FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES AND ARTISTS IN AND
AROUND SEATTLE OR BEYOND. LEAH
HAS A LANDSCAPE DESIGN
CERTIFICATION THROUGH SEATTLE
AND IS PASSIONATE ABOUT RENTING,
PROPAGATING AND SHARING .
THROUGH THESE NETWORKS HER TIME
SPENT AS A YOGA INSTRUCTOR AND
ENGAGE WITH OTHER FAMILY SHE
COMMITTED TO LISTENING TO
VARIOUS PERSPECTIVES THROUGHOUT
.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE
HOPEFUL APPOINTEES HERE. ARE
THERE ANY COMMENTS YOU WOULD
LIKE TO OFFER? OKAY. REALLY.
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY PREPARED
COMMENTS . I APPRECIATE THE
CONSIDERATION. IT'S A VALUABLE
ASSET TO OUR CITY TO HAVE THIS
COMMISSION TO BRING FORWARD
ISSUES AND GUIDE THE COUNCIL ON
TREE POLICY AS IT RELATES TO THE
CITY WHICH IS A REALLY IMPORTANT
INTERSECTION BETWEEN TREES AND
PUBLIC HEALTH AND I AM VERY
PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT. I'M
EXCITED TO BRING MORE TREES AND
MORE HEALTH TO ALL OF OUR
COMMUNITIES .
>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER
COMMENTARY?
>> FOR ME A LOT OF WORK IS
OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE
BUT IT IS WHERE I LIVE SO I'M
EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO BRING THE
CONVERSATION AND EXPERTISE I
HAVE TO SERVE THE CITY I LIVE
IN. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
>> THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO US
AND HEARING ABOUT THE WORK WE
HAVE DONE IN SEATTLE. I'M
FAIRLY NEW BUT I'M REALLY
PASSIONATE ABOUT BIPOC
COMMUNITIES SPECIFICALLY IN
SOUTH SEATTLE AND I WANT TO
EMPHASIZE THE EDUCATION THEY
NEED DONE THERE FOR COMMUNITY
PLANNING . THE NEED TO HAVE
PEOPLE MEET THEM THROUGH
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND VOICES
ALONG THE WAY WHEN IT COMES TO
CITY POLICIES THAT ARE BEING
MADE. THANK YOU.
>> ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
FROM THE COMMITTEE?
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE TODAY. THERE IS AN
ABUNDANCE OF EXPERTISE AMONGST
YOU AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK
YOU'VE DONE IN YOUR CAREERS AND
FOR SIGNING UP TO BE PART OF ONE
OF OUR COMMISSIONS. IT IS
APPRECIATED. I AM APPRECIATIVE
OF ALL HER COMMISSIONERS JUST
GIVEN YOU COULD BE DOING
ANYTHING WITH YOUR TIME THAT
YOU'RE CHOOSING TO SERVE THE
CITY AND PROVIDE EXPERTISE, SO
THANK YOU. MY ONE QUESTION FOR
YOU AND APOLOGIES IF THIS IS
PREMATURE, BUT I'M CURIOUS IF
THERE WAS ONE THING YOU'RE
HOPING TO ACHIEVE ON THE
COMMISSION THIS YEAR I WOULD BE
CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT THAT IS.
>> I WILL START SINCE I STARTED
ALPHABETICALLY. THERE'S TWO
THINGS. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE
COMMISSIONS LIKE THIS HAVE SOME
FORM OF COMPENSATION. THIS
SERVICE IS NEEDED, WE APPRECIATE
YOUR APPRECIATION . I DON'T
PERSONALLY NEED TO BE
COMPENSATED. I WOULD GIVE THAT
BACK TO THE CITY OR COMMUNITIES,
BUT IN ORDER TO CENTER EQUITY WE
NEED TO COMPENSATE PEOPLE FOR
THEIR TIME AND IF WE WANT PEOPLE
ON THE FRONT LINES OF THESE
ISSUES THEY ARE AT LEAST AND VO.
>> YEAH. STRENGTHENING THE
CONNECTION AND CITIES AROUND
SEATTLE AND SEEING HOW TREES AND
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE BLEED INTO
EVERYTHING ELSE WE DO . JUST
FINDING WAYS TO REALLY
STRENGTHEN THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.
>> ONE THING I'M HOPING TO SEE
HIS COMMUNICATION ESPECIALLY
WITH BIPOC REPRESENTATIVES .
I'M HOPING TO SPREAD THE WORD
AND HELP EDUCATE AND EMPOWER
PEOPLE. THIS MAY BE TABOO BUT I
HOPE WE SPREAD LOVE AND IT IS A
REALLY DIVISIVE TIME AND REALLY
IMPORTANT TO MOVE FORWARD IN THE
COMMONALITIES WE HAVE AND MOVE
FORWARD TO PROGRESS COMMUNITIES
THAT REALLY NEED HELP.
>> THANK YOU. THERE'S A LOT OF
ATTACKS ON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
AND DIVESTMENT FROM OUR PUBLIC
PLANS AND CONSERVATION WORK .
I'M GRATEFUL WE HAVE AN URBAN
FORESTRY COMMISSION AND THE CITY
CONTINUES TO PRIORITIZE THE
WORK. LOOKING FORWARD TO
ENGAGING WITH THE COMMISSION IN
THE FUTURE.
>> I WILL DOUBLE THE CURRENT
SALARY.
>> THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK
OUR FOLKS AND COMMUNITY THAT
VOLUNTEERED TO TAKE ON THESE
COMMISSION ROLES. THEY ARE SO
IMPORTANT AND HELP ADVISE THE
CITY ON THESE VERY IMPORTANT
ISSUES AND AS I SAID BEFORE THE
DISTRICT I REPRESENT AND
PARTICULAR DISTRICT FOR IT
REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR
WILLINGNESS FOR THIS VOLUNTEER
BASIS FOR THE VERY IMPORTANT
WORK OF THE COMMISSION DOES.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME OUT OF
YOUR BUSY LIVES TO COME HERE AND
TO TAKE ON THIS ROLE. LOOKING
FORWARD TO HEARING MORE FROM THE
COMMISSION AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> I WANT TO ECHO MY
APPRECIATION FOR YOUR TIME TO
GET BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY IT IS
VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. THE JOKES
ABOUT DOUBLING THE SALARY ASIDE
DEFINITELY HEAR YOU ABOUT SOME
RECOGNITION FOR COMPENSATION FOR
FOLKS. YOU ARE GIVING SO MUCH OF
YOURSELVES AND APPRECIATION IS
ONE THING, BUT FINDING A WAY TO
GIVE EXTRA IS NOT. THANK YOU FOR
THAT. IF NO FURTHER COMMENT OR
QUESTIONS I MOVE THAT THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED
CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENT 3110
33114. IS THERE A SECOND? IT HAS
BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO
RECOMMEND THE CONFIRMATION OF
THE APPOINTMENTS. ARE THERE ANY
FURTHER COMMENTS? WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
RECOMMENDATION TO CONFIRM THE
APPOINTMENTS?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] THERE
ARE THREE VOTES IN FAVOR AND
NONE OPPOSED.
>> ALL RIGHT. MOTION CARRIES AND
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
THAT THE COUNCIL CONFIRM THE
APPOINTMENTS WILL BE SENT TO THE
APRIL 8th, 2025 CITY COUNCIL
MEETING. THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE . VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR
TIME. THANK YOU. OKAY. WE WILL
NOW MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT ITEM.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEMS
SIX AND SEVEN INTO THE RECORD?
>> CLERK FILE 314491,
APPLICATION OF ENCORE ARCHITECTS
PLLC TO RESULT IN APPROXIMATELY
34,654 SQUARE FOOT SITE LOCATED
AT 8601 FREMONT AVENUE NORTH
FROM SINGLE-FAMILY TO LOWER 2
WITH A MANDATORY HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY SUFFIX. ITEM SEVEN
, COUNCIL BILL 120962, AN
ORDINANCE RELATED TO LAND USE
AND ZONING AMENDING CHAPTER
23.32 OF THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL
CODE AT PAGE 26 OF THE OFFICIAL
LAND USE MAP TO REZONE THE
PROPERTY AND 8601 FREMONT AVENUE
NORTH .
>> ALL RIGHT. SO, THANK YOU.
ITEMS SIX AND SEVEN WILL BE
ADDRESSED TOGETHER. THE
COMMITTEE WILL VOTE ON EACH
SEPARATELY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SO, GO AHEAD AND SHARE YOUR
PRESENTATION ONCE YOU ARE READY.
>> YOU GOT A BRIEFING ON THIS
REZONE AT YOUR LAST MEETING.
I'M HAPPY TO SHARE SLIDES, BUT
I THINK COUNCILMEMBER QUESTIONS
WERE ADDRESSED AT THAT TIME. IF
THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS I WILL
WALK THROUGH THE PROCEDURE TO
APPROVE THE REZONE.
>> YES.
>> GREAT. AS A REMINDER IT'S A
35,000 SQUARE FOOT SITE BEING
REZONED FROM NEIGHBORHOOD
RESIDENTIAL TO LOW RISE 2 WITH A
MANDATORY HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
SITE TO FACILITATE DEVELOPMENT
53 LOW INCOME HOUSING UNITS. YOU
HAVE TWO PIECES OF LEGISLATION.
FIRST IS A CLERK FILE. THE CLERK
FILE IS CREATED AT THE BEGINNING
OF THE PROCESS WHEN A REZONE IS
APPLIED FOR AND AT THE END OF
THE PROCESS , COUNCIL AND
FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND
DECISION ABOUT THE REZONE.
GENERALLY THE FINDINGS
CONCLUSION AND DECISION REFLECTS
THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE
SEATTLE EXAMINER AND THE DRAFT
DECISION ATTACHED TO MY MEMO
WHICH WE ARE RECOMMENDING DOES
REFLECT THE RECOMMENDATIONS .
FOR THE CLERK FILE, YOU WOULD
ADD THAT FINDINGS, CONCLUSION
AND DECISION DOCUMENT TO THE
CLERK FILE. FOR THE COUNCIL
BILL, THAT WILL EFFECTUATE THE
REZONE AND THE CHANGES TO THE
MAP TO SHOW THE NEW ZONING AND
FOR THAT ONE , IT'S BASICALLY
RECOMMENDING TO THE FULL COUNCIL
TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE. THERE IS
ONE MINOR TECHNICAL AMENDMENT TO
THAT. IT INADVERTENTLY HAS A
BEAR SIGNATURE LINE ON THE
COUNCIL BILL . CONTRACT
REZONE'S , THE MAYOR DOESN'T
HAVE A ROLE IN IT. I RECOMMEND
TAKING THE MAYOR'S SIGNATURE
LINE OFF THAT BILL. IF THE
COMMITTEE VOTES TO RECOMMEND
APPROVAL OF THE COUNCIL BILL
APPLICANTS WILL SIGN THE
PROPERTY USE AND DEVELOPMENT
AGREEMENT WHICH IS ONE OF THE
ATTACHMENTS AND YOU WILL SWAP
OUT THAT SIGNED FINAL VERSION OF
THE PROPER USE AND DEVELOPMENT
AGREEMENT FOR THE DRAFT BITS
CURRENTLY ATTACHED.
>> ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS? IN TERMS OF SWAPPING
OUT THE MAYOR'S SIGNATURE DOES
THAT NEED TO BE AMENDED?
>> THAT SHOULD BE A VERBAL
AMENDMENT.
>> FIRST WE NEED A BILL AND THEN
THE AMENDMENTS?
>> I THINK THEY ARE IN FRONT OF
YOU.
>> GREAT. SO WE WILL VOTE ON
ITEM SEPARATELY STARTING WITH
THE CLERK FILE . I MOVE THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE CLERK
FILE 314491 BE GRANTED. IS THERE
A SECOND? IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED. TO GRANT THE CLERK
FILE. OKAY. DO WE DO THE NEXT
MOTION AND THEN VOTE? I ALSO
MOVE THE CLERK FILE BE AMENDED
TO ADD THE DECISIONS OF THE
COUNCIL . IS THERE A SECOND FOR
THAT? OKAY. MOVED AND SECONDED.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO AMEND THE CLERK FILE TO ADD
THE CONCLUSION AND DECISION OF
THE COUNCIL. DO YOU HAVE ANY
MORE INFORMATION SHOWN?
>> NO. IT'S STANDARD LANGUAGE
THAT ADOPTS THE HEARING
EXAMINER'S FINDINGS AND
RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS.
>> ANY COMMENTS?
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE , OUR TRUSTEE CENTRAL
STAFFER. I'M CONFIRMING THE
HEARING EXAMINER IS FINE WITH
THIS PROPOSAL . AND
RECOMMENDING. I KNOW THIS WAS A
FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN WE FIRST
TALKED ABOUT THIS AND I KNOW
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE WHO
REPRESENTS THE DISTRICT HAD SOME
QUESTIONS. I KNOW SHE CANNOT BE
WITH US TODAY, BUT I'M
WONDERING DID SHE GET HER
QUESTION ANSWERED ? I WANT TO
MAKE SURE.
>> THERE WERE TWO QUESTIONS. THE
FIRST WAS AROUND TREES ON THE
SITE. THERE IS ONE TREE THAT
WOULD BE REMOVED TO ALLOW FOR
SURFACE PARKING SPACES TO BE
PROVIDED ALONG THE BACKSIDE OF
THE SITE . THE PROJECT WILL
INCLUDE THE PLANTING OF 56 NEW
TREES. ONE TREE IS BEING
REMOVED.
>> WHAT TIER TREE ?
>> IT WAS PERMITTED UNDER
PREVIOUS TREE REGULATIONS AND
IT'S NOT AN EXCEPTIONAL TREAT
UNDER THE REGULATIONS. THE
SECOND QUESTION WAS BASICALLY
WHY ARE THEY MOVING FORWARD NOW
GIVEN THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THE SITE
IS RECOMMENDED TO BE REZONED AS
PART OF THE PROCESS .
APPLICATION WORK STARTED IN 2020
. THEY JUST GOT STCI
RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE IT IN
THE FALL OF 2024 ABOUT WHEN THE
MAYORS RECOMMENDED ZONING
PROPOSAL CAME OUT. THEY DIDN'T
WANT TO STOP THE WORK THEY HAD
GONE SO FAR TO GET THAT
RECOMMENDATION. THEY WANTED TO
MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE THEY KNOW
THIS IS UNLIKELY REZONE. THE
MAYOR RECOMMENDED PLAN CHANGES .
THE TIMELINE WAS UNCERTAIN IN
THE FALL. IT IS STILL UNCERTAIN
ABOUT WHEN THOSE CHANGES WILL GO
FORWARD, SO THEY DID WANT TO
MOVE FORWARD WITH WHAT THEY KNEW
THEY HAD BUT THEY ARE ASKING IF
THE MAYOR RECOMMENDED RESULTS GO
FORWARD THEY BE ABLE TO APPLY
THE HIGHER ZONING L OR THREE
PART OF THAT DRAFT PROPOSAL
PUBLISHED IN THE FALL.
>> THANK YOU. I THINK I HAVE
THIS QUESTION THEN AND I STILL
FEEL LIKE IF THE ZONING MIGHT
CHANGE THEN WHY NOT WAIT UNTIL
THE ZONING CHANGES? IF THEY GET
PERMITTED NOW AND START THE
PROJECT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE
ZONING CHANGES THERE'S STEPS
THEY WOULD MAKE TO TAKE AND
REAPPLY.
>> THERE ARE SOME STEPS, BUT IF
THEY GET APPROVED ON THE REZONE
IN FRONT OF YOU THEY HAVE
CERTAINTY AND CAN MOVE FORWARD .
IT'S NOT AS DIFFICULT TO AMEND
THE DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION IN
THE FUTURE IF THE TIMING WORKS
OUT BUT THEY HAVE CERTAINTY FOR
THIS.
>> IF THEY HAPPEN TO COMPLETE
THE PROJECT BEFORE IT GETS
REZONED THEY WILL KEEP IT AT
THAT? YOU MAC WE HAVE 53
AFFORDABLE UNITS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS? OKAY. ALL RIGHT.
BEFORE WE BEGIN ON THIS, IS THIS
WHERE WE INTRODUCE THE ORAL
AMENDMENT ?
>> WE WILL VOTE TO WHETHER OR
NOT TO ADD THE FINDINGS AND IF
THAT IS APPROVED THEN WE WILL
MOVE TO GRANT AS CONDITIONED.
>> THANK YOU. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
AMENDMENT TO ADD FINDINGS,
CONCLUSIONS AND DECISIONS OF THE
COUNCIL?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] THERE
ARE THREE VOTES IN FAVOR.
>> MOTION CARRIES AND THE
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS AND
DECISIONS OF THE COUNCIL IS
ADDED TO THE CLERK FILE. ARE
THERE ANY FINAL COMMENTS ON THE
RECOMMENDATION TO GRANT THE
CLERK FILE AS CONDITIONED BEFORE
WE VOTE ON IT? OKAY. HEARING
NONE WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL ON THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION TO GRANT THE
CLERK FILE AS CONDITIONED?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] THERE
ARE THREE IN FAVOR AND ZERO
OPPOSED.
>> MOTION CARRIES. COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION THE CLERK FILE BE
GRANTED AS CONDITIONED WILL BE
SENT TO THE APRIL 15th CITY
COUNCIL MEETING. NOW WE DO
NOTHING? OKAY. OKAY. WE WILL NOW
CONSIDER AND VOTE ON ITEM NUMBER
SEVEN. I MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF COUNCIL
BILL 120962 . IS THERE A SECOND?
OKAY. IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED. FOR THE RECOMMENDATION
TO PASS THE BILL, ARE THERE ANY
FINAL COMMENTS?
>> JUST CLARIFICATION, THIS WAS
READ INTO THE RECORD? OKAY.
THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> JUST WANT TO EXPRESS MY
EXCITEMENT FOR THIS PROJECT TO
MOVE FORWARD. WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT BRINGING ONLINE 53 UNITS
OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, 20 WILL
BE FAMILY SIZED. THIS IS THE
KIND OF PROJECT OR COMMUNITY
NEEDS NOW. I WILL VOTE
YESTERDAY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED. HERE'S THE ORAL
AMENDMENT. I MOVE TO AMEND
COUNCIL BILL 120962 TO REMOVE
THE MAYOR SIGNATURE LINES. IS
THERE A SECOND? IT HAS BEEN
MOVED AND SECONDED TO AMEND THE
BILL TO REMOVE THE MAYOR'S
SIGNATURE LINES. PLEASE PROVIDE
AN OVERVIEW OF THE AMENDMENT.
>> THE AMENDMENT JUST REMOVES
THE MAYOR'S REQUIRED SIGNATURE.
HE'S NOT REQUIRED TO SIGN IT.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALL
RIGHT. WITH THAT WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENT TO
REMOVE THE MAYOR SIGNATURE
LINES?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] THREE
VOTES IN FAVOR, ZERO OPPOSED.
>> THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED. ANY
FINAL COMMENTS ON THE BILL AS
AMENDED? ALL RIGHT. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE RECOMMENDATION TO PASS
COUNCIL BILL 120962 AS AMENDED?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] THERE
ARE THREE VOTES IN FAVOR AND
ZERO OPPOSED.
>> THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
THE BILL PASSED AS AMENDMENT
WILL BE SENT TO THE APRIL 15th
CITY COUNCIL MEETING. WE WILL
MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT ITEMS. THANK
YOU. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ
ITEMS EIGHT AND NINE INTO THE
RECORD?
>> CLERK FILE 314511 APPLICATION
OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
TO PREPARE A NEW MAJOR
INSTITUTION MASTER PLAN FOR THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON MEDICAL
CENTER NORTHWEST CAMPUS LOCATED
AT 1550 NORTH 115th STREET .
ITEM NINE, COUNCIL BILL 120963,
AND ORDINANCE RELATING TO LAND
USE AND ZONING ADOPTING A NEW
MAJOR INSTITUTION MASTER PLAN
FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
MEDICAL CENTER NORTHWEST
HOSPITAL.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BOTH
WILL BE ADDRESSED AT ONE TIME
AND THE COMMITTEE WILL VOTE ON
EACH ITEM SEPARATELY. I SEE OUR
PRESENTER HAS JOINED US. COULD
YOU PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF
FOR THE RECORD AND BEGIN WHEN
YOU'RE READY.
>> I WILL SAY A FEW THINGS TO
REFRESH THE COMMITTEE'S MEMORY
ABOUT THE CLERK FILE AND COUNCIL
BILL HERE . THE COMMITTEE WAS
BRIEFED ON THE MAJOR INSTITUTION
MASTER PLAN FOR THE UNIVERSITY
OF WASHINGTON MEDICAL CENTER
NORTHWEST HOSPITAL. IT'S KIND
OF AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF
THE NORTHGATE URBAN CENTER .
JUST GENERAL BACKGROUND HERE ,
MOST LARGE HOSPITALS AND
INSTITUTIONS ARE SUBJECT TO
REGULATIONS AS MAJOR
INSTITUTIONS. THE SUBJECT ZONING
FOR STANDARDS WILL BE OVER
ALLOWED UNDER THE UNDERLYING
ZONING. THERE ARE COMPONENTS OF
A MAJOR INSTITUTION MASTER PLAN
AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AND
TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT
TRANSLATES TO A SINGLE OCCUPANCY
VEHICLE GOAL. WITH PARTICIPATION
AND REVIEW BY DEVELOPMENT
ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT IS
ESSENTIALLY A CITIZENS COMMITTEE
THAT HELPS FORM THE PROCESS FOR
EACH INSTITUTION. THIS
DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
WAS CONVENED -- FORMED BY
RESOLUTION IN 2023 AND 16 PUBLIC
MEETINGS AND FINAL
RECOMMENDATION AND REPORT IN
JULY OF 2024 AS A FINAL
RECOMMENDATION TO REPORT . IN
SEPTEMBER STCI PUBLISHED A
RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE
MASTER PLAN . THE EXAMINER HELD
UP OPEN PUBLIC HEARING AND
RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF THE
INSTITUTION MASTER PLAN WITH
SOME CONDITIONS YESTERDAY BUT
THEY COME FROM THREE DIFFERENT
AUTHORITIES. ANOTHER IS A 30 FOR
REZONE. THEN THERE IS SPECIFIC
CONDITIONS IMPOSED FOR THE
CITY'S AUTHORITY. TODAY, A
SIMILAR PROCESS FOR THE ONE YOU
WENT THROUGH . THE COMMITTEE HAS
PROPOSED CONCLUSIONS AND
DECISIONS THAT RESIDE IN THE
CLERK FILE SO THE CLERK FILE
CONTAINS THE RECORD COMPILED BY
THE HEARING EXAMINER AND PUBLIC
HEARING INCLUDES THE APPLICATION
FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON AND ALSO WOULD
CONTAIN A DOCUMENT ATTACHED TO
THE AGENDA PROPOSED THE DECISION
AND FINDINGS CONCLUSION ADOPTS
THE HEARING EXAMINER'S FINDINGS
AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
CONDITIONALLY APPROVES THE
PROPOSED MAJOR INSTITUTION
MASTER PLAN AND IMPOSES
CONDITIONS RECOMMENDED BY THE
HEARING EXAMINER. ACTION TODAY
WOULD BE TO ADD THAT TO THE
CLERK'S FILE AND MOVED TO
APPROVE THE APPLICATION. IN
ADDITION THERE IS AN ORDINANCE.
THERE HAS TO BE AN ACTION TO
EFFECTUATE IT. COUNCIL BILL
120963 WOULD DO THAT. IT WOULD
FILE THE CLERK'S FILE AND
REQUEST THE MASTER PLAN BE UP
DATED TO REFLECT THE CONDITIONS
THAT ARE RECOMMENDED BY THE
EXAMINER AND COULD BE IMPOSED BY
THE COUNCIL AND WOULD ALSO AMEND
THE ZONING MAP TO CHANGE THE
HEIGHTS OF THE MAJOR INSTITUTION
OVERLAY TO REFLECT WHAT IS IN
THE MASTER PLAN AND ALSO CHANGE
THE BOUNDARIES . THOSE DON'T
EXPAND BEYOND THE EDGES OF WHERE
THEY ARE NOW. THEY ARE JUST
CHANGED INTERNALLY. UNLESS YOU
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS .
>> FOR THE RECORD I WANT TO
REFLECT COUNCILMEMBER MOORE HAS
JOINED US . SO, ANY QUESTIONS ?
ALL RIGHT. I MOVE THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS THAT CLERK FILE
314511 BE GRANTED. IS THERE A
SECOND? OKAY. MOVED AND SECONDED
TO GRANT THE CLERK FILE. OKAY.
ALSO MOVE THE CLERK FILE BE
AMENDED TO INCLUDE THE FINDINGS,
CONCLUSIONS AND DECISIONS OF THE
COUNCIL . IS THERE A SECOND? ALL
RIGHT. OKAY. IT IS MOVED AND
SECONDED THE CLERK FILE BE ADDED
TO THE FINDINGS OF COUNCIL . DO
YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION TO SHARE ABOUT THIS?
>> I DO NOT.
>> ALL RIGHT. ARE THERE ANY
COMMENTS FROM MEMBERS?
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. SORRY FOR
BEING LATE. I JUST HAD A QUICK
QUESTION OR COMMENT WHICH IS I
DID ASK WHEN THIS FIRST CAME
BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ABOUT THE
PLAN FOR THE TREES BECAUSE THERE
ARE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF
TREES AROUND THE HOSPITAL AREA
AND I WASN'T ABLE TO HEAR BACK
YESTERDAY THAT THE HEARING
EXAMINER HAD ADDRESSED THAT TO
SOME EXTENT. I THINK THE
LANGUAGE THAT'S BEEN INCLUDED
IS A VERY BROAD. APOLOGIES I
HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO
BRING FORWARD AN AMENDMENT BUT I
WANTED TO FLAG I WILL BRING
FORTH AN AMENDMENT AT FULL
COUNCIL TO PROVIDE FOR A LITTLE
BIT MORE SPECIFICITY AROUND
BEING SURE TO PROTECT THE TREES
TO THE GREATEST EXTENT POSSIBLE.
>> ALL RIGHT. OKAY. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE AMENDMENT TO ADD THE
FINDINGS CONCLUSIONS AND
DECISIONS OF THE COUNCIL ?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] THERE
ARE FOUR IN FAVOR AND ZERO
OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND TO THE
DECISIONS OF COUNCIL IS ADDED TO
THE CLERK FILE. ARE THERE ANY
FINAL COMMENTS ON THE
RECOMMENDATIONS TO GRANT THE
CLERK FILE AS CONDITION BEFORE
WE VOTE? ALL RIGHT SEE NONE WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION TO
GRANT THE CLERK FILE AS
CONDITION?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] FOREIGN
FAVOR AND ZERO OPPOSED.
>> COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
CLERK FILE BE GRANTED AS
CONDITION WILL BE SENT TO THE
CITY COUNCIL ON APRIL 8th. ALL
RIGHT. WE WILL NOW CONSIDER AND
VOTE ON ITEM NUMBER NINE. I MOVE
THAT THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS
PASSAGE OF COUNCIL BILL 120963 .
IS THERE A SECOND? MOVED AND
SECONDED. ANY FINAL COMMENTS?
ALL RIGHT . HEARING NONE. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] FOUR IN
FAVOR, ZERO OPPOSED.
>> MOTION CARRIES THAT THE BILL
PASS WILL BE SENT TO THE APRIL
8th CITY COUNCIL MEETING. WE
WILL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT
ITEM. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ
ITEM 10 INTO THE AGENDA?
>> COUNCIL BILL 120949 AND
ORDINANCE RELATING TO LAND USE
AND ZONING EXPANDING HOUSING
OPTIONS BY USING CARRIERS TO THE
CONSTRUCTION AND USE OF
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AS
REQUIRED BY STATE LEGISLATION.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU TO OUR
PRESENTERS. PLEASE INTRODUCE
YOURSELVES FOR THE RECORD AND
BEGIN WHEN YOU ARE READY.
>> COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF.
>> STCI. I WILL LET YOU. YEAH.
>> WE WILL GIVE A PRESENTATION
AND HAVE A FEW COMMENTS.
>> I'M HERE TO PRESENT THE
COMPLIANCE BILL FOR HOUSE BILL
1337 WHICH YOU CAN SEE FROM YOUR
MATERIALS . I WILL TRY TO BE
BRIEF AND PRESERVE TIME FOR
QUESTIONS BECAUSE I'M SURE YOU
WILL HAVE SOME.
THERE WE GO. I WILL INTRODUCE
WITH PURPOSE TO HELP PEOPLE
BUILD MORE INCLUSIVE SEATTLE .
HER EQUITY RESPECT QUALITY AND
SERVICE . WE WANT TO REMEMBER
THAT. THE PURPOSE OF THIS
LEGISLATION IS TO ADDRESS HOUSE
BILL 1337 WHICH BASIC INTENT WAS
TO REGULARIZE STANDARDS FOR USE
ACROSS ALL ZONES WHERE YOU CAN
HAVE A RESIDENTIAL USE.
SECONDARY DWELLING UNITS , THERE
ARE TWO TYPES . A DU WHICH YOU
USUALLY HEAR THE TERM. MOST OF
THESE ARE LOCATED IN THE
RESIDENTIAL ZONES FORMALLY
CALLED SINGLE-FAMILY OR LOW RISE
AND OVERTIME WE HAVE RECOGNIZED
BOTH STATEWIDE AND LOCALLY THEY
OFFER OPPORTUNITIES FOR
MULTIGENERATIONAL LIVING ,
FIRST-TIME OWNERSHIP AND PROVIDE
FLEXIBILITY FOR DIFFERENT TYPES
OF HOUSING. THE BILL THAT CAME
DOWN FROM THE STATE REQUIRES
COMPLIANCE BY JUNE 30th 2025. IT
STANDARDIZES REGULARIZE
PROVISIONS ACROSS ALL ZONES AND
ITS IMPACT IS ANTICIPATED FAIRLY
MODEST . THERE IS AN IMPORTANT
RELATIONSHIP TO TALK ABOUT WITH
ANOTHER BILL YOU'VE BEEN
BRIEFED ON AND HAVE HEARD A FAIR
GOOD ABOUT WHICH IS THE MIDDLE
HOUSING BILL. MIDDLE HOUSING
PROVIDED OR REQUIRED ADDITIONAL
DENSITY IN RESIDENTIAL ZONES .
BOTH OF THESE WERE PASSED IN
2023 INTENDING CITIES PROVIDE
WIDER VARIETY OF HOUSING TYPES .
THE LEGISLATURE WAS CLEAR WHEN
THEY PASS TO THESE BILLS THAT
BOTH OPTIONS WERE INTENDED TO
BOLSTER MIDDLE HOUSING WHAT WE
THINK ARE THINGS FROM
SINGLE-FAMILY TO STACKED FLATS .
THIS LEGISLATION BUILDS ON AND
CONSOLIDATES JUST THE CITY A DU
CODE . BOTH ARE NECESSARY IN
ORDER TO MEET THE DEADLINES.
THIS TABLE IS INTENDED TO SHOW
IN THE COLUMN FOR THIS TO THE
LEFT FOR ALL PROVISIONS OF 1337
THAT NEED TO BE INCLUDED AND THE
TWO ADDITIONAL COLUMNS SHOWING
GREEN AND RED ARE AREAS WHERE WE
ARE ALREADY COMPLIANT WITH MANY
PROVISIONS OF 1337 AND POINT OUT
SOME PLACES WHERE WE NEED TO
MAKE AMENDMENTS AND GIVE YOU A
SENSE OF THE SCOPE OF HOW HEAVY
THE TOUCH IS TO THE UNDERLYING
CODE WE ARE PUTTING FORWARD .
CURRENTLY, THERE IS AN IMPORTANT
PROVISION IN THE ZONES ALLOW FOR
THE CONVERSION OF NONCONFORMING
STRUCTURES. THIS IS SOMETHING WE
HAVE SEEN A FEW PROJECTS FOR SAY
YOU HAVE AN EXISTING GARAGE OR A
YARD BEHIND YOUR HOUSE . THE
EXISTING FRAMEWORK LETS YOU
CONVERT THOSE AND HAS FAIRLY
GENEROUS PROVISIONS FOR ALLOWING
SOME ADDITIONAL NONCONFORMITIES.
WE DIDN'T HAVE A PROVISION LIKE
THIS IN OTHER ZONES AND OTHER
PLACES . WE NEEDED TO PROVIDE
THAT CONVERSION . THE ALIGNMENT
BETWEEN WHAT IS ALLOWED IS BEING
BROUGHT TO THE OTHER ZONE WHICH
IS A REQUIREMENT . ANOTHER KEY
COMPONENT IS THE GROSS FLOOR
AREA ALLOWED . RIGHT NOW THE
ZONES ALLOW WHAT THE STATE IS
REQUIRING WHICH IS 1000 SQUARE
FEET BUT THE LR ZONES ONLY ALLOW
650. WE HAVE SEEN NOT AS MANY
PROJECTS , MAY BE PARTLY RELATED
TO THAT IN ORDER FOR US TO BE
COMPLIANT WE NEED TO NORMALIZE
THAT. THERE IS ANOTHER ASPECT
WHICH HAS TO DO WITH STREET
IMPROVEMENT REQUIREMENTS. AS
STOTT GENERALLY REQUIRES FEWER
STREET IMPROVEMENTS FOR PROJECTS
WITH UNDER 10 UNITS, THAT IS A
GENERAL FRAMEWORK. ADU IS NOT
COUNTED . WHAT IS NEEDED TO
COMPLY WITH 1337 AS A
CLARIFICATION AND THIS DOESN'T
CHANGE ANY OF THE REQUIREMENTS
THAT MIGHT BE IMPOSED WHEN THERE
IS DAMAGE IN THE STREET DUE TO
CONSTRUCTION. WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT PUTTING A NEW
INFRASTRUCTURE AS OPPOSED TO
RESTORING EXISTING CONDITIONS.
PROBABLY THE BIGGEST MOVING
PIECE OF LEGISLATION IS TO ALLOW
TWO ADU PER LOT. CURRENTLY THE
NR ZONE ALLOWS A SECOND ADU ONLY
CERTAIN CONDITIONS UNDER ONLY
SPECIFIC CURRENT CONDITIONS .
THE ZONES DO NOT ALLOW THAT . IN
ORDER TO FULLY COMPLY WE NEED TO
PROVIDE THE SAME REGULATORY
FRAMEWORK FOR OTHER ZONES SUCH
THAT THEY ARE ALLOWED OUT RIGHT.
A KEY PART OF THIS AND ACHIEVING
DENSITY I THINK IN VISIONS IS TO
ALLOW ADU IN DIFFERENT
CONFIGURATIONS. WE ALLOW A
SINGLE DETACHED UNIT IN THE REAR
YARD. THIS WOULD ALLOW YOU TO
HAVE 2 OR COMBINED IF YOU WANT
TO THINK OF IT AS A DUPLEX IN
THE REAR YARD BEHIND A
SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE OWNED A
FAIRLY TYPICAL PATTERN BUT
THERE'S OTHERS ALLOWED. THE
CODE PROVISIONS PUT FORWARD
WOULD PROVIDE FULL COMPLIANCE TO
THE SET OF REGULATIONS APPLYING
TO ALL ZONES RESIDENTIAL IS
ALLOWED. HEIGHT LIMITS IS
ANOTHER KEY COMPONENT. CURRENTLY
OUR CODE LIMITS IN THE ZONE ARE
14 TO 18 SO YOU TYPICALLY HAVE A
TWO-STORY HOME WHEREAS YOU COULD
HAVE 30 FEET FOR A SINGLE-FAMILY
HOME. LR IS SLIGHTLY MORE
GENEROUS IN TERMS THAT GET 20
FEET WHERE IS THE PRINCIPAL UNIT
OR SINGLE-FAMILY COULD GO 30 TO
50 DEPENDING ON THE ZONE IN
ORDER TO COMPLY WITH 1337 WE
NEED TO CREATE A HEIGHT
LIMITATION WHICH IS THE SAME FOR
IN ADU OR SINGLE-FAMILY
RESIDENCE. WHATEVER THE ZONE
ALLOWS NOW YOU WILL SEE IN
LEGISLATION THE SAME HEIGHT
WHICH IN SOME ZONES SUCH AS LOW
RISE THAT COULD BE UP TO 40 FEET
. CURRENTLY WE HAVE DESIGN
STANDARDS AND DEVELOPMENT
STANDARDS THAT APPLY DIFFERENTLY
IN DIFFERENT ZONES AND WE HAVE
DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS THAT
REALLY FOCUS ON SET BACKS,
HEIGHT, THOSE THINGS WITH VERY
LIMITED DESIGN STANDARDS SUCH AS
WHERE THE FRONT DOOR CAN BE.
WHAT'S NEEDED IS TO UPDATE THE
CODE TO BRING THESE AND IMAMS ,
ENTRY DOOR REQUIREMENTS, THINGS
THAT ARE A COMBINATION OF DESIGN
STANDARD AND DEVELOPMENT
STANDARDS INTO LINE WITH
CONSISTENT ZONES . CERTAINLY
OPEN FOR QUESTIONS.
>> ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR
THE PRESENTERS? OKAY.
>> THANK YOU. I HAD A QUESTION
ABOUT THE LIMIT. WILL THERE BE
FA OUR LIMIT?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I
KNOW THERE IS SOMETHING IN HIS
MATERIALS THAT MAY TOUCH ON THAT
AS WELL. I CAN DO A FOLLOW-UP.
OUR CURRENT CODE DOES NOT HAVE A
FAR LIMIT . THEY ARE EXEMPT .
HOUSE BILL 1110 AS I UNDERSTAND
THE PERSPECTIVE COMPLIANCE
LEGISLATION AND WHAT IS PUT
FORWARD IS A DIFFERENT FRAMEWORK
AND OUR CURRENT APPROACH IS
INTENDED TO DO THE LEAST AMOUNT
OF CHANGE TO THE UNDERLYING CODE
WHERE WE ANTICIPATE THERE WOULD
HAVE TO BE BASED ON THE STRATEGY
OF 1110, A DIFFERENT SET OF
REGULATIONS THAT ADDRESS AND
THAT LEGISLATION , BUT THE
NOTION SO FAR HAS BEEN TO KEEP
1337 COMPLIANCE AS ITS OWN BILL
THAT ADDRESSES JUST THE
UNDERLYING CODE AND DOESN'T
MAKE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES THAT
AREN'T ALREADY CALLED FOR IN
THE STATUTE.
>> INSTEAD OF USING FAR TO
REGULATE THE SIZE THERE IS A
MAXIMUM SIZE LIMIT. IT IS 1000
SQUARE FEET YOU CAN HAVE A
SQUARE FOOT UNIT ON TOP OF THE
RATIO THAT APPLIES TO THE
PRINCIPAL BUILDING.
>> IF I CAN CLARIFY I WANT TO BE
CLEAR WE ARE NOT REDUCING THE
FLOOR AREA RATIO AVAILABLE UNDER
HB 1110 ?
>> THE INTERIM LEGISLATION
RELATED TO HB 1110 I DON'T
THINK WILL REDUCE THE FLOOR AREA
FOR FAR . I AM WORKING THROUGH
THAT NOW AND WILL HAVE MORE
MATERIAL FOR THE NEXT COMMITTEE
TO TALK THROUGH HOW EXACTLY THAT
WORKS BECAUSE IT GETS
COMPLICATED. THIS IS AN AREA
WHERE THE TWO BILLS WILL NEED TO
BE RECONCILED. THEY ARE NOT
COMPLETELY ALIGNED IN TERMS OF
HOW FLOW AREA LIMITS ARE APPLIED
TO PROJECTS WITH ADU.
>> THANK YOU. I LOOK FORWARD TO
THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU BOTH FOR
BEING HERE TODAY. IS THERE A CAP
ON ADU AND LR ZONES ? WHY?
>> UNDER CURRENT OR PROPOSED?
UNDER THE PROPOSED IT IS THE
SAME SIZE LIMITATION ACROSS ALL
ZONES. THAT IS ONE MANDATE AND
IN THE PAST WE HAVE 1000
SQUARE-FOOT LIMIT WHICH IS WHAT
HER TEAM 37 CALLS FOR. WE HAD A
650 SQUARE FOOT LIMITATION AND
MIDRISE AND HIGH-RISE THE CODE
WAS SILENT . I DON'T THINK
ANYONE HAD CONTEMPLATED THAT
WHEN DRAFTING BACK WHEN THAT
ORIGINALLY HAPPENED. I ONLY KNOW
OF ONE CASE THAT HAPPENED WE HAD
SOMEBODY PROPOSE IT. WE WENT TO
THE DEFAULT OF 1000 SQUARE FEET
BECAUSE IT WAS CLEAR THAT WAS
WHAT WAS ESSENTIALLY ALLOWED IN
SINGLE-FAMILY ZONING AT THE TIME
HAPPENED AND UNDER THESE
REGULATIONS ALL WOULD BE GIVEN
THE SAME STANDING IN TERMS OF
THEIR MAXIMUM SIZE LIMITATION .
>> THERE'S ANOTHER MEASURE
WHICH IS ALLOWED ON A LOT UNDER
THE CURRENT ZONING IT'S TWO FOR
THE NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTIAL
LOTS, ONE PER PRINCIPAL UNIT FOR
RESIDENTIAL SMALL POT AND
MULTIFAMILY ZONES . UNDER THE
PROPOSED BILL IT IS TO PEARL FOR
ALL ZONES WHICH MAY RESULT IN A
REDUCTION NUMBER OF ADU. IT
COULD BE BUILT ON RSL OR LOW
RISE LOT .
>> THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING. I
MAY ADD A COMMENT TO THIS
LEGISLATION SIMPLY BRINGING US
INTO COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW
ON ADU AND THANKS TO THE FORWARD
INKING PRO ADU POLICIES ENACTED
WE HAVE ALREADY DONE MOST OF THE
JOB ON THIS AND SHOULD CONTINUE
TO PUSH FORWARD LEGISLATION THAT
ALLOWS FOR MORE INNOVATIVE AND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS SUCH
AS ADU ALLOWING FOR MORE AS A
COST-EFFECTIVE WAY TO PROMOTE
AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES WHETHER FOR
FIRST-TIME HOME BUYERS OR TO
SUPPORT MULTIGENERATIONAL LIVING
WE CAN AND SHOULD DO MORE TO
PROMOTE THEIR DEVELOPMENT SO I
WILL VOTE YES ON THIS AND
CONTINUE TO LOOK FORWARD TO THE
WORK WE DO AS A CITY TO BUILD
MORE FOR WORKING-CLASS
SEATTLEITES.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
>> I HAVE A COUPLE OTHER
COMMENTS FOR THE COMMITTEE TO
CONSIDER. THERE WILL NEED TO BE
SOME RECONCILIATION BETWEEN THIS
BILL AND THE INTERIM HOUSE BILL
1110 LEGISLATION. ONCE YOU ADOPT
THIS BILL YOU WILL NEED TO MAKE
SOME CHANGES TO THE OTHER BILL
TO REFLECT THE DECISIONS YOU
MAKE ON THIS. I WOULD RECOMMEND
YOU MOVE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF
THIS BILL TO PROVIDE ENOUGH TIME
TO ACTUALLY MAKE SURE THE
POSSIBLE DATE THAT THE CITY CAN
ACT ON THIS BILL AND GIVE STCI A
COUPLE MORE WEEKS TO TRAIN THEIR
STAFF AND GET READY TO IMPLEMENT
THE BILL.
>> DULY NOTED.
>> JUST WANT TO SAY ALSO THE
CONFLICT BETWEEN IS APPARENT AND
SO FIXING THAT I'M STILL TRYING
TO WRAP MY BRAIN AROUND FLOOR
AREA RATIO AND LOT SIZE AND LOT
AREA COVERAGE AND THE FOOTPRINT
-- YEAH. MORE TO BE DETERMINED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> WELCOME TO THE WONDERFUL
CRAZY WORLD OF LAND-USE.
>> I HAVE A GUY WHO LOVES
LAND-USE.
>> AGAIN, WE ARE NOT TAKING A
VOTE ON THIS. APPRECIATE THE
DISCUSSION AND PRESENTATION.
LOOKING FORWARD TO MOVING
FORWARD ON THIS . GETTING IT
ACROSS THE FINISH LINE. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. ITEM 11 .
WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO THE NEXT
ITEM OF BUSINESS. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ THE ITEM INTO THE
RECORD?
>> COUNCIL BILL 120771. AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO LAND USE
AND ZONING ADOPTING INTERIM
PROVISIONS TO FACILITATE
OCCUPANCY OF STREET-LEVEL SPACES
IN THE DOWNTOWN, SOUTH LAKE
UNION AND UPTOWN URBAN CENTERS.
>> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE OUR
PRESENTERS JOINING US. PLEASE
INTRODUCE YOURSELVES FOR THE
RECORD AND BEGIN WHEN READY.
>> KETIL FREEMAN, COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF.
>> CORDON CLOWER'S, STCI.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NOT SURE HOW MUCH OF THIS YOU
NEED. THE COMMITTEE HAS HAD A
PUBLIC MEETING ON THIS. PRIOR TO
THAT AND A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WE
REFRESH YOUR MEMORY ABOUT THE
CONTENT OF THE BILL , JUST AT A
VERY HIGH LEVEL 120771 WOULD ON
AN INTERIM BASIS FOR THREE YEARS
AFTER THE EFFECTIVE RATE OF THE
BILL ALLOW ADDITIONAL USES TO
QUALIFY AS STREET-LEVEL USES IN
PARTS OF DOWNTOWN, SOUTH LAKE
UNION AND UPTOWN. THREE
CONTIGUOUS URBAN CENTERS .
MODIFY OTHERWISE APPLICABLE
STANDARDS INCLUDING DENSITY
LIMITS TO ENCOURAGE BUSINESSES
TO LOCATE UNOCCUPIED
STREET-LEVEL AND SECOND-FLOOR
COMMERCIAL SPACES . IT IS A
TEMPORARY PROVISION IN EFFECT
FOR THREE YEARS AND COUNCIL
ACTION TO EXTEND IT WOULD LAPSE
AFTER THREE YEARS. THERE'S A
COUPLE OF AMENDMENTS HERE. ONE
PROPOSED BY COUNCILMEMBER
SOLOMON AND ANOTHER BY
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. WE CAN GO
INTO THOSE OR IF YOU WANT MORE
DISCUSSION WE ARE HAPPY TO
ANSWER QUESTIONS.
>> WHY DON'T WE TAKE UP THE
DISCUSSION OF AMENDMENT?
>> OKAY.
>> AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE. THIS IS
A HANDSOME PRESENTATION OF IT.
AMENDMENT ONE WOULD LIMIT --
EXTEND THE AUTHORITY FOR USES
FOR THE LENGTH OF WESTLAKE
BETWEEN MERCER AND DANNY AS
PROPOSED . THE INTERIM USE
EXTENSIONS ONLY WOULD'VE APPLIED
TO THE SO-CALLED MERCER BLOCKS .
THE AREA ON MERCER STREET AND ON
VALLEY STREET . THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENT WOULD EXTEND THE
AUTHORIZATION FOR INTERIM USES
TO THE LENGTH OF WESTLAKE NOT
INCLUDED.
>> OKAY. AMENDMENT TO PROPOSED
BY COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA IS A
REPORTING REQUIREMENT. IT WAS
DISTRIBUTED EARLIER TODAY .
THERE ARE COPIES IN THE
NOTEBOOK. THIS AMENDMENT WOULD
REQUIRE SEMIANNUAL REPORTING ,
THE NUMBER LOCATION AND TYPES OF
USES PERMITTED FOR THOSE MEMBERS
OF THE PUBLIC WHO MAY BE
WATCHING WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS
I WILL READ IT TO YOU. WHEN READ
AS FOLLOWS, THE COUNCIL REQUESTS
THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTION
PROVIDE A WRITTEN REPORT BY
DECEMBER 31st AND JUNE 30th OF
EVERY YEAR THE ORDINANCES IN
EFFECT ON THE NUMBER, LOCATION
AND TYPES OF USES PERMITTED FOR
EACH USE ALSO IDENTIFY THE AREA
IN INTERIM STREET-LEVEL USE AND
WHETHER PROVISIONS OF THIS
ORDINANCE WOULD BE CHARGEABLE.
FIRST REQUESTED BY THIS SECTION
SHOULD BE PROVIDED BY DECEMBER
31st, 2025. THE STREET-LEVEL USE
REQUIREMENTS IF BASED ON THE
REPORTING OVER CONCENTRATIONS
PERMITTED AND LEVEL USES WOULD
PRECLUDE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS SERVING USES.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY
COMMITTEE MEMBERS HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS? WE WILL ADDRESS THE
AMENDMENTS AS WE GO ALONG. OKAY.
HEARING NONE, I MOVE THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF
COUNCIL BILL 120771 . IS THERE A
SECOND? IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED. TO RECOMMEND THE
PASSAGE, THERE ANY FURTHER
COMMENTS? OKAY. GIVEN THAT I
MOVE TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL 12
0771 AS PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT
ONE ON THE AGENDA. IS THERE A
SECOND WESTERN MARK ALL RIGHT.
MOVED AND SECONDED TO AMEND THE
BILL AS PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT
ONE. WILL THE COUNCIL -- SORRY,
PLEASE PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW --
YOU ALREADY DID. ANY COMMENTS ON
AMENDMENT ONE? I WILL JUST SAY
LOOKING AT THAT STRETCH OF REAL
ESTATE WITH A LOT OF FUNDS JUST
MAKES SENSE TO EXTEND THE AREA
BY WHICH THIS EXEMPTION COULD
APPLY . OKAY. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT ONE?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] THERE
ARE FOUR VOTES IN FAVOR AND ZERO
OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES. AMENDMENT
ONE IS ADOPTED. WE NOW HAVE THE
AMENDMENT BY COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. I MOVE TO AMEND COUNCIL
BILL 120771 AS PRESENTED . THE
RECENTLY DISTRIBUTED AMENDMENT,
IS THERE A SECOND? OKAY. ALL
RIGHT. MOVED AND SECONDED TO
AMEND THE BILL. YOU'VE ARTIE
PROVIDED SOME BACKGROUND AND
INFORMATION ON THIS.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA IS THE
SPONSOR. WOULD YOU LIKE TO
ADDRESS THIS?
>> I WANT TO SAY COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE, YOU CAN SAY BUT YOU HAVE
AGREED TO SPONSOR THIS AMENDMENT
SO I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THAT
YOU HAD TOLD ME THIS EARLIER
TODAY AND WE DIDN'T GET IT IN
TIME TO GET YOUR NAME ON HERE,
BUT WE WILL POST FACT OH, THANK
YOU FOR THAT. THIS AMENDMENT IS
COMING OUT OF SOME QUESTIONS
THAT COUNCILMEMBER MOORE AND I
BOTH HAD AT THE LAST TIME THIS
WAS PRESENTED. REALLY, AS YOU
KNOW , VERY MUCH WHEN WE TAKE
ACTION I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE
HAVE A WAY TO HAVE
ACCOUNTABILITY ON THE ACTIONS WE
ARE TAKING. WITH THIS PARTICULAR
LIMITED THREE-YEAR USE OF THE
SPACE IN THIS WAY, THIS
EXTENDING USE BEYOND THE
ORIGINAL ALLOWANCE WE REALLY
WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE
WHETHER THIS THREE-YEAR PROGRAM
IS WORKING . ARE WE GETTING MORE
STREET-LEVEL USES OF THESE
EXTENDED TYPE'S AND THEN IS
THERE SOME FLOOR AREA ISSUE THAT
WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN MORE MHA
FUNDING TO PAY FOR MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING? WE NEED ALL
THIS INFORMATION BY WHICH TO
MAKE DECISIONS IN THE FUTURE. I
KNOW THIS SUNSETS AFTER THREE
YEARS AND AT THAT TIME WE
SHOULD, BETWEEN NOW AND THAT
TIME, HAVING THIS YEARLY
REPORTING AND TWICE A YEAR
REPORTING HELP US TWEAK IF WE
NEED THIS PARTICULAR PROPOSAL
AND WE NEED THIS INFORMATION IN
ORDER TO KNOW WHETHER WE SHOULD
MAKE TWO WEEKS. AT THE END OF
THE THREE-YEAR PERIOD, IF IT'S
CONTEMPLATED TO CONTINUE A
PROGRAM OF THIS NATURE WE NEED
THE INFORMATION TO MAKE SURE HOW
WE WOULD PROPOSE TO DO THAT .
EQUALLY, IMPORTANTLY, IS MAKING
SURE WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION TO
MAKE DECISIONS IN THE FUTURE. I
WILL SAY CENTRAL STAFF AND I
DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF ALLOWING
THE USES YOU HAVE THIS QUESTION
AS WELL WHETHER WE WOULD ALLOW
WET LABS CONVERSATIONS WITH
CENTRAL STAFF IN THESE
PARTICULAR AREAS OF THE CITY
WHERE WE ARE ALLOWING THIS , R&D
IS ALREADY HAPPENING AND IT CAN
HAPPEN AT THE STREET LEVEL. THIS
BILL ALLOWS WHAT WOULD ALREADY
BE HAPPENING ON A PERMANENT
BASIS IN THOSE AREAS. IF THIS
WERE MORE EXPENSIVE BEYOND THOSE
AREAS I THINK I WOULD HAVE
WANTED TO EXPLORE AND AMENDMENT
THAT WOULD HAVE PUT SOME
PARAMETERS ARE ROUND THE WET
LABS FOR RISK MITIGATION AND
THINGS OF THAT PURPOSE, BUT
GIVEN THIS IS ALREADY ALLOWABLE
IN THESE PARTICULAR AREAS I DID
NOT THINK THEN THAT IT WAS
NECESSARY TO HAVE THAT
AMENDMENT. I DID WANT TO SAY FOR
THE RECORD BECAUSE I WANT THE
PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT BOTH
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE .SHE WILL
SPEAK NEXT, BUT WE BOTH HAD
CONCERNS ABOUT RISK MITIGATION
JUST TO SAY WE REALLY ARE
CONCERNED WE ARE PROTECTING OUR
RESIDENTS WHILE ALLOWING THIS
NEEDED ACTIVATION OF SPACE THAT
IS NOT CURRENTLY BEING ACTIVATED
BY ITS ORIGINAL USE THAT WAS
RETAIL AND RESTAURANTS, BUT
THERE ISN'T THE FOOT TRAFFIC TO
SUPPORT ALL THAT. IN THE
MEANTIME, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
WE ARE ACTIVATING THE SPACE FOR
MANY REASONS . THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> THANK YOU. I WANTED TO SAY I
WOULD LIKE TO BE LISTED AS
COSPONSOR AND I WANTED TO EXTEND
MY GRATITUDE WHO ARE HOLLOWING
THROUGH WITH RINGING FORTH THIS
AMENDMENT AND FOLLOWING UP ON
SOME ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS SHE
JUST DISCUSSED ABOUT R& D AND
ALSO MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE
INFORMATION WE NEED AND VERY
MUCH WANT TO ACTIVATE THE SPACE
AND MAKE SURE WE ARE MAXIMIZING
THE ACTIVATION AND CONTINUING TO
BE MINDFUL OF MHA IN THAT
CONTEXT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA AND I WILL
BE VOTING IN FAVOR. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I WOULD
LIKE THE PUBLIC -- I'M JUST
GETTING FAMILIARIZE WITH THIS,
SO I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF
QUESTIONS TO GET UP TO SPEED
WITH WHAT THE AMENDMENT IMPACTS
COULD MEAN PARTICULARLY FOR SDCI
STAFF. COULD YOU SPEAK A BIT
MORE ABOUT THE CURRENT LEVEL AND
REPORTING SDCI IS PROVIDING FOR
COUNCIL ALREADY ?
>> WHY RECOLLECTION IS WITH THE
PREVIOUS INTERIM BILL WE HAD
DURING THE COVID TIMEFRAME THERE
WAS AN ANNUAL REPORTING OF HOW
MANY BUSINESSES TOOK UP THE
OFFER AND WE FULFILLED THAT. TWO
TIMES A YEAR WOULD BE FINED AS A
DUTY TO FULFILL.
>> DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG IT WOULD
TAKE TO FULFILL THIS REQUEST?
>> PROBABLY ONLY 3 TO 5 HOURS .
>> HOW COMMON IS IT TO ADD
REQUIREMENTS AT THIS FREQUENCY
AND WHAT INFORMATION WOULD HELP
MAKE DECISIONS ON THIS MOVING
FORWARD?
>> HOW COMMON? I THINK REPORTING
MORE THAN ONCE A YEAR IS A
LITTLE BIT LESS COMMON, BUT IN
TERMS OF WANTING TO SEE HOW THIS
IS BEING RESPONDED TO BY THE
MARKET, I THINK THAT IS
APPROPRIATE . THE SECOND PART OF
YOUR QUESTION?
>> WHAT KIND OF INFORMATION MAY
BE MORE HELPFUL FOR COUNCIL
MAKING DECISIONS ON THIS TOPIC
MOVING FORWARD?
>> WELL, I THINK THE LIST IS
APPROPRIATELY COVERING THE
TOPICS AND WE MAY FIND THE FAR
IMPLICATION IS RARE IF IT
HAPPENS AT ALL BUT IT'LL BE
INTERESTING TO KNOW IF IT DOES
HAPPEN. OTHER THAN THAT, AT THIS
POINT, WE ARE ABLE TO TRACK ANY
PROJECTS THAT DO COME IN THAT
WOULD BE USING THIS. IT WOULD BE
APPROPRIATE.
>> I WOULD SAY THE EXECUTIVE
PROPOSES THEY REPORT SOMETHING
IT IS SOMETHING THE COUNCIL
ADDS. THEY COULD HAVE SDCI COME
IN AND REPORT ON A SPECIFIC
REQUEST AND BUILD. IT IS NOT
UNUSUAL TO REQUEST REPORTING.
THERE'S A COUPLE OF REPORTS
HERE DUE TO THE COUNCIL AND FROM
PRIOR PIECES OF LEGISLATION BY
THE EXECUTIVE THE ONE THAT COMES
TO MIND IS THERE IS A CHANGE TO
ALLOW PROJECTS PERFORMING TO BE
EXEMPT . THAT REPORT IS DUE IN
MAY. WAS THERE ANY ? I WOULD SAY
IT'S NOT UNUSUAL FOR COUNCIL TO
REQUEST REPORTING . USUALLY WHEN
THEY CANNOT ACCOMPLISH IT THEY
REPORT THE DAY BE CHANGED WHICH
WAS THE CASE WITH THAT REPORT
INITIALLY ALREADY AND WAS
REQUESTED .
>> THANK YOU. I ASK BECAUSE I
MINDFUL OF SDCI STAFF TIME. I
KNOW SOME OF THE MOST PROMINENT
FEEDBACK IS THE CHALLENGES
AROUND PERMITTING TIME AND WOULD
PREFER IF SDCI STAFF WERE
SPENDING TIME SUPPORTING OUR
PERMITTING TIMELINES A BIT
SPEEDIER . I MINDFUL THAT
HEARING YOUR FEEDBACK PERHAPS
EACH ONE OF THESE IS 3 TO 5
HOURS OF STAFF TIME AND THAT MY
COLLEAGUES THINK THIS IS
SOMETHING THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE
REPORTING ON JUST A MEASURE THE
SUCCESS I CAN BE SUPPORTIVE OF
THAT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER
COMMENTS ?
>> WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLE IN ADOPTION OF
AMENDMENT TWO?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] FOR
VOTES IN FAVOR AND ZERO OPPOSED.
>> OCEAN CARRIES AND AMENDMENT
TWO WILL BE ADOPTED. ANY FINAL
COMMENTS ON THE BILL AS AMENDED?
>> I WANT TO SAY I HOPE THIS
BILL HELPS US BE ABLE TO HAVE
SOME USES RATHER THAN EMPTY
STOREFRONTS. WE KNOW THAT CAN
PRESENT PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGES
AND IT IS MUCH BETTER TO HAVE A
SPACE FILLED. I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD. THESE PARTICULAR AREAS
OF THE CITY, I LOOK FORWARD TO
HEARING FROM YOU. THANK YOU FOR
PRESENTING ON THIS. THANK YOU
FOR BEING HERE AND HELPING DRAFT
ALL THE PIECES. CODE IS
COMPLICATED SO WE APPRECIATE YOU
WHO IS HERE EARLIER. ALL YOUR
HARD WORK ON THESE LAND-USE
ISSUES . I DID WANT TO RECOGNIZE
STAFF AND ALSO FROM OUR CENTRAL
STAFF. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I WANTED TO
COMMENT ON THE UNDERLYING BILL
ALLOWING MORE STREET-LEVEL
ACTIVATION. IN A TIME WHERE MANY
STOREFRONTS REMAIN VACANT AND
WHERE SMALL OPERATING COSTS SO
IT'S INCUMBENT TO PROVIDE THESE
BUSINESSES WITH A VARIETY OF
OPTIONS TO HELP BUSINESSES GROW
AND CREATING THE FLEXIBILITY TO
DO MORE WITH STOREFRONTS IN AN
AREA WITH THE NOTABLE VACANCIES
IT PROVIDES A LOT OF POTENTIAL
TO PROVIDE THESE TO THRIVE. I
WILL SUPPORT TODAY'S BILL.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD.
>> WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL ON THE RECOMMENDATION
TO PASS COUNCIL BILL 120771 AS
AMENDED?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] THERE
ARE FOUR VOTES IN FAVOR AND ZERO
OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES . COUNCIL
BILL 120771 WILL BE SENT TO THE
APRIL 8th 2025 CITY COUNCIL
MEETING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NOW WE MOVE TO OUR NEXT ITEM. I
THINK IT'S OUR LAST FOR THE
DAY. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ
ITEM 12 INTO THE RECORD?
>> COUNCIL BILL 120948, IN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO SEATTLE'S
CONSTRUCTION CODES ALLOWING FOR
THE EXTENSION OF CERTAIN
PROJECTS AND BUILDING PERMITS.
>> GREAT. I SEE OUR PRESENTERS
HAVE JOINED US AT THE TABLE.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE
RECORD AND BEGIN WHEN READY.
>> KETIL FREEMAN, COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF.
>> BUILDING OFFICIAL FOR SDCI.
>> TECHNICAL CODE DEVELOPMENT
MANAGER FOR SDCI.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE'RE GOING THROUGH ESTE CI,
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT OUR PURPOSE
TO HELPING SAFE, LIVABLE
INCLUSIVE SEATTLE. I THINK IT'S
WHAT THIS LEGISLATION HELPS
ACHIEVE IS HELPING PEOPLE BUILD.
THAT IS OUR GOAL. THIS PROPOSAL
WOULD AMEND THE SEATTLE BUILDING
CODE FOR PROJECTS UNDER THE 2015
AND 2018 CODE. AS WE HEARD
EARLIER, THIS PROJECT -- THIS
WOULD ALLOW PROJECTS DELAY DUE
TO ECONOMIC CONDITIONS TO
PROCEED WITHOUT REQUIRING COSTLY
UPDATES TO THE CURRENT 2021:.
THE SEATTLE BUILDING CODE ALLOWS
MONTHS FOR A CONSTRUCTION PERMIT
TO COMPLETE A REVIEW AND
APPROVAL PRIOR TO BEING ISSUED.
THEY ARE VALID FOR 18 MONTHS AND
MAY BE RENEWED FOR AN ADDITIONAL
18 MONTHS UNLESS THE
CONSTRUCTION IS UNDERWAY FOR AN
EXTENSION IS GRANTED FOR CAUSES
BEYOND APPLICANT'S CONTROL.
THIS LEGISLATION AMENDS PROJECTS
VESTED UNDER THE CODES
EXPERIENCING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP
TO BE EXTENDED. THERE'S TWO
PARTS TO IT. FIRST IS TO PROVIDE
AN ADDITIONAL 24 MONTHS TO
PERMIT APPLICATION FROM THE DATE
OF THE EXTENSION REQUEST FOR
PRODUCTS UNDER REVIEW. THERE'S
ABOUT 1100 PERMITS ABLE TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE. WITHOUT THIS
EXTENSION THEY WOULD BE SUBJECT
TO CANCELLATION. THE SECOND PART
IS TO ALLOW A PERMIT THAT HAS
BEEN ISSUED TO RENEW FOR AN
ADDITIONAL 24 MONTHS FROM THE
DATE OF THE EXTENSION REQUEST.
1300 ISSUED PERMITS WILL EXPIRE
PRIOR TO THE NOVEMBER 2026 DATE
INCLUDED IN THE LEGISLATION.
ABOUT 330 OF THOSE HAVE HAD NO
ACTIVITY SINCE THE END OF 2023.
THOSE ARE PERMITS THAT ARE
ISSUED AND ONCE THEY ARE ABLE TO
OBTAIN FINANCING COULD
POTENTIALLY START CONSTRUCTION.
WITHOUT THIS LEGISLATION THOSE
PERMITS COULD EXPIRE . THIS
LEGISLATION ALSO HAS A SUNSET
CLAUSE TIED TO THE NEXT
CONSTRUCTION CODE UPDATES. PLAN
FOR NOVEMBER 26. THERE WAS AN
ERROR IN WHAT WAS TRANSMITTED
AND DID INCLUDE NOVEMBER 12,
2024 AS THE SUNSET EIGHT AND
THAT NEEDS TO BE AMENDED TO
NOVEMBER 26 . OF THOSE 1100
BUILDINGS IN REVIEW THAT CAN
TAKE ADVANTAGE , WE HIGHLIGHTED
ABOUT 15 PROJECTS MOSTLY IN
DOWNTOWN. THESE ARE SOME LARGEST
PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN DELAYED
DUE TO FINANCING . ALSO LISTED
IS THE POTENTIAL FISCAL IMPACT
ON LOCAL ECONOMY. WITHOUT THIS
LEGISLATION THESE PERMIT
APPLICATIONS CAN BE CANCELED,
PROJECTS ABANDONED, WE LOSE
CRITICAL HOUSING , TAX REVENUE
AND JOBS. PROVIDING TO THESE AND
OTHER PERMIT HOLDERS
EXPERIENCING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP
SHOULD SIMULATE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT.
>> IN ALIGNMENT WITH NATIONAL
AND STATE BUILDING CODES THE
SEATTLE SERIES OF BUILDING CODES
ARE UPDATED EVERY THREE YEARS TO
INCORPORATE IMPROVED SAFETY AND
EFFICIENCY STANDARDS AND
TECHNOLOGIES. THE PROPOSED
EXTENSIONS AND RENEWALS FOR
PROJECTS VESTED TO THE 2015:
WOULD ALLOW THOSE PROJECTS TO
NOT BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE
CURRENT NATIONAL SEISMIC
STANDARD OR INCREASED ENERGY
EFFICIENT SYSTEMS THAT MEET THE
COUNCIL APPROVED MODIFIED INTENT
OF THE SEATTLE CODES TO INCLUDE
REDUCTION OF CARBON EMISSIONS .
ADDITIONALLY, 2015 PROJECTS MAY
NOT BE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF
SMALLER EFFICIENCY DWELLING UNIT
SIZES THAT COULD HAVE THE
POTENTIAL TO INCREASE THE NUMBER
OF HOUSING UNITS CONSTRUCTED.
THE 2015 PROJECTS AND THOSE
NESTED TO THE 2018 CODE WILL NOT
BE INCORPORATING UPDATED
ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS OR
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF MORE BROAD
ALLOWANCES FOR THE USE OF MASS
TEMPER CONSTRUCTION OR USING THE
GREATER FLEXIBILITY OF ENERGY
CODE FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS
PROVIDED IN THE 2021 CODE. WHILE
THESE ARE IMPORTANT WE DO WANT
TO REITERATE BUILDINGS VESTED OR
CONSTRUCTED UNDER THE 2015 AND
2018 CODES REMAIN SAFE. THE
IMPACT AND JUSTIFICATION OF THIS
LEGISLATION ALIGNS WITH SOME
PUBLIC COMMENT PROVIDED TODAY BY
MAINTAINING FEASIBILITY FOR
OLDER PROJECTS , ALIGNS WITH THE
DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION PLAN,
PREVENTS THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF
CRITICAL HOUSING UNITS AND
PROVIDES CERTAINTY TO THE
DEVELOPERS OF THOSE UNITS THAT
THEIR PROJECT PERMITS CAN BE
RENEWED OR EXTENDED ON A
TIMELINE THAT MAY ALLOW THE
PROJECTS TO MOVE TOWARD
COMPLETION. THANK YOU.
>> HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS
FROM THE COMMITTEE.
>> ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ESTHER MARK
YOU ARE GETTING OFF EASY. OKAY.
OKAY. REGARDING HOW WE PROCEED
FROM HERE WE HAVE HEARD
TESTIMONY IN FAVOR OF THIS FROM
SEVERAL ENTITIES. THANK YOU FOR
HANGING IN THERE AND BEING WITH
US TODAY. I WILL SAY IT MAKES
SENSE TO DO THE EXTENSION .
OKAY. JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IF
WE COULD PROCEED WITH VOTE TODAY
, I'M GETTING THE SENSE THAT
THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ENGAGEMENT
OF COMMUNITY . IS THAT THE WAY
TO PUT IT? HOW DO WE SAY IT? I
WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THIS NOW. I
WANT TO MAKE SURE FOLKS IN THE
COMMUNITY HAD A CHANCE TO KNOW
ABOUT THIS . WE HAVE HAD SOME
FOLKS WEIGH IN ON THAT. I WANT
TO GIVE MY COLLEAGUES A CHANCE.
>> WE HAVE NOT DONE A PUBLIC
OUTREACH RELATIVE TO THE CHANGE
, THAT IS CORRECT. WE THOUGHT
THIS WOULD BE A FIRST MEETING
INTRODUCED AND OF IT WOULD COME
AT A LATER MEETING. WE ARE HAPPY
IF THERE'S MORE EXTENSIVE
OUTREACH THE COMMITTEE WOULD
LIKE US TO DO. WE CAN DO THAT.
THAT WAS OUR UNDERSTANDING OF A
PATH FORWARD FOR THE
LEGISLATION.
>> THAT'S FINE. JUST TRYING TO
MAKE SURE I'M GETTING IT RIGHT.
>> ONE THING TO ADD HERE. THIS
IS FOR FUTURE COMMITTEE
CONSIDERATION THERE IS THE
AMENDMENT THAT SDCI NOTED IS
ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA TODAY FOR
FUTURE CONSIDERATION BY THE
COUNCIL. WHAT THAT WOULD DO
WOULD BE TO CHANGE THE DATE FROM
2024 TO 2026 WHICH IS THE NEXT
EXPECTED OF. THAT WILL BE READY
FOR COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
FOR THE CLARIFICATION. SO, IF
THERE ARE NO FURTHER COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE, I
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO TAKING
THIS UP AT OUR NEXT MEETING.
TAKING SOME ACTION ON THIS SO WE
CAN GET THESE PROJECTS SOME
BREATHING ROOM TO ACTUALLY GET
DONE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, WE HAVE
REACHED THE END OF TODAY'S
MEETING AGENDA. OUR NEXT MEETING
WILL BE APRIL 17th. IS THERE ANY
FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE
THE COMMITTEE BEFORE WE ADJOURN?
NICE. KEEP IT UNDER TWO HOURS.
HEARING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO
COME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE, WE
ARE ADJOURNED. THE TIME IS 3:58.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, EVERYONE.