>> ALL RIGHT, WE
ARE LIVE. CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME
ON MY
MICROPHONE? BECAUSE WE ARE
STARTING
THE MEETING NOW.
SO I'M GOING TO ASK EVERYONE
TO SETTLE DOWN.
I DON'T WANT TO SLAP THE
GAVEL, BUT I WILL IF I HAVE TO,
AND I HAVE A JUDGE TO MY LEFT
WHO'S REALLY GOOD AT IT.
COUNSEL MB COUNCILMEMBER MOORE,
WOULD YOU
LIKE TO SLAP IT.
NO NEED.
WELCOME. THE SELECT COMMITTEE OF
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN COMES TO
ORDER.
THE TIME RIGHT NOW 4:00 P.M.
CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
>> HERE.
>> COUNSEL EMBER SOLOMON.
>> HERE.
>> THANK YOU TO THE BEST
CLERK IN THE UNITED STATES.
APPRECIATE YOU.
THE WORLD, WE COULD DO UNIVERSE.
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL
FOR BEING HERE FOR YOUR
ATTENDANCE
HERE TODAY ON A WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
JUST A COUPLE OF
HOUSECLEANING THINGS BEFORE WE
JUMP INTO
THE AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS
OBVIOUSLY
WHY EVERYONE IS HERE WHICH
IS THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
I'M GOING TO READ THINGS
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
WEATHER, KIND OF HOW WE'RE
GOING TO
GO THROUGH TONIGHT TO HEAR
EVERYONE'S COMMENTS AND KIND
OF JUST SET THE TABLE.
IS THAT OKAY?
NO, IT'S NOT OKAY?
OKAY, I JUST WANT TO MAKE
SURE.
ALL RIGHT.
AWESOME. SO EVER SINCE THIS
WEEKEND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
TEAM ISSUED
INCLEMENT WEATHER
WARNINGS OVER THE WEEKEND, SO
OUR
OFFICE HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH
THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE, SPU, AND OUR
CLERKS TO UNDERSTAND OPTIONS FOR
A MEANINGFUL PUBLIC HEARING
AND SAFETY -- A MEANINGFUL
MEETING TONIGHT TO MAKE SURE
THAT OUR STAFF AND EVERYONE
IS SAFE. WE RECEIVED ALSO A SNOW
AND
COLD BRIEFING AS WELL, SO I'M
GOING TO ASK FOR YOUR P█ATIENCE
AND UNDERSTANDING TONIGHT AS
WE'RE GOING THROUGH THIS.
EVERY HOUR ON TOP OF THE
HOUR WE'RE GOING TO BE KEEPING
UPDATED WITH WHAT THE
WEATHER IS GOING ON, SO JUST
KNOW
THAT'S JUST GOING TO BE
CONSTANT,
AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO TAKE
THIS
AS
THIS IS. OUR INTENTIONS IS TO
LISTEN
TO EVERYONE TONIGHT WHETHER
IT'S
IN PERSON OR ONLINE.
SOMETIMES THE WEATHER CHANGES
THINGS, BUT JUST KNOW WE
DON'T HAVE A SET TIME.
WE'RE JUST GOING TO GO AHEAD
AND
GO WITH THE FLOW UNTIL WE'RE
JUST GOING TO NAVIGATE
THE WEATHER PIECE.
JUST KNOW YOU RETURNING HOME IS
A PRIORITY OF MINE, OUR
STAFF, AND MY COLLEAGUES AS
WELL, OKAY?
ALSO, TODAY'S MEETING IS
INTENDED TO PROVIDE
COUNCILCOUNCIL
THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM
YOU AT AN EARLY STAGE IN THE
ROSS.
THE MAYOR RELEASED HIS
PLAN ABOUT A MONTH AGO, AND WE
ARE
HOLDING CURRENTLY A NUMBER
OF BRIEFINGS TO UNDERSTAND THE
PLAN. WE WILL BE CONSIDERING
YOUR COMMENTS TODAY AS WE
ARE NAVIGATING THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND
UNDERSTANDING ALL
PROPOSED LAYERS. HOWEVER, THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ADOPTED BY
LEGISLATION -- THAT
WILL BE ADOPTED BY
LEGISLATION, WE'RE STILL
WAITING ON
THE EXECUTIVE TO SEND A LOT OF
WANTED TO NOTE AS
WELL IS THAT WHEN WE ARE DOING
OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS ONE THING
WE'RE GOING TO ASK SUPER SIMPLE
IT'S
WHAT THEY TEACH EVERYONE
IN KINDERGARTEN TO BE RESPECTFUL
OF
EVERYONE'S COMMENTS. NO MATTER
WHERE
SOMEONE'S TALKING ABOUT, WHICH
SIDE OF THE IS,
WE'RE ASKING FOR EVERYONE TO
BE YOU WANT A PLANT BASED
MILK, I'VE GOT YOU.
THAT WAS A JOKE AND I
DIDN'T THINK SOMEONE WOULD
LAUGH.
I LOVE HEARING PEOPLE CLAP
AND CHEER AND ALL THOSE THINGS,
BUT IT DOES SLOW DOWN THE TIME
A LITTLE BIT, SO WE'RE GOING TO
ASK PEOPLE TO USE THE FAVORITE
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE SPIRIT
HANDS. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE,
COULD
YOU DEMONSTRATE WHAT SPIRIT
HANDS ARE RIGHT NOW?
OH, JAZZ HANDS. I THOUGHT THEY
WERE SPIRIT
HANDS.
THANK YOU. WE ALSO HAVE CHILD
CARE
DOWNSTAIRS AS WELL, SO
YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME IF YOU
HAVE --
I LIED. TELLING A LIE.
IT'S NOT DOWNSTAIRS.
IT'S IN THE COUNCIL RECEPTION
AREA, MY APOLOGIES, WHICH IS
ON THE SECOND FLOOR.
IF YOU GO DOWN THIS HALLWAY
AND TAKE A RIGHT ALL THE
WAY DOWN, THAT'S WHERE OUR
CHILD CARE IS
BEING HELD TONIGHT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL TO
OUR SECURITY GUARDS.
OUR SECURITY GUARDS THEY WORK
VERY, VERY HARD. I KNOW WE HAVE
A COUPLE OF
THEM IN OUR ROOM.
SOMETIMES THEY'LL ASK YOU FOR
CERTAIN THINGS OR, YOU KNOW,
JUST TRY TO KEEP THE CROWD CALM.
PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL
OF OUR SECURITY GUARDS.
THEY WORK REALLY,
REALLY HARD. I ALSO WANT TO KNOW
SOMETIMES YOU'LL SEE OUR
COLLEAGUES SOMETIMES STAND,
SOMETIMES WE'LL
BE STRETCHING.
WE ARE STILL LISTENING.
JUST KNOW WE'RE NOT TRYING
TO
RUN OR ANYTHING, WE'RE
STRETCHING
AND STANDING. WE'LL STILL BE
LISTENING. SOME OF US DO RUN,
BUT WE'RE
LISTENING.
WE'RE GOING TO BE RECOGNIZING
IN- PERSON SPEAKERS
STARTING RIGHT NOW, 5:00, ALL
THE WAY
TO UP 7:30.
SO IT'S IN- PERSON
SPEAKER ONLY. AT 7:30, WE'RE
GOING
TO TRANSITION FOR HYBRID PUBLIC
COMMENT. THAT MEANS WE'RE GOING
TO
GO BACK AND FORTH, SO WE'RE
GOING TO RECOGNIZE PEOPLE IN
CHAMBERS, AND WE'RE ALSO GOING
TO
RECOGNIZE PEOPLE THAT ARE
ONLINE AS WELL.
WE'LL ALSO BE CALLING PEOPLE
UP BY FIVE FOLKS.
SO WE'RE GOING TO JUST CALL
UP NUMBERS 1 THROUGH 5 AND
THEN OBVIOUSLY 6 THROUGH 10, AND
WE'LL CONTINUE THOSE
NUMBERS THROUGHOUT THE EVENING.
OTHER THAN
THAT, LET'S -- MY
APOLOGIES. I LOST MY THING.
OTHER THAN THAT, SPEAKER,
WILL YOU PLEASE READ ITEM
AGENDA INTO
THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM 1 PUBLIC HEARING
ON THE ONE SEATTLE
COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN.
>> AWESOME.
AND HOW MANY SPEAKERS DO WE
HAVE SIGNED UP
TONIGHT?
>> CURRENTLY WE HAVE 120
AND CONTINUING REGISTER DOWN
STAIRS IN BKL, AND THEN REMOTE
SPEAKERS WE
HAVE 69.
>> GOT IT, AWESOME.
>> 120 IN PERSON SO FAR.
BKL STILL ACCEPTING
PUBLIC COMMENT SIGN INS AS WE
SPEAK, AND THAT'S 69
REMOTE.
>> PERFECT.
A LITTLE HOUSE KEEPING HERE
AS WELL.
WE'RE ASKING AFTER YOU DO
PUBLIC
SPEAK HERE, THAT IF YOU
DON'T MIND GIVING UP YOUR SEAT.
YOU CAN GO.
WE HAVE AN OVERFLOW ROOM
DOWNSTAIRS, SO YOU CAN GO
DOWNSTAIRS SO THOSE PEOPLE
WHO HAVE NOT SPOKE, CAN COME UP
HERE
AND BE RECOGNIZED BECAUSE WE
ARE AT MAXIMUM CAPACITY, AND WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE WE STAY WITHIN
FIRE CODE AS WELL.
WE'RE ALL GOOD TO GO?
HAPPY TO BE HERE?
THANK YOU.
I'M HAPPY TO SEE Y'ALL. FROM
Y'ALL.
YES?
>> PERSONAL PRIVILEGE CHAIR.
AND JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE
WHAT I THINK I SEE ARE GIRL
SCOUTS
IN THE FRONT ROW AND OTHER YOUNG
PEOPLE.
JAZZ HANDS FOR THE YOUNG
PEOPLE WHO CAME OUT TO GIVE
PUBLIC COMMENT.
I ALWAYS LOVE HEARING FROM
OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, OUR
FUTURE LEADERS.
SO SHOUT OUT TO YOUNG
PEOPLE.
>> GO AHEAD, WE CAN CLAP FOR OUR
YOUNG FOLKS.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> Y'ALL GET ALL THE LOVE.
IT'S ALL ABOUT OUR
YOUNG PEOPLE. WE GOT TO FOCUS ON
OUR YOUNG
FOLKS.
REALLY APPRECIATE Y'ALL
COMING AND BEING ABLE TO GIVE
PUBLIC COMMENT FOR WHAT'S
IMPORTANT
TO YOU ALL.
YOU ALL ARE OUR FUTURE, SO THANK
YOU.
ALL RIGHT, SO EVERYONE'S
GOING TO GET 2 MINUTES TO SPEAK
TONIGHT, AND I THINK WE
ARE READY TO GO.
IF Y'ALL ARE READY TO GO, I'M
READY TO GO.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS, MY COLLEAGUES
AT ALL? AWESOME.
WE'RE GOING TO JUMP
RIGHT IN. SO WE'RE GOING TO
START --
OH, AND OUR CLERK'S GOING TO
READ
THE INSTRUCTIONS.
I WAS SO HAPPY TO READ 1 THROUGH
GO AHEAD.
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR
THERE THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL
BEGIN
AND BE MODERATED IN
THE FOLLOWING MANNER.
IT'LL BEGIN AT 7:00 P.M. AND
IN THE ORDER REGISTERED.
FOR REMEET SPEAKERS WITH
APPROXIMATE NUMBERS 1 THROUGH
50 PLEASE CALL INTO THE MEETING
BY 7:00 P.M.
IF YOU'VE NOT REGISTERED
TO SPEAK BUT WOULD LIKE TO YOU
CAN
STILL SIGN UP DURING THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
BEGINS WITH IN
PERSON SPEAKERS. SPEAKER NUMBERS
WILL
BE CALLED IN THE ORDER IN WHICH
THEY REGISTERED.
NUMBERS WILL BE CALLED IN GROUPS
OF FIVE AT
ONE TIME. PLEASE LINE UP IN
NUMERICAL
ORDER.
THERE ARE TWO
MICROPHONE PODIUMS.
PLEASE ADJUST THE MICS WHEN
YOU APPROACH THE MICROPHONE.
IF SPEAKERS DO NOT
END THEIR COMMENTS AT THE END OF
THE ALLOTTED TIME PERIOD, THE
SPEAKER'S MICROPHONES WILL
BE MUTED TO ALLOW US TO CALL ON
THE NEXT
SPEAKER.
>> AWESOME, OKAY. SO WE'RE
GOING TO FIRST CALL
SPEAKERS 1 THROUGH 5.
PLEASE START COMING UP.
AND THEN SPEAKERS 6 THROUGH
10, IF I CAN COUNT CORRECTLY,
6 THROUGH 10 BE ON DECK AND
GET
READY. 1 THROUGH 5.
YOU CAN USE BOTH MICS.
WE ASK YOU LINE UP AT BOTH MICS
AND WE'LL GET STARTED.
HELLO, MS. BLACK.
WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS CECILIA BLACK.
I AM A WHEELCHAIR
USER AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZER
FOR DISABILITY RIGHTS
WASHINGTON.
THE HOUSING THAT IS
MOST SUCCESSFUL FOUR, FIVE,
AND SIX- STORIED BUILDINGS
IS PROHIBITED IN A MAJORITY OF
THE
CITY, WHICH MEANS THAT I AM NOT
IN SO MANY
NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE SHOULD BE EMBRACING
THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE
A DIFFERENT CITY, NEIGHBORED
CENTERS, MORE
HOUSING, AND MORE RETAIL FOR
HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO
CREATE COMMUNITIES AND CHANGE
LIVES. I KNOW I'VE GONE INTO
LIVE IN
ROOSEVELT, ONE OF SEATTLE'S
MOST RECENT
REZONED NEIGHBORHOODS. THIS
CHANGED MY LIFE.
I CAN EASILY GRAB A COFFEE
OR HOP ON A BUS OR LIGHT RAIL
AND
NOT CONSUME MY ENERGY OR
MY ENTIRE DAY.
AS ROOSEVELT
HAS GROWN, I HAVE WATCHED IT
BECOME
MORE ACCESSIBLE.
LIVING IN A WORLD THAT IS NOT
BUILT FOR YOU IS EXHAUSTING,
AND I CAN'T FULLY EXPLAIN THE
RELIEF WHEN LEAVING YOUR
HOUSE IS JUST
EASY. SEATTLE IS A GROWING CITY
AND WHAT GETS BUILT IN THE
LAST DECADE WILL LAST
GENERATIONS, AND I'M URGING YOU
TO
ENSURE THAT INCLUDES PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES.
THIS MEANS KEEPING
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS THAT
WILL ALLOW FOR MULTIFAMILY
HOUSING THAT WILL BE ACCESSIBLE.
IT MEANS EASING RESTRICTIONS
ON FLATS WHICH WILL BE THE
ONLY OPTIONS IN RESIDENTIAL
ZONES
AND EASING RESTRICTIONS ON
CORNER STORES AND MAKING SURE
ALL
MULTIFAMILY HOUSING HAS THE
POTENTIAL FOR RETAIL SO WE
CAN CREATE AN ACCESSIBLE
AND WALKABLE
CITY.
>> THANK
YOU.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS ANNA.
I ALSO WORK FOR
DISABILITY RIGHTS WASHINGTON,
AND I WANT
TO ECHO WHAT CECILIA JUST SAID.
I ALSO WANT TO SHARE
MY PERSPECTIVE AS A HOMEOWNER IN
A
NEIGHBORHOOD IN HILLMAN
CITY THAT IS GETTING UP ZONED AS
PART OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
FROM A
NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTIAL TO
A LOW RISE TWO, WHICH MEANS
FOUR- STORY APARTMENT BUILDINGS.
AND I KNOW MY NEIGHBORS
AND I KNOW PEOPLE, EVERYONE IS
A LITTLE SCARED ABOUT CHANGE,
BUT OUR BLOCK, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
IS
CHANGING ANYWAY. ALREADY TWO OF
MY NEIGHBORS HAVE
BEEN PLACED OUT.
MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR THEY
HAD TO MOVE TO FEDERAL WAY
BECAUSE
THEY COULDN'T AFFORD HOUSING
IN
SEATTLE. SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT
THIS CHANGE.
I'M EXCITED TO WELCOME
MORE PEOPLE TO OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE IT WILL
MEAN
MORE AMENITIES CLOSE TO US, MORE
STORES, MORE COFFEE SHOPS, MORE
ACTIVITIES, MORE FRIENDS FOR
MY KID.
AND SO I HOPE WE CAN MAKE
OUR CITY ACCESSIBLE FOR
EVERYONE.
THANK
YOU.
>> THANK
YOU.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS CALLY
NICHOLS, AND I'M A TEACHER AND
A RENTER IN DISTRICT 3.
I'M A PROUD GRADUATE OF
ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL AND THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON.
CURRENTLY I'M STUDENT
TEACHING AT LOWELL ELEMENTARY
WHERE
ABOUT A THIRD OF OUR STUDENTS
ARE
IN-HOUSED.
I'M DEEPLY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS
CITY AND BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE
A PLACE WHERE YOUNG ADULTS,
SERVICE WORKERS, TEACHERS,
AND GROWING FAMILIES CAN AFFORD
TO LIVE AND THRIVE.
HOWEVER, SEATTLE'S
RESTRICTIVE SINGLE FAMILY ZONING
LAWS
LIMIT HOUSING OPTIONS AND DRIVE
UP THE COST OF LIVING, MAKING IT
INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT FOR
MANY OF US TO AFFORD TO LIVE
HERE.
PLEASE STRENGTHEN THE
ONE SEATTLE PLAN TO CREATE
NEW NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS ACROSS
THE CITY IN BOTH WEALTHY AND
LOWER INCOME AREAS.
THIS WOULD NOT ONLY EXPAND THE
HOUSING SUPPLY BUT ALSO PREVENT
DISPLACEMENT IN
VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES, WHICH
MANY OF
MY STUDENTS HAVE EXPERIENCED.
BY PROMOTING GROWTH AND
INCLUSIVITY WE CAN ENSURE THAT
SEATTLE IS A PLACE
WHERE PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF
LIFE CAN LIVE,
WORK, AND THRIVE INCLUDING
ME AND MY STUDENTS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
AND CONSIDERATION IN MAKING THIS
VISION A
REALITY.
>>
THANK YOU. JUST TO CLARIFY YOU
WERE
CALLY
NICHOLS. GOT IT.
SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR
JENNIFER.
>> HEY, MY NAME IS JENNIFER
COLOR.
MY PARTNER AND I OWN A HOUSE IN
MOTLAKE, AND WE MOVED IN
AS RENTERS AND WE WERE ABLE
TO ULTIMATELY BUY IN, AND WE
LOVE THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S A HISTORIC
NEIGHBORHOOD WITH ITS PARKS AND
LUSH TREES.
AND WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THE
INCREDIBLE NEED IN SEATTLE
FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND WE DO SUPPORT DENSITY
WHERE IT MAKES SENSE SUCH AS
ADUs, TINY HOMES AND EXPANDING
RESIDENTIAL SPACE WHERE WE
HAVE MIXED USE.
HOWEVER, THE SUPPORT
DRASTICALLY CHANGED THE ENTIRE
CONCEPT OF A
NEIGHBORHOOD OVERNIGHT WHERE
PEOPLE HAVEN'T
HAD A CHANCE AND SUFFICIENT TIME
TO GIVE
FEEDBACK AND PROPOSE
ALTERNATIVES.
I ALSO WANT TO RAISE A
POINT THAT REALLY ALIGNS WITH
SOME OF
WHAT THE SPEAKERS JUST SAID AND
THAT'S A DANGER TO THE
PROPOSAL AND SUCCESSABILITY OF
PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES AND
IMPAIRMENTS. I'M ALSO WITH A
NON- PROFIT
WITH DISABILITIES.
WE HELP PEOPLE TRAIN THEIR OWN
DOGS AND SERVICE DOGS TO
INCREASE ACCESS.
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SIDEWALKS
ARE DANGEROUS TO WALK ON AND
MANY
ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO
NAVIGATE. IT'S CHALLENGING TO
DRIVE DOWN NARROW STREETS, OR AS
A BIKE
RIDER IT'S TERRIFYING TO GO
DOWN
OUR STREETS.
THE FACT PUBLIC TRANSIT IN
A HALF MILE IS SUFFICIENT TO
SERVE
AS ACCESS IS ABSURD.
THAT WE DON'T NEED
INCREASED PARKING WHEN THERE
ALREADY
ISN'T PARKING, THAT PRESUMES
SOMEONE HAS THE ABILITY TO
TRAVEL
OVER HALF A MILE ON IRREGULAR
HILLY ROADS AND
WEATHER CONDITIONS WHEN THEY
NEED TO GET ACCESS TO
SOMETHING, WHEN THEY NEED
TO LEAVE
THEIR HOMES.
SO THAT'S ABSOLUTELY NOT AN
OPTION FOR MANY PEOPLE,
SEWE NEED THE CITY TO ADDRESS
THE PRESENT LACK OF PARKING
AND DANGER EVEN BEING IN
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD RIGHT
NOW BEFORE CONSIDERING
EXPANDING.
IT'S ALREADY NOT SAFE AND THE
PLAN DISREGARDS THAT, SO WE
ASK YOU PLEASE SLOW DOWN AND
LOOK
AT THE LACK OF EQUITY IN
THE PROPOSAL RIGHT
NOW.
>> THANK YOU.
SPEAKER NUMBER 5 AND
THEN SPEAKER 6 THROUGH 10,
PLEASE, YOU'RE ON DECK.
CALLY WAS FIVE?
BUT THAT WAS ONLY FOUR SPEAKERS.
>> I'M SPEAKER
NUMBER FOUR.
>> I'M SORRY, SPEAKER NUMBER
FOUR.
>> THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
I AM PATIENCE, AND I HAVE THE
INCREDIBLE HONOR OF LEADING THE
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
CONSORTIUM, AND I'M HERE TODAY
BECAUSE
I KNOW ALL OF YOU BELIEVE IN A
FUTURE WHERE EVERYONE NO MATTER
THEIR INCOME, NO MATTER THEIR
RACE, NO MATTER THEIR
BACKGROUND, CAN FIND A
PLACE THAT THEY CAN CALL HOME
IN THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY OF
SEATTLE.
AND RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN A DEEP
HOUSING CRISIS, ONE THAT DEMANDS
BOLD ACTION.
AND THE ONLY WAY WE GET OUT
OF THIS CRISIS IS IF WE BUILD
MORE
HOUSING. AND WE ARE ASKING YOU
TO BE
BOLD WITH THIS COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN.
I WANT TO BE VERY
CLEAR. THE STATUS QUO IS NOT
WORKING FOR FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE
IN THIS
CITY RIGHT NOW.
RENTS ARE TOO HIGH.
HOME PRICES ARE OUT OF
REACH, AND FAR MANY PEOPLE ARE
BEING PUSHED OUT OF THIS
COMMUNITY THAT THEY HAVE CALLED
FOR
DECADES.
AND WE ARE ASKING YOU TO TAKE
THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RIGHT
SIZE THE RESTRICTIVE ZONING THAT
HAS LOCKED SO MANY PEOPLE OUT OF
THE OPPORTUNITY FOR TOO LONG.
THE ONE SEATTLE PLAN THAT
THE MAYOR HAS PUT FORWARD
IN FRONT OF YOU IS A SOLID,
STRONG START.
IT'S MOVING US IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION.
AND WHAT WE'RE ASKING YOU TO DO
IS EXPAND ON THE STRENGTH
OF THIS PLAN AND NOT WHITTLE IT
DOWN.
WE ARE ASKING YOU NOT TO WATER
PLAN IN THE NAME
OF PROCESS, IN THE NAME OF
OUTREACH
BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW OUTREACH
IS AN ITERATIVE PROCESS THAT
WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN AS WE
GROW
AS A CITY.
SO I ASK YOU ONCE AGAIN TO
TAKE ON THIS ONCE IN A
GENERATION
OPPORTUNITY, TO MOVE FORWARD
A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT MEET
THE MOMENT, THAT MEET THE SCALE
OF THE CRISIS.
WE ARE COUNTING ON YOUR
LEADERSHIP IN THIS
VERY MOMENT TO LEAD US TOWARDS A
PATH AND
A FUTURE WHERE EVERYONE CAN FIND
A --
>> THANK YOU.
SPEAKERS 6 THROUGH 10
PLEASE COME FORWARD.
STEPHANIE, PHYLLIS, SUSAN.
>> MY NAME IS STEPHANIE AND MY
HUSBAND AND I HAVE LIVED
AND WORKED IN SEATTLE SINCE
2011.
WE NOW HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF
BEING PARENTS OF TWO CHILDREN.
WE ARE ABLE TO WALK TO DAY
CARE, GROCERY STORE, AND
FRIENDS HOUSES AND APARTMENTS
FOR
PLAY DATES.
WE WALK TO THE FARMERS
MARKET MOST SUNDAYS.
WE RIDE THE "G" TO CHECK
OUT BOOKS AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY
OR COME DOWN HERE, THE
STREETCAR TO LIVE AND SHOP IN
THE ID, AND THE
LIGHT RAIL TO DOCTOR
APPOINTMENTS.
WE RECOGNIZE MANY
FAMILIES WILL NEVER AFFORD TO
LIVE IN
A NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE OURS.
OUR LIFESTYLE SHOULDN'T BE
AN EXCLUSIVE PRIVILEGE OR A
LUXURY.
FAMILIES OF ALL INCOMES
AND SIZES SHOULD BE ABLE TO LIVE
IN NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE
EVERYTHING THEY NEED IS IN
WALKING,
ROLLING, OR BIKING
DISTANCE. WE NEED TOALLOW MORE
AFFORDABLE
OPTIONS THROUGHOUT
THE CITY. THE MAYOR'S PLAN
PLANS FOR
SEATTLE'S FUTURE HOUSING
NEEDS, AND WE URGE YOU TO GO
FURTHER
BY IMPLEMENTING FURTHER CHANGES.
ONE, MID- RISE HOUSING SHOULD BE
ALLOWED IN AREAS WITHIN A 5-
MILE WALK.
AND THE CREATION OF
SMALL, AFFORDABLE
COMMERCIAL SPACES SHOULD BE
ENCOURAGED AND
INCENTIVIZED.
THE NUMBER OF
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS SHOULD BE
INCREASED
AND THEIR BOUNDARIES EXPANDED TO
ENCOMPASS AT LEAST A 5- MINUTE
WALK SHED, AND
FINALLY PARKING
MINIMUMS SHOULD BE ELIMINATED
EVERYWHERE TO REDUCE
HOUSING COSTS AND INCREASE
SUSTAINABLE
OPTIONS.
WE SHOULD BE PLANNING FOR
THE NEXT GENERATIONS, NOT
PLAYING DEFENSE AGAINST THE
FEARS
OF CHANGE.
CHANGE IS
ALREADY HERE. THIS COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN IS
OUR CHANCE TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE
OLD MODEL OF PLANNING FOR GROWTH
AND MOVE BOLDLY TOWARD AN
APPROACH THAT WILL HOUSE MORE
NEIGHBORS,
HELP US ACHIEVE CLIMATE GOALS,
AND MOVE SEATTLE INTO A
CITY WHERE EVERY FAMILY
THRIVES.
>> THANK YOU.
BALANCING A BABY IN
PUBLIC COMMENT, THAT WAS SUPER
IMPRESSIVE.
>> THANK YOU.
I'VE LIVED IN -- SINCE 1987
AND I'VE WORKED IN PUBLIC
ISSUES LONGER THAN THAT.
I REMOVED THE PETITION --
WHY? TO GIVE VOICES TO THE
MEMBERS OF
WHO HAD NO ENGAGEMENT WHATSOEVER
IN INFORMING THE
PROPOSAL, AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR
WAYS TO
SHARE THEIR SIGNIFICANT
CONCERNS.
IN THIS SMALL
EIGHBORHOOD CURRENTLY 1,060
PEOPLE
HAVE SIGNED THIS PETITION IN A
LITTLE
OVER A MONTH.
THEY ARE TRYING TO TELL YOU
SOMETHING. I CALL IT A PROJECT
FUNDED BY
THE STATE LEGISLATURE WHERE
I FACILITATED WORKSHOPS ON WHAT
IS WORKING WELL AND NOT
WORKING WELL REGARDING
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND GROWTH
MANAGEMENT.
I PUT ON WORKSHOPS IN
EVERY COUNTY IN THIS STATE.
I'M ALSO LEADING A THREE- YEAR
PROJECT FUNDED BY AND TO
INFORM THE STATE LEGISLATURE ON
HOUSING POLICY.
THE SIGNERS OF THE PETITION ARE
ECHOING WHAT I STRONGLY HEARD
THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
ONE, PLACE
MATTERS. IT IS CRITICAL TO TAKE
INTO ACCOUNT THE SPECIFIC
CONDITIONS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THIS DESIGNATION DOES NOT
FIT THIS LOCALE IN MAKE BELIEVE.
TWO, PLANNING NEEDS TO
SHIFT FROM CONCEPT OF LAND USE
TO
THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE LAND
MEANING
THE TREES AND THE MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES THEY PROVIDE
ARE ESSENTIAL TO PRESERVE.
THREE, WE CAN'T BUILD OUR
WAY OUT OF THE COMPLEXITY OF
ISSUES RELATED TO HOUSING.
AND FOUR, LASTLY, WE NEED TO
STOP OBJECTIFYING PEOPLE
AND THEIR CONCERNS AND INTERESTS
AND
LABELING THEM.
THIS IS A CONTROL MECHANISM
THAT STOPS REAL CONVERSATIONS
AND
THE ABILITY TO COLLABORATE
ON SOLUTIONS TO THE ISSUES
WE COLLECTIVELY HAVE.
THANK
YOU.
>> THANK
YOU.
>> SPEAKING OF CRISES,
CLIMATE, AND FUTURE GENERATIONS,
FROM 2005 TO 2017 FEMA SPENT $37
BILLION ON NATURAL
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND
MITIGATION AND
$81 BILLION ON RELIEF.
IN OTHER WORDS, FOR EVERY $1
SPENT ON PREVENTION, FEMA SPENT
$2.19 ON
RELIEF.
FACTS. THIS SEEMS LIKE A VERY
GOOD
WAY TO MAKE A LESS AFFORDABLE
WORLD.
NYU RECENTLY SETUP PROJECT HEAT
WAVE, AN INITIATIVE THAT TREATS
EXTREME HEAT AS A
PANDEMIC BECAUSE THEY ALL HAVE
THE
SAME
FEATURES. ON PREDICTABILITY,
INEQUALITY, AND HOW THEY TREAT
COMMUNITIES,
AND MORTALITY. WE HAVE A RARE
OPPORTUNITY
HERE IN SEATTLE TO FOCUS
ON PREVENTION BY PROTECTING
MATURE TREE CANOPY, BUT WE SEEM
HELL BENT ON PASSING THE COST
OF CLIMATE CHANGE ONTO
FUTURE GENERATIONS.
THAT IS WHAT 90% CONCRETE
COVERAGE OF RESIDENTIAL
LOTS WILL DO.
AS AN ROI- FOCUSED
CLIMATE TECHNOLOGY INVESTOR, A
PARENT OF
YOUNG CHILDREN,
AND A PERSON WHOSE OWN AGE MEANS
THAT I
AM GOING TO BE LIVING THROUGH
THE WORSENING EFFECTS
OF CLIMATE CHANGE
MYSELF, I ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER
THE LONG-
TERM COLLECTIVE RETURNS AND YOUR
OWN
LEGACY TO YOUR KIDS OVER
SHORT- TERM PROFITS
FOR DEVELOPERS WHO HAVE CO-OPTED
THE COMPLEXITY OF THE HOUSING
MARKET
AND
PEOPLE'S DESPERATION OVER
PRIVATE EQUITY DRIVEN RENTS AND
MORTGAGES IN ORDER TO
LITERALLY PAVE THEIR WAY TO AN
EVEN
EASIER WAY TO DO THEIR OWN
BUSINESS.
THE ONLY
WAY WE'LL SURVIVE THE NOW BAKED
IN CHANGES THAT ARE
COMING OUR WAY IS TO WORK
WITH URBAN FORESTS, NOT FURTHER
BIFURCATE INTO HUMANS
VERSUS NATURE.
PLEASE AMEND THIS PLAN
NOW.
>>
THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE
SPIRIT HANDS -- I DON'T WANT TO
HAVE TO
SAY THIS OVER AGAIN.
YEAH, SPIRIT HANDS.
NO, JAZZ HANDS.
WHERE'D I GET SPIRIT?
JAZZ HANDS,
JAZZ HANDS. GO AHEAD.
>> HELLO, EVERYONE.
I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR
THE TREES SINCE I WAS
IN
KINDERGARTEN. I SPOKE TO THE
CITY
COUNCIL ABOUT THE LAST TREE
ORDINANCE AND I WAS SO
DISAPPOINTED AND SHOCKED AT THE
ADULTS THAT I
TRUSTED AND RELIED ON DID NOT DO
WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO.
I CARE ABOUT THIS SO MUCH
EVEN THOUGH MY GRANDMA HAS
CANCER AND
IS IN HER LAST DAYS, I CAME
HERE TO PROTECT OUR TREES.
I WANTED YOU
TO KNOW SEATTLE IS CALLED THE
EMERALD CITY
BECAUSE OF ITS NATURAL BEAUTY
AND TOWERING MOUNTAINS.
JUST THIS PAST YEAR SEATTLE
HAS LOST 1,800 TREES, WHICH IS
TOO MANY.
I HAVE ASTHMA, AND
I USUALLY START COUGHING REALLY
BAD WHEN I
ENTER DOWNTOWN SEATTLE
BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH
TREES TO
KEEP THE AIR CLEAN.
THAT IS WHY WE NEED MORE TREES
IN THIS SATE.
WHEN I GO UP TO THE EAST
AND NORTH OF CEMENT I SEE WAY
MORE
TREES,
BIG, HUGE, BEAUTIFUL
TREES. WE NEED MORE OF THAT
HERE.
SO THAT'S WHY I'M BEGGING YOU,
SEATTLE, MAKE OUR FUTURE BETTER
FOR MORE PEOPLE TO
COME. MOTHER NATURE DID NOT PUT
US
ON THIS EARTH TO DESTROY IT.
SHE PUT US ON THIS EARTH TO
HELP IT BECAUSE SHE
BELIEVED SHE COULD TRUST HUMAN
BEINGS,
BUT WE HAVE PROVEN
HER WRONG. SO THAT'S WHY WE
NEED TO DO
BETTER, SEATTLE.
LET'S GO GREEN TOGETHER.
THANK YOU.
>> PLEASE STEP UP, CAN WE HIT
SPEAKERS 11, 12, 13,
14, 15. PLEASE STAND UP AND COME
TO BOTH
MICS.
THEY'RE AVAILABLE FOR YOU.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS DELIEP LEILA.
I THINK IT IS CRITICAL TO
PRIORITIZE HOWING --
HOUSING AFFORDABILY.
WHY DO DECISION MAKERS
OFTEN MAKE THE ASSUMPTION PEOPLE
WITH LOWER INCOMES WANT TO LIVE
NO
ACCESS. WALKABILITY IS TALKED
ABOUT
BUT I DON'T FEEL SAFE WALKING
AT
NIGHT. YOU'RE WANTING ME TO
TAKE MOSTLY
TRANSIT, BUT I DON'T FEEL
SAFE RIDING THE TRANSIT OR BUSES
AT NIGHT.
RESEARCH HAS SHOWN WOMEN DO
MORE OF THE FOOD SHOPPING,
DROPPING OFF KIDS, CARING FOR
ELDERS.
THEY NEED TO USE CARS.
YET YOU'RE CONSIDERING
PERMITTING APARTMENTS WITH NO
PARKING IN MABELIEVE
ASSUMING WE'RE ABLE TO WALK.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE
CONTRIBUTION TREES MAKE THROUGH
DRAINAGE,
WILDLIFE, POLLINATORS,
AND MENTAL HEALTH.
AND WE WILL NEED TO MAXIMIZE THE
ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND SOLAR.
RIGHT NOW I DON'T SEE ANY OF
THE
NEW BUILDINGS.
YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT
WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING ON THE
GROUND.
ARE THERE REALLY
COMMUNITIES THAT SUPPORT MORE
DENSITY
THAN WHAT IS BEING BUILT?
CONSTRAINED TRANSPORTATION.
I'M AGAINST THE DESIGNATION
AS MAPLE LEAF AS A NEIGHBORHOOD
CENTER.
>> NEXT 11, 12, 13, 14, AND 15.
PLEASE STEP FORWARD 11
THROUGH 15.
TANISHA?
>> YES.
THANK
YOU. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, AND
THANK YOU FOR HOLDING
THIS SPACE.
MY NAME IS TANISHA SEPULVEDA,
AND A LOT OF ISSUES I'VE
HEARD TONIGHT RESONATE AS FAR AS
NEEDING BETTER TRANSIT,
NEEDING OUR SIDEWALKS FIXED AND
NEEDING
A HEALTHY, BEAUTIFUL TREE
CANOPY, BUT THE NECESSITY
FOR ALL OF THAT ISN'T GOING TO
STOP THE MOVING TRAIN THAT IS
THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE COMING
INTO
OUR CITY AND NEEDING
HOUSING, THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE
WHO
ARE ALREADY HERE AND NEED
HOUSING.
PEOPLE LIKE ME, PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES WHERE WE'RE
ALREADY SO LIMITED IN OUR ACCESS
TO HOUSING AND RESOURCES
THAT WITHOUT MORE IMPROVEMENT ON
ZONING, WITHOUT MORE ABILITY
TO HAVE ACCESSIBLE HOUSING,
AND OFTENTIMES WE DON'T FIND
THAT
IN SINGLE OR FAMILY HOMES AND
LOTS, AND THESE NEW HOMES THAT
ARE BEING BUILT.
WE FIND THAT IN MULTIFAMILY
HOUSING, IN CONDOS, IN
APARTMENTS, IN PLACES THAT
HAVE ELEVATORS AND THAT OFTEN
HAVE CLOSER RESOURCES TO
PHARMACIES,
GROCERY MARTS, PLAZAS.
AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO
BRING THESE SERVICES MORE INTO
OUR TOWNS AND NOT JUST
THE
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS. WE NEED TO
EXPAND PAST
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER AND ALLOW
ACCESS FOR, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE
IN THESE COMMUNITIES, THE
ELDERLY PEOPLE WITH LIMITED
MOBILITY,
PEOPLE WITH CHILDREN WHO
MAYBE CAN'T GET THAT FAR, HAVE
LIMITED TIME, WHO WANT TO BE
ABLE
TO ENJOY THE PERKS OF LIVING IN
A
CITY WHILE REMAINING IN A
NEIGHBORHOOD. LIVING IN HIGHLAND
PARK
I'VE SEEN MY NEIGHBORHOOD GROW.
I'VE SEEN UNAFFORDABLE,
INACCESSIBLE,
EXPENSIVE TOWNHOMES BEING BUILT.
AND THAT IS OBVIOUSLY NOT
SOMETHING THAT I
CAN GROW OR MOVE INTO, AND I
WOULD LOVE
TO STAY IN THIS CITY.
BUT WITHOUT IMPLEMENTING A
STRONGER CHANGE THAT IS THE
SEATTLE ONE PLAN, WE'RE
NOT GOING TO GET THERE.
SO I PLEASE URGE YOU TO SUPPORT
THIS PLAN.
THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
SARAH?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON,
CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH, MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE.
MY NAME IS SARAH CLARK, AND I
AM HERE ON BEHALF OF THE
2,500 MEMBERS OF THE SEATTLE
METRO CHAMBER IN STRONG SUPPORT
OF MAYOR HARRELL'S PROPOSED ONE
SEATTLE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN,
WHICH IS NOW BEFORE YOU.
WE HAVE A HOUSING SUPPLY
CRISIS IN SEATTLE, AND THIS PLAN
IS ESSENTIAL TO FOSTERING A
VIBRANT, EQUITABLE,
AND SUSTAINABLE SEATTLE THAT
BENEFITS RESIDENTS, WORKERS, AND
BUSINESSES ALIKE.
SEATTLE'S GROWTH DEMANDS
BOLD ACTION.
THE ONE SEATTLE PLAN PROMOTES
MIXED USE, INCLUSIVE
NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE PEOPLE CAN
LIVE, WORK, AND
THRIVE, CRITICAL FOR ATTRACTING
TALENT, SUPPORTING LOCAL
NEIGHBORHOOD
ECONOMIES, AND ENSURING BUSINESS
SUCCESS.
EXPANDING DIVERSE
HOUSING OPTIONS INCLUDING
AFFORDABLE AND
MULTI- FAMILY DEVELOPMENTS,
KEEPS WORKERS CLOSE TO JOBS,
REDUCES
COMMUTES, AND STRENGTHENS OUR
WORKFORCE.
ECONOMIC VITALITY AND
COMMUNITY WELL- BEING GO HAND IN
HAND.
THE PLANNED STRATEGIC LAND USE
SUPPORTS NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS
DISTRICTS, INNOVATION HUBS, AND
COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS, DRIVING
INVESTMENT,
ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND ECONOMIC
DIVERSITY.
WE URGE YOU TO SUPPORT MAYOR
HARRELL'S POLICIES INCLUDING
THE
30 NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS VITAL TO
CREATING EQUITABLE,
WALKABLE COMMUNITIES.
THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY
STANDS READY TO COLLABORATE IN
MAKING THIS VISION A
REALITY. TOGETHER WE CAN BUILD A
MORE RESILIENT, AFFORDABLE
SEATTLE.
THANK
YOU.
>> THANK
YOU.
>> HI.
I'M 20 YEARS OLD AND I
HAVE LIVED IN SEATTLE FOR MOST
OF
MY LIFE.
THE CURRENT STATUS QUO OF OUR
CITY IS UNACCEPTABLE THE
AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE
UNHOUSED
OR VERY CLOSE TO IT IS FAR, FAR
TOO MANY.
AND THE IDEA THAT BUILDING
MORE HOUSING WILL NOT HELP
ALLEVIATE THIS CRISIS IS PLAINLY
RIDICULOUS.
I FULLY AGREE IT'S NOTNOT THE
SOLUTION, BUT IT IS A
MASSIVE PART OF IT.
I AM IN SUPPORT OF
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AND I
AM ASKING ALL OF YOU TO
STRENGTHEN
IT, BUILD MORE DENSITY.
I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT
NATURE AND ABOUT TREES AND ABOUT
CLIMATE.
AND THE MASSIVE SUBURBAN SPRAWL
THAT IS CURRENTLY BUILT, AND
WE ARE HAVING TO BUILD THE LIGHT
RAIL AROUND IS COSTING US FAR
MORE THAN THE DENSITY WOULD.
AND WE CAN BUILD WITH TREES AND
HOMES. THANK
YOU.
>> BRANDON THEN TRACY.
>> HI, I'M BRANDON.
I AM 17, AND I ORIGINALLY
COME FROM CARNATION, BUT I HAVE
RECENTLY MOVED TO SEATTLE.
AND THERE ARE SO MANY NEW
HOMES GOING UP IN CARNATION AND
ALL THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY AND
EVERYWHERE, AND THEY'RE VERY
EXPENSIVE, AND THEY'RE
DISPLACING THE PEOPLE AND
NATURE THAT
ARE THERE. AND I BELIEVE THAT
HAVING
MORE DENSE HOUSING IN SEATTLE
WOULD
BE WONDERFUL.
I ALSO -- I LOVE LIVING IN
SEATTLE.
IT IS SO NICE, AND
ACCESSIBILITY IS LACKING.
BEING ABLE TO TAKE THE BUS IS
AMAZING, AND NOT
HAVING CURB CUTS ON THE STREETS
MAKES IT
SO THAT I HAVE TO NAVIGATE
AROUND
THAT, AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S
OKAY.
THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
TRACY, BEFORE YOU SPEAK, CAN
WE GET SPEAKERS 16 THROUGH 2020
STEP UP, PLEASE?
WE HAVE TWO PODIUMS.
16 THROUGH 20.
THANK YOU BRANDEN, AND
THANK YOU, TRACY.
>> HI, I'M
HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO ALLOW
THE NEW ZONE IN THE
HOLLER LAKE NEIGHBORHOOD TO
MOVE FORWARD AS PLANNED.
I LIVE ON HOLLER LAKE AND
HAVE BEEN PART OF THAT COMMUNITY
FOR 24 YEARS.
THROUGHOUT MY 24 YEARS I'VE
APPRECIATED THE CONVENIENCE,
THE CONNECTION, AND BEAUTY OF
THIS
NEIGHBORHOOD. THE HOLLER LAKE
NEIGHBORHOOD IS
A TREASURE THAT SHOULD BE
OPENOPEN TO MORE RESIDENTS OF
SEATTLE.
IT'S A PERFECT LOCATION BECAUSE
THERE IS SO MUCH TO OFFER
WITHIN A 1- MILE RADIUS.
WE HAVE QUICK ACCESS TO I- 5
AND AURORA.
WE HAVE A BRAND NEW ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL THAT'S VERY LARGE.
WE HAVE K- 8 AND INGRAM
HIGH SCHOOL ALL WITHIN
WALKING DISTANCE.
WE HAVE NORTH WEST HOSPITAL.
WE HAVE NORTH ACRES PARK,
GROCERY STORES, RESTAURANTS,
CLUBS, CHURCHES, AND ALL
KINDS OF EXERCISE FACILITIES
ALL WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE
WITHIN A
1- MILE RADIUS.
THE MOST UNIQUE PART ABOUT
HOLLER LAKE IS HOLLER LAKE.
IT'S A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE
COME TO PLAY AND SWIM IN THE
LAKE.
THEY FLOAT, THEY FISH,
THEY ENJOY THE NATURE AND THE
BEAUTY.
I FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT AN
INCREDIBLE NEIGHBORHOOD THIS
IS, AND
I CAN EMPATHIZE WITH MY
NEIGHBORS WHO DON'T WANT
CHANGE FOR THIS VERY
SPECIAL COMMUNITY. OUR CITY
NEEDS TO MAKE ROOM
FOR MORE RESIDENTS.
HOLLER LAKE IS THE PERFECT
LOCATION TO WELCOME MORE
RESIDENTS SO THEY CAN ENJOY THIS
TREASURED COMMUNITY. PLEASE
ALLOW THE LR3 ZONE
IN THE COMMUNITY OF HOLLER LAKE.
THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE TWO MICS.
YOU CAN BE BACK AND FORTH.
GO
AHEAD.
>> MY NAME IS DON M cFAR LN.
MAPLE LEAF WAS NAMED MAPLE
LEAF FOR A REASON.
A GOOGLE MAP SEARCH
DEMONSTRATES HOW MANY TREES
THERE ARE,
BUT WE WANTED TO DEMONSTRATE
THAT
WITH SOME NUMBERS.
WE HAD TEN CITIZEN
SURVEYORSSURVEYORS MAPLE LEAF
WITH A 40-
YEAR VETERAN OF THE ARBORETUM
LEADING
THE SURVEY. WE COUNTED TREES ON
THE PROPERTY
GREATER THAN 6 INCHES
IN DIAMETER AND NOTED THE
TREES THAT ARE
TIER 2. WE COUNTED 784 TREES, 96
OF
WHICH ARE TIER
2. IT WILL BE DECADES BEFORE
REPLACEMENT TREES OFFER THE
SAME BENEFITS AS THESE TIER 2
TREES.
THESE LARGE TREES ARE USUALLY
INAPPROPRIATE STREET TREES.
OF THE LOTS WITH NEW
CONSTRUCTION, 17 HAVE NO TREES.
THREE HAVE PRESERVED AT
LEAST ONE TREE.
WE USE THE SEATTLE STREET
TREE MAP TO LOOK AT PLACES
TREES COULD BE REPLACED ON
PUBLIC LAND.
ONLY 2 OF 9 STREETS IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER
HAVE
PLANTING STRIPS WHERE THOSE
PLANTING STRIPS ARE ALMOST FULL.
THE MAPLE LEAF PARK HAS A
RESERVOIR.
TREE PLANTING THERE IS LIMITED,
AND THE SURVIVAL RATE OF
PLANTED TREES HAS BEEN POOR.
WE OBSERVED THAT MANY TALL
TREES WERE ON THE PERIMETER OF
PROPERTIES.
WITH
SPACE DURING CONSTRUCTION TALL
TREES ON THE PERIMETER CAN
BE SAVED WHILE ALSO INCREASING
DENSITY.
THE VALUE OF TREES, CLIMATE
CHANGE, BIODIVERSITY,
HUMAN HEALTH BOTH PHYSICAL AND
MENTAL ARE ALL WELL-DOCUMENTED.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BOTH
INCREASE DENSITY AND
PRESERVE TREES WITH PROPER CARE.
DON'T WASTE
THIS OPPORTUNITY. WE WON'T GET
THIS CHANCE AGAIN.
THANK YOU.
>> YOU STILL HAVE TIME.
OKAY.
ROBIN,
BOB.
>> I'M FROM MAPLE LEAF AND I'M
SPEAKING FOR MY NEIGHBOR,
ROBIN KING.
I KNOW A LOT OF CONCERN
ABOUT THIS HAS BEEN VOICED FROM
THE
MORE SENIOR MEMBERS OF OUR
COMMUNITY, AND I WANTED TO ADD A
VOICE AND PERSPECTIVE OF
SOMEONE WHO HAS GRADE SCHOOL
AGED CHILDREN AT OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD
SCHOOL, A SCHOOL SHORT
LISTED FOR CLOSURE RECENTLY.
WE WERE RALLYING AND MADE
OUR VOICES HEARD FROM OUR SMALL
AND MIGHTY COMMUNITY, AND IT
MADE
A DIFFERENCE.
AND SO WE REALIZED WE NEED TO
DO THAT FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AS
WELL. FIRST AND FOREMOST,
HOUSING
IS DESPERATELY NEEDED FOR
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND CITY.
THAT IS NOT WHAT I'M OBJECTING
TO.
INSTEAD I DREAM OF BUILDING
A NEIGHBORHOOD FOR THE FUTURE
THAT
REFLECTS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
AND THE PEOPLE IN IT AND THOSE
WHO
WANT TO WELCOME, RETAIN,
AND
GROW IT. TEARING DOWN TREES AND
BUILDING
EXPENSIVE, GIANT POX
HOUSING DOES NOT SERVE PEOPLE
IN OUR COMMUNITY INCLUDING
TEACHERS,
LIBRARIANS, SOCIAL WORKERS,
FIREFIGHTERS, NOT TO MENTION
ANYONE ON A LIMITED INCOME.
IN TALKING WITH OTHER PARENTS
IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND
SCHOOL, THESE ARE THE CONCERNS
VOICED WITH THE CURRENT PLAN.
TRANSIT IS NOT ADEQUATE.
THERE'S CONCERNS
FOR DISTANCE TO LINK LIGHT RAIL,
LACK OF BUSES,
BUS CANCELLATION,
AND PARKING. GREEN SPACE AND
TREE CANOPY. UP TO 800 TREES IN
CURRENT PROPOSED AREA.
EVEN IF NEW TREES ARE
PLANTED, IT WILL BE DECADES
BEFORE THEY CAN REPLACE THE
VALUE LOST.
ACTUAL AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, THE BULK OF MY NEW
NEIGHBORS HAVE
PRIMARILY BEEN DOCTORS AND TECH
WORKERS. MINDFULNESS FOR FUTURE
OF
NEIGHBORHOOD AND CITY,
BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE,
ARCHITECTURE
GREEN SPACES, COMMUNITY PLANNING
AND ENGAGEMENT.
I AM
ROBIN KING. I'M A MAPLE LEAF
NEIGHBOR,
PARENT OF TWO
ELEMENTARY STUDENTS AND MEMBER
OF THE
ELEMENTARY PARENT --
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT WE HAVE BOB.
AND WE HAVE TWO MICS AS WELL.
BOTH MICS GET THE SAME AMOUNT
OF
CAMERA TIME. GO AHEAD.
>> MY NAME IS BOB MORGAN.
I'M ONE OF FOUR
SPEAKERS REPRESENTING THE WEST
GREEN LAKE
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER GROUP. FOR
US THE PROPOSED CHANGES
WOULD BE DEVASTATING.
WE KNOW THERE'S A HOUSING
CRISIS TO BE ADDRESSED, BUT WE
FEEL WE'RE BEING THROWN UNDER
THE
BUS FOR NOTHING BUT
THE ENRICHMENT OF DEVELOPERS AND
INVESTORS.
BECAUSE MASSIVE HOUSING WILL NOT
MAKE MARKET RATES AFFORDABLE
IN
SEATTLE. HOUSEHOLD INCOMES ARE
TOO
HIGHHIGH NEAR GREEN LAKE.
STICK WITH HP 1110 AND EXISTING
MULTIFAMILY REDWELT.
THAT WILL ADDRESS THE VARIETY
OF HOUSING TYPES NEEDED.
REJECT ALL NEIGHBORHOOD
CENTERS, AND SPECIFICALLY WE ASK
YOU TO
REJECT WEST GREEN LAKE.
IT DOES NOT MEET THE
CRITERIA FOR NEIGHBORHOOD
CENTERS
AS
FOLLOWS. THERE'S NO PROPOSED
COMMERCIAL
CORRIDOR AT THIS LOCATION.
IT'S DIVIDED BY A NOISY STATE
HIGHWAY, THE NUMBER ONE
ALTERNATIVE TO I- 5
WITH SIGNIFICANT BUFFERS FOR
PEDESTRIANS, AND YOU SHOULD SEE
IT DURING THE PEAK HOUR.
IT'S NORTHBOUND ONLY.
A WALK EXCEEDING 800 FEET
IS REQUIRED TO GET TO A BUS
FROM DOWNTOWN FOR MOST OF
THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER.
EAST- WEST TRAFFIC ALONG
WYNONNA AND WEST GREEN LAKE
DRIVE HAS BEEN INTENTIONALLY
CONSTRAINED.
AS PROMISED DURING THE MAYOR'S
REVIEW LAST SPRING.
SURROUNDING GREEN LAKE WITH
FIVE- STORY APARTMENTS WITH NO
PARKING REQUIRED WILL
ADVERSELY AFFECT A REGIONAL
TREASURE.
SEATTLE HAS CENTURY OLD
WATER SYSTEMS UNLIKELY TO BE
SUFFICIENT FOR PLANNED
DEVELOPMENT.
AND OF COURSE THE
PROPOSED UP ZONE WILL BE A TREE
CANOPY DISASTER.
IF A NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER IS
RETAINED, WHICH WE DO NOT
SUPPORT, AT LEAST PROVIDE
SCALE TRANSITIONS WITHIN THE
CENTER'S
BOUNDARIES AND MOVE BOUNDARIES
WITHIN AN 800 FOOT WALK FROM
THE TRANSIT STOP OF 76th AND
AURORA.
AND I WOULD SUGGEST CONSIDERING
THE MANNED SIDE OF THIS
ISSUE, DO WE NEED MORE -- BOB,
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, BOB.
>> GO RIGHT
AHEAD.
>> MY NAME
IS MARIE. I'M HERE TODAY WITH
OTHER
WEST GREEN LAKE NEIGHBORS TO
VOICE OUR URGENT REQUEST TO SLOW
DOWN AND FULFILL HB 1110 AND
POSTPONE
THE COMP PLAN UNTIL
MORE ACCURATE STUDIES CAN BE
COMPLETED.
MY FOCUS TODAY IS TO RAISE GRAVE
CONCERNS ABOUT THE PLANNED
EXTINCTION OF SEATTLE'S
CHARMING, OLD MULTIGENERATIONAL
FAMILY HOMES BY
NONDESCRIPT FIVE-STORY APARTMENT
BUILDINGS
THAT ALL LOOK LIKE AND
BREED ISOLATION.
LIKE MANY HOME OWNERS IN
SEATTLE HAVE LIVED IN THEIR
HOMES 40
TO 50 YEARS AND CONTRIBUTED
AND PROVIDED STABILITY TO
THEIR COMMUNITY.
THESE RESIDENTS EXPECTED TO
AGE IN PLACE AND PERHAPS
BE TAKEN CARE OF IN THEIR FINAL
DAYS
BY FAMILY IN THEIR FAMILIAR
HOME.
IT HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED THE
MULTIGENERATIONAL
NEIGHBORHOODS PROVIDE THE
ESSENTIAL
INGREDIENT OF CONNECTION THAT
CONTRIBUTES TO A SENSE OF WELL-
BEING
AND MUTUAL SUPPORT TO ALL.
HOWEVER, IF WE RING OUR
CITY WITH FIVE- STORY APARTMENT
BUILDINGS, WE ARE DEVELOPING
AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT SEATTLE.
SINCE APARTMENTS OFTEN CATER TO
STRATIFIED AGE GROUPS, THERE'S
OFTEN A LACK OF SOCIAL
COHESION AND COMMITMENT BY
RENTERS
TO
THEIR COMMUNITY. SO GIVEN THAT
WE HAVE A
STATE MANDATE TO DEVELOP HB
1110, LET'S TAKE A PAUSE AND
SEE
HOW BUILDING 46 UNITS ON A
LOT IMPACTS THE CURRENT
LIFESTYLE
OF OUR RESIDENTS.
AND LET'S KEEP WORKING WITH
CITY
OFFICIALS TO PLAN FOR A
MULTIGENERATIONAL AND
ELDERLY AS WELL AS MORE HOUSING
WITH CHARACTER IN OUR CITY.
WHY NOT SCRAP THE FIVE- STORY
L3 APARTMENTS NEAR CURRENT
FAMILY
HOMES AND TRANSITION THE HEIGHT
FROM NR TO A LOWER L1 AND
L2 TO STAY CLOSER TO THE
CHARACTER
OF
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD? COMPROMISE BY
EVERYONE IS
THE BEST SOLUTION.
THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING.
>> THANK YOU.
BEFORE YOU START, WELCOME.
THANK YOU FOR COMING.
WE CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR YOUR
COMMENTSCH CAN I HAVE SPEAKERS
21 THROUGH 25 STEP UP.
COME TO BOTH
MICS, PLEASE. 21 TO 25.
EZEKIEL, YOU GOT THIS.
AND MAKE SURE YOU SPEAK INTO THE
MICROPHONE SO WE CAN HEAR
YOU.
>> HI.
I AM 8 YEARS OLD.
I LOVE
THIS CITY. I LIVE IN DISTRICT 6.
DAN STRAUSS YOU
DON'T JUST REPRESENT THE
GROWNUPS
IN
DISTRICT 6. YOU REPRESENT THE
KIDS, TOO. ALL OF THE KIDS IN
THIS ROOM WHO
GREW UP IN SEATTLE GREW UP
WITH TREES ALL AROUND THEM.
WHY DON'T I GET ANY?
I DESERVE TO GROW UP WITH TREES,
TOO. MY LITTLE BROTHER DESERVES
TO GROW UP WITH TREES, TOO.
MY FRIENDS DESERVE TO GROW
UP WITH TREES, TOO.
PLEASE CHANGE THIS PLAN
TO PROTECT WHAT WE LOVE AND WHAT
MAKES THIS CITY SO BEAUTIFUL.
PLEASE PROTECT THE
TREES.
>> THANK YOU, EZEKIEL.
SO 21 THROUGH 25 PLEASE STEP UP.
AND WE HAVE TWO MICS.
YOU CAN STAY THERE, BUT
PEOPLE WHO ARE BEHIND YOU THERE
IN THE
QUEUE, WE HAVE TWO MICS.
PLEASE HELP
US OUT. GO AHEAD.
UNDERSTOOD.
>> MY NAME IS JENNY GRANT,
AND I HAVE LIVED IN MADRONA FOR
OVER
20 YEARS, AND I WORKED THERE AS
A REAL ESTATE AGENT FOR 10
YEARS.
OVER 600 MADRONA RESIDENTS
AND COUNTING HAVE SIGNED THE
FRIENDS OF MADRONA PETITION THAT
ASKS
THE CITY COUNCIL TO DOWN
SCALE THE PROPOSED ONE SEATTLE
PLAN
FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE
OF INCREASING AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AND DENSITY THROUGHOUT THE
CITY INCLUDING MADRONA.
THAT'S WHY WE STRONGLY
SUPPORT WASHINGTON STATEHOUSE
BILL
1110 THAT REZONES SINGLE FAMILY
HOUSING FOR NR 3 ACROSS
THE CITY.
HOWEVER, WE ARE ASKING THE CITY
COUNCIL TO SLOW DOWN THE
PLANS FOR ADDITIONAL REZONING
AND OTHER MEASURES THAT GO ABOVE
AND
BEYOND HB
1110. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO
COLLABORATE
WITH MADRONA AND ENGAGE WITH US
TO UNDERSTAND OUR SPECIFIC
CONCERNS AND ISSUES,
WHICH INCLUDE CONCERNS ABOUT
STEEP
SLOPES AND THE
SLIDE-PRONE AREAS, THE LACK OF
AFFORDABLE OF
LR3 BUILDINGS ON OUR STEEP
SLOPES, LACK OF
INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THE IMPACT
OF NEW LOT
COVERAGE, OPEN SPACE,
AND SETBACK RULES ON OUR TREE
CANOPY. YOU'RE ABOUT TO HEAR
MORE
ABOUT THESE ISSUES FROM OTHER
MADRONA
NEIGHBORS. WE WOULD HAVE A LARGE
GROUP
HERE TO STAND WITH US TODAY, BUT
DUE TO THE WEATHER FORECAST, WE
HAVE ASKED THEM TO STAY HOME.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO ENGAGING WITH
THE COUNCIL SO IT HAS
THE INFORMATION IT NEEDS TO MAKE
AN INFORMED AND NON- RUSHED
DECISION
ON REZONING FOR OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT WE HAVE MS. YOUNG.
>> MAY NAME IS LANY YOUNG,
AND I AM HERE BECAUSE I'M
VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE
PROPOSALS
TO UP ZONE THE STEEP SLOPE AND
SLIDE AREAS OF MADRONA.
EVERY SPRING I VENTURE DOWN
THE SLOPE OF MY YARD TO SEE HOW
THINGS SURVIVED THE
SEATTLE WINTER.
I SEE THE CHRONIC OOZE AS WET
CLAY SOIL SEEKS TO MAKE ITS WAY
DOWN THE HILL.
WE HAVE FRIENDS WHO HAVE
SPENT THOUSANDS IN AN EFFORT
TO PREVENT THEIR YARDS FROM
SLIDING
ONTO THE STREET BELOW,
NOT ALWAYS SUCCESSFULLY.
FRIENDS ON GRAND AVENUE
HAD THEIR UPHILL NEIGHBOR'S
YARD
WIND UP IN THEIR KITCHEN ONE
WET AND SNOWY WINTER.
AND DESPITE ITS NAME
GRAND AVENUE IS ACTUALLY A ONE-
LANE
STREET, AND IT IS A FOUR-
STORY CLIMB TO THEIR FRONT DOOR.
THIS IS THE REALITY OF
THE GEOLOGY OF MADRONA.
THE FACT IS SOME AREAS OF
MADRONA DESIGNATED FOR
HIGH DENSITY SIT ON SOME OF THE
MOST
UNSTABLE LAND IN
THE CITY. THE CITY IS WELL AWARE
OF
THIS AND HAS DESIGNATED THESE
FOR ENVIRONMENTALLY CRITICAL
AREAS, WHICH CURRENTLY MAKE
IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO
REPLACE
EVEN A CRACKED RETAINING WALL.
PORTLAND HAS BANNED
HIGHER DENSITY HOUSING FROM
THEIR ECAs.
AS THE WILDFIRES IN L.A.
REMIND US IT IS A MISTAKE TO
BUILD IN
PLACES WE CAN'T
PROTECT, WE SHOULD HAVE SOME
HUMILITY ABOUT THE WISDOM OF
ALLOWING
FIVE- STORY BUILDINGS AND
HARD SCAPE TO COVER OUR
FRAGILE SLOPES AND NARROW DEAD
END STREETS THAT RESCUE VEHICLES
CAN BARELY NEGOTIATE.
I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO
REMOVE ALL LR ZONING
DESIGNATIONS FROM
MADRONA'S STEEP SLOPE AND
SLIDE AREAS AND FIND OTHER
PLACES,
FLATTER GROUND IN MADRONA.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
AND BEFORE WE HEAR FROM YOU,
JUST A REMINDER THAT
WE'RE ASKING PEOPLE AFTER YOU
SPEAK TO GO DOWN STAIRS BECAUSE
WE'RE SENDING PEOPLE UP FROM
THE
OVERFLOW ROOM SO THEY CAN
SPEAK AS WE'RE SWITCHING OUT,
SO
WE'RE JUST ASKING YOU ALL TO
WORK WITH
US.
GO RIGHT
AHEAD.
>> MY NAME IS LEELAND
SHIELDS AND I'M A
MADRONA RESIDENT. THE QUESTION
BEFORE THE COUNCIL
IS THIS.
IF MORE HOUSING IS
BUILT GENERALLY BUT IT DOES NOT
LEAD TO SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT
IN- HOUSING AFFORDABILITY, WILL
YOU STILL SUPPORT THE
CURRENT PLAN AS IT IS?
THIS WAS A QUESTION I
ASKED IN A JANUARY 30th LETTER I
E-
MAILED TO ALL COUNCILMEMBERS,
AND IT WAS HAND-DELIVERED TO
EACH
OF YOU.
THE ONE SEATTLE PLAN
WHILE COMMENDABLE IN ITS GOAL OF
INCREASING HOUSING
SUPPLY, INADEQUATELY ADDRESSES
THE ROOT
CAUSES OF AFFORDABILITY.
DETAILED RESEARCH IN THE
LETTER SHOWS THAT PLAN
WILL NOT MEET THE GOAL OF
AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. I ASK YOU TO READ IT TO
SEE WHY. KNOW IT'S INTUITIVE TO
THINK INCREASED HOUSING SUPPLY
WILL BRING DOWN PRICE,
AND OF COURSE IT'S TRUE IN SOME
WAYS, BUT
THIS PLAN FOR SEATTLE WILL
NOT SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE
SUPPLY
IN THE LOWER AND MIDDLE
PRICE RANGES IN WHICH IT IS
MOST
NEEDED. WHAT THE PLAN WILL DO
IS RADICALLY CHANGE
THE SUSTAINABILITY, THE
LIVEABILITY OF NEIGHBORHOODS
THROUGHOUT
THE CITY.
TO TRULY ADDRESS
SEATTLE'S AFFORDABILITY
CHALLENGES, THERE ARE OTHER
SOLUTIONS.
IN MY MADRONA NEIGHBORHOOD LAND
PRICES ARE HIGH, LOTS
ARE DESIGNATED AS POTENTIAL
SLIDE
AREAS, AND STEEP SLOPES REQUIRE
EXPENSIVE GEOENGINEERING
AND FOUNDATIONS WITH PILINGS
AS I HAVE IN MY HOUSE.
WITH THOSE COSTS TO GET
RETURN ON THEIR
INVEST MENT, DEVELOPERS WILL
ONLY BUILD EXPENSIVE
HOUSING. PLEASE ELIMINATE AS IT
WILL
LIKELY ONLY RESULT IN
MORE EXPENSIVE HOUSING AND WILL
FOREVER ALTER THE
LIVEABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY
OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>>
THANK YOU. NEXT CATHERINE AND
THEN
RON.
>> GOOD EVENING,
COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS
CATHERINE
PARKER. I LIVE IN MADRONA WITH
MY
TWO SONS.
I'M SPEAKING TONIGHT FOR MY
NEIGHBOR ANDREA WHO WASN'T
ABLE TO BE HERE BECAUSE SHE HAD
TO
WORK LATE. THE COUNCIL SHOULD
REJECT
PARTS OF THE ONE SEATTLE PLAN
THAT WILL NEGATIVELY IMPACT
TREE CANOPY INCLUDING THE
REVISED LOT
COVERAGE, OPEN SPACE AND SETBACK
RULES. TREES AND URBAN FORESTS
PROVIDE
CRITICAL PUBLIC HEALTH AND
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS.
SADLY WE'VE BEEN LOSING
TREE CANOPY IN THE CITY FOR
YEARS.
THE 2023 TREE ORDINANCE AND
THE ONE SEATTLE PLAN WILL
ONLY EXACERBATE THIS PROBLEM.
UNDER THE 2023 ORDINANCE
EVEN GIANT TREES CAN BE REMOVED
FOR
DEVELOPMENT, AND THE ONE SEATTLE
PLAN'S REDUCE SETBACKS AND
HARD SCAPE ALLOWANCES LEAVE
LITTLE ROOM
FOR TREES. RESIDENTIAL AREAS
WITH
MANY TREES LIKE MADRONA
HELP CONTRIBUTE TO THE CITY'S
GOAL OF
30%
TREE CANOPY. MY NEIGHBORS AND I
STRONGLY SUPPORT INCREASED
DENSITY, STRONGLY IN SUPPORT
INCREASED DENSITY AND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BUT
WE
CAN AND SHOULD DO BETTER TO
ENSURE THAT THESE PLANS ARE
GREEN,
LIVABLE, AND SUSTAINABLE.
AGAIN, PLEASE REJECT THE OF
THE ONE SEATTLE PLAN THAT WOULD
REDUCE OUR TREE CANOPY.
THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT WE HAVE RON CHAMBERS.
AND RON, BEFORE YOU START,
CAN WE HAVE SPEAKERS 26 THROUGH
30 PLEASE STEP UP TO THE MIC
AND GET READY JUST SO YOU ALL
KNOW
HOW WE'RE MOVING.
RON IS NUMBER 25, AND WE'RE
AN HOUR IN.
WE HAVE OVER 270 SPEAKERS
SIGNED UP.
SO THAT'S WHY I ASKED WE JUST
BE ABLE TO GET QUEUED UP FIRST
SO WE'RE READY
TO GO. MR. CHAMBERS, YOU
ARE READY,
SIR.
>> THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN.
AND MY NAME IS RON CHAMBERS,
AND I AM IN THE -- I GUESS TO BE
THE
WEST GREEN LAKE NEIGHBORHOOD
CENTER. MAYBE.
WHAT WE DON'T -- WE HAVEN'T
HAD A NEW CENTER BEFORE.
IT'S A NEW THING.
SO MAYBE WE SHOULD SCALE
BACK FROM 30 AND DO TWO OR THREE
AND
SEE HOW THEY WORK.
WE HAVE A THOUGHT OF
WHAT THEY'RE GOING
TO DO. AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE
DEVELOPER IS GOING TO DO WHAT
THEY'RE GOING TO DO, AND
THAT'S IT.
SO LET'S SCALE IT BACK.
ANOTHER THOUGHT.
BACK IN 2014 THE SEATTLE COUNCIL
HERE WAS VOTING ON A PROPOSAL TO
UPZONE THE BAKER STATION
AREA, AND THERE WAS ONE
DISSENTER,
AND THAT MAN WAS BRUCE HARRELL
WAS
THE DISSENTER.
HE SAID HE DID NOT WANT TO DO UP
LOADS OR UPZONES, AND HIS
QUOTE WAS HE REPEATED HIS POLICY
OF
ERRING ON THE SIDE OF
CAUTIOUSNESS.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THE
MAYOR.
AND REMEMBER, CAUTIOUSNESS.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT,
MARTI.
>> YES, HI.
AS RON
CHAMBERS JUST POINTED OUT IN
2014 THEN
COUNCIL BRUCE HARRELL DISSENTED
ON A
PROPOSAL TO UPZONE THE BAKER
AREA.
IN HIS WISDOM HE SAID,
QUOTE, HAVING TALKED TO MEMBERS
OF
THE COMMUNITY, I KNOW THAT A
ZONING POLICY÷÷POLICY BE VERY
TIGHTLY
INTERWOVEN WITH AN
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICY, AN
EDUCATION
POLICY, AND A PUBLIC
SAFETY
POLICY. AT THAT MEETING HE ALSO
REPEATED HIS POLICY OF ERRING ON
THE SIDE
OF CAUTIOUSNESS.
AND JUST YESTERDAY WE RECEIVED
A MAILING FROM THE MAYOR
SUPPORTING PROPOSITION
1B CITING THE IMPORTANCE OF
TRANSPARENCY
AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
AGAIN, WISE MAN.
THE CURRENT STATE MANDATE
TO INCREASE HOUSING TO 4 TO 6
UNITS
THROUGHOUT THE CITY ON EVERY
RESIDENTIAL LOT AND IN EVERY
NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH IS HB
1110, IS A GIVEN.
WE CAN FULFILL THE
STATE'S REQUIREMENTS ON HB 1110
BY
THEIR DEADLINE AND MOVE
CAUTIOUSLESSLY ON THE DRAMATIC
SWEEPING
RESKRIGZ OF THE
SEATTLE LANDSCAPE THAT IS THE
ONE SEATTLE PLAN.
THE ONE SEATTLE PLAN IS
NOT SUFFICIENTLY INTEGRATED WITH
EXISTING CITY SYSTEMS.
NOR HAS IT
SATISFIED MANY IMPORTANT
QUESTIONS AND
CONCERNS THAT CITIZENS HAVE,
MANY WHICH YOU ARE HEARING HERE.
AFTER CITYWIDE LOCALIZED
PUBLIC HEARINGS MAKING ALL
SEATTLE
CITIZENS WHO ARE YOUR
CONSTITUENTS AWARE OF THE
PLAN AND ITS RAMIFICATIONS, NOT
JUST HEARING THEIR CONCERNS
BUT ANSWERING THEM IN REALTIME.
AND AFTER PROTOTYPE LOCATIONS
TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR
NOT THERE ARE THE INTENDED
RESULTS FROM
THE ONE SEATTLE PLAN, WE COULD
CONSIDER CITYWIDE LIMITATION.
WE REQUEST A MINIMAL
COMPREHENSIVE
LAND USE PLAN AND ZONING TO
REACH THE --
>> THANK YOU.
TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THANK YOU, MARTI.
NEXT WE HAVE RUTH, RENEE, RYAN,
AND REBECCA.
DID I SAY THAT, RIGHT?
SPEAKER NUMBER 27.
AWESOME, THANK
YOU.
>> -- WAS THE PREFERRED AND
HIGHEST GROWTH ALTERNATIVE
AT 125 HOUSING UNITS, 2
1/2
FORECAST GROWTH. THE MAYOR'S
PLAN ADDED 40,000
UNITS FOR A CAPACITY THREE
TIMES FORECAST GROWTH.
40,000 IS A BIG NUMBER.
THAT'S ABOUT 7,000 UNITS
PER
DISTRICT. WHY WAS SO MUCH ADDED
OVER
AND ABOVE THE CHOSEN ALTERNATIVE
FIVE?
I ASKED THIS AT A PACKED MEETING
AND STAFF'S REPLY WAS I'LL
HAVE
TO GET BACK
TO YOU. I'M
STILL WAITING. THE CITY MUST
JUSTIFY THIS
NUMBER AND THE UPZONING
IT ALLOWS.
NOBODY KNOWS WHERE THE SWEET
SPOT IS. NOBODY.
STUDIES SAY UPZONING IMPROVES
HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY. OTHERS FIND PRICE
SHIFTS
ARE
MINOR. SOME EVEN FIND UPZONING
MAKES
AFFORDABILITY WORSE. BEFORE
PROCEEDING WITH A PLAN
BASED ON A POPULAR BUT POSSIBLY
DEBATABLE
THEORY THAT COULD CHANGE WHAT WE
LOVE ABOUT OUR
CITY, A DEGREE OF CAUTION
IS WARRANTED.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE FORMING
A COALITION
OF NEIGHBORHOODS ASKING TO
RETURN TO THE
HOUSING TARGET OUTLINED IN
ALTERNATIVE
5, 120,000 UNITS.
THIS WILL MEAN CITYWIDE
REZONING REVISIONS.
THIS IS A
REASONABLE, JUSTIFIABLE POSITION
THAT
DOES NOT ALTER THE POSSIBILITY
FOR
EXPANDED HOUSING OPTIONS
AND MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
CHOICES.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT
NIMBYES. NOBODY IN MY
NEIGHBORHOOD IS A
NIMBY. WE'RE REALLY GIMBYES.
WE HAVE CHILDREN, WE
HAVE NEPHEWS, WE KNOW ALL KINDS
OF
PEOPLE WE WANT TO SEE
HAVE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. BREAK MY
HEART TO SEE
HOUSING ASSESSMENT GO UP.
SO
OUR DIFFERENCES ARE A MATTER OF
DEGREE.
THANK
YOU.
>> RENEE, RYAN, AND
REBECCA.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING,
CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH AND
COUNCILMEMBERS. I LIVE IN
DISTRICT 5, AND
I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY
OVERALL SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSED
ONE SEATTLE ZONING CHANGES
AND TO COMMENT IN SUPPORT
OF TWO SPECIFIC REZONING
PROPOSALS.
NUMBER ONE, I COMPLETELY
SUPPORT THE PROPOSED REZONE FOR
THE
PINEHURST
STATION AREA. I LIVE IN THE
STATION AREA AND
MY HOME IS PLANNED TO BE
REZONED TO SINGLE RESIDENTIAL
LR3.
I'VE LIVED AND OWNED MY HOME
FOR
26 YEARS. I'VE RAISED MY FAMILY
THERE,
AND MY CHILDREN ARE
ADULTS AND THEY'RE LOOKING TO
RENT AND
BUY THEIR OWN HOMES IN D5.
I SUPPORT THE PLAN SO
MY CHILDRENS CAN HAVE THEIR
OWN
HOMES. NUMBER
TWO, I COMPLETELY SUPPORT THE
REZONE IN MAPLE LEAF
AND AROUND MAPLE LEAF PARK.
I WALK AT MAPLE LEAF AND
SPEND TIME AT SHOPS AND
RESTAURANTS
IN MAPLE LEAF REGULARLY.
MY CHILDREN ATTENDED ST.
CATHERINE'S CHURCH
AND SCHOOL FOR 13 YEARS.
AND I WAS ON THE COUNCIL
FOR MUCH OF THAT TIME.
THE PEOPLE IN SEATTLE
INVESTED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO
CREATE MAPLE LEAF PARK AND BUILD
THE
LIGHTENING RAIL STATION
WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE TO THE
REZONE. AREAS THAT HAVE
BENEFITTED
FROM MAJOR INVESTMENTS SHOULD
BE FIRST TO WELCOME NEW
NEIGHBORS.
PINEHURST AND MAPLE LEAF
SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED FOR NEW
DENSITY
BEFORE OTHER D5 COMMUNITIES
LIKE BITTER
LAKE AND LAKE CITY, WHICH HAVE
ALREADY TAKEN ON MAJOR
DENSITY BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED
THE SAME LEVEL OF INVESTMENT.
THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, RENEE.
AND, EYEREN, BEFORE YOU
START CAN WE HAVE SPEAKERS 31
THROUGH
35? AND SPEAKER 35 I CAN'T
READ.
DEREK I THINK IT
IS.
>> AS YOU KNOW MY NAME IS RYAN
DONOHUE AND I'M THE
CHIEF OFFICER FOR HABITAT FOR
HUMANITY.
WE'VE BEEN BUILDING AFFORDABLE
HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE FOR
ROUGHLY 39 YEARS NOW, SO WE KNOW
A LITTLE SOMETHING ABOUT WHAT
IT TAKES TO BUILD A PLACE
WHERE EVERYONE HAS A SAFE,
DECENT,
AND AFFORDABLE PLACE TO CALL
HOME.
THAT IS WHY I'M HERE TODAY
TO TELL YOU THAT WE ARE AT
AN INFLECTION POINT.
WE CAN CONTINUE DOWN THE
PATH THAT WE HAVE BEEN,
BUILDING HOUSING ENOUGH BUT NOT
ENOUGH
TO BE ABLE TO SUPPLY -- BE ABLE
TO
ACTUALLY PROVIDE THE SUPPLY
WE ACTUALLY NEED AT ALL INCOME
LEVELS.
WE CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE
OUR WALLED OFF- GUARDENS,
PRESERVING CERTAIN WELL- OFF
COMMUNITIES
RICH IN AMENITY
AND OPPORTUNITIES WHILE
FORCING EVERYONE ELSE TO LIVE IN
MORE HEAVILY POLLUTED AREAS.
WE CAN CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON
RESTRICTING HOUSING TYPES
IN FAVOR OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE,
OUTDATED, AND ENVIRONMENTALLY
UNFRIENDLY TYPES LIKE
SINGLE FAMILY HOMES TO THE
EXCLUSION OF
ALL ELSE AND LEAVING A
MAJORITY OF THIS CITY'S
RESIDENTS
LOCKED OUT FROM EVEN BEING ABLE
TO DREAM ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY
TO OWN THEIR OWN HOME.
OR WE CAN TAKE THE OTHER
PATH, THE PATH OF HOUSING
ABUNDANCE, THAT USING THE ZONING
RULES
YOU ARE ALL LOOKING AT TODAY AND
THE
FUNDING RULES YOU'LL LOOK
AT COME BUDGET TIME.
WE CAN OPEN UP OUR WALLED
GARDENS ALLOWING MORE PEOPLE TO
HAVE AM OPPORTUNITIES THAT
COME WITH LIVING IN SOME OF THE
MOST
BEAUTIFUL, MOST BRIGHTEST
JEWELS THIS CITY HAS TO OFFER.
WE CAN BUILD MORE TYPES OF
MORE HOUSING
CREATING MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
EVERYONE IN THE CITY TO BE ABLE
TO HAVE
A PLACE THAT THEY CAN CALL THEIR
OWN, THAT THEY OWN.
YOU'VE HEARD ME AND MY TEAM
COME
UP HERE AND TALK ABOUT
THE PROPOSED COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
BEFORE, AND AS YOU
KNOW, THERE ARE CERTAINLY AREAS
FOR
IMPROVEMENT.
BUT I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE
TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
THIS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS A BIG
STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
PLEASE KEEP IN MIND
THE DECISIONS YOU MAKE WILL HAVE
LONG LASTING IMPACTS ON
THE FUTURE OF THIS CITY.
YOU CAN TRY TO PRESERVE THE
CITY IN AMBER BUT THAT WILL
ONLY CRACK UNDER THE PRESSURE OF
MORE
AND MORE PEOPLE
MOVING HERE FOR JOBS AND
OPPORTUNITY.
>> THANK YOU, RYAN.
YOUR TIME IS UP.
BUT YOU CAN SEND US
YOUR COMMENTS IN AS WELL.
REBECCA, YOU'RE UP
NEXT, AND WE'LL KICK IT OVER TO
MR.
HINES.
>> THANK
YOU, COUNCIL. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT
TO SUPPORTING A PLAN THAT WORKS
FOR
ALL SEATTLEITES.
I'M A MOM.
I'VE LIVED IN MAPLE LEAF ON
D5 FOR 22 YEARS AND MY HOME IS
ONE OF THE BLOCKS IN THE
PROPOSED
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER.
I WANT TO SAY OUR
LOCATION DOESN'T HAVE THE
PROXIMITY TO THE SERVICES AND
TRANSIT THE ONE SEATTLE PLAN
CALLS FOR TO
SUPPORT A DENSE NEIGHBORHOOD
CENTER.
AND IN ADDITION ASSUMING
THAT EVERYONE WHO LIVES IN
THAT CENTER COULD WALK OR BUS
TO ACCESS THOSE SERVICES
ELSEWHERE
IGNORES THE NEEDS OF SENIORS
AND
THOSE WITH LIMITED MOBILITY. AND
THIS IS WHY.
MAPLE LEAF IS THE THIRD HIGHEST
CENTER IN THE CITY.
RIGHT NEXT TO THE PARK, THE
ONLY SERVICES WE HAVE ARE A
COUPLE
OF COFFEE SHOPS, A HARDWARE
STORE, A RESTAURANT, AND TOY
STORE.
AND THAT DENSITY HASN'T
CHANGED IN THE 22 YEARS I'VE
LIVED THERE.
AS DENSITY HAS
GROWN, WE HAVEN'T HAD MORE
SERVICES COME IN
THERE. IT'S DOWNHILL TO
GET TO
PHARMACY, TWO BUSES TO GET
TO THE HIGH SCHOOL.
ASK ME HOW I KNOW, HIGH
SCHOOL PARENT.
IT'S A STEEP CLIMB BACK HOME.
OATS NOT AN AUGZ TO OPTION TO
WALK THAT
HILL ON A REGULAR BASIS
AS I SAID TEACHERS, PARENTS,
AND THOSE
WITH MOBILITY ISSUES. WE ONLY
HAVE ONE BUS.
WE USED TO HAVE MULTIPLE BUSES
INCLUDING AN EXPRESS DOWNTOWN.
SINCE THEY WERE CUT IT
TAKES ABOUT TWICE AS LONG TO
USE PUBLIC TRANSIT TO TAKE
DOWNTOWN AS IT USED TO, AND
PEOPLE THAT
USED TO BUS END UP DRIVING.
A BURDEN THAT PULLS
DISPROPORTIONATELY ON MOMS.
AND SO I WOULD ASK YOU
TO PROPOSE MOVING THE LOCATION
ON
D5 WHICH ISN'T AT THE TOP OF
THE HILL AND WHERE
INFRASTRUCTURE,
TRANSIT SERVICES CAN
BETTER SUPPORT IT.
THANK
YOU.
>> JUST A REMINDER AFTER YOU ALL
FINISH SPEAKING, IF YOU
COULD CLEAR THE ROOM BECAUSE WE
ARE
CONSTANTLY SENDING PEOPLE
BACK
UP. I CALLED YOU HINES.
I MEANT HANES.
GO AHEAD, DAVID.
>> WE CAN GO SIX STORIES
AND CREATE A BUNCH OF TREES BUT
COUNCIL WANTS TO SABOTAGE THIS
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND PLAY
A RACE CARD AND BACK STAB A
MULTITUDE OF
YOUNGER
GENERATIONS. LEAVE NO DOUBT
THERE'S A
REVOLUTIONARY BOUT TO GIVE TRUE
DEMOCRACY A SHELL FOR
GREAT AMERICAN HOUSING BUILD OUT
FOR A IN HOME AND
REAL EQUITY FOR A MULTITUDE
OF YOUNGER GENERATIONS, NOT
SOME RACIST WOKE TAINTED IN
SKIN COLOR PRIORITY THAT'S
BUILT BY
UNQUALIFIED NONPROFITS WHO
ARE POLITICALLY CONNECTED TO THE
DEMOCRAT'S, MONOPOLIZED
RE- ELECTION APPARATUS
THAT SPENDS A LOT OF MONEY ON
BAD POLICIES FROM THE BOTTOM OF
THE
BARREL PROGRESSIVES ALL
WHILE THESE HOUSING PRIVILEGED
HOME OWNERS SHOW UP HERE PISSED
OFF
ABOUT HOW MUCH TRAFFIC THEY'VE
GOT TO SIT IN, AND
THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT ANYONE
ELSE
MOVING INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD
BECAUSE
WE HAVE ANTIQUATED, OUT
DATED -- OR LACK OF 21st
CENTURY STREETLIGHTS.
ANYWAY, THE SAME PEOPLE
CONSPIRE TO OPPRESS THE FUTURE
AND THE MULTITUDE OF
YOUNGER GENERATIONS.
WE NEED A GREATER HOUSING
BUILD OUT WITHOUT LOW LEVEL,
LOW
QUALITY RESTRICTIONS THAT SOME
PEOPLE ARE FINE WITH AS LONG AS
YOU BUILD SOMETHING THAT'S
CRAPPY, THEY DON'T WANT TO
LIVE IN,
THEY'RE FINE WITH THAT AS LONG
AS IT'S TAINTED WITH
RACISM. TO MOVE INTO THEIR
NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY DON'T WANT
THE SUPPLY
AND DEMAND SQUEEZE COMPETITION
OF
OTHER PEOPLE OFFSETTING THE
SUPPLY AND DEMAND SQUEEZE
SO THAT THESE BABY BOOMER SELL
OUTS
CAN SELLOUT THEIR MULTITUDES OF
REMORTGAGED, DESPERATE HOUSING
SPECULATIONS AT THE EXPENSE
OF FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS
AND MULTITUDE OF GENERATIONS
THAT PEOPLE SABOTAGE AND TREAD
ON
TALKING ABOUT WORKING
CLASS PEOPLE AND THE SMALL
BUSINESSES WHO ARE BEING
OPPRESSED BY
THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BANKS
THAT OWN THIS RUN- DOWN REAL
ESTATE
THAT NEED TO BE
REPLACED.
>> THANK YOU, DAVID.
OKAY, NEXT WE HAVE ARIA.
WELCOME TO WELCOME TO
PUBLIC COMMENT. GO AHEAD.
WE HAVE ARIA, MAY.
AND YOU CAN PULL IT DOWN.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO
BREAK IT. DON'T WORRY.
WE HAVE
INSURANCE.
PERFECT. GO AHEAD.
>> HELLO. I'M ARIA, AND I'M A
6th
GRADER AND I'M HERE WITH MY
GIRL
SCOUT
TROOP. I FIRST HEARD ABOUT THE
ISSUE OF
SAVING OUR TREES ON A HOT
AUGUST DAY IN 2023 WHEN WE
WERE FIGHTING TO SAME A
100-YEAR-
OLD TREE IN NORTH EAST SEATTLE.
MY TROOP AND I TALKED IN ONE OF
OUR MEETINGS ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING
OUR TREE CANOPY.
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD STILL HAS A LOT
OF TREES.
THEY'RE BEING CUT DOWN DUE
TO DEVELOPMENT.
IT MAKES ME REALLY SAD TO SEE
ALL THESE BIG TREES BEING
CUT DOWN WHEN THEY COULD HAVE
BEEN SAVED.
TREES ARE HOME TO MANY
WILDLIFE, AND WE WILL NEED THEM
TO
KEEP OUR WATER AND AIR CLEAN,
STOP EROSION AS WELL AS
STOPPING CLIENT CHANGE.
AND THINK ABOUT IT?
WOULD YOU RATHER BE BAKING IN
THE HOT SUMMER SUN OR SITTING
UNDER A TREE IN THE NICE,
COOL
SHADE. PERSONALLY, I'D RATHER
BE SITTING UNDER A TREE IN THE
NICE, COOL SHADE.
SO PLEASE SAVE SEATTLE'S
TREES.
>> THANK YOU, ARIA.
NEXT WE HAVE -- THANK YOU, ARIA.
NEXT WE HAVE
MAY.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS MAY PRUE, AND
I'M ALSO A 6th GRADER.
IN 1999 MY FATHER HIKED THE PCP
AFTER I WAS BORN.
HE DISCOVERED WHAT I WOULD CALL
HIS INTENSE FASCINATION
IN
TREES. AFTER HE COMPLETED THE
TRAIL
HE DECIDED TO MOVE OUT AND START
A FAMILY IN WASHINGTON STATE.
OVER THE YEARS HE AND I
HAVE ENJOYED OUR WALKS IN
THE NEIGHBORHOOD ON MY WAY
TO
SCHOOL. DURING THESE WALKS HE'D
TEACH
ME ABOUT THE UNIQUE ART
OF IDENTIFYING THESE TREES.
I CAN'T IMAGINE GROWING UP IN A
PLACE WHERE MY CHILDREN AND THE
GENERATIONS THAT COME AFTER
THAT CANNOT ENJOY THIS, WHERE I
CAN'T SEE, SMELL, AND
APPRECIATE
THESE
WONDERS. PEOPLE NEED HOUSES BUT
THEY
ALSO NEED TREES.
THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING
AND SPEAKING.
REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT WE HAVE
DAVID AND DEREK.
THANK YOU.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS DEREK.
I'M A SEATTLE RESIDENT.
ON JANUARY 13th MAYOR HARRELL
MADE THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS
ON KAOW.
AND I QUOTE, WE TOOK IT
UPON OURSELVES TO TALK ABOUT
TREE
CANOPY AND TREE GROWTH AND TREE
PRESERVATION AT A TIME
THESE ARE DIFFICULT
CONVERSATIONS, BUT TO
ME THESE GO TO THE
LIVEABILITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE
AND
SO WE HAVE A MAYOR
AND DEPARTMENT HEADS
THAT UNDERSTANDS THERE
IS A BAL BS. WE WANT SEATTLE TO
BE A
THRIVING CITY, UNQUOTE.
THESE ARE BEAUTIFUL WORDS
AND GREAT GOALS FOR A
SUSTAINABLE
SEATTLE, BUT MAYOR HARRELL'S
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA DOESN'T
ALIGN
WITH HIS WORDS.
STARTING IN 2023, A
TREE PROTECTION ORDER CAME OUT
OF THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE TO PROVIDE
VIRTUALLY NO PROTECTION FOR
TREES. IN FACT, IN 2024 OVER
2,000 MATURE TREES WERE CUT DOWN
IN
SEATTLE.
AND I'D LIKE YOU TO
UNDERSTAND HOW LITTLE PROTECTION
THE
TREES RECEIVED FROM THE
AUDIENCE.
THE ONE SEATTLE PLAN HAS
COME OUT OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
LIKE
THE TREE ORDINANCE, ALLOWS
NO ROOM FOR TREES.
THE NEW NEIGHBORHOOD
RESIDENTIAL ZONING WILL NOW BE
ZONED
LIKE SOUTH PARK'S SMALL
LOT RESIDENTIAL WHICH ALLOWS UP
TO SIX BUILDINGS ON THE
PROPERTY WITH NO ROOM FOR TREES,
NO
ROOM FOR CHILDREN TO PLAY AND NO
ROOM TO ENJOY YOUR YARD.
THIS WAS FEATURED IN A
SEATTLE TIMES EDITORIAL A COUPLE
OF WEEKS AGO.
THIS CAN HARDLY BE CALLED
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. SO BACK TO
MAYOR HARRELL'S
COMMENTS ABOUT
LIVEABILITY, SUSTAINABILITY IN
EMRED CITY.
THE
MAYOR'S ONE SEATTLE PLAN
DOESN'T LIVE UP TO
THOSE STANDARDS.
COUNCILMEMBERS, IT'S CLEAR
IT'S UP TO YOU TO FOLLOW
THROUGH WITH
THESE IDEALS.
SEATTLE RESIDENTS DESERVE
THEM NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.
PLEASE
CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR
ALL OF SEATTLE AND
NOT JUST THOSE THAT HELP THE
MAYOR WRITE LEGISLATION.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WE
HAVE DEREK. BEFORE YOU GO,
DEREK, CAN I GET
SPEAKERS 36 THROUGH 40 TO
START LINING UP RIGHT HERE IN
THE MIDDLE?
AGAIN, 36 THROUGH 40.
SPEAKERS 36 THROUGH 40
PLEASE STAND UP AND START
LINING UP
RIGHT HERE. AND DEREK, THE MIC
IS YOURS.
>> HELLO, MEMBERS OF THE
CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS DEREK.
I'M HERE ON THE
SEATTLE DEVELOPMENT COALITION.
I HAVE BEEN WITH MY NON-
PROFIT FOR OVER FOUR YEARS NOW,
AND
WE HAVE BEEN PROVIDING COMMUNITY
CENTERS TO THE CITY FOR OVER
50
YEARS. THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
NEEDS
TO DO WHAT OTHERS HAVE NOT.
IT NEEDS TO PROMOTE
EQUITABLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
STRATEGIES THAT HELP, NOT HARM
COMMUNITIES
LIKE CHINATOWN AND
NASHVILLE DISTRICT.
PAST COMPREHENSIVE PLANS
HAVE PRIVILEGED AND WE NEED YOU
TO IMPROVE
THIS PLAN FURTHER. WE NEED
INTENTIONAL PLANNING FOR
OUR HOUSING IN NEIGHBORHOODS
AND
TRANSIT DISTRICTS. TOO OFTEN
HOUSING IS
TOO EXPENSIVE FOR PEOPLE
IN THESE COMMUNITIES OR DOES NOT
MEET THE
NEEDS
OF FAMILIES. THESE MUST BE
ADDRESSED IN
ORDER TO MEET THE NEEDS
OF COMMUNITIES LIKE OURS.
WE NEED TO FOCUS ON
ANTI- DISPLACEMENT POLICIES AND
INVESTMENTS. OUR COMMUNITIES
FACE
MOUNTING PRESSURES FROM
DECISIONS OF
THE PAST AND PRESENT REALITIES
OF
THE MARKET.
THEY HAVE REMAINED RESILIENT AND
DEVELOPED
COMMUNITIES, ESTABLISHING
COMMUNITY BASED
PROJECTS LIKE THE LANDMARK
BOB'S PLACE,
AND THE ANNE
FAMILY HOME. WE NEED TO DO
EVERYTHING WE
CAN TO BRING PROJECTS LIKE THIS
TO SCALE AND ENSURE WE CAN MEET
THE
NEEDS OF OUR SMALL
BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS
ESPECIALLY
THOSE SUFFERING FROM
DISPLACEMENT.
FINALLY, WE NEED SUPPLY. OUR
COMMUNITY HAS BEEN
PUNISHED FOR
OTHER PEOPLE'S PRIORITIES MORE
TIMES THAN I
COULD COUNT. WE HOPE THAT
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CAN MAKE
A DIFFERENT CHOICE
BY CHANNELLING GROWTH
TOWARDS AREAS OF LOW
DISPLACEMENT.
WE SEE PROGRESS IN THE PLAN SO
FAR, BUT MORE CAN BE DONE.
THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME. OUR COALITION HAS
OUTLINED
OUR ASKS IN THE COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN TO CITY OFFICIALS IN
MULTIPLE
LETTERS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH YOU TO IMPROVE THE PLAN.
THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
YOU'RE÷÷ GOOD.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS EUNICE, AND I'M IN
DISTRICT 2.
WE HAVE MANY MEMBERS WHO
LIVE AND WORK AROUND THE CHINA
TOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT. I'M ALSO
WITH THE ASIAN
PACIFIC AMERICAN ALLIANCE.
WE BELONG TO THE
CHINATOWN- INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT
COLEGS, AND WE HOPE YOU WILL
INCLUDE OUR
RECOMMENDATIONS IN
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
INCLUDING REQUIRING THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF
INTENTIONAL AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IN AREAS OF HIGH
DISPLACEMENT RISK AND TRANSIT
DISTRICTS, PRIORITIZING THE
BUILDING OF
FAMILY- SIZED HOUSING, THREE
TO FOUR BEDROOM UNITS.
MANY OF OUR MEMBERS AND
ESPECIALLY OUR MEMBERS OF
COLOR WORK IN THE CITY BUT
CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE
CITY.
WE EXPERIENCED DISPLACEMENT
DUE TO SKYROCKETING COSTS OF
LIVING AND LACK OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING.
RENTS ARE RISING,
AND ALTHOUGH WE BARGAIN FOR
HIGHER
WAGES, IT'S OFTEN NOT ENOUGH TO
KEEP
UP.
WORKING FAMILIES DESERVE AN
IMPROVED COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
TO MEET OUR NEEDS.
PLEASE ADD THE
AFOREMENTIONED POINTS OUTLINED
IN THE
LETTER DEREK SENT OVER IN YOUR
DOCUMENT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
GOOD
NIGHT.
>> I'M MARY BROWN.
I HEAR THE PLANNED ZONING
AND WHAT'S
GOING TO HAPPEN TO IT. AND THE
MAYOR AND THE CITY
I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY PLAN TO
DO
THIS, BUT MAGNOLIA IS A
SMALL AREA.
IT'S A PLACE SENIORS CAN GO
DOWN
THE STREET AND THE KIDS CAN
GO TO THE PARKS ON THEIR
OWN AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO
WORRY ABOUT THE HOMELESS AND
PEOPLE
WITH NEEDLES AND THINGS LIKE
THAT.
AND IT'S NOT A BIG
COMMUNITY LIKE BALLARD, SO IT
CAN'T TAKE THE OVERFLOW.
BUT TO SAY THAT THEY CAN COME IN
AND REASONABLE PERSON
MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND TAKE MY
HOUSE, I SPENT 30 YEARS THERE
AND
I'VE RECENTLY LOST MY HUSBAND,
AND THAT'S ALL I CAN AFFORD.
AND WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT
IN HERE PROPERTY TAX WILL
INCREASE.
WE'VE GOT ENOUGH PROBLEMS
WITH JUST AGNOLIA BRIDGE AND
TRYING TO GET THAT FIXED, BUT
THERE
IS NO REQUIREMENT HERE
FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
AND THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT
IS THERE
IS ROUGHLY $750,000 FOR A SMALL
UNIT, $850, UP TO A MILLION.
AND NOW I HAVE
NEIGHBORS WHO WERE JUST ABLE TO
BUY INTO
THEIR HOMES A FEW YEARS AGO
AND THEY HAVE
YOUNG CHILDREN AND IT'S A
SAFE BLOCK. BUT TO KICK US ALL
OFF THAT
BLOCK AND NOT PUT US ANYWHERE
AND SAY JUST GET OUT, I
MEAN NOT EVERYBODY CAN HAVE
A HOME AND I UNDERSTAND IT A
PRIVATE HOME
OR SINGLE FAMILY HOME.
BUT FOR US WE PAID THE PRICE AND
PAID OUR TAXES AND WE
HAD A LITTLE PART OF THE
AMERICAN DREAM.
IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT BELONGS
TO ME.
AND I DIDN'T DO A DAMN THING
NOT TO DESERVE IT AND NOT TO
KEEP
IT. I WORKED HARD TO HAVE IT.
IT'S ALL I GOT.
AND TO HAVE THEM COME IN
AND TAKE IT WITH NOT EVEN --
IT'S
JUST NOT RIGHT, AND I
DISAGREE WITH HARRELL AND THIS
WHOLE
THING. HE SAID HE WANTED
SAFE
COMMUNITIES AND SAFE
NEIGHBORHOODS, AND NOW
HE'S RENEGED ON EVERYTHING HE
RAN ON.
AND I THINK HE'S A DISGRACE.
AND ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10 HE'S
A
0.
>> THANK YOU.
HOLD ON.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE.
I WANT THAT TO BE MY
FIRST AND LAST WARNING BECAUSE
THE MORE
THAT WE CLAP AND ALL THAT
STUFF, WE EXTEND TIME.
THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF
PEOPLE WAITING DOWN STAIRS, AND
WE
ARE TRYING TO MOVE AS FAST AS WE
CAN, PLEASE.
AND THERE'S ALSO PEOPLE THAT
ARE ONLINE RIGHT NOW.
OVER 70 FOLKS PEOPLE
ONLINE,
OKAY? SO PLEASE REFRAIN FROM
CLAPPING.
IT'S THE ONLY TIME I'LL ASK
FROM
CLAPPING.
THANK YOU.
JEFF, CAROLYN, AND RACHEL.
PLEASE, YOU ALL ARE NEXT.
JEFF, BEFORE YOU START, I
ALSO WANT TO CALL UP SPEAKERS
41
THROUGH 45. WILLIAM, ANDY, SANDY
--
OH, WILLIAM, ANDY, SANDY,
CAMILLE, JUDY.
IT KIND OF RHYMES.
OH, IT DOES RHYME, ANDY AND
SANDY.
>> MY NAME IS JEFF BRIGS.
I AM PRO- HOUSING, PRO-
DENSITY AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE
SEATTLE
ALA.
DESPITE HAVING BEEN PART OF THE
CONSTRUCTION COMMUNITY MY
ENTIRE ADULT LIFE I DID NOT
UNDERSTAND HOW DUPLICITOUS IS
OUR TREE
PROTECTIVE ORDINANCE. RESULTS IN
SCRAPING THE LOT
INCLUDING MAJESTIC MATURE
TREES THAT CAN EASILY BE SAVED
ONLY
TO PRODUCE NEW UNITS MORE
EXPENSIVE THAN THE MODEST HOMES
THAT ARE
UNNECESSARILY BULLDOZED.
THIS LEADS ME TO EXAMINE
OTHER AREAS ALREADY UPZONED.
I FOUND EXPENSIVE COVERAGE
OR MASSIVE APARTMENT BLOCKS WITH
NO OPEN SPACE AT ALL.
THIS IS NO WAY TO PREPARE FOR
A HOTTER AND MORE CROWDED
FUTURE.
IT GOES DIRECTLY AGAINST
OUR GOALS FOR A SUSTAINABLE
AND
HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT. THIS DOES
NOT HAVE TO BE
THIS WAY.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY
TO CORRECT THOSE MISTAKES
AND INVEST IN TOMORROW AND
OUR FUTURE NEIGHBORS WHO WILL
LIVE AND WORK THERE.
THIS MEANS PROTECTING LARGE
AND MATURE TREES WHEREVER
POSSIBLE THE SAME WAY WE
PROTECT
WETLANDS. WE NEED TO PLANT TREES
ALL
ACROSS THE CITY, AND THAT MEANS
INTERWEAVING OPEN SPACE AT
ALL LEVELS OF ZONING, REAL
SPACE THAT ALLOWS NATIVE TREES
TO
GROW TO MATURITY, TREES TO KEEP
OUR CITY COOLER, PROVIDE
HABITAT, AND KEEP OUR WATER.
THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS
REWRITE THE ORDINANCE.
DENSITY AND OPEN SPACE IS NOT A
BINARY CHOICE.
WE CAN AND MUST HAVE BOTH.
THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE
CAROLINE
AND RACHEL.
CAROLINE AND RACHEL, YOU ARE
UP NEXT.
AND THEN SPEAKERS 41 THROUGH
45 PLEASE BE READY ON DECK.
CAROLINE.
>> GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS CAROLINE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
HOLDING THIS
PUBLIC HEARING. I LIVE IN MAPLE
LEAF, IN THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSED CENTER
GNAT ALLOWS 5 AND 6 STORY
APARTMENT
BUILDING ON- SIDE STREETS.
OUR COMMUNITY STRONGLY
SUPPORTS THOUGHTFUL DENSITY THAT
ACTUALLY DOES PROVIDE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING
FOR PEOPLE OF ALL INCOME
LEVELS AND FAMILY SIZES.
AND WE WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE
TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION, BUT
SO FAR WE HAVE NOT BEEN.
I AM AMONG THE 1,000-
PLUS NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE SIGNED
A PETITION OPPOSING
THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER
DESIGNATION.
YOU HAVE HEARD MANY REASONS FROM
MY NEIGHBORS TONIGHT WHY
MAPLE LEAF IS AN ILL-
CONCEIVEDCONCEIVED
SITE, BUT I'M HERE TO TALK
ABOUT
ONE OF THOSE REASONS, WHICH IS
THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER
SITE INCLUDES THE CITY'S
RECENTLY COMPLETED 12th AVENUE
NORTH EAST
GREEN WAY.
WHICH RUNS 15 BLOCKS NORTH OF
THE MAPLE LEAF PARK TO ABOUT
103rd. GREEN WAYS ARE DESIGNED
TO BE
SAFE, CALM STREETS
FOR PEDESTRIANS AND DOG WALKERS
AND PARENTS WITH STROLLERS AND
KIDS ON BIKES.
AND OURS IS HUGELY POPULAR.
WE LIVE ON 12th, A
BLOCK FROM THE PARK.
AND WE SEE MULTITUDES OF PEOPLE
USING THE GREENWAY
EVERY AFTERNOON AND EVERY
MORNING.
WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO TURN A
TREE- LINED COMMUNITY CORRIDOR
INTO AN APARTMENT BUILDING
LINED CONCRETE CANYON AND ADD
DOZENS OF CARS TO A GREEN WAY
DESIGNED
FOR PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS?
IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
SO PLEASE RELOCATE THE
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER, SLOW
DOWN THE PROCESS, ADOPT THE
STATE REQUIREMENTS FOR HB 1110
AND THEN GIVE YOUR CONSTITUENTS
THE
OPPORTUNITY BE PART OF
THE SOLUTION TO
SUCCESSFULLY INCREASE DENSITY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT WE HAVE RACHEL FOLLOWED BY
WILLIAM, ANDY, SANDY, CAMILLE,
AND JUDY. RACHEL?
>>
THANK YOU. I'M RACHEL.
AND FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO
SAY THANK YOU, SEATTLE.
YOU HAVE SHOWN UP, AND I AM
REALLY IMPRESSED WITH OUR CITY.
THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A
LIGHTENING ISSUE FOR ALL OF US
WHO LIVE IN
THE CITY, AND I BELIEVE
THERE'S A WAY TO BUILD MORE
HOUSING, DENSER HOUSING WITHOUT
ELIMINATING EVERY SINGLE TREE
TO DO SO, AS I'VE SEEN ON
MANY LOTS
IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. SO I URGE
YOU AS OUR
REPRESENTATIVES WHO WE VOTED
FOR, WHO ARE ASKING YOU
TO REPRESENT US, TO NOW USE THAT
POWER AND HOLD IT WISELY.
PLEASE FIND IT IN YOUR HEARTS
TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND ASK
YOUR
STAFF TO GO BACK, FIND BETTER
SOLUTIONS, ONES THAT ALLOW
FOR MORE DENSITY WHILE SAVING
LEGACY
AND TIER 2 TREES.
THERE'S A WAY TO SUPPORT
THOSE FOLKS HERE WHO ARE -- WHO
SPEAK TO WANTING MORE DENSITY
AND AT THE SAME TIME SUPPORT
THOSE
HERE WHO ARE ASKING FOR SOME
TREE
PROTECTION. I
I'M MOVED HERE TODAY FOR THE
PEOPLE ASKING FOR DENSER
HOUSING BUT WE WANT TO PROTECT
OUR GREEN
SPACE SO WE DON'T LIVE
IN CONCRETE JUNGLES.
SO FAR THIS PLAN HAS BEEN IN
THE HANDS OF YOUR STAFF.
AS IT COMES TO COUNCIL,
WE'RE URGING YOU TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS POSED IN THIS VERY
ROOM.
CAN WE HAVE DENSITY WHILE
PROTECTING OUR GREEN SPACE
AND PROTECTING OUR
CLIMATE CONDITIONS?
IN 10 YEARS, IN 20
YEARS YOU WILL ALL BE OUT IN
SEATTLE
LOOKING AT THE OUTCOME OF
YOUR EFFORTS HERE TODAY.
WILL YOU BE PROUD OF WHAT YOU
DO?
THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> NEXT WE HAVE WILLIAM,
ANDY, SANDY, CAMILLE, AND JUDY.
THANK YOU.
WILLIAM, GO
AHEAD.
>> HI, MY NAME IS BILL AND I
LIVE IN MAPLE LEAF AND PART
OF THE GROUP DON DESCRIBED
MEASURED
WITH TREES IN MAPLE LEAF.
CAME UP WITH 784 TIER 2 --
>> PLEASE SPEAK IN THE MIC AS
WELL.
>> OKAY. WE DID A TREE SURVEY
AND CAME UP
174 TIER 2 LOTS WITHIN THE
ZONE.
IT WOULD ELIMINATE MANY OF THESE
MATURE TREES THAT PROVIDE
SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS TO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD. THE ONE SEATTLE
PLAN
AND EXISTING FOREST
ORDINANCE PROMOTE REPLACEMENT
TREES FOR
TREE REMOVALS.
RESEARCH INDICATES
REPLACEMENT TREES IF THEY LIVE
WILL TAKE
20 TO 40 YEARS TO
PROVIDE THE SIMILAR ECOLOGICAL
AND
SOCIAL VALUES OF THE MATURE
TREES.
IT APPEARS THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE DID NOT DELIVER THIS PLAN
TO
YOU WITH SUFFICIENT TIME TO
MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS.
THIS LACK OF SUFFICIENT REVIEW
TIME SEEMS TO BE A
RECURRING PROBLEM.
IN 2023 THE VOLUNTEER URBAN
FORESTRY COMMISSION WAS
NOT PROVIDED SUFFICIENT TIME TO
REVIEW THE URBAN FOREST UPDATE
WHICH WAS OVER TEN YEARS DUE
AT
THAT TIME. I AGREE WITH PREVIOUS
PUBLIC TESTIMONY THAT
SUGGESTS POSTPONING DESIGNATION
OF
SOME OR ALL NEIGHBORHOOD
CENTERS SUBJECT TO A MORE
THOROUGH,
DELIBERATE REVIEW PROCESS.
IN ADDITION I WOULD INCLUDE
STRENGTHENING THE URBAN
FORESTRY ORDINANCE AT THAT TIME.
AT THIS POINT ADOPT ONLY WHAT
IS NEEDED TO COMPLY WITH HOUSE
BILL
1110 AND REVISIT THE PROCESS
WITH NEIGHBORHOOD INPUT.
I WILL CLOSE WITH THE
FOLLOWING QUOTE FROM PAGE 128 OF
THE
ONE SEATTLE PLAN.
TREES AND VEGETATION BUFFER THE
IMPACTS OF EXTREME HEAT AND AIR
QUALITY.
CLIMATE CHANGE ALSO AFFECTS THE
HEALTH AND SUSTAINABILITY OF
THESE RESOURCES.
PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION ARE
NECESSARY FOR A HEALTHY --
>> THANK YOU, BOB.
NEXT WE HAVE ANDY, SANDY,
AND CAMILLE.
THANK
YOU, BOB. BOB, WE HAVE OTHER
PEOPLE.
PLEASE, BOB.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ANDY?
>> MY WIFE AND I WE'RE
PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE
WEDGEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE MOVED THERE TO RAISE
OUR CHILDREN.
IT'S SAFE.
THERE'S
CLEAN AIR. THERE'S WILDLIFE.
THERE ARE SOME TREES.
SO I AM HERE JUST TO STRESS
IF THE GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT
A
SMALL NUMBER OF
ALREADY ADVANTAGED PEOPLE ARE
ABLE
TO PROFIT FROM UNCHECKED
DEVELOPMENT, THEN YOU'RE
KILLING
IT,
KEEP IT UP.
IT'S GREAT. BUT IF YOU CARE
ABOUT
LITERALLY ANYTHING ELSE IN THIS
CITY
LIKE COMMUNITY RESILIENCE,
PUBLIC
HEALTH, OUR ENVIRONMENT,
THEN YOU'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF
WORK TO DO.
SO I THINK YOU GUYS
KNOW HOW THIS WORKS.
YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A
WHILE, BUT MAYBE THE REST OF THE
ROOM DOESN'T KNOW HOW THIS
WORKS. WE HAVE A HOUSING CRISIS,
HOMELESSNESS.
SO WHAT WE END UP WITH IS A
LOBBY THAT PROVIDES
THESE GUYS WITH THE
LANGUAGE THEY WANT TO SEE IN
THESE BILLS,
AND THEN THEY SAY JUST TELL THEM
THAT IT'S A HOUSING CRISIS,
WE NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
THIS WILL
SOLVE IT. AND WHAT THEY'RE
REALLY DOING IS
PASSING LAWS THAT PROTECT
THE ABILITY FOR THESE DEVELOPERS
TO BUILD CHEAP PLACES, EASILY
CUT
DOWN TREES TO MAKE IT, YOU
KNOW, A QUICKER JOB, CHEAPER FOR
THEM TO DO.
AND IN THE END THEY DON'T BUILD
AAFFORDABLE HOUSING. YOU'VE LOST
2,000 TREES
IN SEATTLE IN THE LAST YEAR AND
THE HOUSING CRISIS IS GETTING
WORSE.
SO LOOK AT YOUR OWN NUMBERS?
HOW ARE YOU DOING?
>> HE'S ON OUR
TEAM NOW.
AND GUESS WHAT? WHEN EWE CALL
AND TRY TO
GET STUFF FROM PEOPLE ON
PERMITTING THIS IS THE GUY WE
ALL WORK
FOR, RIGHT?
WE HAVE TO PAY THIS GUY BECAUSE
IF THERE'S A TRIAL ON THE
PROPERTY --
>> THIS IS THE CEO OF
LEGACY GROUP CAPITAL BRAGGING
ABOUT
CORRUPTION IN THIS CITY AND
HIS ABILITY TO DO WHATEVER HE
WANTS. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> I'M LITERALLY -- WE CANNOT
HAVE OUTBURSTS LIKE THIS.
WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE
DOWN STAIRS AND WE HAVE TO
GET
THROUGH. AND THE MORE I STOP AND
TALK LIKE THIS, THE LONGER IT
TAKES.
WE HAVE PEOPLE WITH CHILD CARE.
I'M GOING TO GO ON MY
LITTLE RANT RIGHT NOW, OKAY,
BECAUSE
IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN, WE
HAVE TO START REMOVING FOLKS IF
PEOPLE ARE OUTBURSTING.
WE HAVE CHILD CARE, A
GARAGE THAT CLOSES AT 10:00.
WE HAVE PEOPLE WAITING
ONLINE AND WE HAVE 270 PEOPLE
THAT HAVE
SIGNED UP, HAVE TAKEN OFF
WORK, HAVE DONE WHAT THEY CAN TO
COME
DOWN HERE.
SO THE MORE PEOPLE CLAP AND DO
THAT, THE MORE THE TIMES I
HAVE TO ADDRESS YOU FOR THIS,
AND
I'M THE NICEST PERSON IN THE
WORLD.
I PROMISE YOU THAT, MAYBE
THE NICEST PERSON ON COUNCIL,
OKAY?
SERIOUSLY, MY COLLEAGUES CAN
ASK. PLEASE DON'T DO THAT
AGAIN.
WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH
THIS,
OKAY? AND SNOW IS GOING TO COME,
AND
I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET
THROUGH FOLKS SO WE CAN LISTEN.
THIS IS VERY SPICY SUBJECT,
AND YOU CAN GET PLANT BASED
MILK.
AND ALSO I WANT TO REMIND
PEOPLE PROFANITY IS NOT
TOLERATED IN
HERE, SO DROPPING THE F-
BOMB, S- BOMB, CUSSING LIKE A
SAILOR.
TRUST ME, MY MOM TAUGHT ME
ALL THE CURSE WORDS IN THE BOOK.
IT'S NOT WELCOME HERE,
SO PLEASE.
SANDY, THANK YOU.
SANDY AND THEN CAMILLE AND
THEN JUDY.
GO AHEAD.
>> THERE
WE GO, THANKS. YEAH, I'M SANDY
WITH TREE ACTION
SEATTLE.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS.
THIS PLAN GUARANTEES THAT OVER #
90% OF EACH RESIDENTIAL
LOT CAN BE COVERED WITH
BUILDINGS
AND PAVEMENT.
IT EVEN ALLOWS A CONCRETE
PATIO TO COUNT AS OPEN SPACE.
SEATTLE IS RANKED FIVE IN
THE FASHION FOR URBAN HEAT
NOT BECAUSE WE'RE HOTTER
THAN CITIES IN TEXAS AND ARIZONA
BUT BECAUSE
WE'VE ADDED SO MUCH PAVEMENT.
200 PEOPLE DIED IN THE 2021
HEAT
DOME. BUT EVEN IF A HEAT DOME
DOESN'T KILL YOU, LIVING IN AN
URBAN HEAT ISLAND, DOES LASTING
HEALTH DAMAGE.
THE BODIES AND INFLAMMATORY
MARKERS SPIKE, BAD CLAUS RAUL
SPIKES, AND KIDNEYS DETERIORATE.
CHRONIC HEAT EXPOSURE IS
EVEN LINKED TO DECREASED
MENTAL HEALTH.
TREES ARE THE
ANSWER. YOU KNEW I WOULD
SAY THAT. OTHER CITIES LIKE
BOSTON
AND PARIS ARE DESPERATELY TRYING
TO ACHIEVE THE COOLING GREEN
CANOPY THAT WE ARE RIPPING OUT
EVEN THOUGH WE COULD BUILD THE
SAME AMOUNT OF HOUSING WITH
TREES.
SEATTLE'S NEW TREE ORDINANCE
IS FILLED WITH LOOPHOLES THAT
ALLOW DEVELOPERS TO REMOVE ALL
TREES,
EVEN HERITAGE TREES.
THIS COMP
PLAN LITERALLY CEMENTS IN
DEFORESTATION. IT WILL HIT FRONT
LINE COMMUNITIES FIRST AND
HARDEST BECAUSE MOST OF THEIR
TREES
ARE ON RESIDENTIAL LOTS.
THIS IS JUST NOT MAYORMAYOR
HARRELL'S PLAN.
IT
IS YOURS. THIS COUNCIL WILL BE
FOREVER ASSOCIATED WITH YOUR
ACTION OR
INACTION.
PLEASE AMEND THIS PLAN TO
INCLUDE TREES AND GREEN
SPACE FOR EVERYONE.
THANK YOU.
>> CAMILLE THEN JUDY, AND I'M
ASK THE NEXT
SPEAKERS BETWEEN 46 AND 50
PLEASE
STEP UP.
46 AND 50 PLEASE STEP UP.
CAMILLE AND JUDY, YOU ARE
READY.
>> I AM CAMILLE.
I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE AIN
FRONT OF YOU, AND WHEN I SPOKE
LAST TIME I LOOKED AT
YOU, AND YOU ALL HAD THE SAME
LOOK IN
YOUR EYE.
AND I WAS ASKING YOU TO SAVE
OUR TREES AND OUR URBAN
FORESTRY, AND THE LOOK YOU WERE
GIVING
ME YOU
UNDERSTOOD AND YOU FELT BAD
ABOUT IT, BUT ALMOST
LIKE YOU
COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU
THAT YOU CAN.
IF YOU WORK TOGETHER, YOU
CAN DEFEAT THE DEVELOPER LOBBY,
SAVE SEATTLE'S FORESTRY, BUILD
NEW HOMES.
IF YOU DO IT TOGETHER, AND
I'M ASKING YOU GUYS TO DO THAT.
I WENT BACK AND I REVIEWED YOUR
STUDY OF WHAT PEOPLE WANT FOR
HOUSING IN SEATTLE THAT WAS DONE
IN 2020 BEFORE YOU STARTED
WRITING THIS.
AND MOST PEOPLE WANT OPEN GREEN
SPACE.
THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE --
IN THEIR YARD BUT THEY DIDN'T
THINK THE YARD WAS GOING TO GO
WITH THAT.
SO IF YOU REALLY WANT TO
GIVE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT, YOU
NEED TO SAVE THE TREE
CANOPIES AND THE TREES AND
FORESTRY AND
DON'T PAVE SEATTLE.
AND SINCE I ACTED AND
WHATEVER ANDY SAID AND I'M 100%
BEHIND
HIM, AND I'M GOING TO SAY
THE SAME THING.
THIS IS YOUR VALENTINE'S LOBBY.
THIS IS THE SAME TO THEM.
DON'T GIVE IT TO
THEM.
>> NEXT WE HAVE
JUDY.
>> HI, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
I HAVE A BAG OF APPLES IN MY
PURSE IF YOU NEED TO
RAISE YOUR
BLOOD SUGAR. I REALLY APPRECIATE
THIS.
THIS IS HARD FOR YOU.
I WANT TO POINT OUT
THAT I THINK WE'RE ALL ON THE
SAME PAGE,
THAT WE ALL KNOW THAT PEOPLE
NEED
HOUSING.
WHAT I HAVE SEEN FOR 20 YEARS
IS THERE IS -- THE DEVELOPERS
ARE
MAKING THE HOUSING
EXPENSIVE, AND WE HAVE A PLAN
HERE
THAT SOMEBODY MADE THAT
IS ALLOWING ALL LOTS TO BE
COVERED WITH 90%
HARDSCAPE.
HOW MANY OF YOU COULD NOT
AFFORD DAY CARE?
RIGHT HERE.
SO I TRIED TO WORK FROM MY
COMPUTER AND I SENT MY KIDS
OUTSIDE AND A 98-YEAR- OLD MAN
ACROSS THE STREET WOULD
WATCH
THEM. THAT'S A COMMUNITY.
AND THEY PLAYED IN THE DIRT.
IF THAT WERE --
IF I LIVED IN ONE OF THOSE
FLATS, WHERE WOULD
THE KIDS
BE PLAYING? AND I WANT TO BRING
YOU BACK TO
JANUARY 27, 2023.
DOES ANYBODY REMEMBER THAT DAY?
IT WAS 106 DEGREES.
WE DIDN'T HAVE AIR-
CONDITIONING, AND A LOT OF
PEOPLE DO NOT
AIR-CONDITIONING. IT WILL KEEP
HAPPENING.
IT WILL KEEP HAPPENING IF WE
GO WITH THIS PLAN.
I AM PRO-HOUSING.
I ASK YOU TO LOOK AT
OTHER CITIES LIKE BOSTON,
CHICAGO,
AND PHILADELPHIA WHERE THERE
ARE SHARED WALLS AND THERE ARE
STACKED FLATS.
IN BOSTON THEY'RE
DOUBLE-DECKERS, TRIPLE DECKERS.
AND GUESS WHAT?
THERE'S A TREE IN THE
BACKYARD FOR KIDS TO PLAY WITH,
FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO COULD
NOT AFFORD DAY CARE, WORKING
FROM HOME SENT THE KIDS
OUTSIDE BECAUSE WE CAN'T
AFFORD EVERYTHING IN THIS CITY.
ONE MORE THING.
I AM ON THE SAME PAGE WITH
EZEKIEL, AND I WANT MY KIDS
TO HAVE TREES AND GET SDCI OUT
OF TREE PROTECTION.
GET THE DEVELOPERS
OUT.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT WE HAVE
SARAH. SORRY IF I BUTCHERED
YOUR NAME.
I APOLOGIZE.
MARGARET. GO
AHEAD.
>> THE WORDS ALREADY CAME UP, SO
I JUST NEED YOU GUYS TO REMEMBER
THIS.
LEGACY DEVELOPER GROUP,
PLEASE REMEMBER THEM.
THEY'RE NOW IN
MY NEIGHBORHOOD. MONDAY THEY'RE
GOING TO
CUT DOWN -- MY NEIGHBORHOOD
ALREADY HAVE PARTS.
I'M NOT AGAINST DEVELOPER --
SORRY, I'M NOT AGAINST DENSITY.
BUT THIS TREE IS MORE THAN
100 YEARS OLD AND RIGHT IN THE
CORNER AND THEY'RE GOING TO
CUT IT DOWN MONDAY.
PLEASE, PLEASE HELP ME.
AND THIS IS IMPORTANT.
THEY ALREADY TALK ABOUT WHY
WE NEED TREE.
BUT FOR ME IT'S VERY URGENT.
IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN MONDAY.
PLEASE, YOU GUYS.
LET'S GATHER AND
CELEBRATE GRANDMA BROOKS.
THIS IS
IMPORTANT.
>> THANK YOU.
MARGARET?
>> HI MY NAME
IS MARGARET. I AGREE WITH SO
MANY OF YOU
HERE, AND SO I WANT BELABOR
THE POINT ABOUT WHY TREES ARE
IMPORTANT, BUT THIS IS JUST A
CAUTIONARY TALE.
I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD
THEM BEFORE.
I'M ALSO AN EDUCATOR IN
WEDGEWOOD.
AND IN 2014 WE DECIDED TO
DO SOME RENOVATIONS, AND WE HAD
ONE OF THOSE GRANDMOTHER TREES
ON THE PROPERTY OF THE SCHOOL.
AND WE WERE BUILDING A NEW GYM.
SO RIGHT NOW FAST FORWARD TO
11 YEARS LATER, THAT GRANDMA
TREE
WAS GONE.
WE PUT IN A RAIN GARDEN AND
GOT A REBATE FOR OUR BUILDING,
BUT
THAT TREE WOULD HAVE PROVIDED
SO MANY ECOSYSTEM SERVICES FOR
OUR
SCHOOL, FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
AND IT'S DOWN AND IT'S GONE
AND IT CAN'T BE REPLACED.
SO NOW THE STUDENTS ON THAT
SIDE OF THE BUILDING, THEY
ARE SLUMPED OVER ON THEIR DESKS.
THEY ARE SO HOT BECAUSE THE TREE
IS GONE, AND NOW WE'RE
THINKING OF PUTTING IN
AIR-CONDITIONING. SO AIR-
CONDITIONING IS
EXPENSIVE FOR A SCHOOL, AND
WE'RE A
SMALL, PRIVATE SCHOOL.
AND I'M THINKING, YOU KNOW,
THAT TREE WOULD HAVE SAVED US A
LOT
OF MONEY. SO I KNOW THAT WE TALK
ABOUT ECOSYSTEM SERVICES AS
BEING
FREE SERVICES, AND SO WE SHOULD
KEEP THAT IN THE BACK OF
OUR MIND. NOW, SARAH TALKED
ABOUT OUR TREE
THAT'S IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD,
AND THAT'S THE ONLY TREE THAT I
CAN SEE AROUND THE APARTMENTS.
IT'S A GRANDMOTHER TREE, TOO.
AND LIKE SHE SAID, THEY'RE
GOING TO CUT IT DOWN, AND NOW
I'M FIGHTING FOR ONE
TREE AGAIN. AND I KNOW WHAT THE
IMPACT
WILL BE BECAUSE I'VE
SEEN IT, AND I WOULD JUST LIKE
YOU TO
THINK ABOUT JUST HOW ONE TREE
HAS MADE AN IMPACT ON A
COMMUNITY AND
HOW WE NEED TO SAVE IT, AND
THINK
ABOUT THE PERMITTING PROCESS.
PUT A RED FLAG ON LEGACY AND
SAY DON'T HAND OUT A PERMIT TO
THIS GROUP IF THEY'RE GOING TO
CUT DOWN A TREE.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT WE HAVE SPEAKER 48, 49, 50.
A REMINDER IF YOU'VE
ALREADY SPOKEN PLEASE SO WE CAN
REPLACE
YOU LIKE A VENDING MACHINE.
NOT LIKE THAT, BUT YOU KNOW
WHAT I MEAN.
SO Y'ALL CAN LEAVE THE ROOM
AND WE CAN INVITE MORE NEW
SPEAKERS
AS WELL.
THANK
YOU.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS SUSAN.
I'M A THIRD GENERATION
SEATTLEITE, AND I'M HERE TO
SPEAK FOR THE TREES LIKE
MOST EVERYONE ELSE HERE.
TREES ARE ESSENTIAL TO
HEALTH, QUALITY OF LIFE, AND
CLIMATE
RESILIENCE OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
I AM QUOTING MAYOR BRUCE
HARRELL WHO INDICATED THE TREE
ORDINANCE WOULD SAVE 100,000
TREES
AND MORE WOULD BE PLANTED IN
AREAS OF NEED.
ALMOST SOUNDED TOO GOOD TO BE
TRUE, BUT TURNS OUT IT
WASWAS BECAUSE LAST MONTH I
HEARD
TREES THAT WERE NEVER AT RISK OF
BEING
BULLDOZED BY DEVELOPERS WERE
BEING FALSELY BEING CALLED OUT
AS PROTECTED TREES.
IN THE PAST THREE YEARS I
HAVE WATCHED SEVEN MODEST
HOMES WITHIN A FOUR- BLOCK
RADIUS OF MY
HOME GET BULLDOZED.
IN THEIR PLACE ARE
MASSIVE MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR
HOMES
THAT FILL THE
ENTIRE LOT. DIRECTLY ACROSS THE
STREET
FROM ME A $2. 5 MILLION PROPERTY
NOW
STANDS. ALL TREES WERE
COMPLETELY
RIPPED OUT.
AND THE ONLY REASON THE
$2.25 MILLION HOUSE RIGHT NEXT
DOOR TO ME SPARED A SMALL
SPRUCE WAS BECAUSE IT WAS
NEGOTIATED INTO THE SALE OF THE
HOME.
PRESERVING THE TREE CANOPY
THAT SO MANY OF US RELY ON FOR
HEALTH, QUALITY OF
LIFE, AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE.
THANK YOU INTEREST YOUR
TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
SPEAKER 49 AND SPEAKER
50.
>> HI, MY NAME IS
EVE. I LIVE IN LAKE
CITY, AND REAL TALK IT'S NOT
WHAT
REALTORS WOULD CALL A
DESIRABLE NEIGHBORHOOD.
MANY OF US EARN MODEST
INCOMES AND LIVE IN AGING
APARTMENTS.
PEOPLE SPEED THROUGH OUR STREETS
ON THEIR WAY TO SOMEWHERE
MORE INTERESTING.
BUT I'VE LIVED IN LAKE CITY
FOR OVER 20 YEARS, SO
SOMETHING'S WORKING FOR ME, AND
THAT SOMETHING IS OUR COMMUNITY.
RIGHT NOW WE ARE BATTLING
TO SAVE A FEW LARGE TREES
FROM REMOVAL BY A DEVELOPER.
THESE TREES PROVIDE THE
ONLY SHADE FOR ABOUT TWO
DOZEN APARTMENTS AND HOMES.
AND IMAGINE HOW HOT IT GETS IN
A FOURTH FLOOR APARTMENT IN
THE SUMMER WITH A WEST
FACING EXPOSURE AND NO
AIR-CONDITIONING.
WE SUPPORT BUILDING NEW
HOMES, BUT THIS DEVELOPER IS
WORRIED
THAT SAVING EVEN ONE TREE,
WHICH WE KNOW IS POSSIBLE, WILL
DENT
THEIR BOTTOM LINE.
THE PROPOSED UNITS WILL SELL FOR
$750,000÷÷ EACH.
DOES THIS PRICE POINT
REALLY MAKE HOMEOWNERSHIP MORE
ACCESSIBLE.
THERE IS NO PROFIT SHARING
IN THE COMMUNITY WITH THIS
BUSINESS MODEL.
THE DEVELOPERS MAKE ALL THE
MONEY, BUT WE ARE THE ONES WHO
PAY THE COST.
THE COMP PLAN AS IT STANDS MAKES
IT TOO EASY FOR DEVELOPERS
TO CUT DOWN OUR TREES.
PLEASE CONSIDER REVISIONS
TO PROTECT THEM.
THANK
YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE KAREN.
BEFORE YOU START, I'M GOING
TO INVITE SPEAKERS 51 THROUGH 60
TO STAND UP.
51 THROUGH
60. I'M CALLING ON YOU IN
GROUPS OF
TEN NOW.
51 THROUGH 60 STAND UP AND
GET
READY. KAREN, GO RIGHT
AHEAD.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS.
I AM A HOMEOWNER AND BUSINESS
OWNER IN MADISON VALLEY.
I STRONGLY SUPPORT THE
ONE SEATTLE COMP PLAN, AND I
URGE
YOU TO APPROVE IT INCLUDING
ALL 30 NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS.
OVER THE PAST 21 YEARS
WHILE LIVING IN SEATTLE I HAVE
SEEN ZONING RESTRICTIONS LIMIT
GROWTH AND DRIVE UP
HOUSING COSTS. AS AN ARCHITECT I
HAVE WITNESSED
PREVIOUS MAYORS AND COUNCILS
WORSENING OUR HOUSING SHORTAGE.
THIS IS NOT JUST THE
MAYOR'S PLAN BUT ONE SHAPED BY
CITIZEN
INPUT OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.
IT AIMS TO BUILD HOUSING NEAR
JOBS, TRANSIT, AND
SMALL BUSINESSES, PROMOTING
SUSTAINABLE AND
INCLUSIVE GROWTH.
I ALWAYS THINK SEATTLE'S SNOW
DAY IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF A
WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOOD -- OF
WHAT A WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOOD
LOOKS LIKE.
BUT IF THE PEOPLE WHO WORK
IN NEARBY CAVES AND COFFEE
SHOPS CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE, WE
HAVE FAILED AS A CITY.
THIS PLAN AIMS TO EXPAND
THEM TO WELCOME
MORE RESIDENTS. DEVELOPMENT
TAKES TIME, AND THIS
PLAN SETS A FRAMEWORK
FOR GRADUAL GROWTH OVER
DECADES. WITHOUT YOUR LEADERSHIP
WE
RISK HIGHER LAND AND HOUSING
PRICES,
CLOSING THE DOOR ON
FUTURE GENERATIONS OF
SEATTLEITES.
I URGE YOU TO APPROVE THE ONE
AND ENSURE THAT
ALL 30 NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS
REMAIN
A PART OF THAT PLAN.
PLEASE DON'T LET
THIS OPPORTUNITY PASS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
LEADERSHIP.
>> THANK YOU, KAREN.
NEXT WE HAVE SPEAKERS 51,
52, 53.
51,
AWESOME.
>>
HI, EVERYONE. THE COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN
AS WRITTEN SETS A DANGEROUS PATH
FORWARD FOR ERODING SEATTLE'S
CLIMATE RESILIENCE.
SEATTLE IS FIFTH IN THE
NATION FOR URBAN HEAT NATIONS.
DURING THE LAST MAJOR HEAT
WAVE OF 2021, 200 PEOPLE DIED.
YET THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
MAKES NO PLAN FOR HOW IT
WILL MEANINGFULLY ACHIEVE AN
URBAN FOREST THAT WILL SHADE OUR
FRONT
LINE COMMUNITIES WHO ALREADY
BEAR THE BRUNT OF OUR
FAILING
TREE CODE. WE CAN ABSOLUTELY
BUILD HOUSING
DENSELY AND KEEP OUR TREES,
BUT WE WON'T WITH THE COMP PLAN
AS WRITTEN.
HOUSING VERSUS TREES IS A FALSE
CHOICE, FULL STOP.
THE RECENT HURRICANE IN FLORIDA
AND WILDFIRES IN L.A. SHOULD
BE A WAKEUP CALL FOR CITY
LEADERSHIP THAT WE NEED TO
BUILD OUR CLIMATE RESILIENCE AS
A
CITY NOW TO BUFFER FOR OUR
EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS THAT ARE
SURE
TO
COME. PLEASE REWRITE THE COMP
PLAN
TO REDUCE HARD SCAPE
ALLOWANCES FROM 90% PAVEMENT AND
BUILDINGS
PER LOT, MANDATE SHARED WALLS
OR STACKED FLATS ON NEW
DEVELOPMENTS, AND REQUIRE
GREEN SPACE ON ALL NEW
CONSTRUCTION.
THANK
YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE KIPPY
AND DAVID.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS KIPPY.
I REPRESENT MEMBERS FOR
THE HOWARD LAKE COMMUNITY CLUB
WHICH HAS BEEN RUN BY VOLUNTEERS
FOR
103 YEARS.
WE ASK THE CITY
COUNCIL CONSIDER NOT ALLOWING
LR3 ZONING ON THE
HALER LAKE LOOP ROAD.
WE UNDERSTAND THIS IS A TRANSIT
ROUTE, BUT THIS IS ALSO A
SMALL ROAD IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR
COMMUNITY.
THERE IS GREAT CONCERN ABOUT
THE IMPACT OF THE HEALTH OF
OUR HALER LAKE, THE POTENTIAL
LOSS OF MANY MATURE TREES AND
THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF THE
CREATURES THAT DEPEND ON
THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
SURROUNDING THE
AREA. THIS INCLUDES LONG- TERM
NESTING BALD EAGLE AND MANY
OTHER
LAND ANIMALS.
WE ASK YOU RECOGNIZE THAT WE
HAVE SIGNIFICANT
UPZONING GROWTH COMING AROUND
OUR AREA.
WE WILL HAVE THE NORTH
WEST REGIONAL CENTER AT NORTH
WEST
ON OUR SOUTH SIDE, BITTER LAKE
URBAN CENTER ON OUR WEST SIDE,
LR3 ZONING ON NORTH 130th ,
ON NORTH 145th, AND THE
PINEHURST HALER LAKE CENTER ON
THE
EAST SIDE.
THESE ARE ALL WITHIN A 2- MILE
--
A 2 SQUARE MILE AREA.
THIS IS A LOT OF GROWTH FOR
OUR LITTLE AREA, AND WE ASK THAT
YOU PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT OUR
COMMUNITY AND OUR LAKE ARE
NOT DESTROYED BY OVERGROWTH.
PLEASE DO NOT APPROVE THE LR3 ON
OUR HALER LAKE LOOP ROAD.
SPEAKING FOR THE WHOLE CITY,
I GUESS I WANT TO SAY
GLOBAL WARMING IS HAPPENING NOW,
AND IT IS OUR JOB TO THINK ABOUT
THE
FUTURE, ABOUT OUR CHILDREN'S
FUTURE.
AND TREES ARE OUR GLOBAL WARMING
HEROES, SO REMEMBER THEY ARE
SUCH AN ASSET AND VALUE.
PLEASE SAVE THE TREES.
THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, KIPPY.
NEXT WE HAVE SHERRI, DAVID AND
SPEAKERS 53, 54, AND
55.
>> THANK YOU FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY.
MY NAME IS SHERRI AND I
SUPPORT THE MAYOR'S PLAN
DEVELOPED WITH PUBLIC INPUT OVER
THE PAST
THREE YEARS AND SUPPORT ALL
30 NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS.
I'M SPEAKING AS A
SEATTLE RESIDENT FOR THE PAST 30
YEARS
AND AS A PERSON
WHO'S LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE A
GREENWOOD D5
HOMEOWNER FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS.
I'M ALSO A SMALL BUSINESS
OWNER AND
AN ARCHITECT. THE STATUS QUO
DOES NOT WORK.
WE NEED TO INCREASE THE
ABILITY TO ADD MORE TYPES OF
HOUSING
IN MORE PLACES ALL OVER SEATTLE,
ESPECIALLY NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS.
CHANGE IS LIFE.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO NEED A
PLACE TO LIVE NOW, AND THERE ARE
MORE PEOPLE COMING WHO NEED ONE
ALSO.
THIS MEANS WE NEED TO MAKE
SPACE FOR THEM EVEN IF THERE ARE
SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE RESISTANT
TO
CHANGE. IT'S UP TO YOU, THE
CITY
COUNCIL, NOW.
LOOKING BACK THERE
WERE NEIGHBORHOOD ANCHORS IN
DRAFTS OF THE 1994 COMP PLAN
THAT WERE
NOT ADOPTED.
MANY OF THOSE ANCHORS ARE THE
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS THAT ARE
PROPOSED TODAY.
THESE ARE PLACES THAT
ARE ALREADY SETUP FOR SUCCESS
TO MAKE SPACE FOR MORE
HOUSING. PLEASE ADOPT THE PLAN
WITH
ALL 30 NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS.
WE'VE BEEN WAITING 30 YEARS FOR
THEM.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
SPEAKER 54 AND 55.
AND THEN WE'RE ON DECK 56
THROUGH
60.
>> HELLO.
THE DRAFT OF SEATTLE,
THE SEATTLE PLAN DOCUMENT
BOASTS THAT FULL IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE
PLAN WOULD DOUBLE, IE,
INCREASE BY 100% THE CURRENT
CAPACITY OF
SEATTLE.
SUCH AN AMBITIOUS BOLD GOAL
IS NEITHER PRACTICAL, NECESSARY,
OR
WISE.
IT IS UNSUPPORTED AND
RECKLESS. CONSIDER THE
FOLLOWING.
THE RATE OF INCREASE OF THE U.S.
POPULATION INCLUDING SEATTLE
IS
SLOWING DOWN. THE U.S. CENSUS
BUREAU
ESTIMATES THAT THE RATE WILL BE
ZERO BY
2080 AFTER WHICH THE
POPULATION WILL START GOING
DOWN. THE BUREAU ESTIMATES THE
POPULATION WILL TOP OUT
LESS THAN 9% OF OUR CURRENT
NATIONAL POPULATION IS ABOUT
340 MILLION. AND ONCE THE
POPULATION STARTS
GOING DOWN, WE WILL HAVE
A SURPLUS OF ACTUAL HOUSING
UNITS
AND MUCH MORE ZONED CAPACITY
THAT WE WILL NEVER USE.
SO WHY ARE SEATTLE PLANNERS
SHOOTING FOR
HOUSING CAPABILITY ABOVE
INCREASES OF 100%,
11 TIMES THAN WHAT WOULD BE
NEEDED
NATIONALLY? I DON'T HAVE A GOOD
ANSWER TO
THIS QUESTION. IT'S MY
UNDERSTANDING
THAT RECENT STATE LAW MAKE
SINGLE
FAMILY ZONING EXTINCT, AND
ALL NEW PRIMARY PROPERTY
DEVELOPMENT MUST NOW ALLOW FOR
AT LEAST FOUR
DWELLING UNITS PER LOT, NOT
JUST IN SEATTLE BUT STATE-WIDE.
CONSIDER THAT SINGLE
FAMILY HOUSES ARE THE
DOMINANT RESIDENTIAL UNITS IN
SEATTLE,
WE ALREADY HAVE THE ABILITY
TO SPREAD OUT FUTURE
RESIDENTIAL GROWTH WITHOUT
BUILDING
FIVE-STORY APARTMENT
BUILDINGS TO BE MY NEW NEIGHBORS
IN
WHAT USED TO BE A RELATIVELY
PEACEFUL, BEAUTIFUL, SAFE AND
DELICATE AREA ALONG THE
PERIMETER OF HALER LAKE.
THEY WOULD HAVE A HUGE
IMBACT THE EFFECT OF HOUSING AND
COSTS AND TINY HOUSES COULD
PROVIDE
ENOUGH ECONOMIC --
>> TIMES UP.
THANK YOU SO
MUCH, SIR. APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU, DAVID.
SPEAKER 55.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
STICKING THIS OUT.
THIS PLAN IS OVERKILL.
WHY CAUSE THREE TIMES AS MUCH
DISPLACEMENT AS WHAT'S
REQUIRED BY THE GROWTH
MANAGEMENT ACT?
WHY UPZONE FOR 333,000 NEW UNITS
WHEN WE'RE ONLY BEING ASKED FOR
112,000? WHY?
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE
BUILDERS AND THEIR MINIONS WANT
UNDER THE
GUISE MORE BUILDINGS
CREATES AFFORDABILITY.
BUT THAT'S A LIE, AND
LYING TO YOUR VOTERS IS REALLY
NOT A GOOD
LOOK.
AFFORDABILITY IS NOWHERE IN
THE PLAN, AND REALITY -- AND
CLEARLY HERE IN SEATTLE NEW TECH
JOBS AND OUR BUILDING BOOM
HAVE DOUBLED HOUSING COSTS.
THE MAYOR SAYS HE'S
COMPLIED WITH THE MISSING MIDDLE
HOUSING
BILL, BUT THERE'S NOWHERE IN
THIS PLAN IS THE DEFINITION OF
AFFORDABILITY, SO HOW CAN WE
POSSIBLY
MEASURE IT? THAT DEFINITION IS
LESS THAN
60% OF AMI FOR RENTERS AND LESS
THAN 80% OF AMI FOR OWNER
OCCUPIED UNITS.
WITHOUT THAT IN THE
PLAN, THERE'S NO
ACCOUNTABILITY,
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE
GOING
TO MANAGE.
TAXPAYERS HAVE INVESTED
BILLIONS IN RAPID TRANSIT.
NEARBY LAND HAS
GREATLY INCREASED IN VALUE.
THE MHA REQUIRES A GIVEBACK,
SO WE'VE RAISED UP THEIR HEIGHT
BY A FLOOR GIVING THEM
MORE PROPERTY TO PROFIT FROM.
AND YET IN THIS PLAN WHEN WE
UPZONE AROUND THE TRANSIT
CENTERS, THERE'S NO GIVEBACK.
WE'RE GIVING AWAY VALUE AND
ASKING FOR NOTHING FOR THE
COMMON GOOD. I REALLY ASK YOU TO
RECONSIDER THAT.
THE TRANSIT AND DEVELOPMENT
BILL, HOUSE BILL 1491 IS
COMING DOWN
THE PIKE. IT'S ONE OF THE TOP
PRIORITIES OF THIS SESSION.
WE WILL SEE IT, SO YOU MIGHT AS
WELL LOOK AT IT AND ACCOMMODATE
IT. IT SAYS THAT WE WILL
UPZONE WITHIN A QUARTER MILE OF
TRANSIT
CENTERS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SPEAKERS 56 THROUGH 60.
AND BEFORE YOU SPEAK,
JUST ASKING ONCE YOU SPEAK
PLEASE TRANSITION
DOWN STAIRS. WE'RE BRINGING
MORE FOLKS IN.
THERE'S SEATS IN THE THAT'S
ALL RIGHT HERE.
SO IF YOU'RE STANDING PLEASE
FEEL FREE TO WELCOME.
PLEASE DO
NOT BLOCK THE SEAT NEXT TO YOU
IF YOU ARE
BLOCKING THAT SEAT.
WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE STANDING
THAT NEED A SEAT.
THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT, AND THANK YOU.
AND GOOD EVENING, YES.
AND FOR YOUR PATIENCE WITH
ALL OF US HERE.
MY NAME IS MARTHA BASKEN.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PUBLIC
HEALTH, CLIMATE RESILIENCE.
CAN WE HAVE IT ALL?
NOT IN THIS COMP PLAN, WHICH
LACKS ANY PROPOSAL OR
ANALYSIS FOR HOW THE CITY WILL
MEET THE HOUSING NEED FOR THOSE
WHO
ARE THE BACKBONES OF
OUR COMMUNITIES.
THE HOUSING GOALS OF THE GROWTH
MANAGEMENT ACT DIRECTED
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO PLAN AND
ACCOMMODATE
FOR HOUSING THAT IS AFFORDABLE
TO ALL ECONOMIC
SEGMENTS OF THE POPULATION.
HB 1020 PASSED IN 2021
WENT FURTHER IDENTIFYING THE
CITY
MUST IDENTIFY HOUSING AT ANY
ECONOMIC LEVEL BELOW 30%
AREA MEDIAN INCOME, LESS THAN
60%
AMI FOR RENTERS, 80% FOR
OWNER OCCUPIED AND LOW INCOME
FAMILY.
THE COMP PLAN DOES NONE OF THAT.
WE ARE ALWAYS TOLD
THAT MARKET RATE HOUSING IS THE
ANSWER TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
THAT TRICKLE DOWN ECONOMICS WILL
SAVE
THE DAY.
THIS WAS A THEORY FOR THE
MANDATORY HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM WHICH ALSO
RAMPED UP IN
2021.
WAS THERE A SURGE IN
AFFORDABLE HOUSING?
ACCORDING TO THE SEATTLE
TIMES OF 282 MARKET RATE
PRODUCTS
SUBJECT TO MHA'S REQUIREMENTS,
DEVELOPERS CHOSE TO PAY FEES
269 TIMES WHILE 13
CHOSE TO INCLUDE ITEMS ON SITE.
IN ADDITION WE'RE TOLD
THAT TREES AND SPACE TO PLANT
MORE GET IN THE WAY OF ALL
HOUSING,
THAT DENSITY AND TREES CANNOT
COEXIST. AND WHEN DEVELOPERS
ENGAGE
IN DOUBLE SPEAK BY CLAIMING THEY
SUPPORT BOTH, THEY UNDERMINE
IT BY DEMANDING 90% HARD SCAPE
AT ALL PROPERTY AND CUTTING
SETBACK REQUIREMENTS BY OVER
HALF, LEAVING NO ROOM FOR A
MIGHTY
EVERGREEN OR OAK EVEN IT'S IN
THE CORNER OF A LOT.
I DON'T THINK THAT ANY OF
US WANT TO LIVE IN THAT
ENVIRONMENT
ESPECIALLY IN A CLIMATE
EMERGENCY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IT'S 7:00 P.M. SO IT'S
A REMINDER TO OUR ONLINE
SPEAKERS
THAT YOU CAN NOW LOG IN,
AND WE WILL BEGIN TO RECOGNIZE
YOU AT
7:30 AND BOUNCE BACK FROM
HYBRID -- IN- PERSON TO
HYBRID.
GAYLE?
>> NO, I'M 58.
>> I APOLOGIZE.
57, 58, 59, 60.
YOU'RE UP, THANK YOU.
>> TWO DAYS
BEFORE CHRISTMAS LAST YEAR I
HEARD CHAIN
SAWS EARLY IN THE MORNING AND
LATER
IN THE DAY MUCH
TO MY HORROR I DISCOVERED THAT
THREE LARGE,
HEALTHY FIR TREES HAD BEEN CUT
DOWN.
ALL THAT WAS LEFT WAS A
HUGE PILE OF ROOT BALLS AND
LIMBS.
THESE WERE ON THE EARLY SIDE
SO IT SEEMED THE GEPPERS COULD
HAVE PLANNED NEW HOUSING
WITHOUT REMOVING THEM.
MORE LOSS OF HOMES
FOR WILDLIFE AND SHADE FOR THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
THERE'S LITTLE IF ANY
INCENTIVES
FOR DEVELOPERS AS THE CITY
MAKES THEM EASY TO CUT THEM
DOWN.
I HOPE YOU REMODIFY THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLANCHES AND MAKE
SAVING TREES A PRIORITY.
CITY LEADERS ALWAYS SAY
THEY WANT TO INCREASE THE TREE
CANOPY, YET THEIR WORDS
RING HOLLOW.
1,000 PLUS TREES OVER 6
INCHES IN DIAMETER WERE REMOVED
FROM
PRIVATE PROPERTIES IN 2021.
AT THE RATE WE'RE GOING
MAYBE SEATTLE SHOULD BE RENAMED
THE HEAT CITY ISLAND INSTEAD OF
THE
EMERALD CITY.
THANK
YOU.
>> SUSAN, DON, AND NANCY.
BEFORE SUSAN, DON, AND
NANCY JUMP UP AND SPEAK, CAN WE
HAVE
SPEAKERS 61 THROUGH 70 THAT ARE
SIGNED UP?
61 THROUGH 70 PLEASE STAND
UP, AND YOU CAN LINE UP HERE
EITHER HERE WHICHEVER IS YOUR
GOOD SIDE, MIDDLE FACE OR LEFT
FACE.
SUSAN.
>> OKAY, HI.
MY NAME IS SUSAN CAMPBELL,
AND I'M A PART OF 500 PLUS
NEIGHBORS SUPPORTING THE
PRESERVATION OF
HISTORIC QUEEN ANNE
BOULEVARD HOMESTEAD PARKWAY.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR FOR
THE COUNCIL AND THE GALLERY
THAT THERE'S NO CONFUSION,
QUEEN
ANNE BOULEVARD IS NOT PART OF
THE
URBAN CENTER.
IT IS NOT QUEEN AVENUE.
QUEEN ANNE BOULEVARD
HOMESTEAD PARKWAY IS A SEATTLE
HISTORIC
LANDMARK.
IT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1907.
IT RUNS AROUND THE PERIMETER OF
QUEEN ANNE'S EAST, WEST,
AND NORTH SIDES AT THE CREST OF
THE
HILL.
THE BOULEVARD IS 3. 5 -- EXCUSE
ME, 3. 7 MILES OF VIEW,
VISTAS, BEAUTIFUL OLD GROWTH
TREES,
WILD, LEAFY CANOPY AND
QUIET, CALMING RESPITE FROM THE
HECTIC CITY.
KNOWN AS THE CROWN OF THE HILL
WALK, QUEEN ANNE BUFB
WAS ESTABLISHED AS A GIFT OF
LAND FROM PRIVATE PROPERTY
OWNERS FOR
THE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF
THE SCENIC PARKWAY.
AND IT IS USED. THERE ARE
JOGGERS, DOG WALKERS, KIDS ON
BIKES AND SCOOTERS,
YOUNG FAMILIES WALKING
WITH STROLLERS, RETIRED
RESIDENTS
MAINTAINING THEIR FITNESS, YOUNG
PEOPLE ON WINE WALKS,
TEENAGE GROUPS.
BASED ON A POLL THAT WAS DONE
ON SOCIAL MEDIA, 49% OF
RESPONDENTS USE IT DAILY IN
THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
INTERESTINGLY, IT IS ALSO A
PART OF -- OF THE
BUSINESS BECAUSE SEATTLE
HISTORIC TOURISTS
GO THROUGH AS WELL.
CURRENTLY IT IS SLATED TO BE
LR3. WE REALLY ASK THAT YOU
PRESERVE THIS.
WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE HOUSING IS HERE
FOR THE
CITY, BUT ULTIMATELY WE ALSO
WANT
TOTO PRESERVE CITY AND
OUR HISTORICAL LANDMARKS.
THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT WE HAVE DAWN AND
NANCY.
>> OKAY.
I'M DAWN SILAR.
I LIVE ON NORTH QUEEN
ANNE HILL. SEATTLE REPORTS THAT
SEATTLE
HAS LOST MORE THAN 2,000 TREES
THIS
YEAR.
THE WORLD ECONOMIC
FORUM REPORT THAT 1 HECTARE, 2
1/2 ACRES
OF CANOPY WILL REDUCE POLLUTANTS
BY
400 TONS.
THE TREE ORDINANCE PASSED IN
2023 THAT WAS SUPPOSED
TO PROTECT AND GROW SEATTLE'S
TREE
CANOPY, BUT THE ORDINANCE WAS
ACTUALLY CRAFTED BY THE MASTER
BUILDERS OF KING AND --
COUNTY. IT'S A COPY OF THE
AMENDMENTS
WHO MADE 103 LOBBYING TRIPS
TO CITY HALL.
QUOTING INVESTIGATE WEST,
THE TREE ORDINANCE INCLUDES A
SWEEPING PROVISION TO
LET BUILDERS AND HOME OWNERS
REMOVE ANY TREE FOR ANY
REASON AS LONG AS THEY GET
PERMITS AND PAY THE
SDCI TREE FUND.
THE TREE ORDINANCE IS IN
SYNC WITH THE COMP PLAN, WHICH
ALLOWS SDCI DEVELOPERS TO HARD
SCAPE
85% OF THE PROPERTY.
AND THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
YOU'VE SEEN IT IN THE
NEWSPAPER.
THERE IS NO COMPARATIVE
EQUIVALENCE BETWEEN REPLACING A
60-YEAR- OLD OAK TREE WITH A
TREE GROWING BETWEEN TWO FIVE-
STORY
BUILDINGS.
STATES IT WILL TAKE 25 YEARS,
THAT'S 2050 FOR NEW UPZONE
TREES TO REACH EVEN 19 TO 26%
CANOPY
COVERAGE, BUT THE
CANOPY COVERAGE WILL NEVER
RECOVER BECAUSE YOU CAN'T
PRODUCE CANOPIES ON HARD SCAPE.
ONCE YOU GET RID OF THE
DIRT, THE TREES ARE GONE
FOREVER.
PLEASE PAUSE AND WORK WITH
THE URBAN FORESTRY COMMISSION TO
BRING COMMON SENSE DENSITY
TO THE EMERALD CITY.
THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, DAWN.
NANCY, GO RIGHT AHEAD.
>> GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS NANCY.
I'D LIKE TO READ A LETTER
SENT ON BEHALF OF A NEIGHBOR OF
OURS WHOSE NAME IS ALEXANDRIA
STREAMER.
ALEXANDRIA LIVES
ON WASTE WAY STREET ON QUEEN
ANNE ON
6th AVENUE WEST.
SHE WRITES I'M A
YOUNG PROFESSIONAL WHO RENTED
FOR
MANY
YEARS. I KNOW I'M LUCKY TO BE
A HOMEOWNER AT 31 YEARS OLD.
I WORK AS A PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
CONSULTANT.
IN 2024 I SIGNED A LETTER
TO COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE
EXPRESSING
MY OPPOSITION TO
WEST AVENUE. BY EXTENDING LR3
ZONING THIS FAR
NORTH ON 10th AVENUE WEST IS A
BIG MISTAKE.
NORTH 10th AVENUE WEST IS
A HISTORIC
BOULEVARD, AND THERE'S NO
COMMERCIAL CENTER NORTH
OF WEST McGRAW STREET.
STREETS ALSO BECOME
NARROWER NORTH OF WEST McGRAW.
I SIGN THIS LETTER IN SUPPORT OF
MY NEIGHBORS BECAUSE OF
BETTER ALTERNATIVE OF ADDING
DENSITY TO
QUEEN ANNE IS 6th AVENUE
WEST ADJACENT TO WHERE I LIVE.
THE NUMBER 2 METROBUS TRAVELS
DIRECTLY ON THIS STREET
TO DOWNTOWN SEATTLE.
IT HAS A COMMERCIAL HUB
THAT INCLUDES A WALKABLE GROCERY
STORE AND SEVERAL BUSINESSES.
SEVERAL MULTIFAMILY HOMES, A
WELL REGARDED PUBLIC ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL AND IS THE
STRAIGHTEST STREET IN THE
PORTION OF
10th AVENUE WEST.
IT HAS NO CLAIM TO THE HISTORIC
QUEEN ANNE BOULEVARD.
IF THE CITY HAD
TRULY ENGAGED HOME OWNERS IN
THIS
PROCESS, WE WOULD HAVE ADDED
SUGGESTIONS.
BUT THE WAY OPCD HAS
SPECIFICALLY
LEFT HOME OWNERS OUT OF THIS
CONVERSATION
HAS MADE US FEEL LIKE WE'RE
PLAYING CATCH- UP TO PROVIDE
GUIDANCE
AND FEEL HEARD.
MY NEIGHBORS AND I
HAVE REPEATEDLY VOTED TO
INCREASE
OUR TAXES TO BENEFIT
TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING, AND
SCHOOL LEVIES.
WE'RE YOUR PARTNERS IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, NANCY.
NEXT WE HAVE SPEAKERS 61 THROUGH
STARTING WITH SPEAKER NUMBER
61.
CAROL, JUNE?
CAROL, ARE YOU HERE?
NO, I DON'T SEE HERE?
IS JUNE HERE?
YOU ARE THE LUCKY
WINNER.
GO RIGHT AHEAD.
>> HELLO, I'M JUNE.
I'M A RESIDENT OF SOUTHEAST
SEATTLE AND A GRANDMOTHER WITH
A STRONG BACKGROUND IN
PUBLIC HEALTH.
I MAY NOT BE
AROUND 20 YEARS
FROM NOW. I'M SPEAKING TO
BENEFIT THOSE
WHO COME AFTER ME.
WE ALL WANT OUR CITY TO BE
HEALTHY, LIVABLE, AFFORDABLE
AND DIVERSE.
THE PROPOSED ONE SEATTLE PLAN
WILL NOT GET US THERE.
THE PLAN WOULD ALLOW CEMENT
AND BUILDINGS TO COVER LARGE
AREAS OF SEATTLE'S REMAINING
OPEN
LAND THAT WILL RESULT IN MORE
DISPLACEMENT, HEAT ISLANDS,
MORE ILLNESS AND DEATH FROM
HEAT WAVES AND CHRONIC
CONDITIONS LIKE ASTHMA AND
HEART DISEASE AND WORSE MENTAL
HEALTH, ALL
OF WHICH THAT
WILL DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT
PEOPLE OF COLOR.
THE DATA ARE CLEAR THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL HAS THE
POWER
TO CHANGE THIS TRAJECTORY AND
MUST
ACT.
PASS A TREE PROTECTION ORDINANCE
THAT PROTECTS LOTS UNDER
NEW DEVELOPMENT.
THE 2023 ORDINANCE DOES NOT.
SDCI USES FALSE DATA TO
CONVINCE YOU OTHERWISE.
THEIR DECEPTION WAS
RECENTLY EXPOSED IN
INVESTIGATE WEST. EACH
COUNCILMEMBER RECEIVED AN
E- MAIL FROM THE TREES
AND COALITION OUTLINING
BEGINNING TREE PROTECTION STEPS,
AN ACT
THAT ALLOWS EXPERTS
INCLUDING THE URBAN FORESTRY
COMMISSION TO BE INVOLVED IN
WRITING
LEGISLATION, NOT THE
MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION,
WHICH
HAS A FLAGRANT CONFLICT OF
INTEREST.
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION MAKE
OUR CITY STRONG, ENACT ETIVE
ANTI-DISPLACEMENT MEASURES.
THE MAYOR HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE
CITY'S PROGRAMS FALL SHORT,
AND HIS RECENT EXECUTIVE ORDER
DO
NOT FILL THE GAPS.
NONE WOULD CHANGE ANYTHING IN
THE ONE
SEATTLE PLAN. IT CONTAINS NO
MENTION
OF COMMUNITY INPUT.
SOME OF YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR
WITH THE CORE ANTI- DISPLACEMENT
AGENDA. IT CONTAINS DETAILED
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS.
ANTI-DISPLACEMENT IS ABOUT
MORE THAN ADDING
HOUSING.
>> THANK YOU, JUNE.
WE HAVE KAREN NEXT, JASMINE, AND
THEN
VANESSA.
>>
HELLO. THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY
COMMENT.
MY NAME'S KAREN DAVIS.
I UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE
NEED FOR MORE HOUSING.
I'M A REALTOR AND EVERY DAY I
EXPERIENCE THE IMPACT OF
OUR HOUSING CRISIS.
HOWEVER, WE ARE ALSO FACING
A CLIMATE CRISIS, AND THAT
WILL ONLY WORSEN IF WE CONTINUE
TO
IGNORE OUR ENVIRONMENT.
GROWING OUR CITY AND
BEING STEWARDS OF OUR
ENVIRONMENT
MUST GO HAND IN HAND.
IT'S AN UNDISPUTED FACT
THAT LARGE TREES HELP COOL
OUR PLANET.
THEY SEQUESTER CARBON, PROVIDE
HABITATS, CLEAN THE AIR AND
ABSORB AND FILTER
RAINWATER PREVENTING FLOODING,
LANDSLIDES,
AND WATER POLLUTION.
THEY ALSO IMPROVE OUR HEALTH.
IT'S A FACT THAT PEOPLE
WHO LIVE AMONG TREES ARE
PHYSICALLY AND
MENTALLY HEALTHIER.
WE MUST MAKE OUR GREEN CANOPY A
PRIORITY. THIS PLAN GIVES LIP
SERVICE
TO THAT BUT FAILS TO
PROVIDE MEANINGFUL PROTECTION TO
OUR EXISTING LARGE TREES OR
MAKE ACCOMMODATION FOR GROWING
OR TREE CANOPY TO MEET THE
30% GOAL.
SEATTLE ACTUALLY LOST 255
ACRES OF TREE CANOPY BETWEEN
2016 AND
2021, AND THIS PLAN
WILL
CONTINUE THAT DECLINE. ALSO, LET
US NOT FORGET OUR
BELOVED SOUTHERN RESIDENT
ORCAS WHO ARE SLIDING TOWARDS
EXTINCTION.
THEY
ARE BEING PROFOUNDLY HARMED BY
THE TOXIC RUNOFF FROM
OUR CITY, AND THAT IS ONE OF
IT THREE MAIN THREATS TO
THEIR SURVIVAL.
CEMENT NEEDS TO FOLLOW
THE SOUTHERN WHALE RECOVERY
PROGRAM WHICH STATES AREAS OF
HIGHER
POPULATION MUST TAKE
GREATER MEASURES TO REDUCE TOXIC
RUNOFF.
THAT'S TREES.
WE HUMANS HAVE A TERRIBLE TRACK
RECORD OF CARING FOR
OUR
ENVIRONMENT. SINCE WE CLEARLY
DON'T HAVE
THE GOOD SENSE TO TAKE CARE OF
IT FOR OURSELVES,
THANK GOODNESS THERE ARE LAWS IN
PLACE
THAT MAKE US DO IT FOR THE
SPECIES
THAT WE HAVE DRICHBEN VEN TO THE
BRINK
OF EXTINCTION. MAYBE SOMEDAY WE
WILL
ALL REALIZE THAT WHAT HELPS
OUR ENVIRONMENT HELPS US, TOO.
THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, KAREN.
NEXT WE HAVE
JASMINE.
>> THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS JASMINE SMITH.
QUEEN ANNE RENTER.
AS WE HIT IN A HEAVY MOMENT
WITH A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY AND A
LOT OF WORK
TO DO WE'RE BUILDING FOR
ANOTHER GENERATION TO COME
AND JUST LIKE THE DECISIONS OF
HOW THE 1923 ORDINANCES HAS
OUTLASTED DECISION MAKERS THE
ONES HERE WILL EITHER BE A
BIG STEP TO RECTIFY AND
COMMIT OURSELVES TO CLIMATE
ACTION
OR SET OURSELVES BACK.
IT'S NECESSARY TO
CLIMATE GOALS IN ENSURING WE
HAVE
VIBANT LIVABLE COMMUNITIES IS
KEY.
WHERE IT WITH A COST OF
DESTRUCTION AND
OVERDEVELOPMENT OF OUR NATURAL
RESOURCES.
LIKE WISE REDUCING VEHICLE MILES
TRAVELED THROUGH LAND USE IS
A CRITICAL PART OF PROTECTING
OUR WILDLIFE AND THEIR HABITATS,
AND THEY GO HAND IN HAND WITH
PROTECTING OUR ORCAS AND SALMON.
FROM DISCOVERY PARK TO STEWART
PARK, LAKE CITY TO COLUMBIA
CITY, BY PROVIDING
THE FLEXIBILITY AND OPTIONS FOR
ALL
OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO HAVE
THOSE VIBRANT,
LIVABLE COMMUNITIES WITH ENOUGH
HOUSING FOR EVERYONE, WE CAN
BUILD
A CITY THAT GOES BEYOND WHAT
WE DESERVE AND GOES FOR WHAT
OUR NEXT GENERATIONS
DESERVE.
>> THANK YOU, JASMINE.
NEXT WE HAVE VANESSA.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS VANESSA.
I'M A RENTER IN THE GREENWOOD
NEIGHBORHOOD, AND I'M HERE
TO EXPRESS MY UNCONDITIONAL
SUPPORT
FOR LEGALIZING MORE HOMES AND
MORE TYPES OF HOMES
IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND ACROSS
ALL OF
SEATTLE.
I WAS A RENTER FOR MANY YEARS.
AND THE HIGH COST
OF HOUSING MADE ME GIVE UP MY
ACCEPTED CAREER.
I'M IN MY MID- 30s NOW AT A
TIME WHEN MANY START A FAMILY
BUT
HOMEOWNERSHIP IS STILL A DISTANT
DREAM.
MANY IN MY GENERATION
ARE LOOKING FOR HOMES CLOSE TO
AMENITIES.
WE'RE HAPPY TO TRADE CARS
FOR WALKING AND PUBLIC TRANSIT
AND PARKING FOR HOME IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
MOST IMPORTANTLY WE DON'T
DISAPPEAR IF NO HOUSING IS
BUILT FOR US.
INSTEAD WE'RE FORCED INTO
CAR DEVELOPMENT EX- URBAN
DEVELOPMENTS FAR
AWAY FROM FRIENDS AND FAMILY
INCREASING
OUR CARBON IMPACT TEN
FOLD. WE ARE CARING MEMBERS OF
OUR
COMMUNITIES, AND WE ARE TIRED OF
BEING TOLD WE'RE NOT
WELCOME. THE INEVITABLE RESULT
OF
NOT PASSING THIS PLAN HOUSING
PRICES WILL KEEP RISING AND
TREES WILL
BE PLANTED ELSEWHERE.
THERE'S NO TIME FOR DELAY.
WE NEED MORE HOUSES NOW.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE --
I CAN'T READ
YOUR NAME. I APOLOGIZE NUMBER 68
FOLLOWED BY ABIGAIL AND
ANDREW.
>> HI.
I'M A LATE IN LIFE HOMEOWNER.
IT TOOK 25 YEARS TO SAVE UP THE
MONEY. ONE SEATTLE PLAN
WAS SOLD TO US
ON THE PREMISE OF MARKET
URBANISM, DENSITY EQUALS
AFFORDABILITY.
THE MOST RECENT
STUDY SHOWS THE EXACT OPPOSITE.
DENSITY LEADS TO
GENTRIFICATION, THE LOSS OF
AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND SMALL BUSINESSES.
IN JUST THE LAST 15 YEARS
IN SEATTLE WE'VE ADDED OVER
105,000 UNITS.
THE RESULT RENTS ARE UP 50%,
HOUSING PRICES AND
PROPERTY TAXES HAVE MORE THAN
DOUBLED
AND MIDDLE AND LOW INCOME PEOPLE
HAVE
BEEN PRICED OUT. ADDING DENSITY
IS CLEARLY
NOT WORKING TO BRING DOWN COSTS,
AND YET WE'RE TOLD THE CURE IS
MORE.
THE RESULT IS DIABOLICAL.
A ONE SEATTLE PLAN SOLD
AS EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE,
WHICH
IS A PLAN FOR THE
1%. PRIVATE EQUITY FOR THE LAST
YEAR THEY BANKED BLUEPRINT AND
LEGACY CAPITAL, THEY HAVE BANKED
OVER
1,000 SINGLE FAMILY
HOME PROPERTIES.
THEY'RE GOING TO TEARDOWN
THE EXISTING HOMES, AND
THEY'RE GOING TO BUILD WHAT'S
HAPPENING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD,
HOMES
THAT ARE GOING FROM 1. 3 TO 2.2.
FROM MY BACK PORCH I CAN
SEE THREE RENTAL HOUSES.
THEY HAVE AN AVERAGE RENT
OF 3,500.
THEY HOUSE BETWEEN 4 AND 8
PEOPLE. IF YOU MAXIMIZE THE PLAN
AND
YOU ENLARGE
THE FOOTPRINT OF HOUSE, THOSE
WILL BE TORN DOWN IN SIX
MONTHS. ALL THAT RENTAL HOUSING
WILL
BE GONE.
THERE'S NO DISPLACEMENT PLAN
FOR RENTAL HOUSING.
YOU NEED TO DO THE LEAST HARM
AND CHOOSE OPTION 1 BECAUSE THE
REAL KEY TO AFFORDABILITY IS
NOT BUILDING MORE HOUSING RIGHT
NOW.
IT'S FIXING OUR PROPERTY
TAX SITUATION.
IT'S WORKING WITH THE STATE ON
CONDOMINIUM LAW.
WHY DO I, AN OLDER PERSON, GET
A TAX REBATE WHEN YOUNGER
PEOPLE SHOULD ALL GET TAX
DEFERMENTS
IF THEY WANT TO BUY
A HOUSE?
OTHER THINGS THAT TAKE TIME TO
DEVELOP.
SO BREATHE, SLOW DOWN, DO NO
HARM.
THANK
YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE JEANNIE.
>> MY NAME IS JEAN WARREN,
AND MY FAMILY MOVED
TO "CAFFEINE & OCTANE" ANNE --
QUEEN ANNE IN
1929 AND I AM THE HOLD OUT.
HOWEVER, WE'VE HAD FIVE
TREES COME DOWN IN THE PARK IN
THE LAST TWO YEARS.
ONE WAS AN 85- FOOT
EVERGREEN THAT TOTALED A
NEIGHBOR'S CAR.
AND THESE ARE COMING --
NOT COMING UP BY THE ROOT.
THERE WERE OVER 150 YEARS OLD
MOST OF THEM, AND IT'S
DANGEROUS.
ALSO I FOUND THIS ON THE
SIDEWALK.
I NEVER GOT ANYTHING
ABOUT IT AND NEERKT DID ANYBODY
IN
MY NEIGHBORHOOD ABOUT TONIGHT.
AND I DO HAVE A PROBLEM
WITH HOUSING WHEN HE HAVE TAKEN
DOWN AND ARE BUILDING A FIVE-
STORY APARTMENT HOUSE WHERE THE
PARKING LOT IS OR WAS FOR A
RETIREMENT HOME, SO PEOPLE
COME TO VISIT PEOPLE THERE HAVE
TO PARK ON THE STREET.
SAFEWAY WENT IN WITH
300 APARTMENTS WITH 80
PARKING PLACES FOR THEM.
THEN THE DEVELOPER CRIED
AND MOANED AND NOW WE HAVE
400 APARTMENTS.
I WANT TO WALK WITH
THE DEVELOPERS AND FIND OUT
WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO PUT ALL
THIS
HOUSING.
I'M NOT OPPOSED TO HOUSING,
BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'RE
GOING TO PUT IT.
I ONLY HAVE 3 FEET ON EACH
SIDE OF MY HOUSE, AND IT'S A
CRAFTSMAN AND IN THE BACK.
AND THE HOUSE WAS BUILT IN
1916, NEVER MOVED DURING
AN EARTHQUAKE.
SO WHAT ARE WE GOING TO
DO?
>> THANK YOU, MS.
JEAN.
>>
THANK YOU.
>> SPEAKER 68.
THEN ABIGAIL AND THEN
ANDREW.
>> HI.
I'M HILDI.
THANK YOU FOR CONVENING THIS
TODAY.
EVERYBODY'S LOOKING A LITTLE
TIRED UP THERE.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE THAT'S
SPOKEN SO FAR.
I'VE LIVED IN A
NATIONALLY HISTORIC HOME ON
QUEEN ANNE,
THE WILLKY FARMHOUSE
SINCE 1982. WHAT I'M CONCERNED
ABOUT IN
ALL OF WHAT I'VE BEEN HEARING
IS THE
INFRASTRUCTURE IN THESE HISTORIC
NEIGHBORHOODS, THE SETBACK
FOR, YOU KNOW, NOT ALLOWING
ANY TREE. I WENT OUT ON MY
PROPERTY TODAY.
I'M VERY BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO
LIVE IN THIS HOME FOR SO LONG.
I IRK WITHED WORKED IN A NON-
PROFIT AND
WITH MY HUSBAND RAISED
THREE CHILDREN.
WE HAVE 28 TREES ON OUR
PROPERTY, A THIRD OF WHICH
ARE MATURE.
WE HAVE BEEN OFFERED OVER
AND OVER BY THE DEVELOPERS THAT
WANT TO COME AND TEARDOWN OUR
HOUSE, OUR HISTORIC HOUSE AND
PUT IN
MORE DENSITY. I UNDERSTAND THAT
THERE'S A
NEED FOR THAT.
I SEE IT EVERY DAY WHEN I AM IN
SEATTLE, AND I JUST THINK THAT
WE NEED TO SLOW DOWN A LITTLE
BIT.
WHAT I'VE HEARD TONIGHT IS THE
AFFORDABILITY FACTOR
ISN'T IN
THERE. WHAT I'M SEEING ON QUEEN
ANNE,
WHICH IS A VERY
GENTRIFIED
NEIGHBORHOOD. I'M VERY FORCHT
TO HAVE LIVED
THERE FOR SO LONG BECAUSE I'M
NOT RICH.
I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE YOU
DEFINE WHAT AFFORDABILITY IS,
AND THEN CRAFT A PLAN THAT
CAN REALLY HELP PEOPLE, HELP
THESE RENTERS.
MY DAUGHTER'S
HAD TO MOVE A NUMBER OF TIMES
BECAUSE
SHE CAN'T AFFORD THE RENT.
OUR SON MOVED OUT OF SEATTLE
BECAUSE HE COULDN'T AFFORD
THE RENT.
THIS IS A REAL -- THESE
ARE WORKING PEOPLE.
THESE ARE PEOPLE IN THEIR 30s.
I JUST WANT YOU TO SLOW DOWN
A LITTLE BIT, TAKE TIME
TO CONSIDER WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR
THE
CHILDREN, THE ELDERLY, MAKE
IT SAFE FOR
US.
>>
THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE ABIGAIL
AND THEN
ANDREW.
ABIGAIL?
>> HELLO, CITY COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS ABIGAIL, AND I'M
HERE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE
ACTION ON TWO CRITICAL ISSUES --
HOUSING
AND TREES. AND WE DESPERATELY
NEED
HOUSING, YES, BUT NOT BY
SACRIFICING
THE VERY LUNGS AND AIR-
CONDITIONING
OF OUR CITY. LAST YEAR WE LOST
NEARLY
2,000 TREES AND THAT'S ON TRACK
OF
20,000 TREES LOST BY 2035.
YOUR OWN WEBSITE CLAIMS A GOAL
OF A 30% TREE CANOPY BY
2037 YET YOU HAVE ADOPTED A
TREE ORDINANCE THAT
PRACTICALLY CELEBRATES
CLEAR-CUTTING.
ROBERT M cCUELLAR'S
REPORTING THEY FOUND THE ACTUAL
NUMBER WAS
3% OF THE STATED TOTAL.
THE TREE'S SDCI COUNTED WERE
NOT EVEN IN DANGER.
SDCI DID NOT APOLOGIZE.
THEY DID NOT SAY THEY MADE
A MISTAKE.
THEY FELL SILENT BECAUSE
IT'S NOT A MISTAKE.
IT'S A
COVER-UP. AND I BELIEVE LEGACY
CAPITAL AND OTHER ENTITIES OF
INFLUENCE ARE
IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
THEY'RE IN SDCI, AND THEY'RE
ALSO BULLYING YOU, CITY COUNCIL.
AND THAT'S WHY YOU'RE NOT
TAKING ACTION.
I ALSO HAVE ONE OTHER
TIDBIT THAT ALSO SUPPORTS MY
BELIEF IN
CORRUPTION, AND IT'S A
VIDEO FROM THE CEO OF LEGACY
CAPITAL WHO BRAGS,
QUOTE, WE HAVE ONE GUY HERE WHO
WAS THE TOP GUY AT
THE CITY WHO APPROVED ALL
THE PERMITS IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE FOR YEARS.
HE WAS, LIKE, THE TOP GUY.
HE'S ON OUR TEAM NOW, AND GUESS
WHAT? WHEN WE CALL AND WE TRY TO
GET STUFF IN PURLTING ERMITTING
AND TALK
TO THE PEOPLE IN PERMITTING,
THIS IS THE GUY.
HE USED TO WORK
FOR ALL. THIS IS A BIG DEAL.
NOW, WE HAD TO PAY THIS GUY.
IF THERE'S A TREE IN THE
MIDDLE OF A PROPERTY, HE KNOWS
THAT THAT TREE COULD COME DOWN
OR WE
COULD BUILD AROUND IT
OR WHATEVER.
THESE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS
NOBODY KNOWS.
COMMUNITY MINDED BUILDERS
WHO ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT OUR
TREES
ARE BEING OVERSHADOWED BY THIS
POWERFUL, MAFIA- LIKE ENTITY.
MY REQUEST IS THAT YOU
STOP CARING ABOUT TREES AND FIX
THE
ORDINANCE.
>> ABIGAIL, THANK YOU.
ABIGAIL, WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE.
ABIGAIL,
WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE IN HERE THAT
NEED
TO SPEAK. I REALLY APPRECIATE
YOU
COMING DOWN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO
SEND US YOUR COMMENTS IN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ANDREW?
>> AS AN ARCHITECT AND
RESIDENT
ON CAPITOL HILL. WHEN I DECIDED
TO RUN FOR
MAYOR IN 2021 I WAS INSPIRED BY
THE CLIMATE CRISIS BUT ALSO THE
RECOGNITION
THOSE IN POWER
DURING THIS PROCESS WOULD HAVE
TO MAKE THE DIFFICULT DECISION
OF WHERE MORE HOUSING MUST BE
ALLOWED IN OUR CITY BECAUSE TO
BE CRYSTAL CLEAR REDUCING
THE AMOUNT OF POTENTIAL HOUSING
IN THE PLAN IN ORDER TO PROTECT
CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS
FROM CHANGING WILL NOT STOP
PEOPLE FROM MOVING HERE.
IT WILL NOT STOP PEEL LIKE
MYSELF WHO MOVED TO SEATTLE
FOR AN AMAZING JOB OPPORTUNITY.
IT WILL NOT STOP PEOPLE IN MY
COMMUNITIES, BLACK, LATINX, AND
YEAR, WHO MOVED TO SEATTLE TO
ESCAPE PERSECUTION FROM
PEOPLE WHO CANNOT AND WILL NOT
ACCEPT THEM.
I RECOGNIZE THAT CHANGE
IS SCARY BUT CITIES LIKE PEOPLE
MUST CHANGE AND GROW.
AND IN DOING SO THEY
BECOME THAT MUCH BETTER.
CHANGE IS
WHAT CREATED OUR WATERFRONT
PARK, AN AMAZING
NEW PLACE THAT DID EXIST IN
OLD SEATTLE.
AND THAT SAME OLD SEATTLE, THE
SEATTLE THAT YOU KNEW, NO
LONGER EXISTS.
THE SEATTLE THAT I KNEW FROM
WHEN I FIRST MOVED HERE IN
2016 NO LONGER EXIST.
AND THAT'S OKAY.
NOSUBSTANTIALA IS NICE, BUT IT
IS A DELUSION AND A DISTRACTION
FROM OUR REALITY, THAT THE
ONLY WAY TO BE SURE THERE WILL
BE
SPACE FOR OLD AND
NEW SEATTLEITES IS BY ALLOWING
MORE HOUSING.
THE PLAN AS DELIVERED DOWN
TO YOU BY A CORRUPT MAYOR
IS ALREADY A SEATTLE COMPROMISE.
MY SIMPLE REQUEST IS THAT
SHOULD YOU MAKE AMENDMENTS TO
THIS
PLAN, THAT YOU DO NOT REDUCE THE
TOTAL AMOUNT OF HOUSING
PROPOSED.
PLEASE DO NOT LOSE SIGHT OF
A LONG-TERM GOAL FOR A SHORT-
TERM POLITICAL WIN.
THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO
EMBRACE CHANGE AND CREATE
THE NEXT SEATTLE, A FUTURE FOR
A CITY WHERE WE ALL WIN.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, ANDREW.
AND IF THERE'S NO OBJECTIONS
BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HAVE -- WE
HAVE TO DO A SWITCH OUT.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTIONS
THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WILL BE
IN RECESS UNTIL 7:33.
THAT GIVES US ABOUT
A 5-MINUTE BREAK FOR US TO
USE THE RESTROOM AND ALSO FOR US
TO MAKE
SOME STAFFING CHANGES AND THEN
ALSO TO CHECK THE
WEATHER UPDATES.
OKAY? THANK YOU.
>> WE ARE BACK IN ACTION.
I SEE MYSELF ON THE SCREEN
THERE.
AWESOME. OKAY, SO LET'S GO AHEAD
AND START.
SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE GOING TO
BE RECOGNIZING HYBRID -- THEY'RE
NOT HYBRID.
THEY'RE ONLINE. OUR
ONLINE SPEAKERS. AND WE'RE
GOING TO GO BACK AND
FORTH BETWEEN 10 ONLINE AND
20 IN PERSON.
THAT'S BECAUSE THE GARAGE CLOSES
AT 10:00 P.M. , AND WE
KNOW THAT WE'RE FIGHTING
AGAINST
THE WEATHER THAT'S GOING ON
RIGHT
NOW, SO WE'LL
RECOGNIZE 10 PEOPLE ONLINE AND
WE'LL BOUNCE
BACK INTO 20 ON PERSON.
SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE GOING TO
BE RECOGNIZING OUR SPEAKERS
ONLINE.
>> ALBERTO ALVAREZ, PLEASE
PRESSPRESS STAR 6
TO SPEAK. FOLLOWING ALBERTO WILL
BE REID HAMPTON.
>> HELLO.
IS IT MY TURN?
>> GO RIGHT AHEAD.
>> IT'S COLD
AND IT'S FREEZING. THE HOUSING
CRISIS IS AN ICEBERG
DEAD AHEAD.
ON THE TITANIC THE
WORKING CLASS WAS DENIED A
CHANCE TO SURVIVE.
THE UPPER CLASS DIDN'T
WANT THEIR TOP DECK CLUTTERED
WITH LIFE BOATS.
THIS IS A CITYWIDE
PUBLIC COUNCIL NOT A PRIVATE
HOME
OWNERS ASSOCIATION. THE COMP
PLAN IS DESIGNED TO
ADD DENSITY TO A VIERANT BRANT
CITY IN
AN EVER GROWING STATE.
SUPPLY IS THE COMP PLAN.
SUPPLY TO MEET DEMAND IS THE
MOST BASIC PRINCIPLE OF ANY
MARKET.
QUEEN ANNE, MADRONA, GREEN
LAKE, AND YES, EVEN MAPLE LEAF
MUST
PROVIDE A FAIR SHARE TO
COMBAT THE HOUSING CRISIS.
RENTALS FOR THE BARISTA, THE
GROCER, THE LINE COOK,
WAITRESS, THE BARTENDER, THE DOG
AND
CAT SITTER, ET CETERA, ET
CETERA.
HOMES IN THE CITY FOR A
YOUNG COUPLE LOOKING TO START A
FAMILY KEEP DENSITY FAIR ACROSS
ALL
NEIGHBORHOODS. DO NOT LET THE
WEALTHIEST COMMUNITIES CONTROL
THE NEEDS
OF WORKING PEOPLE.
THANK YOU AND HAVE A GOOD
DAY.
>> REID HAMPTON, PLEASE PRESS
STAR 6.
YOU'RE NEXT.
>> HI, COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS REID HAMPTON AND I'M
A RESIDENT AND RENTER
OF DISTRICT 6.
I'VE LIVED IN SEATTLE
FOR FIVE YEARS NOW, SO THE
DURATION OF
MY RESIDENCY SHOULDN'T
REALLY MATTER.
AND IN THAT TIME I'VE VOTED
IN EVERY ELECTION, VOLUNTEERED
IN
LOCAL NONPROFITS AND
HELPED BUILD COMMUNITIES.
TODAY I AM HERE NOT TO ASK BUT
TO PLEAD WITH THIS COUNCIL
TO SUPPORT THE ADDITIONAL
HOUSING OPTIONS PROVIDE BY
THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER
AND COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
OVER THESE FIVE YEARS MY
WIFE AND I HAVE LIVED IN THE
SAME
APARTMENT
IN BALLARD. THANE THAT TIME OUR
RENT
HAS GONE UP LESS THAN
10% OVER FIVE
YEARS. WHY?
BECAUSE EVERY OTHER YEAR A NEW
APARTMENT BUILDING HAS
OPENED ON OUR BLOCK.
IT HAS KEPT OUR RENT LOW
ALLOWING US TO START SAVING
FOR A HOME IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE HAVE ONLY
HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE OF
THE
NUHOMES AND NEW
NEIGHBORS JOINING
OUR COMMUNITY. BY REMOVING
NEIGHBORHOOD
CENTERS FROM THIS COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN WE WOULD BE CONDEMNING
RENTERS TO
A WORLD OF INCREASING RENTS.
OUR NEW NEIGHBORS MAKE OUR CITY
STRONGER, MORE RESILIENT, AND
MORE FUN.
PRESERVING THESE CITY
CENTERS WITH MORE OF THEM
FURTHER
FROM DENSITY YOU WOULD
BE CONTRIBUTING TO THAT
STRENGTH WHILE GIVING OVER 60%
OF
THE CITY WHO ARE RENTERS
THE BREATHING ROOM TO SAVE FOR A
HOME AND SO
MUCH MORE. I AGREE WITH MANY OF
THE SPEAKERS TONIGHT
REGARDING THE IMPORTANCE
OF GREENERY. THE SOLUTION IS TO
PRIORITIZE PARKS OVER CAR
PARKING,
BUILDING UP ON SMALL FOOTPRINT
LOTS
AND SPACE SUFFICIENT TRANSIT
OVER
ASPHALT PARKING LOTS.
THE SOLUTION IS NOT DENY
HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES TO THOSE
OF US
WHO HAD THE
MISFORTUNE OF BEING BORN CLOSER
TO THE YEAR 2000.
PLEASE SUPPORT A
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WHICH ADDS
MORE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS,
CREATES
MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOUSING
GROWTH, AND ALLOWS
MORE SEATTLEITES TO CALL
OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY HOME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND
BEST OF LUCK TO
THE REST.
>> NEXT WE HAVE ALEX.
PLEASE PRESS STAR 6.
YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> GOOD EVENING.
WHEN WE BOUGHT OUR HOME OVER 30
YEARS AGO WE WERE A
WORKING CLASS FAMILY.
THE MORTGAGE WAS AFFORDABLE
WITH ONE PERSON WORKING AND THE
OTHER CARING FOR
CHILDREN. I'M SURPRISED IT
PROVIDES
THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE SEATTLE DEVELOPER TO
BUILD -- WE
NEED BOTH IN ALL NEIGHBORHOODS.
ON PROP 1A WHICH FUNDS
WORK FORCE HOUSING WITHOUT
TAKING TAX DOLLARS AWAY FROM
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PASSES, THE
PROP
WILL NEED TO BE UPDATED
ACCORDINGLY. MY KIDS NOW WORKING
ADULTS
WON'T BE ABLE TO LIVE IN
SEATTLE
UNLESS POLICIES LIKE THE
SOCIAL HOUSING DEVELOPER AND
PROPS
LIKE PROP 4A BECOME AVAILABLE.
WE NEED MUCH
MORE LAND ZONED FOR THE FOUR'
PLUS STORY APARTMENTS
THAT ENABLE SOCIAL HOUSING.
ONLY THEN WILL OUR KIDS
BE ABLE TO RETURN TO OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS, AND ONLY THEN
WILL WE BE ABLE TO
CURB THE PRESENT CLIMATE
DESTROYING URBAN SPRAWL THAT
DISPLACES YOUNG PEOPLE TO
SUBURBS SO THAT NEIGHBORHOODS
LIKE QUEEN ANNE CAN
BE PRESERVED IN SEATTLE.
WE NEED TO WELCOME OUR
KIDS BACK.
WE NEED BIG ENOUGH BUILDINGS
TO DO IT.
WE NEED THEM IN ALL
THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE NEED THE SOCIAL
HOUSING DEVELOPER TO BE
SUPPORTED IN
OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT WE HAVE IRIS.
PLEASE PRESS STAR 6 AND HOWARD
GREENRICH.
YOU ARE UP NEXT ON
DECK.
>> HI.
THIS IS IRIS.
REGARDING THE COMP PLAN, I WANT
TO SEE HOUSING DEVELOPERS, CITY
PLANNERS, AND
ENVIRONMENTALISTS WORKING
TOGETHER TO INCORPORATE
INTO THE COMP PLAN
DENSER HOUSING AND MORE TREES.
THIS SHOULD NOT BE A BINARY
DECISION -- TREES OR HOUSING.
DEVELOPERS CAN DESIGN
USING SHARED WALLS, NO LOT
SPRAWLS
AND TALLER BUILDINGS TO
ACCOMMODATE
RETAINING TREES
ON SITE. IT SEEMS INULT ISSING
TO
ME AT THIS POINT TO HAVE TO
POINT
OUT TO ANYONE THE IMPORTANCE OF
CANOPY FOR HEALTH AND
CLIMATE
REASONS. WE ALL KNOW THE
SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE.
AND COMPARING THE
PLANTING OF NEW YOUNG TREES WITH
THE
RETENTION OF ALREADY
EXISTING OLDER MATURE TREES IS
LIKE
COMPARING APPLES AND ORANGES.
WE ALSO KNOW THIS.
DESIGNERS, DEVELOPERS,
PLANNERS ARE SMART ENOUGH TO
FIGURE OUT
HOW TO HAVE MORE
AND DENSER HOUSING AND MAINTAIN
AND INCREASE OUR TREE CANOPY.
PLEASE CONSIDER THE COMMON GOOD
IN ORDER TO BUILD A HEALTHY,
SAFE, AND BEAUTIFUL CITY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE
HOWARD FOLLOWED BY
DYLAN.
PLEASE PRESS STAR 6.
WE CANNOT HEAR YOU, HOWARD.
ARE YOU THERE JUST PLEASE PRESS
STAR
6. IS HOWARD PRESENT ONLINE?
HE IS, OKAY.
MAYBE HE STEPPED AIFROM
THE
PHONE.
WE'LL COME BACK TO HOWARD. NEXT
WE'LL HEAR FROM DYLAN.
PLEASE PRESS STAR 6.
YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> HI, YEAH, MY NAME IS DYLAN.
I'M AN URBAN DESIGNER
AND A 20-YEAR SEATTLE RESIDENT,
ALSO
THE FATHER OF AN 8-YEAR- OLD
THAT
BIKES AND DRIVES AND BUSES
ALL OVER
THE CITY WITH ME. AND I THINK
ABOUT HIM AND HIS
FUTURE AND OUR EXPERIENCE.
ACHIEVING THIS GOAL WOULD BE
A SIGNIFICANT STEP TOWARDS
CUTTING
LOCAL CARBON EMISSIONS AND
THE CO2 EMISSIONS ASSOCIATED
WITH
DRIVING. THE ONE SEATTLE PLAN
MOVES
US TOWARDS THIS GOAL BY
REINTRODUCING THE CONCEPT OF
A NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER.
OUR REQUEST IS TO KEEP ALL
30 NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS PROPOSED
IN THE ONE SEATTLE PLAN AND
PLANT THE SEEDS TO ADD MORE WITH
SEATTLE'S NEXT
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE.
THESE PLANS WORK TOGETHER
AS PART OF A NETWORK
OF NEIGHBORHOODS, SYSTEMS,
AND CULTURAL ELEMENTS THAT
SERVE BOTH NEARBY NEIGHBORS
AND NEIGHBORS ACROSS THE CITY.
AT THE COMMERCIAL CORE OF OUR
NEIGHBORS, OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS ARE HEARTS
OF
OUR COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE
RESIDENTS
WITH ACCESS OF EVERY DAY NEEDS
AND SERVICES.
RESIDENTS CLOSE TO
A NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER WERE
LUCKY ENOUGH TO WALK TO IT.
THIS IS HOW WE'VE LIVED IN
SEATTLE FOR 75 YEARS.
NOW WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
REENGAGE WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
CENTERS, TO CURATE, TO
ENHANCE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
CENTERS, THESE
SMALL, SCALE
COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS OF OUR
COMMUNITY.
THE ONE SEATTLE PLAN WILL
ALLOW MORE SEATTLE RESIDENTS
WALKABLE
ACCESS ENABLING MORE
RESIDENTS TO LIVE NEAR THESE
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL
CORRIDORS BY
ADDING FIVE- STORY
MULTIFAMILY APARTMENTS ON
ADJACENT
LOTS.
>>
THANK YOU. NEXT UP WE HAVE
WILLIAM
SCOTT FOLLOWED BY DAVID
NEEMAN. WILLIAM, PLEASE PRESS
STAR 6
AND UNMUTE YOURSELF AND YOUR
PUBLIC SPEAKING STARTS WHENEVER
YOU START SPEAKING.
WILLIAM, STAR 6.
IF NOT, WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU.
CAN WE GO AHEAD AND UNMUTE DAVID
NEEMAN.
>>
HI.
>> WE CAN
HEAR YOU. GO AHEAD.
>> THIS IS WILLIAM SCOTT, RIGHT?
YOU WANT TO HEAR FROM ME?
OKAY, HERE'S THE THING.
WE'VE GOT ONE OF OUR BACKED
UP BY A PETITION ON SO FAR WE
HAVE
670 SIGNATURES AND PROBABLY
MORE IF IT HAD BEEN POSSIBLE TO
KNOW ABOUT THIS SITUATION
FURTHER IN
ADVANCE, AND WE'RE ASKING
TO CORRECT A ERROR ON THE
ONE SEATTLE PLAN AND REMOVE A
SHORT SECTION OF NORTH EAST
45th
STREET. THIS IS A PLANNING ERROR
BECAUSE ZONING THIS SEGMENT LR3
CONFLICTS WITH BOTH THE
LETTER AND THE THE INTENT OF HB
1110.
FOR EXAMPLE, THIS SEGMENT HAS NO
PRIORITY RAPID OR HIGH FREQUENCY
TRANSIT.
IT IS NOT TO QUOTE HB 1110
COMPATIBLE IN SCALE, FORM,
AND CHARACTER WITH SINGLE
FAMILY HOUSES.
UPGRADING THIS TO LR3 IS --
BECAUSE IT'S NOT A DESIGNATED
NEIGHBORHOOD URBAN OR
REGIONAL CENTER OR NEAR MAJOR
TRANSIT.
AND OF COURSE TO COMPLEMENT
THE COMMENTS OF VARIOUS GOOD
PEOPLE ON THIS CALL, IT
CONFLICTS
WITH THE TREE CANOPY OBJECTIVES
OF HB
1110.
AND MOREOVER LR3
TYPE DEVELOPMENTS IN AREAS LIKE
THIS AND THERE ARE MANY OF
THEM, WE'VE HEARD ABOUT QUEEN
ANNE
AND OTHERS HERE TONIGHT,
WILL PROVIDE LOW OR
EVEN MIDPRICED HOUSING TO
ADDRESS MANY OF
THE APPEALS AT THIS MEETING,
WHICH WE SUPPORT BECAUSE AND WE
ALL KNOW IS THAT THE DIRTY
LITTLE SECRET HERE IS THE
DEVELOPERS
WILL JUST PAY IN LIEU FEES
AND GET OUT FROM LOW INCOME
HOUSING AND MARKET PRICED
CONDOS.
ON THE OTHER HAND LOW DENSITY
ALTERNATIVES DO EXIST.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT WE HAVE DAVID NEEMAN
FOLLOWED BY MEGHAN CRUZ.
DAVID, GO AHEAD AND PRESS STAR
6 AND UNMUTE
YOURSELF.
>> HI, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
I AM A PARTNER AT NEEMAN
FABER ARCHITECTS.
WE'RE A SMALL ARCHITECTURE FIRM
HERE IN SEATTLE THAT
SPECIALIZES IN URBAN HOUSING.
THE ISSUE I WANT TO TALK
ABOUT
TONIGHT IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT
THAN MAYBE WHAT YOU'RE HEARING.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE
NEW DESIGN STANDARDS THAT
ARE PROPOSED FOR NEIGHBORHOOD,
RESIDENTIAL, AND LOW
RISE ZONING.
THESE NEW DESIGN STANDARDS THEY
ARE OF REALLY WIDESPREAD CONCERN
FOR OUR DESIGNERS.
NONE OF MY COLLEAGUES
THINK THEY WILL MAKE OUR
PROJECTS ANY
BETTER, BUT IT'S CLEAR TO US
HOW THEIR RIGID AND
PRESCRIPTIVE WILL LIMIT US IN
VARIOUS WAYS.
IF THEY YOU STRING ENOUGH
OF THOSE RULES TOGETHER ONCE
THOU
SHALT NOT DO, IT ENDS UP BEING A
LEFTOVER AND THAT LEFTOVER
IS RARELY SOMETHING GOOD.
THE MORE RULES YOU CREATE,
THE MORE DIFFICULT IT IS FOR US
TO DO
GOOD WORK. AS AN ALTERNATIVE I
SENT
THE COUNCIL FOR A PROPOSAL TO
REPLACE THE DESIGN STANDARD.
THE CONCEPT IS APPLICANTS
SCORE POINTS BY INCLUDING
BENEFICIAL FEATURES IN THEIR
DESIGN, AND
YOU HAVE TO SCORE A CERTAIN
NUMBER OF POINTS TO
GET
APPROVAL. THIS WILL ALLOW
DESIGNERS
TO SELECT FROM A WIDE VARIETY
OF OPTIONS THAT CAN
ACCOMMODATE DIFFERENT HOUSING
TYPES AND SITE
CONFIGURATIONS AND
ARCHITECTURAL STYLES.
IT WILL ELIMINATE THE KIND OF
ONE-SIZE FITS ALL COOKIE
CUTTER SOLUTION THE PROPOSAL
WILL
IMPOSE, AND IT WILL IMPOSE
A HIGHER LEVEL OF DISCIP
QUALITY AND NEW DEVELOPMENT.
THERE ARE A LOT OF
PEOPLE TALKING
TODAY THAT ARE WORRIED ABOUT
WHAT ALL THESE CHANGES
ARE GOING TO LOOK LIKE AND
FEEL LIKE.
SO I IMPLORE YOU TO WORK WITH
SEATTLE'S ARCHITECTS TO
MAKE SURE WE HAVE RULES THAT
WILL ALLOW US TO DESIGN
BUILDINGS THAT ARE TAW
THOUGHTFUL AND
CONTEXTUAL AND WORTHY OF A CITY
WE ALL LOVE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, DAVID.
NEXT, I WANT TO SEE IF HOWARD
GREENRICH IF YOU CAN DO STAR 6
AND WE'LL COME BACK TO
YOU. IF NOT, WE'LL COME
BACK TO YOU.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
>> WE CAN.
>> FABULOUS.
I HAD ANOTHER SET OF
COMMENTS PREPARED, BUT I WANTED
TO CALL IN MY FELLOW RESIDENTS
WHO HAVE
COME TO OPPOSE ZONES IN
OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS. WHAT MOST HAVE IN
COMMON WITH
ME WE OWN HOMES.
SOME HAVE OWNED
HOMES FOR DECADES.
I'VE OWNED MINE FOR 15 YEARS.
WE'VE SEEN HOMES DOUBLE
NOT BECAUSE OF IMPROVEMENTS
WE'VE MADE BUT IMMENSE DEMAND
DRIVEN
BY HI-
TECH GROWTH. WHAT ELSE WE HAVE
IN COMMON
WE'RE MOSTLY WHITE AND OLDER
AND WE THINK WE DESERVE TO
FREEZE
OUR NEIGHBORHOODS IN TIME SO
OUR FAMILIES CAN ENJOY THE
BENEFITS
FOREVER. I'M NOT SAYING WE
DON'T HAVE
PAIN AND TRIBULATIONS BUT THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN IS
THAT PEOPLE WITHOUT LAND,
WITHOUT MONEY WHO CAN'T PASS
FOR
WHITE, HAVE HOUSING BARRIERS
FACE CONSTANT INSECURITY,
CONSTANT
CHANGE, CONSTANT RELOCATION, AND
CONSTANT DISCRIMINATION. LAND
USE IN THE U.S. HAS
ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT WEALTH, RACE,
AND
RIVOLOG.
SEGREGATION IS
THE SAME. THIS COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN IS NO
DIFFERENT.
IT RELIES ON OMISSION AND A
LACK OF REAL TRADEOFF.
I'M SURE MY FELLOW HOME
OWNERS BELIEVE WHAT THEY SAY BUT
IT'S
WHAT THEY'RE OMITTING THAT
UPSETS ME.
IF WE DON'T ALLOW NEIGHBORHOOD
CENTERS, THE UPZONES WILL
HAPPEN, BUT THEY WON'T HAPPEN
IN PLACES WHERE PEOPLE HAVE LESS
PRIVILEGE.
I HAVE ONE
PRIORITY RECOMMENDATION TO MAKE
TONIGHT.
IT'S TIME FOR LOW
DENSITY WELL- OFF NEIGHBORHOODS
TO
EXPERIENCE CHANGE AND TAKE
ON THEIR FAIR SHARE OF DENSITY.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE NEED
TO HALT UPZONES IN HIGH
DISPLACEMENT AREAS WHERE WORKING
CLASS HOUSEHOLDS.
WE NEED TO GIVE THESE
NEIGHBORHOODS A BREAK FROM
UPZONES.
THEY'VE HAD MORE THAN THEIR
FAIR SHARE FOR 30 YEARS.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT WE HAVE MEGAN CRUZ.
PLEASE PRESS STAR
6.
>> GOOD EVENING.
AS A DOWNTOWN RESIDENT,
OUR PROPOSED COMP PLAN CHANGES
ARE SCHEDULED FOR PHASE 3 AND
HAVEN'T BEEN RELEASED.
INSTEAD I'D
LIKE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THIS
NEIGHBORHOOD
NEEDS FROM THE COMP PLAN.
FIRST, EARLY ENGAGEMENT.
IN THE PAST YEAR, ZONING
CHANGES HAVE OCCURRED IN A
PIECEMEAL FASHION OFTEN TOP DOWN
WITHOUT OPPORTUNITY FOR
COMMUNITY
INPUT UNTIL THEY COME BEFORE
THE COUNCIL FOR A VOTE.
WITH OVER 100,000 DOWNTOWN
RESIDENTS, WE
WANT EARLY OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE
LIVED EXPERIENCE WITH PLANS TO
ADD
13,000 NEW HOMES HERE.
THE COMP PLAN NEEDS AN ELEMENT
FOR PROACTIVE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
THAT CONSIDERS ALL VOICES,
NOT JUST SELECT GROUPS EARLY IN
THE
PROCESS. ANOTHER KEY ISSUE IS
ENCOURAGING ESSENTIAL RETAIL TO
RETURN DOWNTOWN SO IT CAN AGAIN
BECOME
A 15- MINUTE NEIGHBORHOOD.
FINALLY, DOWNTOWN NEEDS
MORE DIVERSE HOUSING.
TEN YEARS SINCE THE CITY
DECLARED A HOUSING
CRISIS, THE LACK OF HOMES FOR
PEOPLE EARNING
30 TO 80% OF AMI CONTINUES
TO ERODE PUBLIC
HEALTH, SAFETY, EQUITY AND
RESILIENCE. TO REVITALIZE
DOWNTOWN WE
NEED TO MAKE ROOM FOR PEOPLE OF
ALL
INCOME.
RECENTLY THE BUSINESS
JOURNAL REPORTED THAT
PROJECTIONS
SHOW SEATTLE IS UNLIKELY TO
BUILD AFFORDABLE UNITS IT NEEDS
WITHIN
THE NEXT 19 YEARS.
THE COMP PLAN CAN AND SHOULD
DO MORE TO FIX THIS.
THE CURRENT STRATEGY IS
THAT BUILDING MORE AND MORE
MARKET RATE HOMES WILL RESULT IN
NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE
HOMES.
IF SO, HOW LONG WILL THIS
TAKE? AFTER SEVEN YEARS OF
ZONING POLICY DOWNTOWN STILL
HASN'T SEEN MORE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING.
INSTEAD SPECULATION HAS
FUELED THE FLOOD OF SMALL LUXURY
UNITS AND INCREASED LAND PRICES
MAKING
IT HARDER TO BUILD AFFORDABLY
HERE.
DOWNTOWN'S UPZONES
BENEFIT TRANSPORTATION
INFRASTRUCTURE.
BUILDING HERE SHOULD COME
WITH PUBLIC BENEFITS.
IT'S TIME TO CONSIDER
INCLUSIONARY ZONING ALONG
WITH MARKET RATE DEVELOPMENT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
AND BEFORE WE -- WE HAVE
ONE MORE SPEAKER ON THE LINE
BEFORE WE BOUNCE BACK INTO IN-
PERSON, WHICH WE'LL RECOGNIZE
SPEAKERS BETWEEN 71 AND 80.
SO PLEASE GET READY 71 AND 80.
ADAM ELNER, PLEASE PRESS STAR
6 TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS ADAM, A GARFIELD
GRAD COMMENTING TODAY ABOUT THE
PROPOSED NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER
IN MAPLE LEAF BECAUSE IT
IS COMPLETELY MISALIGNED WITH
THE
FUNDAMENTAL PLANNING PRINCIPLES
OF SUSTAINABLE URBANISM THAT
I HOPE SEATTLE IS STRIVING FOR.
IT'S ALSO OUT OF TOUCH WITH THE
ON GROUND THE REALITIES OF MAPLE
LEAF.
I'M AN URBAN STUDIES GRADUATE,
A RENTER, A STRONG ADVOCATE
FOR SAFE
TRANSIT, AND I'VE LIVED IN
MAPLE LEAF FOR MUCH OF MY
29-YEAR-OLD LIFE AS BUS ROUTE
AFTER BUS ROUTE HAS BEEN CUT
FROM OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE BUSES I ONCE TOOK TO GET
TO HIGH SCHOOL ARE GONE.
NOW THERE'S ONLY THE 67 WHICH
JUST SHUTTLES A COUPLE MILES
BETWEEN NORTH GATE AND UVILLAGE.
THAT IS NOT A LEVEL OF
CONNECTIVITY THAT CAN SUPPORT
DEVELOPMENT.
THIS TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT WILL
INCREASE CAR TRIPS AND JUST
WORK AGAINST THE CITY'S
CLIMATE GOALS.
THE REAL TRANSIT ALTERNATIVE
IS WALKING 1. 2 MILES FROM
NORTH GATE LIGHT RAIL TO THE
PROPOSED NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER,
AND
THAT INVOLVES CLIMBING UP A
200-FOOT IHILL.
I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT
THE PROPOSED NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER
AT NORTH EAST 145th STREET,
WHICH WAS CUT FROM THE DRAFT
PLAN,
I BELIEVE, CONTAINS MANY
FEATURES
THAT MAKE IT A SMART PLACE FOR A
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER.
THE STREETS ARE WIDER THAN
IN MAPLE LEAF, SO THEY
CAN ACCOMMODATE BETTER
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE.
THERE'S A QFC, A GYM,
SCHOOLS, AND SEVERAL LARGE GREEN
SPACES WITHIN A QUARTER MILE.
MEANWHILE, AS TRANSIT HAS
BEEN REPEATEDLY CUT IN MAPLE
LEAF, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS ADDED
A
LOT OF VARIED HOUSE OVER THE
YEARS, AND OUR COMMUNITY HAS
WELCOMED
MANY NEW
NEIGHBORS. AND THIS IS WHY I
WANT TO
UNDERSCORE A VERY IMPORTANT
POINT THAT LOOKING AT ME AND
MY NEIGHBORS IS SIMPLY FALLING
BACK ON THE FAILED
>> WE'RE GOING STAY IN ORDER. 7
>> HI. MY NAME IS KATHLEEN, AND
I AM A NATIVE SEATTLEITE. AND AS
WE ARE CONSIDERING WHAT WE'RE
GOING TO DO I WANT US TO BE SURE
THAT WE CREATE A SURVIVABLE CITY
AND THAT -- AND PART OF THAT, WE
HAVE TO REALLY BE SERIOUS ABOUT
CLIMATE CHANGE. AND IF YOU
HAVEN'T READ THIS BOOK, IT'S
IN THE SEATTLE LIBRARY, I REALLY
RECOMMEND IT. IF YOU'RE SHORT
ON TIME, THE PROLOGUE OF 20
PAGES SIMPLY COVERS ALL OF THE
IMPACTS IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
FROM OUR 2020, YOU KNOW, 2021
HEAT WAVE. AND IF YOU READ THE
CHAPTER ON PARIS, THAT IS
ANOTHER TEMPERATE ZONE CITY THAT
DID NOT BUILD WITH ANY
TEMPERATURE EXTREMES IN MIND.
AND THEY HAD A HORRIFIC HEAT
WAVE WHERE THEY LOST SO MANY
PEOPLE. BUT THAT WAS IN THE
'90s. TO READ FROM THIS -- NOW
I'VE LOST MY PAGE -- WHAT THIS
MEANS -- HERE'S WHEN IT SAYS, A
PROFESSOR OF URBAN STUDIES AND
PLANNING IN PORTLAND STATE
UNIVERSITY DROVE AROUND IN HIS
PRIUS WITH HIS 11-YEAR-OLD SON
MEASURING THE TEMPERATURES IN
DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY. IN
ONE OF PORTLAND'S POOREST
NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE TREES ARE
FEW AND CONCRETE IS PLENTIFUL,
HE MEASURED AN AIR TEMPERATURE
OF 124 DEGREES. THE HIGHEST
TEMPERATURE HE HAD EVER RECORDED
IN 15 YEARS OF CHRONIC HEAT.
WHEN I STOPPED AND OPENED MY CAR
DOOR, THE FIRST THING I FELT WAS
MY EYES BURNING, HE RECALLED. MY
SKIN WAS ON FIRE. IT JUST FELT
LIKE YOU'RE MELTING. HE DROVE
TO WILLAMETTE HEIGHTS, A TREE
LINE SUBURBS, HE MEASURED THE --
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE
SPEAKER 72, 73, 74. AND YOU CAN
-- MORE THAN HAPPY TO SEND US
COMMENTS TO OUR EMAIL AS WELL.
GO AHEAD.
>> 72. MY NAME IS BRITNEY NICOLE
COX, A SELF-EMPLOYED ARTIST AND
CONSERVATOR IN SEATTLE. I'VE
BEEN A RENTER IN DISTRICT THREE
FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS. SO I
UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR HAVING
DENSITY AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
IT'S IMPACTED ME NEGATIVELY
OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. BUT
I DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS A
CHOICE BETWEEN TREES AND
HOUSING. I THINK WE SHOULD AND
CAN HAVE BOTH IN THIS COUNTRY
TREES WERE OUR EARLIEST
CATHEDRALS AND CITY HALLS, YET
HERE WE ARE TO TALK ABOUT THE
FUTURE OF THESE LONG REVERED
COUNSELORS. AMERICAN FLAGS WERE
DECORATED NOT WITH --
REPRESENTATION WERE EMBOSSED
WITH TREES BECAUSE WHAT BETTER
WAY WAS THERE TO DEMONSTRATE OUR
WEALTH AS A NATION. THESE TREES
ARE AN ASSET. IT TAKES A FEW
HOURS TO FELL A TREE. IT TOOK
1,000 YEARS TO GROW. NOT ONE
LIVING PERSON TODAY -- AND A
SEEDLING PLANTED IN ITS PLACE.
HOW CAN ONE NOT SENSE THE
IMBALANCE OF THAT EQUATION?
SEATTLE IS KNOWN AS THE EMERALD
CITY. OUR OWN STATED GOAL IS TO
ACHIEVE AND MAINTAIN A 30%
CANOPY COVER. IN KING COUNTY,
837,000 GALLONS OF POLLUTED
RUNOFF ENTER THE PUGET SOUND
FROM STORM DRAINS. WE NEED TREES
TO MITIGATE THIS. WHAT FUTURE
ARE WE BUILDING THAT DOESN'T
HAVE BIRD SONG, TREE CANOPY, OR
THE ICONS OF OUR SALISH SEA. NOT
ONLY ARE OUR TREES OUR HEALTH,
OUR HAPPINESS, OUR WATER, AND
AIR QUALITY AT STAKE, BUT SO ARE
OUR BIRDS, ORCA, AND SALMON.
THEY ARE ALL GONE NOW, THOSE
GIANTS. WE WILL ENDURE WITHOUT
THEM, BUT WE WILL NOT LONG
ENDURE THE PRACTICES AND
SHORTSIGHTEDNESS OF THOSE THAT
ROBBED US OF THEM. HOPEFULLY
THIS WILL BE A REMINDER WE MUST
BE STEWARDS OF THE LAND THAT
PROVIDES FOR US. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. SPEAKER 73. SORRY.
>> SO WE CAN ADD HOUSING WITHOUT
KILLING EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE
PROCESS, LIKE PORTLAND AND KING
COUNTY'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN
BEACON HILL DID. THESE GIANTS
ARE TELLING US THROUGH THEIR
DEATHS THAT THEY NEED
SIGNIFICANTLY MORE HELP, NOT
MORE RUNOFF. -- NOT ONLY
ADMITTED THE ORCAS FROM THE
DEIS, THEY'VE ADDED LANGUAGE --
TO MAINTAIN WILDLIFE -- IS NOT
FEASIBLE. NOAA 'S FEDERAL --
STATES BECAUSE OF HUMAN
PROJECTED POPULATION GROWTH IN
THE REGION IN COMING DECADES,
ESPECIALLY IN PUGET SOUND AND
THE GREATER GEORGIA BASIN,
GREATER EFFORTS WILL BE NEEDED
BY GOVERNMENTS, INDUSTRY, AND
THE PUBLIC TO MINIMIZE
POLLUTION. WHY ISN'T SEATTLE
FOLLOWING FEDERAL GUIDELINES?
TREES ARE POWERFUL
BIOREMEDIATORS, REDUCING AND
FILTERING POLLUTED RUN OFF. I
AND OVER 750 PETITION SIGNERS
ASK SEATTLE TO FOLLOW THE
FEDERAL NOAA SRKW RECOVERY PLAN
GUIDELINES AND PRESERVE OUR
BIOREMEDIATORS, LARGE TREES.
OTHER CITIES IN OUR COUNTY
DENSEFIED WITHOUT KILLING ALL
BIG TREES. WE ARE LOSING OUR
IMPORTANT BREEDING AGE MALES AND
FEMALES. THE SOUTHERN RESIDENTS
CAN'T WAIT ANY LONGER. WE HAVE
TO FIGURE THIS OUT AND DO
SOMETHING MASSIVELY DIFFERENT,
EVEN IF ONLY FOR A TRIAL BASIS.
PORTLAND FOUND TREES OVER 20
INCHES IN DIAMETER CONTRIBUTED
OVER 59% OF THE ECOLOGICAL
BENEFIT AND IMPLEMENTED A LARGE
TREE AMENDMENT, SHARED WALLS,
AND ELIMINATED SETBACK
REDUCTIONS. MAYBE IT'S TIME TO
PAUSE ALL LARGE TREE REMOVALS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, JENNIFER. UP NEXT
IS NUMBER 74. ALEX BRENNAN,
FOLLOWED BY 75, ESMERALDA. TAKE
IT AWAY.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS,
MY NAME'S ALEX BRENNAN. I'M
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT
FUTUREWISE, I'M ALSO A DISTRICT
THREE VOTER. I'M HERE TO URGE
YOU TO MOVE BEYOND THE STRATEGY
TO SUPPORT THE NEIGHBORHOOD
CENTERS, TRANSIT CORRIDORS, AND
CHANGES TO SINGLE-FAMILY ZONING
AND TO BUILD ON THOSE CHANGES.
WE NEED TO DO MORE. I WAS
PLANNING TO SHARE A REALLY
COMPELLING PERSONAL STORY ABOUT
WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT TONIGHT,
BUT INSTEAD I WANT TO USE MY
REMAINING TIME TO URGE THE
COUNCIL TO SWITCH TO ONE-MINUTE
COMMENT SO MORE PEOPLE CAN BE
HEARD TONIGHT. WITH OVER 200
PEOPLE, AT LEAST IN THEORY,
HAVING SIGNED UP TO COMMENT THAT
ARE STILL TO COME, IT WOULD TAKE
OVER EIGHT HOURS AND TWO MINUTES
FOR ALL OF THEM TO SPEAK. MANY
PEOPLE WILL END UP HAVING TO GO
HOME BEFORE THEY HAVE A CHANCE
TO SPEAK, AND MANY ALREADY HAVE.
I WAS ABLE TO GET HERE AN HOUR
EARLY TO SIGN UP FOR COMMENT
BECAUSE THIS IS MY JOB. AND I'M
NUMBER 74. THE PEOPLE COMING
LATER DIDN'T HAVE THAT BENEFIT.
THEY'VE MADE THE TIME TO COME
HERE OUT OF THEIR BUSY LIVES.
PLEASE CONSIDER SWITCHING TO A
SHORTER AMOUNT OF COMMENT TIME.
>> THANK YOU, ALEX. I'LL REPEAT
THE COMMENTS AS SOON AS THE
CHAIR HAS RETURNED. ESMERALDA,
YOU'RE UP NEXT. AND ALSO,
EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO ONLY
SPEAK FOR ONE MINUTE.
>> I SECOND THAT. ONE MINUTE,
PLEASE. OKAY, HELLO,
COUNCILMEMBERS, THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. I'M AN
INTERN WITH FUTUREWISE, AND I
LIVE IN WEST SEATTLE. THE CITY
IS GROWING, AND THERE'S SERVICE
CHANGES THAT NEED TO HAPPEN
ACROSS SEATTLE AND IN EVERY
NEIGHBORHOOD. WITHOUT A CHANGE,
DISPLACEMENT, COST OF LIVING,
AND RISING RENTS WILL ACCELERATE
EVEN FURTHER AS OUR COMMUNITY IS
PUSHED OUT. THE COST OF HOUSING
AND COST OF LIVING IS A HUGE
ISSUE, ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE
WITH FAMILIES THAT WANT TO
SETTLE DOWN. I HAVE LIVED IN
WEST SEATTLE FOR EIGHT YEARS,
AND OUR RENT HAS GONE UP
APPROXIMATELY 90% IN THE PAST
TWO YEARS. MY RENT FOR A
TWO-BEDROOM APARTMENT IS ROUGHLY
$2,100 A MONTH FOR AN OLDER
STYLE APARTMENT. THE GROWING
COST OF RENT IS UNSUSTAINABLE,
AND THIS IS THE MOMENT TO DO
SOMETHING BOLD TO PREVENT MORE
OF THE NEIGHBORS FROM GETTING
PUSHED OUT OF OUR COMMUNITIES. I
SUPPORT MANY OF THE STRONG
PROPOSALS IN THE MAYOR'S ONE
SEATTLE PLAN, AND WE LOOK
FORWARD TO YOU TAKE ACTION, AND
I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND
CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, ESMERALDA. UP NEXT
IS MICHAEL FOLLOWED BY KYLE
PARIS THEN MARSHA PETERSON.
MICHAEL, TAKE IT AWAY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS,
FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND YOUR
ENDURANCE TONIGHT. THIS IS MY
FIRST TIME TO COMMENT IN PERSON
BECAUSE I'M VERY PASSIONATE
ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I'M A
DISTRICT SIX RESIDENT. I'M ALSO
A HOMEOWNER IN THE RELATIVELY
WEALTHY NEIGHBORHOOD OF NORTH
BEACH. AND NONETHELESS, I ASK
YOU TO UPZONE MY NEIGHBORHOOD
AND TO DO SO WELL BEYOND WHAT IS
REQUIRED IN SB 1110. WE SHOULD
BE WELCOMING A TRANSITION OF OUR
CITY TO A MORE WALKABLE,
DIVERSE, AND MIXED USE
NEIGHBORHOODS. PLEASE REJECT THE
PERPETUATION OF EXCLUSIONARY
ZONING AND THE UNREALISTIC CALLS
TO PRESERVE AN UNCHAINED
SEATTLE. LOOK AT THE LEADERSHIP
OF CITIES LIKE SPOKANE AND WHAT
THEY'RE DOING THERE AND
RECOGNIZE THAT VOTES TO UPZONE
AND EXPAND HOUSING CHOICE ACROSS
ALL OF THE CITY, INCLUDING AN
EXPANDED NUMBER OF NEIGHBORHOOD
CENTERS, ARE VOTES TO HELP
REDUCE HOMELESSNESS IN THE LONG
TERM, THEY'RE VOTES TO HELP
REDUCE INFLATION AND INEQUALITY
IN THE LONG TERM, AND I'VE ALSO
BEEN AN IPCC CLIMATE SCIENTIST
FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS, MY ENTIRE
CAREER. AND I'M PRETTY
CONFIDENT IN TELLING YOU THAT
THE RESEARCH CONCLUDES THAT
VOTES TO UPZONE WILL REDUCE
GREEN HOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IN --
CONSERVES FOREST AREAS AND
RESULTS IN MORE CLIMATE
RESILIENCE, NOT THE OPPOSITE.
PLEASE HELP MAKE SEATTLE A MORE
DYNAMIC AND VIBRANT CITY. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SPEAKER 77, 78,
79, AND 80.
>> HI, I AGREE WITH ALEX ON THE
ONE MINUTE THING, BUT I WILL USE
MY TWO MINUTES. MY NAME IS KYLER
PARIS, I'M A MEMBER OF THE
SEATTLE TRANSIT ADVISORY BOARD,
AND I LIVE IN CAPITOL HILL AND
ENJOY MY SMALL, CHEAP APARTMENT
AND VIBRANT COMMUNITY. MY LIFE
IS BETTER SINCE MOVING FROM THE
CAR-CENTRIC SUBURBS, AND I HOPE
THAT EVERYONE GETS THE CHANCE TO
LIVE NEAR FREQUENT TRANSIT.
FRANKLY, SEATTLE IS WORKING WELL
FOR ME, MUCH LIKE IT IS FOR THE
MANY HOMEOWNERS YOU'VE HEARD
FROM TODAY. LIVING IN CAPITOL
HILL MEANS I LIVE ALONGSIDE MANY
HOMELESS NEIGHBORS. BEING
HOMELESS IN SEATTLE IS A BRUTAL
EXPERIENCE. EVERY TIME IT RAINS,
I SEE THE SOAKED CARDBOARD AND
PERSONAL BELONGINGS THAT HAD TO
BE LEFT BEHIND. I THINK ABOUT
HOW OUR ELDERLY HOMELESS
POPULATION CONTINUES TO
DRASTICALLY INCREASE. I WANT TO
DO RIGHT BY THEM AND DO WHATEVER
WE CAN TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE HAS
A HOME. THE ANSWER IS BUILDING
MORE HOMES EVERYWHERE AS
EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE. WHICH
INCLUDES ALLOWING NEW NEIGHBORS
IN EVERY CORNER OF THE CITY FROM
MADRONA TO MAPLE LEAF BECAUSE
THE WEALTHIEST NEIGHBORS CAN DO
THEIR PART. WHEN THE MIXED USE
TRANSIT -- WIDEN THE MIXED USE
TRANSIT UPZONES SO MORE PEOPLE
CAN AFFORD TO LIVE NEAR OUR
PHENOMENAL BUS SYSTEM. APPROVE
ALL 30 NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS SO
SMALL BUSINESSES CAN THRIVE. AND
APPLY THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
DENSITY BONUS TO EVERY
NEIGHBORHOOD CITYWIDE. THERE ARE
OTHER PIECES TO THE PUZZLE OF
SOLVING HOMELESSNESS, BUT UNLESS
WE CAN SOLVE RISING RENTS FROM
UNDERBUILDING HOUSING, WE WILL
CONTINUE TO SEE MORE AND MORE
PEOPLE LOSE HOMES. ONE NOTE ON
TREES, I USED TO LIVE IN
SNOHOMISH COUNTY WHERE WE
CONTINUE TO CLEAR CUT BECAUSE WE
UNDERPRODUCE HOUSING IN THE
CITY. WE LOSE OUR FORESTS WHEN
WE DON'T BUILD HOMES IN
SEATTLE. I URGE YOU TO NOT WATER
DOWN THE ONE SEATTLE PLAN. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SPEAKER 78, 79,
AND 80.
>> GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE
COUNCIL, MY NAME'S MARSHA
PETERSON. I'VE LIVED IN MY HOME
IN MAPLE LEAF FOR 30 YEARS,
RAISED MY FAMILY THERE, BUT FIVE
YEARS AGO WHEN MY DAUGHTER AND
HER HUSBAND WANTED TO BUY A HOME
HERE, THEY COULDN'T AFFORD IT.
THEY BOUGHT IN SHORELINE. AND MY
GRANDKIDS GO TO SCHOOL IN
SHORELINE, THEY DON'T GO TO
SEATTLE SCHOOLS. IS IT ANY
WONDER THAT WE'RE CLOSING
SEATTLE SCHOOLS? I'VE LIVED
HERE IN THE AREA SINCE 1962, AND
I'VE SEEN SEATTLE GO THROUGH
THE BOEING RECESSION WHEN THE
CITY BASICALLY EMPTIED OUT TO
THE TECH BOOM OF TODAY AND THE
GROWTH THAT HAS COME WITH IT.
BUT OUR HOUSING HAS NOT KEPT UP
WITH THE GROWTH. SEATTLE HAS
ALWAYS TAKEN PRIDE IN BEING A
CITY OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND OF
SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES, BUT THAT
VERSION OF SEATTLE IS NOW PAST
ITS DATE. IT'S TIME FOR SEATTLE
2.0, BUT OUR RESTRICT IZONING
LAWS HAVE MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO
BUILD ANYTHING ELSE. WE ARE IN A
HOUSING CRISIS AND A CLIMATE
CRISIS AS SO MANY PEOPLE TONIGHT
HAVE SAID. WE CAN'T KEEP
FORCING PEOPLE TO FIND HOUSING
IN THE SUBURBS OF SNOHOMISH
COUNTY AND EAST KING COUNTY AND
PIERCE COUNTY AND ADDING TO OUR
TRAFFIC WOES AND POLLUTION. IF I
HAVE ONE MESSAGE TO THE CITY
COUNCIL, IT IS THIS, WE HAVE TO
START MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR ALL
KINDS OF PEOPLE TO LIVE HERE.
AND WE HAVE TO DO IT NOW BY
APPROVING THE MAYOR'S ONE
SEATTLE PLAN AND ESPECIALLY BY
INCLUDING ALL OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS. YOU CAN
STRENGTHEN IT BUT DO NOT WATER
IT DOWN. AND FOR THOSE WHO SAY
WE CAN JUST DO THE MINIMUM AND
THEN WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES,
WELL, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE'VE
BEEN DOING, AND LOOK WHERE THAT
HAS GOTTEN US. WE DON'T HAVE
TIME FOR THAT. WE NEEDED THIS
KIND OF CHANGE 40 YEARS AGO. WE
CAN ENVISION A SEATTLE THAT HAS
MORE AND DIFFERENT TYPES OF
HOUSING IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD,
AND WE CAN BUILD A SEATTLE
THAT'S MORE WALKABLE, MORE
DIVERSE, AND A LOT BETTER AND
FUN THAN IT IS TODAY. THANK YOU.
>> SPEAKER 79 AND THEN 80.
THANKS, 79, PLEASE -- THANK YOU.
AND THEN SPEAKER 80.
>> LET'S GO, SPEAKER 79. ALL
RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO START IT
OFF WITH I GOT HERE AT 3:37 AND
I AM SPEAKER 79. SO I WANT US TO
BE MINDFUL AND CONSCIENTIOUS
ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE ABLE TO MAKE
IT TO SOMETHING LIKE THIS EARLY
ON. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU
GUYS TAKING YOUR TIME, LETTING
US SPEAK, OPENING IT TO ONLINE
COMMENT AS WELL. THERE'S A LOT
OF PEOPLE THAT CAN'T MAKE IT,
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT
CAN'T MAKE IT REALLY BEFORE
4:00, RIGHT? SO WANT TO START
WITH THAT. LET'S SEE, I AM
KEVIN TROUT. I LIVE IN D6, AND
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BE HERE.
AND I'M GOING TO TRY TO HAVE A
LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT TACT
THAN SOME OTHER FOLKS. THERE ARE
TIMES WHEN LEADERSHIP IS DOING
THE RIGHT THING EVEN WHEN PEOPLE
ARE SCARED OF CHANGE. SEATTLE IS
IN A HOUSING CRISIS. YOU HAVE
THE LEVERS TO INCREASE DENSITY
WHILE PROTECTING GREEN SPACE.
THAT'S YOU. YOU CAN ELIMINATE
PARKING REQUIREMENTS, CHANGE THE
STACKED FLAT BONUS DOWN TO 5,000
FEET INSTEAD OF 6K, AND WE CAN
ENCOURAGE INFILL DEVELOPMENT.
THIS IS YOUR POWER. USE THESE
LEVERS. THIS IS THE TIME FOR
LEADERSHIP. I HOPE YOU STEP UP.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, LINDA. OH, AND
BEFORE YOU GO, LINDA, MY
APOLOGIES, WE HAVE SPEAKERS 81
THROUGH 90, YOU ALL ARE NEXT
BEFORE WE SWITCH BACK TO OUR
REMOTE. 81 THROUGH 90. IF YOU'RE
81 THROUGH 90 PLEASE STAND UP
AND START LINING UP AND WE'LL
GET READY. LINDA, YOU'RE NEXT.
>> MY NAME IS LYDIA HERD, I'M A
HOMEOWNER OF A 1914 HOUSE IN THE
FREMONT NEIGHBORHOOD. THE ONE
SEATTLE PLAN IS FALLING SHORT IN
SOME WAYS, AND I WOULD LIKE YOU
TO TWEAK IT TO GET MORE OUT OF
IT. I WOULD LIKE MORE HOUSING OF
ALL TYPES TO HOUSE MORE
NEIGHBORS OF ALL TYPES. MORE
NEIGHBORS WILL HELP TO SUPPORT
MORE OF THE SERVICES,
BUSINESSES, AND AMENITIES THAT
WE ARE STILL LACKING AND MAKE
MORE WONDERFUL, WALKABLE
NEIGHBORHOODS POSSIBLE. MORE
HOUSING WILL PROVIDE NEARBY
PLACES TO LIVE FOR THE PEOPLE
WHO WILL WORK IN OUR WONDERFUL
SMALL BUSINESSES OR THE
SELF-EMPLOYED, SUCH AS ARTISTS,
CREATORS, AND OTHER MAKERS, THEY
ARE OUR NEIGHBORS TOO. MORE
NEIGHBORS MEANS MORE ACCESS TO
TRANSIT AND EVEN BETTER BUS
SERVICE THAN WE CURRENTLY ENJOY.
LESS PARKING MEANS LESS LOT
COVERAGE AND MORE OPPORTUNITIES
FOR GREEN SPACE AND SHARED
YARDS. MORE LOTS WHERE STACKED
FLATS ARE ALLOWED MEANS LESS
CONCENTRATION OF NEIGHBORS ALONG
ARTERIALS. MY OLD HOUSE IS ON AN
ARTERIAL, AND I CAN TESTIFY TO
THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF
BREATHING EXHAUST PARTICULATES.
MORE STACKED FLATS MEANS THAT
ONE FLOOR WITH TWO UNITS, ONE
FAMILY-SIZED, COULD HOUSE BOTH
ME AND MY GRANDDAUGHTER AND HER
FAMILY, AND I COULD HELP TO
RAISE MY GREAT GRANDCHILDREN. I
ASK THAT YOU AT LEAST MAKE IT
POSSIBLE FOR THIS PLAN TO DO
MORE, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SPEAKER 81. 81
THROUGH 90, YOU'RE UP. SPEAKER
81, AND THEN 82, I WOULD KINDLY
ASK YOU BE AT THIS MIC, AWESOME,
READY TO GO.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBERS FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK
TONIGHT, MY NAME IS EVAN SEXTON.
I LIVED IN BRYANT MY WHOLE LIFE.
ON MY BLOCK THERE WAS AN OLDER,
SMALL MULTIFAMILY BUILDING. ON
38th AND 68th AN APARTMENT
COMPLEX SERVES THE FAMILIES OF
CHILDREN BEING TREATED AT
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL. MORE
APARTMENTS LIKE THAT ARE NOT
SOMETHING THE CITY NEEDS TO
PREVENT. ON THE CORNER OF 35th
AND 50th THERE'S A BUILDING
THAT USED TO BE A CORNER STORE.
IT WAS OWNED BY THE GORDONS, WHO
WERE IMMIGRANTS FROM LITHUANIA
THAT OPENED THEIR STORE IN 1919.
TODAY NO IMMIGRANT CAN DO THE
SAME THING BECAUSE THE CITY MADE
IT ILLEGAL. EVEN ON THE SITE OF
THAT OLD SHOP. WHAT WE SEE TODAY
WITH OWNERS RESTRICTIONS ON LAND
USE IS NOT BRYANT'S HISTORIC
CHARACTER. BRYANT WAS FOUNDED
ALONG A TRAIN LINE NEAR THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON WITH
MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT. A LOT OF
DISCUSSION ABOUT THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN HAS BEEN
ABOUT AGING IN PLACE. THESE
CONCERNS ARE IMPORTANT.
UNFORTUNATELY, FOR MANY OF MY
PEERS, OUR APPROACH TO HOUSING
HAS NOT ALLOWED THEM TO AGE IN
PLACE. WHEN THEY TURNED 18 OR
EVEN 22 AFTER COLLEGE, THEY WERE
NOT ABLE TO LEAVE HOME AND FIND
AN AFFORDABLE PLACE TO LIVE IN
THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD THEY GREW UP
IN. I KNEW FRIENDS WITH
FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT WHO'VE
BEEN FORCED TO MOVE AS FAR AWAY
AS COTTAGE LAKE, IF YOU KNOW
WHERE THAT IS. THIS DISPLACEMENT
DISRUPTS THE LIFE CYCLING OF OUR
CITY. IT MEANS YOUNG FAMILIES
ARE PUSHED OUTSIDE OUR SCHOOL
DISTRICTS AND KIDS GROWING UP
TODAY DON'T HAVE THE SAME
ABILITY TO MAKE FRIENDS ON THEIR
BLOCK LIKE I DID. WE'RE NOT
ASKING FOR A SUBSIDY. WE'RE
ASKING FOR THE CITY TO STOP
BANNING THE DEVELOPMENTS WE WANT
TO LIVE IN THAT WE CAN AFFORD. I
STARTED A PETITION TO KEEP THE
BRYANT NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER IN
THE PLAN BECAUSE I GREW UP HERE.
665 PEOPLE IN BRYANT, SO FAR,
HAVE SIGNED OUR PETITION BECAUSE
THEY KNOW THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD
CENTER HERE MAKES SENSE, AND THE
CENTER'S PROPOSED BOUNDARIES,
WE ALREADY HAVE A FIRE STATION,
SENIOR APARTMENTS, A PARK, THE
BURKE GILMAN TRAIL, AND A
GROCERY STORE. IT HAS ACCESS TO
THE BUS ROUTE I TOOK TO INGRAM,
TO UW, AND NOW TO WORK. I'VE
WATCHED THIS NEIGHBORHOOD GROW,
AND I PLAN TO WATCH IT GROW EVEN
MORE. COUNCILMEMBERS, PLEASE
KEEP THE BRYANT NEIGHBORHOOD
CENTER IN THE COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN.
>> THANK YOU. SPEAKER 82, THEN
SPEAKER 83. YOU'RE UP.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS,
MY NAME IS SARAH, I'M A D3
VOTER AND RENTER BUT TO BE VERY
CLEAR, I WOULD BE A HOMEOWNER IF
I COULD AFFORD IT. I LIVE
CAR-FREE, A CHOICE MOTIVATED BY
FEAR OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND A
LOVE FOR OUR PLANET. I GET
AROUND BY BIKE AND PUBLIC
TRANSIT, AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE
THAT ALLOWS ME TO GET AROUND
SAFELY AND ON TIME ONLY WORKS
WHEN OUR CITIES ARE DENSE AND WE
GROW UP AND NOT OUT. LET'S NOT
KNOCK DOWN ANOTHER FOREST TO
BUILD MORE SUBURBS.
SINGLE-FAMILY ZONING, PARKING
MINIMUMS, AND COUNTLESS OTHER
BACKWARDS POLICIES ARE TO THANK
FOR SEATTLE'S SEVERE HOUSING
SHORTAGE AND THE GROWING CLIMATE
CRISIS. WILL YOU, OUR ELECTED
OFFICIALS, DELIVER ON THE
PROMISE OF A BRIGHTER SEATTLE
THAT YOU ALL CAMPAIGNED ON? FOR
THE SAKE OF THE PLANET AND THE
FUTURE OF THE CITY, LET SEATTLE
GROW. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SARAH. SPEAKER 83.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL. I'M
SEAN HOLLAND, ONE BLOCK OUTSIDE
THE BRYANT CENTER, THE PROPOSED
BRYANT CENTER. BRYANT CENTER
SHOULD NOT BE A NEIGHBORHOOD
CENTER IN THE NEW PLAN BECAUSE
IT DOESN'T MEET THE BASE
CRITERIA. THE PLAN PROPOSES
CREATING NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS,
QUOTE, AROUND EXISTING
COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS. THE
PROBLEM IS, BRYANT CENTER HAS NO
COMMERCIAL DISTRICT. THERE ARE
ONLY TWO STREET FRONT BUSINESSES
WITHIN BRYANT CENTER, A GROCERY
STORE AND A SMALL RESTAURANT.
WHEN I SAW THE PLAN I THOUGHT,
WELL, WHAT ELSE IS THERE IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS IN NORTH
SEATTLE. I WENT TO RAVENNA. 30
BUSINESSES THERE. I WENT TO THE
ONE TO OUR NORTH, WEDGEWOOD,
THERE ARE 28 BUSINESSES THERE.
THERE ARE 12 PROPOSED
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS IN NORTH
SEATTLE. I WENT TO ALL OF THEM.
THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF THE 11
OTHER CENTERS NORTH OF THE SHIP
CANAL BESIDES BRYANT CENTER,
AVERAGE NUMBER OF BUSINESSES, 23
BUSINESSES. THE LEAST NUMBER OF
BUSINESSES IN ANY OF THE OTHER
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS IS 15
COMPARED TO THE 2 IN BRYANT.
BRYANT CENTER LACKS A CRITICAL
SUBSET OF THE BUSINESSES THAT
CREATE FOOT TRAFFIC THROUGHOUT
THE DAY AND INTO THE EVENING.
THAT WOULD BE RESTAURANTS,
COFFEE SHOPS, TAVERNS, BAKERIES,
AND OTHER STORES SERVING FOOD
AND BEVERAGES. LOOKING AGAIN TO
THE OTHER 11 NORTH SEATTLE
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS, THEY HAVE
AN AVERAGE OF SEVEN RESTAURANTS
OR FOOD SERVICE BUSINESSES, AND
NONE OF THEM HAS LESS THAN
THREE. A NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER
SHOULD HAVE A VITAL AND DIVERSE
GROUP OF LOCAL BUSINESSES TO
SERVE RESIDENT'S NEEDS. THAT IS
NOT BRYANT CENTER. NEW RESIDENTS
THERE WILL HAVE TO DRIVE
ELSEWHERE TO SERVE THEIR BASIC
NEEDS. THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO
WALK. RESIDENTS IN THE AREA WILL
STILL HAVE TO GO OUTSIDE TO MAKE
PURCHASES OF EVERYDAY GOODS AND
SERVICES. A NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER
SHOULD HAVE A COMMERCIAL
DISTRICT LARGE ENOUGH TO SURVIVE
THE LOSS OF ONE OR MORE
BUSINESSES. THAT IS NOT BRYANT
CENTER. LOSS OF THE GROCERY
STORE, WHICH ACTUALLY HAPPENED
FOR A YEAR BACK IN 2000/ 2001
WOULD ELIMINATE ALL ACTIVITY
WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER.
THE PROPOSED BRYANT NEIGHBORHOOD
CENTER WOULD ALLOW VASTLY
INCREASED DENSITY WITH NO
COMMERCIAL DISTRICT TO SERVE THE
NEW RESIDENTS. BRYANT CENTER
SHOULD BE DELETED FROM THE
CURRENT PLAN. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SEAN. THOMAS,
SPEAKER 84, FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER
85, ETHAN.
>> HI, MY NAME IS THOMAS
KENNEDY. I LIVE IN A
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER AS A RENTER.
WE HAVE TREES. THE PARKS ARE
GREAT. I HAVE A DISABILITY. I
CAN GET AROUND BECAUSE OF MY --
I CAN GET HERE BECAUSE OF -- ON
THE BUSES BECAUSE I HAVE ACCESS
TO THEM BECAUSE I LIVE IN A
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER. I'M ONLY
ABLE TO LIVE IN THIS
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER BECAUSE MY
FAMILY IS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE
ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER I LIVE IN.
AND TOO MANY PEOPLE CAN'T
AFFORD TO LIVE IN WONDERFUL,
VIBRANT, AWESOME PLACES LIKE
WHERE I LIVE. PEOPLE HAVE SAID
TONIGHT THAT BUILDING MORE
HOUSES DOES NOT LOWER PRICES.
THAT'S JUST NOT HOW SUPPLY AND
DEMAND WORKS. SUPPLY GOES UP, IT
REACHES DEMAND, PRICE GOES DOWN.
THAT'S HOW THAT WORKS. SO
THAT'S SILLY, AND I WANTED TO
ADDRESS THAT. I HAD A FRIEND WHO
HAD TO LEAVE EARLIER, AND I
WANTED TO SPEAK FOR HIM. HE SAID
THE RESULT OF FEWER NEIGHBORHOOD
CENTERS ARE MAKING THE POOR
AREAS SUBSIDIZE THE RICHER AREAS
THAT HAVE MORE ROADS PER HOUSE.
AND LASTLY, DENSITY IS WHAT
MAKES CITIES CITIES. THAT'S
LIKE WHY I LIVE HERE. IF YOU
DON'T WANT DENSITY, DON'T LIVE
IN A CITY. CHANGING CITIES ARE
CITIES THAT ARE ALIVE AND
VIBRANT. I LOVE THIS CITY. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. SPEAKER 85 IS UP,
THEN SPEAKER 86. 85?
>> HI, MY NAME IS ETHAN. I GREW
UP IN KENMORE, AND I'VE BEEN
RENTING IN MADISON VALLEY FOR
ONE YEAR. MY VISION FOR SEATTLE
IS A PLACE THAT IS WALKABLE,
WHERE WE HAVE COMPLETE
COMMUNITIES, WHERE WE CAN WALK
TO MANY DIFFERENT AMENITIES,
GROCERY STORES, SCHOOLS,
HOSPITALS, ET CETERA, AND WHERE
WE HAVE ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF
TRANSPORTATIONS TO CARS LIKE
BEING ABLE TO BIKE SAFELY, WALK,
AND ALSO TAKE PUBLIC TRANSIT.
AND I ALSO ENVISION A CITY
THAT'S AFFORDABLE. SO WHAT CAN
WE DO TO ACHIEVE THIS? FIRST
I'D LIKE TO SAY THE CURRENT
PLAN IS A GOOD STEP FORWARD
TOWARDS THIS VISION, BUT WHAT I
WOULD HOPE FOR IS A LEAP
FORWARD. SO I THINK WE CAN TAKE
SOME THINGS FROM ALTERNATIVE
NUMBER FIVE TO GET THAT. FOR
EXAMPLE, HOPE THAT WE CAN EXPAND
THE STACKED FLATS BONUS. I THINK
THAT THERE AREN'T THAT MANY
LOTS THAT ARE ONLY 6,000 SQUARE
FEET, SO IF WE COULD EXPAND IT
TO 5,000 SQUARE FEET, OR EVEN
SMALLER LOTS, THAT WOULD BE
GREAT. I LIVE IN A TOWNHOUSE,
AND I HAVE TO WALK UP STAIRS
OVER AND OVER AGAIN ALL DAY. SO
I THINK I WOULD APPRECIATE
LIVING IN A STACKED FLAT
INSTEAD. ALSO I HOPE THAT WE CAN
EXPAND UPZONES ALONG TRANSIT
CORRIDORS. SO I KNOW THAT WE'RE
UPZONING JUST ALONG ONE BLOCK OF
TRANSIT CORRIDORS, BUT PEOPLE
CAN WALK MORE THAN JUST ONE
BLOCK TO GET TO THE BUS. AND
THEN ALSO I'D LIKE FOR US TO
KEEP ALL 30 NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS
THAT WERE PROPOSED. ALL RIGHT,
SOME EXTRAS HERE. ALLOW FOR MORE
MIXED USES. SO CORNER STORES, I
DON'T THINK THEY SHOULD ONLY BE
ALLOWED ON CORNERS. I THINK
PEOPLE MAYBE TOOK THAT TOO
LITERALLY. I'D LOVE MAYBE
CORRIDOR STORES. AND THEN ALSO
IF WE WANT TO HAVE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE
THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING BONUS
CITYWIDE, NOT JUST IN A FEW
SELECT AREAS. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. SPEAKER 86. HELLO.
>> HELLO, I'M HERE SPEAKING ON
BEHALF OF THE TRANSIT RIDERS
UNION. WE REPRESENT HUNDREDS OF
TRANSIT RIDERS ACROSS SEATTLE
AND KING COUNTY. MOST OF US ARE
ALSO RENTERS. WE ARE HERE TO
ADVOCATE FOR DENSER HOUSING,
MORE HOUSING TYPES, AND MIXED
USES NEAR TRANSIT IN THE ONE
SEATTLE PLAN. WE KNOW THE IMPACT
LONG COMMUTES HAVE ON WORKERS
AND THEIR FAMILIES AS WELL AS
OUR ENVIRONMENT. SEATTLE IS
CURRENTLY UNDERTAKING THE MOST
AMBITIOUS TRANSIT EXPANSION PLAN
OF ANY U.S. CITY, AND WITHOUT
COMPLEMENTARY LAND USE POLICY,
THOSE TRANSIT INVESTMENTS WILL
NEVER REACH THEIR FULL
POTENTIAL. WE URGE THE COUNCIL
TO EXPAND THE UPZONED AREAS
AROUND TRANSIT TO ALLOW FOR MID
RISE HOUSING IN ALL AREAS WITHIN
A QUARTER MILE OF FREQUENT BUS
SERVICE AND HALF MILE OF LIGHT
RAIL. THESE ZONES SHOULD BE
MIXED USE TO CREATE ACCESSIBLE
SPACE FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES.
MULTIFAMILY HOUSING SHOULD NOT
BE RELEGATED ONLY TO NOISY AND
DANGEROUS ARTERIALS. WE URGE
COUNCIL TO REMOVE MINIMUM LOT
SIZES FOR STACKED FLATS IN
NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTIAL ZONES
AND REMOVE PARKING MINIMUMS. THE
COMP PLAN SHOULD ALIGN THE --
MIXED INCOME MODEL IN ORDER TO
ALLOW FOR MORE -- MUST INCLUDE
EXISTING TENANT SERVICES AND
RENTER PROTECTIONS TO ACTUALLY
PREVENT RENTER DISPLACEMENT.
FINALLY, WE ASK THAT COUNCIL
REINSTATE THE PROPOSED
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS FROM THE
ORIGINAL PLAN UPDATE THAT WERE
REMOVED DURING THE PREVIOUS
PHASE. ALL OF SEATTLE NEEDS TO
CONTRIBUTE, OTHERWISE
HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED AREAS
WILL BE MORE -- EVEN MORE
EXCLUSIVE TO WEALTHY HOUSEHOLDS.
WE BELIEVE THESE CHANGES TO THE
ONE SEATTLE PLAN WILL CREATE A
MORE AFFORDABLE AND HEALTHY
SEATTLE THAT SERVES EVERYONE'S
NEEDS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, BRENT,
HOLLY, GALEN, AND LYNN.
>> NO 87?
>> 87? WHAT NUMBER ARE YOU?
>> I'M NUMBER 88.
>> YOU'RE GOOD TO GO.
>> ALL RIGHT, MY NAME IS HOLLY.
IT'S FUNNY, IN MY EVERYDAY LIFE
I'M A REAL TREE PERSON. I TALK
ABOUT TREES ALL THE TIME. IT'S
PROBABLY REALLY ANNOYING TO MY
FRIENDS. I'M NOT HERE ABOUT
TREES TODAY. I CURRENTLY RENT A
UNIT IN A STACKED FLAT. AGREE
IT'S AWESOME. I GREW UP IN WEST
SEATTLE, AND I HAPPENED TO COME
FROM FOUR GENERATIONS OF WEST
SEATTLEITES, WHICH DOESN'T
MATTER BUT I THINK IS KIND OF
FUN. I'M PLANNING TO HAVE KIDS
IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS, AND MY
DREAM IS TO LIVE IN WEST SEATTLE
AND RAISE THAT SIXTH GENERATION
NEAR MY PARENTS. I PICTURE
LIVING IN A TRIPLEX, FLAT,
CONDO, SOME OTHER MULTIFAMILY
HOUSING IN A WALKABLE
NEIGHBORHOOD. A CITY FULL OF
MILLION DOLLAR SINGLE-FAMILY
HOMES CAN'T SUPPORT MY DREAM. A
SLOWED DOWN APPROACH TO GROWTH
CAN'T SUPPORT MY DREAM. WE NEED
EXPANDED ZONING TO ALLOW FOR
MORE OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE
AND RAISE FAMILIES IN OUR
BEAUTIFUL CITY. WE NEED MANY
MORE HOMES TO WELCOME NEW
RESIDENTS AS WELL AS KEEP
GROWING AND AGING FAMILIES FROM
BEING PRICED OUT. I KNOW
THERE'S A LOT OF RESISTANCE TO
SEEING CHANGE IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS, ESPECIALLY FROM
HOMEOWNERS, BUT OUR CITY HAS
ALWAYS CHANGED. I KNOW THIS
BECAUSE MY GRANDMA WOULD TALK TO
ME ABOUT WHAT WEST SEATTLE USED
TO LOOK LIKE WHEN SHE WAS
GROWING UP. IT CHANGED IN MY
MOM'S GENERATION AND MINE, AND
IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO
CHANGE. THIS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
HAS SHAPED THE FUTURE, AND THE
CHANGE I HOPE TO SEE IS MORE
DENSE, VIBRANT, AND AFFORDSABLE
NEIGHBORHOODS FOR ALL. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, HOLLY. GALEN WARD
AND LYNN DRAKE. GALEN?
>> HEY, GOOD EVENING, AND THANK
YOU FOR YOUR ENDURANCE. MY
NAME'S GALEN WARD AND I AM HERE
WITH OTHER PHINNEY RIDGE
NEIGHBORS TO URGE YOU TO SUPPORT
THE PLAN. OUR CITY DESPERATELY
NEEDS MORE HOUSING, AND I'M
GLAD THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ARE OUT
HERE TO TELL YOU ABOUT THAT AND
TO TALK ABOUT IT. AND THIS
PROPOSAL'S A HUGE STEP IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION. I ESPECIALLY
LOVE HOW THIS PLAN ENCOURAGES
OPEN SPACE. AND ANYTHING YOU CAN
DO TO IMPROVE THAT AND MAKE THAT
EVEN EASIER WOULD BE VERY
IMPORTANT TO ME AND MY FAMILY.
WHEN I GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE, I
WAS INCREDIBLY FORTUNATE TO BE
ABLE TO AFFORD A PLACE IN
SEATTLE ON A MINIMUM WAGE
SALARY. THAT OPPORTUNITY CHANGED
MY LIFE, AND IT'S AN
OPPORTUNITY I WANT FOR MY TWO
DAUGHTERS WHEN THEY GROW UP. I
DON'T WANT THEM TO BE FORCED TO
COMMUTE TO -- FROM THE SUBURBS
JUST BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD
TO LIVE IN THE CITY THEY CALL
HOME TODAY. BY BUILDING MORE
HOUSING OF ALL TYPES, WE CAN
MAKE THAT DREAM A REALITY, NOT
JUST FOR MY CHILDREN BUT FOR
COUNTLESS OTHERS SEEKING
OPPORTUNITY AND ALL THE AMAZING
THINGS THAT MAKE SEATTLE
SPECIAL. WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE
CITY, BUT IT'S INCREASINGLY
ONLY ACCESSIBLE TO THE WEALTHY.
WE SHOULD BE PROUD TO BUILD MORE
HOUSING AND SHARE IT WITH MORE
PEOPLE, AND THIS PLAN IS A
WONDERFUL STEP IN THAT
DIRECTION. PLEASE SUPPORT,
EXPAND -- SUPPORT AND EXPAND THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND THE 30
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE LYNN DRAKE
AND THEN WE'LL JUMP BACK ONLINE
FOR MORGAN. PLEASE BE ON DECK TO
DO STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> I'M LYNN DRAKE FROM WEST
SEATTLE, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING
HERE TONIGHT. I SUPPORT THE
BOLDEST ONE SEATTLE PLAN SO WE
CAN MAKE SEATTLE AFFORDABLE FOR
FAMILIES TO LIVE NEAR EACH OTHER
AND SUPPORT OUR CITIZENS OF ALL
INCOME LEVELS, HOUSING AT ALL
ECONOMIC LEVELS KEEPS OUR CITY
CULTURE ALIVE. I TOLD MY
DAUGHTER I WAS HERE TONIGHT, AND
SHE JUST TEXTED ME BACK AND JUST
SAID HOW SUPER EXCITED SHE IS
FOR THIS PLAN. SHE LIVES IN
PHINNEY RIDGE. I ALSO SUPPORT
ANY EFFORT TO REDUCE THE
BARRIERS TO BUILDING HOUSING,
SUCH AS ELIMINATING DESIGN
REVIEW AND PARKING MANDATES.
PLEASE DON'T DELAY, AND PASS
THIS ONE SEATTLE PLAN. THANK YOU
FOR LISTENING.
>> THANK YOU, LYNN. NEXT WE HAVE
MORGAN. WE'RE GOING TO GO TO
REMOTE SPEAKERS. MORGAN, PLEASE
PRESS STAR SIX AND UNMUTE
YOURSELF.
>> HI THERE, MY NAME IS MORGAN,
AND I'M A HOMEOWNER ACROSS FROM
SEATTLE CHILDREN'S. AND I'VE
BEEN HERE FOR 15 YEARS. THE ONE
SEATTLE PLAN, AS IT'S CURRENTLY
PROPOSED, IS EXCESSIVE, AND WHO
IS THIS PLAN REALLY FOR? THE
DEVELOPERS OR THE CURRENT AND
FUTURE RESIDENTS? THIS PLAN
SHOULD BE SCALED BACK. PLEASE
REMOVE THE PROPOSED PLAN FROM
38th TO 45th AVE NORTHEAST, THIS
IS NOT A NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER OR
THE LIKE. THE AREA HAS BEEN
INCORRECTLY DESIGNATED, AND
IT'S A BUS TURNAROUND STOP DOES
NOT SERVE A HIGH DENSITY
POPULATION. I STAND ALONGSIDE AT
LEAST 600 NEIGHBORS IN STRONG
OPPOSITION TO THIS PORTION OF
THE PLAN. ALSO -- DOESN'T
AUTOMATICALLY CREATE
AFFORDABILITY. IF DENSITY IS THE
GOAL, IT SHOULD BE CONCENTRATED
AROUND LIGHT RAIL STATIONS WHERE
THERE'S STRICT AFFORDABILITY
REQUIREMENTS WOULD BE IN PLACE.
SEATTLE'S UNIQUE NEIGHBORHOODS
DESERVE PRESERVATION, AND
THAT'S ACTUALLY REQUIRED BY
STATE LAW. WHEN WE ERASE
NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER, WE ERASE
COMMUNITIES. I URGE YOU TO
RECONSIDER THE PLAN.
>> THANK YOU, MORGAN. PLEASE
PRESS STAR SIX.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES, LOUD AND CLEAR.
>> OH GREAT, THANK YOU. THANKS
FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. THANKS FOR
STICKING THIS OUT. I WANT TO
TALK ABOUT SUPPORTING TREES. I
DON'T HAVE ANY SUPER OBJECTION
TO INCREASING DENSITY, ALTHOUGH
I AGREE THAT IT DOESN'T ALWAYS
MAKE PRICES COME DOWN. IT COSTS
$600 PER SQUARE FOOT TO BUILD A
BUILDING, THAT MAKES HOUSES,
EVEN SMALL APARTMENTS, SUPER
EXPENSIVE. SO I'M NOT SURE THAT
INCREASING DENSITY IS THE
PANACEA TO CREATE -- MAKING IT
MORE AFFORDABLE. THIS MORNING WE
LOST ONE OF OUR BIG NEIGHBORHOOD
TREES. IT WAS OVER FOUR FEET IN
DIAMETER. AND IT SHADED A BUNCH
OF OTHER PROPERTIES. SO WHEN
TREES ARE REMOVED, IT DOESN'T
AFFECT JUST THE PROPERTY ON
WHICH THE TREE SITS. IT AFFECTS
THE NEIGHBORS AROUND. AND BEING
UP IN THE CITY, A LOT OF THESE
HOUSES ARE REALLY OLD. SOME ARE
UNINSULATED, SO WHEN THE TREE'S
GONE -- AND THIS ONE WAS A BLACK
LOCUST, AND IT WAS BEAUTIFUL --
THE OTHER HOUSES THAT IT USED TO
SHADE ARE NOW EXPOSED TO THE
SUN. SO THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE
TO DEAL WITH SHADE AND COOLING
AND REVISING THE PLANTINGS SO IT
DOESN'T GET BURNED UP. I FIND
THAT THE DEVELOPERS ARE PRETTY
GOOD ABOUT EXTERNALIZING THOSE
COSTS ON TO THE NEIGHBORS, AND
THE NEIGHBORS DON'T GET TO SAY
ANYTHING ABOUT IT. ALSO,
THERE'S A POINT -- AND I'M NOT
SURE THIS IS THE CORRECT VENUE,
BUT IN THE COMPLAINT SECTION OF
THE TREE OF SBCI, WHEN YOU CALL,
THEY KIND OF SEND SOMEONE OUT.
BY THE TIME THEY SHOW UP, THE
TREE'S USUALLY DOWN. AND ALL
YOU CAN DO IS COMMISERATE OVER A
STUMP. SO THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME
MORE RAPID RESPONSE TO THAT.
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE
COLLIN FOLLOWED BY DEB. COLLIN?
STAR SIX.
>> GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING,
COUNCILMEMBERS, MY NAME IS
COLLIN. I LIVE ON CAPITOL HILL
AND WORK DOWNTOWN. I'M A PUBLIC
SERVANT, SO I UNDERSTAND THE
IMPORTANCE OF PROCESS. BEFORE
YOU IS THE RESULT OF YEARS OF
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT. I URGE YOU TO
ADOPT A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO
MAXIMIZES THE NUMBER OF PLACES
THROUGHOUT THE CITY TO INCREASE
DENSITY. THERE ARE MANY REASONS,
BUT I'LL FOCUS ON TWO. IN THIS
PROCESS I'VE HEARD ABOUT WHAT
HOUSING YOUNG PEOPLE WANT. I'M
35, PLEASE INDULGE ME IF I CLAIM
TO BE YOUNG, MY GENERATION WANTS
MORE OF ALL HOUSING. I HAD THE
GREAT FORTUNE TO SCRAPE TOGETHER
A 5% TOWN PAYMENT AND BUY A
CONDO. I LIKE MY CONDO MORE AND
I'D RATHER BE IN A TOWNHOUSE.
I'D REALLY LIKE A MANSION, BUT
I -- PUTS ME IN A MUCH BETTER
POSITION -- ECONOMIC PROSPECTS
AND MY ABILITY TO COMMIT TO
STAYING IN THE COMMUNITY. MORE
OPTIONS IN MORE PLACES MAKES
THAT MORE POSSIBLE. SECOND, I
ENCOURAGE YOU TO ALLOW FOR A
DIVERSE MIX OF HOUSING OPTIONS
IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD POSSIBLE.
THE MORE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS
THERE ARE, THE LESS GROWTH EACH
MUST ABSORB. PEOPLE'S LIVES
CHANGE AND WITH THAT SO DO THEIR
HOUSING NEEDS. BY ALLOWING A
DIVERSE MIX OF HOUSING OPTIONS
WITH NEW INFRASTRUCTURE AND
AMENITIES TO MATCH, PEOPLE CAN
CHOOSE THE HOUSING OPTION THAT
WORKS FOR THEM AT EACH STAGE OF
THEIR LIFE WITHOUT SACRIFICING
THE COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS THAT
MAKE NEIGHBORHOODS VIBRANT AND
LIFE WORTH LIVING. WHEN I THINK
ABOUT MY FOREVER HOME, I DO NOT
PICTURE A BUILDING OR A ROOM, I
PICTURE SEATTLE. SEATTLE IS AN
INCREDIBLE CITY THAT WILL
CONTINUE TO ATTRACT PEOPLE FROM
ALL OVER THE WORLD. AND I
ENCOURAGE YOU TO HELP IT BE A
FOREVER HOME FOR ALL THOSE WHO
WANT TO BUILD AN EVEN BETTER
SEATTLE WHETHER THEY LIVE HERE
ALREADY OR NOT. THIS
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS YOUR BEST
CHANCE TO DO SO. DO NOT LET IT
SLIP BY IN THE NAME OF PROCESS.
DO NOT LET THE PERFECT BE THE
ENEMY OF THE GOOD OR THE
NECESSARY. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT DEB FOLLOWED BY IRENE.
>> HI, I'M DEB AND I LIVE IN
THE PROPOSED MAPLE LEAF
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER AND ONE OF
THE 1,060 PEOPLE WHO SIGNED THE
PETITION TO REMOVE MAPLE LEAF AS
A NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER. WE
UNDERSTAND THE DIRE NEED FOR
HOUSING OPTIONS, BUT AS I READ
THE DOCUMENTS, ATTENDED THE
MEETINGS, I HAVE NO ASSURANCE. A
RECENT MEETING INDICATED THAT
FIVE TO SIX-STORY APARTMENT
BUILDINGS ARE THE ONLY OPTION
FOR DEVELOPERS IN NEIGHBORHOOD
CENTERS. I'M VERY FRUSTRATED
WITH THE FALSE ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT
TREE CANOPY AND ADVERSE STORM
WATER EFFECTS. I WAS CURIOUS TO
FIND -- HOURS PREPARING -- TREE
CANOPY LOSS WILL BE MITIGATED BY
THE TREE ORDINANCE, WHICH IS
COMPLETELY INADEQUATE. IT
SUGGESTS WE STUDY ITS
EFFECTIVENESS. WE DON'T NEED A
STUDY, WE NEED A STRONGER
ORDINANCE ASAP. I HAVE NO FAITH
IN THE CITY TO PROTECT TREES. I
INVITE ALL OF YOU TO TAKE A WALK
IN MAPLE LEAF. STORM WATER IS
THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF CON TAM
CONTAMINANTS TO THEPUGET SOUND.
THAT STANDARD IS FALSE AND I WAS
SHOCKED TO SEE IT. I SPENT 40
YEARS IN AQUATIC SCIENCES
WORKING IN KING COUNTY IN
SEATTLE, AND I CAN ASSURE YOU
THAT LOW LEVELS OF STORM WATER
CONTAMINANTS FILL UP -- MOST
DEFINITELY -- TOXIC LEVELS
IMPACTING -- I URGE YOU TO
LISTEN TO CONSTITUENTS AND PASS
LEGISLATION TO MEET THE NEEDS OF
HB 111 BUT PAUSE THE OTHER
PLANNED UPZONES UNTIL THE ISSUES
YOU ARE HEARING ABOUT TONIGHT
ARE --
>> NEXT IRENE FOLLOWED BY ANGE
ANGELIS. PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX.
>> MY NAME IS IRENE, AND I'M A
SEVEN DATE SEATTLE RESIDENT. I
HAPPEN TO LIVE IN PHINNEY RIDGE.
UNDER THE PROPOSED COMP PLAN
ZONING, SEATTLE'S NEIGHBORHOODS
BECOME AN ALL YOU CAN EAT BUFFET
FOR DEVELOPERS AND PRIVATE
EQUITY FUNDERS. DESPITE
WIDESPREAD UPZONES, THE
PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE WILL NOT
PRODUCE THE DESIRED
AFFORDABILITY. AS LONG AS WE ARE
A CITY WHERE INCOME INEQUALITY
GROWS EVERY YEAR. PRIVATE
DEVELOPERS WILL NOT BUILD TO
RENT FOR LESS AND LOSE MONEY. AS
MANY HAVE TESTIFIED TONIGHT,
SLOW DOWN AND FOCUS ON PHASE ONE
ONLY TO SEE HOW HOUSE BILL 1110
PLAYS OUT TO GENERATE THIS
SO-CALLED MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING
AND WHETHER THAT MEETS THE
LEVELS DESIRED. HOLD OFF ON THE
UNWARRANTED CREATION OF
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS WHICH ARE
THE SOURCE OF SO MUCH TENSION
OVER THE PLAN. EXHIBIT 2.24-27,
HOUSING GROWTH BY LOCATION IN
THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE, SHOWS
94% OF THE AGREED UPON NEW
HOUSING UNITS CAN BE MET BY A
COMBINATION OF THE GROWTH IN
URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS UNDER HOUSE
BILL 1110 PLUS THE REGIONAL AND
URBAN CENTERS THAT ALREADY
EXIST. THE PASSIONATE CRY FOR
MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
EVERYWHERE ASSUMES THAT A
GEOGRAPHICALLY COMPRESSED CITY
LIKE SEATTLE HAS -- AND FOR NO
MORE THAN 30% OF THEIR INCOME.
YOU SHOULD CONSIDER THAT OUR
PUGET SOUND JOINT PLANNING
REGION INCLUDES MANY OTHER
CITIES AND TOWNS THAT HAVE
PLENTY OF CAPACITY FOR GROWTH
FOR BOTH HOUSING AND JOBS
WITHOUT CAUSING SPRAWL,
INCLUDING THOSE WITH NEW AND
FUTURE LIGHT RAIL STATIONS AND
BUS RAPID TRANSIT SERVICE.
PLEASE TAKE THAT INTO
CONSIDERATION BEFORE YOU APPROVE
THIS COMP PLAN. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ANGELIS -- I'M
BUTCHERING YOUR NAME, I
APOLOGIZE. PLEASE PRESS STAR
SIX.
>> YEAH, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
>> YES. GO AHEAD.
>> OKAY, MY NAME IS ANGELIS, AND
I GREW UP IN THE SEATTLE AREA. I
WENT TO COLLEGE OUT OF STATE --
HOWEVER I WANT TO AFFORD A HOME
AND IT'S HARD TO SEE HOW THAT
CAN BE POSSIBLE. I HAVE A NUMBER
OF COMMENTS ON THE COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN AS THE CURRENT VISION IS
NOT AS AMBITIOUS AS IT NEEDS TO
BE. I HEAR THE ARGUMENTSES
AGAINST UPZONING IN CERTAIN
AREAS AS BEING INCORRECT,
QUOTE,UNQUOTE, BECAUSE THERE'S
NOT ENOUGH INFRASTRUCTURE,
PARKING, OR TO PRESERVE
CHARACTER. HOWEVER,
INFRASTRUCTURE CAN BE BUILT --
THINLY VEILED WAY TO KEEP THE
DEMOGRAPHIC OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD
FROM CHANGING. AT THE END OF THE
DAY, OUR CITY NEEDS CHANGE, AND
WE CAN'T TREAT ANY ONE
NEIGHBORHOOD AS PRECIOUS OR
UNTOUCHABLE -- PARKING INCREASES
THE COST OF -- SAME SPACE COULD
BE USED FOR MORE HOUSING, MORE
GREEN SPACES, OR MORE RETAIL.
ADDITIONALLY, LOT COVERAGE
GUIDELINES ARE UNNECESSARILY
LIMITING AND PREVENT SMALL LOTS
IN UPZONES AND OUR AREAS --
FIRST PLACE. IF SOMEONE WANTS TO
TURN MORE THAN 50% OF THEIR LOT
INTO HOUSING, THEY SHOULD BE
ABLE TO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ATTENTION, AND PLEASE KEEP OUR
CITY MOVING TOWARD THE FUTURE,
NOT STUCK IN THE NOSTALGIA OF
THE PAST.
>> THANK YOU, NEXT UP JOHN
FERGUSON, MELISSA. JOHN, PLEASE
PRESS STAR SIX.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS,
MY NAME IS JOHN FERGUSON, I'M A
RESIDENT OF LAURELHURST, AND
I'VE LIVED HERE FOR 25 YEARS. I
WANT TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OVERALL BUT
MY STRONG OBJECTION TO ONE
COMPONENT OF THAT PLAN, AND
THAT'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO TALK
TO YOU ABOUT TONIGHT. THAT IS
THE UPZONING OF NORTHEAST 45th
STREET. THERE ARE FOUR REASONS
WHY I OBJECT TO THIS. ONE IS IT
DOESN'T QUALIFY. HOUSE BILL
1110 REQUIRES THAT -- HIGH
FREQUENCY TRANSIT LINES, THE BUS
ROUTE UP 45th IS NEITHER OF
THOSE. THEY ACTUALLY TURN AROUND
-- FOR THE BUS DRIVERS. NOT EVEN
NEEDED THE PARTICIPATION, THE
UTILIZATION IS LOW. AND CHILDREN
ARE SERVED BY BUSES THAT GO
ALONG 40th AVENUE AND SAND
POINT. SECONDLY, NORTHEAST 45th
STREET AS THE UPZONING AREA
VIOLATES HOUSE BILL 1110 BECAUSE
IT WILL CHANGE THE CHARACTER OF
THIS STREET LINED SINGLE-FAMILY
NEIGHBORHOOD. THIRD, IT'S NOT
NEEDED. HOUSE BILL 1110 REQUIRES
SEATTLE TO ALLOW FOUR UNITS OF
DEVELOPMENT ON A LOT. THIS COULD
HAPPEN ORGANICALLY ALONG 45th AS
MARKET FORCES ALLOW AND NOT
REQUIRE DRACONIAN REZONING. AND
FOURTH, THERE ARE A LOT BETTER
OPTIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, ALONG THE
LIGHT RAIL OR INFILL AND
DEVELOPMENT. AND IF PEOPLE THINK
THAT THE PURPOSE -- GOING BACK
TO THE PURPOSE OF THE BILL TO
HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, YOU
WON'T HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
BASED ON LAURELHURST PRICES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JOHN. NEXT WE HAVE
MELISSA AND FOLLOWED BY COLETTE.
MELISSA? PRESS STAR SIX AND
YOU'RE GOOD TO GO.
>> YES, THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBERS. IN DEFERENCE TO
OTHERS WAITING, I'LL LIMIT MY
COMMENTS TO ONE MINUTE. THANK
YOU, ALEX BRENNAN, FOR BRINGING
THAT ARE IDEA FORWARD. I'M
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF IAE
SEATTLE, AN ORGANIZATION OF
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BUSINESS
OWNERS, PARENTS, FAMILIES, AND
COMMUNITY ENGAGED FOLKS WHO
ENVISION A LIVABLE CITY WHERE
DIVERSE HOUSING OPTIONS,
AMENITIES, AND TRANSIT ARE
WITHIN EASY REACH FOR ALL.
SEATTLE'S A CITY KNOWN FOR
INNOVATION AND BUSINESS. OUR
HOUSING AND COMMUNITY SHOULD
REFLECT AND KEEP UP WITH THAT
CREATIVITY. THE ONE SEATTLE PLAN
IS NOT JUST THE MAYOR'S PLAN
BUT REFLECTS MULTIPLE YEARS OF
ROBUST COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAT
ARE NOW BEHIND US.
COUNCILMEMBERS, YOU MAY HEAR
FOLKS ASKING YOU TO SLOW DOWN.
THE NEED FOR HOUSING IS NOT
SLOWING DOWN. YOU HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY AS A COUNCILMEMBER
TO LEAD AND SHAPE THE FUTURE OF
OUR COMMUNITIES OVER A 30-YEAR
PERIOD. NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS ARE
PLACES WHERE ORGANIC GROWTH IS
ALREADY HAPPENING. OUR MEMBERS
ENCOURAGE YOU TO APPROVE THE ONE
SEATTLE PLAN DEVELOPED OVER
MULTIPLE YEARS AND INCLUDE ALL
30 NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS. AND I
INVITE EACH OF YOU TO REFER TO
OUR LETTER OF JANUARY 22nd FOR
ADDITIONAL SUPPORTING
INFORMATION ABOUT HOW
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS SUPPORT
ECONOMIC GROWTH, WALKABLE,
LIVABLE COMMUNITIES, AND
AFFORDABILITY AND
SUSTAINABILITY. THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR RETAINING ALL 30
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS.
>> THANK YOU, MELISSA. BEFORE WE
DO OUR LAST ONLINE SPEAKER
BEFORE WE BOUNCE BACK, I WANT TO
CALL UP SPEAKERS 91 THROUGH 100,
STARTING WITH PATRICK TAYLOR. 91
THROUGH 100 PLEASE GET READY TO
DO YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. COLETTE,
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX.
>> HI THERE. I APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. MY
NAME'S COLETTE ABBOTT. AND I'M
IN SUPPORT OF CREATING MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT THIS
PLAN DOESN'T HAVE PROTECTIONS
IN PLACE TO ENABLE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. WITH DENSITY AS A GOAL,
IT SHOULD BE CONCENTRATED AROUND
AREAS WITH ADEQUATE TRANSIT OR
TRANSIT POTENTIAL -- DON'T
ALLOW DEVELOPERS TO TAKE A FEE
RATHER THAN CREATING AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. THIS PLAN AS IT STANDS,
IN MY OPINION, WOULDN'T REACH
EVERYONE THAT IT SHOULD. ALSO
HERE TODAY BECAUSE THIS PLAN
INCLUDES A PORTION ON NORTHEAST
45th STREET FROM 35th -- 38th TO
45th AVENUE NORTHEAST THAT'S
NOT IN A DESIGNATED NEIGHBORHOOD
CENTER, URBAN CENTER, OR
REGIONAL CENTER, AND IT'S NOT
NEAR MAJOR TRANSIT LINES. IT'S
A NEIGHBORHOOD WITH A TERMINAL
BUS LINE THAT ENDS MIDWAY
THROUGH THE SECTION IN THE PLAN.
AND IT DOESN'T SERVE THE HIGH
TRANSIT AREA AND SHOULD NOT BE
INCLUDED IN THE PLAN. I'M JOINED
BY HUNDREDS OF NEIGHBORS IN
OPPOSING THIS PORTION, AND I
REQUEST THAT YOU REVIEW AND
REMOVE THIS SMALL PORTION. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE'LL GO TO
IN-PERSON SPEAKERS. I'M
ASSUMING YOU'RE PATRICK.
>> YEAH.
>> AWESOME. START WITH PATRICK,
THEN SUSAN, BARBARA, RACHEL,
PAUL, JIM, KEITH, JORDAN, AND
DARLENE. PATRICK, YOU'RE UP.
>> I HAVE A HOME IN NORTH BEACON
HILL. -- BRINGING IT CLOSER TO
OPTION FIVE, THIS RECEIVED
OVERWHELMING PUBLIC SUPPORT, AS
WELL AS THAT OF MANY OF YOU.
IT'S GONE THROUGH YEARS OF
PUBLIC PROCESS. ACCORDING TO THE
SEATTLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE'S
TRACKING POLL, HOMELESSNESS AND
HOUSING AFORDABILITY ARE TWO OF
THE TOP THREE ISSUES FOR VOTERS.
NOT TREES OR INFRASTRUCTURE OR
NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER OR ANY OF
THE CONCERNS SOME OF YOU SEEM
EAGER TO USE AS EXCUSES TO ALLOW
LESS HOUSING. EXAMPLES FROM
ACROSS THE COUNTRY SHOW THAT
CITIES THAT BUILD HOUSING HAVE
LOWER RENTS AND LOWER HOUSING
COSTS. CITIES THAT DON'T SEE
SPIRALLING COSTS. SO IF WE WANT
GREATER AFFORDABILITY AND TO SEE
FEWER FOLKS PUSHED ON TO THE
STREETS, WE SHOULD BE MAKING IT
CHEAPER AND EASIER TO BUILD
HOUSING NOW. IF WE WANT TO SAVE
TREES AND REDUCE OUR CLIMATE
IMPACT, WE NEED TO BUILD URBAN
HOUSING, NOT SPRAWL INTO FIELDS
AND FARMS. THIS IS YOUR
OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW WHAT YOU
MEANT WHEN YOU RAN FOR OFFICE,
TO BE BOLD AND ALLOW MORE
HOUSING IN OUR CITY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. SUSAN? THEN
BARBARA.
>> HELLO, I'M SUSAN MOSSBURG
HERE FROM THE GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD
OF MONTLAKE, ONE OF THE MANY
GREAT NEIGHBORHOODS IN OUR
BEAUTIFUL CITY. THANK YOU. I'VE
LIVED IN MONTLAKE 35 YEARS NOW
AND CAN ATTEST THE CHANGES THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PROPOSES ARE
MASSIVE, BUT THE CHANGES FEEL
INCREDIBLY, INCREDIBLY COOKIE
CUTTER, AS IF IMPORTED FROM SOME
GENERIC CITY PLAN WITHOUT FEEL
FOR THE PLACE WE ACTUALLY LIVE
IN. WE HAVE NO IDEA HOW THE
DESIGN DECISIONS WERE ARRIVED
AT, WHAT CONCERNS WERE TAKEN
INTO ACCOUNT, HOW THEY WERE
MITIGATED FOR ANY PARTICULAR
PLACE. IT FAILS TO BUILD ON OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS, IN THIS CASE
MONTLAKE'S HISTORIC STATUS. WE
CAN ALL AGREE WE NEED TO
ACCOMMODATE MORE HOUSING. EVERY
NEIGHBORHOOD NEEDS TO DO ITS
SHARE. WE'RE NOT ANTI-CHANGE.
YES, I HAVE A HOUSE. I'M SORRY.
I WORKED FOR IT. I MOVED HERE AS
A YOUNG PERSON. I'M SORRY I
HAVE A HOUSE. I HOPE SOME DAY
YOU GET TO HAVE A PLACE TO OWN
AS WELL AND NOT JUST RENT.
BECAUSE RENT IS DIFFICULT. BUT
ALSO ONE OF THE BEST THINGS
ABOUT SEATTLE IS OUR DISTINCT
NEIGHBORHOODS. I THINK IT'S ONE
OF OUR CROWN JEWELS, HOW THEY'RE
CONNECTED, HOW THEY PLAY OFF OF
EACH OTHER. AND THAT VIBRANT
MOSAIC WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT
THE STEWARDS WHO'VE UNDERSTOOD
THE PLACE AND CULTIVATED THE
GOOD ENERGY OF THIS PLACE OVER
TIME. NOT JUST SAID LET'S
CHANGE IT EVERY FIVE YEARS.
OKAY, WE'RE AT A CRITICAL
JUNCTURE, ABSOLUTELY. WE BUILT
SOMETHING INSPIRATIONAL THAT --
OR WE CAN RIP A HOLE IN THE
SOCIAL AND ECOLOGICAL FABRIC OF
OUR COMMUNITIES, DOING HARM TO
OUR NEIGHBORS. WE URGENTLY NEED
THE -- RESIDENT WHERE IS I LIVE
WERE GIVEN NO DIRECT NOTICE
ABOUT THE BIGGEST CHANGE TO
MONTLAKE IN ITS HISTORY. PLEASE,
PLEASE, PLEASE SLOW DOWN YOUR
ACTIONS ON THIS PROPOSAL, WE
NEED TIME TO ENGAGE THE
COMMUNITY AND DEVELOP A PLAN TO
PRESENT TO YOU, WHICH WE WANT TO
DO. WE WANT TO DO. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SUSAN. NEXT
BARBARA FOLLOWED BY RACHEL.
>> HI, HELLO, MY NAME'S BARBARA
WRIGHT AND I'VE LIVED IN THE
MONTLAKE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR OVER
35 YEARS. THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON THE
PROPOSED COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
SEATTLE IS DEFINED BY ITS UNIQUE
AND LIVELY NEIGHBORHOODS. AS WE
LOOK TO UPDATE THE COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN, IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE
ADEQUATELY -- PRESERVES
HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL FABRIC
OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS. THE
CURRENT ZONING PROPOSAL FOR THE
MONTLAKE NEIGHBORHOOD NEEDS SOME
THOUGHTFUL REVISION AS IT DOES
IN OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY.
THERE ARE ONLY EIGHT BUSINESSES
IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THE
COMMUNITY NEEDS TO BE
COLLABORATIVELY INVOLVED IN A
NEW PROPOSAL AND WE NEED TIME TO
BE ABLE TO TO THIS. I AM REALLY
ALARMED AT THE LACK OF PUBLIC
INVOLVEMENT IN THIS PROPOSAL.
THE PROPOSED REDUCED SETBACKS
WILL REDUCE TREES AND GREENERY.
AS A FORMER KING COUNTY SEATTLE
PUBLIC HEALTH EMPLOYEE, I WORKED
ON HOW LAND USE DECISIONS IMPACT
PUBLIC HEALTH. THIS CURRENT
PROPOSAL DOESN'T TAKE INTO
CONSIDERATION ON HOW IT WILL
IMPACT PUBLIC HEALTH. REDUCING
GREENERY, REDUCING SETBACKS FROM
BUSY STREETS, INCREASING
POLLUTION AND NOISE DOES NOT
CREATE A HEALTHY COMMUNITY. A
WELL DESIGNED COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
CAN FIND WAYS TO INCORPORATE
DENSITY AND ADDRESS ALL HOUSING
NEEDS IN A PLEASING AND HEALTHY
WAY. IF THIS CURRENT PROPOSAL IS
IMPLEMENTED, IT WILL BE HARMFUL
TO HEALTH AND HARMFUL TO OUR
CITY'S UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS.
I URGE YOU TO SLOW THIS PROCESS
DOWN. THE CITY COULD DO SOME
UPZONING TO MEET STATE
REQUIREMENTS AND DO A THOUGHTFUL
PROCESS THAT INCLUDES PUBLIC
INPUT AND PROTECTS THE HEALTH,
THE CULTURAL FABRIC, THE
HISTORY, AND THE CHARACTER OF
OUR CITY WHILE INCREASING
DENSITY AND ENSURING HOUSING FOR
ALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, BARBARA. NEXT WE
HAVE RACHEL, PAUL, ANNE, AND
JIM. IS RACHEL HERE? GOING ONCE,
TWICE. RACHEL IS HERE? IS YOUR
NAME RACHEL BIN SHAMAL?
>> OH, NO.
>> BUT YOU ARE A RACHEL. I
APOLOGIZE, I'LL SAY YOUR LAST
NAME. RACHEL'S NOT HERE. PAUL
CHAPMAN? YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THIS IS EXCITING. I FEEL LIKE
I'M BACK IN A YOUTH GROUP ALL
NIGHT LOCK-IN. I'M PAUL
CHAPMAN. I'VE LIVED IN QUEEN
ANNE, BALLARD, WALLINGFORD,
CAPITOL HILL. GOOD EVENING,
COUNCIL, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME
TONIGHT. Y'ALL LIKELY HAVE YOUR
MINDS MADE UP, SO I'M NOT GOING
TO TRY TO SWAY YOU. INSTEAD, I
WANT TO NOTICE A FEW THINGS.
FIRST LET'S NOTICE HOW THE
DEMOGRAPHIC OF COMMENTERS HAS
SHIFTED OVER THE EVENING FROM
RETIREES AND HOUSE OWNERS TO
RENTERS AND WORKERS AND HOW THE
NATURE OF THE COMMENTS HAS
CHANGED ALONG WITH IT. SECOND,
LET'S NOTICE WE HAD A PLAN THAT
PRESERVES MORE TREES, BRUCE
HARRELL SCRAPPED THAT PLAN.
LET'S SAY IT TOGETHER, DENSITY
IS GOOD FOR THE TREES. ALL
TOGETHER, DENSITY IS GOOD FOR
THE TREES. THIRD, LET'S NOTICE
THE CONTRADICTORY STATEMENTS
WE'VE HEARD TONIGHT FROM TREE
ADVOCATES WHO ARE NOW MOSTLY
GONE FROM THIS MEETING. A LOT OF
PEOPLE CAME HERE TO SAY I SPEAK
FOR THE TREES. BUT WHILE
THERE'S A LOT OF ANGST ABOUT
TREES WE MIGHT LOSE, INCLUDING
NAMING THOSE TREES AT RISK, I
WANT TO CONTRAST THAT WITH HOW
INPERSONAL THEIR ASIDES SOUND
WHEN THEY SAY I, OF COURSE,
SUPPORT MORE HOUSING, BUT -- BUT
WHAT? TONIGHT FROM THE TREE
ADVOCATES I'VE HEARD LITTLE OF
THE PEOPLE WE'VE LOST. KIDS WHO
HAD TO MOVE AWAY. FRIENDS WHO
COULDN'T AFFORD TO LIVE HERE.
OUR HOMELESS NEIGHBORS DYING IN
THE STREETS. BUT THINK OF THE
TREES. THINK OF THE TREES. SO I
WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT THE PEOPLE.
YOUR KIDS AND MINE WHO WANT TO
LIVE HERE AS ADULTS FOR LGBTQ
YOUTH TRYING TO ESCAPE TEXAS,
FOR CLIMATE REFUGEES ESCAPING
THE HEAT OF THE SOUTH, THE
SINGLE PARENTS STRUGGLING TO
MAKE ENDS MEET AND LIVE NEAR
WHERE THEY WORK. EVEN FOR THE
COUNCILMEMBER WHOSE SALARY
REALLY ISN'T EVEN ENOUGH TO
ALLOW THEM TO BUY IN --
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAPMAN. NEXT
WE HAVE ANNE SCOTT TYSON.
>> THANK YOU. I'M A HOMEOWNER
IN NORTHEAST SEATTLE WHERE I
GREW UP, AND I'M HERE TO TALK
ABOUT POOR PLANNING. STATE LAW
WISELY RECOMMENDS HIGHER DENSITY
IN PROXIMITY TO MAJOR TRANSIT
SUCH AS LIGHT RAIL, WHICH IS
PERMANENT. THE CITY'S PLAN TO
PUT HIGH DENSITY ALONG BUS
ROUTES COULD MAKE SENSE FOR HIGH
PRIORITY ROUTES CONNECTING
CENTRALLY LOCATED HUBS, BUT
DEFINITELY NOT AS THE SOLE
REASON FOR UPZONING IN
NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE ROOTS ARE
CHANGING AND TRANSIENT. FOR
EXACTLY THIS REASON, I'M
REPRESENTING ABOUT 700 MEMBERS
OF MY COMMUNITY WHO HAVE SIGNED
A PETITION TO OPPOSE UPZONING
FROM NR3 TO LR3 ALONG HOLY
RESIDENTIAL, TREE-FILLED SEGMENT
OF NORTHEAST 35th BETWEEN --
THIS ISOLATED NARROW SPUR IS
LOCATED OUTSIDE OF ANY
NEIGHBORHOOD, URBAN, OR REGIONAL
CENTER. IT LACKS ANY CONSUMER
BUSINESS OR A GROCERY STORE, HAS
HAD IRREGULAR OR ZERO TRANSIT,
AND IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR
HIGHER DENSITY. THE PROPOSED
ZONE CHANGE TO FIVE-STORY
BUILDINGS HERE CONFLICTS WITH
STATE LAW WHICH REQUIRES MIDDLE
HOUSING THAT'S COMPATIBLE IN
SCALE, FORM, AND CHARACTER WITH
SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSES. THIS SHORT
SEGMENT OF NORTHEAST 45th STREET
HAS NO PRIORITY, RAPID, OR HIGH
FREQUENCY TRANSIT, ONLY A DEAD
END BUS TURNAROUND AND REST STOP
FOR DRIVERS. ALL BUSES HERE ARE
MARKED TERMINAL. TRANSITORY BUS
ACTIVITY MUST NOT BE THE BASIS
FOR PERMANENT UPZONING IN AREAS
LIKE THIS THAT MEET THE
DEFINITION FOR NEIGHBORHOOD
RESIDENTIAL. IT TRULY SEEMS LIKE
A MISTAKE IN THE PLAN. PLEASE
CORRECT THIS PLANNING ERROR AND
PLEASE, IF THE CITY SEEKS TO BE
SUCCESSFUL IN ADDING HIGHER
DENSITY IN A COMMUNITY, ASK THE
COMMUNITY WHERE TO PUT IT.
LET'S HAVE TRULY MEANINGFUL
ENGAGEMENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, ANNE. NEXT WE HAVE
JIM GANT. JIM FOLLOWED BY KEITH,
JORDAN SINGER, AND DARLENE.
>> GOOD NIGHT, COUNCILMEMBERS,
MY NAME IS JIM GANT. THANK YOU
FOR THE CRITICAL WORK THAT
YOU'RE DOING STANDING WHERE THE
GOVERNMENT MEETS THE PEOPLE. I
KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS. I
SPENT 22 YEARS FIGHTING FOR OUR
COUNTRY SO OTHERS COULD HAVE A
HOME. NOW I'M HERE FIGHTING
AGAIN TO KEEP MINE. AS 100%
DISABLED VETERAN, DISPLACEMENT
IS A REAL THREAT TO PEOPLE LIKE
ME AS WELL AS SENIORS AND OTHERS
ON FIXED INCOMES THAT LIVE
AROUND ME. I KNOW MY NEIGHBORS
VERY WELL. I NEVER IMAGINED THAT
A DECISION MADE IN THIS ROOM
COULD THREATEN THE VERY
STABILITY I HAVE DEFENDED MY
ENTIRE LIFE FOR OTHERS. THE
PROPOSED REZONING FROM NR3 TO
LR3 ON NORTHEAST 45th STREET
ISN'T JUST LINES ON A MAP.
IT'S MY HOME. IT'S MY
COMMUNITY. IT'S MY PEACE OF
MIND. I GAVE EVERYTHING I HAD TO
SERVE THIS INCREDIBLE COUNTRY.
I'M ASKING YOU TO PROTECT THE
PLACE WHERE I FINALLY TRIED TO
FIND SOME PEACE. PLEASE JUST
RECONSIDER THE PROPOSAL. THIS IS
NOT JUST POLICY, IT'S ABOUT
PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THIS VIBRANT
COMMUNITY AND WANT TO STAY HERE.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO'S
HERE TONIGHT. WE'RE BLESSED AND
FORTUNATELY TO BE ABLE TO GO
THROUGH THIS POLITICAL PROCESS
TOGETHER. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JIM. NEXT WE HAVE
KEITH, FOLLOWED BY JORDAN AND
DARLENE. KEITH?
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS,
MY NAME IS KEITH, AND I'M HERE
TODAY AS A CONCERNED HOMEOWNER
FROM THE LAURELHURST
NEIGHBORHOOD. I WANT TO EXPRESS
MY STRONG OPPOSITION TO THE
PROPOSED UPZONING ON THE SEGMENT
OF NORTHEAST 45th STREET BETWEEN
38th AVENUE NORTHEAST AND 45th
AVENUE NORTHEAST. FROM NR3 TO
LR3 ZONING. SUCH ZONING WOULD
ALLOW FIVE-STORY BUILDINGS TO BE
MIXED WITH ONE AND TWO -STORY
FAMILY HOMES. THIS SHORT SECTION
OF NORTHEAST 45th DOES NOT
QUALIFY FOR THE PROPOSED
REZONING BECAUSE IT WOULD
CONFLICT WITH HOUSE BILL 1110
WHICH REQUIRES HOUSING THAT IS
COMPATIBLE IN SCALE, FORM, AND
CHARACTER WITH SINGLE-FAMILY
HOUSES. THE LAURELHURST AREA IS
COMPOSED OF MOSTLY SINGLE-FAMILY
HOMES. MANY ARE NEARLY 100 YEARS
OLD. ALLOWING FIVE STORY
BUILDINGS HERE THAT TOWER OVER
SURROUNDING HOMES WOULD DEGRADE
THE NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER AND
HARM LEGACY HOMEOWNERS. THE
AVERAGE LENGTH OF HOMEOWNERSHIP
OF THE SEVEN HOUSES ON MY
IMMEDIATE BLOCK IS 24 YEARS. I
UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT MORE
HOUSING IS NEEDED IN SEATTLE.
HOWEVER, THIS MUST BE DONE WHILE
RESPECTING THE LONG-TERM
RESIDENTS THAT HELPED MAKE
SEATTLE THE THRIVING, BEAUTIFUL
CITY IT IS TODAY. THERE ARE MANY
UNDERDEVELOPED LOCATIONS WITHIN
A QUARTER MILE OF LIGHT RAIL --
IF THEY WERE FULLY UTILIZED.
THIS SHOULD BE DONE BEFORE ANY
UPZONING ALONG BUS ROUTES IS
ALLOWED. AS YOU REFINE THE
PROPOSED ONE SEATTLE PLAN,
PLEASE CORRECT THIS PLANNING
ERROR ON BEHALF OF YOUR
LAURELHURST CONSTITUENTS. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU, KEITH. NEXT WE
HAVE JORDAN SINGER. JORDAN, ARE
YOU HERE? ONCE, TWICE.
>> I THINK JORDAN HAS LEFT.
>> JORDAN JUST LEFT. OH, JORDAN.
DARLENE, ARE YOU HERE? DARLENE?
ONCE, TWICE, SOLD. OKAY. WE'LL
KEEP POWERING THROUGH. IS RUTH
HARVEY HERE? RUTH HARVEY?
>> RUTH HAS LEFT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. IS PETER -- SORRY, LET
ME NOT GO NUMBER -- NUMBERS 101
THROUGH 110. 101 THROUGH 110. I
SEE SOME PEOPLE STANDING, SO I
WILL WAIT. JUST A TIME CHECK, I
WAS TOLD THAT AROUND 10:30 WE'RE
GOING TO BE EXPECTING SHOWERS
AND THEN A LITTLE BIT FREEZING
TEMPERATURES ARE GOING TO DROP,
UNDRIVABLE CONDITIONS ARE AT
11:00 P.M. SO WE ARE GOING TO
GAUGE THIS AND GO AS FAST AS
POSSIBLE THROUGH FOLKS, BUT WE
MIGHT HAVE TO CALL IT AT NIGHT
SO I CAN SEND STAFF HOME AND OUR
COLLEAGUES SO EVERYONE -- AND
YOU ALL, SO WE CAN GET HOME
SAFE. THE GARAGE CLOSES AT 10:00
P.M., BY THE WAY, JUST A HEADS
UP. GARAGE CLOSES AT 10:00 P.M.
OKAY? SO WE HAVE 101. 101. THAT
IS RUTH HARVEY. WHERE'S RUTH?
IS RUTH HERE? NO? IS PETER COLES
HERE? NO? WHAT NUMBER ARE YOU?
106. IS 103 HERE? IS 104 HERE?
105? 106. YOU WIN. WINNER,
WINNER, VEGAN CHICKEN DINNER. GO
AHEAD.
>> GREAT TO HEAR IT. YEAH, MY
NAME IS LEONARD, I'M A RENTER
FROM DISTRICT FOUR, AND I'M
ALSO SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MY
PARENTS WHO LIVE IN DISTRICT
FIVE BUT COULDN'T MAKE IT HERE
TODAY. AND I -- I'M GLAD TO
HEAR COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA
TALKING ABOUT THE CHILDREN BEING
OUR FUTURE AND THEM COMING HERE
TODAY, THAT WAS WONDERFUL. AND
IN THAT SPIRIT, IF THEY'RE
GOING TO BE THE FUTURE CITY
LEADERS, THEY NEED A PLACE TO
LIVE FIRST. SEATTLE SHOWED UP
TONIGHT, AND NAMED SO MANY
REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD NOT WATER
DOWN THIS COMP PLAN. INSTEAD, I
WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS.
THIS CITY IS A PLACE THAT GAVE
MY FATHER, RAISED IN RURAL
KENTUCKY, THE OPPORTUNITY TO
BECOME A BIOLOGIST. HE GAVE MY
MOTHER, BORN INTO A COLD WAR AIR
FORCE FAMILY, THE OPPORTUNITY TO
BECOME A MEDICAL LAB SCIENTIST
AT CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL. THEY
CAME WHEN THERE WAS ENOUGH
HOUSING TO ACCOMMODATE THEM. I
LOOK ON THIS DAIS AND SEE A
BROAD RANGE OF STORIES OF
ADVERSITY THAT HAVE BEEN
OVERCOME. ONE WAY OR ANOTHER,
SEATTLE AND CITIES LIKE SEATTLE
WERE LADDERS THAT ALLOWED YOU
THE OPPORTUNITIES TO THRIVE.
DESPITE TALK OF ONE SEATTLE, WE
ARE LIVING IN TWO SEATTLES, ONE
FOR THOSE WHO GOT HERE IN THE
1990s AND EARLIER AND ANOTHER
FOR EVERYONE ELSE. THE MESSAGE
SEEMS TO BE, THOSE WHO GOT
THEIRS, EVERYBODY ELSE, TRY
RENTING. THE PEOPLE WHO COME
HERE FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY SHOULD
NOT HAVE TO FACE THE CHOICE OF
LIVING OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OR
DISPLACING PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE
BY FIGHTING OVER AN ARTIFICIALLY
LIMITED HOUSING SUPPLY THAT WE
HAVE ACTIVELY CHOSEN TO
PRESERVE. APARTMENTS DON'T
SACRIFICE NEIGHBORHOODS. THEY
ENLIVEN THEM. THEY BRING NEW
ENERGY, NEW FAMILIES, NEW
STORIES TO OUR COMMUNITIES. THEY
HELP UNDO -- ECONOMIC
OPPRESSION. I APPEAL TO YOU, DO
NOT PULL UP THAT LADDER BEHIND
YOU. DO NOT LET SEATTLE BECOME A
CITY THAT TURNS AWAY THE NEXT
GENERATION OF DREAMERS
INNOVATORS, AND ESSENTIAL
WORKERS. LET'S CREATE A SEATTLE
AND COMP PLAN THAT STILL HAS
ROOM FOR STORIES LIKE -- AND FOR
THE COUNTLESS STORIES YET TO BE
WRITTEN. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, 106. WHAT NUMBER
ARE YOU? 109? DO WE HAVE 108?
109, KEVIN. 110, ANDREW. AND
THEN I'M GOING TO ASK 111
THROUGH 120 TO STAND UP. GO
AHEAD, KEVIN, MIC'S YOURS.
>> I LIVE IN AN APARTMENT IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD OF CAPITOL HILL.
AND I'M ONE OF THE LUCKIEST
PEOPLE IN THE WHOLE WORLD. I'M
LUCKY BECAUSE I LIVE IN A QUIET,
COZY APARTMENT WITH PLENTY OF
FRESH AIR FAR FROM A FREEWAY. I
DON'T NEED A CAR. I'M LUCKY
BECAUSE I LIVE IN A VIBRANT,
WELCOMING NEIGHBORHOOD IN A
THRIVING CITY SURROUNDED BY SOME
OF THE MOST NATURAL BEAUTY ON
THE PLANET. I SUPPORT MORE DENSE
HOUSING AND AT LEAST THE
MAYOR'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN,
BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD
BE TRYING TO -- THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, KEVIN. IS ANDREW
LYNCH HERE? NUMBER 110. IS THAT
YOU? HEY, ANDREW, COME ON.
WELCOME.
>> MY NAME IS ANDREW LYNCH, AND
I FIRST WANT TO SAY THAT NO ONE
FROM OVERFLOW HAS GOTTEN TO
SPEAK YET. THIS SYSTEM IS NOT
SUPER GREAT. I THINK WE NEED TO
BE SHUFFLING THE SPEAKING ORDER
AT THE BEGINNING TO PROVIDE
EQUITY FOR PEOPLE THAT WORK 9:00
TO 5 JOBS. BUT I WANT TO THANK
THE COUNCIL, AND I ESPECIALLY
WANT TO THANK EVERYONE THAT'S
STILL HERE AND HASN'T LEFT YET.
PEOPLE ARE OBVIOUSLY LEAVING. I
LIVE IN UPPER QUEEN ANNE,
CAR-FREE WITH MY WIFE IN AN
APARTMENT BUILDING. WE LOVE THE
WALKABILITY OF QUEEN ANNE AVE,
THE ABILITY TO CONSTANTLY
SUPPORT THE LOCAL BUSINESSES, TO
BE ABLE TO WALK UP TO FREMONT,
TO WALK DOWN TO SEATTLE CENTER.
THOSE LOCAL BUSINESSES THRIVE
WHEN DENSITY IS ADDED. THE
BARISTA AT ONE OF THE COFFEE
PLACES RECENTLY TOLD ME HOW
EXCITED SHE WAS THAT THE SAFEWAY
APARTMENT BUILDING HAD BEEN
COMPLETED BECAUSE IT WAS GOING
TO BRING IN SO MUCH MORE
BUSINESS AND MORE TIPS. WE LOVE
WHERE WE LIVE, BUT IT IS FAR TOO
EXPENSIVE TO LIVE THERE. WE ARE
ALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS
HOUSING CRISIS AND WE URGENTLY
NEED MORE HOUSING RIGHT NOW. OUR
FRIENDS RECENTLY WERE ABLE TO
AFFORD TO MOVE IN TO QUEEN ANNE
BY MOVING INTO A TUNE HOW'S. MY
WIFE AND I ARE HOPING TO DO THAT
ONE DAY. BUT WE NEED MORE
HOUSING OPTIONS LIKE OUR FRIENDS
WERE ABLE TO MOVE INTO. I
SUPPORT THE MAYOR'S PLAN, BUT I
WISH IT WENT FURTHER. I URGE YOU
PLEASE DO NOT CUT ANYTHING FROM
IT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE
YOU. ALL RIGHT, SPEAKERS 111 --
BLESS YOU -- SPEAKERS 111
THROUGH 120. 111 THROUGH 120,
YOU'RE NEXT. FIRST WITH JERRY
STANTON. IS JERRY STANTON HERE?
NO. NEXT, SPEAKER 112. YES,
DAVE, ALL RIGHT, FOLLOWED BY
SPEAKER 113, DALE, AND THEN 114
LEO.
>> EVENING TO ALL. CONTRARY TO A
FEW RECENT COMMENTS, NOT ALL THE
TREE ADVOCATES HAVE LEFT THE
ROOM. AND ALSO CONTRARY TO
COMMENTS, I SAW A GOOD MANY
CHILDREN HERE EARLIER THAT
EXPRESSED THEIR DESIRE TO HAVE
TREES AS PART OF THEIR
ENVIRONMENT. KIND OF WITH THAT
BEGINNING, I WOULD SAY THAT, YOU
KNOW, SEATTLE REALLY NEEDS BOTH
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND TREE
CANOPY AND GREENERY. AND YOU
KNOW, THE LATTER IS NOT JUST FOR
THE SAKE OF THE TREES, IT'S FOR
THE COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE
THAT LIVE IN IT, THE LIFESTYLE,
THAT'S PART OF IT. OKAY, SO WE
CAN'T DO ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER.
AND I THINK THE CURRENT PLAN OF
THIS PROPOSAL, AS IT EXISTS,
KIND OF IS REALLY WEIGHTED
TOWARDS MARKET VALUE DEVELOPMENT
AND A WILLINGNESS TO DECIMATE
THE TREE COVER. AND THERE'S A
QUESTION ABOUT WHAT PERCENTAGE
IS REALLY GOING TO BE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. YOU KNOW, SO I WOULD
SUGGEST THE PLAN NEEDS TO HAVE
SOME SERIOUS TWEAKS TO IT AND
STUFF. BOTH TO SEE HOW WITH
MULTIUNIT DEVELOPMENT YOU COULD
INCLUDE MORE TREE COVER AND
GREENERY AND STUFF. FOR EXAMPLE,
YOU KNOW, NOT REDUCING THE
SETBACKS AND -- THERE CAN'T BE
ANY TREES, AND HAVING SO MUCH OF
THE SETBACKS BEING HARD COVER
RATHER THAN GREENERY. JUST ONE
EXAMPLE OF THAT. BUT I THINK
HAVING AN EITHER OR ATTITUDE
TOWARDS THIS WHOLE PLAN IS
SHORTSIGHTED. I THINK THE PLAN
-- I'M NOT OPPOSED TO A, YOU
KNOW, COMMUNITY CENTERS OR TO
THE IDEA OF, SAY, MOM AND POP --
THE SINGLE-FAMILY NEIGHBORHOOD
ITSELF NEEDS TO CHANGE, BUT
LET'S NOT -- LET'S NOT THROW
THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATH
WATER.
>> THANK YOU, MR. DAVE. IS
SPEAKER 113 HERE, DALE? NO.
SPEAKER 114. AWESOME, THANK YOU,
LEO. FOLLOWED BY 115, ANDREA.
>> COUNCILMEMBERS --
COUNCILMEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME AND YOUR
CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU
EVERYONE IN THE ROOM FOR BEING
HERE ON THIS IMPORTANT TOPIC.
I'M A RESIDENT OF MADISON PARK.
BORN AND RAISED IN SEATTLE.
LIVED HERE FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF
STRENGTHENING THE ONE SEATTLE
PLAN. I'M EXCITED TO SEE MORE
DENSITY COME TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
MADISON PARK ISN'T EXACTLY THE
BASTIAN OF WALKABILITY THAT SOME
OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS MIGHT BE,
BUT I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT
THE PROSPECT OF BRINGING IN NEW
BUSINESSES, BRINGING IN NEW
COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THIS IS A
TRULY SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY WE
HAVE IN FRONT OF US ALL TO SHAPE
A SEATTLE THAT WORKS FOR ALL OF
US. I GREW UP ATTENDING
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN MADRONA.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE PROSPECT
OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD SEEING MORE
DENSITY AS WELL. IT'S REALLY A
NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I CHERISHED
GROWING UP. AND THINKING ABOUT
LETTING MORE PEOPLE IN OUR CITY
JOIN IN THAT REALLY BEAUTIFUL
PLACE IS SOMETHING THAT'S
IMPORTANT TO ME, BUT FRANKLY,
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS WE
HAVE A HOUSING CRISIS. AND
INCREASING HOUSING SUPPLY IS THE
KEY LEVER TO HELPING FIX OR
MITIGATE -- SO PLEASE TAKE
THISRARE OPPORTUNITY PUT IN
FRONT OF YOU ALL, CONSIDER
STRENGTHENING THE ONE SEATTLE
PLAN SO IT MAKES THE CITY THAT I
KNOW AND LOVE SOMEWHERE THAT
MORE PEOPLE CAN JOIN IN WITH.
>> THANK YOU, LEO. SPEAKER 115
-- SO SPEAKERS 115 TO 120. IF
THAT IS YOU, PLEASE STAND UP. I
GOT YOU, 115, PLEASE GET READY
SO SPEAKERS 116 TO 120, PLEASE
START LINING UP IN THE MIDDLE.
GO AHEAD, ANDREA.
>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS ANDREA,
AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT SIX. I
WAS RECENTLY REDISTRICTED FROM
SEVEN, SO ANYWAY, I WANTED TO
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
NORTH MAGNOLIA PROPOSAL.
CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF,
MAGNOLIA IS NOT JUST THE
BOULEVARD FULL OF MULTIMILLION
DOLLAR ENORMOUS MANSIONS. MY
NEIGHBORHOOD IS DIVERSE. IT'S A
MIXTURE OF RENTAL HOUSING,
TOWNHOMES, CONDOS, AND MOSTLY,
EXCEPT WHERE THEY'VE BEEN
BULLDOZED BY THE DEVELOPERS,
MODEST SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES LIKE
MINE. MY DOG WALKER LIVES IN MY
NEIGHBORHOOD. MY FAVORITE
GROCERY CHECKER LIVES IN MY
NEIGHBORHOOD. IT REALLY IS A
COMMUNITY. THE PROPOSAL FOR THE
NORTH MAGNOLIA COMMUNITY CENTER
IS ILL CONCEIVED. AND I WOULD
URGE YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE
COUNTERPROPOSAL FROM THE
MAGNOLIA COMMUNITY COUNCIL,
WHICH BALANCES INCREASED DENSITY
-- AND I BELIEVE THEY'VE EVEN
PROPOSED HIGHER HEIGHT LIMITS
ALONG THE ONE ARTERIAL THAT WE
DO HAVE, WHICH IS 34th -- WHILE
BEING MORE MEASURED AND MODEST
IN THE AREAS WHERE THE STREETS
ARE ONE CAR ONLY STREETS.
PUTTING VERY LARGE APARTMENT
BUILDINGS ON THOSE STREETS THAT
ARE ONLY ONE CAR WIDE, CREATING
CANYONS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT
WOULD MAKE IT EVEN MORE
DIFFICULT, FOR EXAMPLE,
EMERGENCY SERVICES, ET CETERA.
IT'S A POOR PLANNING IDEA. I'D
ASK YOU, WE WANT DENSITY, WE
WANT A NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER. WE
THINK IT WOULD WORK FOR OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD. JUST CONSIDER THE
COUNTERPROPOSAL, PLEASE. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. SPEAKER 116. 117,
COLLIN CLAYTON UP NEXT. RACHEL,
CYNTHIA, ASHLEY, AND JIM.
>> HI, MY NAME IS KATE RUBEN,
THE CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BE
SEATTLE AND A REPRESENTER LIVING
IN DISTRICT TWO. EXCLUSIONARY
ZONING HAS CONSTRAINED OUR
HOUSING SUPPLY WHILE DEMAND
KEEPS RISING. ALLOWING MANY MORE
HOMES CITYWIDE IS NECESSARY AND
IT'S LONG OVERDUE. LIKE SO MANY
OF THE RENTERS THAT I MEET
THROUGH MY WORK, I AM AT RISK OF
BEING PRICED OUT OF THE CITY. I
WORKED FULL TIME FOR MY ENTIRE
ADULT LIFE, BUT I STILL NEED A
ROOMMATE TO AFFORD HOUSING. I
URGE YOU TO STRENGTH B THE ONE
SEATTLE PLAN TO ENSURE THAT
RENTERS, DISABLED PEOPLE, AND
COMMUNITIES THAT ARE AT HIGH
RISK OF DISPLACEMENT CAN REMAIN
AND THRIVE. SERVICE WORKERS,
ARTISTS, RETIREES, AND NONPROFIT
WORKERS LIKE MY ROOMMATE AND ME
NEED PROTECTION FROM
DISPLACEMENT. THE DRAFT
ANTI-DISPLACEMENT FRAMEWORK
DOESN'T INCLUDE NEW STRATEGIES,
AND MOST OF THE TENANT SERVICES
THE CITY CURRENTLY FUNDS TO
PREVENT DISPLACEMENT WEREN'T
EVEN MENTIONED. IT LEAVES OUT
SOME EXISTING RENTER PROTECTIONS
THAT PREVENT DISPLACEMENT,
INCLUDING THE ROOMMATE
ORDINANCE, THE $10 LATE FEE CAP,
AND THE BAN ONO TIS DELIVERY
FEES. THE ANTI-DISPLACEMENT
FRAMEWORK MUST INCLUDE OUR
EXISTING TENANT SERVICES AND
RENTER PROTECTIONS. SEATTLE'S
GROWTH SHOULD PROTECT THOSE MOST
AT RISK AND SUPPORT WALKABLE,
COMPLETE, INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES.
WE NEED TO EXPAND ZONING FOR
MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT TO CREATE
MORE, LARGER NEIGHBORHOOD
CENTERS, ESPECIALLY IN LOW
DISPLACEMENT, HIGH OPPORTUNITY
AREAS NEAR PARKS AND TRANSIT,
NOT POLLUTED ARTERIALS. THE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING BONUS SHOULD
BE EXPANDED CITYWIDE AND INCLUDE
SOCIAL HOUSING TO MAXIMIZE THE
NUMBER OF PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE
COMMUNITY-CONTROLLED HOMES AND
ADD SOMETHING MORE CONSERVATIVE
LEANING. OOPS, SORRY, THANKS.
>> SPEAKER 117, 118, 11 9, AND
120. SPEAKER 118? NO. SPEAKER 1
19? SPEAKER 120? I'M GOING TO
MOVE ON. SPEAKERS 121 TO 130, IF
YOU'RE 121 TO 130, IF YOU START
GETTING READY, AND WE'LL GO
BACK TO YOU, COLLEEN. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO PROVIDE COMMENT IN SUPPORT OF
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. I'M AN
URBAN PLANNING MASTER STUDENT
AND MIDDLE HOUSING ENTHUSIAST.
BUILDING AN AFFORDABLE RENTAL
LITERALLY IN MY BACKYARD -- AN
EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR SEATTLE
TO TAKE BOLD STEPS TOWARDS A
MORE EQUITABLE FUTURE IN LIGHT
OF OUR NATIONAL HOUSING CRISIS.
WE URGENTLY NEED MORE DIVERSE
TYPES OF HOUSING THAT IS
AFFORDABLE AT EVERY INCOME LEVEL
TO ENSURE SEATTLE'S VAST
OPPORTUNITY IS AVAILABLE TO ALL,
AND THAT STARTS WITH HOUSING
WHICH STARTS WITH ZONING. I
RECOGNIZE MY PRIVILEGE AS A
WHITE HOME OWNER AND WOULD URGE
THOSE WHO SPEAK FROM FEAR ABOUT
INCREASED DENSITY TO REFLECT ON
THE GOOD FORTUNE THAT FINANCES,
HISTORY OF RACIAL KOV NANCE, OR
SIMPLY GOOD TIMING ALLOWED THEM.
CURRENT AND FUTURE SEATTLEITES
DESERVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TOO.
THE REALITY IS THAT RENTS AND
ESPECIALLY HOME PRICES HAVE FAR
OUTPACED INCOME AND MANY
HOUSEHOLDS ARE STUCK IN THE
CYCLE OF RENTING, IF THEY'RE
EVEN ABLE TO AFFORD THAT. THE
BURDEN OF GROWTH SHOULD NOT
CONTINUE TO FALL ON HISTORICALLY
RED LINED AREAS OR RESULT IN
MORE SUBURBAN SPRAWL. FAR WORSE
FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, FOR THE
TREES, FOR THE ORCAS. UPZONING
AND STRATEGIC DENSITY IN
CONJUNCTION WITH MIXED USE AND
RELAXED PARKING MINIMUMS SHOULD
BE USED IN NEW AND EXPANDED
NEIGHBORHOOD AND URBAN CENTERS,
PARTICULARLY IN HIGH OPPORTUNITY
AREAS AND NEAR TRANSIT. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT RYAN
DRISCOLL, SPEAKER 121 TO 130.
SPEAKER 121, ARE YOU HERE? NO.
HOW ABOUT SPEAKER 122? AWESOME.
DAKOTA, 122.
>> HEY THERE. I'M DAKOTA, A
MAPLE LEAF RESIDENT, AND I'M
HERE TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR THE
ZONING UPDATES IN THIS COMP
PLAN. WE NEED MORE HOUSING AND
ANY POLICY THAT DOESN'T SUPPORT
THIS GOAL SIMPLY ISN'T GOOD
GOVERNANCE. UPDATED ZONING IS
KEY TO ACHIEVING THIS AND OFFERS
MULTIPLE BENEFITS. IT GENERATES
MORE TAX REVENUE PER PARCEL AND
SUPPORTS THE CLIMATE BY
SUPPORTING SUSTAINABLE GROWTH
AND REDUCING SPRAWL. IT BOOSTS
BUSINESS AND ATTRACTS NEW
BUSINESS BY BRINGING PEOPLE
CLOSER TO COMMERCIAL AREAS. IT
ENCOURAGES TRANSIT USE, REDUCING
CAR RELIANCE, AND IT HELPS
SCHOOLS BY MAKING HOUSING MORE
AFFORDABLE AND ATTRACTING
FAMILIES. HOWEVER, I DO HAVE
SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR
IMPROVEMENT. ELIMINATE PARKING
MINIMUMS TO REDUCE DEVELOPMENT
COSTS AND INCREASE THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR GREEN SPACE,
INCENTIVIZE NOVEL ARCHITECTURAL
APPROACHES THAT RETAIN EXISTING
TREES. RETAINING TREES OR NOT IS
A POLICY CHOICE DRIVEN BY THE
ZONING CODE AND OUR WILL TO
PROTECT THEM. IF WE'RE SERIOUS
ABOUT OUR TREE CANOPY, BE
SMARTER ABOUT OUR POLICIES.
INCENTIVIZE SMALL-SCALE
NEIGHBORHOOD-BASED DEVELOPERS
AND COLLECTIVE WHO IS WISH TO
DEVELOP THEIR LANDS THEMSELVES.
PERHAPS PROPERTY TAX CREDITS,
ZONING BONUSES OR EXPEDITED
PROCESSING OR BY SIMPLY
CONNECTING PEOPLE TO -- WILLING
TO TAKE SMALLER JOBS WITHOUT
BUYING THE PROPERTY FROM THE
LANDOWNER. AND NEIGHBORHOOD
CENTERS, ADD MORE NEIGHBORHOOD
COMMERCIAL ZONES. MAPLE LEAF,
FOR EXAMPLE, IT'S MOSTLY LR3
AND LR2. THERE'S ONLY A SMALL,
SMALL PART OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD
CENTER THAT IS NC, WHICH MEANS
THAT WE'RE ONLY ADDING MORE
HOUSING AND NOT MORE OPPORTUNITY
FOR COMMERCE. AND ALLOW
COMMERCIAL USES ON MORE THAN
JUST LITERAL CORNER LOTS.
THAT'S JUST NONSENSE. WE CAN
HAVE OUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO.
GOOD HOUSING POLICY IS GOOD
CLIMATE POLICY IS GOOD FISCAL
POLICY. THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE ERIC
THORN, SPEAKER 123. 123 IS NOT
HERE? OKAY, SPEAKER 124, ERIC?
>> GOOD EVENING, OR I SUPPOSE,
GOOD NIGHT. I'M A LIFELONG
SEATTLEITE, LITERALLY NEVER
LIVED ANYWHERE ELSE. I GREW UP
IN WHAT IS NOW THE DISTRICT
SEVEN CORNER OF MAGNOLIA WHERE
MY PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS
STILL LIVE. BUT I DON'T LIVE
THERE ANYMORE, AND MY FAMILY, MY
WIFE AND I MAY NOT EVER LIVE
THERE. THE AMERICAN DREAM OF
HOMEOWNERSHIP IS PRACTICALLY
IMPOSSIBLE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE,
YOUNG FAMILIES LIKE ME IN
SEATTLE. THE CHOICE HERE FOR US
IS STARK, WE CAN MOVE TO FEDERAL
WAY OR AS FAR AS WE CAN BEFORE
THE MORTGAGE APPROVES OR WE STAY
AT THE MERCY OF OUR LANDLORDS
WHO JUST YESTERDAY SENT ME AN
EMAIL SAYING THEY'RE RAISING MY
RENT. MY WIFE AND I, HOWEVER, WE
ARE IN SEATTLE STILL. WE'RE IN
MOUNT BAKER, A HISTORICALLY RED
LINED COMMUNITY, AND
UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE THE FACE
OF DISPLACEMENT AND
GENTRIFICATION, BECAUSE WE ARE
LIVING WHERE ALL OF THE HOUSING
HAS BEEN BUILT IN THE RAINIER
VALLEY IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT.
THE PLACES THAT HAVE THE HIGHEST
DISPLACEMENT RISK. IF I WERE TO
BE ABLE TO TRY AND LIVE WHERE I
GREW UP IN MAGNOLIA, I WOULD
NEED AN INCOME FOR JUST
BASICALLY THE MOST ENTRY LEVEL
HOME IN THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD
OF ABOUT $240,000 A YEAR. FOR
PERSPECTIVE, MY PARENTS BOUGHT
THEIR HOME IN 1993 FOR $283,000
TOTAL. WHICH IS $613,000 TODAY.
THE SOLUTION IS CLEAR, TO SOLVE
BOTH DISPLACEMENT AND MY PROBLEM
OF NOT BEING ABLE TO LIVE WHERE
I GREW UP AND MAKE SURE MY KIDS
CAN LIVE CLOSE WITHIN WALKING
DISTANCE OF THEIR GRANDPARENTS
IS BUILD MORE HOUSING IN PLACES
LIKE MAGNOLIA, WHETHER THAT BE
THE NORTH MAGNOLIA COMMUNITY
AREA, MAGNOLIA BRIDGE DENSITY
AREA, OR IN THE MAGNOLIA
VILLAGE. THINGS LIKE -- SMALL
NEIGHBORHOOD CORNER STORES,
THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE
GOING TO BE WHAT WE ARE GOING TO
DO TO ALLOW FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND NEW HOMEOWNERSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES. I HOPE THAT YOU
CAN SEE THAT THAT DREAM IS OUT
OF LOVE FOR SEATTLE. AND I HOPE
WE CAN DO THAT TOGETHER. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, ERIC. NEXT WE HAVE
SPEAKER 125, BEN. FOLLOWED BY
SPEAKER 126, IS 126 HERE? ALL
RIGHT.
>> MY NAME IS BEN. I LIVE IN
BALLARD, AND I'VE LIVED IN THE
SEATTLE AREA MY ENTIRE LIFE.
I'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD
IT FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. IN
2020 THERE WAS AN UNBEARABLE
WEEK OF DANGEROUS WILDFIRE
SPOKE. IN 2021 IT REACHED 108
DEGREES. TREES ARE GREAT, BUT
THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO
HELP. EVERYONE SUFFERED. THESE
DISASTERS ARE GOING TO KEEP
GETTING WORSE AS LONG AS WE
CONTINUE TO RELY ON FOSSIL FUELS
FOR TRANSPORTATION. THEY'RE
GOING TO KEEP GETTING WORSE AS
LONG AS OUR CITY LAWS DEMAND CAR
OWNERSHIP. WHAT SEATTLE NEEDS
RIGHT NOW IS MORE DENSITY.
PUSHING DEVELOPMENT TO THE
SUBURBS JUST MEANS THAT INSTEAD
OF CUTTING DOWN A SINGLE TREE IN
YOUR FRONT YARD, YOU'RE
BULLDOZING ACRES OF NORSE THE
CASCADES FOR MORE CAR-DEPENDENT
SUBURBS. THAT'S NOT
ENVIRONMENTALISM, THAT'S GREED.
I'M PROUD TO LIVE CAR FREE IN
THE CITY, BUT IT IS HARD.
TRANSIT IS INFREQUENT AND
SPARSE, RENT IS HIGH. MY LIFE IS
BEING SHORTENED BY BREATHING CAR
EXHAUST BECAUSE I'M FORCED TO
LIVE ON AN ARTERIAL, BECAUSE
THAT'S THE ONLY PLACE WE BUILD
APARTMENTS. ADDITIONALLY, MY
FRIENDS ARE BEING PRICED OUT OF
THE CITY, AND THE HOMELESSNESS
CRISIS IS VISIBLE TO EVERYONE.
ALL THESE ISSUES WILL BE HELPED
BY INCREASED DENSITY. TRANSIT
FOLLOWS WHERE PEOPLE LIVE. THE
ONLY SOLUTION TO TRAFFIC IS A
VIABLE ALTERNATIVE TO DRIVING.
PLEASE REMOVE THE BARRIERS TO
DEVELOPMENT. PLEASE DO NOT
REMOVE ANY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD
CENTERS. WE NEED INCREASED
DENSITY EVERYWHERE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK, YOU BEN. SPEAKER 126.
AND JUST A REAL QUICK CHECK, HOW
MANY PEOPLE ARE IN HERE THAT ARE
SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? AWESOME, ALL
RIGHT, LET'S POWER THROUGH.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, 126 AND
THEN 127 AND 128, 129, 130.
PARDON ME?
>> I'M 127, SORRY. IS 126 HERE?
SID? DO NOT SEE SID. OKAY, 127,
CAMERON.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS,
MY NAME IS CAMERON, I'M A
RENTER IN DISTRICT THREE. WE
KNOW FROM OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE,
APPARENTLY THIS IS
CONTROVERSIAL, WE KNOW NOT ONLY
FROM STUDIES BUT ALSO THE
EXAMPLE OF OTHER AMERICAN CITIES
THAT HAVE IMPLEMENTED HOUSING
REFORMS THAT OUR UNPRECEDENTED
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND
HOMELESSNESS CRISES ARE
CENTRALLY A PROBLEM OF SUPPLY
AND DEMAND. JUST LIKE THE GAME
OF MUSICAL CHAIRS. AND A NUMBER
OF PEOPLE HAVE SHOWED UP TONIGHT
TO ARGUE WHY WE SHOULDN'T ADD
NEW CHAIRS TO THEIR
NEIGHBORHOOD. AND I SYMPATHIZE,
I GET IT. BUT ON BEHALF OF THE
YOUNG PEOPLE I KNOW WHO ARE
TRYING TO BUILD A FUTURE IN THIS
CITY, IF OUR GOALS ARE BASED ON
PRESERVING CHARACTER RATHER THAN
BUILDING NEIGHBORHOODS THEIR OWN
KIDS AND GRANDKIDS IS -- IF OUR
ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS ARE ABOUT
FIGHT OVER INDIVIDUAL TREES,
OVER AVOIDING CLEAR CUTTING
FOREST, AND FORCING PEOPLE INTO
HOURS LONG COMMUTES, THEN WE
HAVE OUR PRIORITIES WRONG. IF
OUR HOUSING JUSTICE GOALS ARE
ABOUT PROTECTING WELLTHY
HOMEOWNERS FROM APARTMENTS
RATHER THAN PROTECTING
VULNERABLE AND MARGINALIZED
PEOPLE FROM SLEEPING ON THE
STREET, THEN WE HAVE OUR
PRIORITIES WRONG. SO TO BE
CLEAR, I STRONGLY SUPPORT MANY
OF THE PROPOSALS IN THE MAYOR'S
ONE SEATTLE PLAN, BUT THE
NUMBERS SAY THE PLAN DOES NOT
MEET THE MOMENT. I SUPPORT
INCLUDING ALLOWING FOURPLEXES
CITYWIDE AND THE CREATION OF NEW
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS. I
ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO EXPAND
THE PROPOSED CENTERS AND ADD NEW
ONES IN HIGH OPPORTUNITY AREAS.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO ALLOW FOR
STACKED FLATS ON ALL LOTS NEAR
FREQUENT TRANSIT AND TO EXPAND
THE PROPOSED AFFORDABLE HOUSING
DENSITY BONUS CITYWIDE WITH A
SIMILAR BONUS FOR LOW RIDE
ZONES. THE LARGEST CITY IN THE
STATE SHOULD DEMONSTRATE
LEADERSHIP AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN
THE CRISIS RATHER THAN SHRINKING
BACK AND MAKING EXCUSES. PLEASE
DO NOT MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
BUILD A MORE VIBRANT AND LIVABLE
CITY FOR THOSE OF US WHO PLAN TO
>> SPEAKER 128? FELICIA? SPEAKER
129? AWESOME. AND THEN 130. I'M
SO
MY NAME IS ADAM AND I'M A PROUD
HOMEOWNER AND I'M HERE TO URGE
THE COUNSEL TO PASS THE OLDEST
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT ALLOWS
FOR MORE HOUSING ACROSS THE
CITY. THE CITY AND REGION WILL
CONTINUE TO GROW NO MATTER WHAT
BECAUSE WE LIVE IN THE BEST CITY
IN THE WORLD. WE HAVE A GREAT
ECONOMY, WONDERFUL NATURAL
RESOURCES AND RICK ADDITIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES. I HOPE THAT THIS
COUNSEL RECOGNIZES WE NEED TO
CAPTURE THE LION'S SHARE OF
GROWTH WITH IN SEATTLE BY OF
SELLING AND INCREASING DENSITY
TO ENSURE THAT TAX DOLLARS GOING
TO OUR CITY SERVICES LIKE
TRANSIT AND HOUSING THAT WE SO
DESPERATELY NEED. THIS IS ALSO
THE ONLY WAY TO SAVE TREES. THIS
IS THE ONLY WAY, BECAUSE THE
ONLY ALTERNATIVE IS PUSHING THAT
GROWTH OUT AND CLEARCUTTING
THOUSANDS OF TREES. PEOPLE RALLY
TO SAVE A SINGLE TREE, BUT THAT
IS ONLY BECAUSE THEY DO NOT SEE
THE THOUSANDS BEING CUT OUT ON
THE MARGINS . I WOULD LIKE TO
SPECIFICALLY TALK ABOUT THE
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER AND URGE YOU
TO KEEP IT. MAPLELEAF IS A GREAT
MENTAL ¿ NEIGHBORHOOD AND HAS
GREAT RESTAURANTS. I AM LUCKY
ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO
LIVE THERE BUT SO MANY ARE NOT.
WE NEED TO MAKE IT AFFORDABLE
FOR ALL SO THAT FAMILIES CAN
START THEIR LIVES HERE. AND SO
SMALL BUSINESSES CAN THRIVE BY
HAVING MORE CUSTOMERS AND A LOT
OF MY NEIGHBORS HAVE TALKED
ABOUT HOW WE DO NOT HAVE THE
TRANSIT OR INFRASTRUCTURE TO
SUPPORT IT. I SAY BUILD MORE
TRANSIT AND INFRASTRUCTURE. I
WANT THE 67 US TO RUN MORE OFTEN
AND I WANT A BUS GOING TO
NORTHGATE. WE CAN BUILD BETTER
THINGS AND WE CAN HAVE BETTER
THINGS AND I KNOW THAT THIS
CENTER AND ALL THE NEIGHBORHOOD
CENTERS WILL MAKE NEIGHBORHOODS
BETTER FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE
THERE AND FOR EVERYONE. SO IN
CONCLUSION, PLEASE KEEP THE
MAPLE LEAF CENTER AND MAKE THE
RIGHT CHOICE FOR THE CLIMATE IN
THE CITY TOO. THANK YOU.
>>> NOW WE ARE GOING TO GO BACK
TO ONLINE SPEAKERS. I CAN SEE
RICHARD ELLISON. PLEASE PRESS
STAR SIX AND A NEW YOURSELF.
>> RICHARD, PLEASE PRESS STAR
SIX.
WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT
CALLER AND MOVE ON TO RICHARD.
>> SARAH SCOTT? PLEASE PRESS
STAR SIX. SARAH SCOTT.
>> HELLO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
LISTENING. I WOULD LIKE TO
COMMENT THAT I BELIEVE THAT THIS
PLAN DOES NOT HELP THE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROBLEM, AT
LEAST NOT ALONG NORTHEAST 45th
STREET. I GREW UP IN SEATTLE AND
I LOVE IT TO MY CORE. BUT I HAVE
BEEN PRICED OUT OF THE SEATTLE
HOUSING MARKET MY ENTIRE ADULT
LIFE. I HEARD SOMEONE SAY THAT
THIS PLAN WOULD GIVE A CHANCE
FOR A BARISTA TO BE ABLE TO LIVE
THERE. SORRY TO SAY, THIS IS
RUBBISH. I AM A BARISTA, A
SINGLE MOM OF A CHILD WITH A
DISABILITY, AND I DO NOT
>> SORRY, ANYWAY. I AM A
BRISTOW, A SINGLE MOM OF A CHILD
WITH A DISABILITY. I DO NOT WISH
THE PLAN ON ANYONE. I KNOW I
WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD ANY
OF THE LIVING SPACES PROPOSED ON
NORTHEAST 45th STREET. THERE IS
JUST NO WAY. IT IS TRULY
SICKENING TO THINK ABOUT HOW
MANY TREES AND HOW MUCH GREEN
SPACE SEATTLE WOULD LOSE WITH
THIS PLAN, SO PLEASE SNUB THE
DEVELOPERS. THE GROWTH
MANAGEMENT ACT ADVISES URBAN
DEVELOPMENT AND SEATTLE HAS MANY
REAL URBAN AREAS THAT ARE BEING
OVERLOOKED. OVER YEARS OF
ATTENDING COUNSEL MEETINGS, IT
IS MY OBSERVATION THAT IF YOU
HAVE A TURNOUT OF THIS MANY
PEOPLE, SO MANY CONCERNED
RESIDENTS AND SOME MAY CONCERN
PEOPLE, THAT THERE IS USUALLY A
PROBLEM WITH THE PLAN. AND IT
CERTAINLY NEEDS TO BE CAREFULLY
LOOK AT AND REDONE. ONE SMALL
SUGGESTION MIGHT BE TO FOCUS ON
COTTAGE CLUSTERS LIKE PORTLAND
IS DOING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME AND I HOPE EVERYONE HAS A
NICE EVENING.
>>> WE ARE GOING TO GO BACK TO
RICHARD ELLISON. AFTER RICHARD
ELLISON WILL BE JORDAN HUME.
>> HELLO?
>> HI, PLEASE START.
>> HELLO, COUNCILMEMBERS. MY
NAME IS RICHARD ELLISON AND I
HAVE LIVED IN SEATTLE SINCE
1981, BUT I'M CURRENTLY A
RETIRED ADJUNCT BIOLOGY
PROFESSOR AND I BOUGHT MY HOUSE
-- PAID THE MORTGAGE. IF WE CAN
SAVE TREES BY BUILDING, WHY NOT?
THE ARGUMENT IS BEING FABRICATED
BY -- IF WE CAN BUILD HOUSING
WITH TREES, WHY NOT? OVER MANY
DECADES ONE OF THE CORE --
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. BUT
SOMEHOW -- COMP PLAN. WHY?
BECAUSE DEVELOPERS FELT
THREATENED AND NOW WE ARE LOSING
OUR BIG TREES AND -- LOSING ALL
THE TREES. WE CAN BARELY --
WHERE ARE THE KIDS SUPPOSED TO
PLAY? WHY CAN'T SEATTLE SUPPORT
-- LIKE PORTLAND OREGON? 2020,
ALSO REQUIRED 20% OF THE LOT BE
SAVED FOR MOST FAMILIES AND TO
BE SAVED IN NEIGHBORHOOD
RESIDENTIAL AREAS.
NOW OUR CURRENT -- NO
SIGNIFICANT NEGATIVE IMPACT. HOW
IS THIS POSSIBLE? THEY SAY WELL,
IMPACTS COULD BE AVOIDED OR
MEDICATED THROUGH THE PERMITTING
PROCESSES, BUT WE KNOW THAT THIS
IS CURRENTLY A FALSE PRACTICE
AND THEY ADMIT THAT THE
MULTIFAMILY AND RESIDENTIAL LOT
-- 80% OF THE TREE CANOPY -- AND
IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, I SEE BIG 40
INCH DIAMETER TREES, CONIFERS IN
CORNERS OF THE LOT THAT ARE
STILL PERMITTED TO BE CUT BY
DEVELOPERS EVEN PROFESSIONAL
ARCHITECTS SHOWED THAT JUST
MOVING THE FOOTPRINT OF THE
BUILDING OVER A LITTLE BIT WOULD
SAVE THE TREE. BUT THE
DEVELOPERS JUST -- OTHER
NEIGHBORS TRYING TO SAVE LARGE
DIAMETER TREES.
THE EDGE OF THE LOT SHOULD NOT
BE LOST TO A BAD DESIGN
PLANNING. THE CITY SHOULD HAVE
AN ABILITY TO ADD ALTERNATIVES
BY DESIGN. HOW MUCH SPACE DO WE
NEED --
>> NEXT IS JORDAN HUME FOLLOWED
BY RUBY HOLLAND.
>> HI, MY NAME IS JORDAN HUME
AND I AM A RESIDENT OF CAPITOL
HILL. I'M GOING TO EXPRESS MY
ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT FOR THE
PLAN AND A SEPARATE DENSITY AND
HOUSING OPTION -- IN THE 10
YEARS SINCE I HAVE MOVED TO
SEATTLE, HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE
OF LIVING IN -- EACH ONE THEIR
OWN UNIQUE CHARMS. BUT IT HAS
NOT ALWAYS BEEN EASY TO FIND A
PLACE TO LIVE, OVER THE YEARS AS
A RENTER, I AM FAR FROM THE ONLY
PERSON THAT HAS HAD TO COVER THE
PRICE OF RENT, THE TINY BASEMENT
STUDIOS, AND LIVING ONLY ALONG
LOUD AND SOMETIME UNSAFE ROADS.
LIKE MANY RENTERS, I HAVE
WATCHED THE IDEA OF
HOMEOWNERSHIP GROW INCREASINGLY
OUT OF REACH. I FEEL FORTUNATE
TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD A PLACE ON
THE HILL, HOWEVER SMALL, BUT I
REGRET THAT FOR MANY PEOPLE AND
FAMILIES IT IS NOT AN OPTION. I
ALSO PARTICULARLY REGRET THAT
MANY PEOPLE , ESPECIALLY TRANS
MEN AND WOMEN WANT TO MOVE TO A
CITY LIKE SEATTLE FOR THEIR OWN
PERSONAL SAFETY AND TO FIND
HOUSING PRIMITIVELY EXPENSIVE
AND THAT IS NOT A HYPOTHETICAL.
I REGULARLY SEE SOCIAL MEDIA
VOICING THESE CONCERNS AND
REALLY WISH THEY COULD AFFORD TO
MOVE TO SEATTLE.
AND WE WILL NEVER ADDRESS THE
ROOT CAUSES OF HOMELESSNESS
WITHOUT ADDRESSING THE HOUSING
SHORTAGE FIRST. WE NEED URGENT
ACTION. RUNS ARE ACTUALLY
FALLING IN AUSTIN, TEXAS BECAUSE
THEY HAVE BEEN BUILDING HOUSING
FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND LOTS OF
IT. THERE IS NO SECRET SAUCE
OTHER THAN SIMPLY BUILDING
HOUSING. THIS IS NOT THE TIME
FOR US TO SLOW DOWN AND REVIEW.
TREES DO NOT SHELTER AND PROTECT
OUR NEIGHBORS HOMES AND
COMMUNITIES DO. I STRONGLY
ENCOURAGE THE CITY COUNSEL TO
MAINTAIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
CENTERS IN THE PLAN AND TO
CONTINUE FOCUSING ON BUILDING AS
MUCH HOUSING AS POSSIBLE. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
>>> OUR NEXT CALLER IS RUBY
HOLLAND, AND THEN WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY WILL SHIFT. BE?
>> MY NAME IS RUBY HOLLAND. IN
2023 THE CITY COUNSEL APPROVED A
BILL TO SEE IF MHA WAS CREATING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THE MAYOR
VETOED IT AND IN 2023, AS A
RESULT OF THE LAWSUIT, BOTH
MAYORS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT MHA
COULD NOT PROVIDE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. SEATTLE -- AND IN A
2015 DEBATE RECORDED ON THE
SEATTLE CHANNEL, CANDIDATE ROB
JOHNSON EXPLAINED THAT UP VOTING
WOULD ALLOW TAXES FOR HIGHEST
AND BEST USE TO ENCOURAGE
TURNOVER. TARGETED UP VOTING OF
THE WORKING CLASS -- THOUSANDS
OF WORKING-CLASS HOMEOWNERS AND
RENTERS INTENTIONALLY. THIS COMP
PLAN CONTINUES TO UPLOAD
WORKING-CLASS HOMEOWNERS WHO
ENCOURAGE OUR DISPLACEMENT AND
DISPLACEMENT PLAN AT THIS TAX
RELIEF IS INADEQUATE. THE
MAYOR'S BIG EXECUTIVE ORDER
DELIVERED AT THE LAST MINUTE
BLAMED HIS DEVELOPER FRIENDS FOR
A PROBLEM HE CREATED , CONTAINS
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
THAT SUPPORT RESIDENTIAL
DISPLACEMENT AND MORE OF THE
SAME QUICK GRAB PIE CHARTS AND
MONITORING PROGRAMS THAT FAILED
US WITH MHA. THE MAYOR REMAINS
COMMITTED TO MAKE SEATTLE A TECH
CITY TO FULFILL PAUL ALLEN'S
VISION, LET'S -- UP VOTING TO
OBTAIN LOTS AND TO BUILD
MILLION-DOLLAR HOMES,
MILLION-DOLLAR HOMES FOR THE
RICH. HE DOES NOT WANT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN SEATTLE. I
FULLY SUPPORT EACH C1110, WHICH
WILL NOT DISPLACE HOMEOWNERS ,
BUT ENCOURAGES HOMEOWNERS TO
CREATE HOUSING FOR OUR
NEIGHBORS. PLEASE REJECT THIS
PLAN FOR CONTINUING TO COST MORE
TO RENTERS AND HOMEOWNERS ALIKE,
AND NOT HAVING AN ADEQUATE --
>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS WILL BISHOP .
>> HI, MY NAME IS WILL BISHOP
AND I'M A HOMEOWNER IN LAKE
CITY IN DISTRICT 5 AND I SUPPORT
A BOLD CONFERENCE OF PLAN THAT
ALLOWS FOR MORE HOUSING IN ALL
NEIGHBORHOODS. I FEEL VERY LUCKY
TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BUY A
TOWNHOUSE IN THE CITY, AND I
WANT OTHERS TO HAVE THE SAME
OPPORTUNITY, BUT TOO MANY
FAMILIES ARE BEING PRICED OUT OF
OUR CITY, OUT OF SEATTLE. THE
REASON IS SIMPLE, THERE IS NOT
ENOUGH HOUSING. FOR TOO LONG THE
ZONING LAWS HAVE RESTRICTED
SUPPLY WHILE DEMAND CONTINUES TO
INCREASE , CREATING INTENSE
COMPETITION FOR A LIMITED NUMBER
OF HOMES AND DRIVING UP PRICES.
WE NEED MORE HOUSING AND WE NEED
A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT ALLOWS
IT. THIS IS WHAT EVERY CITY
SHOWS, INCREASING SUPPLY BRINGS
DOWN PRICES. IT DOES WORK. THE
MAYOR'S ONE SEATTLE PLAN IS A
GREAT STEP FORWARD ALLOWING FOR
PLEX IS CITYWIDE AND CREATES NEW
URBAN CENTERS THAT WILL HELP
ALLEVIATE SEATTLE'S HOUSING
CRISIS AND THE CITY COUNSEL
SHOULD PASS THIS PLAN OR
EXPANDED, NOT WATER IT DOWN.
EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD SHOULD HAVE
MORE HOUSING, INCLUDING
HISTORICALLY WEALTHY
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE BEEN
EXCLUDED FROM PREVIOUS ROUNDS OF
UP ZONING. WE NEED TO ALLOW MORE
HOUSING IN THE EXPENSIVE
NEIGHBORHOODS, THAT IS HOW WE
AVOID DISPLACEMENT IN OTHER
AREAS. AND SO, I KEEP HEARING
OTHER PEOPLE SAYING I SUPPORT
MORE HOUSING, BUT YOU NEED TO
SLOW DOWN, BECAUSE SOMETHING
ELSE IS MORE IMPORTANT, NO, NOT
SLOW DOWN, DO NOT WATER DOWN THE
PLAN. WE NEED TO PASS THIS PLAN
NOW AND STOP BANNING THE HOUSING
WE NEED FROM BEING BUILT. THANK
YOU.
>> WE HAVE REBECCA LEVINE AND
THEN JAMES PETERSON.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS
REBECCA LEVINE AND I LIVE AT THE
BORDER OF THE -- NEIGHBORHOOD.
IN 2011 I WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE
THE RESOURCES TO LOCK IN A
FAVORABLE MORTGAGE SO I COULD
LIVE IN A WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOOD
WITH GREAT PARKS AND BEING NEAR
THE LIGHT RAIL STATION WHEN IT
OPENED. SINCE THEN, HOME PRICES
AND RENTS HAVE SKYROCKETED
BECAUSE OUR CITY HAS GROWN BY
26% IN THAT PERIOD AND OUR
HOUSING SUPPLY HAS NOT KEPT
PACE. BECAUSE OF THE HOUSING
SCARCITY THAT IS BAKED INTO OUR
CURRENT ZONING, MY FAMILY HAS
BEEN ABLE TO ACCUMULATE A LOT OF
WEALTH AS OUR HOME VALUE HAS
GONE UP AND SOME NEIGHBORS
CANNOT AFFORD THE RENTS AND
OTHERS CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY A
HOME AND MORE PEOPLE PUSHED OUT
OF THEIR COMMUNITIES. AND DON'T
TELL MY BOSS, BUT I'M IN A
PHASE OF LIFE WHERE I'M LOOKING
AHEAD AT EVENTUAL RETIREMENT .11
ONE OF THE MOST WALKABLE
NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT MY HOME WAS
NOT BUILT FOR AGING. I'M
WORRIED I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO
FIND A MORE ACCESSIBLE HOME LIKE
A STACKED FLAT THAT WOULD ALLOW
ME TO STAY HERE AS I GET OLDER.
I HAVE THREE ASKS FOR ALL OF
YOU. FIRST, KEEP THE 30
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS IN THE
PLAN, ESPECIALLY RAVENNA AND
MAPLE LEAF. IT IS LONG PAST TIME
FOR HISTORICALLY WHITE NORTHEAST
SEATTLE TO FULLY OPEN OUR DOORS
TO OUR FAIR SHARE OF NEW
NEIGHBORS. NEWCOMERS BRING NEW
ENERGY AND LEAD TO MORE
AMENITIES THAT BENEFIT LONG-TERM
RESIDENTS LIKE ME. WE NEED TO
BUILD SIGNIFICANTLY MORE HOUSING
IN RAVENNA, MAPLE LEAF AND
WEDGEWOOD AND OTHER AREAS THAT
ARE HIGH OPPORTUNITY -- SECOND,
PLEASE ELIMINATE THE
NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTIAL ZONING
FROM THE ROOSEVELT URBAN CENTER
IN THE PLAN, AND UP ZONE THAT
AREA FOR MORE HOUSING. THIS PART
OF THE ROOSEVELT CENTER PROVIDES
THE BEST OXIMETRY TO LIGHT RAIL
AND THE PARK AS WELL AS THE HIGH
SCHOOL AS MANY PEOPLE SHOULD BE
ABLE TO LIVE WITHIN CLOSE
WALKING DISTANCE TO THESE
AMENITIES. WE NEED MANY MORE
HOMES HERE, NOT JUST FOR THOSE
FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO ARE ABLE
TO BUY OVER A DECADE AGO OR
THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD 1 MILLION
OR TWO MILLION-DOLLAR HOMES.
>> WE ARE NOW GOING TO BE
TALKING TO JAMES PETERSON AND AS
A POINT OF REFERENCE, WE ARE AT
REMOTE SPEAKER NUMBER 32. JAMES?
JAMES PETERSON? PLEASE PRESS
STAR SIX.
ALL RIGHT, SO WE'RE GOING TO
MOVE ON AND GO ON TO JAMES.
THANK YOU.
>> HI, THANK YOU. MY NAME IS
JAMES AND I'M A CONSTITUENT IN
DISTRICT 5. I'M CALLING IN TO
SPEAK ABOUT MITIGATION AND BY
THAT I MEAN THE PROPOSED
CONFERENCE OF PLAN DOES NOT GO
FAR ENOUGH TO PLAN FOR MORE
NEIGHBORS. AS IT STANDS NOW, THE
CURRENT PLAN IS A COMPROMISE.
THE ABSOLUTE BARE MINIMUM OF HOW
MANY PEOPLE WE SHOULD BE
PLANNING FOR WHO WILL BE COMING
FOR JOBS AS CLIMATE REFUGEES AND
TRANS HEALTHCARE REFUGEES AND
CLIMATE INDUCED WAR AND STRIFE
IN THE NEXT DECADES TO COME. WE
IMMEDIATELY NEED MORE HOUSING.
ESPECIALLY IN LOW-DENSITY
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT PRESERVE THE
NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER THROUGH
RACIAL AND ECONOMIC SEGREGATION
AND IMMENSE PSYCHOLOGICAL
DESTRUCTION -- LIFESTYLES FOR
DECADES. AFTER PERFORMING THIS
DESTRUCTION, NOW THEY HAVE COME
HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK ABOUT THE
TRICKLE DOWN A TREE PLAN,
PRESERVE THEIR TREES, THEY SAY,
AND BUILD ELSEWHERE, AND THE
TREE BENEFITS, WHICH WILL
TRICKLE DOWN TO EVERYONE ELSE
AND IT HAPPENS THAT THIS
PRESERVATION LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE
SEGREGATION.
I SAY THAT WE NEED REAL
ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION, BUILDING
DENSE HOUSING AS MUCH IS
POSSIBLE IN EXCLUSIVE
NEIGHBORHOODS SUCH AS WINDEMERE
AND WE HAVE MAPLE LEAF OR WHERE
THERE IS THE LEAST RISK FOR
DISPLACEMENT. HIGH QUALITY THAT
IS SEALED AND FILTERED AGAINST
SMOKE IN PUBLIC ¿ POLLUTION AND
IMPROVE ALL CENTERS AND ADD BACK
CENTERS IN THE AREAS OUTSIDE THE
PARK. UP ZONE ALL AREAS WITHIN A
15 MINUTE WALK AND FINALLY, I
HOPE YOU WILL ALLOW THE BILL
WITH THE HOUSING DEVELOPERS
MIXED INCOME LOT, THANK YOU.
>>> WE ARE NOW AT GARRETT MOORE,
NUMBER 34. REMOTE SPEAKER.
GARRETT?
>> IT EVENING, COUNSEL MEMBERS,
THANK YOU FOR TAKING PUBLIC
COMMENT. I LIVE IN CENTRAL
DISTRICT, SO I AM A CONSTITUENT
OF COUNCILMAN HOLLINGSWORTH,
YES, THE NICEST PERSON ON
COUNSEL. I LOVE THE CHARACTER OF
OUR NEIGHBORHOODS IN SEATTLE,
FROM GREENWOOD TO WEST SEATTLE
TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD IN SQUIRE
PARK , BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT
ASPECT OF NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER
IS THE PEOPLE, AND THE PEOPLE
NEED HOMES. SEATTLE CONTINUES TO
GROW, BUT THAT GROWTH IS AN
EQUITABLE AND LEAVING MANY
COMMUNITY MEMBERS BEHIND.
LEAVING MOST COST BURDENED BY
RENT, OR IF YOU ARE LUCKY, A
MORTGAGE. THAT UNCHECKED GROWTH
HAS DISPLACED HISTORICALLY
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES, --
LEGACY HOMES IN THE CID. THE
CURRENT COMP PLAN DOES NOT DO
ENOUGH TO INCREASE HOUSING
SUPPLY, IMPROVE AFFORDABILITY OR
FIGHT DISPLACEMENT. I URGE THE
COUNSEL TO BE BRAVE, BE BOLD,
AND ALIGN POLICY WITH THE NEEDS
OF OUR NEIGHBORS. THERE ARE HUGE
OPPORTUNITIES TO DO THAT IN THE
COMP PLAN WITH SMALL CHANGES.
FOR EXAMPLE, EXPAND THE DENSITY
BONUS CITYWIDE, EXPAND AND ADD
MORE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS AROUND
TRANSIT, COMMIT TO AND
EVENTUALLY INVEST IN NONPROFIT
DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND PROVEN STRATEGIES
LIKE THE PILOT. LET'S MAKE
SEATTLE A MORE AFFORDABLE,
EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE CITY.
LET'S MAKE A COMP PLAN UPDATE
FOR THE PEOPLE. THINK.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS REBECCA
BROOKE AND THEN BACK TO
IN-PERSON SPEAKERS.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS BECCA AND
I'M A HOMEOWNER IN DISTRICT 2
IN THE CENTER. I WANT TO START
OFF BY THANKING COUNSEL FOR ALL
THE ENGAGEMENT THEY ARE DOING
AND ALSO THE THREE YEARS LEADING
UP TO THIS. ENGAGEMENT AND
COMMUNITY LISTENING SESSIONS AND
THE DRAFT COMMENT PERIOD HAVE
DIRECTLY INFORMED THE MAYOR'S
PLAN. A BROAD COALITION OF
RESIDENTS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING
ADVOCATES AND CLIMATE ADVOCATES
CAME FORWARD AND THAT INPUT IS
WHAT INFORMS THE LIST OF 30
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS THAT YOU
SEE TODAY. I'M HERE TO SUPPORT
A PLAN WHICH ENSURES SMART
WELL-PLANNED COMMUNITIES
ENHANCES WORKABILITY, AND MAKES
NEIGHBORHOODS MORE INCLUSIVE
THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE
ALWAYS CHANGING AND WE NEED A
PLAN THAT ALLOWS THE
NEIGHBORHOOD TO GROW ORGANICALLY
IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS FAMILIES TO
GROW AND NEW NEIGHBORS TO MOVE
HERE. WE NEED THEM TO SUPPORT
OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES AND TO
ALLOW MORE PEOPLE TO WALK TO A
LOCAL COFFEE SHOP OR TO THE
GROCERY STORE. WE NEED A VARIETY
OF HOUSING TYPES SINCE SEATTLE
HAS TWO THIRDS OF THIS AREA IN
RESTRICTIVE SINGLE-FAMILY
ZONING, THIS MEANS ADDING ALL 30
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS AND
INCREASING THE ALLOWABLE MISSING
MIDDLE HOUSING THROUGHOUT THE
CITY. THIS GROWTH DOES NOT HAVE
TO STRAIN INFRASTRUCTURE AND WE
COULD AMEND DEVELOPMENT
REGULATIONS APPROPRIATELY AND
IMPROVEMENTS TO THE STREETSCAPES
AND SIDEWALKS WILL HAPPEN AS NEW
DEVELOPMENT OCCURS AND YES, EVEN
PLANTING NEW TREES. THAT MEANS
MORE IMPACT FEES AND TAX
REVENUES TO INVEST IN SCHOOLS,
TRANSIT AND PARKS. AS A LISTEN
TO MY NEIGHBORS HERE TONIGHT,
I'M STRUCK BY HOW WE ALL AGREE
ON THE BIG NEED FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND CLIMATE RESILIENT
LANDSCAPES, EVEN IF WE DISAGREE
ON HOW TO GET THERE. THAT IS
OKAY. THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS
HOW WE BALANCE THESE ISSUES
ALLOWING THEM TO BE IN SEATTLE
SUPPORTS OVERALL TREE CANOPIES
BY PROTECTING CONNECTED
ECOSYSTEMS AND OPEN SPACE IN THE
REGION. THIS DENSITY IS KEY TO
MAKING THE PRODUCTION GOAL --
PLEASE ADDRESS THE HOUSING
CRISIS AND ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS
WELCOMING NEW NEIGHBORS INTO THE
RICH SERVICES AND INCREASING
DENSITY IN A CITY THAT PROTECTS
--
>> WE HAVE ONE LAST SPEAKER FOR
REMOTE.
>> JUST A QUICK REMINDER, THE
GARAGE CLOSES IN 10 MINUTES. THE
GARAGE ACROSS THE STREET CLOSES.
THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE JAMES PETERSON.
AS OUR LAST REMOTE SPEAKER.
PRESS STAR SIX, JAMES.
ALL RIGHT.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
>> GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU. I WAS A NEW TEAM
TOO EARLY. I'M HERE TO SPEAK
FOR AFFORDABLE SINGLE-FAMILY
HOUSES FOR FAMILIES WITH
CHILDREN THAT WANT A PLACE FOR
THEM TO PLAY OUTSIDE. THE TRUTH
BEHIND THESE NEIGHBORHOOD
CENTERS, THEY ARE PURPOSELY
CITED ON THE MOST MODEST AREAS
OF EACH NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS
PLACING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
PUTTING THE LAND INTO THE HANDS
OF DEVELOPERS. I LIVE IN
MAGNOLIA. NOT THE MAGNOLIA THAT
IS RICH, HAS WALLED GATES AND
GARDENS, EXPENSIVE CARS AND
HIGH-TECH JOBS, THE NEIGHBORHOOD
OF MODEST 900 SQUARE FOOT HOUSES
BUILT IN THE 40s, 50s. THE PLOT
WILL BE EVENTUALLY DEMOLISHED
AND ARE ACTUALLY MULTICULTURAL
AND MULTIGENERATIONAL, FILLED
WITH MANY ELDERLY AND DISABLED.
THE VERY AFFORDABLE HOUSING YOU
ARE TRYING TO INCREASE. OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD HAS A TRUE SENSE
COMMUNITY, YOUNG FAMILIES
HELPING THE ELDERLY, CHRISTMAS
DECORATIONS AND LIGHTS ON EVERY
HOUSE AND HALLOWEEN DECORATIONS
AND HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN
TRICK-OR-TREATING ON EACH BLOCK.
AND SUMMER LOCK PARTIES. THIS
WILL BE DESTROYED BY HUGE
APARTMENT COMPLEXES. THE REASON
REZONING ENABLE DEVELOPERS TO
KNOCKDOWN THESE AFFORDABLE HOMES
AND BUILD MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR
HOMES IS PUTTING TWO MORE
BUILDINGS PER A LOT. THIS IS
DONE IN THE NAME OF
AFFORDABILITY. IT IS HARDLY
AFFORDABLE BUT DEFINITELY
BENEFITS THE DEVELOPERS AND IS A
TAX GRABBED BY THE CITY. NOW WE
ARE GOING TO ENACT EVEN MORE
EXTREME REZONING WITH THE SAME
LINE OF AFFORDABILITY. AND WHY
BUILDING IN THE AREA WHEN
CURRENTLY THERE ARE THREE
BUSINESSES AND A COUPLE OR TWO
OR THREE DEPARTMENTS AND NO
INFRASTRUCTURE AND PLANS TO
REMOVE MAGNOLIA BRIDGE. THIS
DOES NOT MAKE SENSE. AND THERE
ARE HUNDREDS OF FAMILY HOMES
THAT WILL BE DESTROYED IN THIS.
THE MAGNOLIA BUSINESS DISTRICT
IS LOCATED OVER ONE MILE AWAY
FROM THE PROPOSED NEW
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER AND DOES NOT
HAVE FIVE STORIES. INTERBAY,
WHICH IS ON A DIRECT BUFF LINE
BUILDS HIGH-RISE APARTMENTS BUT
NOT BEEN UTILIZED. SKYSCRAPERS
ARE EMPTY. NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS
, AND PACKS IN THE SMALL MILES
FAMILIES WILL BE KICKED OUT OF
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. HE CITY SHOULD
BE CONSIDERED --
>> THAT WAS THE LAST SPEAKER IN
THE SETPOINT WE WILL PICK BACK
UP REMOTE SPEAKERS BEGINNING
WITH NUMBER 37, REMOTE SPEAKER
NUMBER 37, THANK YOU.
>> IT IS 9:53. WE ARE GOING TO
MOVE TO SPEAKERS 131 THROUGH
140.
PLEASE STAND UP.
AND MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WAITING
WITH US. WE KNOW THAT YOU HAVE
BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME AND WE
CANNOT WAIT TO HEAR YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENTS ABOUT THE COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN. WE HAVE ALICIA.
FOLLOWED BY 132, 133, THE WAY
DOWN TO 140. GO AHEAD.
>> HI, MY NAME IS ALICIA AND I
LIVE IN CAPITOL HILL. IT IS A
NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I LOVE
THOROUGHLY. I LOVE MY
NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE I CAN TAKE
THE LIGHT RAIL TO WORK AND WANT
TO VOLUNTEER PARK, WHERE I
VOLUNTEER AT THE CONSERVATORY. I
CAN TAKE MY BUS TO THE LIBRARY
COMMITTEE IN PIONEER SQUARE
WHERE I WORK I AM PART OF THE
ARTS COMMUNITY. AND AT VOLUNTEER
PARK I'M PART OF THE PLANTS
COMMUNITY. I REALLY LOVE TREES,
YOU GUYS. AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT
MY FUTURE IN THIS CITY,
CURRENTLY I CANNOT IMAGINE IT.
ME AND A LOT OF MY FRIENDS ARE
STRUGGLING WITH THIS SAME THING.
I'M IN MY MID-30s, ME AND MY
FRIENDS ARE IN OUR 30s AND WE
ARE AT THE POINT WHERE WE DO NOT
WANT TO BE RENTERS FOREVER, BUT
ALSO WE DO NOT WANT TO MOVE OUT
OF THE CITY. MY FRIENDS ARE HERE
AND MY COMMUNITY AND JOB IS
HERE. EVERYTHING I LOVE IS HERE.
I ALSO WANT TO STAY ROOTED TO
THIS PLACE. AND MY DREAM FOR
SEATTLE, AND THE CHARM ICY FOR
SEATTLE, IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
THE CHARM THAT I SEE IS A
THRIVING 12th AVENUE WHERE THERE
ARE SHOPS AND PEOPLE WALKING
AROUND WITH COFFEE IN A REUSABLE
CUP. I REALLY LOVE THE FARMERS
MARKET. ONE DAY I HOPE THAT I
CAN AFFORD TO BUY THINGS FROM
THERE. THIS IS THE CITY THAT I
KNOW THAT WE CAN MAKE . MY DREAM
HOUSE IS NOT A SINGLE-FAMILY
HOUSE. MY DREAM HOME IS A FLAT
THAT HAS INSTEAD OF A PARKING
SPACE, A COMMUNAL COURTYARD
WHERE WE ALL GET TO ADORE THE
BEAUTIFUL MAGNOLIA AS IT BLOOMS
IN THE SPRING. THIS IS MY DREAM,
AND I KNOW IT IS POSSIBLE FOR
US. WE MIGHT HAVE TO MAKE SOME
SACRIFICES, BUT WE CAN MAKE THIS
DREAM A REALITY. THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER, 132
FOLLOWED BY -- AWESOME, NORA.
WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS FOR
STICK IN IT OUT. I LIVE ON
CAPITOL HILL, AND I BELIEVE THAT
WE HAVE A MORAL IMPERATIVE TO
PROVIDE HOUSING OPTIONS FOR
PEOPLE AT EVERY INCOME LEVEL IN
EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD. THE CURRENT
CONFERENCE OF PLAN IS AN
IMPORTANT STEP IN THAT
DIRECTION, BUT I KNOW SOME
PEOPLE ARE WORRIED THAT ALLOWING
MORE KINDS OF HOUSING IN THEIR
NEIGHBORHOOD WILL MAKE IT MORE
LIKE MY NEIGHBORHOOD, SO I
WANTED TO SAY HOW MUCH I LOVE MY
NEIGHBORHOOD. AND WHEN I TALK TO
MY NEIGHBORS, HOW MUCH THEY SAY
THEY LOVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. I
LOVE BEING ABLE TO WALK TO THE
GROCERY STORE, TO THE PHARMACY,
AND ESPECIALLY TO THE PARK. I
LOVE THAT I LIVE ON A QUIET SIDE
STREET BUT I AM VERY CLOSE TO
THE BUS. AND I REALLY LOVE THAT
WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF HOUSING
JUMBLED TOGETHER, FROM THE
AFFORDABLE SENIOR HOUSING ACROSS
THE STREET FROM ME TO THE CONDOS
THAT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY BUILT
A FEW BLOCKS SOUTH AND THE
DUPLEXES AND EVEN SINGLE-FAMILY
HOMES. AND I BELIEVE THAT
EVERYBODY WHO WANTS TO SHOULD
HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE SAME
OPPORTUNITIES. SO I WANT TO ASK
THE CITY COUNSEL TO DO A FEW
THINGS, FIRST, EXPAND THE
DENSITY BONUS FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. MAKE IT LARGER, APPLY
IT TO ALL ZONES INCLUDING
LOWRISE ZONES, AND RESTRUCTURE
THE AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS
SO THAT THE TRADITIONAL
DEVELOPERS ARE SOCIAL HOUSING
DEVELOPERS AND LAND TRUSTS AND
ALL THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF
NONPROFIT DEVELOPERS CAN TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF IT. A SECOND,
EXPAND THE TRANSIT ZONE FOR A
FEW MINUTES IN EITHER DIRECTION
SO PEOPLE LIKE ME CAN LIVE NEAR
TRANSIT BUT NOT DIRECTLY ON BUSY
ARTERIALS. THIRD, PRESERVE
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS AND CREATE
NEW ONES NEAR PARKS. I'M SO
EXCITED THAT MORE PEOPLE WILL BE
ABLE TO WALK TO DISCOVERY PARK.
AND TO MAGNUS AND I WOULD LOVE
FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO WALK TO
MAGNUS AND STEWART PARK. AND
ELIMINATE PARKING MANDATES AND
ALLOW STACKED FLAT --
>> I'M SORRY, I APPRECIATE YOU
SO MUCH. SPEAKER 133, MARK. 134?
133? OH, IS MARK YEAR, 133? NO?
OKAY, ALEXANDER, 134. AWESOME.
>> I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO
SUPPORT AND GO FURTHER THAN THE
PROPOSED PLAN. WHEN MY
GRANDMOTHER FIRST IMMIGRATED TO
THIS COUNTRY FROM IRAQ AS A
SINGLE MOTHER SHE AND MY MOM
FOUND HOUSING AT ONE OF THE FEW
PARTS OF NORTH CAPITOL HILL THAT
ACTUALLY HAS A DENSITY. WITH
CHANGES IN BOTH THE POLITICAL
CLIMATE AND THE CLIMATE OF OUR
WORLD, WE NEED TO BE READY TO
ACCEPT MORE PEOPLE MOVING TO
SEATTLE LIKE MY FAMILY DID. AS A
RESIDENT OF SOUTH SEATTLE I AM
ACUTELY AWARE OF THE NEED FOR
NEIGHBORS IN NORTH SEATTLE TO
TAKE ON THEIR FAIR SHARE OF
DEVELOPMENT. A FEW REMOVES THE
DENSITY, THAT DEMAND IS GONE AND
WILL CONTINUE TO GO PRIMARILY TO
TWO PLACES, A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT
OF DEVELOPMENT HAS TAKEN PLACE
IN HISTORICALLY REDLINED AND
RACIALLY DIVERSE PARTS OF
SEATTLE. THESE PARTS OF SEATTLE
ARE THE ONES WHO HAVE THE
HIGHEST LEVELS OF POLLUTION AND
THE LOWEST LEVELS OF TREE CANOPY
EXISTING CURRENTLY. WE CANNOT
CONTINUE TO ENFORCE DENSITY IN
AREAS THAT HAVE ALREADY
SHOULDERED A DISPROPORTIONATE
SHARE OF IT. THE OTHER PLACE
DEMAND HAS GONE IS TO SUBURBAN
SPRAWL. AS DEMAND CONTINUES,
DEVELOPERS ARE CLEARCUTTING
FORESTS FOR FAR-FLUNG
DEVELOPMENTS, EXACERBATING
TRAFFIC AND THE CLIMATE CRISIS.
THE SUBURBS ARE WORSE THAN ANY
FIVE-STORY APARTMENT BUILDING
AND OFTEN HOUSE A SIMILAR NUMBER
OF PEOPLE. WE NEED TO GO FURTHER
THAN THIS PLAN TO ENSURE PEOPLE
OF ALL BACKGROUNDS HAVE ACCESS
TO THE EXISTING TREE CANOPIES IN
SEATTLE. WE NEED TO GO FURTHER
THAN THIS PLAN TO PREVENT
CLEARCUTTING OF THE FORESTS THAT
SURROUND OUR CITY IN EXCHANGE
FOR SUBURBAN DEVELOPMENT THAT
CONTRIBUTES TO CLIMATE CHANGE.
WE NEED TO GO FURTHER TO ENSURE
WE RIGHT THE WRONGS OF THE PAST
BY INCREASING DENSITY OUTSIDE OF
HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED
COMMUNITIES AND WE NEED TO GO
FURTHER TO ENSURE ALL
SEATTLEITES, THOSE WHO LIVE HERE
CURRENTLY AND OUR FUTURE
NEIGHBORS CAN AFFORD TO LIVE IN
SEATTLE. DENSITY DOES NOT
GUARANTEE AFFORDABILITY, BUT A
LACK OF DENSITY GUARANTEES AN
AFFORDABILITY CRISIS.
>> DO WE HAVE SPEAKER 135? AND,
JUST A HEADS UP, SO WE JUST GOT
THE WEATHER ADVISORY THAT WE ARE
GOING TO HAVE SNOW AND SLEET IN
ABOUT 15 MINUTES. WHAT WE CAN
TRY TO DO, BECAUSE I DO WANT OUR
STAFF TO BE ABLE TO GET HOME
SAFE AND YOU ALL AS WELL. SO
I'M TRYING TO DO THIS AS BEST
WE CAN. IN A WE HAVE HAD PEOPLE
WAITING HERE A LONG TIME. WE CAN
TRY TO POWER THROUGH AS FAST AS
WE CAN AND NICE EVERYONE HERE.
WE WILL TRY TO RECOGNIZE
EVERYONE HERE AND WE WILL MOVE
THE TIME DOWN TO ABOUT ONE
MINUTE SO WE CAN GET THROUGH AS
MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE. I KNOW
THAT IS NOT SOMETHING YOU ALL
WANT TO HEAR, BUT I SEE A LOT OF
THUMBS UP, I APPRECIATE IT.
LET'S PUT IT DOWN TO ONE MINUTE
AND WE WILL POWER THROUGH AS
MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE THAT WE
CAN. IF YOU HAD A CAR IN THE
GARAGE, UNFORTUNATELY YOU ARE
ONE MINUTE TOO LATE AND YOU WILL
HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW TO
GET IT. WE WILL START WITH
NUMBER 135.
>> YEAH, HI, MY NAME IS M
MILLER. I WILL TRY TO MAKE IT
BRIEF. I HAVE AN ANGRY CAT
WAITING AT HOME AND I HAVE TO BE
QUICK AND IT IS MY BELIEF
EVERYONE LOVES SEATTLE AND WHAT
IT MEANS FOR THEM BUT THERE ARE
DISCREPANCIES IN WHAT WE BELIEVE
THE CITY SHOULD BE. I BELIEVE IT
IS A METROPOLIS OF AND SPACES,
MUSIC, CREATIVITY AND INDUSTRY
FOR ALL. THE CURRENT
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN HAS THE RIGHT
IDEA BUT NOT THE ADEQUATELY MET
NEEDS OF ALL ITS CITIZENS. 50%
OF RESIDENTS ARE RENTERS WHILE
MANY NEIGHBORHOODS ARE CLOSED
OFF TO SINGLE-FAMILY HOMEOWNERS
ONLY. WE CAN VISIT THEM, BUT WE
CANNOT LIVE IN THEM. IF THE
GOALS ARE TO CREATE ANEMIC URBAN
CENTERS AND DENSE HOUSING, IT
SHOULD NOT BE RELEGATED TO THE
AREAS ALREADY URBANIZED BUT
CITYWIDE REGARDLESS OF INCOME
BRACKET. AND TO ALL THOSE
WORRIED ABOUT THE LOOK OF MODERN
BOXY APARTMENTS, I DON'T LIKE
THE WAY THAT THEY LOOK EITHER,
BUT THEY DON'T ALL HAVE TO LOOK
LIKE THAT. SEATTLE CAN PARTNER
WITH OTHER DEVELOPERS, THOSE WHO
DO NOT FOCUS ON BUILDING LUXURY
BUILDINGS, OR WE COULD FUND
SMALLER HOUSING --
>> THANK YOU. THAT IS TIME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. GET TO YOUR
ANGRY CAT. HELLO, RILEY. WE HAVE
136, 137 OR EXCUSE ME, 136
THROUGH 140. RILEY?
>> GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS
RILEY AND I LIVE IN WEST
SEATTLE. I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO
PROTECT AND STRENGTHEN THE
BOLDEST COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WHICH
WAS THE MOST POPULAR OPTION
DURING THE PUBLIC OUTREACH THAT
HAS ALREADY OCCURRED. I HAVE
HEARD CONCERN ABOUT NEIGHBORHOOD
CHARACTER, BUT THE CHARACTER OF
MY NEIGHBORHOOD IS NOT ABOUT ITS
PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES. MY
NEIGHBORHOOD'S CHARACTER IS NOT
IN THE HEIGHT OF THE BUILDINGS
WERE THE SIZE OF THE FRONT YARDS
ARE IN THE NUMBER OF PARKING
SPACES FOR CARS. MY
NEIGHBORHOOD'S CHARACTER IS THE
PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE, NOT THE
BUILDINGS THEY LIVE IN, THE
PEOPLE, AND WE ARE ALREADY
PRICING THOSE PEOPLE OUT OF MY
NEIGHBORHOOD AND ALL THE OTHERS.
IF WE DO NOT ALLOW CHANGES TO
THE PHYSICAL NATURE OF THE
NEIGHBORHOODS, THEN THE REAL
NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER, THE
PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO BE
FORCED OUT. EACH OF YOU SAID WE
ARE IN A HOUSING CRISIS, SO
LET'S ACT LIKE IT. BUILDING
DRAMATICALLY MORE HOMES IS THE
ONLY WAY TO PROTECT PEOPLE
PRICED OUT TODAY. PLEASE
STRENGTHEN AND PROTECT THIS
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
>> 137?
>> I LIVE AND RENT IN WEST
SEATTLE AND I'M HERE TO ASK
THAT YOU STRENGTHEN THE COMP
PLAN. MY NEIGHBORHOOD WILL BE UP
ZONED AND FOR THE GOOD OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD IT IS GOOD TO BE
LOOKING AT EXTRA OPTIONS AND
WHERE EVERYONE CAN LIVE THERE
AND NOT BE PRICED OUT. I LOVE MY
NEIGHBORHOOD AND I WANT MORE
NEIGHBORS TO SHARE IT WITH
BECAUSE HOLDING DENSELY IS
BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT THAN
URBAN SPRAWL. GIVE US THE COMP
PLAN THAT SPEAKS TO HOW MUCH
HOUSING SEATTLE NEEDS TO BUILD.
PLEASE RESTORE THE ORIGINAL
ZONING PROPOSAL, AND IF YOU
CANNOT DO THAT, PLEASE DO NOT
CUT ANYTHING. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. 138? AND
THEN 139 IF YOU WANT TO JUMP
OVER THERE. AND THEN 130.
>> I HAVE LIVED IN SEATTLE FOR
SEVEN YEARS AND I WAS FORTUNATE
ENOUGH TO AFFORD HOUSING NEAR
TRANSIT AND CAPITOL HILL AND
QUEEN MAN. I WAS ALWAYS ABLE TO
WALK OR GRAB A BUS TO WORK OR TO
SHOP FOR GROCERIES OR TWO VISIT
MY FRIENDS AND TO ATTEND DANCE
CLASSES AND EVEN TO COME HERE
TODAY AND TO DO SO MUCH MORE AND
THAT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I LIVE
AS PART OF THIS COMMUNITY. I
WANT MORE OF MY NEIGHBORS TO
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
EXPERIENCE THIS VERSION OF WHAT
SEATTLE COULD BE AND THE LIVELY
WELCOMING COMMUNITIES THAT WE
COULD HAVE IF WE HAD MORE HOMES
FOR EVERYONE AND WAYS TO GET
THERE. THIS IS A PROMISING
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THIS REALITY
POSSIBLE AND CREATE A
SUSTAINABLE, CONNECTED,
EQUITABLE CITY FOR ALL. I
SUPPORT THE PROPOSALS, INCLUDING
THE CITYWIDE ALLOWANCE FOR FOUR
PLEX IS IN THE CREATION OF
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS. I BELIEVE
WE COULD HAVE A GREATER IMPACT
BY GOING FURTHER AND
INCENTIVIZING AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AT EVERY PART OF THE CITY. WE
SHOULD INCREASE MIXED-USE ZONING
AND WE SHOULD DEFINITELY NOT BE
DOWN ZONING THE MOST BEAUTIFUL
NEIGHBORHOOD SEATTLE HAS TO
OFFER.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
HELLO, LAURA.
>> MY NAME IS LAURA GARDNER AND
MY HUSBAND AND I ARE LUCKY
ENOUGH TO OWN A HOME IN SEATTLE.
WE BELIEVE MORE PEOPLE SHOULD BE
ALLOWED TO LIVE IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD WHICH AS TRANSIT,
SIDEWALKS AND WALKABLE
AMENITIES. WITHIN A ONE-MILE
RADIUS THERE ARE SEVEN GROCERY
STORES. WE INSTANTLY BECAME A
ONE CAR HOUSEHOLD UPON MOVING
HERE AND ONLY USE IT FOR A FEW
TRIPS PER WEEK BECAUSE WE CAN
MEET OUR NEEDS NEARBY. THE
CHANGE I MOST AFRAID OF IS
LOSING SCHOOLS AND MORE SMALL
BUSINESSES. THIS IS WHY I
SUPPORT LARGER AND MORE NUMEROUS
CENTERS AS PROPOSED IN THE
ALTERNATIVE FIVE. MORE NEIGHBORS
MEANS MORE STUDENTS, EMPLOYEES
AND CUSTOMERS. ALSO LOWER PRICES
AND FEWER CLOSURES. CHOOSING
ONLY A FEW SMALL AREAS TO UP
ZONED MAKES THOSE AREAS FEEL
TARGETED AND ALLOWING FOR GROWTH
ACROSS THE CITY WILL ALLOW EVERY
NEIGHBORHOOD TO CHANGE BUT
FORCES NO NEIGHBORHOOD TO CHANGE
DRAMATICALLY. PLEASE RESTORE
ALTERNATIVE FIVE.
>> IS SPEAKER 140 HERE? ALL
RIGHT, 141 THROUGH 150. 141
THROUGH 150. YOU ARE UP .141
THROUGH 150. GO AHEAD, BRANDON.
>> I LIVE IN WEST SEATTLE AND
I'M HERE TO ASK THIS COUNSEL TO
ADJUST THE CONFERENCE A PLAN TO
INCORPORATE NEW NEIGHBORHOOD
CENTERS AND BASICALLY EVERYTHING
WAS IN ALTERNATIVE FIVE.
WELCOMING NEW NEIGHBORS MEANS
MORE CUSTOMERS FOR LOCAL
BUSINESSES, MORE TAX REVENUE FOR
ALL THE THINGS WE ARE STRUGGLING
TO FIND RIGHT NOW, SCHOOLS,
POLICE DEPARTMENTS, PUBLIC
TRANSIT AND MORE NEIGHBORS MEANS
MORE TAX REVENUE. THE CURRENT
PLAN PUTS MOST OF THE HOUSING ON
BUSY ARTERIALS THAT ARE ALLOWED
AND DANGEROUS. IT OR NOT MIND
LIVING IN AN APARTMENT I DON'T
WANT TO LIVE ON A BUSY STREET
WHERE I WILL HEAR TRAFFIC GO BY
EVERY DAY. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE
THE BONUSES FOR EXPANSION A FEW
BLOCKS OUT. THERE IS NO SINGLE
SOLUTION BUT IF WE DON'T BUILD
HOUSES IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE.
BUILDING AS MUCH HOUSING AS
POSSIBLE HAS TO BE THE FIRST
STEP.
>> 142? PAMELA? NO? IAN, 143?
>> HIGH, COUNSEL. THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR BEING HERE. I AM A
RENTER AND I WANT TO STRONGLY
SUPPORT DRASTICALLY MORE
MIXED-USE TRANSIT ORIENTED
HOUSING IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD. I
THINK IT IS WELL PAST TIME FOR
SERIOUS ACTION ON THE HOUSING
SHORTAGE AND THE CAR POLLUTION
EPIDEMIC THAT I WROTE A SPEECH
ABOUT HOW DENSITY IS SOCIAL
JUSTICE AND IS GOOD FISCAL
POLICY ETC. AND OVER THE LAST
FIVE HOURS I THINK ALL OF MY
TALKING POINTS GOT COVERED SO
JUST PUT ME ON THE HEADCOUNT IN
YOUR HEAD THERE AND LET ME PLEAD
SOMEWHAT IRONICALLY FOR URGENCY.
PLEASE DO NOT LET ANYONE FOR
THEIR PERFECT BE THE ENEMY OF
THE GOOD. I DO NOT THINK THIS
COMP PLAN IS PERFECT AND I WISH
IT WAS OLDER BUT EVERY -- EVERY
DAY THAT WE DELAY IS ANOTHER DAY
OF CAR DRIVEN SPRAWL AND RISING
RENT AND MORE PEOPLE BEING
PRICED OUT OR MARGINALIZED
PEOPLE BEING EXCLUDED FROM
MOVING HERE AT ALL. SO THAT MORE
PEOPLE ENJOY THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY
THAT I LOVE SO MUCH.
>> NEXT WE HAVE ANDREW, 144,
FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL, 145.
>> I HAVE LIVED IN SEATTLE EARLY
15 YEARS AND I AM A HOMEOWNER IN
COLUMBIA CITY. ALL OF MY
NEIGHBORHOOD AND I LOVE SEATTLE
AND I'M VERY LUCKY HE. I'M
LUCKY BECAUSE OF MY CAREER AT
THE RIGHT TIME AND 1 MILLION
OTHER STUPID LITTLE THINGS THAT
HAD TO ALIGN JUST RIGHT FOR ME
TO STILL BE HERE IN SEATTLE. I
HAVE SEVERAL CLOSE FRIENDS WHO
HAVE HAD TO MOVE. THESE ARE
RENTERS AND THEY HAVE HAD TO
MOVE OUT TO TACOMA, OLYMPIA AND
EVERY TIME I SEE DENSITY
CHANGING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD I
CELEBRATE IT. WE ARE IN A
HOUSING CRISIS AND IT MEANS MORE
PEOPLE GET TO LIVE IN THIS
AMAZING CITY. KEEP OR EXPAND
EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER.
EXPAND TO FIVE MINUTE WALKS AND
ADJACENT TO WALKS JUST LIKE WE
DO ARTERIALS AND PLEASE, UP
ZONED MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND EVERY
NEIGHBORHOOD . SEATTLE IS
GROWING AND FUTURE RESIDENTS
SHOULD NOT HAVE TO RELY ON LUCK,
LIKE I DID, TO LIVE IN THIS
BEAUTIFUL PLACE.
>> MICHAEL IS NEXT AND THEN THE
OTHER ANDREW.
>> OH, YOU'RE THE FIRST ANDREW,
I'VE GOT YOU. GO AHEAD,
MICHAEL.
>> I'M A HOMEOWNER IN GREEN
LAKE NOT HAVE BEEN HERE TO
SUPPORT THE MAYOR'S CONFERENCE
OF PLAN. I MOVED TO SEATTLE FROM
DALLAS AND I FELL IN LOVE WITH
SEATTLE'S WALKABLE URBAN
VILLAGES, YET IN THAT TIME,
DESPITE LOTS OF CHANGES IN
GROWTH, HOUSING HAS ONLY GOTTEN
MORE EXPENSIVE. HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY IS A GENERATIONAL
CRISIS AND WE SHOULD ACT LIKE
IT. THE PLAN IS A GOOD START AND
I HOPE THE COUNSEL WILL GO
FURTHER TO ADDRESS THE HOUSING
CRISIS. FRANKLY, I'M
DISAPPOINTED THAT MY
NEIGHBORHOOD IS STILL IN OUR. WE
SHOULD INCREASE HOUSING CHOICES
AND ALLOW STACKED FLATS ON ALL
LOTS AND INCREASE HEIGHT LIMITS
AND REMOVE PARKING MINIMUMS. WE
MUST EXPAND MIXED-USE ZONING TO
CREATE SPACE FOR CHILDCARE,
SMALL BUSINESSES AND CORNER
STORES. THIS HAS WORKED IN OTHER
CITIES. IN AUSTIN, MIAMI AND
MEMPHIS RENTS WENT DOWN BECAUSE
THEY BUILD MORE HOUSING AND WE
COULD DO THE SAME. I LOVE THE
CITY AND I WOULD LOVE TO SHARE
IT WITH MORE PEOPLE.
>>> ANDREW NUMBER ONE.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
THANK YOU FOR STAYING. ACTUALLY,
I WAS IN A RUSH TO GET GOING AND
I MISSED YOUR JOKE, I APPRECIATE
THAT. YEAH, SO I WILL BE QUICK.
I HAD A REALLY GREAT, CLEVER
INSIGHTFUL COMMENT PREPARED, I
SWEAR, BUT THEN MY PHONE DIED.
I'M GOING TO WING SOMETHING
ELSE AND WE CAN SOLVE THIS WHOLE
CRISIS, I PROMISE YOU. LET ME
SEE IF I CAN REMEMBER THIS, NOT
LIKE THE BRAZEN GIANT OF GREEK
FAME WITH CONQUERING WINDS
ASTRIDE FROM LAND TO LAND, HERE
AT OUR SEE WASHED SUNSET GATES
MIGHT STAND A MIGHTY WOMAN WITH
A TORCH WHO IS FLAME IS THE
IMPRISONED LIGHTNING AND HER
NAME , MOTHER OF EXILES. FROM
HER HE CAN HAND CLOSE WORLDWIDE
WELCOME. HER MILD EYES COMMAND
THE AIR BRIDGE HARBOR THAT TWIN
CITIES FRAME. KEEP ANCIENT LANDS
YOUR STORY -- WITH SILENT LIPS.
GIVE ME YOUR TIRED, YOUR POOR,
YOUR HUDDLED MASSES YEARNING TO
BREATHE FREE, THE WRETCHED
REFUSE OF YOUR TEEMING SHORE.
>> THANK YOU, ANDREW. THAT WAS
PRETTY DOPE. SPEAKER 147?
SPEAKER 148? DANIEL? AND THEN
THE SPEAKER 149. ARE YOU 149?
AWESOME. REBECCA, ARE YOU HERE?
OKAY, DON'T GO YET. DANIEL,
I'M GOING TO ASK THAT WE HAVE
SPEAKERS -- I CANNOT COUNT.
SPEAKERS 151 THROUGH 160.
ALL RIGHT. DANIEL JONES, LET'S
GO.
>> I'M A RENTER IN DISTRICT 1
AND I HAVE LIVED IN SEATTLE 15
YEARS. I WANT TO URGE THE
COUNSEL TO ADOPT AN AMBITIOUS
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WITHOUT
REMOVING NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS OR
FURTHER DILUTING DENSITY
ALLOWANCES. I LOVE WHERE I LIVE.
I CAN WALK AND TAKE TRANSIT AND
I RARELY HAVE TO DRIVE ANYWHERE.
THERE ARE RESTAURANTS AND PARKS
NEARBY, BUT LIKE A LOT OF
PEOPLE, OWNING A HOME HAS
REMAINED FRUSTRATINGLY OUT OF
REACH, SO I'M FACED WITH THE
DILEMMA OF EITHER LEAVING THE
CITY OR STAYING AND ACCEPTING
THAT I WILL PROBABLY NEVER HAVE
THE SECURITY OF HOME OWNERSHIP,
MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONSIDER
HAVING KIDS ARE STARTING A
FAMILY. I HAVE SEEN FRIENDS AND
FAMILY FACED SIMILAR DILEMMAS
AND MANY HAVE MADE THE CHOICE TO
LEAVE. SO, MAKE NO MISTAKE,
RESTRICTING THE HOUSING SUPPLY
DESTROYS COMMUNITIES.
IT EXCLUDES AND DISPLACES LARGE
SWATHS OF PEOPLE IN THESE TWO
MORE SPRAWL AND CARBON EMISSIONS
IN FEWER TREES. SO I URGE THEM
TO ADOPT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
>>> HOWDY, Y'ALL. I WANT TO
START BY SAYING I SUPPORT THE
GENTLEMEN'S WHO RECOMMENDED
MIXING THE NUMBERS. I THINK
THERE ARE A LOT OF YOUNGER
WORKING-CLASS FOLKS HERE WHO
CANNOT SHOW UP UNTIL LATER AND
THEY NOW CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR A
MINUTE AND THEY HAVE TO STAY
LATE. AT ALL OF US CAN SHOW UP
AT 2:00 P.M. TO GET IN THE DOOR
EARLY. I AM AN ARCHITECT FOCUSED
ON HOUSING FOR THE PAST 11 YEARS
AND SOME SMALLER UNITS. A FEW
YEARS AGO I ASKED WHAT I COULD
DO MORE ABOUT THIS AND I BECAME
A SMALLTIME DEVELOPER, BUILDING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND I THINK
THAT THIS PROPOSAL DOES NOT DO
ENOUGH TO SUPPORT AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, IF I COULD MAKE ONE
RECOMMENDATION, IT WOULD BE TO
LOWER THE THRESHOLD OF THE
AMOUNT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING YOU
NEED TO DO TO GET THE BONUSES.
RIGHT NOW IT IS GOING TO TAKE
ABOUT A $500,000 SUBSIDY TO HAVE
AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT
BUILT IN THE STACKED FLATS AND
THAT TAKES A LOT OF TIME IN
PUBLIC RESOURCES TO GET THAT. I
THINK THAT IF WE REDUCE THAT
THRESHOLD --
>> THANK YOU, HANS. NEXT,
SPEAKER 151 THROUGH 160.
>> 151 THE CURRENT PLAN BEING
PROPOSED BY THE MAYOR MISSES THE
MARK BY REMOVING A SIGNIFICANT
AMOUNT OF TREE COVER AND FOCUSES
ON UP ZONING ON ARTERIALS. WE
CAN IMPROVE ON THIS AND
IMPLEMENT ALTERNATIVE FIVE,
WHICH HAS BEEN THE OPTION OF
CHOICE BY CITIZENS GIVING
FEEDBACK THROUGHOUT THIS
MULTIYEAR PROCESS. THE
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
HURTS AS MUCH AND I URGE YOU TO
-- WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN ABOUT
IMPROVING ZONING AT LOWER COSTS
TO INCREASE MORE SLOWLY IN
AUSTIN, SPOKANE AND MINNEAPOLIS.
THERE IS NOTHING KEEPING SEATTLE
FROM ECLIPSING CITIES BY
ADOPTING AN IMPROVED VERSION OF
THE PLAN. ALTERNATIVE FIVE DOES
ALL OF THIS AND IS READY TO
IMPLEMENT. SEATTLE IS NOT A
SUBURB, BUT A CITY AND SHOULD BE
TREATED AS SUCH. I URGE YOU TO
NOT ONLY ENSURE THE PLAN TO COME
TO FRUITION BUT TO ADOPT
ALTERNATIVE FIVE, TO BE BOLD AND
ADOPT -- BETTER WAY WITH THIS
ALTERNATIVE OPTION. I SET THE
STANDARD FOR HOW OTHER
MUNICIPALITIES ARE JUDGED AND
LET'S NOT MAKE PERFECT THE
ENEMY OF GOOD.
>> IS COLD HERE? 153?
>> HI, EVERYONE, MY NAME IS
MADELEINE BURKHOLDER. I SUPPORT
ALL NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS AND UP
ZONES IN THE PLAN AND ANY THAT
YOU MIGHT CARE TO ADD. I HAVE
BEEN A SATELLITE OF 16 OF MY 30
YEARS AND I PURCHASED MY FIRST
HOME, A CONDO IN FIRST HILL, FOR
WHICH I PAID $450,000, MAKING IT
ONE OF THE MOST AFFORDABLE HOMES
IN SEATTLE. I WAS ONLY ABLE TO
AFFORD THIS BECAUSE I AM A TECH
WORKER AND ALL MY FRIENDS MY AGE
BOUGHT THERE HOMES WITH TECH
MONEY OR FAMILY MONEY AND THERE
WERE NO OTHER ROUTES TO
HOMEOWNERSHIP. I ALSO HAPPEN TO
BE A TRANS-WOMAN AND THAT IS A
GROUP THAT MAKES $.60 ON THE
DOLLAR FOR OUR LABOR. TODAY IT
BECAME ILLEGAL FOR TRANS-PEOPLE
TO PLAY SPORTS. SEATTLE IS
PERHAPS THE BEST CITY IN THE
WORLD TO BE A TRANS-PERSON.
THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE WHO WANT
TO LIVE HERE AND HOMES TO LIVE
IN. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO WELCOME
MY TRANS-SIBLINGS TO THIS
BEAUTIFUL CITY AND DELAWARE WE
CAN DO THAT IS IF WE BUILD A
LOT, BUILD NOW, BUILD
EVERYWHERE. THERE ARE A LOT OF
BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE --
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT WE
HAVE MICHELLE, EMILY, ANASTASIA.
ZACHARY, DANIEL, JESSE, SALLY.
>> I MOVED TO SEATTLE IN 2002
WHEN I RENTED A RENT-CONTROLLED