WELCOME BACK, EVERYONE. IT IS
GOOD TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE IN
PERSON. THE TIME IS 4:03. I AM
CHAIR OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL?
>> [ ROLL CALL ]
>> NINE PRESENT.
>> WELCOME TO SESSION II FOR
HOUSE BILL 11 II FOR HOUSE BILL
1110. I WANT TO THANK YOU
EVERYONE FOR YOUR ATTENDANCE AND
ENGAGEMENT TODAY. ALSO, THIS
MORNING AS WELL. AND TO OUR
STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE
BEEN PHENOMENAL WITH WORKING TO
SIGN PEOPLE IN AND DOING THE
BACKLOG FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS IN
THIS ENTIRE PROCESS. THERE HAS
BEEN AN OPPORTUNITY, THERE WILL
BE AN OPPORTUNITY, FOR FUTURE
PUBLIC HEARINGS TO PROVIDE
PUBLIC COMMENT ON A
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. PERMANENT
HOUSE BILL 1110 LEGISLATION,
THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS NOT
DEDICATED TO ANY PIECES OF THOSE
LEGISLATIONS . IT IS PARTICULAR
FOR THE INTERIM LEGISLATION THAT
IS COMING TO COUNCIL FOR A VOTE.
TODAY'S SESSION WAS BROKEN UP
INTO TWO SLOTS. THIS MORNING WE
HAD THE REMOTE SESSION. NOW, WE
ARE BEGINNING SESSION NUMBER TWO
RESERVED FOR IN PERSON .
REGISTRATION STARTED AT 3:30 AND
WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL 5:30. IF
YOU ARE IN LINE, YOU WILL STILL
BE ABLE TO SIGN UP. IF YOU FEEL
PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT THE
SPEAKER IS SAYING, I HUMBLY ASK
EVERYONE TO SUPPORT THROUGH THE
COOL JAZZ HANDS, AS WE WANT TO
BE RESPECTFUL OF TIME. CAN
EVERYONE SHOW ME YOUR JAZZ
HANDS? SO DOPE. AWESOME. OR YOU
CAN SHAKE YOUR AT LEAST. YOU CAN
DO THAT. WE WANT TO BE
RESPECTFUL OF TIME AS WE HAVE TO
MOVE THROUGH THIS. I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
COLLABORATION. THERE IS ALSO A
DISCOUNT FOR PUBLIC HEARING AT A
FLAT RATE OF EIGHT DOLLARS. THE
GARAGE CLOSES AT 10:00 P.M. JUST
SO EVERYONE IS AWARE. WE ALSO
HAVE -- SORRY. JUST DOING A
LITTLE HOUSEKEEPING HERE. THE
OTHER THING AS WELL, EACH
SPEAKER IS GIVEN ONE MINUTE.
CLERK, PLEASE READ THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD INSTRUCTIONS.
>> -- ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ?
>> I MOVE TO AMEND THE PUBLIC
COMMENT REGISTRATION DEADLINE
FROM 5:30 P.M. UNTIL 6:430 P.M.
I WILL SECOND YOUR MOTION. MY
MOTIVATION IN BRINGING FORWARD
THIS MOTION IS TO ALLOW FOR MORE
PEOPLE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO GIVE COMMENTS TONIGHT. MANY
WORKING FOLKS ARE IN THE CITY
WORKING UNTIL 5:00 . CUTTING OFF
SIGN UP AT 5:30 MIGHT AFFECT
THOSE FOLKS WERE BECAUSE THEY
CAN'T MAKE IT IN TIME. THIS
WOULD EXTEND THE DEADLINE UNTIL
6:30 FOR THOSE TO HAVE GREATER
FLEXIBILITY FOR THOSE TO SPEAK
ON SUCH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE. I
ASKED FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT TO
MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS HEARD
TONIGHT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK. ANY MOTHER -- MORE
THOUGHTS BEFORE I WEIGH IN?
OKAY. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK. WE BELIEVE THAT WE
ACHIEVED A REASONABLE BALANCE,
HOWEVER, IF MY COLLEAGUES -- WE
WILL COME TO A VOTE FOR THIS. IF
YOU WANT TO EXTEND IT MORE THAN
HAPPY TO ACCOMMODATE THOUGHT. I
WILL BE VOTING NO. I WILL TELL
YOU WHY. OUR OFFICE DID THE BEST
EFFORT TO DO A BALANCE FOR
ALLOWING INEQUITABLE PUBLIC
HEARING PROCESS THAT ESTABLISHED
A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. WE
POSTED THIS ABOUT THREE WEEKS
AGO TO OUR WEBSITE TO MAKE
EVERYBODY AWARE OF THE PROCESS
IN WHICH WE WERE GOING TO MANAGE
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD . THIS
WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION TWO
HOURS BEFORE THIS MEETING. I'M
GOING TO VOTE NO ON THIS TO
PROTECT THE PROCESS. I ALSO
WANTED TO NOTE THAT WE HAVE DONE
AN EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF LOGISTICS
IN THIS TO ENSURE THAT THE
PEOPLE THAT DID NOT SPEAK ON
FEBRUARY 5 HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SPEAK BEFORE OTHER FOLKS THAT
HAVE SIGNED UP. THAT WAS A
MASSIVE UNDERTAKING
LOGISTICALLY. WE DID IT. I
WANTED TO THANK OUR COLLEAGUES
FOR THEIR PATIENCE ON THAT, BUT
ALSO, THE CLERKS OFFICE AS WELL.
I ALSO DON'T THINK IT IS FAIR
TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT HAVE
SEEN THIS THE LAST THREE WEEKS,
AND THEN CHANGING THE RULES
LAST-MINUTE. THOSE ARE MY
THOUGHTS. THAT IS WHY I WILL BE
VOTING, RESPECTIVELY, NO TODAY.
I WILL PUT IT TO A VOTE WITH MY
OTHER COLLEAGUES TO SEE WHAT
THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO. ANY OTHER
COMMENTS? COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH. I REALLY WANTED
TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR , YOU AND
YOUR STAFF, FOR YOUR EFFORTS
AROUND THESE PUBLIC HEARINGS. I
REALLY AM SO ENCOURAGED BY THE
NUMBER OF FOLKS THAT SIGNED UP,
BOTH LAST TIME IN THIS TIME. I
REALLY APPRECIATE YOU
PRIORITIZED THE FOLKS THAT
SIGNED UP LAST TIME. BECAUSE THE
INCLEMENT WEATHER, THEY WERE NOT
ABLE TO GO, AND WE HEARD THEM
THIS MORNING. REALLY APPRECIATE
THAT. REALLY APPRECIATE HAVING
OPEN CHAMBERS THIS AFTERNOON AND
STAYING HERE FOR AS LONG AS IT
TAKES TO GET THE FOLKS WHO
SIGNED UP BY THE DEADLINE YOU
PROVIDED. I WILL BE SUPPORTING
YOU, GIVEN ALL THE EFFORT YOU
HAVE PUT FORTH ON THIS. I WILL
BE SUPPORTING YOU IN YOUR
DECISION. THANK YOU.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> THANK YOU. I WANT TO EXPRESS
MY GRATITUDE FOR HOW WELL YOU
HAVE HANDLED TRYING TO PROVIDE
FOR SUFFICIENT BROAD PUBLIC
COMMENT AND MAKING SURE THAT THE
TIME WE ARE LISTENING TO COMMENT
IS A PERIOD IN WHICH WE CAN
ABSORB AND EFFECTIVELY LISTEN TO
THAT COMMENT. I KNOW IT HAS BEEN
A LOT OF LOGISTICS FOR YOU, YOUR
STAFF, AND EVERYONE ELSE , THE
CLERK'S OFFICE AS WELL. I WANT
TO SAVE IT -- THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR ARE THERE OTHER COMMEN
BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO --
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> I WILL ECHO THE APPRECIATION
THAT YOU FACED WITH THE LESS --
LAST PUBLIC HEARING WHERE WE HAD
INCLEMENT WEATHER DROPPING DOWN
UPON US. YOU AND THE TEAM TOOK A
LOT OF TIME TO MAKE SURE THOSE
FOLKS WERE PRIORITIZED TODAY.
HOWEVER, I WILL BE VOTING YES TO
EXTEND TIME.
>> FOR THE RECORD, WE'RE NOT
CLOSING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD .
IT IS A SIGN-UP PERIOD. I JUST
WANT TO SAY THAT FOR THE RECORD.
WERE NOT SHORTENING PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD UNTIL 6:30. WE
WILL STAY HERE HOWEVER LONG IT
TAKES TO GET THROUGH. THIS IS
THE REGISTRATION PERIOD. I
WANTED TO BE CLEAR ON THAT.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER
HANDS. COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, ANY
OTHER COMMENTS?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. AGAIN, DEEP
GRATITUDE TO YOU FOR HELPING
SUPPORT AND MANAGE THIS PROCESS
. I THINK I WOULD JUST SAY, IN
CLOSING, THE MOTION BEFORE US IS
JUST TO EXTEND THE TIME THAT
PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO SIGN UP FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT TONIGHT . I KNOW
SOME FOLKS ARE MORE ENGAGED IN
THE COMP PLAN AND OTHERS MAY
HAVE JUST HEARD ABOUT THE
OPPORTUNITY AND AREN'T EVEN OFF
WORK YET. I THINK EXTENDING THE
ABILITY FOR FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO
POP IN TONIGHT TO SHARE THEIR
THOUGHTS WITH US WOULD BE
IMPORTANT, AND REALLY MAKING
SURE WE ARE ACCESSIBLE TO THE
PUBLIC ON THIS IMPORTANT MATTER.
I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK
YOU.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK . CAN THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? WE
ARE VOTING ON EXTENDING THE
REGISTRATION PERIOD UNTIL 6:30 .
RIGHT NOW, IT IS UNTIL 5:30 FOR
THE REGISTRATION. IT WILL
CONTINUE TO BE OPEN FOR ANOTHER
HOUR AND A HALF. IF YOU ARE
VOTING YES, AND YOU WOULD LIKE
TO SEND IT, IF YOU'RE VOTING
NO, YOU ARE VOTING NO TO
CONTINUE THE PROCESS THAT WE
HAVE LAID OUT FOR THE LAST THREE
WEEKS. THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE?
>> NO.
>> COUNSEL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA .
>> KNOWN .
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> VICE CHAIR SOLOMON.
>> NO.
>> CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> NO.
>> TWO IN FAVOR, SEVEN OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION FAILS. WE WILL
CONTINUE TO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT
REGISTRATION UNTIL 5:30 TODAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. NOW, WE WILL
-- IF THE CLERK CAN GO AHEAD AND
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD FOR TODAY.
>> THE IN PERSON PUBLIC COMMENT
WILL ALTERNATE BETWEEN SETS OF
REGISTERED SPEAKERS AND
REGISTERED SPEAKERS FROM THE
FEBRUARY 5 HEARING WHO ARE
PRESENT. IF YOU HAVE NOT
REGISTERED, YOU CAN SIGN UP ON
THE SIGN-UP SHEET OUTSIDE OF
COUNCIL CHAMBERS PRIOR TO 5:30
P.M. REGISTRATION CLOSES THEN.
SPEAKER NUMBERS WILL BE CALLED
IN WHICH THE REGISTERED. MEMBERS
WILL BE CALLED IN GROUPS OF 10.
PLEASE COME UP IN NUMERICAL
ORDER. YOU MAY USE ANY ONE OF
THE TWO MICROPHONES. ALSO,
PLEASE ADJUST YOUR MICROPHONE
WHEN YOU APPROACH AS WELL TO
MAKE SURE IT IS REALLY CLOSE TO
YOU SO WE CAN HEAR YOU. BEGIN
YOUR COMMENTS BY STATING YOUR
NAME. THE SPEAKERS WILL HERE IN
TIME WHEN 10 SECONDS ARE LEFT.
IF SPEAKERS DO NOT END THERE
COMMENTS AT THE END OF THE TIME
ALLOTTED, MICROPHONES WILL BE
MUTED TO ALLOW US TO CALL IN THE
NEXT PERSON.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU. EACH
SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN ONE
MINUTE. WE ARE GOING TO START
WITH GROUP B, PRIORITIZING FOLKS
THAT GOT CAUGHT OFF DURING
FEBRUARY 5. NUMBERS ONE THROUGH
10, GROUP B. WHERE THEY GIVEN
NUMBERS? OKAY. THANK YOU. YOU
ANSWERED MY QUESTION BY STANDING
UP. APPRECIATE IT. WE ARE GOING
TO GO AHEAD AND JUMP RIGHT INTO
IT. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL
COMING BACK TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE APOLOGIZE ABOUT THE INCLEMENT
WEATHER. REALLY APPRECIATE YOU
ALL COMING BACK. MEMBERS ONE
THROUGH 10 OF GROUP B. WE HAVE
TO TWO MICROPHONES. YOU CAN GO
BACK AND FORTH AS WELL .
EVERYONE LOOKS GOOD ON CAMERA ON
BOTH ANGLES. I
HAVE SEEN IT ON TV. WE ARE READY
TO GO.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. I AM HERE TO URGE YOU
TO ADOPT INTERIM ORDER AND SET
ALLOWS FOR MORE HOUSING TYPES TO
HELP OUR CITY ADOPT A FULL ,
BOLD CALM PLAN THAT HOUSES MORE
PEOPLE. I SPENT 200 HOURS LAST
YEAR, THE PAST FIVE YEARS,
THINKING ABOUT THE CLIMATE
IMPACTS THAT OUR BUILT
ENVIRONMENT HAS BEEN FOCUSED
CURRENTLY ON THE 17% OF
EMISSIONS THAT COME FROM
ALUMINUM AND STEEL. BEFORE THE,
I WAS HELPING FORTUNE 500s
DECARBONIZE AND INVESTING IN
REFORESTATION. I'VE SEEN THE
NUMBERS. I KNOW IT IS A REALLY
HARD ONE TO VOTE FOR TREES,
BECAUSE THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL AND
TANGIBLE AND AMAZING, BUT THE
REALITY IS IF WE CAN'T BUILD
MORE DENSELY, WE'RE GOING TO
SPRAWL . THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME. WE NEED DENSER CITY SECOND
HOUSE MORE PEOPLE, AND IF NOT,
MORE TREES WILL BE HURT. BESIDES
A VERY CLEAR ON THIS. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT, DILLON, FOLLOWED BY
EVAN.
>> I AM BORN IN SEATTLE. I LIVE
IN TRIANGLE. I ALSO OWN AN
INHERITED HOME IN MONTLAKE. I'M
ALL FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
WE ALL NEED MORE HOUSING
OPTIONS. IT IS OBVIOUS TO ME AS
A WHEELCHAIR USER MY ENTIRE LIFE
THAT SEATTLE NEEDS MORE OPTIONS
FOR ACCESSIBLE HOUSING. MORE
PLACES, GEOGRAPHIC CHOICES AND
CHOICES FOR PRICE. YOU HAVE MY
FULL SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT.
>> AS A NURSE WORKING IN
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE, ON BEHALF OF
MY WIFE WHO WORKS IN YOUTH
HOMELESS, WE ARE IN SUPPORT OF
ADOPTING THE FULL ONE SEATTLE
PLAN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. A NICE
IMPORTANT WITH AMENITIES CLOSE
TO TRANSIT. IF WE BUILD MORE
HOUSING ACROSS THE CITY, WE WILL
HAVE NEW NEIGHBORS AND CITIZENS
THAT WILL WORK TO IMPROVE OUR
CITY. WE DON'T BUILD ENOUGH
HOUSING, WE BLOCK ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE
UNDERSERVED, UNDERREPRESENTED
AND UNHEARD MEMBERS OF OUR
COMMUNITY. IN MY LIFE, I HAVE
TRANSGENDER FRIENDS FROM RED
STATES WHO WOULD LOVE TO
CONTINUE LIVING IN THIS
BEAUTIFUL CITY , BUT CAN'T
AFFORD TO LIVE YOUR. I HAVE
FRIENDS WITH LOW INCOME WHO HAVE
LIVED IN UNSAFE LIVING
CONDITIONS BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO
AFFORDABLE OPTIONS. I HAVE
NURSING ASSISTANT COWORKERS WHO
STILL LIVE WITH THEIR PARENTS IN
THEIR LATE 20s BECAUSE THEY
CAN'T AFFORD TO MOVE OUT THE
MANY WHO COMMUTE TO FAR-FLUNG
CITIES. FINALLY, THE TEENAGE
HOMELESS CLIENTS MY WIFE SERVES
A FACE EXTREME DIFFICULTY AGING
OUT OF THE SYSTEM BECAUSE THERE
ARE NO AFFORDABLE ACTIONS.
PLEASE PASS THE INTERIM
ORDINANCE.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. TODAY I AM
URGING YOU TO AMEND THE INTERIM
LEGISLATION TO PROMOTE MORE
STACKED FLATS BY ELIMINATING THE
MINIMUM LOT SIZE OF 6000 SQUARE
FEET, INCREASING THE HEIGHT
LIMITS, INCREASING THE SAR, AND
INCREASING THE LOT COVERAGE. I
AM ASKING YOU THIS BECAUSE THE
HOUSING STUDY COMMISSIONED BY
THE CITY ESTIMATED THAT,
BASICALLY, NO STACKED FLATS WILL
BE BUILT WITH THE CURRENT
GUIDELINES. THAT SAME STUDY
ASSUMES THE MEDIAN PRICE OF
DIFFERENT HOUSING TYPES. STACKED
FLATS ARE BY FOR THE MOST
AFFORDABLE, ABOUT $500,000 PER
UNIT, HALF THE COST OF ATTACHED
HOUSING LIKE TOWNHOMES AND
DUPLEXES, AND A FULL THIRD OF
THE A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME IS
EXPECTED TO CAUSE. MANY OF US
CANNOT AFFORD THAT LEVEL OF
HOUSING. I WORK FOR THE CITY .
IT PAINS ME I CANNOT AFFORD TO
OWN A HOME IN THE CITY I SERVED.
PLEASE, WE NEED MORE NOW. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MY PARTNER AND I ARE BOTH
PUBLIC-SERVICE. HE WORKS FOR THE
CITY, AND I AM A THERAPIST FOR
ON HOUSE PEOPLE WITH MENTAL
ILLNESS. EVEN WITH OUR DECENT
INCOMES, WE WILL NEVER, EVER BE
ABLE TO AFFORD A HOME IN
SEATTLE, BE IN A DUPLEX,
TOWNHOME OR CONDO WITH THE CAR
PRICES. A PRIVILEGE THAT IS
RESERVED FOR PEOPLE IN TECH AND
FINANCE. THE SAME CAN BE SAID
FOR EVERY RESTAURANT,
HOSPITALITY, RETAIL, EDUCATION
AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS TO MAKE
THIS CITY ONE. IT IS A TRAVESTY
HOW UNATTAINABLE HOUSING HAS
BECOME. IT SADDENS ME TO THINK
WE WON'T BE ABLE TO RAISE A
FAMILY HERE JUST BECAUSE WE
DEDICATED OUR LIVES TO SERVING
OUR COMMUNITY. IT WOULD BE A
DREAM TO LIVE IN A DUPLEX,
TRIPLEX, STACKED FLAT, OR
HONESTLY, A CONDO, BECAUSE WE
WOULD HAVE A PLACE TO CALL HOME.
ALSO, LITERALLY EVERY ACADEMIC
RESEARCH ARTICLE TALKING ABOUT
DENSITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
UNEQUIVOCALLY FINDS THAT
INCREASED DENSITY IS
SIGNIFICANTLY MORE BENEFICIAL TO
LONG-TERM ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY . NOT TAKING
AMBITIOUS STEPS TO INCREASE
DENSITY WOULD BE A COLLECTIVE
DISREGARD TO THE PEOPLE AND CITY
YOU SERVE. SEATTLE IS A MAJOR
METROPOLITAN AREA.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I AM AN ARCHITECT AND
LONG-TIME RESIDENT OF SEATTLE.
IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, DEVELOPERS
ARE BUYING SMALL SINGLE-FAMILY
HOMES LIKE MINE AND MAXIMIZING
THE PROFIT BY PUTTING UP LARGE
HOMES WITH LARGE 80 USE. A BLOCK
AWAY FROM ME A MODEST HOME BUILT
IN THE 1920s HAS BEEN DIVIDED
INTO THREE APARTMENTS. THESE
APARTMENTS WERE FOLDABLE BECAUSE
THEY WERE SMALL. RECENTLY, A
DEVELOPER BOUGHT THE PROPERTY
AND PUT UP A LARGE HOME THAT
SOLD FOR $2 MILLION WITH A $1
MILLION IN THE BACK. THIS IS NOT
CREATING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IT
IS CREATING TWO EXPENSIVE HOMES
WHERE THREE APARTMENTS USED TO
BE. INTERIM LEGISLATION REDUCES
SETBACKS AND INCREASES LOT
COVERAGE, ENCOURAGING EVEN
LARGER, EVEN MORE EXPENSIVE
UNITS. THIS IS THE OPPOSITE OF
WHAT THE ZONING IS SUPPOSED TO
DO. I URGE YOU NOT TO PASS THE
INTERIM LEGISLATION. INSTEAD,
CREATE INCENTIVES FOR SMALLER
BUILDINGS TO HELP PRESERVE GREEN
SPACE AND CREATE AFFORDABILITY
THROUGH SMALLER UNITS. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NUMBER SEVEN ,
EIGHT, NINE AND 10.
>> ON BEHALF OF , THIS INTERIM
CODE IS A DISASTER FOR THE CITY.
IT IS NOT WELL THOUGHT OUT. IT
WILL HAVE IMPACTS FOREVER FOR
THE CITY OF SEATTLE. THE ONLY
BENEFIT IS YOU. I URGE THE
COUNCIL TO ADOPT AN INTERIM CODE
THAT MEETS, BUT DOES NOT EXCEED,
HOUSE BILL 1110. THIS IS A
REASONABLE AND RESPONSIBLE STEP
FOR THE COUNCIL TO TAKE. AND
ALLOWS FOR OUR GOALS THAT WE
HOLD DEAR CITIZENS OF SEATTLE TO
MOVE FORWARD, AND IT SERVES AS A
BASELINE WHERE ALL PARTIES AND
INTERESTS CAN WORK AND FORM
CONTENT FOR ONE SEATTLE PLAN.
PLEASE DO NOT ADOPT THIS INTERIM
CODE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. JUST A
REMINDER, SPEAK DIRECTLY INTO
THE MICROPHONE SO WE CAN ALL
HEAR YOU, AND THE PEOPLE ON
SEATTLE CHANNEL. NUMBER EIGHT,
NINE, AND 10.
>> I AM A SINGLE-FAMILY
HOMEOWNER IN THE HIGH POINT
NEIGHBORHOOD OF WEST SEATTLE. I
AM VERY PROUD THAT ONE SEATTLE
PLAN IN THIS INTERIM PLAN TO
ADDRESS WITH THE STATE IS
REQUIRING -- I THINK SEATTLE IS
AN AMAZING VIBRANT CITY. MY
NEIGHBORHOOD IS VIBRANT BECAUSE
OF THE PEOPLE THERE. I THINK
INVITING MORE PEOPLE INTO MY
NEIGHBORHOOD WITH DIFFERENT
KINDS OF INCOMES, DIFFERENT KIND
OF FAMILIES , LIKE ELDERS AND
CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH
MOBILITY ISSUES, IT WILL ONLY
MAKE IT A BETTER NEIGHBORHOOD. I
WANT TO SHARE MY NEIGHBORHOOD
WITH MORE PEOPLE. PLEASE PASS
THIS INTERIM PLAN. ALSO, WITH
URGENCY, PLAT -- PAST THE ONE
SEATTLE PLAN. IT WOULD BE A
SERIOUS SHAME IF WE SPENT ALL
THIS PASSION AND RESOURCES WE
HAVE IN THE CITY ON THIS ONE
THING AND NOT MOVE ON TO THE
NEXT BIG THING WE CAN TACKLE
TOGETHER. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HELLO. I AM LUCKY TO BE A
RENTER AND CAPITAL HILL, ONE OF
THE FEW NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE
CITY WITH A VARIETY OF HOUSING
TYPES. TODAY I AM ASKING YOU TO
RELAX ROUGHOUT THE CITY THAT MAT
DIFFICULT TO BUILD ENOUGH
HOUSING HERE. THE BEST WAY TO
MINIMIZE DISPLACEMENT RISK IS TO
INCREASE DENSITY THROUGHOUT THE
CITY SO NO ONE NEIGHBORHOOD IS
IT TOO HARD OR TOO FAST . SO A
STRONG NEIGHBORHOOD PRESENT --
RESIDENTIAL BASELINE IS REALLY
POOR. STACKED FLAT SHOULD BE
ENCOURAGED THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
THIS TYPE OF HOUSING IS MORE
ACCESSIBLE AND EFFICIENT SINCE
YOU CAN SHARE STAIRS, AND MAYBE
EVEN HAVE AN ELEVATOR, ALLOWING
FOR PEOPLE WITH MOBILITY ISSUES
TO LIVE IN MORE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. PLEASE REMOVE THE
MINIMUM LOT SIZE REQUIREMENTS,
AND THE MINIMUM UNIT SIZE
REQUIREMENTS FOR STACKED FLATS
SO THESE HOUSING TYPES CAN BE
TRULY AFFORDABLE . PLEASE PASS
THE INTERIM LEGISLATION WITH
THESE MODIFICATIONS. THE BEST
WAY TO SAVE TREES IS TO DENSIFY
WITH INFILL DEVELOPMENT.
>> NEXT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF HER
MICROPHONE IS ON. SPEAK RIGHT
INTO IT.
>> [ INAUDIBLE ] -- NOW TRY.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
>> THERE WE GO.
>> OKAY. I WAS AT THE FEBRUARY 5
MEETING AND DIDN'T GET A CHANCE
TO TALK I JUST FOUND THAT MY
SPEED FROM THAT MEETING IS NO
LONGER RELEVANT. SO MUCH CHANGES
ON THIS ISSUE , IF NOT EVERY
WEEK, EVERY MONTH. I'M NOT UP
ON ALL THE NEW CHANGES TO THIS
PLAN . WHAT I WANT TO ADVOCATE
TONIGHT IN MY REMAINING TIME IS
THE DEVELOPMENT OF A TREE
INVENTORY AND LANDSCAPE PLAN.
THE ACRONYM IS. THIS GROUP WHAT
IDENTIFY THE SIZE , LOCATION OF
TREES ON SITE, WORK WITH
DEVELOPERS IN DETERMINING THE
BEST PLACE FOR FUTURE TREES, FOR
EXAMPLE, WEST AND SOUTH, TO SAVE
HOME ENERGY COSTS, DEAL WITH ALL
THE ISSUES THAT WE ARE TRYING TO
DEAL WITH. KIRKLAND DOES IT, AND
THEY ARE DOING IT VERY
SUCCESSFULLY. MANY OTHER CITIES
ARE DOING THIS TOO. IN ADVANCE,
WE PLAN TOGETHER.
>> THANK YOU. STILL FROM GROUP
B, WE HAVE NUMBERS 11 THROUGH
13, AND THEN WE WILL JUMP TO THE
OTHER LISTS. 11, 12, 13. NUMBERS
11, 12 AND 13. YOU ALL ARE UP.
THESE ARE FROM THE FEBRUARY 5
FOLKS. REALLY HAPPY TO SEE YOU
ALL .
>> -- JUST PULL THAT CLOSER TO
YOU. YOU CAN STAND UP. THERE YOU
GO.
>> COOL. [ INAUDIBLE ]
ARTIFICIALLY INFLATED TO DUE TO
LACK OF -- YEAR-OVER-YEAR EVERY
SINGLE YEAR FOR THE LAST 20
YEARS. YOU HAVE A BIT OF A
DEFICIT IN TERMS OF HOUSING, AT
LEAST BY NEARLY 7 DIGITS. IF IT
WAS UP TO ME, I WILL PROBABLY GO
WITH 75 AROUND EVERY BUS STOP
THROUGH THE WHOLE CITY. THE
WHOLE THING, BUT COMPROMISE IS
IMPORTANT. I KIND OF THE NEW TO
KNOW WHERE I AM AT WHEN YOU
ANCHOR THAT KIND OF DEBATE. RENT
IS CRIPPLING, BUT TO ACTUALLY
DROP THE RED, YOU NEED TO DROP
THE VALUE OF THE HOUSE. THE REAL
VALUE OF MY CONDO IS THAT IS MY
HOME WHERE HE LIVED. MY
SHOULDER. NOT MY INVESTMENT
PORTFOLIO. I DON'T WANT IT TO
TRIPLE IN PRICE, EVEN THOUGH
THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE OUT
THERE WHO WILL LIGHT UP WITH
GOLD FROM THE ARTIFICIALLY
INFLATED PRICES WE ARE SEEING.
THE REST OF US JUST WANT
SOMEPLACE TO LIVE. I'M ASKING
YOU, AS AN OWNER WITH MY SKIN IN
THE GAME, SO MANY UNITS THAT THE
DOLLAR VALUE GOES DOWN SO THE
HUMAN VALUE CAN GO UP. THANK H'
1110 LEGISLATION AND ANY
AMENDMENTS THAT CAN BE MADE TO
INCREASE HOUSING DENSITY BEFORE
THE FULL COMP PLAN IS PASSED,
POTENTIALLY, NEXT YEAR. RECENT
ARTICLE FROM THE SEATTLE TIMES
FOUND SEATTLE, WAS AGAIN, IS ONE
OF THE FASTEST GROWING LARGE
CITIES IN THE COUNTRY. I TELL
YOU THAT THE TITLE HELD LAST
DECADE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC. WE
NEED TO ALLOW MORE HOUSING
DENSITY IN THE CITY . ANY
BARRIERS IN TERMS OF BUILDING
HOUSING INCREASES COSTS FOR THE
NEARLY 60% OF PEOPLE THAT ARE
RENTERS. PLEASE REDO SETBACKS,
INCREASE HEIGHT LIMITS, AND
REDUCE LOT SIZE REQUIREMENTS.
DOING THESE THINGS WILL HELP
REDUCE HOUSING INSPECTION COSTS
FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
DEVELOPERS WHO ENOUGH CHALLENGES
IN THE CITY. PLEASE PASS HB 1110
INTERIM LEGISLATION AND SUPPORT
HOUSING. THANK YOU.
>> NUMBER 13.
>> I HAVE RENTED IN SEATTLE FOR
ABOUT EIGHT YEARS, BUT I GOT
MARRIED LAST YEAR, AND I'M
HOPING TO BUY A HOME SOON.
UNFORTUNATELY, IT LOOKS LIKE IT
WILL BE A TOWNHOME OR A MOVE TO
A SUBURB. I WOULD REALLY LIKE
THAT WE CAN REVISE OUR ZONING
LAWS WITH MORE STACKED FLATS,
AFFORDABLE HOUSING TYPES TO BE
CAN DIG OUR WAY OUT OF THIS
ARTIFICIAL HOUSING CRISIS THAT
ALL OF OUR CUMBERSOME ZONING
LAWS HAVE BROUGHT UPON US. I'M
SIMPLY ASKING THAT YOU PASS THE
HOUSING PLAN WITHOUT DELAY. ALSO
MOVE ON TO THE COMPREHENSIVE ONE
SEATTLE PLAN BEFORE YOU BREAK
FOR RECESS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU . NOW WE'RE GOING
TO MOVE ON. JUST TO CLARIFY, IF
YOU'RE STILL SIGNING UP AND YOU
ARE FROM FEBRUARY 5, YOU WILL BE
PRIORITIZED. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE
HAD 13 OF THOSE SPEAKERS. NOW WE
WILL MOVE TO THE NEW FOLKS. WE
HAVE NUMBERS ONE THROUGH 10 .
PLEASE START LINING UP. YOU ARE
NEXT TO SPEAK. NUMBERS ONE
THROUGH 10. MY BAD. YOU ARE
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. TWO IS RACHEL.
I CAN'T READ. YOU ARE UP.
>> I AM 16 YEARS OLD. I AM ON MY
OWN. I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO
AFFORD TO LIVE HERE IN SEATTLE,
BUT IF YOU ALL CAN'T THINK
AHEAD ENOUGH TO PRESERVE THE
LARGE TREES WE HAVE LEFT,
SEATTLE WILL TURN INTO A GIANT
HEAT I. THERE WILL BE NO MORE
QUALITY OF LIFE. PEOPLE WILL
GIVE UP ON SEATTLE AND MOVE
FURTHER OUT, CREATING MORE URBAN
SPRAWL. IT WOULD BE LIKE
PORTLAND. PORTLAND REQUIRES
BETWEEN 20 TO 40% TREE CANOPY
COVER ON EACH LOT FOR
MULTIFAMILY HOUSING . PLEASE
DON'T BE SHORTSIGHTED AND
IGNORE THESE TREES . MY
GENERATION NEEDS TO BENEFIT FROM
IT JUST AS YOU ALL HAVE . WE ARE
GOING TO BE THE ONES THAT NEED
TO DEAL WITH THE CLIMATE CRISIS
. WE NEED AS MUCH HELP AS WE CAN
GET FROM YOU ALL. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT . THERE ARE
TWO MICROPHONES. NUMBERS ONE
THROUGH 10.
>> I OWN A SMALL BUSINESS IN A
HUMBLE HOME IN NORTH BROADVIEW.
LAST FRIDAY WAS PHYSICALLY
ASSAULTED BY A DEVELOPER AND
REMOVED BY POLICE FROM AN AGENT
CEDAR BOUNDARY TREE THAT AN
ARBORIST ASSESSED TO BE CO-OWNED
BY A NEIGHBOR. HIS WIFE IS ALSO
A SPECIAL ED TEACHER. WHILE
SEATTLE HAS STRICT TREE
PROTECTION FOR PRIVATE
HOMEOWNERS, THE MAYOR AND THE
CITY HAVE ENACTED TREE CODE THAT
FAVORS DEVELOPERS BY ALLOWING
MASS TREE REMOVAL WITHOUT
CONSEQUENCE, EVEN WHEN THEY ARE
NOT IN THE WAY. I AM DISGUSTED
BY THE FALSE CHOICE BETWEEN
DENSE HOUSING AND SAVING TREES,
ESPECIALLY SHARED BOUNDARY
TREES. I SUPPORT AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND SMART DENSITY WITH
REASONABLY STACKED OR CLUSTERED
HOMES TO REDUCE SPRAWL. WITH
SMALL SETBACKS, DEVELOPERS WILL
CUT EVERY SINGLE TREE BECAUSE
THEY CAN. EFFECT, BRIAN
THOMPSON, THE DEVELOPER WHO
ASSAULTED ME, ADMITTED THE
STREET COULD HAVE BEEN SAVED,
BUT HE JUST DIDN'T FEEL LIKE
IT. PAST THE SETBACK AMENDMENT
FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE
CITY, NOT DEVELOPER PROFITS. [
APPLAUSE ]
>> JUST A REMINDER, JAZZ HANDS.
YOU ARE NEXT.
>> MY WIFE AND I OWN A MODEST
HOME IN NORTH BROADVIEW . WE ARE
BOTH TEACHERS. THE ONLY WAY WE
EVER COULD BY THE HOME WAS
THROUGH INHERITANCE. I JUST WANT
TO BE A PUBLIC FACE ON THE
HARDNESS OF WHEN A DEVELOPER
COMES IN AND OVERWHELMS YOU. YOU
DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. THEY
JUST CAME IN. WE GOT A LAWYER.
WE TRIED TO HAVE A PAUSE. WE HAD
AN ARBORIST COME OUT AND
DETERMINE IT WAS ON BOTH OF OUR
LANDS, BUT THEY IGNORED IT. THE
LAWYER FOR THEM THREATENED US.
AND THEN, LAST FRIDAY, THEY JUST
TORE THIS HUGE TREE , I MEAN,
I'M NOT A TREE PERSON, BUT THIS
TREE WAS LIKE 200 YEARS OLD.
WHEN I GO HOME TODAY AND SEE THE
ABSENCE OF THE TREE, I DIE
INSIDE.
>> THANK YOU, JEFF. TIME IS UP.
I'M SORRY. YOU CAN ALSO PUT
YOUR COMMENTS IN THAT BASKET AS
WELL. NUMBERS ONE THROUGH 10.
NUMBER FOUR. HERE YOU ARE. MY
APOLOGIES.
>> I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO
PLEASE PASS AMENDMENT EIGHT. THE
CURRENT INTERIM PLAN IS BAD FOR
TREES AS WRITTEN. 95% OF A LOT
COULD BE HARD SCAPE WITH THE NO
SPACE LEFT FOR TREES. OUR TREES
ARE CRITICAL FOR CLIMATE
MITIGATION . CURRENTLY, SEATTLE
IS IN THE TOP FIVE ARE URBAN
HEAT ISLANDS. ON HOT DAYS, THE
TREE CANOPY AND COOL
TEMPERATURES BY AS MUCH AS 20
DEGREES SEATTLE IS RAPIDLY
LOSING OUR MOST VALUABLE TREES.
OUR CURRENT CODE ALLOWS FOR
REMOVAL OF ALL TREES, NO MATTER
THE SIZE, INCLUDING OUR BIG
HERITAGE TREES, AS THEY WERE
JUST SPEAKING ABOUT. THIS IS
JUST A TRAGEDY. WE MUST FIND
COMMON GROUND FOR HOUSING AND
TREES . SETBACKS DO NOT DETER
HOUSING DENSITY. WE NEED TO
BUILD UP, AND NOT OUT. ALSO,
FDIC SHOULD NOT PERMIT THE
REMOVAL OF OUR LARGE TREES
RAISING A FAMILY HOMES,
ESPECIALLY WHEN A TREE CAN
EASILY BE SAVED WITHOUT A
REDUCTION OF LIVING SPACE. THANK
YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE ROBERT.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANKS SO
MUCH FOR BEING HERE, AND THANKS
SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO
SPEAK, AND FOR ALL OF US TO
SPEAK. MY QUESTION FOR THE
COUNCIL TODAY IS, IF FOR-PROFIT
DEVELOPERS HAD TOLD THE CITY
THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO BUILD
AFFORDABLE HOUSING , AND THEY
HAVE TOLD THE PUBLIC THEY DON'T
WANT TO BUILD FAMILY SIZED
HOUSING, WHY ARE WE PROPAGATING
RULES THAT BENEFIT FOR-PROFIT
DEVELOPERS? WHY ARE WE NOT
SIMPLY FOCUSING ON NOT FOR
PROFIT DEVELOPERS AND THE SOCIAL
HOUSING DEVELOPER? A 20 FOOT
SETBACK WILL NOT NEGATIVELY
IMPACT A NOT-FOR-PROFIT. A 20
FOOT SETBACK WILL NOT NEGATIVELY
IMPACT A SOCIAL HOUSING
DEVELOPER. THERE IS PLENTY OF
ROOM FOR 400,000 NEW HOUSING
UNITS IN SEATTLE, PLUS A TREE
CANOPY OF 40% OR GREATER. THANKS
SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, ROBERT. NEXT,
NUMBER SIX, NUMBER SEVEN. NUMBER
SIX.
>> I AM ALL IN ON HB 1110,
HOWEVER, I'M VERY CONCERNED
ABOUT HOW THE SETBACKS, THE ROOF
HEIGHTS, AND THE LOT COVERAGE
WILL IMPACT THE LOOK OF THE
NEIGHBORHOODS WHEN A HOUSE
DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THE HOUSE
THAT SURROUNDS THEM. I WANTED TO
BRING UP ONE EXAMPLE, THE TWO
FEET HIGHER ROOFS . I'M
WONDERING HOW HAVING A ROOF THAT
IS TWO FEET HIGHER ACTUALLY
GROWS DENSITY OR AFFORDABILITY.
I HAVE A PICTURE HERE OF TWO
PEOPLE LYING DOWN ON THE ROOF.
MAYBE THAT IS WHAT THEY HAVE IN
MIND. IT SEEMS LIKE A DEVELOPER
ENTITLEMENT JUST MEANT TO HELP
DEVELOPERS BUILD HIGHER HOUSES
THAT DON'T CONFORM WITH THE
NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, NUMBER
SEVEN.
>> THANK YOU. I AM FROM
WEDGEWOOD. AS PART OF THE
DISTRICT 4 --
>> CAN YOU SPEAK INTO THE
MICROPHONE?
>> AS A PART OF DISTRICT 4,
RIVERA, HER ACCOUNTABILITY WITH
HER OWN WORDS ON THE WEBSITE. I
AM COMMITTED TO BRINGING BOTH
ACCOUNTABILITY AND CIVILITY BACK
TO CITY HALL. CITY COUNCIL
REPRESENTS INTERESTS OF THEIR
CONSTITUENTS A█ND PARTICIPATE I
MAKING AND AMENDING CITY LAWS,
POLICIES AND ORDINANCES. WE ARE
THE CONSTITUENTS. PLEASE KEEP
THE 20 FEET MINIMUM SETBACK TO
KEEP OUR NEIGHBORHOOD INTACT.
KEEP THE 20 FEET SETBACK. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, NUMBER
EIGHT, NINE AND 10.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO COMMENT. WE REPRESENT 13
NEIGHBORHOODS CONCERNED ABOUT
CHANGES PROPOSED IN THE INTERIM
ORDINANCE. THE ORDINANCE OPENS
THREE QUARTERS OF SEATTLE'S
RESIDENTIAL LAND TO MIDDLE
FAMILY HOUSING, CREATING
POTENTIAL FOR THOUSANDS OF MORE
AFFORDABLE HOMES. WE WELCOME
MIDDLE FAMILY HOMES AND KNOW
THAT THEY CAN BLEND IN WITH OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS, AS THEY HAVE IN
THE PAST. OUR PHOTO BOARD SHOWS
EXAMPLES OF NEW AND OLD MIDDLE
FAMILY HOUSES IN PREDOMINANTLY
SINGLE-FAMILY AREAS. NOTICE HOW
THERE HEIGHTS AND SETBACKS ARE
THE SAME AS SINGLE FAMILY. OUR
SECOND BOARD SHOWS MIDDLE FAMILY
HOUSING THAT DOESN'T COMPLY
WITH THE SAME DEVELOPMENT
STANDARDS. THE ONLY GREEN ON
THIS LOT IS THE PATCH IN FRONT
OF THE BUILDINGS. THIS IS WHAT
THE INTERIM ORDINANCE WILL BRING
US. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, BRUCE. YOU ARE
NUMBER NINE. IS THEIR NUMBER
EIGHT? YOU WERE EIGHT? NUMBER
NINE, I HAVE BRUCE. YOU
SWITCHED. OKAY. I THOUGHT IT WAS
GOING CRAZY. GO RIGHT AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO COMMENT. OUR PHOTO BOARD TO
SHOW AERIALS OF A NEIGHBORHOOD
WITH CONSISTENT 20 FOOT FRONT
YARD SETBACKS. AND ONE WITH
VARIED 10 AND 20 FOOT SETBACKS.
THAT IS THE CONSISTENT ONE. THE
20 FOOT SETBACK HAS BEEN A
COHESIVE FEATURE OF SEATTLE
NEIGHBORHOOD FOR OVER 100 YEARS.
CONSISTENT SETBACKS PREVENT A
CHAOTIC MIX OF BUILDING
PLACEMENTS THAT MAKE STREETS
FEEL CLUTTERED. YOU CAN SEE THIS
ON THE NEXT BOARD SHOWING THE
STREET VIEW OF EACH
NEIGHBORHOOD. ONE IS INVITING A
PARK -- AND PARK LIGHT, THE
OTHER MORE BARREN. REDUCING OUR
SETBACK WILL DROP ALL SEATTLE
CITIZENS RICH AND POOR OF THE
SOUL SATISFYING PLEASURE AND
HEALTH BENEFITS OF TREES,
GREENERY, AND THE OPEN SPACE
THAT THE 20 FOOT SETBACK
PROVIDES.
>> NUMBER 10.
>> MR. ZIMMERMAN IS HARASSING
THE CHILDREN OVER HERE. SEVERAL
TIMES.
>> UNDERSTOOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR BRINGING THAT TO MY
ATTENTION. I WILL WATCH IT NOW.
MR. ZIMMERMAN, HOLD ON. MR.
ZIMMERMAN AND. -- FAIR ENOUGH.
MR. ZIMMERMAN, I UNDERSTAND.
OKAY? I AM WATCHING IT NOW.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT TO
MY ATTENTION. NUMBER 10. CAN WE
ALSO HAVE NUMBERS 11 THROUGH 20
LINE UP?
>> PLEASE. MR. ZIMMERMAN. DON'T
WAIVE OUR LAUGH AT THE CHILDREN.
>> I ACTUALLY WORK WITH UNHOUSED
YOUTH IN SEATTLE. I SUPPORT
URBAN DENSITY. HOWEVER, WE
CANNOT SACRIFICE THAT WHICH
MAKES OUR EMERALD CITY SO
BEAUTIFUL. SPECIFICALLY, FRONT
YARD SETBACKS. THEY ARE AN
ESSENTIAL FEATURE OF OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS, FORMING PATHWAYS
OF TREES IN FRONT YARD GARDENS
WE ALL ENJOY STROLLING DOWN.
SINCE NEW PARKS ARE UNLIKELY,
SIDEWALKS AND SETBACKS SHOULD BE
CONSIDERED A PUBLIC GOOD , A
PARKWAY NECESSARY FOR BOTH
PASSIVE AND ACTIVE RECREATION.
REDUCING FRONT YARD SETBACKS
FROM 20 TO 10 FEET, AND ALLOWING
PORCHES INSIDE THE SETBACKS,
REMOVE THE BUFFER OF GREENERY
THAT CONTRIBUTES SO MUCH TO THE
PUBLIC LIFE IN EVERY
NEIGHBORHOOD. DON'T DESTROY
THIS LEGACY UNNECESSARILY WITH
INTERIM LEGISLATION, AND PLEASE
APPROVE AMENDMENT EIGHT. THANK
YOU.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU. YOU ARE
NUMBER 11? NUMBER 10. OKAY. YOU
GOT ME MESSED UP.
>> WE SWITCHED.
>> OKAY. HOLD ON. THAT IS YOU.
OKAY. WHO WERE YOU?
>> I HAVE THE HARDEST NAME IN
THE ROOM.
>> WHAT NUMBER?
>> 11.
>> OKAY. WE DID ONE THROUGH 10.
OKAY. I WILL CALL NUMBERS. NOW
WE'RE DOING 11 320. -- THROUGH
20.
>> I HAVE BEEN A SEATTLE SOCIAL
WORKER FOR 30 YEARS. I BELIEVE
EVERY PERSON DESERVES TO BE
HOUSE. I SUPPORT HB 1110 AS IT
COULD DRAMATICALLY INCREASE
HOUSING DENSITY ACROSS OUR CITY
AND STATE LET'S ALL WORK
TOGETHER TO IMPLEMENT HB 1110
AND ENSURE IT HAS A POSITIVE
IMPACT FOR THE COMMUNITIES YOU
ALL ARE ELECTED TO SERVE. IF YOU
APPROVE THE INTERIM ORDINANCE,
YOU WILL BE TEARING DOWN
HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS. THE CORE
CHARACTER THAT BRINGS PEOPLE
TOGETHER. DUE TO CHANGES IN
SETBACKS, LOT COVERAGE AND
HEIGHT, IT WILL RESULT IN
MULTIMILLION DOLLAR HOUSING. AND
WILL NOT PROVIDE HOUSING FOR
THOSE IN NEED. PLEASE STICK TO
HB 1110 TO BUILD HOMES,
ACCESSIBLE TO MIDDLE INCOME
FAMILIES. SEATTLE IS LOVED
INTERNATIONALLY, BECAUSE WE ARE
UNIQUE AND QUIRKY. WE ARE NOT A
BUNCH IS MITCH -- STRIP MALLS
AND HUGE BOXES. LET'S IMPLEMENT
HB 1110 WITHIN EXISTING CODES
FOR DENSITY WITH INTEGRITY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NUMBER 12.
>> I REPRESENT OVER 1000
CITIZENS IN SEATTLE AND ACROSS
13 NEIGHBORHOODS WHO HAVE COME
TOGETHER. I HAVE CREATED THIS
CHART TO SHOW THE CHANGES IN OUR
CODE THAT ARE ACTUALLY REQUIRED
TO COMPLY WITH HB 1110. IT IS
NOT MANY. THE MODEL ORDINANCE IS
SIMILARLY LOADED WITH CHANGES
THAT THE LAW DOES NOT REQUIRE.
IT WAS AN EXAMPLE, NOT A RULE.
WE ASKED COUNCIL TO AMEND THE
INTERIM ORDINANCE TO REMOVE THE
CHANGES TO LOT COVERAGE,
SETBACKS AND HEIGHTS. THE CITY
COUNCIL HAS A FIDUCIARY DUTY TO
IMPLEMENT STATE REQUIRED DENSITY
IN A WAY THAT PROTECTS, NOT
DESTROYS, SEATTLE'S GREAT
NEIGHBORHOODS. WE DEPEND UPON
YOU TO ENSURE THAT THE GROWTH IN
SEATTLE ENHANCES LIVABILITY,
EQUITY AND LONG-TERM VALUE FOR
RESIDENTS, NOT JUST SHORT-TERM
RETURNS FOR DEVELOPERS.
NEIGHBORHOODS WERE SHAPED BY
THOUGHTFUL DESIGN, AND THE
LEGACY IS WORTH PROTECTING. IT
IS YOUR JOB TO MAKE SURE IT
ISN'T --
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE HAVE TWO MICROPHONES . IF WE
CAN BOUNCE BACK AND FORTH, THAT
WOULD BE GREAT.
>> I AM IN FAVOR OF INCREASED
DENSITY, BUT NOT THE PROPOSED
LEGISLATION WITHOUT THE
AMENDMENT. THE CUMULATIVE IMPACT
OF THE LOT COVERAGE CHANGE ALONE
BEING PROPOSED BUT NOT REQUIRED
WOULD PAVE OVER DISCOVERY PARK,
GREEN LAKE PARK, INCLUDING THE
LAKE, THE ENTIRE UDUB CAMPUS,
WASHINGTON PARK ARBORETUM,
LINCOLN PARK, JEFFERSON PARK,
AND DISCOVERY PARK AGAIN. THIS
IS A MOMENTOUS CHANGE THAT WILL
IMPACT OUR CITY FOR GENERATIONS
TO COME. IT FEELS LIKE IT IS
BEING RUSHED THROUGH WITH POORLY
CONCEIVED PLANS AND EXECUTION.
SUCH A LANDMARK LEGISLATION
SHOULD NOT BE PASSED AS AN
INTERIM ORDINANCE, BUT SHOULD BE
CONTINUED TO BE CONSIDERED FOR
PART OF THE FUTURE PLAN , OR THE
SEATTLE ONE PLAN. I FEEL FOR
THOSE WHO WANT AND NEED HOUSING.
THE TEMPTATION TO REMOVE ALL OF
THE RULES SEEMS TEMPTING, BUT
WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE. I COUNT
ON YOU TO REPRESENT US.
>> THANK YOU. NUMBER 14.
>> I AM HERE TO EXPRESS
ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS REGARDING
THE SEATTLE RAPID LOSS OF URBAN
TREE CANOPY . MAINTAINING AN
ADEQUATE LEVEL OF ECOLOGICAL
INTEGRITY IN OUR CITY FOR OUR
COLLECTIVE WELL-BEING. HALF OF
THE TREE WEIGHT IS STORED
CARBON. WHEN IT IS CUT DOWN IT
RELEASES CARBON DIOXIDE INTO THE
ATMOSPHERE. ON AVERAGE, 70 TREES
ARE PERMITTED TO BE REMOVED PER
WEEK. I CALCULATED AVERAGE
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND AN
ANNUAL SCALE AND IT TRANSLATED
TO 14.5 MILLION POUNDS OF CARBON
THE OXIDE BEING RELEASED INTO
THE ATMOSPHERE, AS WELL AS 4.8
MILLION GALLONS OF RAINWATER
RUNOFF NO LONGER INTERCEPTED,
MEETING SEWAGE OVERFLOWS INTO
PUGET SOUND. THE SIX FOOT TREES
BEING PLANTED COULD NOT BEGAN TO
OFFSET THE LOSS. INCREASING
PAVEMENT ONLY EXACERBATES THE
ISSUE . I ASK YOU TO APPROVE
AMENDMENT EIGHT. I DO HAVE AN
EXAMPLE OF A STACK FLAT WITH A
PROTECTED MATURE MAPLE . THIS IS
UNDER THE OLD TREE ORDINANCE. WE
HAVE DONE IT BEFORE.
>> THANK YOU. NUMBER 15. NUMBER
16, 17, 18, 19 AND 20. YOU ALL
ARE UP. 15 IS CROSSED OUT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU,
CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH AND MEMBERS
OF THE COMMITTEE. I AM THE CHIEF
ADVOCACY OFFICER HABITAT FOR
HUMANITY. I AM HERE TODAY TO
URGE YOU TO BOTH MOVE FASTER ON
THE INTERIM LEGISLATION THAT WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE, BUT NOT
JUST THAT, BUT TO GO BIGGER.
TREAT THIS AS A FLOOR, NOT A
CEILING, ESPECIALLY AS YOU
CONTINUE TO FINISH THE OVERALL
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WORK. WE
RECENTLY FINISHED A PROJECT IN
CAPITAL HILL. ACTUALLY, THE
SECOND STACKED FLATS BUILDING. I
WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU THE LIVES
THAT HAVE BEEN CHANGED. BETWEEN
THESE TWO PROJECTS, OVER 31
FAMILIES NOW HAVE A PLACE TO
CALL HOME IN THE HEART OF
SEATTLE, INCLUDING JOURNALISTS,
EDUCATORS, SOCIAL WORKERS,
MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, EVEN A
PASTOR. EVERY ONE OF THOSE
PEOPLE CAN NOW SAY THEY ARE A
HOMEOWNER BECAUSE OF THE
OPPORTUNITIES THAT DENSITY CAN
BRING TO A COMMUNITY. DENSITY
THAT IS POSSIBLE ONLY WHEN WE
DON'T JUST DO THE BARE MINIMUM,
BUT WHEN WE STRIVE TO DO MORE.
TO BE MORE. WHEN PEOPLE LIKE ME
TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF
STACKED FLATS AND DENSITY, KNOW
THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT.
>> THANK YOU. NUMBER 17, 18, 19
AND 20.
>> TALK RIGHT INTO THE MIC. AS
LOUD AS YOU CAN.
>> HELLO. HELLO, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. THINK YOU FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY. WHERE HERE ON
BEHALF OF INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL.
LAST WEEK A GREEN LAKE GIANT
SEQUOIA WHICH CUT DOWN. HER NAME
WAS GRACE. SHE WAS HOME TO TWO
BIRD NESTS, BOTH CONTAINING BABY
BIRDS. IT WAS VERY SAD HEARING
THE HOME OF THESE BIRDS IS NOW
GONE. IF WE DO NOT START MAKING
LAWS TO SAVE OUR TREES, THINK
ABOUT HOW IT WILL AFFECT OUR
FUTURE. IN THE FUTURE, IF WE
DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TREES, THERE
WON'T BE ENOUGH NATURE, AIR,
SHADE, FOOD AND HABITATS FOR
ANIMALS. THERE WILL BE HEAT
ISLANDS, CARBON DIOXIDE AND
SMELL. THIS MONTH MAKE FOR A
HAPPY FUTURE FOR THE OLD AND THE
YOUNG.
>> THERE WON'T BE ENOUGH
FORESTS AND TREES TO ENJOY LIFE.
WHEN I AM IN NATURE, IT MAKES ME
FEEL CALMER, AS WELL AS HAPPIER.
>> WE WANT A TREE FILLED FUTURE.
SAVE A TREE, SAVE A GENERATION.
>> THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERATION
AND TIME.
>> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOU
ALL.
>> HARD ACT TO FOLLOW. IT
AFTERNOON. LIKE THE LORAX , I
SPEAK FOR THE TREES. I AM NOT AS
FUZZY AND NOT VERY GOOD
ACROBATICS, BUT I'M WILLING TO
DEFEND THESE MIRACLES OF NATURE
THAT ABSORB CARBON , FILTER
POLLUTED AIR, REDUCE HEAT
ISLANDS AND HELP US BECOME
CLIMATE RESILIENT. IF SETBACKS
IN THE INTERIM BILL ARE REDUCED
TO 10 FEET, EVERGREENS AND OAKS
AND ALL THE SAPLINGS LONGING TO
REACH THE SKY WON'T HAVE A
CHANCE, BECAUSE THEY WON'T HAVE
SPACE TO GROW. DOES THIS MEAN
I'M AGAINST HOUSING, ESPECIALLY
FOR BUS DRIVERS AND EDUCATORS
WHO DESPERATELY NEED IT? NOT AT
ALL. I AM FOR A CITY WITH
HOUSING FOR ALL, IDEALLY STACKED
FLATS, AND TREES WHERE PEOPLE
LIVE. SHOULD ADJUST PROPERTY
SETBACKS TO MATCH THE CURRENT
CODE. RIGHT NOW, DEVELOPERS
DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT. THEY CAN
PICK THE CODE THEY LIKE. DATING
BACK TO 2019. IT IS CALLED
VESTING. IF AN INTERIM CODE
PASSES THAT IS A GOOD FOR TREES,
DEVELOPERS CONFESSED THEIR
PROJECT. THE LORAX AND DR. SEUSS
WOULD BE VERY PUZZLED BY THIS
DECISION, ASKING WHY TREES AND
HOUSING --
>> THANK YOU. 19 AND 20.
>> HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M
SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF McDONALD
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ALSO. THIS IS
A MESSAGE FROM ALL OF US.
RECENTLY IN THE GREEN LAKE
NEIGHBORHOOD, GRACE THE GIANT
SEQUOIA WAS CUT DOWN TO BUILD A
DRIVEWAY. I JOINED THE FIGHT TO
SAVE IT, BUT WE LOST THE FIGHT,
BUT WE HAVE THAT LOST THE WAR
YET. THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER
TREES THAT NEED SAVING. I
NOTICED THAT PORTLAND HAS BETTER
LAWS PROTECTING TREES. THE
SEATTLE TREES ARE MANAGED BY THE
BUILDING DEPART, HIS MAIN
CONCERN IS BUILDING MORE. THE
PORTLAND TREES ARE MANAGED BY
THEIR URBAN FORESTRY DEPARTMENT,
WHICH IS ACTUALLY QUALIFIED TO
MANAGE TREES. ANOTHER THING IS
THAT PORTLAND SAYS THAT IF YOU
CUT DOWN A TREE, YOU MUST PAY A
HEFTY FINE TO REPLACE IT WITH A
GOOD QUALITY TREE. IN SEATTLE,
THERE IS NOT MUCH CONSEQUENCE TO
CUTTING DOWN TREES BUT THE WORST
PART IS THAT -- SEATTLE DOES
NOT. THIS MAKES ME WANT TO MOVE
TO PORTLAND. PLEASE PROTECT OUR
TREES FOR KIDS LIKE ME. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, NUMBER 20.
>> [ INAUDIBLE ]
>> HELLO. I AM A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD
THIRD-GENERATION SEATTLE BOY.
THIS WEEK I VISITED GRACE, THE
SEQUOIA TREE, BEFORE SHE WAS CUT
DOWN. I WEPT BECAUSE I WAS VERY
SAD, AND SOMETIMES THEY HAD TO
LOOK AWAY. MY MOM AND DAD
COLLECTED PINECONES TO GIVE TO
PEOPLE. THEY SAYING TO HER. I
FELT SAD, BECAUSE I KNEW I WOULD
NOT SEE HER AGAIN. I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT TO PROTECT THE ANCIENT
TREES, BECAUSE THEY CREATE A
HOME FOR SO MANY ANIMALS . THEY
MAKE OXYGEN FOR US TO BREEZE IN
SHADE TO KEEP US COOL. IN THE
SPRING, THE BLOSSOMS ARE SO
PRETTY. IN THE SUMMER, I LIKE TO
SIT DOWN UNDER MY FAVORITE TREE
AND READ A BOOK. BUT I WANT TO
SAY TO EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM IS
TO PLEASE PROTECT THE TREES FOR
THE CHILDREN OF THE CITY, AND
FOR THE FUTURE. JUST REMEMBER,
TREES ARE AWESOME. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THAT ONE, EVERYONE
CAN CLAP. THAT WAS GREAT. VERY
BRAVE OF YOU. WE'RE GOING TO
SWITCHBACK TO THE FEBRUARY FIT
SPEAKERS. WE HAVE TWO OF THEM.
GRANT AND KATE. YOU ARE
PRIORITIZED. NUMBER 21 AND
NUMBER 22 FOR GROUP B. WE ARE
BOUNCING BACK AND FORTH.
WELCOME. COME UP HERE, GRANT.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU. I AM HERE
ADVOCATING FOR A COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN THAT INCREASES DENSITY,
SUSTAINABILITY, AND MORE. IN MY
PROFESSIONAL CAPACITY, I AM AN
AIR QUALITY ENGINEER. I LOOK AT
THIS PLAN FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL
LENS. I WILL ADMIT I FIND QUITE
CONCERNING THE OFTEN USE OF
SUPER SKINNY CORRIDORS OF
DENSITY ACROSS THE CITY. THIS
BASICALLY MAKES RENTERS AS
SHIELDS FOR HOMEOWNERS ACROSS
THE CITY. I WOULD LOVE FOR
CORRIDORS TO BE WIDENED, BECAUSE
THE TRANSIT LINE, TO BE USEFUL.
SECOND, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO
CONSIDER FOR EVERYONE HERE THAT
TOWNHOMES CAN BE AFFORDABLE FOR
PEOPLE LIKE ME . $700,000 IS A
LOT MORE AFFORDABLE THAN 1.2
MILLION WHEN ME AND ALL MY
FRIENDS ARE TRYING TO BUY A
HOUSE THIS CENTURY ARE LOOKING
AT BUYING HOMES. THOSE ARE THE
OPTIONS WE HAVE. I URGE EVERYONE
TO CONSIDER THAT AS WELL. THANK
YOU.
>> THANKS FOR COMING BACK.
WELCOME.
>> I AM A LABORATORY SUPERVISOR
HERE IN SEATTLE. I HAVE A VERY
DIFFICULT TIME HIRING FOR OPEN
POSITIONS . THESE AREN'T
MINIMUM WAGE JOBS. THESE ARE
GOOD PAYING JOBS, $34 AN HOUR OR
MORE. CANDIDATES CAN'T FIND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING HERE IN
SEATTLE. THEY DON'T WANT TO
SPEND LONG HOURS COMMUTING FROM
FEDERAL WAY OR EVERETT, WHERE
HOUSING IS MORE AFFORDABLE.
SEATTLE NEEDS TO DO EVERYTHING
IT CAN TO BUILD MORE HOUSING .
APARTMENTS, CONDOS, MULTIPLEXES,
STACKED HOUSING, WHATEVER IT
TAKES. IF YOU WANT SETBACKS, YOU
WANT MORE TREES, MORE GREEN
SPACES, THAT'S FANTASTIC. THAT
IS AN ADMIRABLE GOAL. BUT LET'S
WORK ON ENFORCING THE LAWS WE
ALREADY HAVE THAT ARE PART OF
THIS PLAN. DON'T LET A
DEVELOPER JUST TAKE DOWN A TREE
IF IT IS NOT NECESSARY. ANY
PLAN, ANY AMENDMENT, MUST GIVE
US MORE HOUSING UNITS. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, KATE. NUMBERS 21
THROUGH 30. YOU ARE UP. BEFORE
YOU GO, ARE YOU HERE, TRAVIS?
YOU ARE PRIORITIZED FROM
FEBRUARY 5. EXPEDITED SERVICE.
LEAVE US A FIVE-STAR REVIEW ON
GOOGLE. I SAW THE REVIEWS FOR
COUNCIL, THEY ARE NOT TOO GOOD.
GO AHEAD, TRAVIS. THANK YOU FOR
COMING.
>> -- THEN WE DO 21 THROUGH 34,
THE FOLKS AT SIGNED UP TODAY.
>> THE QUESTION FOR YOU, BEFORE
YOU TODAY, IS, DO YOU LETTER
NUMBER HERDS BECOME ENCLAVES FOR
THE RICH, OR DID THEY WELCOME
PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS? IF
YOU WANT NEIGHBORHOODS THAT
WELCOME EVERYONE, WE HAVE TO GET
MIDDLE HOUSING RIGHT. THIS MEANS
REJECTING THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS FOR INCREASED
SETBACKS AND MANDATORY HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY, WHICH ARE POISON
PILLS TO ENSURE THAT NOTHING
GETS BUILT. SETBACKS REDUCE THE
FLEXIBILITY FOR DESIGNING HOMES
TO FIT EXISTING CONDITIONS. NHA
REQUIREMENTS WILL MAKE MIDDLE
HOUSING COST PROHIBITIVE,
ENSURING NOTHING GETS BUILT.
INSTEAD, TO MAKE HOUSING MORE
AFFORDABLE, LET'S REDUCE THE
BARRIERS TO BUILDING, BECAUSE
OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE FOR
EVERYONE, NOT JUST THE WEALTHY.
>> THANK YOU, TRAVIS. NUMBERS 21
THROUGH 30 OUR NEXT. GO AHEAD.
>> CLAIMANT OWN THE MOTOR IN
GREEN LAKE. I AM HERE TO URGE
ALL OF YOU TO PLEASE PASS THE
INTERIM COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
QUICKLY AS A STEP TOWARDS A MORE
LIVABLE AND VIBRANT SEATTLE. I
WAS FORTUNATE TO BUY MY FIRST
HOME WHEN I WAS 23. IT WAS A
TOWNHOME. THAT HAS SET ME UP
SINCE TO HAVE STABLE HOUSING THE
REST OF MY LIFE. I WANT ALL OF
MY NEIGHBORS TO HAVE THAT
OPPORTUNITY. RIGHT NOW, THEY
DON'T HAVE THAT OPTION. THEY
DON'T HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
WHERE HOUSING DENSITY WILL
INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MY
NEIGHBORS AND SUPPORT THE
THRIVING SMALL BUSINESSES AND
USABLE TROUNCE IT TO HELP ME IN
MY MET -- NEIGHBORS DRIVE. I AM
SURE WE CAN COME UP WITH REASONS
NOT TO PASS THIS PLAN AS LONG AS
WE NEEDED TO, BUT THAT WOULD GET
US WHERE HOUSING OR DENSITY ANY
MORE LIVABLE CITY. THANK YOU.
>> NUMBER 22.
>> THANKS, EVERYONE. I AM WITH
TREE ACTION SEATTLE. I'M ASKING
YOU TO PLEASE PASS THE SETBACK
AMENDMENT. ALONG WITH THE TREE
EQUITY NETWORK AND URBAN
FORESTRY COMMISSION, WE ASK THAT
THE COMP PLAN SET ASIDE A
FLEXIBLY LOCATED TREE AREA ON
EACH SITE. PORTLAND HAS HAD THIS
SINCE 2015. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS
BILL DOES NOT HAVE THAT, BUT IT
DOES REDUCE SETBACKS, WHICH IS
THE ONLY PLACE THAT MIGHT
CONTAIN A TREE. DEVELOPERS WILL
BE SUBMITTING HUNDREDS OF
PROJECTS UNDER THIS CODE . THERE
IS NO GOING BACK ONCE WE PAVE
OVER THE LAST TREES IN PLACES
LIKE BEACON HILL TREE DESERT
WHERE OZONE AND URBAN HEAT
ISLANDS CAUSE ASTHMA AND CANCER.
TREES DELAYED ARE TREES DENIED
FOR THE COMMUNITIES THAT WILL
LOSE THEM UNDER THIS BILL.
PLEASE RETAIN SETBACKS, WHICH
ARE THE ONLY PLACE THAT TREES
CAN GROW. THANK YOU.
>> NUMBER 23.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL. I AM A
FOUNDING MEMBER OF FORTIN CREEK
ALLIANCE A MEMBER OF TREES AND
PEOPLE COALITION. WE ARE ASKING
FOR PROTECTION FOR OUR SALMON
AND OR CAUSE. SEATTLE IS SALMON
HABITAT. TREES WILL PROTECT ALL
OF THOSE . BY PROTECTING
EXISTING TREES, STEEP SLOPES AND
STREAM CORRIDORS, YOU ARE
PROTECTING ORCAS AND SALMON.
STICK WITH THE CURRENT
WASHINGTON CODE . TREES IN
HOUSING CAN COEXIST TO PROVIDE
SHADE, CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER ,
AND A CITY THAT TRULY PROVIDES
ACTUAL AFFORDABLE, HEALTHY
NEIGHBORHOODS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NUMBER 24 .
>> GOOD EVENING. TWO YEARS AGO I
SAT HERE AS THE TREE PROTECTION
ORDINANCE WAS PASSED BY THIS
COUNCIL. WE WERE TOLD THAT THAT
WOULD PROTECT 170,000 TREES . I
DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND THAT.
YOU'VE HEARD STORIES ABOUT THIS
VICTORY IN BROADVIEW THAT WAS
CUT DOWN JUST LAST FRIDAY. IT
WAS NOT ONE OF THOSE 170,000.
WHAT DOES THE ORDINANCE REALLY
PROTECT? THIS TREE WAS CUT DOWN
FOR ANY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, EVEN
MIDDLE HOUSING. IT WASN'T BUILT
OR CUT DOWN FOR DENSITY. THIS
TREE, THE GREEN LAKE SEQUOIA WAS
CUT DOWN FOR A DRIVEWAY. WHAT
TREES ARE WE TRULY PROTECTING?
WE ARE TOLD WE ARE PROTECTING
170,000 TREES. WE ARE NOT REALLY
PROTECTING ANY TREES IF
DEVELOPERS CAN CUT THEM ALL
DOWN. WE KNOW IT, AND YOU KNOW
IT . IT IS TIME TO CHANGE THAT.
AS A FIRST STEP TO THAT, WE ASK
YOU TO ADOPT AMENDMENT AIDS THAT
ALLOWS FOR THE LARGER SETBACKS
WE CURRENTLY HAVE. ADOPT THAT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. NUMBER 25.
>> THANK YOU. I AM THE DIRECTOR
OF ADVOCACY AND CLEAN AND
RENTER. I APPRECIATE ALL THE
HARD WORK THAT IS GONE INTO
GETTING HOUSE BILL 1110
IMPLEMENTED. WE HAVE A HOUSING
SHORTAGE. OUR NEIGHBORS NEED
HOMES, BUT THE COMPETITION FOR
LIMITED HOUSING IS DRIVING UP
PRICES. YOUNG PEOPLE CAN'T
AFFORD TO RENT IN THE
NEIGHBORHOODS THEY GROW UP AND
SENIORS CAN AFFORD TO STAY.
ENSURING THAT WE CAN HAVE
STACKED FLATS IS EXACTLY THE
KIND OF INFILL WE NEED TO PAIR
WITH A BOLD COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
WITH NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS ALL
AROUND TOWN. PLEASE PASS THE
INTERIM ORDINANCE AND GET TO THE
COMP PLAN WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY
AND KEEP BUILDING FOR A
BEAUTIFUL SEATTLE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NUMBER 26.
>> I AM A CAPITAL HILL RENTER .
I AM CALLING ON THE COUNCIL TO
PASS THE INTERIM PLAN, FOLLOWED
BY THE MOST AMBITIOUS FORM
POSSIBLE OF THE COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN , AS SOON AS YOU CAN. WE,
AS A CITY, HAVE BEEN TRYING TO
FIGHT OUR OWN GROWTH FOR AS LONG
AS I CAN REMEMBER. IT IS
CONSISTENTLY THE MOST HONORABLE
WHO PAY THE PRICE. HIGHER RENTS,
BEING DISPLACED OUT OF THE CITY,
AND IN SOME CASES, ENDING UP ON
THE STREETS. WE NEED MORE
HOUSING, AND WE NEED TO GET
STARTED TODAY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. NUMBER 28
-- 27.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH AND THE REST OF
THE COMMITTEE. I AM A RENTER IN
DISTRICT 6 IN ORGANIZER WITH
TECH FOR HOUSING. I'M HERE
TODAY TO URGE THE COUNCIL TO
PRIORITIZE RENTERS AS MUCH AS
POSSIBLE IN THE COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN UPDATE PROCESS. FOR THE
PAST HUNDRED OR SO YEARS,
WIDESPREAD SINGLE-FAMILY ZONING
HAS MADE IT LARGELY ILLEGAL TO
BUILD NEW HOUSING. ABOUT 70% OF
THE RESIDENTIAL LAND. THIS HAS
MADE A LOT OF HOMEOWNERS VERY
WEALTHY, BUT HAS SADDLED RENTERS
WITH EVER-INCREASING RENTS AND
PUSH THEM ONTO DIRTY AND
POLLUTED ARTERIALS. PLEASE
LEGALIZE LOTS OF NEW HOUSING AND
LOTS OF NEW PLACES AND
SUBSIDIZING HOUSING AS MUCH AS
POSSIBLE BY TAXING WEALTHY
PEOPLE AND WEALTHY CORPORATIONS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, CALVIN. NUMBER 28.
>> I AM A PROUD RESIDENT OF
DISTRICT 1 IN WEST SEATTLE.
FIRST TIME HERE. HAPPY TO BE
HERE. I WANT TO LEND MY VOICE TO
THE CHORUS OF FOLKS ASKING FOR
MORE AMBITIOUS HOUSING POLICY
AND NOT JUST WAITING ON THE
STATE OR CITY OF SPOKANE TO LEAD
THE WAY. I WANT SEATTLE TO BE AT
THE FOREFRONT OF THIS. I MOVED
HERE TWO YEARS AGO. I ABSOLUTELY
LOVE LIVING HERE AND WANT TO
SHARE WITH MORE PEOPLE. THINK
YOU VERY MUCH. I HOPE YOU CAN
CONTINUE TO MOVE THE WAY AND
LEADS OUR. THANK YOU.
>> NUMBER 29, FOLLOWED BY NUMBER
30.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS.
>> YOU CAN PULL THE MIC. RESTART
HIS TIME. GO AHEAD .
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. I AM A RENTER IN THE
CAPITAL HILL NEIGHBORHOOD. I
CURRENTLY LIVE IN AN MFT
APARTMENT. BY THE END OF THIS
YEAR, I WILL BE PRICED OUT OF
THAT HOME. ME AND MY GIRLFRIEND
ENJOY LIVING IN THE CITY. SHE
NEEDS TO LIVE IN THE CITY DUE TO
THE PUBLIC TRANSIT. SHE CANNOT
DRIVE DUE TO BEING LEGALLY BLIND
. SORRY. MY FIRST TIME. I URGE
THE COUNCIL TO ADOPT THE
ORDINANCE, AND ALSO ADOPT THE
COMP PLAN. I WANT TO LIVE HERE
FOR A GOOD WHILE. I REALLY LIKE
THE CITY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. YOU DID A GOOD
JOB. NUMBER 30 . BEFORE WE GO
THERE, NUMBER 31 THROUGH 40, IF
YOU COULD THANK YOU, CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH THE MEMBERS OF THE
COUNCIL. I AM A SOCIAL WORK
STUDENT. I JUST COMPLETED MY
PRACTICUM WITH THE SCHOOL
SYSTEM. I HAVE NOT BEEN
PRACTICING IN KING COUNTY VERY
LONG, BUT IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG
TO NOTICE HOW MANY OF MY CLIENTS
WERE IMPACTED BY THE HOUSING
CRISIS IN THE AREA. MANY OF
YOUTH AND FAMILIES I WORK WITH
IN NEED OF BEHAVIORAL AND
ACADEMIC INTERVENTION ARE
STRUGGLING, IN PART, BECAUSE
THEIR PARENTS COULD NOT AFFORD
HOUSING IN THE AREA AND ENDED UP
HAVING TO GO TO A SHELTER OR
MOVE IN WITH GRANDPARENTS. THIS
IS WHY I ASKED THAT YOU PASS THE
INTERIM HOUSING ORDINANCE AND
ADOPT THE FULL ONE SEATTLE PLAN
BEFORE SUMMER RECESS.
>> THANK YOU. NOW WE HAVE 31
THROUGH 40. >> I WAS FORTUNATE O
BUY A TINY STARTER HOME ON A
LARGE LOT IN GREENWOOD DURING
THE HOUSING CRASH. NOW THE
NEARLY 80-YEAR-OLD HOUSE IS
CONSIDERED A TEAR DOWN. ARE NOW
PREPARING TO REDEVELOP IT TO
MAXIMUM DENSITY. I WOULD LIKE TO
PAY MY GOOD HOUSING FORTUNE TO
FUTURE RESIDENTS. IN ADDITION TO
STACKED FLATS, I'M ASKING FOR
TWO CHANGES FROM THE ONE SEATTLE
PLAN TO BE IMPLEMENTED NOW.
ALLOW GREATER DENSITY
PROPORTIONATE TO LOT SIZE, ONE
UNIT PER 50 SQUARE FEET, ALLOW
SIX DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE
FREQUENT TRANSIT AREA. MY 7500
SQUARE FOOT LOT WITH ALLOW SIX
UNITS VERSUS FOUR UNDER THE
INTERIM BILL BECAUSE MY LOT IS
BIG. IT IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR
INCREASED. A SMALLER LOT COULD
READ THAT RESULT IN EVEN BIGGER
UNITS. IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
ALL OF THIS WILL MAKE NORTH
SEATTLE WHERE LARGE LOTS ARE
PREVALENT LESS DENSE THAN OTHER
AREAS. NOW IS THE TIME TO NOT BE
DOING THE BARE MINIMUM. PLEASE
HELP BUILD GREATER DENSITY NOW.
>> THANK YOU. NUMBER 32.
>> HELLO. I'M HERE TO URGE YOU
TO PASS THE INTERIM ORDINANCE
WITHOUT DELAY. WE'RE IN A
HOUSING CRISIS AND NEED MORE
HOUSING BUILT AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE. PLEASE REMOVE THE
MINIMUM UNIT SIZE A MINIMUM LOT
SIZE FOR STACKED FLATS. THESE
ARE THE MOST AFFORDABLE FORMS OF
HOUSING WE CAN PUT IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS. WE NEED TO
MASSIVELY REDUCE RESTRICTIONS ON
THESE TO ENSURE THEY GET BUILT.
I ALSO URGE YOU TO ALLOW SIX
COMPLEXES IN THE FREQUENT
SERVICE AREA, GOING ABOVE AND
BEYOND THE STATE REQUIRED
MINIMUMS. WE NEED MORE HOUSING.
IT SHOULD BE A PRIORITY. I ALSO
URGE YOU TO NOT PUT RENTERS
ALONG THE MOST POLLUTED
ARTERIALS IN THE CITY. WE NEED
TO BUILD MORE HOUSING. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, NUMBER 33.
>> REGARDING COUNSELING MEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH'S AMENDMENT ON
DISPLACEMENT, PLEASE IDENTIFY
NOW THE 25% OF INTERLOCKS THAT
CAN BE EXCLUDED FROM ZONING. WE
NEED TO HEAD OFF SPECULATION.
EXCLUDE FROM UPSCALING THE MOST
SENSITIVE AND FORESTED AREAS,
AND ALSO NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE
THERE ARE THE MOST RENTAL
HOUSES. IF YOU LOOK AT WHERE
RENTAL HOUSES ARE, THAT IS OFTEN
WHERE POOR FAMILIES ARE. THAT IS
OUR EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WHERE I AM, THE NORTH END, THERE
ARE 12 RENTAL HOUSES WITHIN ONE
BLOCK OF MY HOUSE . WHEN PRIVATE
EQUITY COMES AND BUYS THE 1000
HOUSES THEY ARE SAYING THEY
WILL, ALL THOSE RENTAL HOUSES
WILL BE DEMOLISHED FOR LUXURY
HOUSING. THE GOAL OF THE MISSING
MIDDLE LEGISLATION IS TO CREATE
MORE VARIETY OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, NOT THE LUXURY HOMES
WITH SMALL SETBACKS ENCOURAGING
THEM. THE INTERIM LEGISLATION
WAS PRIORITIZE BEFORE THE
MISSING MIDDLE WAS DEVELOPED.
PLEASE, THE 20 FEET SETBACKS,
VOTE FOR THE NUMBER EIGHT
AMENDMENT AND MAKE HOUSING
COMPATIBLE WITH NEIGHBORHOODS
THAT EXIST IN SCALE AND FORM.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE
NUMBER 34.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. AMENDMENTS TO
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN MUST
INCLUDE A GREATER PERCENTAGE OF
LANDSCAPED GROUND, ESPECIALLY IN
LOTS. PLANNING MUST PROTECT
TREES, WHICH ARE OUR MAIN
DEFENSE AGAINST WARMING AND
POLLUTION. I SUPPORT COUNCIL
MEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH AND MOORE
AMENDMENT. I'M ALSO ASKING YOU
TO CORRECT AN ERROR IN THE
PROPOSED ZONING. OUR STREET HAS
LONG BEEN ETHNICALLY DIVERSE. IT
HAS RECENTLY DOUBLED IN
POPULATION ALREADY. THE EASTERN
HALF OF MY BLOCK OF WALLINGFORD
NORTH IS NOW TO BE UP STONED TO
ALLARDT 1, SUPPOSEDLY BASED ON
BE ONE QUARTER MILE FROM RAPID
TRANSIT, WHICH WE ARE NOT, BOTH
SIDES OF THE STREET SHOULD BE
AND ARE. WE CALL ON YOU TO
CORRECT THIS. A DEVELOPER IN THE
URBAN IS CALLED THE AMENDMENTS A
POISON PILL. A POISON PILL WILL
BE FINDING IN 20 YEARS THAT
NEVER HURTS RD NEEDED OF GREEN
CANOPY AND BECOME HEAT ISLANDS.
PROTECT MORE TREES.
>> THANK YOU. NUMBER 35.
>> HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I AM
AN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER LIVING
IN RENTON RIGHT NOW. I WAS
PRICED OUT OF CAPITOL HILL. I
MISS IT A LOT. I WOULD LOVE TO
COME BACK. I URGE THE COUNCIL TO
ADOPTED BOTH COPPERHEADS A PLAN
THAT PRIORITIZES DENSER HOUSING.
IF EVEN PROFESSIONALS LIKE ME
WHO PRIORITIZE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND HAVE FIVE YEARS
EXPERIENCE IN AN ARCHITECTURAL
OFFICE CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE
HERE, WE NEED TO MOVE FAST AND
ACT BOLD. AGAIN, URGE THE
COUNCIL, PLEASE BUILD TALLER,
FASTER AND PASS THE ORDINANCE
WITHOUT DELAY.
>> THANK YOU. NUMBER 36. HALL
>> HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THANKS FOR HAVING ME. I AM A
SMALL BUSINESS OWNER . I RUN
BALLOT BACKYARD COLLEGES. I CAN
STAND HERE BEFORE YOU AND SAY
I'VE BEEN BUILT 15 AND HAVE NOT
CUT DOWN ANY TREES ARE TORN DOWN
ANY SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCES. IT
IS EXTREMELY HARD TO DO THAT .
THERE IS A LOT OF REGULATIONS, A
LOT OF RULES I HAVE TO FOLLOW.
EVERY TIME I TURNED THE CORNER,
THERE IS ANOTHER THING I HAVE TO
GET INSPECTED. I'M A SPECIALIST
AT METHANE DISPERSAL SYSTEMS,
THANKS TO JENNA C-PARK. -- JENNA
C-PARK. A BIG BAD DEVELOPER IS A
BIG BAD DEVELOPER. THE CITY
NEEDS AN ARMY OF PEOPLE LIKE ME.
I CAN'T SOLVE THE WHOLE
PROBLEM, BUT IF THERE IS 1000 OF
ME, THAT IS A WHOLE BUNCH OF
LITTLE HOMES . THEY REALLY FIT
INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND ARE
GREAT FOR EVERYBODY. THANK YOU.
>> NUMBER 37 THROUGH 40.
>> I LIVE IN THE DISTRICT OF
CATHY MOORE. I'M HERE TODAY TO
ASKED THE CITY COUNCIL TO PASS
THE INTERIM LEGISLATION WITHOUT
DELAY AND ADOPT THE ONE SEATTLE
BEFORE THE SUMMER RECESS. IF
WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT USING THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SEATTLE A
MORE RACIALLY AND EQUITABLE
CITY, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT EACH
NEIGHBORHOOD IS CONTRIBUTING A
FAIR SHARE TOWARDS GROWTH. NO
CLAIMS ABOUT EXISTING
NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER, FALSE
THAT COMEDIES ABOUT TREES VERSUS
HOUSING, MULTIFAMILY VERSUS
CHARACTER, HATRED OF DEVELOPERS
ARE WORTH ENTERTAINING WHILE
PEOPLE ARE LIVING ON THE STREETS
ARE STRUGGLING TO AFFORD TO LIVE
WHERE THEY WORK. EVERY DELAY
INCREASES THE COST OF BUILDING
PROJECT, COSTS A FAMILY
STABILITY, RISK SOMEONE SLIPPING
INTO HOMELESS AT A TIME WHERE
SOCIAL SUPPORTS ARE WITHERING.
INCREASING THE SUPPLY ITSELF
WON'T FIX THE HOUSING CRISIS,
BUT IT WILL INEVITABLY WORSEN
WHEN THERE IS NOT ENOUGH SUPPLY.
ALLOWING FOR MORE HOUSING TYPES
AND MORE COMMUNITIES IS
FOUNDATIONAL TO ADDRESSING THIS
CRISIS. SEATTLE CANNOT WAIT ANY
LONGER. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. GOOD
AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I
SERVE AS THE COCHAIR OF THE
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION AND A
RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 7. I SHARE
THIS PUBLIC COMMENT ON BEHALF OF
THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION FOR
THE CITY OF SEATTLE. SEATTLE
HOUSING CRISIS DEMANDS BOLD
ACTION. OUR CITY IS BECOMING
INCREASINGLY UNAFFORDABLE FOR
FAMILIES, SENIORS, AND ESSENTIAL
WORKERS. TEACHERS, FOSTER CARE
WORKERS, EMERGENCY RESPONDERS,
AND MORE. EXCLUSIONARY ZONING
HAS MADE IT HARDER TO BUILD
ENOUGH HOMES, DRIVING UP PRICES,
AND DEEPENING RACIAL AND
ECONOMIC DISPARITIES. THIS IS A
HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE. THIS IS AN
ISSUE THAT HAS PLAGUED SEATTLE
LONGER THAN I THINK SOME OF US
EVEN RECOGNIZE. WE URGE YOU TO
ACT NOW TO PASS THE INTERIM
ZONING ORDINANCE WITHOUT DELAY.
THIS ENSURES SEATTLE COMPLIES
WITH HB 110 AND ALLOWS TRIPLEXES
AND TOWNHOMES AND RESIDENTIAL
NEIGHBORHOODS. IT IS A LEGAL
MINIMUM AND NECESSARY STEP. WE
MUST GO FURTHER. WE ASK THAT YOU
ADOPT THE FULL CASH
>> --
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE 39,
FOLLOWED BY 40. YOU ARE 40. 39.
IS RICK IN THE BUILDING? ARE YOU
HERE? SUZANNE .
>> HELLO. THIS PAST WEEK I
WITNESSED TWO MAGNIFICENT TREES
BEING MURDERED THE MIGHTY DOLLAR
CUT THEM DOWN . IF YOU HAD BEEN
THERE, YOU COULD'VE SEEN THERE
WAS ROOM ON THE LOT FOR HOUSING
AND TREES. FIVE YEARS AGO, THIS
TREE WAS CUT DOWN. YESTERDAY I
TOOK THIS PICTURE OF WHAT WAS
PLANTED TO QUOTE UNQUOTE REPLACE
THE CANOPY. IN 2019, YOU
PROMISED A REPLACEMENT WOULD
HAPPEN, BUT NO LONGER. RESTORE
TREE PLANTING PROVISIONS.
PROTECT HERITAGE IN TIER 2
TREES. SURELY UNDERSTAND WHY. I
AM AN ADVOCATE FOR BUILDING
HOUSING THAT INCLUDES NEARBY
TREES, WHICH PROVIDE A HEALTHY
ENVIRONMENT FOR THE RESIDENTS.
DON'T GIVE UP. REQUIRE
SETBACKS. SUPPORT CM MOORE'S
AMENDMENT. DON'T GIVE INTO
DEVELOPER TO COVER EVERY INCH OF
ÉLAN TO MAXIMIZE PROFITS. THERE
ARE ALTERNATIVE DESIGNS THAT CAN
PRESERVE TREES AND BUILD
HOUSING. DON'T GO INTO THE
DEVELOPER'S GREED. THANK YOU.
>> 41 THROUGH 50. START LINING
UP. IS RAFAEL STILL IN THE
BUILDING? TELL ME WHAT BUILDING
YOU WILL GET PRICED OUT OF ?
THAT IS MY CARD. I WOULD LIKE TO
KNOW. MATT, YOU ARE NEXT.
WELCOME. BEFORE YOU START. 41
THROUGH 50.
>> HELLO. I AM THE COCHAIR OF
THE HOUSING COMMITTEE OF THE
SEATTLE PLANNING COMMISSION. THE
SEATTLE PLANNING COMMISSION
RECOMMENDS LIMITING AMENDMENTS
TO THE INTERIM LEGISLATION TO
JUST ADJUSTING THE DENSITY
MEASUREMENTS TO ALIGN WITH THE
PROPOSED PERMANENT LEGISLATION,
ALLOWING A DENSITY OF ONE PER
1250 SQUARE FEET OF LOT AREA,
RATHER THAN FOUR TO SIX UNITS
PER LOT REGARDLESS OF SIZE. THE
COMMISSION SUPPORTS THE GOALS OF
PREVENTING DISPLACEMENT,
PROMOTING STACKED FLATS,
IMPROVING STREET CONDITIONS, AND
INCREASING HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY. WE ARE EAGER TO
SEE THE INTERIM LEGISLATION
PASSED AND COUNCIL MOVE ON TO
THE PERMANENT LEGISLATION WHERE
WE CAN REALLY ADDRESS THESE
GOALS. THE COMMISSION IS
ESPECIALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS. ADDITIONAL
HOUSING CAPACITY ACROSS THE CITY
CONSISTENT WITH THE INTENT OF HB
1110 WILL HELP OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
HAVE MORE PEOPLE OF ALL INCOME
LEVELS AND UNLOCK ACCESS TO
NEIGHBORHOOD AMENITIES LIKE
GRADE SCHOOLS AND PARKS.
>> THANK YOU. NUMBER 42.
>> WHAT HE SAID. THAT'S WHAT I
WANT TO SAY. I AM A HOE NO
MATTER -- HOMEOWNER IN THE MAPLE
LEAF NEIGHBORHOOD HERE IN
SUPPORT OF THE LEGISLATION, THE
ONE SEATTLE PLAN, AND HE
LEGISLATION AND URGING COUNCIL
TO ADOPT THAT AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE. I WOULD ALSO ASK YOU
TO VOTE AGAINST COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE'S AMENDMENT, WHICH WOULD
EFFECTIVELY KILL MIDDLE HOUSING
BY REQUIRING YARDS AND SETBACKS
IN EVERY RESIDENTIAL ZONE.
SEATTLE HAS A REPUTATION OF
BEING A FORWARD THINKING
PROGRESSIVE CITY. WHY NOT IN THE
HOUSING POLICIES? CAN WE LOOK TO
OTHER CITIES LIKE BERLIN,
STOCKHOLM THAT COMBINE
MULTIFAMILY HOUSING WITH TREES
AND COMMUNITY AMENITIES -- AND
DON'T HAVE THE KIND OF SETBACKS
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT? CLEARLY,
WE CAN'T KEEP DRIVING FORWARD
WHILE LOOKING IN THE REARVIEW
MIRROR, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY
WHAT THE AMENDMENT DOES. I URGE
YOU TO VOTE AGAINST THE
AMENDMENT AND DON'T DELAY
ADOPTING A PLAN THAT ALLOWS FOR
MORE INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO OUR
HOUSING CRISIS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NUMBER 43.
>> I AM FROM DISTRICT 1 . I'M
GUESSING THESE TREE PEOPLE
ALREADY OWN HOMES. WHAT A NICE
LUXURY TO TALK ABOUT TREES. THIS
IS NOT JUST ABOUT HOUSING, IT IS
ABOUT GETTING TO PARTICIPATE IN
OUR COMMUNITIES AND DEMOCRACY.
WILL PEOPLE LEAVE SEATTLE, THEY
DON'T JUST LEAVE OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS, THEY LEAVE
REPRESENTATION. WASHINGTON IS ON
THE BRINK OF LOSING
CONGRESSIONAL SEATS BECAUSE WE
AREN'T GOING FAST ENOUGH, THAT
MEANS WE LOSE A VOICE IN
CONGRESS. IT MEANS LESS POWER TO
SHAPE NATIONAL DECISIONS THAT
DIRECTLY AFFECT OUR LIVES FROM
CLIMATE CHANGE TO HEALTHCARE TO
CIVIL RIGHTS. I AM ASKING YOU TO
SUPPORT FREE-FORM, REFORM, SO WE
DON'T PUSH HOMEOWNERS SO THEY
CAN ADD A UNIT OR TWO. INCREASE
STACKED FLATS TO 1.6 TO REMOVE
LOT SIZES MINIMUMS. THESE ARE
BASIC STEPS TO LETTING PEOPLE
LIVE HERE. REJECT MANDATORY
HOUSING FEES THAT WOULD STRANGLE
SMALL PROJECTS BEFORE THEY
START, AND PROTECT FLEXIBLE
SETBACKS. SO BUILDERS CAN WORK
WITH LAND, NOT AGAINST IT. THANK
YOU.
>> NUMBER 44. I AM A HOMEOWNER
IN WEST SEATTLE. I'M ASKING YOU
TO PASS THE INTERIM MIDDLE
HOUSING ORDINANCE AS PROPOSED
AND WORK WITH URGENCY TO PASS
THE BOLDEST POSSIBLE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. MY HUSBAND
AND I HAVE SPENT THE LAST FEW
YEARS TRYING TO SET THE STAGE
FOR MY AGING DISABLED DAD AND
DEPENDENT DISABLED BROTHER TO BE
ABLE TO LIVE CLOSE TO US. THERE
IS A SERIOUS SHORTAGE OF DIVERSE
HOUSING ACROSS SEATTLE,
ESPECIALLY ACCESSIBLE HOUSING.
WE HAVE DECIDED TO BUILD AN A TO
YOU IN OUR BACKYARD. ARE LOT HAS
NO TREES. THE PERFECT PLACE FOR
MY DAD AND BROTHER. BUT ZONING
RULES, INCLUDING LOT COVERAGE
LIMITS AND SETBACKS, HAVE MADE
IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DO. I
CANNOT ADEQUATELY EXPRESS TO YOU
HOW STRESSFUL IT HAS BEEN
SPENDING A LIMBO OF UNCERTAINTY
WHILE THEIR LIVING SITUATION
DETERIORATES. THE NEED FOR THIS
LEGISLATION IS URGENT FOR ME AND
OTHERS LIKE ME. PLEASE ACT WITH
URGENCY TO ADDRESS THE SHORTAGE
OF DIVERSE HOUSING THAT EVERYONE
IN SEATTLE FEELS THE EFFECTS OF.
>> THANK YOU. NUMBER 45.
>> I HAVE LIVED IN DISTRICT 7
FOR OVER 25 YEARS . I AM A
DESIGNER BY TRAINING. I WANT TO
SAY THAT GOOD DESIGN MEANS WE
CAN HAVE BOTH HOUSING AND TREES.
WITH THAT, I JUST WANTED TO READ
SOME QUOTES UNTIL MY TIME IS UP.
A GROVE OF GIANT REDWOODS OR
SEQUOIAS SHOULD BE KEPT JUST AS
WE KEEP A GREAT OR BEAUTIFUL
CATHEDRAL . THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
OF ALL MAN'S WORKS OF ART, A
CATHEDRAL IS GREATEST, A VAST A
MAJESTIC TREE IS GREATER THAN
THAT. BETWEEN EVERY TWO PLANES
IS A DOORWAY TO A NEW WORLD.
JOHN MUIR. SOMEONE IS SITTING IN
THE SHADE TODAY BECAUSE SOMEONE
PLANTED A TREE A LONG TIME AGO.
WARREN BUFFET. THE CREATION OF A
FOREST IS IN ONE ACORN. RALPH
WALDO EMERSON. LEARN CHARACTER
FROM TREES .
>> THANK YOU. NUMBER 46. THERE
CROSSED OFF. OKAY. NUMBER 47.
CYMRU -- WE WON'T START UNTIL
YOU DO.
>> I AM A RENTER IN DISTRICT 3.
LAST SEPTEMBER MY PARTNER AND I
RELOCATED TO SEATTLE FROM TEXAS
WITH ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS
BEING THE CITYSCAPE IN THE URBAN
ENVIRONMENT IN SEATTLE IS SIMPLY
UNPARALLELED BY NEARLY ALL OF
TEXAS. IN SAN ANTONIO, WHERE WE
LIVED, THE ONLY HOUSING
DEVELOPMENTS OUTSIDE THE URBAN
CORE ARE GATED APARTMENT
COMPLEXES AND LIFELESS
SINGLE-FAMILY DETACHED HOMES SET
SO FAR BACK IN THE SUMMER YOU
ARE DRENCHED IN SWEAT BY THE
TIME YOU FINISH CHECKING THE
MAIL. TO SHOP, I HAD NO CHOICE
BUT TO DRIVE TO STRIP MALLS FULL
OF HALF-EMPTY PARKING LOTS. FOR
THE TREE OBSESSED COMMENTERS
HERE, SPRAWL HARMS TREE CANOPIES
A LOT MORE THAN SMALL SETBACKS.
MY PARTNER AND I DO NOT WANT TO
LIVE IN A McMANSION HELL WITH
NOT EVEN A CONVENIENCE STORE IN
WALKING DISTANCE. WE WANT
DENSITY, WE WENT TO LIVE NEAR
LIGHT RAIL, WE WANT AFFORDABLE
OPTIONS SO WE CAN PLANT OUR
ROOTS AMONG THE SNOWCAPPED
MOUNTAINS AND THE CHERRY
BLOSSOMS. I NOW STAND BEFORE MY
CITY COUNCIL AND BIG TO IGNORE
INSINCERE --
>> THANK YOU. NUMBER 48.
>> I AM ACTUALLY A REAL ESTATE
BROKER. I SUPPORT DENSITY. WE
NEED DENSITY. WE NEED HOMES, BUT
WE ALSO NEED THE TREES. I
SUPPORT CATHY MOORE'S
AMENDMENT. THE SETBACKS SHOULD
NOT BE LESS THAN 20 FEET. SHOULD
BE EVEN MORE THAN THAT. I JUST
WITNESSED A TREE THAT WAS CUT
DOWN IN A NEIGHBORHOOD I LIVE IN
THAT SUPPORTED THE ENVIRONMENT,
SUPPORTED THE ANIMALS AND
PEOPLE. THIS WAS AN 8000
SQUARE-FOOT LOT THAT COULD HAVE
SUPPORTED THREE HOMES, BUT THE
DEVELOPER CHOSE TO JUST TEAR THE
TREE DOWN, JUST BECAUSE STASH IT
WASN'T EVEN AFFECTING THE
PROPERTY. I THINK THERE SHOULD
BE MORE RESEARCH DONE SO THEY
KNOW THAT THESE TREES, SOME OF
THEM DON'T HANDICAP THE LOT.
THEY ARE DESTROYING THEM JUST TO
DESTROY THEM. THE DEVELOPER EVEN
SAID THAT. I AM TAKING THIS DOWN
BECAUSE I CAN. THE LAWS FOR
TREES NEED TO BE AMENDED. I
SUPPORT THE TREES.
>> THANK YOU. BEFORE WE GO ON ,
IF WE COULD HAVE NUMBERS 51
THROUGH 60 START LINING UP.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M A
CONSTITUENT IN RENTON FROM
DISTRICT TO CHECK. I'M SPEAKING
TODAY IN SUPPORT A BOLD,
DECISIVE AND SWIFT ACTION ON THE
SEATTLE HOUSING CRISIS. AS WE
ALL KNOW, THE STATE OF HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY IS NOTHING SHORT
OF A FIVE ALARM FIRE. IT IS
IMPERATIVE THAT THE INTERIM PLAN
IS PASSED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
RENTERS CANNOT AFFORD MORE
DELAY. I LOVE THE CHARM OF FRONT
YARDS OF QUEEN ANNE, BUT THE
LACK OF HOUSING CONTRIBUTES TO
THE TO THE HOMELESS AS I SEE
WHERE I LIVE IN BEACON HILL IN
DOWNTOWN. HOW MY NEIGHBORS CAN
BARELY AFFORD THEIR RENT. WE
SHOULD ENFORCE CURRENTLY LAWS
MORE EFFECTIVELY INSTEAD OF
PASSING SETBACK AMENDMENT THAT
RESTRICT HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.
FOR THE FULL IN SEATTLE PLAN
THAT WILL BE PASSED, HOPEFULLY
BEFORE SUMMER RECESS, WE NEED
EVERY SINGLE TOOL POSSIBLE AS
SOON AS POSSIBLE. OUR CITY NEEDS
MORE MY CURRENT RATE HOUSING,
MORE PUBLIC HOUSING, PROPERLY
FUNDED SOCIAL HOUSING, AND MORE
PROTECTIONS FOR US RENTERS.
ESPECIALLY IF WE DON'T BUILD
DENSER, THE DEMAND FOR HOUSING
WILL KEEP CLEARCUTTING PLACES .
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NUMBER 50.
>> I AM REPRESENTING OUR
COMMUNITY COUNCIL IN NORTHEAST
SEATTLE OF OVER 3500 RESIDENTS.
WE SUPPORT DENSITY, AND WE
SUPPORT MOST OF THE LEGISLATION
, ESPECIALLY THE AMENDMENTS
TODAY BY COUNCILMEMBER MOORE
THAT CLARIFIES SOME OF THE
COMPLEXITIES AND RETAINS A 20
FOOT SETBACK IN TREE RETENTION.
HOWEVER, THIS BILL ADMITS TO
IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS BY
LEGISLATORS WHO PASSED HB 1110.
MIDDLE HOUSING MEANS BUILDINGS
THAT ARE COMPATIBLE IN SCALE,
FORM AND CHARACTER WITH
SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSES. WE DON'T
SEE THAT IN THE LEGISLATION.
SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE
AMENDMENT. SECONDLY, TRANSIT
STOP MEANS, A STOP AT A HIGH
CAPACITY TRANSIT SYSTEM,
COMMUTER RAIL STOPS, STOPS ON A
RAIL OR FIXED GUIDEWAY SYSTEM OR
ROBERT -- RAPID TRANSIT ROUTES.
SEATTLE SHOWS THE DEFINITION
MEETING ANY FREQUENT BUS STOP.
BUS STOPS ARE NOT PERMANENT. WE
NEED TO BUILD THAT PERMANENT
LEGISLATION ONE QUARTER MILE OF
PERMANENT INFRASTRUCTURE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. NUMBER 50.
DID I SAY THAT RIGHT? WAS THAT
NUMBER 49? I'M SORRY. MY BAD.
NUMBER 51 .
>> I AM 51. I TRADED.
>> NUMBER 51 THROUGH 60.
>> THANK YOU. I IMPLORE YOU.
I'M NOT ASKING YOU, I IMPLORE
YOU, PROTECT WHAT WE HAVE HERE.
LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE GOT OUT
THERE. PUGET SOUND. WE HAVE THAT
GORGEOUS, DENSE TREE CANOPY.
YES, WE NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
ABSOLUTELY. I'M NOT A WEALTHY
PERSON BUT I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO
BE ABLE TO BUY 20 YEARS AGO THAT
HAS ENABLED ME TO LIVE THERE.
BUT WHAT SCARES ME ABOUT THIS
THAT YOU ARE PUSHING THROUGH IS
THAT WE CAN NEVER GO BACK. IF
YOU MAKE A MISTAKE, WE CAN'T
UNDO THIS BIG DEVELOPMENT PUSH ,
THE LOW INCOME UNITS YOU WANT TO
BUILD. I AGREE WE NEED THEM, BUT
WHAT IS A 20 FOOT SETBACK? THAT
WOULD ENABLE US TO KEEP THIS BIG
TREE CANOPY. AND WOULD ALSO HAVE
IMPORTANT ENVIRONMENTAL
BENEFITS, BECAUSE IT WOULD
PREVENT STORMWATER RUNOFF, WHICH
IS A MAJOR POLLUTANT IN PUGET
SOUND, WHICH IS A MAJOR REASON
FOR THE SOUTHERN RESIDENTS
DECLINE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. NUMBER 52
.
>> THANKS. GOOD EVENING. I AM A
LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER AND
RESIDENT. I'M HERE TO ASKED THE
CITY COUNCIL TO PROTECT OUR CITY
TREES. ON DEVELOPMENT SITES AND
REMOVE THE SETBACK REDUCTIONS. I
MOVE TO THE EMERALD CITY 20
YEARS AGO BECAUSE OF THE URBAN
BEAUTY. I SERVED THE CITY AS A
TREE AMBASSADOR TO HELP INCREASE
THE CANOPY OF OUR TREES. THE
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS OPENED
A PATH OF THE NATIONAL FOREST
PARKS FOR LOGGING. IT PAINS ME
TO THINK THE CITY OF SEATTLE WAS
SUPPORT SIMILAR LEGISLATION FOR
DEVELOPMENT. WE CAN GROW WITH
OUR TREES . CONSIDER THE
ECOSYSTEM AND EVIDENCE-BASED
BENEFITS OF TREES. CLEAN AIR,
FOR EXAMPLE, WHICH WE ALL KNOW
IS INCREASINGLY NEEDED. I AM
ALSO A BUSINESS OWNER THAT
BRINGS NATURE TO THE LESS
ADVANTAGED. IT IS A COMPANY THAT
GREW NATIONWIDE BECAUSE NATURE
HEALS. IN SHORT, BUILD UP, NOT
OUT. LET'S GROW WITH OUR TREES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NUMBER 53.
>> HELLO. YOU HEARD FROM SO MANY
PEOPLE THAT ARE SO SINCERE. I
REALLY APPRECIATE AND RESPECT
EVERYBODY. I DON'T AGREE WITH
EVERYBODY, BUT I REALLY
UNDERSTAND THE PRESSURE PEOPLE
ARE UNDER. I JUST WANT TO REMIND
YOU THAT PEOPLE FEELING
UNCOMFORTABLE IS PART OF RAPID
GROWTH. THAT IS JUST WHAT
HAPPENS. AND TO CAUTION YOU
THAT, IF WE RESPOND QUICKLY
WITHOUT CARE AND CONCERN AND
WITHOUT EVALUATING EVERYTHING,
YOU ARE GOING TO BE CONCERNED
ABOUT YOUR LEGACY, AND I WILL BE
TOO ABOUT THE FUTURE. I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU ARE HEARING
EVERYBODY AND HEARING WHAT THEY
ARE CONCERNED ABOUT. WHEN PEOPLE
USE THE WORD CRISIS, I FEAR THAT
MEANS THEY THINK THEY HAVE TO
MAKE A HASTY DECISION. THAT
ISN'T WHAT WE NEED AT ALL. WE
HAVE LISTENS TO ALL THESE
CHILDREN. THEY ARE SAYING, WHAT
IS MY TIME GOING TO BE LIKE? YOU
NEED TO HELP ME. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NUMBER 54.
>> HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH AND COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. I AM A RENTER IN
DISTRICT 3. I AM SPEAKING ON
BEHALF OF THE OVER 2500 MEMBERS
OF THE SEATTLE METRO CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE AND COMPLETE
COMMUNITIES COALITION TO ASK YOU
TO PLEASE PASS THE INTERIM
LEGISLATION WITH HASTE AND ALSO
GET TO THE GOOD STUFF IN THE
COPPER THE PLAN WILL BE
COMPLETED FOR DENSITY AND
HOUSING ABUNDANCE IN OUR CITY.
HOUSING CONTINUES TO BE THE TOP
PRIORITY OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS
HERE IN SEATTLE. WE JUST DID
SOME RECENT POLLING, AND WE
FOUND THAT 66% AGREED THAT
INCREASING HOUSING SUPPLY WILL
HELP SLOW DOWN THE HOUSING
CRISIS AND 74% SAID WE NEED TO
MAKE IT EASIER, NOT HARDER, TO
BUILD MORE HOUSING RIGHT HERE IN
SEATTLE. THIS IS A PRIORITY FOR
THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, BECAUSE
IT IS A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
ISSUE. THE ECONOMY IS STRONGER,
AND BUSINESSES DO BETTER WHEN
PEOPLE CAN LIVE CLOSE TO WHERE
THEY WORK, AND WHEN THEY CAN
AFFORD TO USE THEIR EXTRA INCOME
ON AMENITIES. THANK YOU SO VERY
MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND
CONSIDERATION AND FOR HEARING
ALL OF US TODAY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. NUMBER 55.
>> HELLO. I LIVE IN DISTRICT 5.
I SUPPORT BOTH INCREASED
AVAILABILITY OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND STRONG PROTECTION
FOR SEATTLE TREES. I BELIEVE THE
CITY OF SEATTLE IS NOT A ONE
TRICK PONY AND COULD DO BOTH, AS
OTHER PROGRESSIVE CITIES HAVE
DONE. FIRST, I SAY PAST THE
SETBACK AMENDMENTS , THE CURRENT
INTERIM CODE THAT REDUCES
SETBACKS WITHOUT ADDING SPACE
FOR TREES. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO
PAVE OVER THE URBAN FOREST WITH
NO PLAN FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE.
WE NEED TREES . ALMOST 1000 HAVE
BEEN MOVED ON PRIVATE PROPERTY
IN 2025 TO DATE. IN ADDITION TO
THEIR VALUE AND SEQUESTERING
CARBON AND REDUCING CLIMATE
CHANGE, TREES IN URBAN AREAS
PROVIDER MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO
REDUCE HEAT. SEATTLE IS NOW
FIFTH IN THE NATION FOR URBAN
HEAT ISLANDS . PLACES WITHOUT
TREES ARE UP TO 20 DEGREES
HOTTER THAN PLACES WITH TREES
DURING HEAT WAVES. THEY ALSO
HELP RETAIN RUNOFF AND FILTER
POLLUTANTS, REDUCING URBAN
FLOODING IN HELPING TO PROTECT
OUR STREAMS, THE SOUND IN THE
SPECIES THAT LIVE THERE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. NUMBER 56.
>> HELLO. FOLLOWING FOOTBALL
WITH WASHINGTON, I BECAME A
HOMEBUILDER. I WANT TO PAY IT
FORWARD TO YOU, PROBABLY THE
BIGGEST COMPLIMENT I'VE
RECEIVED A 50 OR THE BUILDING
HOUSES IN SEATTLE. MY PURCHASERS
IN WEST SEATTLE SAYING TO ME FOR
BEING ABLE TO BUILD A BRAND NEW
SINGLE-FAMILY HOME IN WEST
SEATTLE. THEY DID NOT EXPECT TO
BE ABLE TO FIND A HOME BELOW THE
MEDIAN PRICE POINTS, 1300 SQUARE
FOOT, THREE BEDROOMS AND THREE
BATHROOMS. I COULD ONLY DO IT
BECAUSE OF THE REGULATIONS YOU
GUYS NOW ALLOW ME TO BUILD
UNDER. SEATTLE ONE, EVEN BETTER.
I CAN BE ABLE TO HAVE , BUILD A
FRONT YARD SETBACK. I CAN BRING
A COVERED PORCH CLOSER TO THE
STREET. THANKS FOR ALL YOU DID.
THANKS FOR STAFF AND ALL THEIR
WORK. REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
BRUCE, GO DOGS.
>> THANK YOU. NUMBER 57 AFTERN
DISTRICT 3. I'M EXCITED TO SEE
THE COMP PLAN ACTUALLY WORK.
MAINTAINING THE TREE CANOPY AND
SUSTAINING THE CHARACTER OF OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS. TO DO SO, I HAVE
A COUPLE OF PROCESS POINTS I
WANTED TO MAKE RELATIVE TO THE
INTERIM LEGISLATION. NUMBER ONE,
I THINK WE NEED TO ADOPT AN
AMENDMENT 2 TO DRIVE A
THOUGHTFUL ANALYSIS OF THE
RELATIONSHIP OF SETBACKS TO TREE
PROTECTION AND NEIGHBORHOOD
CHARACTER. I THINK THAT IS THE
KEY THING. SECOND, WE NEED TO
KEEP THE CURRENT SETBACKS, BUT
ONLY NECESSARILY DURING THE
INTERIM PERIOD, WHICH I
UNDERSTAND IS ABOUT FIVE MONTHS
. AND WON'T MAKE A LONG-TERM
IMPACT TO DO THIS. WE NEED TO DO
THAT SO WE CAN SUPPORT THE
ANALYSIS AN AMENDMENT TO CHECK.
I WANT TO POINT OUT THERE
MULTIPLE MODELS TO CONSIDER.
PORTLAND IS ONE. ANOTHER ONE IS
THE HIGH DENSITY LOT LAYOUT WORK
DONE BY THE TREE EQUITY NETWORK.
FINALLY, PLEASE ADD ADDITIONAL
AMENDMENTS TO ADOPT AN OVERALL
MINIMUM TO COMPLY WITH HB 1110
APPROACH. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT, WE HAVE 58.
>> I'M NERVOUS. CAN YOU HEAR
ME? YOUR GOOD. TAKE YOUR TIME.
>> MY FIRST TIME DOING THIS.
>> NO NEED TO BE NERVOUS. TAKE A
DEEP BREATH.
>> THANK YOU. THIS IS MY FIRST
TIME TO HAVE A VOICE AS A
CITIZEN. FEELS AMAZING. I WAS
URGED TO TAKE ACTION BECAUSE WE
LOST GRACE. BUT IT IS NOT JUST
GRACE WE HAVE LOSS, WE HAVE LOST
, BY THE 10th YEAR I HAVE BEEN
LIVING HERE, SO MANY CANOPIES.
WHEN YOU USED TO LAND IN
SEATTLE, IT WOULD SMELL LIKE
FOREST AND OCEAN. THAT SMELL IS
GONE. NOW IT'S MOSTLY GASOLINE.
I WANT TO URGE THE COUNCIL FOR
THE TREE PROTECTION ACT. WE NEED
THAT. WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS. WE CANNOT
CONTINUE DOING THIS. BEING FROM
MEXICO CITY, I KNOW WHAT IT IS
TO GRASP FOR RELIEF. OUR GREEN
SPACES WHERE OUR LIFELINES
DURING COVID. LET'S NOT FORGET
THAT. WE ARE GETTING THE KEYS TO
DEVELOPMENT TO ALL THESE PEOPLE
THAT ARE JUST TEARING DOWN
HOUSES, NOT DOING IT AFFORDABLY,
NOT DOING IT DIGNIFIED. WE NEED
THE HOUSING. WE NEED THE TREES.
WE NOT TO NOT LOSE OUR SOUL.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT,
DAVID, FOLLOWED BY KATHY.
>> SEATTLE CAN BUILD HIGHER
LEVELS THAT SAVE TREES, CREATE
WAREHOUSING, AND OFFER BETTER,
LIVABLE AMENITY SPACES. SEATTLE
CAN EVEN SHUT DOWN SIDESTREETS
AND BUILD A SUSTAINABLE
PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD
AND GET RID OF THE ASPHALT THAT
TRIGGERS THE HEAT. CITY COUNCIL
CAN PROVE THERE IS NO CONFLICT
OF INTEREST WITH ALL THE
LANDLORDS ON COUNCIL BY TAKING
OFF THE RESTRICTIONS THAT
SABOTAGE THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
AND TAKE THE ONE SEATTLE PLAN,
CHEATING A MULTITUDE OF YOUNGER
GENERATIONS AND BACKSTABBING THE
WORKING CLASS NEEDING A BETTER
CHOICE IN HOME. IT IS
DISINGENUOUS AND A REMINDER OF
HOW TWO-FACED SEATTLE SELLOUTS
ARE WHO THINK THAT, BECAUSE I
ALREADY OWN A HOME, THEY CAN
COME DOWN HERE WILL MOST
EVERYONE IS AT WORK AND
WEAPONIZED THE TREE ORDINANCE TO
PURPOSELY DENY WORKING-CLASS A
BETTER CHOICE IN HOMES WHILE
THEY WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
THE SUPPLY AND DEMAND SQUEEZE.
WE NEED A 21st CENTURY FIRST
QUALITY HOUSING BUILDOUT WITH
LEGITIMATE INCENTIVES, NOT LAME
IDEAS OF ONLY ALLOWING A FOUR
UNIT QUAD WITH A MAXIMUM OF TWO
MORE IF AFFORDABLE. WE NEED TO
GO TO WHERE HE CAN PUT --
>> NEXT, KATHY. BEFORE, WE WILL
DO A QUICK TIME CHECK. LET ME
REWIND. KATHY, YOUR NUMBER 60.
IF WE CAN START HAVING SPEAKERS
-- NUMBER 61 THROUGH 70, START
LINING UP. JUST SO WE KNOW,
COLLEAGUES. WE HAVE OVER 100
PLUS PEOPLE SIGNED UP. WE ARE A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT HALFWAY. DOING
WELL. ONE SECOND. AWESOME. WE
ARE READY.
>> I AM FROM DISTRICT 6. ONE OF
THE PROUD TREE PEOPLE HERE
ASKING AND URGING THE COUNCIL
ABOUT 5 PLUS ACTIONS. ONE,
PLEASE AMEND TO KEEP THE CURRENT
LARGER SETBACKS . ALSO, PLEASE
AMENDED TO REMOVE THE ABILITY TO
BUILDING CRITICAL AREAS. PLEASE
AMEND THE TREE PROTECTION
ORDINANCE SECTION . PLEASE
REMOVE THE PROVISION THAT BASIC
PROTECTION AREA CAN'T BE
MODIFIED. IT CAN. PLEASE ALLOW
SDCI TO ASK FOR ALTERNATIVE SITE
DESIGNED TO SAVE EXISTING
HEALTHY TREES. PLEASE REQUIRES
STREET TREES BE PLANTED FOR ALL
CONSTRUCTION. AND PLEASE SET UP
THE ONE SEATTLE TREE FUND .
TREES ARE NOT JUST BEAUTIFUL TO
JUST ME, THEY ARE ESSENTIAL FOR
EVERYBODY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. NOW, 61
THROUGH 70. YOU ARE UP. WELCOME.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. I AM LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE
A HOMEOWNER IN DISTRICT 6 . I
WAS ABLE TO GET A SMALL STARTER
HOME IN THE 1940s. I URGE YOU TO
PASS THIS ZONING ORDINANCE AND
THE FULL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
HAVE A FOUR-YEAR-OLD I WANT TO
BE ABLE TO LIVE IN THE CITY AS
AN ADULT. MY CHILD CURRENTLY HAS
NO FUTURE IN THE CITY DUE TO THE
HOUSING COSTS AND LACK OF
DENSITY. FOR OUR CHILDREN AND
HER FUTURE, WE NEED TO BUILD
MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING NOW. IT
IS NOT JUST OUR CHILDREN TO HAVE
A FUTURE, WE HAVE AGING FAMILY
MEMBERS. MY FATHER AND
HANDICAPPED SISTER THAT WILL
NEED TO LIVE WITH ME IN THE
FUTURE. WITH THE CURRENT
ORDINANCE IS, I CANNOT BUILD
ADDITIONAL HOUSES ON THE LAND I
HAVE. THIS ORDINANCE HELP START
THAT PROCESS. I WANT MORE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES TO
LIVE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, AND FOR
MY CHILD TO HAVE FRIENDS TO PLAY
WITH CLOSE BY. PLEASE ALLOW MORE
HOUSING SO WE CAN PROVIDE A CITY
FOR ALL ANY PRICE THAT ALL CAN
AFFORD. SEATTLE NEEDS MORE
HOUSING DENSITY. PASS THIS
ORDINANCE WITHOUT DELAY. OUR
CHILDREN NEED --
>> NUMBER 62. SHE IS GOING TO
SWITCH.
>> MY NAME IS SAWYER. I'M 12
YEARS OLD AND LIVE IN NORTH
BROADVIEW DISTRICT 5 WITH MY
MOM, A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER.
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PLACES TO LIVE
WITH TREES IN SEATTLE. I WATCHED
DEVELOPERS CUT DOWN MY FUTURE
ONE TREE AT A TIME. ONE TREE CAN
ABSORB 48 POUNDS OF CARBON
DIOXIDE PER YEAR AND PRODUCE
ENOUGH OXYGEN FOR FOUR PEOPLE.
MULTIPLY THAT BY THE THOUSANDS
OF TREES THEY HAVE ALREADY CUT.
TREES CLEAN OUR AIR, COOLER
NEIGHBORHOODS, PREVENT FLOODING,
LOWER STRESS, REDUCE CRIME, AND
EVEN HELP KIDS LIKE ME FOCUS
BETTER IN SCHOOL. PLEASE DON'T
TRADE MY FUTURE FOR DEVELOPERS
PROFITS. BRIAN THOMPSON, THE
DEVELOPER WHO KILLED THE CEDAR
IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, CALLED ME
BRAINWASHED. I AM NOT
BRAINWASHED. I'M A HUMAN BEING
AND YOUR FUTURE. IF YOU LET THEM
PAVE OVER URBAN FORESTS, MY
GENERATION WILL SUFFER THE
CONSEQUENCES. PLEASE PLASTY
SETBACK AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU, SAWYER. NEXT,
NUMBER 63, FOLLOWED BY 64.
WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU. WE WATCHED CARRIED
HER SECOND DEAD DAUGHTER FOR
WEEKS. THE RAIN FOREST BAND FROM
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TO BE EASY
BEFORE COLONIZATION. WHO ARE WE
TO SAY THOSE A CAME ON BEFORE US
DESERVE ERADICATION. WE CAN
BUILD TALLER WITHOUT LOTS FOR
ALL AND NOT KILL ALL OF
NATURE'S FREE WATER FILTERS,
MATURE TREES. THE 2008 RECOVERY
PLANS IS HIGHEST DENSE
POPULATIONS MUST TAKE GREATER
MEASURES TO PRODUCE/REDUCE
RUNOFF. THE SEATTLE WANT TO BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EXTENSION OF
KILLER WHALES. THEY DON'T HAVE
OVER 25 YEARS TO WAIT FOR BABY
SAPLINGS TO FILTER THE WATER AT
THE EXPONENTIALLY HIGHER WATERS
THAT EXISTING TREES ALREADY DO.
CLAIMS THAT IF WE ALLOW
DEVELOPERS UNLIMITED McMANSIONS
OF A SEATTLE THEY WON'T DEVELOP
ANYWHERE ELSE IS A MESS DESIGNED
TO ENSURE DEVELOPERS CAN DEVELOP
ANYWHERE THEY PROFIT HIGHEST. WE
CAN HAVE BOTH HOUSING AND THE
ECOSYSTEM. BY MINIMUM, PASS
AMENDMENT EIGHT FOR SETBACKS. WE
NEED A STATEMENT THE COVERS OF
330,000 UNITS, NOT JUST THE
120,000.
>> THANK YOU. NUMBER 64.
>> I LIVE IN DISTRICT 4. I WANT
TO SPEAK WITH SOMEBODY IN THIS
ROOM RIGHT BEHIND YOU. THEY
CAN'T SPEAK TODAY. WE WILL
CONSIDER YOUR OFFER TO BUY OUR
LAND . IF WE AGREE, IT WILL BE
TO SECURE THE RESERVATION YOU
HAVE PROMISED. PERHAPS, WE MAY
LIVE OUT OUR BRIEF DAYS AS WE
WISH. WHEN THE LAST RED MAN HAS
VANISHED FROM THIS EARTH, AND
HIS MEMORY IS OF A CLOUD MOVING
ACROSS THE PRAIRIE, THE SHORES
AND FORESTS WILL STILL HOLD THE
SPIRITS OF MY PEOPLE. FOR THEY
LOVE THIS EARTH , AS THE NEWBORN
LOVES ITS MOTHER'S HEARTBEAT.
IF WE SELL YOU ARE LAND, LEAVITT
AS WE HAVE. CARE FOR IT AS WE
HAVE. HOLD IN YOUR MEMORY IS WH
LET ALL YOUR STRENGTHS , ALL OF
YOUR MIND , WITH ALL OF YOUR
HEART PRESERVE IT FOR YOUR
CHILDREN. GOD --
>> THANK YOU. NUMBER 65.
>> I AM NUMBER 69.
>> HOLD ON. ONE SECOND. IS THERE
65? I CAN'T READ THAT
HANDWRITING. NUMBER 65. NUMBER
66? YOU ARE UP.
>> I LIVE IN DISTRICT 4. WE ALL
KNOW, OR SHOULD KNOW BY NOW, HOW
OUR CURRENT TREE PROTECTION
ORDINANCE WAS SABOTAGED AND
TURNED INTO A BLUEPRINT FOR TREE
REMOVAL WITH NO RECOURSE FOR
CITIZENS OR SDCI TO CHALLENGE
REMOVALS. WE ALL KNOW, OR SHOULD
KNOW BY NOW, THE COMP PLAN IS
THE BEST OPPORTUNITY TO NOT ONLY
FIX PAST MISTAKES, BUT CREATE
GOOD COATS GOING FORWARD. WE ALL
KNOW BY NOW THAT THIS IS NOT A
BINARY CHOICE BETWEEN HOUSING
AND TREES. TAKE A LOOK AT THE
NEW CODES IN PORTLAND AND
TACOMA. FINALLY, WE ALL KNOW
THAT THIS INTERIM LEGISLATION IS
NOT A GOOD VEHICLE TO ESTABLISH
POLICY OR VESTING OPTIONS, BUT
SHOULD DO THE BARE MINIMUM TO
COMPLY WITH HB 1110, THEREBY,
PRESERVING OUR ABILITY TO CRAFT
A TRULY VISIONARY AND
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN GOING
FORWARD. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. NUMBER 67,
DENISE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM A PUBLIC
SERVANT. I WORK WITH DISABLED
PRESCHOOLERS . I FULLY SUPPORT
AMENDMENT EIGHT .1. I AM ALSO
FROM CHICAGO AND LIVED IN
STACKED FLATS FOR YEARS. THE
BEAUTY OF THE STACKED FLATS IN
CHICAGO ARE THAT THEY HAVE
SETBACKS AND TREES. IT IS
BEAUTIFUL FOR MULTIGENERATIONAL
FAMILIES . MY AUNTS AND UNCLES
LIVED IN THEM. WE WOULD RUN UP
AND DOWN THE STAIRS. THEY ARE
THE ANSWER TO A LOT OF OUR
DENSITY ISSUES. I JUST WANT TO
COMMENT TO EVERYBODY THAT HAS
BEEN HERE . WE ALL AGREE ON A
LOT OF THINGS. WE ALL WANT
TREES. WE ALL WANT DENSITY. WHO
HERE DOES NOT WANT ANY TREES?
THEY ARE FOR OUR HEALTH. PLEASE
VOTE FOR SCIENCE, THE BENEFITS
OF TREES THAT ARE AVAILABLE
EVERYWHERE. VOTE FOR SCIENCE.
THANK YOU.
>> NUMBER 68 . THE NAME IS
CROSSED OFF. NUMBER 69.
>> I AM NOT DENISE.
>> YOU NUMBER 69?
>> MY NAME IS SUZANNE PORTER.
ORIGINAL NUMBER 88.
>> WELCOME.
>> I AM FROM DISTRICT 2, SOUTH
SEATTLE. SEATTLE IS RAPIDLY
LOSING TREES . A REPORT SAYS
THERE HAS BEEN A DECREASE OF
TREE CANOPY OVER THE PAST FEW
YEARS. INSTEAD OF THE INCREASING
CANOPY TOURS A 30% TREE
COVERAGE, THAT WAS INITIALLY
ESTABLISHED. SOUTH SEATTLE
CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE MORE TREES
WHEN IT ALREADY HAS FEWER TREES
IF YOU LOOK AT THE CANOPY MAP.
OTHER AREAS OF THE CITY. THIS IS
AN EQUITY ISSUE. THIS IS A
QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE. PEOPLE
ARE MORE AFFECTED BY THE HIGH
TEMPERATURES WE HAVE BEEN
EXPERIENCING OVER THE PAST FEW
YEARS OVER THE CITY. IT IS NOT A
MATTER OF HOUSES VERSUS TREES,
BUT IT IS ABOUT BOTH. IT CAN BE
DONE. SHARED WALLS, ANYTHING BUT
TO BE ABLE TO HAVE BOTH HOUSING
AND TREES IS A BENEFIT TO THE
CITY ALL THE WAY AROUND.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT UP,
70 THROUGH 80. PLEASE MAKE YOUR
WAY DOWN TO THE FRONT. YOU ARE
THE WINNER OF THE PRICE IS
RIGHT. CAMERON. JUST TRYING TO
LIGHTEN IT UP HERE WITH SOME
JOKES. I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN HERE
A LONG TIME. I SEE THOSE PEARLY
WHITES. WHATSAPP?
>> ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON. I
AM A RENTER AND CAPITOL HILL AND
COUNT MYSELF INCREDIBLY LUCKY TO
BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE IN
SUCH A VIBRANT AND DIVERSE
COMMUNITY. I KNOW THAT NOT
EVERYONE I KNOW AT MY STAGE OF
LIFE CAN SAY THE SAME. SOME OF
THEM LIVE PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK
TO STAY IN PLACE OR HAVE
RELOCATED TO APARTMENTS IN
INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS OR LONG
POLLUTED AND NOISY ARTERIALS OR
HAVE GIVEN UP AND LEFT SEATTLE
ENTIRELY. THE STATUS THAT IS
PART TO ADDRESS HER HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY CRISIS BY PASSING
HB 1110. I URGE YOU TO DO YOUR
PART BY PASSING THE INTERIM
LEGISLATION WITHOUT DELAY OR
AMENDMENTS THAT MAY WATER DOWN
THE IMPACT. I CAUTIONED
AMENDMENT EIGHT TO ENSURE IT
DOESN'T REPLACE NEW HOUSING
WITH NEW HOUSING AND NEW TREES,
BUT NO NEW HOUSING AT ALL. I'M
ALSO LOOKING IN ANOTHER RESPECT
WHICH IS A JOB THE FOX ABILITY
TO LEAVE WORK AND LIGHT APPEAR.
A NUMBER OF MY HAD TO FINISH
THEIR WORK DAY. I COMMEND YOU
FOR YOUR EFFORTS TO ALLOW MORE
WORKING PEOPLE TO SPEAK AND
REMIND YOU THAT, DESPITE THE
CHAIR'S EFFORTS, WHICH ARE
COMMENDABLE -- VOICES OF WORKING
PEOPLE.
>> THANK YOU, CAMERON. NUMBER
71.
>> I LIVE IN MONTLAKE. I'M HERE
TODAY NOT TO OPPOSE THE ONE
SEATTLE GOALS, BUT TO URGE YOU
TO CONSIDER HOW THE ZONING
CHANGES ALIGNED WITH THE AGING
INFRASTRUCTURE, SPECIFICALLY,
THE SEWER SYSTEM. MUCH OF THE
MONTLAKE SEWER NETWORK IS OVER
100 YEARS AND MADE OF
TERRA-COTTA PIPE, WHICH IS NOW
KNOWN TO BE BRITTLE AND PRONE TO
FAILURE UNDER SHIFTING SOIL,
ROOT INTRUSION AND INCREASED
FLOW. THESE PIPES WERE NEVER
BUILT TO SUPPORT THE KIND OF
DENSITY NOW BEING PROPOSED. THE
ONE SEATTLE PLAN ACKNOWLEDGES
AGING SEWER SYSTEMS, BUT DOES
NOT PROVIDE ANY STRATEGY OR
TIMELINE FOR REPLACING THEM IN
NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE MINE. RELYING
ON DEVELOPERS TO UPGRADE ONLY
THE PIPES NEAR THE PROJECTS
GRACE A PATCHWORK . NEW SECTIONS
TIED TO OLD AGING ONES, WHICH
RAISES THE RISK OF LOCALIZED
FAILURES. THEREFORE, I
RESPECTFULLY ASKED THE COUNCIL
TO A FULL ASSESSMENT BEFORE
FINALIZING ZONING CHANGES ,
ENSURE ANY DENSITY INCREASE
INCLUDES A FUNDED UTILITY
UPGRADE PLAN . THANK YOU VERY
MUCH .
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. NUMBER 72.
>> HELLO. I AM A DISTRICT 6
RESIDENT AND ALSO A CLIMATE
SCIENTIST. I WANT TO BRIEFLY
ECHO THE FIRST COMMENTOR ABOUT
HOW DENSITY IS ACTUALLY A
CLIMATE MITIGATION AND
RESILIENCY SOLUTION ALL THE
SCIENCE IS VERY CLEAR ON THAT.
MORE SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO THE
RESOLUTION HERE, I ENCOURAGE YOU
TO PASS THE INTERIM RESOLUTION ,
INTERIM LEGISLATION FOR HB 1110.
PLEASE DO NOT ADD A SETBACK
POISON PILL . MORE STACKED
FLATS. PLEASE ENCOURAGE THOSE.
DO NOT DERAIL THE DESPERATELY
NEEDED ZONING REFORMS IN THE
FURTHER COMP PLAN BY
RELITIGATING THE TREE ORDINANCE
. IF WE WANT TO OPEN THAT
BACKUP, WE CAN DO THAT THREE
SEPARATE LEGISLATION. THANK YOU
.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. NUMBER 73.
YOU ARE UP.
>> I JUST WANT TO REITERATE WHAT
SOMEONE ELSE SAID WHERE WE ALL
DO YOU HAVE A LOT , OR ARE
ALIGNED ON A LOT OF THINGS. I
BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE DO COME
FIRST, BUT I BELIEVE OUR TREE
CANOPY IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT
AS WELL. I URGE THE COUNCIL TO
PASS THE SETBACK AMENDMENT. THIS
IS THE KIND OF INVESTMENT THAT
DOESN'T TAKE DOLLARS. YOU JUST
DON'T REMOVE THE TREES AS YOU
BUILD. YOU BUILD UP, AND NOT
OUT, BUT DEVELOPERS WON'T
CHOOSE TO DO IT THAT WAY, SO WE
NEED YOUR LEADERSHIP HERE. I
URGE THE COUNCIL TO PASS THE
SETBACK AMENDMENT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. NUMBER 74.
>> HELLO. THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT. I
LIVE IN DISTRICT 4. YOU PROBABLY
HEARD ABOUT THE WAYS THAT
HOUSING DIRECTLY AFFECTS THE
LIVELIHOODS OF SO MANY OF MY
NEIGHBORS . TONIGHT I WANT TO
TALK AND REMIND YOU THAT
CONSTRUCTION IS A KEY INDUSTRY
FOR BOTH THE FISCAL AND ECONOMIC
HEALTH OF OUR CITY .
CONSTRUCTION HAS HISTORICALLY
MADE UP A QUARTER OF SALES TAX
REVENUE. PROPERTY TAXES ONLY
RISE ABOVE THE 1% GROWTH LIMIT
THROUGH IMPROVEMENTS AND A REAL
ESTATE EXCISE TAXES BOLTED BY
NEW DEVELOPMENT. CITY AND
INDUSTRY FORECASTERS HAVE BEEN
CLEAR, CONSTRUCTION STARTS AT A
12 YEAR LOW IN 2023 AND PRICING
IN A RENT SEARCH FOR 2025
PROTECTABLE SALES AND
CONSTRUCTION ARE DOWN 7.1%
YEAR-OVER-YEAR. TO QUOTE FROM
REVENUE FORECASTERS, DOWNTURN IN
THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR WAYS
DOWN QUITE NOTABLY ON OVERALL
TAX COLLECTION. WE KNOW THE CITY
COUNCIL DOESN'T CONTROL
INTEREST RATES, BUT DECISIONS
HERE AFFECT THE HEALTH OF THE
CONSTRUCTION MARKET. WE SUPPORT
OUR BUILDERS AND PASS A CLEAN
INTERIM --
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, 75.
>> GOOD EVENING. DIRECTOR OF
GOVERNMENT LOANS AND POLICY AT
HDC. LIFELONG SATELLITE AND
CAPITOL HILL RED. I'M ASKING
YOU TO PASS THE INTERIM
ORDINANCE AND MOVE QUICKLY ONTO
THE FULL COMPANY HAS A PLAN AND
A BOLD WAY TO ALLOW FOR MORE
HOMES IN ALL NEIGHBORHOODS
THROUGHOUT SEATTLE. HB 1110 WAS
PASSED A GREAT NEW MIDDLE
HOUSING ACROSS THE STATE . THE
MODEL ORDINANCE WAS ESTABLISHED
TO CREATE CLEAR AND WORKABLE
RULES TO ENSURE THAT MIDDLE
HOUSING COULD ACTUALLY BE BUILT.
THE ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF THE
CITY UNDER THE PROPOSED
PERMANENT LEGISLATION SHOWS THAT
MIDDLE HOUSING WOULD ONLY BE
VISIBLE ON 19% OF LOTS. I ASK
YOU TO AVOID AMENDMENTS THAT
WOULD BRITTLE DASHBOARD TOLD
THIS DOWN FURTHER. WE NEED TO DO
FAR MORE THAN THE BARE MINIMUM
IF WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT
ADDRESSING THE DEEP HOUSING
SHORTAGE. I URGE YOU TO MOVE
SWIFTLY FROM THE FIRST STEP ON
THE INTERIM LEGISLATION TO
CONSIDER EXPANDING THE WHOLE ONE
SEATTLE PLAN. HOUSING DELAYED IS
HOUSING DENIED FOR LOW-INCOME
WORKERS, FAMILIES AND SENIORS
STRUGGLING TO STAY IN THIS
BEAUTIFUL BUT EXPENSIVE CITY.
>> THANK YOU. NUMBER 76.
>> I URGE YOU TO VOTE NO ON THIS
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. FIRST, THERE
IS THE TREES.
>> SPEAK INTO THE MIC.
>> FIRST, THERE IS THE TREES.
THEN THE BIRDS. THEN THE SALMON.
THEN US. THESE HIGH DENSITY
NEIGHBORHOODS MAY SEEM LIKE A
QUICK FIX FOR URBAN HOUSING
SHORTAGES, BUT IT BRINGS MOSTLY
A HOST OF NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES
THAT THREATEN THE CHARACTER AND
LIVABILITY OF OUR COMMUNITIES
AND OUR CITIES . IN SEATTLE, THE
SKYLINE CONTINUES TO RISE AND
NEIGHBORHOODS ARE RAPIDLY
CHANGING. IT IS TIME TO ASK IF
THIS IS TRULY THE BEST PATH
FORWARD. I CAN REALLY ENVISION A
VIEW OF SEATTLE 20 YEARS FROM
NOW SHOWING THE DIFFERENCE. IT
IS A LONG-TERM LOSS FOR THE
ENTIRE CITY .
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, NUMBER 77.
>> I AM IN DISTRICT 7. I AM A
RENTER. THANK YOU, CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH IN THE CITY FOR
THIS LEGISLATION AND THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I SUPPORT
THE PROPOSAL AND ASKED TO PASS
AS IS WITHOUT INCREASED
SETBACKS. THANK YOU.
>> FASTEST PUBLIC COMMENTS.
STRAIGHT TO THE POINT. THANK
YOU. NUMBER 78.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY PARTNER AND
I ARE RENTERS IN SEATTLE. WE
BOTH LIVE WITH CHRONIC HEALTH
ISSUES THAT BENEFIT GREATLY FROM
BEING OUTDOORS WITH CLEAN AIR,
LOTS OF TREES AND A HEALTHY
ENVIRONMENT. I LOVE LIVING IN
THE EMERALD CITY WHERE NEARLY
ALL MY NEIGHBORS AND I LIVE
WITHIN ABOUT 10 MINUTES FROM A
NICE PARK. I THINK EVERYONE IN
THIS ROOM AGREES THAT WE NEED
MORE HOUSING, BUT IF WE DON'T
INCREASE DENSITY AND BUILD MORE
TYPES OF HOUSING EVERYWHERE
ACROSS THE CITY, WE WILL
CONTINUE TO SPRAWL OUT WORDS,
REACHING DEEPER INTO KING,
PIERCE AND SNOHOMISH COUNTIES.
WILL CONVERT BEAUTIFUL DENSE
WASHINGTON FORESTS INTO SUBURBAN
DEVELOPMENTS AND PARKING LOTS.
WORSENING THE CLIMATE CRISIS
ACROSS THE REGION , AND
WORSENING THE AIR QUALITY IN
SEATTLE. THAT IS WHY I URGE THIS
COUNCIL TO MEDIALLY PASS THE
INTERIM ORDINANCE AND GET BACK
TO BUILDING A BOLDER VERSION OF
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT
DRASTICALLY INCREASES DENSITY
AND INCLUDES CRITICAL
ANTI-DISPLACEMENT STRATEGIES,
SUCH AS CONNECTED COMMUNITIES.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT, NUMBER 79.
>> -- BEFORE YOU START, CAN WE
HAVE NUMBERS 80 THROUGH 90 START
LINING UP?
>> GOOD EVENING. IONA TOWNHOME
IN DISTRICT 1. I URGE THE
COUNCIL TO PASS THE INTERIM
LEGISLATION WITHOUT DELAY, AND
ALSO ADOPT THE BULLET AS
POSSIBLE ONE SEATTLE COMPANY HAS
A PLAN IN FAVOR OF MORE HOUSING.
I WAS INCREDIBLY FORTUNATE TO
PURCHASE A HOME SEVERAL YEARS
AGO. IT IS A PRIVILEGE AVAILABLE
TO FAR TOO FEW IN THE CITY.
IN A NEIGHBORING LOT WERE CUT
DOWN. THEY WERE BIG TREES BUT I
WILL NEVER SEE THEM BLOOM AGAIN.
WAS I SAD? YES. BUT I GAINED
FIVE NEW TOWNHOMES WORTH OF
NEIGHBORS. I PLANTED MY OWN TREE
ON THE GREEN STRIP ON MY
SIDEWALK LAST YEAR. COURTESY OF
THE TREES FOR SEATTLE PROGRAM.
THAT TREE WILL GROW INTO ONE AS
BIG THAT WERE CUT DOWN. IT WILL
GIVE MY STREET THE CANOPY IT
NEEDS. PLEASE ALLOW OUR CITY TO
BUILD TALLER AND DENSER HOUSING.
WE WHO GRATEFULLY COULD LIVE
HERE WILL PLANT THE TREES. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NUMBERS 80 THROUGH
90. SUMMER PLACE BECAUSE WE HAVE
DIFFERENT SHEETS. WE DON'T HAVE
10 SPEAKERS. I THINK IT IS
NUMBER 81 THAT IS NEXT.
>> HELLO. I SUPPORT THE INTERIM
LEGISLATION AND ASK YOU REJECT
THE AMENDMENT TO REDUCE --
INCREASED SETBACKS. ALONG A
BUILDING NEAR THE FRONT OF THE
LOT MEANS THERE IS ALSO A LARGE
YARD IN THE BACK. IT DOES NOT
NECESSARILY MEAN LESS HOUSING.
WHAT IT WILL DO IS DECREASE
FEASIBILITY AND RESULT IN LESS
HOUSING. IF WE GET LESS HOUSING,
THAT MEANS MORE PEOPLE MOVING
DEEP INTO SUBURBAN AREAS OR
CITIES IN OTHER STATES THAT WILL
WORSEN DEFORESTATION.
FURTHERMORE, I HOPE WE CAN GO
FURTHER IN FUTURE LEGISLATION.
MORE HOUSING MEANS GENERATIONS
BEYOND ME WILL BE ABLE TO LIVE
IN THE CITY INSTEAD OF BEING
PUSHED OUT BY THE HOUSING
CRISIS. THANK YOU.
>> NUMBER 82, ARE YOU HERE?
OKAY. NUMBER 83.
>> GOOD EVENING, AND THANK YOU
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN
SUPPORT OF A BOLD COMPANY HAS A
PLAN THAT EQUITABLY EXPANDS
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
OPPORTUNITIES. I AM A RENTER IN
ROOSEVELT AND COMMUNITY
ORGANIZER AT HDC. WE'VE HEARD
ARGUMENTS THAT ATTEMPT TO PIT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IT GETS OUR
SHARED LOVE OF TREES AND
WILDLIFE HERE IN SEATTLE.
HOUSING DENSITY DOES NOT LIVE IN
OPPOSITION TO NATURE. I AM TIRED
OF TALKING ABOUT TREES, THOUGH.
HOUSING IS NOT ABOUT TREES, IT
IS ABOUT PEOPLE. I'M A SOCIAL
WORKER BY TRAINING. I'VE WORKED
DIRECTLY WITH UNHOUSED FOLKS FOR
OVER 10 YEARS. YEAR AFTER YEAR I
WOULD SEE THE SAME CLIENTS COME
THROUGH THE REVOLVING DOOR OF
HOMELESSNESS, UNABLE TO FIND
HOUSING. I UNDERSTOOD THAT A
POLICY SOLUTION IS THE ONLY WAY
FORWARD. FOR MY CLIENTS AND FOR
ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO LIVE
IN SEATTLE AND CAN'T, MOVE
FORWARD. PAST THE INTERIM
LEGISLATION AND PASSING FULL
COMPREHENSIVELY BEFORE THE
SUMMER RECESS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT,
NUMBER 84.
>> DISTRICT 6. ARE SEVEN
RESIDENT RESIDENTS ARE NO LONGER
THRIVING. THERE ARE MANY
CONSUMING FACTORS FOR THIS, AND
MOST OF THEM INVOLVE YEARS OF
DESTRUCTION TO THEIR HOME AND
THEIR FOOD SOURCE, SALMON. THE
BIG ONE BEING THE POLLUTION
RUNOFF. ARE TRUE -- TREES ARE
IMPERATIVE TO SIGNIFICANTLY
DECREASING STORM WEATHER RUNOFF,
ABSORBING CARBON AND PROVIDING
SHADE FOR OUR WARMING PLANET.
WE, THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE, HAVE
THE POWER TO MAKE A POSITIVE
DIFFERENCE, AND THAT STARTS
TODAY WITH NOT ALLOWING THE
INTERIM CODE TO PASS. AT THE
MINIMUM, APPROVED AMENDMENT
EIGHT TO REQUIRE SETBACKS. IF
THE ONLY WAY THE TRAGEDY CAN
SPEAK TO US IS BY CARING A DEAD
CALF, I CHOOSE TO STAND UP FOR
THE RIGHT TO BE HERE. SAVING
FRANCHITTI STARTS WITH SAVING
TREES. THIS IS A MOMENT OF TRUTH
FOR THE INTEGRITY OF OUR CITY TO
CREATE A FUTURE WHERE PEOPLE IN
CLIMATE CAN COLLECTIVELY THRIVE.
>> THANK YOU. NUMBER 85. ARE YOU
HERE? NUMBER 86 .
>> HELLO. REALLY NERVOUS. I AM A
RESIDENT OF THE 46th DISTRICT. I
THINK THAT LACK OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IS STRANGLING OUR CITY,
CAUSING PEOPLE TO MOVE OUT. IT
IS THE THING WE NEED MOST IN THE
CITY. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SWIFTLY
PASS INTERIM LEGISLATION . I
ALSO URGE US WITH THE PAST THE
AMENDMENT. ONE DOESN'T REQUIRE
THE OTHER. YOU CAN PASS THE
AMENDMENT IS STILL SWIFTLY PASS
THE RESOLUTION. YOU ARE TALKING
ABOUT SOMETHING -- I URGE YOU TO
THINK ABOUT HOW LONG IT TAKES
FOR SOMETHING TO CHANGE . LET'S
SAY YOU PASS THE AMENDMENT IF
YOU LIKE, OH, SETBACKS ARE
MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR US TO
BUILD INTERIM HOUSING. WELL, WE
FIRST IT. WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OR
A FEW WEEKS, PEOPLE WILL START
BUILDING THE HOUSING. BUT IF YOU
ALLOW THEM TO CUT DOWN, IF YOU
DON'T PASS THE SETBACKS AND
YOU'RE WRONG, AND ALL THE TREES
DISAPPEAR, IT WILL TAKE A
CENTURY FOR THOSE TO GROW BACK.
I URGE YOU TO THINK IN THE LONG
RUN ABOUT WHAT MAKES OUR CITY A
PLACE PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE .
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, NUMBER 87.
>> HELLO. I AM IN DISTRICT 4.
REGRESSIVE TREE LAWS IN SEATTLE
ARE HURTING OUR CITY. WE'VE
ALREADY LOST AT LEAST 1000 TREES
IN 2025, OFTEN BECAUSE
DEVELOPERS DON'T WANT TO WORK
AROUND THE TREES, AND BECAUSE
THEY DON'T HAVE TO. SAVING
TREES AND BUILDING MORE HOUSING
ARE NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE
ACTIVITIES. THE MASTER BUILDERS
ASSOCIATION HAS HAD A HEAVY HAND
IN OUR CURRENT REGRESSIVE TREE
LAWS. NOW IT IS TIME TO STRIKE A
BALANCE BETWEEN BUILDING AND
SAVING TREES THAT PROVIDE SHADE.
CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL, AND THE
NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF CONTINUING
TO REMOVE SHADE PROVIDING FREEZE
IS HURTING US ALL BY INCREASING
THE HEAT ISLANDS. IT IS TIME TO
SAVE THE EMERALDS AND EMERALD
CITY.
>> THANK YOU. NUMBER 88. NUMBER
89 . SUZANNE PORTER. NUMBER 88?
SHE DID. OKAY. THAT'S RIGHT.
SHE TRADED. YOU TRADE THESE LIKE
IT'S THE NBA DRAFT.
>> I HAVE A DEGREE IN
ARCHITECTURE LANDSCAPE IN
PLANNING. THESE LARGE TREES WE
HAVE HEARD ABOUT , EACH ONE OF
THEM COULD BE SAVED WITH SLIGHT
ADJUSTMENTS TO THE BLOCK PLAN.
THIS DEBATE BETWEEN DENSITY AND
TREES IS A RED HERRING . WITH
GOOD DESIGN, WE COULD HAVE BOTH.
IT IS NOT THAT HARD. THE SECOND
ISSUE IS THE DEVELOPERS. TAKE A
LOOK AT THE PORTLAND PLAN.
ESTABLISHING NONPROFIT . YOU KN
HOUSING FOR THE PEOPLE. THAT
MAKES IT AFFORDABLE. THAT MAKES
MORE PEOPLE ABLE TO LIVE YOUR. A
LOT OF PEOPLE ARE DISPLACED BY
THE COST, AS WELL AS THE DENSITY
ISSUES. I THINK THAT IS ALL I
HAD TO SAY.
>> NO WORRIES.
>> PAST THE SETBACK, PLEASE.
APPRECIATE YOU.
>> THANK YOU. JUST A REMINDER,
WHEN THE BELL RINGS, YOU STILL
HAVE 10 SECONDS. YOU CAN SAY HI
TO YOUR MOM OR DO WHATEVER YOU
WANT. NUMBER 101 . IT SKIPS
AROUND, BECAUSE I HAVE DIFFERENT
SHEETS. RYAN . 101. NEXT,
ANDREW, 102 . YOUR ALL GOOD.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL. I AM
FROM DISTRICT TO JOE. THE
SETBACK AMENDMENT SUPPORT IS
BASED ON AN UNSPOKEN AND
INCORRECT ASSUMPTION THAT ALL OF
OUR PRECIOUS TREES ONLY SEEM TO
GROW IN THE FIRST 15 TO 20% OF A
LOT. OF COURSE, THIS IS
INCORRECT. THEIR HUGE TREES IN
THE BACK AND SIDE YARDS. HUGE
TREES IN THE CENTER LOTS AS
WELL. LARD SETBACKS AND LOW
HEIGHT LIMITS RESTRICT HOUSING.
FORCING IT INTO AN INFLEXIBLE
BLOB IN THE CENTER OF A LOT. THE
SETBACK AMENDMENT WILL KILL HUGE
TREES. I LOVE TREES. STRENGTHEN
FREE PROTECTION, ABSOLUTELY, BUT
ALSO REDUCE SETBACKS AND
INCREASE HEIGHT LIMITS. STACKED
FLATS AND ROWHOUSES CAN ALLOW
FOR FLEXIBILITY FOR HUGE
CONTIGUOUS SPACES WHERE LARGE
TREES FLOURISH. WANT EVIDENCE OF
THIS? LOOK TO BERLIN WHERE THERE
ARE ZERO SETBACKS, SEVEN STORIES
AND 44% CANOPY COVERAGE.
IMPLEMENTING LARD SETBACKS WILL
RESULT IN FEWER HOMES AND FEWER
TREES . PLEASE PLANTED STREET
TREES AND REJECT THE SETBACK
AMENDMENT. THANK YOU .
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, COLLEEN.
103.
>> THANK YOU, COUNSEL, FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT
OF URGENTLY PASSING THE SEATTLE
COMPANY HAS A PLAN AND INTERIM
ORDINANCE WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY.
I AM A WEST SEATTLE HOMEOWNER ,
URBAN PLANNING STUDENT. I WOULD
LIKE TO ECHO EARLIER SPEAKERS
THAT ACCURATELY POINTED OUT THE
IMPORTANT ROLE INCREASED HOUSING
DENSITY PLAYS IN PRESERVING
EXISTING TREE CANOPY BY
PROMOTING INFILL DEVELOPMENT
INSTEAD OF SPRAWL. COUNTLESS
STUDIES SHOW THIS. THOSE WITH
RESPONSIBILITY TO SHAPE THE
FUTURE OF SEATTLE NEED TO RELY
ON FACT, NOT EMOTION, NOT
HYPERBOLE, NOT THE FALSE BINARY
OF HOUSING VERSUS TREES, NOT THE
USE OF CHILDREN TO PERMIT
EXCLUSIONARY HOUSING POLICIES
WHEN THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE
FULL COMPLEXITY OF THE ISSUE.
RELAXING BUILDING CODES, LIKE
REMOVING MINIMUM LOT SIZES AND
PARKING MINIMUMS, ALLOWING
STACKED FLATS AND TAKING OTHER
BOLD STEPS TO ENABLE VERY
HOUSING TYPES WILL HELP REDUCE
BUILDING COSTS, ALLOW MORE
DEVELOPMENT FOLKS ABILITY TO
PRESERVE TREES WHILE ADDING
NEEDED HOUSING THAT IS
AFFORDABLE TO ALL INCOME LEVELS
AND ALL NEIGHBORHOODS,
PARTICULARLY THOSE OFFER GREATER
OPPORTUNITY. WE NEED AN
AMBITIOUS COMPLINE.
>> -- COMP PLAN.
>> NEXT, NOAH WILLIAMS. WELCOME.
>> COUNCIL MEMBERS, GOOD
EVENING. THANK YOU. I WANTED TO
TAKE A SECOND TO RESPOND TO THE
CHILDREN AND SOME OTHER
COMMENTERS TODAY. FIRST, I WANT
TO SAY THAT THEY ARE NOT
BRAINWASHED OR STUPID. BUT THE
PARENTS DID GIVE AN INCOMPLETE
PICTURE OF THE PROBLEM. ONE OF
THE GIRLS A SPOKE WAS WORRIED
ABOUT THE IMPACT TO WHALES
WITHOUT TREES TO FILTER THE
CHEMICALS. ANOTHER COMMENTOR
FROM MEXICO SAID, COMPLAINED OF
A SMELLING LIKE GASOLINE. THAT
IS TRUE. THE NEED FOR THE
FILTRATION OF SOIL CONTAMINANTS
AND CARBON CAPTURE THE TREES
PROVIDE. FILTER OF WHAT? TIRE
PRESERVING CHEMICALS, CARBON
DIOXIDE FROM CARS. THE 60 FOOT
HYBRID ELECTRIC BUS THAT SHE
RIDES TO WORK EVERYDAY EMITS
LESS CARBON DIOXIDE, NITROUS
OXIDE, AND CANCEROUS BREAKS
DESTINY FIVE CARS STACKED IN
TRAFFIC NEXT TO A BECAUSE EVERY
SIX MINUTES AND TURNS OFF THE
ENGINE AT STOCKS. THE BEST WAY
TO SAVE ORCAS IS TO SKIP THE
AMENDMENT, PAST THE SEATTLE
COMPANY HAS A PLAN AS IS AND
MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE TO
BUILD DENSE HOUSING AND TRANSIT.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT, NUMBER 121. ARE YOU
HERE?
>> WASN'T EXPECTED TO BE SO
EARLY. I AM A LIFELONG RESIDENT
OF WESTERN WASHINGTON AND
CURRENT RESIDENT OF . I'M A
FULLY GROWN ADULT OLD ENOUGH TO
VOTE , JOIN THE ARMY. THE PIT
ACROSS THE STREET IS A WAS AS
OLD AS I AM. WE HAVE AN URGENT
PROBLEM IN SEATTLE. WE NEED TO
ACT URGENTLY. WE NEED TO BE
DOING EVERYTHING . TEARING DOWN
ALL THE RED TAPE, REDUCING
MINIMUM LOT SIZE, ELIMINATING
PARKING MINIMUMS IN PASSING THIS
INTERIM PLAN. FURTHER, WE TO
EXPAND THE MORATORIUM CITYWIDE
AS THE PROCESS RESULT IN UGLIER,
MORE EXPENSIVE HOUSING THAT
TAKES LONGER TO BUILD. IF WE
DON'T BUILD DENSELY WITHIN THE
CITY, WE FORCE ARLINGTON TO KEEP
ENCROACHING ON THE BEAUTIFUL
SKAGIT VALLEY. THINK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME, AND I COMPEL YOU TO
ACT.
>> THANK YOU, JACKSON. HOW OLD
IS THAT PIT?
>> [ INAUDIBLE ]
>> WOW. YOU MADE ME FEEL OLD. I
GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL IN 2002.
IT'S OKAY.
>> CHAIR, YOU RIDE AN ELECTRIC
BUS?
>> I RODE MY ELECTRIC BIKE
TODAY. WE ARE ALL ELECTRIC OVER
HERE. THANK YOU. SOMETIMES I
WALK. 45 MINUTES TO AND FROM.
NO, ONE WAY. I APOLOGIZE. I
THINK HE IS REFERRING TO
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK. G LINE.
122.
>> THE PROPOSED COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN WITH THE TREE ORDERS OF THE
GREEN SKYLINE IN JEOPARDY. THE
2023 TREE ORDINANCE LET'S
DEVELOPERS CUT ANY TREE IN THE
CITY. I RESENT THE FALSE
DICHOTOMY BETWEEN TREES AND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WILL GIVE US
NEITHER. NEIGHBORS DESERVE TO
HAVE TREES TO REDUCE HEAT AND
POLLUTION. WHEN I DESIGNED MY
HOUSE, I WAS CAREFUL TO SITUATE
IT TO PRESERVE THE LARGE TREES
ON THE PROPERTY. REDUCING
SETBACKS, INCREASING PAVED AREA
AND ALLOWING DEVELOPERS TO MOVE
LARGE TREES DISCOURAGES AND
MANAGED TO HAVE ARCHITECTURE AND
WILL GIVE US -- THAT WILL GIVE
US BOTH TREES AND HOUSING.
PLEASE AMEND THE TREE ORDINANCE
TO REMOVE THE LOOPHOLE LETTING
DEVELOPERS CUT CLASS ONE AND TWO
TREES. DON'T TAKE THE EMERALD
OUT OF THE EMERALD CITY .
>> THANK YOU, TYLER. NEXT,
SAWYER, NUMBER 123. YOU
SWITCHED. I REMEMBER. YOU ARE
PLAYING THE DRAFT.
>> MY NAME IS JULIA. I'M A
RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 4 TO. I'M
ASKING YOU TO PASS THE SETBACK
AMENDMENT BECAUSE THERE IS NO
TREE PROTECTION IN THIS INTERIM
BILL. WE CAN GROW HOUSING
DENSITY AND RETAIN OUR MATURE
TREES. HOWEVER, THIS BILL WOULD
ALLOW 95% OF EVERY PROPERTY TO
BE PAVED WITHOUT A PATCH OF
GREEN SPACE. LITERALLY,
CEMENTING IN A FUTURE WITHOUT
TREES. THE IDEA THAT WE ARE
BENEFITING OUT THE CLIMATE OR
OUR FUTURE BY PAVING OUR ENTIRE
CITY IS RIDICULOUS. SEATTLE IS
FIFTH IN THE NATION FOR URBAN
HEAT ISLANDS, FUELED BY THE
REMOVAL OF TREES, SPECIFICALLY,
ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. THIS LED TO
WORST AIR-QUALITY AND WORST
TEMPERATURES DURING THE WAVES
FOR MOST VERBAL NEIGHBORHOODS,
LIKE WHITE CENTER AND SOUTH
PARK. SCIENCE CLEARLY SHOWS THAT
WE NEED GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE,
LIKE TREES, IN OUR CITIES FOR
CLIMATE RESILIENCE. PLEASE
INCREASE SETBACKS, WHICH ARE FAR
CRY FROM LEGITIMATE TREE
PROTECTION, BUT AT LEAST THEY
WILL LEAVE TREES AT THE EDGES OF
PROPERTIES. PLEASE PASS THE
AMENDMENT INTO BETTER FOR OUR
CITY. PRIORITIZE CLIMATE
RESILIENCE WE CAN HAVE A LIVABLE
FUTURE. THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU. NOW, I
WILL GO BACK THROUGH THE
SPEAKERS THAT I CALLED THAT DID
NOT COME JUST TO MAKE SURE WE
DIDN'T MISS ANYONE. NUMBER 82.
NUMBER 85 . ARE YOU HERE? NUMBER
65 . OKAY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT WAS IT. NUMBER 15. OKAY.
NUMBER 39. ARE YOU HERE? OKAY.
JUST GOING THROUGH MY NOTES. I
APOLOGIZE. THANK YOU,
COLLEAGUES, FOR BEING PATIENT
WITH ME. THAT IS IT. DID
EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM THE SIGNED
UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, DID WE
MISS ANY OF YOU? OKAY. AWESOME.
THAT IS GOING TO CONCLUDE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD. THANK YOU ALL SO
MUCH FOR ENGAGING WITH US IN THE
PROCESS. JUST A COUPLE HOUSE
KEEPING THINGS. THE NEXT PUBLIC
-- THE NEXT MEETING FOR THE
SELECT COMMITTEE FOR THE COPPER
HAS A PLAN IS MAY 21 ON A
WEDNESDAY. THAT IS THAT 2:00
P.M. WE WILL LISTEN TO THE HOUSE
BILL 1110 LEGISLATION AND
AMENDMENT THAT ARE PUT BEFORE US
AS WELL. AND THEN, I ALSO, REAL
QUICK, I JUST WANT TO THANK THE
CLERK AT THIS OFFICE AND I.T. AS
WELL. ALL THE PEOPLE THAT
VOLUNTEERED. COUNCIL MEMBERS,
YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR HELPING
US WITH A SMOOTH PROCESS DURING
THE PUBLIC HEARING. I KNOW IT
WAS A BIG UNDERTAKING. WE HELD
TRUE TO OUR PROMISE, MAKING SURE
EVERYONE FROM FEBRUARY 5 THAT
SIGNED UP WAS ABLE TO SPEAK
ONLINE OR IN PERSON. YOU ARE
PRIORITIZE. I KNOW THAT WAS
BROUGHT UP. THAT WAS IMPORTANT
FOR US TO HEAR FROM THE FOLKS
THAT SIGNED UP AS WELL. LAST BUT
NOT LEAST, I ALSO WANT TO
APOLOGIZE, BECAUSE MY SYNTAX WAS
OFF. MY MOTHER TEXTED ME AND
SAID, USE YOUR PRONOUNS IN
CONJUNCTION WITH YOUR NOUNS. FOR
EXAMPLE, ARE THERE ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? APPARENTLY,
I WAS SAYING IS THERE ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS? I JUST WANT YOU TO
KNOW THAT IS WHAT IT IS LIKE
BEING RAISED WITH A MOTHER WHO
MAJORED IN ENGLISH. MY PAPERS
WERE ALWAYS IN RED. SHE ALWAYS
TRIES TO IMPROVE MY PUBLIC
SPEAKING. THANK YOU, RHONDA
HOLLINGSWORTH. THE PUBLIC
COMMENTS FOR THE MEETING ON THE
21st ARE WRITTEN, BECAUSE WE ARE
GOING TO GO OVER THE
LEGISLATION. WE HAVE HAD PUBLIC
HEARING. PLEASE SEND IN YOUR
WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS . AFTER
THAT, WE ARE TAKING UP THE
PERMANENT LEGISLATION FOR HOUSE
BILL 1110. THAT IS THE NEXT
STEP. PHASE 1 OF THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. WE WILL JUMP
RIGHT INTO THAT RIGHT AFTER THIS
INTERIM LEGISLATION. IF THERE'S
ANYTHING ELSE -- ANY OTHER ITEMS
TO COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL?
AWESOME. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK
SO WE CAN GET BETTER . HEARING
NO OTHER FURTHER BUSINESS, THIS