>> [ MUSIC ]
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. GOOD
MORNING. THE JULY 1, 2026
MEETING WILL COME TO ORDER. IT
IS 9:40 AM. AM CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH. 15.
COUNCILMEMBER LIN. ARE FIVE
MEMBERS PRESENT.
>> IF THERE IS NO OBJECT IN IT
WILL BE ADOPTED. THE AGENDA IS
ADOPTED. GOOD MORNING AND THANK
YOU FOR COMING TO THIS MEETING
TO DISCUSS LAND-USE. THANK YOU
TO OUR CITY CLERK, FOR HELPING
US PREPARE FOR THIS MEETING.
JUST TO GIVE EVERYONE QWIK RUN
OF SHOW, WE'RE GOING TO START
WITH PUBLIC COMMENT ON AN AGENDA
ITEM , THE ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE
TEMPORARY DESIGN REVIEW, THERE
WILL NOT BE ANY VOTES ON THE
TEMPORARY DESIGN REVIEW
LEGISLATION TODAY. WE ALSO HAVE
SOME APPOINTMENTS WE'RE GOING
TO DO. AND THEN WE WILL DO THE
PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BILL. JUST
WANT TO GIVE THAT RUN OF SHOW.
WE WILL START WITH PUBLIC
COMMENT ON THE AGENDA. WE WILL
DO THE PUBLIC HEARING LATER.
COLLEAGUES, I'M GOING TO ASK
THAT WE SUSPEND THE RULES TO
LIMIT PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE
DESIGN REVIEW IN THE AGENDA TO
ONE MINUTE SO WE HAVE SUFFICIENT
TIME LATER IN THE AGENDA DURING
THE PUBLIC HEARING TO HEAR ALL
OF THE SPEAKERS, WHICH WE HAVE
QUITE A FEW IN PERSON AND QUITE
A FEW ONLINE. WE DO HAVE SOME
HARD STOP AT SOME POINT SO WE
ARE HOPING TO GET THROUGH ALL OF
THE PUBLIC COMMENTS OR THE
PUBLIC HEARING. IF NOT, IT
SOUNDS LIKE WE MIGHT NEED TO
CONTINUE TO A FUTURE DATE. THEY
WERE BE NO VOTES TODAY ON THE
BILL. I WANT TO LET PEOPLE KNOW
ABOUT THAT. LET'S GET GOING. WE
WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD. THEY SHOULD BE RELATED
TO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. IT'S IN
THE PURVIEW OF THE COMMITTEE.
ANY COMMENTS RELATING TO ITEMS
121215 SHOULD BE HELD UNTIL THE
PUBLIC HEARING. HOW MANY
SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT?
>> WE TWO IN PERSON AND FIVE
REMOTE.
>> TWO AND FIVE REMOTE. OKAY.
AGAIN, WITHOUT OBJECTION I LIKE
TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO LIMIT
PUBLIC COMMENT TO ONE MINUTE
EACH FOR EACH SPEAKER. HEARING
NO OBJECTION. WE WILL LIMIT IT
TO ONE MINUTE PER PERSON. CLERK,
CAN YOU READ THE PUBLIC COMMENT
INSTRUCTIONS?
>> IT WILL BE MONITORED IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER. SPEAKERS WILL
BE CALLED IN THE ORDER IN WHICH
THEY REGISTERED. WILL REMOVE TO
REMOTE . SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A
CHIME AND I PHONES WILL BE MUTED
. THE PERIOD IS NOW OPEN AND WE
WILL BEGIN WITH THE FIRST
SPEAKER ON THE LIST. THAT IS
JULIE HOLLAND.
>> ANY MICROPHONE, PLEASE SPEAK
DIRECTLY INTO THE MICROPHONE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> OKAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY, I AM JULIE HOLLAND,
DISTRICT 7. PAST PRESIDENT OF
THE COMMUNITY COUNCIL AND MEMBER
OF THE CITYWIDE DESIGN REVIEW
COALITION. COALITION MEMBERS
REPRESENT A ROBUST CROSS-SECTION
A PROFESSIONALS AND
ORGANIZATIONS. WHO EMBRACE THE
CURRENT OPPORTUNITY PRESENTED BY
THE NEW COMP PLAN . TO GET IT
RIGHT. OR IN THE WORDS OF THE
NEW LEGISLATION, TO ADOPT
PROMPT, COURTNEY DID AN
OBJECTIVE REVIEW AND ENSURE
ACCOUNTABILITY TO APPLICANTS AND
THE PUBLIC. THE COALITION IS
ASKING FOR A SEAT AT THE TABLE.
TO HELP ENSURE EFFICIENCY AND
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. THEY ARE
NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE. THE
PUBLIC VOICE IS AN INVALUABLE
ASPECT. IT IS THE BUYER THE
DETERMINES AND DICTATES SUCCESS.
IN THIS CASE THE BUYER IS A
RESIDENT AND THE LEASEE. LET'S
GET IT RIGHT. LET'S MAKE THE
COMP PLAN WORK TOGETHER AS
WILLING PARTNERS TO PERFECT
SEATTLE'S DESIGN REVIEW
PROCESS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE STEVE.
>> WE NEED A BETTER SEATTLE. AND
YOU, UNFORTUNATELY, ARE NOT
BRINGING THAT FORWARD AT THIS
MOMENT. AS WE TAKE A LOOK AT
CITIZEN PARTICIPATION, BAD.
DEVELOPERS, GOOD. LET'S TAKE A
LOOK WHERE DESIGN REVIEW CAME
FROM. DESIGN REVIEW WAS PART OF
THE COPPER MISE BROUGHT ABOUT
THE URBAN CENTERS. AND ALL THE
THINGS DEVELOPERS WANT, YOU HAVE
NOT ONLY KEPT, BUT GIVEN MORE.
AND THE CITIZENS, THOSE PEOPLE,
THOSE UPON DEVELOPERS , WE ARE
THROWING THEM OUT. WHAT DID WE
GET FOR IT? LOW COST HOUSING.
LOOK AT YOU, ONE BY ONE PULL OFF
THE PUBLIC COMMENTS THE PRICE OF
HOUSING HAS GONE DOWN. I SAY NO.
THE PRICE OF HOUSING HAS GONE
UP. AND THE QUALITY IS ACTUALLY
GONE DOWN. NEIGHBORHOODS --
>> THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW MOVE
ON TO OUR REMOTE SPEAKERS. FIRST
UP IS MEGAN.
>> GOOD MORNING. DISTRICT 7 AND
A MEMBER OF THE DESIGN REVIEW
REBOOT COALITION. I AM SPEAKING
ON THE BILL TO EXTEND THE DESIGN
REVIEW MORATORIUM: NEW PROCESSES
PUT IN PLACE. DESIGN REVIEW IS
THE PUBLIC LIFELINE FOR
INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT IS BEING
BUILT IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. OUR
COALITION CONSISTS OF COMMUNITY
GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS ACROSS
SEATTLE. WE SUPPORT INCREASED
DENSITY AND WE BELIEVE THE
DESIGN REVIEW IS CRITICAL FOR
SUCCESS. OUR GOALS ARE SIMPLE.
CREATE A PROCESS THAT IS
EFFICIENT AND ACCOUNTABLE TO
BOTH APPLICANTS AND THE PUBLIC.
GIVE CITIZEN GROUPS LIKE OURS A
SEAT AT THE ADVISORY TABLE TO
SHAPE THE PROCESS. AND THEN
UPDATE LAND-USE CODES AND DESIGN
RECORD AREA TO DESIGN
WELL-DESIGNED BUILDINGS. SO FAR
THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN ON THE
OUTSIDE LOOKING IN WITH THIS
PROCESS. WE ALL DESERVE A VOICE
IN CREATING -- CREATE STRONGER
SOLUTIONS THE GREAT EVERYONE.
PLEASE, TODAY TAKE TIME TO
ADDRESS THIS IN YOUR DISCUSSION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE JEANNIE.
EXCELLENT.
>> OKAY. I AM JEAN. I AM A
PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON. AND I LIVE IN
NEIGHBORHOOD. I UNDERSTAND THE
CITIZEN RIGHT TO APPEAL
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN THEIR
OWN NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> COULD YOU HOLD ON ONE SECOND.
THAT PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE OF
OUR MENTAL PACK STATEMENT WILL
BE LATER. THERE IS A PUBLIC
HEARING THAT YOU CAN -- THIS IS
FOR THE DESIGN REVIEW SECTION.
>> OKAY. I UNDERSTAND. BUT THE
INSTRUCTIONS WERE DIFFICULT. SO
I NEED TO COMPLETELY GO BACK AND
REDO THEM.
>> OKAY. WE WILL MOVE ON.
>> OKAY. I WILL TRY AGAIN. I
THOUGHT I WAS SIGNING UP FOR THE
ISSUE WITH THE ENVIRONMENT. WHAT
IS IT CALLED?
>> WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO
OUR NEXT --
>> IS THERE AN EMAIL SHE COULD
SEND TO GET SIGNED UP? OR
CONNECTOR WAS STEPHANIE?
>> JEAN, WE WILL GET YOU SIGNED
UP FOR THE OTHER PUBLIC HEARING
WHICH WILL BE PROBABLY IN 20
MINUTES. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE VALERIE .
VALERIE, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX.
OKAY. WE WILL COME BACK TO YOU,
VALERIE. NEXT UP WE HAVE KEYS .
A REMINDER THAT THIS SHOULD BE
REGARDING DESIGN REVIEW.
>> HELLO, I HEARD WHAT YOU SAID
ABOUT COUNCIL BILL 121215 AND I
WILL THE COMMENTS UNTIL LATER.
>> THANK YOU.
>> VALERIE, IF YOU ARE HERE
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX.
>> HELLO, THIS IS VALERIE. 30
YEAR RESIDENT AND A MEMBER OF
THE DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE. I
WANT TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR
AN UPDATED DESIGN REVIEW THAT
WILL INCLUDE THE PERSPECTIVE OF
ALL STAKEHOLDERS, DEVELOPERS,
ARCHITECTS, NEIGHBORHOOD
RESIDENTS. OVER THE YEARS I HAVE
PARTICIPATED IN DESIGN REVIEW
AND I THINK THE PROCESS IS
IMPORTANT. TO BE INVOLVED IN THE
COMMUNITY. THE CITY AND OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE TO LIVE WITH
THE PROJECTS ON A DAILY BASIS
WHAT DEVELOPERS MOVE ON TO OTHER
PROJECTS. IS IMPORTANT THAT
PROJECTS BE COMPLETED WITHOUT
UNNECESSARY DELAY, CONSIDERATION
OF THINGS THAT MAKE A CITY
GREAT, LIVABLE, LIKE BUILDINGS A
PROVIDE AIR AND LIGHT, WALKABLE
SIDEWALKS AND GREEN SPACE. THE
COMMUNITY BRINGS THE
PERSPECTIVE. I RESPECTFULLY
REQUEST THE BE INVOLVED IN THE
REDESIGN OF THE DESIGN REVIEW
AND WOULD HOPE THAT YOU ENSURE
WE HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
LISTENING TO THESE COMMENTS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE ONE ADDITIONAL IN
PERSON SPEAKER AND THAT IS
JONATHAN WARREN.
>> THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES OUR
REGISTERED SPEAKERS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE WILL
NOW MOVE ON TO OUR FIRST ITEMS
OF BUSINESS. WITH THE CLERKS
READ AGENDA ITEMS ONE THROUGH
SIX?
>> AGENDA ITEMS ONE THROUGH SIX.
APPOINTMENTS 353633531
APPOINTMENTS AND REAPPOINTMENTS
OF SEATTLE PLANNING COMMISSION
FOR TERMS APRIL 15, 2029.
BRIEFING, DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU. WE YOU PLEASE
INTRODUCE YOURSELVES ?
>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE THIS
MORNING. MY NAME IS VANESSA
MURDOCK. AM THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE SEATTLE PLANNING
COMMISSION. SEATTLE PLANNING
COMMISSION IS AN INDEPENDENT
ADVISORY BODY TO THIS BODY, CITY
COUNCIL. THE MAYOR. AND CITY
DEPARTMENTS, ON ISSUES RELATED
TO HOUSING, LAND-USE AND
TRANSPORTATION. AM PLEASED TO
TURN IT OVER TO OUR FOUR
RECOMMENDED APPOINTEES AND THEN
FOR THEM TO BRIEFLY INTRODUCE
THEMSELVES AND THEN HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. I WILL
TURN OVER TO PATRICK.
>> MY NAME IS PATRICK TAYLOR,
LONGTIME SEATTLE RESIDENT. IN MY
DAY JOB I WORK IN ARCHITECTURE
FIRM AND ALL FORMS OF HOUSING
AND LIVING NORTH BEACON HILL
WITH MY WIFE AND CHILDREN.
>> GOOD MORNING, I AM T.J.
STUTMAN, A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT
5. MY DAY JOB, I WORKED ON THE
STREET IN EXECUTIVE BUDGET
OFFICE. AND I AM DELIGHTED TO
JOIN THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND
WORK FOR PRESENT AND FUTURE
CITIZENS OF SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE ALSO HAVE TWO INDIVIDUALS
ON THE LINE. I BELIEVE HAILEY,
WOULD YOU PLEASE GO AHEAD AND
INTRODUCE YOURSELF?
>> HI, I AM HAILEY KARCHER. AND
ENROLLMENT IN PLANNING ANALYST
FOR SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND
FORMER PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER.
PROUD RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 2 AND
HONORED BY THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SERVE ON THE SEATTLE PLANNING
COMMISSION AND CONTRIBUTE TO
MAKING SEATTLE AN AFFORDABLE
PLACE FOR WORKING FAMILIES.
>> THANK YOU. AMIR?
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR AND
COUNCIL MEMBERS. TANKS FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE. MY NAME
IS TRENT IF I. A CIVIL AND
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER WITH 16
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE LEADING
ACROSS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
SECTORS. WHAT I HOPE TO BRING TO
THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS A
PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION
PERSPECTIVE. HELPING CONNECT
SEATTLE'S LONG-TERM GOALS WITH
WHAT CAN BE BUILT AND DELIVERED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THANK
YOU, VANESSA, THANK YOU TO ALL
OF OUR APPLICANTS FOR THE
PLANNING COMMISSION. THANK YOU,
REALLY VALUE YOUR SERVICE, YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO STEP UP INTO THIS
POSITION AND TO SERVE THIS
CRITICAL ROLE FOR THE CITY. AS
YOU HEARD PROBABLY EARLIER, WE
DO HAVE QUITE A FEW PUBLIC
COMMENTERS FOR PUBLIC HEARING SO
WE ARE LIMITED IN TIME. I WOULD
LOVE TO SPEND MORE TIME GETTING
TO KNOW YOU BETTER AND FOR THE
PUBLIC TO GET TO KNOW YOU BETTER
AND HAVE QUESTIONS, AND
CERTAINLY, COLLEAGUES IF YOU
HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS I
WILL COME THEM NOW. NO? OKAY.
SINGLE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS,
AGAIN, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU
BEING HERE TODAY, FOR FOLKS
ONLINE AS WELL. AND REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU STEPPING UP. I
MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMEND CONFIRMATION OF
APPOINTMENT 3536, IS OUR SECOND?
>> MOVED AND SECONDED TO
RECOMMEND CONFIRMATION OF THE
POINTS. ANY FINAL COMMENTS? I
DON'T SEE ANY. WILL THE CLERK
WHOLE THE ROLE AND RECOGNITION
TO CONFIRM APPOINTMENTS?
>> [ ROLL CALL ] THERE ARE FIVE
VOTES IN FAVOR.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION WILL BE
SENT TO BE JULY 7 , 2026 CITY
COUNCIL MEETING. CONGRATULATIONS
AND THANK YOU AGAIN TO BOTH OUR
FOLKS IN PERSON AND ONLINE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR
FOURTH ITEM OF BUSINESS. WILL
THE CLERK READ AGENDA ITEM
NUMBER SEVEN? AN ORDINANCE
RELATING TO COUNCIL LAND USE
DECISIONS;
>> AMENDING AGENDA ITEM NUMBER
SEVEN.SECTIONS 23.76.050,
23.76.062, AND 25.05.680 OF THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE TO
CLARIFY PROCESSES FOR COUNCIL
LAND USE DECISIONS. FOR PUBLIC
HEARING, BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> AS PRESIDING OFFICER I'M
OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON
COUNCIL BILL 121215 REGARDING
THE COUNCIL LAND-USE DECISION
LEGISLATION. CLERK, HOW MANY
SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP? I HAVE
THE SHEETS? OKAY. WE HAVE IT
LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY
61 IN PERSON. DO WE KNOW HOW
MANY WE HAVE ON THE LINE?
>> WE HAVE ROUGHLY 38 ONLINE.
>> OKAY. SO, EACH SPEAKER WILL
BE PROVIDED ONE MINUTE. SO
HOPEFULLY WE WILL HAVE TIME TO
HEAR EVERYBODY. I REALLY
APPRECIATE EVERYONE COMING HERE
THIS MORNING FOR ALL OF THE
EFFICACY AND INTEREST IN THIS
IMPORTANT LEGISLATION. WE HAVE
ALSO GOTTEN A NUMBER OF EMAILS
AND HEARD FROM FOLKS IN OTHER
WAYS AS WELL. THERE IS A LOT
MORE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY,
BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT
WE HEAR FROM YOU. SO I WOULD
LIKE TO JUST MOVE ON AND HEAR
DIRECTLY. SO WITH THAT, LET'S
SEE, CLERK, I WILL HAND THIS
OVER TO YOU TO PRESENT THE
INSTRUCTIONS.
>> SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN
THE ORDER OF REGISTRATION.
REGISTRATION WILL REMAIN OPEN
UNTIL CONCLUSION. COMMENT RULES
APPLY EXCEPT THAT THERE WILL BE
TWO MINUTES OF PUBLIC COMMENT. A
CHILD WILL BE YOUR NOTICE IT'S
TIME TO WRAP UP COMMENTS. AT THE
END OF THE TIME RELATED TO
COUNCIL BILL 121215 BEING
ACCEPTED AT THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
SPEAKERS ARE ASKED TO BEGIN
COMMENTS BY SAYING THEIR NAME.
WE WILL PROCEED WITH IN SPEAKER
FIRST AND THEN REMOTE
COMMENTERS. OUR FIRST COMMENTOR
IS ALICIA.
>> ONE MINUTE. CORRECT. SO TWO
MINUTES. SO WE WILL SEE IF WE
CAN GET THERE EVER BE. WE HAVE
QUITE A FEW. IF YOU ARE ABLE TO
LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO LESS THAN
TWO MINUTES THAT WOULD BE
GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU,
LET'S PROCEED.
>> GOOD MORNING CHAIR AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY
NAME IS ALICIA, REPRESENTING
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY SEATTLE,
KING COUNTY . I'M HERE AGAIN IN
SUPPORT OF COUNCIL BILL 121215.
TO PUT IT SIMPLY, THIS BILL
CLOSES A LOOPHOLE THE COST
SEATTLE TIME IT DOESN'T HAVE ,
STATE LAW SETS FIRM DEADLINES
FOR UPDATING OUR LAND-USE CODE
BUT ADMINISTRATIVE SEPA BILLS
AND 11 STREET ACTIONS HAVE
PUSHED THOSE TIMELINES BACK.
THIS IS A LAYER OF REVIEW STATE
LOT NEVER REQUIRED IN THE FIRST
PLACE. THING ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION CHANGES HERE AND FULL
SEPA REVIEW STAYS AS RIGOROUS AS
IT IS TODAY. WHAT GOES AWAY IS A
SECOND REDUNDANT APPEAL STEP
THAT OTHER MAJOR CITIES IN OUR
REGION, INCLUDING BELLEVUE,
TACOMA AND EVERETT HAVE
ELIMINATED WITHOUT INCIDENT. WE
ASK YOU TO THINK ABOUT WHAT A
FEW MONTHS OF DELAY ACTUALLY
MEANS ON THE GROUND. IT MEANS A
FAMILY THE QUALIFIED FOR AN
AFFORDABLE HOME TODAY IS STILL
WAITING NEXT SPRING. IT MEANS A
CONSTRUCTION TIMELINE SLIPS
BETWEEN NEW FISCAL YEAR AND
FINANCING HAS TO BE
RENEGOTIATED. THESE AREN'T
ABSTRACT COSTS. THEY ARE THE
CONSEQUENCES OF NECESSARY,
UNNECESSARY DELAY THAT LANDS ON
THE BACKS OF THE PEOPLE WE SERVE
EVERY DAY. HABITAT URGES THIS
COMMITTEE TO PASS COUNCIL BILL
121215 WITHOUT DELAY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE SEAN FOLLOWED
BY WOODY, JASON , KEN AND RILEY.
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY
NAME IS SEAN. A SEATTLE RESIDENT
AND VOLUNTEER WITH HABITAT FOR
HUMANITY. I'M HERE TO URGE YOU
TO PASS CB 121215 AND SEND IT TO
THE FULL COUNCIL. THIS BILL IS A
COMMON SENSE PROCEDURAL REFORM.
IT IS NOT ROLL BACK IN MY MENTAL
PROTECTIONS PUBLIC PROCESS.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW REMAINS
INTACT. WHAT IT DOES DO IS
REMOVE A SELF-IMPOSED
ADMINISTERED OF APPEAL PROCESS
FOR LEGISLATIVE LAND-USE
DECISIONS THAT STATE LAW DOES
NOT REQUIRE AND HAS ADDED MONTHS
OF DELAYS TO NEED HOUSING POLICY
UPDATES. FOR FAMILIES PARTNERING
WITH HABITAT EVERY DELAY
MATTERS. MEANS STAYING LONGER IN
AFFORDABLE SITUATIONS. IS
SOMEONE HOPING TO START A FAMILY
IN THE CITY, I WANT MY KIDS TO
GROW UP IN SEATTLE BELIEVING
THEY CAN BECOME THE TEACHERS,
NURSES, OR PUBLIC SERVANTS WE
NEED WILL ACTUALLY FORDING TO
LIVE HERE. RATHER THAN BEING --
REDUNDANT PROCESS DOES NOT
IMPROVE VARMINT OUTCOMES.
SEATTLE SHOULD JOIN KING COUNTY,
BELLEVUE, TACOMA AND EVERETT IN
STREAMLINING THESE DECISIONS.
PLEASE PASS 121215 TO THE FULL
COUNCIL. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
JASON, KEN AND RILEY.
>> HELLO. I AM WOODY WHEELER. I
HAVE A SMALL BUSINESS CALLED
CONSERVATION CATALYST. I AM A
GUIDE AND AUTHOR. I AM A NATURE
PERSON. YOU MIGHT ASKED ME TO
LEAVE RIGHT NOW. BUT, THIS BILL
WOULD CREATE AN END RUN AROUND A
VITAL DEMOCRATIC PROCESS THE
PROTECTS ENVIRONMENT. THERE IS
NO NEED FOR IT. APPEALS ARE
RARE, AVERAGING 2.7 PER YEAR
WITH LESS THAN ONE HOUSING
RELATED APPEAL ANNUALLY FOR THE
PAST 10 YEARS. MEANWHILE,
SEATTLE'S NATURAL HERITAGE IS
SHRINKING. MORE THAN 7000 TREES
HAVE BEEN REMOVED SINCE 2023.
THAT WAS THE YEAR THE TREE
ORDINANCE WENT INTO EFFECT.
SEATTLE RANKS FIFTH, SHAMEFULLY,
IN THE NATION FOR URBAN HEAT
ISLANDS EVEN THOUGH WE ARE THE
18th LARGEST CITY. WE CAN DO
BETTER. 400 PEOPLE DIED DURING
THE JUNE 2021 HEAT WAVE IN KING
COUNTY. LET'S NOT FORGET THAT.
THAT HIS RECENT HISTORY. THE
MAYOR OF A CITY WEST OF MONTRÉAL
CANADA RECENTLY ESTABLISHED A
VERY STRONG TREE ORDINANCE WHICH
I WISH WE HAD. HERE'S WHAT HE
SAID. WHEN IT COMES TO FIGHTING
CLIMATE CHANGE, OUR BIGGEST ALLY
IS TREES. IT IS TIME FOR SEATTLE
TO MAKE THIS REALIZATION, BOAT
NO ON THIS BILL, PURSUE INSTEAD
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I SUPPORT
THAT PERSONALLY FOR MY MONEY, I
DO VOLUNTEER BOARDWALKS FOR LOW
INCOME HOUSING. I BELIEVE IN
THAT. THAT TARGET IS WHAT WE
NEED, NOT JUST HOUSING THAT IS
MOSTLY MARKET PLACE HOUSING.
WITH THAT CLEAR. VOTE NO ON THIS
BILL. PURSUE INSTEAD AFFORDABLE
HOUSING WILL PROTECTING THE
TREES THAT MAKE OUR CITY
HEALTHIER, COOLER. WE CAN DO
THIS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP JASON FOLLOWED BY
KEN, RILEY AND FOLLOWED BY
SYDNEY.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JASON, A
HOMEOWNER, RESIDENT DISTRICT 6.
I AM HERE IN FAVOR OF CB 121215.
THIS BILL WOULD STREAMLINE THE
APPROVAL OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING
WHICH IS URGENTLY NEEDED IN THE
CITY. SEATTLE DECLARED A STATE
OF EMERGENCY ABOUT HOMELESSNESS
13 YEARS AGO. AND UNFORTUNATELY
OUR HOMELESS POPULATION
CONTINUES TO RISE TO RECORD
LEVELS. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
IT'S ALSO NOT ACCEPTABLE IS BAD
FAITH DELAYS OF VITALLY NEEDED
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
TIME-CONSUMING APPEALS DELAY
CREATION OF HOUSING FOR NEEDIEST
NEIGHBORS AND I AM REALLY
GRATEFUL TO CITY COUNCIL FOR
REDUCING THE OVERHEAD TO CREATE
THE PORTAL HOUSING THAT ARE CITY
NEEDS. THANK YOU AND I ENCOURAGE
YOU TO MOVE THIS BILL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE KEN FOLLOWED BY
RILEY.
>> HI. I GROUP IN SEATTLE. FOR
AROUND 30 YEARS. I AM OPPOSED TO
THIS BILL. I WANT TO ASK YOU,
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THE
GOVERNMENT MAKE A MISTAKE? HAVE
YOU SEEN DEVELOPERS MAKE A
MISTAKE? HAVE YOU EVER MADE A
MISTAKE? THIS BILL WILL REMOVE
THE ABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO POINT
THIS OUT BEFORE YOU MAKE
MISTAKES. WHEN YOU FAST TRACK OF
ELEMENT YOUR FAST TRACKING
MISTAKES. LOOK AT BALLARD.
BALLARD IS A DISASTER. AND A
FINANCIAL DISASTER. IN GREEN
LAKE, WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE
ROOSEVELT AREA HAS RAISE THE
TEMPERATURE , AS A PREVIOUS
SPEAKER SAID. THE HEAT ISLAND IS
DRAMATIC IN SEATTLE. WE NEED TO
REVERSE THIS. WE NEED TREES. WE
NEED TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THESE
DEVELOPMENTS AND CHALLENGE THEM
IF THEY NEED CHALLENGING. THE
ONLY REASON I SEE YOU WANT TO DO
THIS IS TO INCREASE DEVELOPER
PROFITS. BECAUSE OF ELEMENT IS
GOING TO COME, WE CAN DO IT
RIGHT OR WE CAN DO IT WRONG. I
HAVE LIVED IN THE NEW YORK CITY
AREA. I MOVED FROM THE EAST
COAST TO HEAR TO GET AWAY FROM
THAT. AND WHEN I SEE SEATTLE
CHANGING INTO SOMETHING THAT
RESEMBLES NEW YORK CITY, IT IS
VERY SAD TO SEE WE ARE GOING IN
THAT DIRECTION. I HOPE YOU VOTE
YES FOR THIS POLICY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP RILEY FOLLOWED BY
SARAH AND MARTHA.
>> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS
RILEY FROM A SEATTLE. I WANT TO
RECOGNIZE THIS FORM OF COMMENT
IS UNREPRESENTED AND BIASED
TOWARDS PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO ARE
ABLE TO SPEND THEIR WEEKDAY
MORNING HERE. I URGE YOU TO PASS
THIS BILL. WE DON'T WANT ONE
PERSON TO WASTE WHEN IT COMES TO
WORLD CUP PREPARATIONS BUT WHEN
IT COMES TO ALLOWING MORE HOMES,
WE DO. TO THE WORKER FORCED TO
CHOOSE BETWEEN GROCERIES AND
RENT, TO THE PERSON EVICTED WITH
NOWHERE TO GO, TO THE FAMILY
FINALLY ROSE IN THE TOWEL AND
MOVE SOMEWHERE THEY CAN AFFORD,
WE SAY TO THEM, YOU CAN WAIT SIX
MONTHS WHILE WE FIDDLE OUR
THUMBS. BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT
THESE APPEALS ARE. A WASTE OF
TIME ANYWAY TO RUN DOWN THE
CLOCK. BUILDING MORE HOMES IS
GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT,
RECOGNIZING THIS THE STATE HAS
PROBABLY OF LIMITED APPEALS AS
OF KING COUNTY, BELLEVUE, TACOMA
AND EVERETT. IS FURTHER EVIDENCE
SEATTLE'S APPEAL PROCESS IS
NEVER RESULTED IN A SUBSTANTIVE
CHANGE MUCH LESS TO THE PLAN
ANALYZE. STATUS QUO IS NOT
NEUTRAL AND WASTING TIME TO
PRESERVE IT IS UNACCEPTABLE.
PLEASE PASS THIS BILL. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE SYDNEY FOLLOWED
BY SARAH, MARTHA AND SUSAN.
>> I AM SANDY SHETLER WITH TREE
ACTION SEATTLE. MESSAGING ON
THIS BILL CLAIMS THAT SEEP
APPEALS ARE REDUNDANT BECAUSE,
I, SEATTLE IS A NATIONAL LEADER
IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND
COEXISTENCE BETWEEN HUMANS AND
THE BEAUTIFUL NATURE THAT
SURROUNDS US. BUT THE DATA TELLS
A DIFFERENT STORY. OUR AIR IS
WORSE. THE EPA REPORTS THAT ARE
FINE PARTICLE POLLUTION NOT FROM
WILDFIRES JUMPED OVER 17% IN THE
LAST DECADE. AND IT IS 10%
HIGHER THAN SIMILAR NICETIES. WE
ARE OVERHEATING. I MET CENTRAL
BANKS IS FIFTH IN THE NATION FOR
URBAN HEAT ISLANDS. OUR TREES
ARE DISAPPEARING. CITY DATA
SHOWS WE LOST OVER 7000 TREES IN
2.5 YEARS. MOST OF THEM HAVE
TRUNKS OVER A FOOT IN DIAMETER.
THIS SHOWS THAT THIS IS NOT THE
TIME TO BE PATTING OURSELVES ON
THE BACK AND ELIMINATING THE
PUBLIC'S OVERSIGHT OF THE
ENVIRONMENT. WE NEED TO FIX WHAT
IS BROKEN. PLEASE REJECT 121215.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SANDY.
>> NEXT IS SARAH.
>> HI. I AM SARAH. THE SIX
RESIDENT AND PROJECT DIRECTOR
FOR THE ROBERT EAGLE STAFF MANY
FOREST. I'M HERE TO STRONGLY
URGE YOU TO REJECT 121215. THE
EIS FOR THE COMP PLAN WRONGLY
ASSUMES REPLACING ARE HEALTHY
MATURE TREES WITH NEW TREES IS
EQUIVALENT. THIS IS A SERIOUS
AND DANGEROUS ERROR. IT TAKES
FOUR DECADES FOR SAPLINGS TO
ACHIEVE SIMILAR COOLING BENEFITS
MATURE TREES PROVIDE TODAY. LOW
CANOPIES SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOODS
ARE ALREADY 20 PLUS DEGREES
WARMER -- THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH IN HEAT
WAVE. NEW PLANTINGS DON'T COMBAT
URBAN HEAT ISLAND IMPACTS AND
INCREASINGLY CAN'T SURVIVE
THEM. IT WAS CITIZEN REVIEW THAT
FLAGGED THIS EGREGIOUS ERROR IN
THE EIS. IT IS US, YOUR
CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE YOUR ALLIES
IN THIS PROCESS. LIKING
DANGEROUS MISTAKES LIKE THIS ONE
BEFORE THEY BECOME ENTRENCHED IN
LAW. THIS BILL WOULD REMOVE THAT
CRITICAL CHECK AND FURTHER
AMPLIFY THE ALREADY OUTSIZED
INFLUENCE OF LOBBYISTS WHO
ADVOCATE FOR POLICIES THAT
BENEFIT THEIR BOTTOM LINE AT THE
EXPENSE OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND
THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE. PLEASE
REJECT CB 121215. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE MARTHA
FOLLOWED BY SUZANNE AND STEVE
AND KATHY.
>> HELLO. GOOD MORNING, GOOD
AFTERNOON, WHAT IS IT? GOOD
MORNING. THE RATIONALE BEHIND
THIS 121215 , AN AMENDMENT THAT
WOULD ELIMINATE ENVIRONMENTAL
PEELS ON ALL CITY LAND-USE
LEGISLATION AND ANY CITY
BUILDING PROJECT IS LIKE
TRUMP'S CLAIMS ABOUT VOTER
FRAUD. AN EXERCISE IN DECEPTION.
TRUMP'S CRUSADE ISN'T ABOUT
THE NATION'S ELECTION, IT'S
ABOUT DISENFRANCHISING VOTERS.
IN THIS CASE, CB 121215 ISN'T
ABOUT REFORM. IT'S ABOUT TAKING
AWAY ONE AVENUE ORDINARY PEOPLE
HAVE TO ADDRESS CRITICAL
ENVIRONMENT ISSUES THE CITY IS
IGNORING. THE ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACTS OF THE COMP PLAN ARE
ENORMOUS. REDUCED HEAT ISLANDS ,
BECAUSE OF CLEARCUTTING
THOUSANDS OF MATURE TREES,
OBSERVING NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS
SEATTLE THAT HAVE ALREADY
OBSERVED THIS INVESTMENT AND
DISPLACEMENT AND THINKING MARKET
HOUSING WILL SOMEHOW UPLIFT.
STORMWATER RUNOFF BECAUSE OF THE
LOSS OF TREES AND POLLUTED
WATERS FOR THE REGIONS DWINDLING
ICONIC SOUTHERN RESIDENT ORCA'S.
ADD RULES THAT ALLOW 90% HARD
SCAPE COVERAGE ON RESIDENTIAL
LOTS WITH NO SETBACKS AND ANYONE
LONGING FOR LIVABLE CITY WHERE
DENSITY COEXISTS WITH THE
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT CAN KISS
THAT DREAM GOODBYE. THE SPONSOR
OF THE AMENDMENT ALLEGES THAT
APPEALS COST MONEY BUT
ENVIRONMENTAL APPEALS ARE
UNCOMMON. IN FACT SEATTLE
AVERAGES JUST UNDER THREE PER
YEAR WITH ONLY EIGHT OF THE 27
TOTAL APPEALS OVER THE PAST
DECADE INVOLVING HOUSING. YES,
MANY WASHINGTON STATE
JURISDICTIONS ALLOW CITIZENS
ENVIRONMENTAL PEELS. HE
CORRECTLY NOTES TACOMA AND
EVERETT AND BILBY DO NOT BUT
SPOKANE, KENT, OLYMPIA,
VANCOUVER, SNOHOMISH AND PIERCE
COUNTIES DO. I URGE YOU TO NOT
APPROVE COUNCIL BILL 121215.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I AM SUZANNE GRANT. DON'T
ALWAYS SEEM TO GO THAT YOU
DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'VE GOT
UNTIL IT'S GONE? HOW MANY OF
YOU HAVE WITNESSED THE
DISMEMBERING OF 100-YEAR-OLD
TREE AS ITS LIMBS CRASHED TO THE
GROUND TO MAKE WAY FOR A PARKING
SPACE OR YET ANOTHER ONE
MILLION-DOLLAR HOUSE THAT
COULD'VE BEEN REDESIGNED? SDCI
AND YOU ARE PAID CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE NOT DONE
ENOUGH TO PROTECT OUR NATURAL
RESOURCES. OUR TREES, MATURE
TREES, ORCA. YOU NEED VOLUNTEER
CITIZENS TO HELP. TO ASK ABOUT
HER MENTAL IMPACTS, FIRE SAFETY,
UTILITY AND TRAFFIC IMPACTS.
BANNING APPEALS ERASES
ACCOUNTABILITY. WE DID NOT ELECT
YOU TO TAKE AWAY THE VOICE OF
THE PEOPLE. STRIPPING THE MOST
ACCESSIBLE COMMITTEE REVIEW
MECHANISM REMOVES THE LAST
FORMAL CHECK AVAILABLE TO
RESIDENTS. ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH
THE LEAST POLITICAL POWER.
APPEALS GIVE RESIDENTS AN
INDEPENDENT REVIEW BEFORE
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSUMPTIONS ARE
LOCKED INTO LAW AND BEFORE TREES
ARE REMOVED OR PROJECTS BEGIN.
PLEASE RETAIN THE CURRENT
REQUIREMENT THAT ALL COUNCIL
ORIGINATED BILLS HAVE A
DIRECTOR'S REPORT. I AM
STANDING UP FOR OUR RIGHT TO
PROTECT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP FOLLOWED BY KATHY,
FREDA AND KIM.
>> WE STILL NEED A BETTER
SEATTLE. THE FIRST TWO SPEAKERS
FOR THIS PUBLIC HEARING WERE THE
ONLY ONES DOWNSTAIRS IN LINE. OF
COURSE THEY SPOKE FOR IT. I HAVE
SEEN THIS BEFORE. BUT IT'S BEEN
A WHILE. I JUST LIKE TO SAY, AS
A CITIZEN I FIND THAT
CONTEMPTIBLE AND IT HAS BEEN
DONE BY COUNCILS BEFORE BUT I
DON'T THINK WE SHOULD CONTINUE
THE PRACTICE. MANY YEARS AGO I
ATTENDED A PUBLIC HEARING, I
THOUGHT IT WOULD BE THE FIRST
SPEAKER AND THEY BROUGHT OUT A
PAGE AND A HALF OF OPPONENTS WHO
SPOKE BEFORE THE PEOPLE WHO
SHOWED UP AT THE TIME APPOINTED
AND WHEN THE SIGN UP SHEET WAS
SUPPOSED TO COME OUT. SEATTLE IS
STILL CAPABLE OF THAT LOVE OF
DEVELOPERS. GETTING MORE TO THE
SUBJECT, GETTING RID OF SEPA IS
LIKE IN YOUR HOUSE PUTTING A
PENNY IN THE FUSE BOX. AND,
SEATTLE HAS BEEN MORE THAN
WILLING TO PUT PENNIES IN THE
FUSE BOX WHEN BIG-TIME
DEVELOPERS WANT SOMETHING. THEY
HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A VERY BIG
GIVER TO PEOPLE WITH ZONING
POWER. IT APPEARS THEY ARE ALSO
GIVING TO STATE LEGISLATURES AND
NATIONAL AT THIS POINT. SEATTLE
HAS NOT EXPERIENCED BETTER
HOUSING OR CHEAPER HOUSING UNDER
THEIR TUTELAGE. THE DEVELOPERS
ARE MUCH LIKE THEIR INSTITUTES
ARE LIKE THE TOBACCO AND
PETROLEUM INSTITUTES. PROFIT IS
WHAT THEREFORE. NOT FOR GOOD
CITIES. I SUGGEST WE NOT GO BY
PUTTING A PENNY IN THE FUSE BOX.
I THINK WE HAVE TO LISTEN TO
CITIZENS AND I HOPE THAT
POLITICIANS GET JUDGED FOR THEIR
DEEDS, IN OTHER WORDS. MY HOPE
ALSO IS THAT WE CAN MAKE LESS
EXPENSIVE HOUSING. THINK ABOUT
RAISING.
>> THANK YOU, STEVE.
>> NEXT UP IS KATHY.
>> HI. I WANT YOU TO REJECT CB
121215. BILL 121215. I WANT US
TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE
TABLE. THIS IS THE LAST DAY THAT
WE CAN. YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE
HAS NOT BEEN THAT MANY TIMES
THAT HE HAS BEEN ENACTED. AS A
PERSON WHO GREW UP IN SEATTLE, I
UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH THE
ENVIRONMENT HAS CHANGED . THE
OLYMPIC MOUNTAINS HAVE LESS SNOW
ON THEM IN THE WINTER THAN THEY
USED TO HAVE IN THE SUMMER.
URBAN HEAT IS GETTING MUCH
HIGHER. I LIVE IN BALLARD. I'M
ABOUT SEVEN BLOCKS FROM THE
LIBRARY. I AM OLD. THE HEAT
REALLY AFFECTS ME. I FEEL A
TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE IN THE
BLOCKS WHERE THERE IS NO SHADE
IN THE ONES THAT DO. WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT YOU BUILDING A
CITY THAT PROVIDES FOR PEOPLE ,
A PLACE TO LIVE. BUT ALSO A
PLACE TO SURVIVE. IF YOU CREATE
A CITY THAT IS NOT SURVIVABLE IN
HEAT, YOU WILL NOT SAVE THE
FOREST AND THE LANDS OUT THERE.
PEOPLE WILL LEAVE BECAUSE THEY
WANT TO SURVIVE. YOU SAW THAT
DURING COVID. THE PEOPLE WHO
HAVE THE MEANS GOT OUT OF TOWN.
YOU KNOW, SO DON'T CREATE A
CITY WHERE THE POOR ARE GOING TO
DIE. THIS IS DRASTIC. AND THE
MASTER BUILDERS HAVE A HUGE SEAT
AT THE TABLE. PLEASE GIVE THE
REST OF US A SEAT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE FREDA.
FOLLOWED BY DARLA, KIM, HANS AND
AUGUSTINE.
>> I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. MY NAME
IS FRITZ. I AM A HOMEOWNER IN
SEATTLE. MY HOUSE IN THE AREA.
HAS TWO HERITAGE TREES AND THEY
ARE NOW UNDERGOING A VERY
EXPENSIVE PROCESS TO PUT A
CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON THEM.
TO KEEP DEVELOPERS FROM CUTTING
THEM DOWN. EXCUSE ME. ANYWAY. I
AM HERE OF COURSE DEVOTE NO OR
TO URGE YOU TO VOTE NO ON CHAIR
LIN'S PROPOSAL. IT SEEMS TO ME
INITIALLY THIS IS AN
OVERREACTION TO JENNIFER
GOTTFRIED'S SUCCESSFUL LAWSUIT
AGAINST THE CITY. AND, THAT IS A
RIDICULOUS REASON TO TAKE AWAY A
RIGHT. AS A MATTER FACT, DURING
18 YEARS I WAS IN THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WE DIDN'T
TAKE AWAY RIGHTS AS FAR AS I
KNOW. WE EITHER PRESERVE THEM OR
EXPANDED THEM.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> LEAVE IT TO THE OTHER
WASHINGTON TAKE AWAY RIGHTS.
I'M SURE YOU KNOW WHAT I'M
TALKING ABOUT. SO, JENNIFER
GOTTFRIED'S LAWSUIT WENT ALL
THE WAY TO THE COURT OF APPEALS
AND THE COURT OF APPEALS RULED
AGAINST THE CITY. AND TOLD US,
CLEARLY, THE WE WERE
MISINTERPRETING THE STATUTE AND
REQUIREMENTS OF SEPA AND WE HAD
TO EQUATE AND PRIORITIZE, ALONG
WITH HOUSING, SALMON, TREES, AND
WATER. SO, WHAT IS WRONG WITH
THAT? THAT IS THE MESSAGE WE
GOT. AND FINALLY, YESTERDAY'S
TIMES NAILED IT. YOU READ IT.
THE TIMES JUST NAILED IT. THE
DELAY IS MOSTLY SOMETHING OF A
FIGMENT OF A PARTICULAR COUNCIL
MEMBER'S IMAGINATION. BOAT NO
ON THE AMENDMENT. THANK YOU.
>> DARLA FOLLOWED BY KIM, HANS
AND AUGUSTINE.
>> GOOD MORNING. I'M ASKING THE
COUNCIL TO OPPOSE 121215. THE
BILL IS BAG AND DOES NOT ADDRESS
HOW REMOVING THE OF HER MENTAL
APPROVAL PROCESS WILL PROTECT
OUR ENVIRONMENT. SADLY, THE BILL
IS EVEN DEROGATORY IN TONE.
REMINISCENT OF THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION. THERE IS NO
WEAPONIZATION AND HAND. YOU HAVE
CONCERNED CITIZENS WHO ARE
VOLUNTEERING, A DEMOCRATIC RATE.
BANNING APPEALS REMOVES
ACCOUNTABILITY AND MUSCLES THE
PUBLIC, THE CONSTITUENTS YOU'RE
ELECTED TO SERVE. GOOD DECISIONS
DEPEND ON GOOD INFORMATION. WE
NEED CHECKS AND BALANCES. THE
HEARING EXAMINER APPEAL PROVIDES
THE ONLY INDEPENDENT AND
AFFORDABLE CHECK ON THE
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PROCESS
BEFORE LEGISLATION IS ADOPTED.
AS A STATE COURT OF APPEALS
RULED IN THE ORCA APPEAL. AND ON
THAT NOTE, THE ORCA APPEAL IS
BACK BY 12 LEADING ENVIRONMENTAL
ORGANIZATIONS IN THE CITY AND
2500 CONCERNED CITIZENS. AN
APPEAL THE COULD'VE BEEN
AVOIDED IF CITY STAFF HAD
ADDRESS THE ENVIRONMENTAL
CONCERNS IN THE 10 MONTHS
LEADING OFF TO THE FILING. AS
FOR REFERENCE ON THE BILL OF
ENDLESS APPEALS, MOST APPEALS
ARE THROWN OUT AS MENTIONED
EARLIER AND ON AVERAGE , OVER
THE PAST DECADE, THERE HAVE BEEN
2.7 PER YEAR. I DO INDEED
BELIEVE IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AND DENSITY. BUT ELIMINATING A
PUBLIC RIGHT IS A DRASTIC STEP
THAT DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM
AT HAND. PLEASE REJECT 121215.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. MY
NAME IS KIM AND I LIVE IN
DISTRICT 4. I'VE LIVED IN
SEATTLE MY WHOLE LIFE. I HAVE
SEEN THE CHANGES WE ARE MAKING
HERE. TODAY I'M URGING THE
COUNCIL TO VOTE NO. ON COUNCIL
BILL 121215. IT IS CRITICAL THAT
AS WE DEVELOP THE CITY OF
SEATTLE WE KEEP THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT BY
ALLOWING A SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND
BALANCES ENSURES THAT HUMAN
MISTAKES MADE IN ANALYZING THE
DATA AND ENVIRONMENT IMPACTS
STATEMENTS ARE NOT VOTED INTO
LAW WITHOUT ALLOWING FURTHER
INDEPENDENT REVIEW. THE ANSWER
IS NOT TO ELIMINATE THE APPEAL
PROCESS, THE FOCUS NEEDS TO BE
ON DEFINING THE ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT REVIEW PROCESS TO ENSURE
ACCURATE OF OUR MOST VALUABLE IN
THEIR MENTAL ASSETS. AND, IF AND
WHEN MISTAKES ARE MADE, AND
EFFICIENT HEARING EXAMINER
PROCESS WHICH ALLOWS FOR PUBLIC
OVERSIGHT TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE
AND PROTECT THESE MOST VALUABLE
AND CRITICAL OF OUR MENTAL
RESOURCES. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE HANS FOLLOWED
BY AUGUSTINE, CAROLINE AND SIMS.
>> HELLO, EVERYONE. I'M 17
YEARS OLD. I GO TO BISHOP HIGH
SCHOOL IN WALLINGFORD. AS I
WATCHED TRUMP TAKE AWAY MY
RIGHTS AT A RIDICULOUS PACE, IT
IS SCARY TO SEE A SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL NUMBER 20 TAKE AWAY MY
RIGHTS . AS A YOUNG PERSON, TO
BE ABLE TO FILE PARENTAL PEEL ON
MY OWN. MY DEMOCRATIC RIGHT TO
DUE PROCESS. WHEN MY RIGHT IS
TAKEN BY THE GENERATION BEFORE
ME, INC. ABOUT HOW MY GENERATION
WILL THINK OF YOU. REJECT CB
121215.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS AUGUSTINE. AM 16
AND I LIVE IN GEORGETOWN. ONE OF
THE BIGGEST HEAT ISLANDS AND ALL
SEATTLE. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE AWAY
MY RIGHT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL
APPEALS. IT IS ALMOST MY ONLY
WAY TO AFFECT MY COMMUNITY. EVEN
TODAY JUST COMING HERE I COULD
SEE ONE OF THE LARGEST TREES AND
ONE OF THE ONLY SHADE PRODUCERS
BE RIPPED OUT. IF THIS APPEAL
PROCESS IS GOTTEN RID OF, IT
WILL TAKE AWAY MY RIGHT TO
SUPPORT MY COMMUNITY. YOU WERE
SAYING THIS BILL PROTECT THE
CLIMATE. THAT IS NOT TRUE. IT IS
MISLEADING THE PUBLIC. DO NOT
TAKE AWAY MY RIGHT TO PROTECT MY
COMMUNITY, PLEASE REJECT THIS
BILL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE CAROLINE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS,
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT.
MY NAME IS CAROLINE AND I'M THE
DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
FOR SEATTLE PARKS FOUNDATION. WE
SUPPORT ADDRESSING SEATTLE'S
HOUSING NEEDS, BUT WE DO NOT
BELIEVE THAT 121215 IS THE RIGHT
APPROACH. AS AN ORGANIZATION
FOCUSED ON PARKS AND PUBLIC
SPACES, WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT
THE BILLS BROADER IMPACTS IN
BUILDING A CLIMATE RESILIENT
CITY. DECISIONS ALSO APPLY TO
PARK RELATED PROJECTS WERE
STRONG AND FIRM TO REVIEW AND
PUBLIC PROCESS ARE ESSENTIAL.
THE BILL REMOVES THE NEUTRAL,
INDEPENDENT CHECKPOINT ON
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW BEFORE
LEGISLATION IS ADOPTED. WHICH
WOULD REDUCE TRANSPARENCY AND
RISK FLAWED ANALYSIS. APPEALS
ARE INFREQUENT, LIKE WE HAVE
HEARD, AND PUBLIC COMMENTS ALONE
ARE REALLY NOT ENOUGH. IMPROVING
THE HEARING EXAMINER PROCESS
WOULD BE A BETTER SOLUTION.
ADEQUATE ENCUMBRANCE OF
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS PROCESSES
, INCLUDING SEPA ARE CRITICAL
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE LIVED HERE
FOR TIME AND MEMORIAL. UNDER A
THOROUGH AND MEANINGFUL IN OUR
MENTAL REVIEW PROCESS SOVEREIGN
TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS IN THE REGION
ARE INCLUDED TO MAKE SURE THAT
THERE AREN'T ADVERSE IMPACTS TO
IRREPLACEABLE CULTURAL RESOURCES
INCLUDING THOSE WITHIN CITY
PARKS. SALES GROWTH MUST REALLY
NOT COME AT THE COST OF OUR
ENVIRONMENTAL AND TRIBAL
CULTURAL RESOURCES. WE URGE
COUNCIL TO RECONSIDER THIS BILL
AND PURSUE A STRONGER PATH
FORWARD. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE ANN FOLLOWED
BY JESSICA, STEVE, AND ANDREW.
>> HELLO, COUNCIL. I AM A MEMBER
OF THE CITY. SPEAKING TO YOU
AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL. WE ARE
STANDING ON THE LAND OF THE
DUWAMISH. WE ARE COLONIZERS. AND
I AM TRYING TO LISTEN TO THE
WISDOM. IF WE DON'T UNDERSTAND
THAT WE ARE PART OF THIS EARTH,
THAT ALL OF THE TREES, ALL OF
THE GREEN SPACES THAT WE HAVE
LEFT, AND WE ARE IN THE FOURTH
YEAR OF DROUGHT, IF YOU LOOK
AROUND, ALL OF OUR CITIES,
TREES, GARDEN TREES, ARE DYING.
IF WE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT
THAT IS OUR BODY, THEN THE HARD
SCAPE, THE BUILDINGS ARE NOT
GOING TO RESCUE US. WE WILL
COLLAPSE IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE
NEEDS TO TAKE A COMPLETELY NEW
STAND A NEW APPROACH TO DEALING
WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE
WORLD. WE CANNOT CONTINUE AS WE
HAVE , WHAT SEATTLE HAS DONE, I
SEE WITH MY OWN EYES. A LITTLE
BIT OF HOUSING THE PEOPLE CAN
AFFORD IS ON STREETS THAT ARE
REALLY GOING TO BE CONTESTED.
THEY ARE ALREADY TREELESS AND
BARREN. WHAT IS BEING BUILT IS
FOR RICH PEOPLE. IT IS UGLY,
THERE IS NO DESIGN REVIEW, AND
ALL THESE HOUSES IN 20 YEARS
WILL BE IN THE LANDFILL WHICH IS
ALSO NOT SUSTAINABLE. SO I ASK
YOU, LISTEN TO THE ELDERS.
LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE THAT SHOULD
BE HERE AND SHOULD TEACH YOU AND
ALL OF US HOW TO STEWARD PLAN.
WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE IS SAD.
AND IS THE WRONG DIRECTION IN SO
MANY WAYS. THANK YOU. THINK FOR
LISTING.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP JESSICA DIXON.
>> HI, MY NAME IS JEAN BATEMAN.
I'M HERE TO OPPOSE THIS BILL
>> I'M SO SORRY. JESSICA DIXON
IS UP NEXT. WE HAVE JESSICA
DIXON UP NEXT.
>> HI. I'M JESSICA DIXON. I AM
A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 6.
GREENWOOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
BEING HERE TODAY. I'M CALLING
ON THE CITY COUNCIL TO REJECT
COUNCIL BILL 121215. AND TO
PRESERVE THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO
CHALLENGE DECISIONS UNDER SEPA.
IT WILL AFFECT THE AIR, WATER
AND OVERALL HEALTH AND
WELL-BEING OF THE RESIDENCE FOR
CITY. THE APPEAL PROCESS IS
CHALLENGING, IT IS DEFINITELY
NOT SOMETHING ANYONE ENTERS INTO
LIGHTLY. BUT IT PROVIDES
RELATIVELY LOW-COST ACCESS FOR
CITIZENS TO EXPERT FOR HIM. IN
THE END, WITH SO MUCH AT STAKE,
SEATTLE'S COMMUNITIES DESERVE
ACCOUNTABILITY WHEN IT COMES TO
MAJOR LAND-USE DECISIONS, NOT
EMPTY PROMISES. VOTE NO ON
COUNCIL BILL 121215.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE STEVE
FOLLOWED BY LAURA , ANDREW AND
PAMELA.
>> MY NAME IS STEVE, FRIENDS OF
SEATTLE'S URBAN FOREST. ABOUT
20 YEARS AGO I WAS THE CAMPAIGN
DIRECTOR FOR INITIATIVE 547
WHICH WAS THE WASHINGTON LIVABLE
INITIATIVE. THE PRECURSOR TO THE
BILL PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE
THE NEXT YEAR WITH THE
CONFERENCE A PLAN IN PLACE IN
OUR STATE. I WOULD NOTE THAT IN
TERMS OF THE CURRENT CONFERENCE
A PLAN, DELAYS SEEM TO BE COMING
MORE FROM YOUR PROCESS AND
COUNCIL AND MAYOR BEING A YEAR
BEHIND SCHEDULE, AND THAT IS NOT
THE ISSUE HERE IN TERMS OF WHAT
YOU ARE DEALING WITH. I URGE THE
YOU RETAIN THE CURRENT
REQUIREMENT THAT ALL COUNCIL
ORIGINATED BILLS HAVE DIRECTOR
SUPPORT. COUNCIL BILL 121215
WOULD ELIMINATE THIS FOR COUNCIL
WILL CONTINUE IT FOR THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE. DIRECTORS
REPORTS FOR CONFERENCE OF PLANS,
CONFERENCE A PLANNED AMENDMENTS,
LAND-USE. NEED TO CONTINUE TO BE
MANAGED BY BOTH THE COUNCIL AND
MAYOR'S OFFICE. THERE SHOULD BE
NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE
COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR. IN TERMS
OF THIS REQUIREMENT. WE NEED TO
ENSURE THE DEPARTMENT HAVE TO
COMPLY WITH PROPOSED LEGISLATION
REVIEW AND HAVE THEIR INPUT, IF
IT IS A PROBLEM THAT'S A
PROBLEM FOR THE BILL ITSELF, DO
THE DIRECTORS REPORTS FOR BOTH.
SECONDLY, I URGE YOU EXPEDITE
REFORM RATHER THAN ELIMINATE THE
CURRENT HEARING EXAMINER
PROCESS. REGARDING CONFERENCE A
PLANS EIS, AMENDMENTS, PLAN USE
APPEALS, ET CETERA. LENGTHY
DELAYS INVOLVED IN BUILDING MORE
HOUSING. OPTIONS MOVE THE
APPEALS AUTOMATICALLY TO THE
FRONT OF THE LINE TO BE
RESOLVED. IF THIS IS SO
IMPORTANT, SO IT NEEDS TO BE
DEALT WITH FIRST BY THE HEARING
EXAMINER. SECOND, REQUIRE THAT
ALL APPEALS, EMINENCE BE
RESOLVED BY EITHER 30 DAYS, 60
DAYS, WHATEVER. YOU CAN DO THIS.
AMENDED RATHER THAN APPEAL IT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I THINK I'M NEXT.
>> LAURA.
>> I AM LAURA LIVINGSTON. A
RESIDENT OF CROWN HILL. EMERGING
A NO VOTE. I AM A RESEARCHER FOR
SAVE CROWN HILL CEMETERY, A
GROUP OF NEIGHBORS AND
DESCENDENTS WORKING TO STAVE OFF
RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE
123-YEAR-OLD HISTORIC URBAN
GRAVEYARD ESTABLISHED IN 1903 BY
THE CITY OF BALLARD. AFTER
PROVIDING LEGAL DOCUMENTS
DEMONSTRATING DEDICATION WE ARE
STILL IN FULL FORCE IN THE
SOUTHWEST CORNER THAT WERE
HANDED TO ME BY THE DEPARTMENT
OF ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORIC
PRESERVATION AND GIVEN OVER TO
SDCI DIRT THE PUBLIC COMMENT
KEPT THE APPLICATION MOVING
FORWARD . ONLY WHEN WE ALERTED
STATE ARCHAEOLOGISTS ABOUT
IMMINENT DESECRATION OF THIS
LAND DID SDCI ISSUE A
CORRECTION. I WONDER WHAT
WOULD'VE HAPPENED IF WE HAD
FOUND THE INFORMATION AFTER THE
APPLICATION WAS APPROVED. WHAT
AVENUES WE WOULD'VE HAD. WHILE
THIS MAY BE A TANGENTIAL EXAMPLE
IT DEMONSTRATES THE PUBLIC
PARTICIPATION IN LAND-USE IS
DIFFICULT ENOUGH. PLEASE DO NOT
REMOVE THIS IMPORTANT AVENUE FOR
APPEALS WHEN OVERSIGHT FAILS. I
DID EMAIL ADDITIONAL DETAILS TO
THE COUNCIL AND I URGE YOU TO
VOTE NO.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP WILL BE ANDREW
FOLLOWED BY PAMELA, .
>> THANK YOU CHAIR AND MEMS OF
THE COMMITTEE. NAME IS ANDREW,
AND FROM DISTRICT TO SPEAKING IN
FAVOR OF 121215. WE HAVE HER
TODAY THAT THE BILL OPENS A
ONE-WAY PASS MENTAL DESTRUCTION
OR IT IS TIERNEY IN ACTION.
NEITHER IS TRUE. IN HER MENTAL
REVIEW PROCESS STILL HAPPENS IN
THE ASCOTS WRITTEN. WHAT IT DOES
IS CLOSE AND MINISTERED LOOPHOLE
WITH RESTRICTIONS. SEATTLE IS
THE OUTLIER AND WE ARE SEEING
THE COST OF THAT. THE COMP PLAN
IS IN ITS FIFTH YEAR WITH PHASE
TWO PUSH TWO 2027 BECAUSE ONLY
TWO LAWSUITS. I BELIEVE IT IS
THE OPPOSITE. A PROCESS WITH AN
ATTORNEY CAN STALL LEGISLATION
AFFECTING 800,000 PEOPLE , IT'S
NEITHER DEMOCRATICALLY NOR
MENTALLY SOUND. EVERY YEAR WE
DELAY DENSE HOUSING NEAR TRANSIT
IS A YOUR FAMILIES WITH LONGER
COMMUTES AND DRIVES, MORE ROADS
AND SPRAWL. THE SPRAWL IS WHAT
IS ADDING TO OUR POLLUTION , OUR
HEAT ISLANDS , ARTERIES AND
WATER IN THE ORCHIS. ADVANCES
BILL AND LEONARD DEMOCRATICALLY
ELECTED COUNCIL GET BACK TO
PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT UP PAMELA.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, AND PAMELA,
THE FREELANCE DETECTIVE IN
SEATTLE. BEAVERS MAJOR DOWN
TREES BUT SEATTLE SHOULDN'T
CHEW THROUGH DUE PROCESS. THIS
PAST SEVERAL YEARS I'VE BEEN
SPENDING A LOT OF TIME DOCUMENT
THINK URBAN WILDLIFE, ESPECIALLY
IN THE CREEK AND SEEING THE
RETURN OF SALMON. MAJORS COMING
BACK TO WHERE CITY. A FEW YEARS
AGO I AM NEW HERE, FOUR YEARS, I
DISCOVERED BEAVERS WERE ONE OF
SEATTLE'S MOST IMPORTANT
WATERSHED ENGINEERS. IT WAS
MISSING ON THE CHECKLIST FOR
WILDLIFE. I CALLED IN AT A
MEETING AND WAS TOLD IT WAS
SIMPLY AN OVERSIGHT. AND SO,
OVERSIGHTS TO HAPPEN. THAT IS
EXACTLY WHY WE NEED A PUBLIC
APPEALS AND INDEPENDENT OF OUR
MENTAL REVIEW. THIS IS NOT NEW,
IT HAS BEEN PART OF SEATTLE'S
NORMAL FEATURE FOR GENERATIONS.
SO I'VE HEARD PEOPLE SAY THE
PROCESS ONLY WORKS FOR WEALTHY
RESIDENTS WHO CAN AFFORD
LAWYERS. IF THAT IS TRUE, LET'S
REFORM THE PROCESS AND MAKE IT
MORE ACCESSIBLE TO ORDINARY
PEOPLE. BECAUSE ELIMINATING THE
HEARING EXAMINER APPEAL DOES NOT
CREATE MORE ACCESS. IT REMOVES
EXCESS. SO DEVELOPERS HAVE
LOBBYISTS, DEPENDING ORDINARY
CITIZENS TO SPEAK FOR THEM AND I
SAY PLEASE DON'T GO FORWARD
WITH CB 121215. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE JOSH FOLLOWED
BY JEFF AND JEAN.
>> COUNCIL MEMBERS, FOR THE
RECORD, I AM JOSH. LIFELONG
SEATTLEITE LIVING IN THE STEWARD
PARK NEIGHBORHOOD. DESPITE
ASSERTIONS MADE BY SOME
COMMENTERS AT PAST MEETINGS,
I'M NOT BEING PAID BY ANYONE TO
BE HERE. HOUSING DELAYED IS
HOUSING TONIGHT. DESPITE WHAT
SOME CONSERVATIVE MEDIA OUTLETS
WILL TELL YOU, NOBODY IS GETTING
RID OF SEPA. SEPA IS THE STATE
AND MENTAL POLICY ACT, IT IS A
STATE LAW. WE ARE NOT CURRENTLY
IN OLYMPIA, THIS BODY CANNOT
REMOVE STATE LAW. ALLOWING
REDUNDANT APPEAL PROCESSES ALSO
DOES NOT SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT.
ENDLESS APPEALS ARE VERY
PROFITABLE FOR LAND-USE LAWYERS
BUT THEY DON'T HELP GIVE THIS
TO THE ANY HOUSING. REDUNDANT
APPEAL PROCESSES DON'T SAVE
WORKERS OR BEAVERS. ANY
SCIENTIST WILL TELL YOU THAT
ORCHIS NEED CARS OFF THE ROAD TO
SAVE THE FOOD CHAINS FROM
AUTOMOTIVE RUNOFF. ALLOWING MORE
HOUSING IN URBAN AREAS GETS
THOSE CARS OFF THE ROAD. THE
ORCHIS DO NOT CARE ABOUT WHETHER
OUR MOST PRIVILEGED
NEIGHBORHOODS REMAIN THE WAY
THEY ALWAYS HAVE LOOKED OR
WHETHER THOSE PRIVILEGED
NEIGHBORHOODS ARE INSTEAD ASKED
TO MAKE SOME CHANGES IN ORDER TO
MAKE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO NEW
PEOPLE. IN AMERICAN POLITICS AND
ECONOMY IT IS NATURAL FOR PEOPLE
WHO HAVE A MOAT AROUND THEIR
SLICE OF HEAVEN TO TRY TO KEEP
THE MODE WIDE AND DEEP. THAT IS
A RATIONAL ECONOMIC RESPONSE BY
INDIVIDUALS BUT IT'S NOT THE
RIGHT POLICY DECISION FOR
COMMITTEE. THANK YOU FOR DOING
THE RIGHT THING WITH THIS
LEGISLATION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> JEFF FOLLOWED BY JEAN, ALEX
AND JUDY.
>> HELLO, COUNCIL. CAN YOU HEAR
ME? MY NAME IS JEFF. AND THE
COEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HOUSE
OUR NEIGHBORS. AND A RENTER IN
D3. I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR
OF THE LEGISLATION. HONESTLY AM
HERE TODAY BECAUSE I AM ARE
MARKEDLY FRUSTRATED. I AM AN
ENVIRONMENTALIST. IT'S WHAT
I'VE DONE MY ENTIRE LIFE. WHY I
GOT INTO POLITICS. I'M ALSO AN
ENVIRONMENTAL IS IS YOUNG ENOUGH
TO BE ACUTELY AWARE AND GET LOOK
FORWARD TO CLIMATE COLLAPSE
HAPPENING WITHIN MY LIFETIME. AT
THE CORE OF MY POLITICS IS THAT
ACUTE AWARENESS THAT THE WORLD
WILL BE UNINHABITABLE FOR
BILLIONS OF PEOPLE, MEANING
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WILL DIE
WITHIN MY LIFETIME. WITHOUT
DRASTIC ACTION. ACCORDING TO
EVERY ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST IN
THE WORLD, YOU HAVE TO MASSIVELY
REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF TIME PEOPLE
SPEND DRIVING CARS. THEY DESTROY
ATMOSPHERE, TIRES AND BRAKES
POLLUTE OUR WATERS. SEATTLE IS
JUST ONE CITY, BUT WE MUST DO
OUR PART TO MOVE WITH URGENCY.
THE ONLY WAY WE CAN DO THAT IS
BUILD DENSELY. PUBLIC TRANSIT
ONLY WORKS WHEN PEOPLE HAVE
DENSE CITIES. IT IS THE MOST
IMPORTANT SINGLE DRAWDOWN WE CAN
DO. AND WE NEED TO START FIVE
DECADES AGO. HONESTLY THIS
LEGISLATION DOESN'T EVEN COME
CLOSE TO ENABLING THE CITY TO
MOVE FORWARD WITH THE URGENCY
NEEDED. A SINGLE PROCESS WILL
CONTINUE AND TAKE YEARS FOR US
TO MAKE A DECISION TO ADD A
QUARTER OF THE DENSITY THAT IS
REQUIRED. AND I'M JUST SO
FRUSTRATED THAT WE ARE HERE
TALKING ABOUT -- YEAH, JUST HOW
IT'S IMPORTANT TO ONE PERSON
CAN STOP THE ENTIRE CITY FOR
MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT IS
GOING TO HAPPEN WITH HER
LAND-USE AND ABILITY TO
MEANINGFULLY ADDRESS THE CLIMATE
CRISIS THAT IS THE REASON WHY
I'M NOT HAVING KIDS. THIS IS SO
INSANE. SORRY. PLEASE TAKE THE
RENTAL CRISIS SERIOUSLY. PLEASE
TAKE THE HOUSING CRISIS
SERIOUSLY THAT IS KILLING PEOPLE
EVERYDAY. AND PASS THIS
LEGISLATION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> JEAN BATEMAN.
>> HELLO AGAIN. I AM JEAN
BATEMAN. AND I'M HERE TO OPPOSE
THIS LEGISLATION. 121215. I AM A
BUSINESS OWNER, I AM A PROPERTY
OWNER. I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT IN
THE DOWNTOWN COMMERCIAL CORE FOR
35 YEARS. I SUPPORT INCREASED
HOUSING. IN DEVELOPING POLICIES,
HOWEVER, HE WITH THE CITY, IT'S
CRITICAL TO ESTABLISH A WAY TO
OFFICIALLY INCLUDE ALL VOICES.
ONE ELEMENT AT THE HEART OF
THESE QUESTIONS , I CAME HERE
ORIGINALLY TO TALK TO DESIGN
REVIEW, I WAS SAD I COULDN'T
COMMENT ON THIS ONE SO I'M
HAPPY TO BE HERE TO COMMENT ON
THIS AS WELL. ONE OF THE
ELEMENTS AT THE CENTER OF THIS
IS, WHAT CAN ONE PERSON, ONE
PROPERTY OWNER BUILD AND DESIGN
AND REMOVE WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF
OTHER PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CITY IN THE
REGION? WITHOUT A SEAT AT THE
TABLE, BOTH IN DESIGN AND AT
THIS POINT, IN APPEAL, THE CITY
IS SAYING, PLEASE BY A SMALL
BUSINESS HERE. PLEASE BUY A HOME
HERE. PLEASE INVEST , PLEASE PAY
TAXES. AND, ONCE YOU HAVE DONE
THIS, YOU WILL HAVE NO VOICE IN
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. PLEASE TAKE
TIME TO OPPOSE THIS BILL AND TO
BRING A SEAT AT THE TABLE IN
DESIGN REVIEW.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE ALEX FOLLOWED
BY JUDY, NIKKI AND NATHANIEL.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR AND COUNCIL
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ALEX, PROUD
RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 3. AND HERE
TODAY AS PART OF A GROWING
COMMITTEE OF RESIDENTS WITH
SEATTLE. I URGE YOU TO PASS
COUNCIL BILL 121215. MAN,
SITTING HERE TODAY I'M OVERCOME
BY HOW MUCH CHANGE WAYS IN ALL
OF US. THE SEATTLE AREA I GREW
UP IN IS NOT THE SEATTLE OF
TODAY OR THE ONE THAT IS COMING
TOMORROW. WE HAVE AND WILL AND
SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE A
WELCOMING PLACE FOR ANYONE WHO
WANTS OR NEEDS TO LIVE HERE.
ESPECIALLY IN THIS ERA OF AN
INCREASINGLY THREATENING
ADMINISTRATION WERE FELLOW
CITIZENS ELSEWHERE HAVE NOWHERE
ELSE TO GO. ALL OF US IN THIS
ROOM ARE AT ONE POINT , AT ONE
POINT GOT THE PRIVILEGE TO LIVE
HERE. A PRIVILEGE WE MUST SHARE.
AND TO DO SO REQUIRES US TO
CONTINUE TO ADAPT TO THE CHANGES
WE ARE ALL GRAPPLING WITH. I
SPENT THE BETTER PART OF MY
PROFESSIONAL LIFE TEARING I
NONEXISTING HAIR, TRYING TO MAKE
HOUSING MORE ACCESSIBLE IN
EXPENSIVE CITIES, ESPECIALLY
HOURS. ONE REFLECTION OF MY WORK
IS THAT SO MUCH OF WHAT STANDS
IN OUR WAYS OUT OF OUR HANDS.
ONE THING THAT SQUIRRELLY IS IN
OUR HANDS IS HOW WE BUILD. OTHER
OUR PROCESSES THOUGHTFUL AND
EFFICIENT JUST REDUNDANT.
>> GOOD MORNING. THE CITY'S OWN
DATA SHOWS THAT THERE ONLY TWO
2.8 APPEALS PER YEAR.
COUNCILPERSON , YOU CLAIM THIS
BILL WILL STOP THE ENDLESS
LAWSUITS AND APPEALS. AS A
LIBRARIAN AND A TEACHER, WHO
TEACHES FACTS, YOUR CLAIMS ARE
DEMONSTRABLY FALSE. YOU ARE
PUSHING THIS IN THE NAME OF
DELAYING AFFORDABLE HOUSING
WHICH IS FALSE. THIS BILL DENIES
AFFORDABLE -- TO ENVIRONMENTAL
APPEALS BY ORDINARY PEOPLE. LIKE
MY KIDS. AND, SNOHOMISH COUNTY,
PIERCE COUNTY, SPOKANE, OLYMPIA
AND VANCOUVER MAINTAIN THIS
ACCESS TO APPEALS. SEATTLE IS
NOT AN OUTLIER, AS YOU PURPORT
IT TO BE. IT IS PART OF A BROAD
WASHINGTON CONSENSUS THAT
COMMUNITY REVIEW OF
ENVIRONMENTAL DECISIONS MATTERS.
IN MY OPINION THIS BILL IS A
HUGE DISTRACTION FROM REAL PRO
ENVIRONMENTAL WORK. I BELIEVE
INTENSITY AND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. BUT THIS BILL SHOULD
NOT BE A SCAPEGOAT FOR THAT.
PLEASE REJECT CB 121215. THANK
YOU FOR LISTENING.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE NIKKI, I'M
SORRY BUT YOUR LAST NAME.
>> FOLLOWED BY NATHANIEL ,
HOWARD, JEAN AND AMANDA.
>> I JUST WANT TO URGE THE
COUNCIL TO VOTE NO ON CB 121215.
THIS BILL IS AN OUTRAGEOUS GRAB
FOR POWER BY DEVELOPERS,
INDUSTRY, WHO ARE ONLY INTENT ON
MAXIMIZING PROFIT. YOU SHOULD
VOTE NO FOR THE FOLLOWING
REASONS. THE BILL WILL MAKE IT
EXPENSIVE AND VIRTUALLY
IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE AVERAGE
SEATTLE RESIDENT TO APPEAL AND
IN CONNECTICUT EAS. IF YOU
DON'T WANT APPEALS, THEN HAVE
AN ADEQUATE EIS. THE DIRECTORS
REPORT FOR CB 121215 DOCUMENTS
AS A PREVIOUS SPEAKER SAID, 28
APPEALS IN 10 YEARS. THIS IS NOT
AN AVALANCHE OF APPEALS. AS
CHAIR LIN HAS SAID THAT SEATTLE
IS AN OUTLIER, I WORK FOR PIERCE
COUNTY, I AM AN ENVIRONMENTAL
REVIEWER. I CAN TELL YOU, WE
HAVE APPEALS. WE HAVE SEPA
APPEALS. SO SEATTLE'S DRIVER
DENSITY SHOULD NOT USURP GOOD
GOVERNMENT AND THE ABILITY OF
THE AVERAGE PERSON TO HELP FORGE
THE FUTURE OF THEIR CITY. IT IS
IRONIC THAT WHILE WE ARE
CELEBRATING THE 250th YEAR OF
DEMOCRACY, SEATTLE IS TRYING TO
SQUELCH THE ABILITY OF ITS
RESIDENTS TO HOLD THEIR
GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HI, COUNCIL MEMBERS. TRYING
TO GET THIS WORK FOR ME. MY NAME
IS NATE. 33, I LIVE IN A DENSE
AREA OF CAPITOL HILL. I RODE MY
BIKE HERE. IF I DIDN'T DO THAT
I PROBABLY WOULD'VE TAKEN THE
LITURGY. JUST A VIRTUE SIGNAL
FOR A SECOND. THE LAND-USE
COMMITTEE REPORT SHOWS THAT LESS
THAN THREE SEPA APPEALS FILED
PER YEAR ON AVERAGE. 2025
HEARING EXAMINER'S REPORT SHOWS
APPEALS IS A SMALL FRACTION.
ADDITIONALLY REMOVING CITIZEN
RIGHTS TO APPEAL THROUGH SEPA
AND SHIFT THAT FORUM TO THE
MANAGEMENT HEARINGS BOARD OR
SUPERIOR COURT. BOTH OF WHICH
OPERATIVELY EXPENSIVE ESPECIALLY
CONSIDERING THE DISTRICTS TWO
AND THREE WERE MOST DENSITY
DRIVEN CANOPY LOSS HAS OCCURRED
ARE ALSO LOWEST INCOME IN THE
CITY. REMOVING CITIZEN RIGHTS TO
APPEAL AND MY MENTAL IMPACT
STATEMENTS THROUGH SEPA IS
THEREFORE DISENFRANCHISING.
MOREOVER, IT IS A NECESSARY.
SEATTLE IS THIRD IN THE NATION
FOR NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN
2010 TO 2020. THIS IS PERSISTENT
IN THE SIX YEARS SINCE. I SHOULD
ALSO MENTION I MOVED HERE IN
2018. LIKE I SAID I AM A RENTER.
THE ONLY WAY I CAN AFFORD TO
LIVE IN MY CAPITOL HILL
APARTMENT IS BY SHARING IT WITH
MY PARTNER. I'M HAPPY TO DO
THAT. BUT, YOU KNOW, IT IS SORT
OF AN OBLIGATION. LASTLY, THE
CITY HAS HAD AT LEAST 30 PRIVATE
MEETINGS WITH THE DEVELOPER
LOBBY THIS YEAR. TAKEN TOGETHER,
THESE FACTS PAINT A PICTURE OF A
MEASURE INTENDED TO GREASE THE
WHEELS WERE DEVELOPERS AT THE
EXPENSE OF CITIZENS. I WOULD ASK
YOU TO VOTE NO ON CB 121215.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE JEAN TRENT.
>> I THINK YOU SAID JEAN TRENT.
HI, GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR
HEARING ME. I CAN'T DO ANY
BETTER THAN ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE
DOING. WHAT I FIND IN COMMON IS
ALMOST NEVER BUT HE IS AN
ENVIRONMENTAL IS. EVER BUT HE
WANTS THE CITY TO STAY IS CLEAN
AND AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO
LAND HEALTHY AS IT CAN BE. BUT
I'M AFRAID THERE IS SOME
CONFUSION ABOUT WHAT INTERRUPTS
THAT PROCESS. I CAME HERE 50 OR
60 YEARS AGO, AND I CAME HERE
BECAUSE THE CITY WAS MUCH
HEALTHIER AND MORE BEAUTIFUL
THAN WHERE I CAME FROM IN
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. AND I
NOTICE THAT ALL OF THE TOURISTS
IN TOWN RIGHT NOW, WHEN THEY ARE
INTERVIEWED THE INTERVIEW ALL
OVER THE PLACE, THEY DON'T SAY,
THIS IS A REALLY EXCITING CITY,
IT'S GOT GREAT ACTIVITY. BIG
BUILDINGS. THEY ARE SAYING IT'S
BEAUTIFUL. AND I THINK THAT THAT
IS WHY WE ARE HERE. SO EVERYBODY
HERE CARES ABOUT THAT. I
UNDERSTAND. BUT I THINK THIS
BILL, 121215, WHICH I OPPOSE, IS
SOMEHOW SHOWING ITS FAULTS.
SOMEHOW OR OTHER BY PEOPLE BEING
INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS, BEING
PATRIOTS LIKE ME, I THINK I'M A
PATRIOT. I'M NOT A NEW BE. I
SOLD MY HOUSE AND GIVE THE MONEY
TO MY KIDS TO BUY HOUSES. I
THINK THIS IS A FALSE CHOICE. I
THINK THIS CAN BE DONE. KEEPING
CITIZENS INVOLVED IN KEEPING THE
BEAUTIFUL CITY AND MAKING IT
AWESOME FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE YOUR.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS AMANDA, I AM
AN ORGANIZER WITH HOUSE OUR
NEIGHBORS AND A CITIZEN OF
CAPITOL HILL. OVER THE PAST
SEVERAL MONTHS I'VE WORKED
ALONGSIDE HUNDREDS OF SEATTLE
RESIDENTS WHO ARE ADVOCATING FOR
A CONFERENCE OF PLAN. THAT
CREATES A THRIVING GREEN CITY.
MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE, MOST OF
THOSE PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE THE
LUXURY OF TIME OFF WORK TO BE
HERE OR THE PRIVILEGE OF KNOWING
HOW TO ACCESS THE SPACES. IF YOU
KNOW ME PERSONALLY, YOU WOULD
KNOW THAT I COME FROM TREE
PROTECTORS. PEOPLE WHO CHAINED
THEMSELVES TO TREES TO SAVE
THEM. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS
ARE NOT ABSTRACT FOR ME. AND
NEITHER ARE THE VERY REAL
OUTCOMES OF THESE UNNECESSARY
DELAYS WHEN IDENTIFYING OUR
CITY. LOOK, I'M NO CHAMPION OF
PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT BUT THAT IS
NOT WAS A MOST IMPACTED BY THE
REDUNDANT APPEALS. IT IS FOLKS
LIKE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, ARC
UNITY LAND TRUSTS, AND ARE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS
MANAGING COMPLEX CAPITAL STACKS
AND NAVIGATING IMMENSELY COMPLEX
HE'S ALREADY. IT ALSO AFFECTS
THE WORKERS WHO WILL CONTINUE TO
SUFFER FROM YEARS OF SPRAWL.
ADMINISTERED SEPA APPEALS DON'T
STRENGTHEN OUR MENTAL
PROTECTIONS OR MAGICALLY SAVE
THE ORCAS. INSTEAD THEY BECOME
WEAPONIZE TO DELAY POLICIES I
HAVE BEEN GONE THROUGH EXTENSIVE
PUBLIC REVIEW AND ENVIRONMENTAL
ANALYSIS. AGAIN, THEY ADD TO THE
ONGOING SPRAWL HARMING THE ORCAS
INSTEAD. WHILE APPEALS MAY BE
SMALL IN NUMBER, THEY ARE
MASSIVE IN DELAY. SEATTLE IS IN
A HOUSING CRISIS. EVERY MONTH WE
DELAY HOUSING MEANS HIGHER
RENTS, LONGER COMMUTES AND MORE
NEIGHBORS PUSHED INTO THAT
SPRAWL. ENSURING FUTURE HOUSING
PLANS CAN BE HELD BY THE SAME
LOOPHOLE. I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT
THE LEGISLATION SO WE CAN SPEND
LESS TIME REHASHING BID POLICY
AND MORE TIME DOING HOMES
SEATTLE DISPLAY NEEDS. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE JENNIFER
FOLLOWED BY DAVE. SUSAN AND
BRENDAN.
>> THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO
SUGGEST THAT WE STREAMLINE
BEFORE BANNING. I AM NOT PAID TO
BE HERE. BEFORE FILING THE ORCA
APPEAL I ATTENDED 10 MONTHS OF
PUBLIC MEETINGS TO CORRECT THE
ERRORS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT REGARDING CLEAN WATER,
ENDANGERED SPECIES ENTRY
HYDROLOGY LOSS. NONE WERE
CORRECTED. I WOULD'VE MUCH
RATHER HAVE RESOLVED THESE
BEFORE APPEAL. IF THE CITY FAILS
TO FIX MISTAKES FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT, THE PRE-DECISION APPEAL
MAKES THE MOST LOGISTIC AND
ACCESSIBLE SINCE VERSUS WAITING
UNTIL AFTER THE DAMAGE IS DONE.
THE PROCESS CAN BE SHORTENED. WE
WATCHED TRIP TRUMP GOT NOAA WHEN
HE DIDN'T LIKE CLIMATE PLANTS.
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL THE CITY
MITTS THEY DON'T WANT ANY
PROCESS TO ENSURE CITY HAS
ACCURATE INFO IN THE EIS. ASKED
WHY NOT? STREAMLINE BEFORE
ELIMINATING. OTHER HEARING
EXAMINER PROCESSES DONE IN A
LARGE QUANTITY OF WASHINGTON
CITIES, MOST WASHINGTON CITIES
ARE COMPLETED IN UNDER 60 DAYS.
HOW MANY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE
TIME TO READ THE THOUSANDS PAGE
LONG OF OUR MENTAL IMPACT
STATEMENT? OR THE STORM WATER
CODE? THERE IS SO MUCH TO DO.
IT MAKES SENSE YOU CAN ANALYZE
IT ALL. AND NEED THOSE DIRECTORS
REPORTS TO BE PROVIDED AN
UNBIASED. WE HAVE DEREGULATED
THE COMP PLAN, THE STORM WATER
CODE WHILE GUTTING THE
ENFORCEMENT BRANCH. HOW DOES
THAT MAKE SENSE? THE CITY FAILED
TO DELAY THREE TIMES IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS INCLUDING RIGHT
NOW, THIS IS THE 30th DAY WHEN
THEY COULD'VE COME BACK AND
SAID, OKAY, 27 DAYS AGO. AND
EXPEDITED THE PROCESS. THE
CHOICE TO WAIT UNTIL 2027 WAS
MADE BY THE CITY BASED ON THEIR
OWN SCHEDULE BEFORE COUNCIL
RECESS, BUDGET SCHEDULE AND
COUNCIL BREAK. APPEALS ARE
PREVENTING CONVERTING THOUSANDS
OF EMPTY HIGH-RISE UNITS HERE
INTO HOUSING. SO IN MY SPARE
TIME, I PLAY THE SOUNDTRACK FOR
JUST LIKE THE FORCE IN THOSE
GAMES OR HEALED. WE CAN HEAL
THIS ENVIRONMENT AND DENSIFY. I.
>> NEXT UP IS DAVE, KATHY, AND
BRANDON.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. MY
NAME IS DAVID I LIVE IN DISTRICT
5. I WANT TO READ TO YOU FROM
DOCUMENTATION FOR THIS BILL. IT
HAS BEEN ALLEGED THAT APPEALS
HAVE BEEN FILED IN ORDER TO SLOW
COUNCIL CONSIDERATION.
LEGISLATION WAS INTENDED TO
SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WHERE IS THE
PROOF FOR THAT? WHY IS THE CITY
PUTTING FALSE ALLEGATIONS IN
DOCUMENTATION? THE COUNCILS
GOING TO MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON
ALLEGATIONS . SHAME ON THE CITY
FOR PUBLISHING THE STATEMENT
LIKE THAT. PEOPLE FILE APPEALS
BECAUSE THE CARE ABOUT THE
ENVIRONMENT. PLAIN AND SIMPLE.
IF THESE APPEALS SLOW DOWN
DEVELOPMENT FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, THEN WHY IS SEATTLE ONE
OF THE TOP CITIES WERE PRODUCING
MORE HOUSING? AND WIRE THE
13,000 APARTMENTS LISTED ON
PLACES LIKE APARTMENTS.COM. WE
CAN TAKE A LITTLE MORE TIME. WE
CAN LOOK AT THE INTERMENT. CHAIR
LIN HAS STATED IN OUR MENTAL
PEELS HAS RESULTED IN TIME AND
FINANCIAL EXPENSE FOR THE CITY.
ALL THIS IS ACCURATE, IT DOES
NOT TELL THE FULL STORY. FOR
INSTANCE, THE CURRENT APPEAL
AGAINST THE EIS FOR THE ONE
SEATTLE PLAN COULD'VE BEEN
COMPLETED LAST YEAR. HOWEVER,
THE CITY'S ATTORNEYS HAVE
ATTEMPTED THE APPEAL ON
TECHNICAL GROUNDS RATHER THAN
ADDRESS THE MERITS OF THE CASE.
YES, IT IS THE CITY THAT IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DELAYS AND
THE ASSOCIATED COSTS. WILL THE
APPEL WOULD BE HAPPY TO BE DONE
WITH THIS. LEGISLATION LIKE
121215 SHOULD NOT BE BASED ON
ALLEGATIONS , INNUENDOS AND
IMPLICATIONS. IF YOU WANT THE
FACTS, READ THE ARTICLES THAT
WERE IN YESTERDAY'S SEATTLE
TIMES. I WILL LEAVE THEM IN THE
COMMENT. I URGE YOU TO REJECT
121215.
>> THANK YOU, DAVID.
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR LIN AND
MEMBERS OF LAND-USE COMMITTEE.
MY NAME IS KATHY, I AM HERE IN
OPPOSITION TO 121215 FOR ALL THE
REASONS YOU HAVE HEARD SO FAR
TODAY. I AM 834 YEAR RESIDENT OF
WEST SEATTLE LIVING ONE MILE
FROM PUGET SOUND IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD OF SMALLER HOUSES
AND TREES. I SPENT 30 YEARS
WORKING FOR STATE AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT AND WITH COMMUNITY ON
ALL ASPECTS OF RESTORING AND
PROTECTING PUGET SOUND
WATERSHEDS FOR SALMON, ORCHIDS,
WILDLIFE AND PEOPLE. I AM IN
DISBELIEF YOU'RE CONSIDERING
REMOVING THE RIGHT OF CITIZENS
TO MAKE ENVIRONMENTAL APPEALS
WHEN THEY NOTICE ACTIONS HARMFUL
TO THEIR ENVIRONMENT. IN A
DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY, CITIZENS
RIGHTS ARE IS IMPORTANT AS
DEVELOPERS RIGHTS. FOR MANY
YEARS SEATTLE HAS BEEN A
REGIONAL AND NATIONAL LEADER IN
SUSTAINABILITY. PASSAGE OF THIS
BILL WOULD BE ONE MORE HAMMER TO
THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THIS CITY
ON THE SOUND. I URGE YOU TO VOTE
AGAINST COUNCIL BUILT 121215.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING. SUSAN. DISTRICT
1. I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE
AND I NO LONGER RECOGNIZE THE
VALUES OF THE CITY. I ASKED
COUNCIL TO REJECT COUNCIL BUILT
121215. SEATTLE IS NOT --
OLYMPIA, SPOKANE, WISH AND PEERS
MAINTAIN ADMINISTRATIVE AND MORE
NUANCED PROCESS THAT STILL
EXISTS. IF THERE IS CONCERN THE
PROCESS TAKES TOO LONG, CONSIDER
REFORMING IT BUT DON'T REVOKE
THE ONE A VERBAL MECHANISM
CITIZENS HAVE TO CHALLENGE WHAT
THEY FIND TO BE INSUFFICIENT OUR
MENTAL REVIEW. WHETHER FOR
HOUSING OR DATA CENTERS. IF THE
EIS REFLECTS A THOROUGH REVIEW
BASED ON BEST AVAILABLE SCIENCE
WE WOULD NEED TO EXERCISE THE
APPEALS PROCESS TO BEGIN WITH.
REMOVING THIS PROCESS ELIMINATES
ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE PUBLIC AND
THE DECISIONS THAT IMPACT US ARE
INCREASINGLY MADE BEHIND CLOSED
DOORS. THE CLAIM WAS MADE THAT
REMOVING THE PROCESS WILL ALLOW
MORE TIME FOR FOLKS WHO JUST
CLIMATE CHANGE. SIMPLY BUILDING
HOUSING NEAR TRANSIT ISN'T
ENOUGH. THE CITY NEEDS TO
ADDRESS THE CONTINUED EXTRACTION
AND DESTRUCTION OF ECOSYSTEMS.
IT'S PROVEN THAT TREES REMAIN
THE MOST EFFECTIVE DEFENSE
AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE. YET WE
ARE LOSING OUR BIGGEST REMAINING
TREES TO MORE PARKING SPACES THE
CITY DOESN'T NEED. DURING THE
2021 117 SEATTLE RESIDENTS LOST
THEIR LIVES AS A RESULT OF
EXTREME HEAT. SINCE THEN THE
CITY HAS PERMITTED THE REMOVAL
OF THOUSANDS OF MATURE TREES AND
ADDED MORE PAVEMENT. ONLY DOES
CONCRETE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT
CARBON FOOTPRINT IT EXACERBATES
THE DEADLY EFFECT OF HIGH
TEMPERATURES. TO ACHIEVE CLIMATE
RESILIENCE WE NEED TO START BY
STRENGTHENING THE TREE ORDINANCE
ENJOINING THE DEEP PAVEMENT.
INCREASINGLY COMMUNITY MEMBERS
FINDING THE HAVE NO VOICE AND
THE CHOICE FOR THE CONTINUED
DEGRADATION OF OUR ENVIRONMENT.
PLEASE MAINTAIN THE CITIZEN
RIGHT FOR APPEAL. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE BRENDAN .
FOLLOWED BY JONATHAN.
>> I AM A CAR FREE RENTER IN
SEATTLE. FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO
NOTE THE LIKELY BOMB IS -- IT'S
HARD-WORKING RENTERS TO MAKE IT
AT THIS TIME, EASY FOR RICH
RETIRED FOLKS WERE MORE LIKELY
TO OWN HOMES. I'M TIRED OF
DENSE HOUSING PROJECTS AND GREEN
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE
BEING BLOCKED BY SEPA APPEALS. I
STRONGLY SUPPORT THE BILL
INTENDED TO REMOVE -- WE HAVE
ENOUGH OTHER PROTECTIONS IN
PLACE INCLUDING PUBLIC COMMENT
WHERE PEOPLE CAN MAKE THEIR
VOICES HEARD IF THEY HAVE
CONCERNS. THE APPEAL PATH HAS
BEEN ABUSED FOR PEOPLE CLAIMING
TO CARE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT
WHEN ALL THEY CARE ABOUT IS
SLOWING HOUSING. THESE CAN BE
DELAYED FOR A YEAR MORE. MANY
PEOPLE BROUGHT UP HOW APPEALS.
SMALL NUMBER APPEALS GO HAVE A
MESS OUTCOME FOR EXAMPLE ONE OF
THESE APPEALS WAS ON THE CITY'S
CONFERENCE A PLAN AND THEN IT
GOT DELAYED FOR A YEAR. THAT
PLAN DECIDES THE ENTIRE ZONING
POLICY. A SINGLE APPEAL CAN
BLOCK THOUSANDS OF USING UNITS
OF HOUSING THAT WOULD OTHERWISE
BE PERMITTED. OVER HALF THE
CARBON EMISSIONS IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE COME FROM CARS. NEARLY
TWICE AS MANY AS THE NEXT BIG
EMITTER. AIR TRAVEL. IF WE
REALLY CARE ABOUT THE PERMIT WE
WILL DO EVERYTHING TO REDUCE CAR
EMISSIONS. ONE OF THE BEST WAYS
TO DO IT IS BUILD MORE DENSE
HOUSING SO PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO
DRIVE TO THE CITY IN ORDER TO
WORK OR SHOP. OCCASIONAL TREES
NEED TO BE CUT BUT THE NUMBER OF
TREES PER UNIT IS IN ORDER OF
MAGNITUDE SMALLER THAN THOSE FOR
SUBURBAN SPRAWL WHICH IS THE
ALTERNATIVE THAT GETS BUILT IF
HOUSING CAN BE BUILT IN THE
CITY. 300 TREES MIGHT BE CUT FOR
50 SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES WITH
WANDS AND DRIVEWAYS. ALSO
SEATTLE HAS POLICIES IN PLACE TO
REMOVE TO REPLACE ANY REMOVED
TREES. PLEASE VOTE YES ON
COUNCIL BILL 121215. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE JONATHAN
FOLLOWED BY RUTH.
>> GOOD MORNING. JONATHAN
WARREN, PROFESSOR AT UNIVERSITY
OF WASHINGTON INTERNATIONAL
STUDIES. SMALL-TIME DEVELOPER ,
BIG ADVOCATE OF SOCIAL HOUSING.
DISTRICT 4. I AM HERE TO OPPOSE
121215 , WHAT IS IT? I SHOULD
KNOW IT BY NOW. FOR A COUPLE
REASONS. FIRST, IN THIS MOMENT
OF DEMOCRATIC BACKSLIDING, I
THINK IT IS A BIG MISTAKE TO
PILE ON AT THE CITY LEVEL, YOU
KNOW WE ARE ALL A BIT FREAKED
OUT I WAS GOING ON AT THE
NATIONAL LEVEL. EVEN IF IT
DOESN'T HAVE THAT EFFECT, I
THINK IT HAS THE IMPRESSION OF
HAVING THAT EFFECT. SO I THINK
FIRST OF ALL, IT IS A HUGE
MISTAKE TO DO AT THIS MOMENT.
SECOND, IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS
BEING DONE IN THE NAME OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THERE IS
REALLY NO EVIDENCE THAT THIS IS
CONTRIBUTING TO THE LACK OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I DON'T
HAVE TIME HERE TO OFFER ALL THE
STATS AND DETAILS, BUT I AM AT
YOUR DISPOSAL IF YOU WANT TO
DISCUSS IT IN MORE DETAIL. BUT
THERE REALLY IS NO HARD EVIDENCE
THAT SOME OF THESE AND CONCERNS
AND DELAYS ARE REALLY WHAT IS
CREATING THE CRISIS AROUND
HOUSING. THIS IS SOME MYTH, THIS
ABUNDANCE MISS KIND OF
REAGANOMICS PHILOSOPHY THE HAS
BEEN PICKED UP BY SEGMENTS OF
THE LEFT THAT SOMEHOW
REGULATIONS AROUND THE
ENVIRONMENT ARE THE CAUSE OF OUR
HOUSING CRISIS. IT IS REALLY
GOING TO BE SOLVED BY PUBLIC
INVESTMENT. SUCH AS SOCIAL
HOUSING PROGRAMS. NOT BY
ELIMINATING HERITAGE TREES AND
GETTING GREEN SPACES. FINALLY,
OUR MAYOR SAID, IT'S ABOUT --
KEEP IN MIND WE WANT THE ROSES
TOO, NOT JUST THE BREAD. EVEN IF
THIS WERE TO GIVE US A PORTAL
HOUSING. THANK YOU.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU.
>> HELLO. AND WHAT HE SAID. I AM
SPEAKING TO THE VERY
DISAPPOINTING 121215. FERN CREEK
ALLIANCE. FERN CREEK IS LARGELY
IN D5 IN SEATTLE. THE SUMMARY
AND FISCAL DON'T REPEAT WITH
ZERO SUBSTANTIATION. TOTALLY
UNSUBSTANTIATED ALLEGATION THE
PEOPLE WHO PEEL SEPA DECISIONS
ARE WORKING TO AVOID HAVING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE
NEIGHBORHOODS. BUT WE CAN
SUBSTANTIATE THAT IT WAS MAYOR
WILSON HERSELF WHO HELD HER
TALLER, DENSER, FASTER MEETING
AND EXCLUDED THE BIPOC AND
ENVIRONMENTAL'S COMMITTEES.
THEN THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT WITH
AGAIN, ZERO SUBSTANTIATION,
ALLEGES PROPONENTS OF THE BILL
SEE MORE VALUE IN REMOVING THE
SEPA APPEAL HURDLE AND ADOPTING
LEGISLATION THAT MAY HAVE
SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL
BENEFITS , ESPECIALLY
LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ALLOW
MORE HOUSING. GOD, I LOVE HER
ALLEGATIONS. NEWSFLASH. WE ALL
WANT MORE HOUSING IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS. WE WANT IT DONE
CORRECTLY. WE NEED TO LOOK AT
THE BIG PICTURE AND PROTECT WHAT
MAKES OUR NEIGHBORHOODS HEALTHY.
AND HERE'S ANOTHER REVELATION.
MORE HUMANS -- MERE HUMANS
DON'T GET TO CHERRY PICK WHAT
IS AND ISN'T ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION. WE DON'T GET TO
CHERRY PICK WHAT IS AND ISN'T A
USEFUL RESPONSE TO CLIMATE
CHANGE. IT'S A PREPOSITION IF
EVER THERE WAS ONE. MEETING ALL
HANDS ON DECK AND NO AMOUNT OF
ALLEGING, SMEARING OR SILENCING
INFORMED VOICES WILL GET US
THERE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> CHAIR, THAT IS OUR LAST
IN-PERSON COMMENTOR. WE WILL NOW
MOVE ON TO REMOTE COMMENTERS.
STARTING WITH JOSHUA MORRIS.
>> MY NAME IS JOSHUA, THE
CONSERVATION NONPROFIT WITH
NEARLY 20,000 LOCAL SUPPORTERS.
121215 PRESENTED AS A MEANS TO
ACCELERATE HOUSING PROTECTION IS
NEITHER. [ INDISCERNIBLE-LOW
VOLUME ] THE CONSEQUENCES NEAR
DIFFICULT [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
WEAKENING OVERSIGHT IS NOT
EFFICIENCY AND EFFICIENCY
EXPENSIVE EQUITY IS NOT
ACCESSIBLE. I SUPPORT MORE
VERBAL HOUSING, [ INDISCERNIBLE
] I URGE THE COUNCIL TO REJECT
THE 121215 [ INDISCERNIBLE-LOW
VOLUME ] THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE SARAH CLARK.
>> CHAIR LIN, MEMBERS OF THE
LENDERS COMMITTEE, NAME IS SARAH
CLARK. I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT
OF D6. I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF
OF THE OVER 2500 MEMBERS OF
SEATTLE BULLETIN CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE RESPECTFULLY ASKING TO
SUPPORT COUNCIL BILL 121215.
SEATTLE'S BUSINESS COMMUNITY
HAS BEEN CONSISTENT IN OUR
ADVOCACY ON HOUSING POLICY. IN
ORDER FOR US TO BUILD THE MONTH
OF HOUSING WE NEED ACROSS ALL
TYPES AT ALL INCOME LEVELS, WE
MUST DEPLOY AND ALL OF THE ABOVE
APPROACH. REDUNDANT REVIEWS LIKE
THOSE THE BILL PROPOSES TO
REMOVE FROM THE CITY SEPA
PROCESS, REVIEW PROCESS,
CONTRIBUTE TO DELAYS IN THE
MUCH-NEEDED PROGRESS TO DEVELOP
THE HOUSING THE CITY DISPLAY
NEEDS. FOR SEATTLE'S LOCAL
BUSINESSES THE PERSISTENT LACK
OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEEPENS
OUR STRUGGLE TO RECRUIT AND
RETAIN WORKERS WHICH IS COSTLY
AND ADDS UNCERTAINTY FOR LOCAL
JOB MARKETS AT A TIME AND WE
CAN'T AFFORD MORE. THIS IS A
WIN-WIN. ENVIRONMENTAL
SAFEGUARDS, OPTIMIZES CITY
PROCESSES AND ENABLES DEVELOPERS
OF ALL TYPES TO BUILD HOUSING AT
THE PACE ORIGINAL CRISIS
REQUIRES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO
CREATING EXCLUSIVE INCLUSIVE
COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE MARILYN
SMITH.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MEMBERS OF SEATTLE'S GOVERNMENT
DON'T LIKE THE COURT'S OPINION
ON THIS ISSUE. WHICH UPHELD THE
PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO CHALLENGE THE
ADEQUACY OF THE CITY'S
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW UNDER SEPA.
SO INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT THE
ACTUAL ISSUES, THEY RUSHED INTO
ELIMINATE THE PUBLIC CHALLENGE.
YOU CLAIM THESE BILLS WILL
PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT , WHEN
IN FACT THEY ACTUALLY UNDERMINE
THE IMPORTANCE OF HONESTY
INTERVIEW. CHAIR LIN, BY THE
WAY, I APOLOGIZE FOR MISSPELLING
THE NAME ON THE WRITTEN COMMENT,
YOU CLAIM THESE WILL MINIMIZE
URBAN SPRAWL. THE STATE
LEGISLATURE HAS ALREADY REQUIRED
OUR SUBURBS TO ELIMINATE
SINGLE-FAMILY ZONING. SO IF
ANYTHING, WE WILL SEE DENSER
HOUSING IN MOST OF KING COUNTY.
THOSE STATE LAWS APPLY NOT JUST
TO OUR NEIGHBORING CITIES, AND
SUBURBS, TWO TOWNS WITH LESS
THAN 25,000. THE BILLS BEFORE
THE COMMITTEE TODAY DON'T, AS
YOU CLAIM, ENCOURAGE DENSE
HOUSING. THE STATE AND CITY BY
THEIR LEGISLATION ARE ALREADY
DOING THAT. THESE BILLS ARE
DESIGNED TO PREVENT CAREFUL
REVIEW OF THE EFFECTS OF ZONING
CHANGES ON THE ENVIRONMENT. IS A
POSSIBLE THE SPONSORS ARE AFRAID
OF WHAT SUCH REVIEWS MIGHT
DISCLOSE? THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE ALLEN ALLEN,
I SEE THAT YOU ARE UNMUTED.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS ALAN, AND
I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF
HUMANE VOTERS OF WASHINGTON.
I'M ASKING YOU NOT TO ELIMINATE
THE CITIZENS ENVIRONMENTAL
APPEALS PROCESS. BY VOTING NO ON
CB 121215. WITHOUT THIS PROCESS,
OUR PRECIOUS TREES AND ECOSYSTEM
COULD BE IMPERILED. THE SEATTLE
WANT TO BE LIKE TUKWILA WITH THE
TREE CANOPY COVERAGE AT 6%? OR
DO WE WANT TO STRIVE TO HAVE A
TREE CANOPY COVERAGE MORE LIKE
BELLEVUE AT 40%? CURRENTLY WE
ARE AT 28% AND TRENDING DOWN.
NOT UP. MATURE TREES , AS YOU
KNOW, ARE VITAL FOR CLEAN AIR,
HEALTHY WATERS OF PUGET SOUND
FOR STRUGGLING ORCAS AND FOR A
COOLER, MORE BEAUTIFUL CITY. THE
CITIZENS ENVIRONMENTAL APPEAL
PROCESS GIVES THE PUBLIC A LEGAL
WAY TO ENSURE ENVIRONMENTAL
HARMS ARE REDUCED. YOUR VOTE
MATTERS. SO PLEASE PROTECT OUR
ENVIRONMENT AND -- THE OF OUR
MENTAL APPEAL PROCESS AND VOTE
NO ON CB 121215. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT AT GREG SMITH.
>> HI, I'M GREG SMITH. ELEMENT
CAPITOL HILL. I'M NOT A
DEVELOPER. I'M AN ORDINARY
CITIZEN. I LIVED IN SEATTLE A
FEW YEARS AGO AND WORKED IN THE
PROGRAM FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE.
I'M CALLING TO SUPPORT CB
121215 AND I AGREE WITH OTHERS
HAVE SAID BEFORE . I WANTED TO
CALL ATTENTION TO ANOTHER ASPECT
OF THIS AND THAT IS
HOMELESSNESS. WE KNOW THAT
HOMELESSNESS CONTINUES TO
INCREASE. WE JUST GOT A REPORT
RECENTLY THAT HOMELESSNESS
INCREASED AGAIN LAST YEAR. WE
KNOW THAT NOT BUILDING AN OF
HOUSING IS THE ULTIMATE CAUSE OF
HOMELESSNESS. WE ALSO KNOW THAT
SEPA IS IMPEDING THE BILL OF
HOUSING IN A TIMELY MANNER. WE
NEED TO REFORM SEPA SO WE CAN
GET MORE HOUSING BUILT AND
REDUCE ALMOST THIS. PLEASE PASS
CB 121215. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE ANGELA .
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> MY NAME IS ANGELA. AND I
OPPOSE COUNCIL BILL 121215. I AM
A LAWYER, A CONCERNED CITIZEN, I
LIVE IN DISTRICT 3. I LOVE THE
CITY. I MOVED HERE 23 YEARS AGO
BECAUSE OF ITS TREES AND
LIVABILITY. AND I'M GLAD TO SEE
THAT MIKE REPRESENTED ON THE
COUNCIL, COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH IS ON THIS
COMMITTEE. THIS BILL DOES AWAY
WITH SEPA APPEALS FOR THE CITY
EXAMINER. WHAT PROBLEM IS THIS
PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO SOLVE?
THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN IN PLACE
FOR APPROXIMATELY 50 YEARS. IN
1971 WASHINGTON STATE
LEGISLATURE PASSED SEPA TO
REQUIRE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT TO
BE WEIGHED DURING LOCAL
DECISION-MAKING. IN 1973 SEATTLE
CREATED THE OFFICE OF THE
HEARING EXAMINER TO ABSORB
APPEALS USED TO GO STRAIGHT TO
COURT. AND IN 1977 THE OFFICE
TRANSITIONED INTO AN INDEPENDENT
QUASIJUDICIAL ENTITY. THERE IS
LESS RED TAPE TO HANDLE APPEALS
OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS
UNDER SEPA AT THE CITY LEVEL
THEN TO POUR APPEALS INTO STATE
COURT. AND THESE APPEALS ARE NOT
AN IMPEDIMENT TO BUILDING
AFFORDABLE, SMART AND CLIMATE
FRIENDLY HOUSING IN SEATTLE. TO
THE EXTENT THE APPEALS SLOW THE
PROCESS, IS IT AN APPEAL OR
FAULTY AND MENTAL ASSESSMENT? IF
THE CITY DID ITS JOB WELL DONE
OF HER MENTAL ASSESSMENT, THEN
THERE WOULD NOT BE ANY NEED FOR
AN APPEAL. IF THE CITY DOES NOT
DO ITS JOB WELL, THERE MUST BE
ACCOUNTABILITY. THE BEST VENUE
FOR THAT IS TO START WITH A
QUASIJUDICIAL FORUM FOR THE CITY
HEARING EXAMINER. THIS KEEPS
COSTS DOWN AND STREAMLINES THE
PROCESS FOR THE CHALLENGER AS
WELL AS FOR THE CITY. IF THIS
LEGISLATION IS ENACTED, AND HER
MENTAL APPEALS WILL TAKE EVEN
LONGER IN STATE COURT BECAUSE
THERE IS NO FORMAL WAY TO
PROCEED. I'M CONCERNED THAT
THIS LEGISLATION'S INTENT IS AN
OBSTACLE TO PUBLIC INPUT.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT UP WE HAVE
LOIS .
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS LOIS
MARTIN. I'M A LIFELONG CENTRAL
DISTRICT RESIDENT. AND EDUCATOR.
I'M HERE TO OPPOSE COUNCIL BILL
121215. IF THE CITIES'S OF OUR
MENTAL STATEMENT IS
UNIMPEACHABLE WHY ILLUMINATE THE
APPEAL PROCESS? SOUND EIS DOES
NOT NEED TO BE PROTECTED IT WAS
DANCE CHALLENGE. THE DATA PROVES
THE EXISTING SYSTEM ALREADY
WORKS. 28 APPEALS FILED IN A 10
YEAR PERIOD, 2016 TO 2026, THE
VAST MAJORITY WERE WITHDRAWN.
AVERAGING 69 DAYS. ONLY
LEGITIMATE MERIT FORWARD [
INDISCERNIBLE ]. INSTEAD OF
DEFENDING THE ADEQUACY OF THE
EIS, OPPONENTS HAVE RESORTED TO
NAME-CALLING, NAME-CALLING AS
WEAPONIZE HER'S AND BAD ACTORS
THEY CALL IT PRIVILEGE. THAT IS
NOT A DEFENSE OF THE EIS. THAT
IS DEFLECTION. IT TAKES REAL
PRIVILEGE TO DISCOVER HOUSING
CRISIS ONLY WHEN IT AFFECTS YOUR
OWN LIFE CHOICES. WHILE BLACK,
INDIGENOUS AND WORKING-CLASS
COMMITTEES HAVE BEEN LIVING THAT
CRISIS FOR GENERATIONS.
SILENCING CRITICS INSTEAD OF
LETTING DUE PROCESS PLAY OUT IS
NOT A DEMOCRATIC VALUE. IT IS A
TACTIC THE MEGA MOVEMENT USED
AGAINST THE COURT SUPPRESSING
ANYONE WHO CHALLENGES THOSE IN
POWER. LEGISLATING SILENCE IS
NOT DEMOCRACY. IT IS
SUPPRESSION. THE COMMUNITIES
WITH THE MOST AT STAKE ARE LOW
INCOME RESIDENTS , RENTERS AND
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR WHO HAVE
HISTORICALLY BORN THE OF OUR
MENTAL COST OF AN INADEQUATE
REVIEW. BOTH SHOULD NOT BE TOLD
THE RIGHTS TO CHALLENGE
INADEQUATE MENTAL REVIEW IS AN
OBSTACLE TO PROGRESS. AND
PROGRESS FOR HOMES. IF THE
CITIES AND OUR MENTAL REVIEW IS
SOUND, PUT IN FRONT OF THE
HEARING EXAMINER, BUT THE
EVIDENCE SPEAK. REJECT COUNCIL
BILL 121215. SEATTLE'S
COMMITTEES DESERVE PROCESS, NOT
PROCESS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE RIVER.
>> HELLO, SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS RIVER, A LONGTIME
SEATTLE RESIDENT IN DISTRICT 5.
PLEASE VOTE NO ON CB 121215.
THIS BILL WOULD ILLUMINATE THE
PUBLIC'S ONLY AFFORDABLE WAY TO
CHALLENGE INADEQUATE
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW BEFORE MAY
LEGISLATION AND CITY PROJECTS
ARE APPROVED. THE PROBLEM ISN'T
ENVIRONMENTAL APPEALS. BUT
RATHER INADEQUATE ENVIRONMENT
IMPACT STATEMENTS AND A HEARING
EXAMINER PROCESS THAT NEEDS
REFORM. ENSURE THE ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT STATEMENTS ASSESS IMPACTS
ACCURATELY FROM THE START.
INSTEAD OF ELIMINATING APPEALS
ALTOGETHER, REFORM THE HEARING
PROCESS SO APPEALS ARE RESOLVED
IN UNDER 60 DAYS. APPEALS ARE
RARE. AVERAGING JUST 2.7 PER
YEAR OVER THE PAST DECADE. WITH
LESS THAN ONE HOUSING RELATED
APPEAL PER YEAR. ELIMINATING AN
IMPORTANT PUBLIC RIGHT IS A
DRASTIC STEP , DISPROPORTIONATE
TO THE PROBLEM. PAST APPEALS
HAVE UNCOVERED SERIOUS ERRORS
AND PREVIOUSLY UNDISCLOSED
INFORMATION THE IMPROVED THE
PUBLIC'S UNDERSTANDING AND
COUNCIL DECISION-MAKING. APPEALS
GIVE RESIDENTS AN INDEPENDENT
REVIEW BEFORE ENVIRONMENTAL ARE
LOCKED INTO LINE BEFORE TREES
ARE REMOVED WHEN PROJECTS BEGIN.
APPEALS DO NOT HOLD OF HOUSING
PRODUCTION. IF THEY DID, SEATTLE
WOULD NOT BE CONSISTENT WITH
LEADING THE NATION IN REDUCING
HOUSING. THIS BILL ENTRENCHES
THE POWER OF DEVELOPING LOBBY
WHICH IN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS
OF THIS YEAR HAD 40 MEETINGS
WITH CITY LEADERS, 38 OF THEM,
CONVERSATIONS THAT TRANSLATE
INTO PROPOSED LEGISLATION AND
INFLUENCE ON OUR ELECTED
OFFICIAL DECISION-MAKING
PROCESS. BY CONTRAST THERE WERE
NO DOCUMENTED MEETINGS WITH
ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS.
CITIZENS, AND OUR MENTAL REVIEWS
ARE ARE CHANCE TO PUSH BACK ON
THAT POWER THROWN CHECKS IN
GOVERNMENT. PLEASE PRESERVE THE
PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO INDEPENDENT
MENTAL REVIEW BY VOTING NO ON
121215. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE RACHEL.
>> HI, MY NAME IS RACHEL. I HAVE
HEARD CHAIR LIN IMPROVE HIS
COMMITTEE MEETINGS SAY WITH THIS
BILL THE CITY WILL HAVE TO BE
SURE TO DO STELLAR IN OUR MENTAL
WORK TO PROTECT HER CITY. BUT
SOMEDAY NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL
BE SITTING IN YOUR SEAT. NEW
STAFF WILL BE PREPARING PLANNING
GOALS AND DOCUMENTS. A NEW MAYOR
WILL PRESIDE. NEW STAFF WILL
ANALYZE AND WRITE ENVIRONMENTAL
DOCUMENTS. DO YOU WANT TO
ENTRUST THESE YET UNKNOWN
DECISION-MAKERS WATER DOWN IN
MENTAL PRACTICES? WHAT MIGHT BE
THERE? WHAT MY DECISIONS THEY
MAKE THAT MAKE YOU CRINGE AS YOU
READ THE NEWS? FOR TWO YEARS WE
HAVE BEEN BATTLING THE TRUMPET
MINISTRATION POLICIES TAKING
AWAY OUR DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS
INCLUDING AND FOR MENTAL
PROTECTION. REMOVING LEGISLATIVE
DECISIONS FROM THE CURRENT
APPEAL PROCESS IS DOING JUST
THAT. IT TAKES AWAY
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS. I
URGE YOU TO VOTE NO ON CB 121215
AND PROTECT OUR EMERALD CITY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE RUBY.
>> MY NAME IS RUBY HOLLAND. CITY
COUNCIL NEWBIES WANT TO TERRACE
CITY UP AND MAKE IT
UNRECOGNIZABLE WITHOUT
OVERSIGHT, WITHOUT THE RIGHT OF
APPEAL OR EVEN A ROBUST
CONVERSATION. THEY DO MORE DUE
DILIGENCE WHEN BUYING A CAR.
THEY WANT TO RUSH THINGS THROUGH
BEFORE WE NOTICE PROBLEMS OR
CORRUPTION. WE NEED , LOOK AT
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK'S FAILED [
INDISCERNIBLE ]. HE DOESN'T WANT
A KNEE-JERK REACTION TO THAT
MESS, BUT WANTS A QUICK
KNEE-JERK REACTION TO UP ZONING
THAT WILL FOREVER CHANGE
SEATTLE. THE SAME GUY WHO WROTE
THE FAILED MHA ROAD PHASE ONE OF
THE COMP PLAN FULLY EXPECTING TO
BE REELECTED AS MAYOR SO HE CAN
CARRY ON HIS PLAN OF FILLING
WORKING-CLASS LOTS FOR HIS REAL
ESTATE OLIGARCH. THAT HAS BEEN
PASSED WHO DON'T WANT
OVERSIGHT. GOVERNOR, THE REAL
CLIMATE CHANGE GUY, LEFT AND ARE
MENTALLY FRIENDLY MODEL FOR
GROWTH, HB 1110, ANYTHING BEYOND
THAT NEEDS TO BE EXAMINED WITH
THE UTMOST SCRUTINY. BUT APPEALS
PROCESS LETS US DO THAT. PLEASE
KEEP IT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE WILLIAM
WALDMAN. WILLIAM, PLEASE PRESS
STAR SIX. WILLIAM WALTON. OKAY.
WE WILL MOVE TO OUR NEXT SPEAKER
AND COME BACK TO YOU, WILLIAM.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS --
>> HI, THIS IS JOANNA. SO I'M
HERE TO SAY TO REJECT COUNCIL
BILL 121215 . PLEASE PRESERVE
THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO
MEANINGFUL AND OUR MENTAL
REVIEW. REQUIRE THAT ANY FUTURE
LEGISLATION AFFECTING SEPA AND
ITS APPEAL RIGHTS IS ACCOMPANIED
BY A FULL BILL , THE TEXT AND IN
MULTILINGUAL COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT. WITH A DEMONSTRATED
CONNECTION TO SPECIFIC,
MEASURABLE ENVIRONMENTAL INCOME.
SEATTLE'S MOST VULNERABLE
COMMUNITIES HAVE CARRIED THE
COST OF INADEQUATE PLANNING LONG
ENOUGH. WE DESERVE A PROCESS ,
NOT PROMISES. I LIVE IN THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT, AND STRIPPING
THE MOST ACCESSIBLE COMMITTEE
REVIEW OF ZONING NEIGHBORHOODS
ACROSS SEATTLE THAT HAVE
ABSORBED GENERATIONS OF
DISINVESTMENT IS NOT EQUITABLE
ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING. IT IS
THE REMOVAL OF THE LAST FORMAL
CHECK AVAILABLE TO US. WITH THE
LEAST POLITICAL POWER. THE
COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE FOUGHT TO
STAY IN THE CITY DID NOT DO SO,
ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THEIR RIGHT
TO CHALLENGE INADEQUATE
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW IS AN
OBSTACLE TO PROGRESS. EQUITY
INVOKED TO JUSTIFY THE
ELIMINATION OF A TOOL
COMMUNITIES NEED TO DEFEND
THEMSELVES AGAINST EQUITABLE
OUTCOMES IS NOT EQUITY. ALSO I
HEARD SOMEBODY SAY THAT KING
COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW, THAT IS
NOT TRUE. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP IS ETHAN.
>> GOOD MORNING MEMBERS OF THE
LAND-USE AND SUSTAINABILITY
COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS ETHAN.
SEATTLE RENTER, DISTRICT 4
RESIDENT AND SOMEONE WHO CARES
ABOUT ARE OUTDOORS AND WILDLIFE.
AND CALLING TO URGE YOU TO PASS
CB 121215 , OUT OF COMMITTEE AND
SEND IT TO THE FULL COUNCIL.
THIS BILL IS A COMMON SENSE
REFORM, IT DOES NOT ROLLBACK
PUBLIC PROCESS OR IN OUR MENTAL
PROTECTION. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
STAYS INTACT. WHAT DOES REMOVE
IS A SELF-IMPOSED ADMINISTERED A
PROCESS WHERE LEGISLATIVE
LAND-USE DECISION, ONE THAT
STATE LAW DOESN'T REQUIRE AND
HAS ABOUT A MONTH OF DELAY TO
NEEDED HEALTHY PUBLIC UPDATES.
THOUSANDS OF SEATTLEITES, MANY
AT WORK, ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND
MEETINGS LIKE THESE ARE COUNTING
ON THIS COUNCIL TO DELIVER
ABUNDANT PORTABLE HOUSING. THAT
IS WHY THEY VOTED FOR MANY OF
YOU. ONLY A HANDFUL APPEALS ARE
FILED EACH YEAR BUT THEY CAUSE
OUTSIDE DELAYS TO PROJECTS THE
MAJORITY OF THE CITY IS RELYING
ON. APPEALS AREN'T WHERE
SEATTLEITES MAKE THEIR VOICES
HEARD. VOTING IS. PLEASE PASS
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER AND DELIVER
ON THE PROMISES WE ELECTED YOU
TO KEEP. THANK YOU FOR HAVING
THE COURAGE TO BRING THE
LEGISLATION FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE BETH.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS BETH.
GREETINGS TO COUNCIL MEMBERS. I
AM A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF
SEATTLE. I AM URGING YOU TO
REJECT THIS BILL, COUNCIL BILL
121215. I WANT TO SAY THAT IT IS
EVERY CITIZEN'S RIGHT TO AN
ACCESSIBLE AND HER MENTAL REVIEW
PROCESS HOLDS CITY LEADERS
ACCOUNTABLE. THIS IS A CRITICAL
PATH TO COUNTERACTING THE
OVERBEARING INFLUENCE OF
DEVELOPERS AND FINANCIERS AND
THEIR CLOSED-DOOR MEETINGS. THE
PEOPLE SEEM TO BE THE ONLY VOICE
STANDING UP FOR TREES, GREEN
SPACES AND A HELPING VERY. THE
TALLER, DENSER, FASTER
DEVELOPMENT FORCES CLAIM THE
APPEALS PROCESS STANDS IN THE
WAY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. BUT
TO QUOTE FROM THE BILL ITSELF,
HOUSING AFFORDABLE TO A RANGE OF
INCOME LEVELS. THAT IS A VERY
BROAD DEFINITION. AND I DON'T
THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
SOLVING THE HOUSING CRISIS FOR
THE LOWEST INCOME FAMILIES HERE.
PITTING TREES AND ENVIRONMENTAL
HEALTH AGAINST ENVIRONMENTAL
HOUSING IS SMOKESCREEN. IT
DOESN'T NEED TO BE AN EITHER/OR
CHOICE. WE CAN DO BOTH. WITH
SMART DESIGN. LET'S REDEFINE
PROGRESS TO INCLUDE SMART
STEWARDSHIP OF OUR LIFE-GIVING
ENVIRONMENT. PLEASE STAND UP FOR
SENSIBLE DEVELOPMENT AND HEALTHY
ENVIRONMENT, VOTE NO ON
STRIPPING THIS RATE FROM SEATTLE
CITIZENS AND THANK YOU FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY FOR ORDINARY
CITIZENS TO SPEAK OUT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE JESSE
SIMPSON.
>> GOOD MORNING. I AM FROM THE
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT COALITION.
HERE TO SUPPORT COUNCIL BILL
121215. SEATTLE HAS HOUSING
SHORTAGE. WE NEED MORE HOUSING
AND ZONING CHANGES TO LEGALIZE
THE HOUSING FASTER. RIGHT NOW
ACCORDING TO THE [ INDISCERNIBLE
] FOR MONTHS. EVEN THOUGH THE
VAST MAJORITY OF APPEALS ARE
DISMISSED OR WITHDRAWN. THAT
KIND OF DELAY IS EXACTLY WHAT
JUST HAPPENED TO NOW PUSHED INTO
2027. FUNDAMENTALLY THE BILL IS
GOOD FOR HOUSING AND GOOD FOR
THE CLAIMANT. MORE AND DENSER
HOMES, OR TRANSIT MEANS LESS
SPRAWL. AND LESS CAR POLLUTION
THE ACTUALLY THREATENS SALMON
AND ORCA. WITH PROCESSES USED TO
BLOCK OR DELAY HOUSING IN THE
CITY THE RESULT IS WORSE FOR THE
ENVIRONMENT, NOT BETTER. THIS
BILL DOESN'T WE CAN HAVE OUR
MENTAL PROTECTION. CRITICAL
AREAS OF STORMWATER ENTRY
PROTECTION REMAIN IN EFFECT ON
STRICT ENERGY AND BUILDING CODES
FOR MORE EFFICIENT. [
INDISCERNIBLE ] LAND-USE
REGULATIONS ANYONE WHO WANTS TO
CHALLENGE THE LEGAL ANALYSIS IS
TOLD TO DO SO AT THE HEARINGS
BOARD OR THE COURT. REMOVES ONE
REDUNDANT MECHANISM BRINGING
SETTLE IN LINE WITH OTHER
JURISDICTIONS AND FUNDAMENTALLY
IN LINE WITH THE RECENT STATE
REFORMS TO ENSURE SEPA IS NOT
WEAPONIZE TO BLOCK OR DELAY
HOUSING. PLEASE VOTE YES ON
COUNCIL BILL 121215 , THANK YOU,
CHAIR LIN, FOR BRINGING IT
FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE LUCY
FLANAGAN. LUCY, PLEASE PRESS
STAR SIX. LUCY FLANAGAN, PLEASE
PRESS STAR SIX. THERE WE GO.
>> SORRY. HI, THIS IS LUCY
FLANAGAN. I AM A RESIDENT OF
SEATTLE FOR ALMOST 70 YEARS.
DISTRICT 5. I WANT YOU TO VOTE
AGAINST 121215. RECALL THE
EMERALD CITY AND WE SHOULD
CELEBRATE THAT BY PRESERVING WE
HAVE LEFT OF OLD SEATTLE. IT IS
WHY PEOPLE WANT TO VISIT THE
PACIFIC NORTHWEST. TREES TAKE A
LONG TIME TO GROW. WE FORGET
THEM WHEN THEY ARE GONE AND IN
SO DOING WE IN MENTALLY LOSE
WHAT USED TO BE WHAT WAS GREAT
ABOUT SEATTLE. SO ELIMINATING
OLD TREES WARRANTS A THOROUGH
REVIEW. AS OUR REPRESENTATIVES,
YOU'RE IN A POSITION TO SHAPE
THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS.
ELIMINATING THE PEOPLE'S VOICE
WOULD MAKE LIFE EASIER, CHEAPER
FOR THE REVIEW PANEL BUT THAT IS
NOT THE GOAL. THAT IS THE
TEMPTATION. IF I MAY SAY SO,
LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE WHO
ELECTED YOU IS YOUR JOB. THE
ISSUE IS NOT ABOUT ENVIRONMENT
VERSUS HOUSING, IT'S ABOUT
PROCESS. THE PROCESS MAY NEED
STREAMLINING, BUT THROWING UP
THE PUBLIC'S VOICE WOULD BE A
DRASTIC MOVE. DON'T MAKE THAT
MISTAKE. PLEASE VOTE NO ON
121215 , THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE ALICIA.
>> HELLO, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. I AM A
TRANSPLANT. I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR
12 YEARS AND I LEFT MY HOME
STATE BECAUSE OF POOR CITY
PLANNING. IS SIMPLY TOO HOT TO
LIVE THERE NOW. THEY TORE DOWN
THE TREES AND BLINDLY REST
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. TODAY IS
GOING TO BE 49 DEGREES IN MY
HOMETOWN OF AUSTIN, TEXAS. SO
TAKE THIS FROM SOMEONE WHO KNOWS
EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE
CITY FORGETS THE PUBLIC'S VOICE
IN DEVELOP. SETTLERS TO POST
ABOUT IT IN OUR MENTALISM. WE
HAVE A WORLD-CLASS TOO. WE BRAG
ABOUT HIKING TRAILS, POLLINATOR
SPACES AND WATERFRONT. AT THE
WATERFRONT OPENING THE CHAIRMAN
REMINDED US WE HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY TO PRESERVE THE
PLAN FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. OUR
CITIZENS BACKED THIS UP POURING
THOUSANDS OF HOURS INTO LOCAL
PAID AND UNPAID. THE COUNCILS
ENTERTAINING CB 121215 A BILL
THAT ELIMINATES THE SEPA APPEALS
PROCESS. BLOCKING OUT REGULAR
PEOPLE AND HANDING THE KEYS TO
PEOPLE WITH -- LOBBYISTS. IT
FORCES A DEEPLY CYNICAL
COMPROMISE TO CITIZENS, AND ASKS
US TO TRADE OUR AFFORDABLE
AVENUE OF ACTIVISM FOR THE
PROMISE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
YOUR PRAYING AND PEOPLE CLAIMING
AFFORDABILITY, WEAPONIZE IN THE
HOUSING CRISIS DEMAND WE TRADE
WEIGHT RIGHTS FOR A ROOF OVER
OUR HEADS. WE CANNOT MARK
SEATTLE AS A PROGRESSIVE GREEN
CITY WHEN SILENCING CITIZENS TO
KEEP THAT WE. PROPONENTS OF THIS
BILL CLAIM THE APPEAL PROCESS IS
REDUNDANT. IT IS ONLY REDUNDANT
IF THE CITY ALLOWS IT. IF THE
CITY ALLOWS, ALWAYS FOLLOWS THE
STEPS PERFECTLY. WE KNOW IT
DOESN'T. WITHOUT THE PROCESS
THE CITY WOULD'VE APPROVED
DEVELOPMENT ON THE CEMETERY. THE
APPEAL PROCESS IS THE ONLY
REASON THE CITY AND DEVELOPERS
WERE ABLE TO CATCH CRITICAL
MISTAKES IN DEVELOPING A
CEMETERY. THERE ARE PEOPLE AND
SPEAKERS WANT THEIR CHILDREN TO
OWN HOMES.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE IRENE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
IRENE WALL AND I HAVE LIVED IN
DISTRICT 6 FOR OVER 50 YEARS. I
HAVE BEEN AN ACTIVE CITIZEN
SERVING ON MY NEIGHBORHOOD
PLANNING COMMITTEE DURING THE
CITY'S FIRST COMPLINE. I HAVE
ALSO BEEN AN APPELLANT WHO WAS
SUCCESSFUL IN APPEALS BEFORE THE
HEARING EXAMINER ON LAND-USE
ACTIONS WHICH RESULTED IN
CHANGES TO ORDINANCES BEFORE THE
COUNCIL ACTED. THIS IS HOW IT IS
SUPPOSED TO WORK. SO I ASK CHAIR
LIN TO WITHDRAW THIS MISGUIDED
COUNCIL BILL. ITS PURPOSE SEEMS
ONLY TO CYNICALLY SILENCE
OPPOSITION AND ELIMINATE LEGAL
AVENUES , WHICH ARE RARELY USED,
BUT WHICH CAN HAVE ERRORS AND
REVEAL PORT AND FAX. THIS CHANGE
WILL DO NOTHING TO PREVENT THE
CONSTRUCTION OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. THE SPEAKERS TODAY FROM
HABITAT AND OTHERS DID NOT
PROVIDE ANY EVIDENCE THAT SEPA
APPEALS HAVE DELAYED OR
PREVENTED ANY OF THEIR PROJECTS.
THE DIRECTORS REPORT FOR THIS
BILL ALSO DID NOT PROVIDE ANY
EVIDENCE THAT SEPA APPEALS OF
NON-PROJECT LEGISLATIVE ACTION
HAVE DELAYED OR PREVENTED
AFFORDABLE HOUSING , OR
CONTRIBUTED TO HOMELESSNESS.
SEPA APPEALS HAVE ALSO NOT
PREVENTED THE CONSTRUCTION OF
MARKET RATE HOUSING , NEARLY
100,000 NEW HOUSING UNITS HAVE
BEEN BUILT OR PERMITTED IN THE
LAST DECADE. SEPA IS NOT
PREVENTING INCREASED DENSITY IN
SEATTLE, WHICH IS EXCEEDING ITS
TARGETS FOR NEW HOUSING ASSIGNED
TO US BY THE PUGET SOUND
REGIONAL COUNCIL. THE BILL WILL
NOT PREVENT SPRAWL OR SAVE FORCE
ANYWHERE ELSE. SEATTLE HAS NO
AUTHORITY TO MAKE LAND-USE RULES
FOR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.
REGARDING THE APPEAL FOR MORE
DENSE HOUSING, THAT IS ALREADY
HAPPENING AT PACE. SINGLE-FAMILY
HOMES ARE RAISED, ALONG WITH HER
TREES AND REPLACED WITH MORE
EXPENSIVE TOWNHOMES. SEATTLE
LAND-USE TRUST HAS JUST OPENED
TWO LARGE PORTABLE CONDO
PROJECTS . THEY WERE NOT
PREVENTED --
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE RICHARD .
>> HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME?
HELLO, MY NAME IS RICHARD, A
RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 4. IN THE
1990S I WAS WRITING
ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS IN
SEATTLE. I OPPOSE CB 121215,
BANNING LOOK APPEALS ON SEPA
DECISIONS. THE LOSS OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN SEATTLE IS
ROOTED IN THE 1990S DECISIONS BY
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL TRIED
TO BREAK THE SEATTLE ECONOMY BY
ALLOWING DEVELOPERS TWO-TIERED
UNAFFORDABLE HOUSING AT SOUTH
LAKE UNION AND ELSEWHERE. AND SO
BEGAN. THE TECH GROWTH CAME, A
SPIKE IN HOUSING COSTS, AS
HOUSING, AS TECH GROWTH COULD
AFFORD AND LITTLE HOUSING WAS
BUILT ACROSS THE CITY TO REPLACE
LOW-INCOME HOUSING. THE CITY
GRAND BARGAIN SUPPOSE IT GRAND
BARGAIN BY MAYOR MURRAY AND THE
CITY COUNCIL TO GIVE AWAY
EXTENSIVE HOUSING AND FOR
HOUSING. NOW THE COUNCIL WISHES
TO MAKE AMENDS BY DECADES OF BAD
DECISIONS BY REMOVING
ENVIRONMENTAL APPEALS ON ANY
SEPA DECISIONS AS OPPOSED
PANACEA TO THE HOUSING CRISIS.
THIS HOUSING CRISIS IS IN
PARTNER MAKING. IT MAY BE A MILD
DAY IN SEATTLE , SARDINE
SEATTLE, BUT IN EUROPE IT'S AN
EXTENDED HEAT EMERGENCY WITH
TEMPERATURES OVER HUNDRED
DEGREES ACROSS THE CONTINENT.
THE TRUMPET MINISTRATION WOULD
HAVE US BELIEVE I'M A CHANGE IS
A HOAX. CAN WE APPEAL THE
GUTTING OF THE OVERSIGHT, IS
2026 YEAR THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL BAND SEPA APPEALS IN
EMERALD CITY? THIS IS REMNANT OF
THE POLICIES OF THE CURRENT
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WHICH IS
GETTING ALL ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTIONS AND REVIEWS. LIKE IN
2003 WHEN THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION -- THAT WAS OKAY.
WHEN PRESIDENT BUSH REJECTED CO2
COMMISSIONS --
>> THANK YOU. NEXT UP WE HAVE
LISA. HI, LISA.
>> HELLO. SHOULD I REMIND NOW?
OKAY. SORRY. GOOD MORNING. CHAIR
LIN AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE, MY NAME IS DR. LISA.
A SEATTLE RESIDENT AND ADVOCATE
FOR URBAN HOUSING. I'M HERE
TODAY TO URGE THE COMMITTEE TO
REJECT COUNCIL BILL 121215. IN
ADDITION TO BEING A RESIDENT
I'M ALSO AN AUTHOR OF THE
NATIONAL CLIMATE ASSESSMENT. I
WANT TO STATE CLEARLY WHAT THE
PEER-REVIEWED SCIENCE HAS SHOWN.
TREE CANOPY IS NOT A LUXURY
MINUTES HE. IT ACCOUNTS FOR UP
TO 50% OF THE CITY'S
THERMOREGULATION. WHEN YOU CLEAR
CUT A LOT AND PUSH CANOPY COVER
LOW IT SINGLE-HANDEDLY [
INDISCERNIBLE ] SPIKE IN
LOCALIZED AIR TEMPERATURES.
EXPLICITLY DUCK ENDED HOW THE
DECISIONS HAVE ALREADY
SYSTEMATICALLY STRIPPED TREE
COVER FROM COMMUNITIES CAUSING
SOME NEIGHBORHOODS TO EXPERIENCE
TEMPERATURES UPWARDS OF 13
DEGREES WARMER THAN HER -- [
INDISCERNIBLE ] AND DRASTICALLY
INCREASE THE RISK OF URBAN
FLOODING AND TOXIC STORMWATER
RUNOFF INTO STREAMS. ALLOWING
90% HARD SCAPE ACROSS THE ENTIRE
CITY THIS BILL LOCKS IN A TWO
PRONG REGRESSIVE TAX BURDEN.
FIRST, A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS .
EXTREME HEAT IS THE DEADLIEST
NATURAL HAZARD IN THE NATION.
STRIPPING MATURE CANOPY
GUARANTEES ARE UNDERSERVED
NEIGHBORHOODS WILL BECOME
PERMANENT CONCRETE HEAT ISLANDS.
DIRECTLY ESCALATING HEATSTROKE,
CARDIOVASCULAR AND PREVENTABLE
DEATHS. SECOND, AND A CHRONIC
TAX AND WORKING FAMILIES. WHEN
YOU DESTROY FREE, NATURAL CANOPY
COOLING YOU SHIFT 100% OF THE
THERMAL BURDEN ONTO MECHANICAL
COOLING. WORKING CLASS FAMILIES
WILL SEE AGGRESSIVE ECONOMIC
BURDEN IN THE FORM OF ELECTRIC
BILLS TO KEEP THEIR PARENTS SAFE
TO LIVE IN. MAKING SEATTLE
HOTTER , DEADLIER AND MORE
EXPENSIVE FOR MARGINALIZED
COMMUNITIES IS EXACTLY THE
OPPOSITE OF WHAT YOU
CONSTITUENTS WANT. POLICY BUILDS
HOUSING WHILE PRESERVING THE
NATURAL INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIRED
TO SURVIVE. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO
CHOOSE --
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE BONNIE
WILLIAMS.
>> HELLO. HELLO? HI. HELLO? THIS
IS BONNIE WILLIAMS. AND FROM
DISTRICT 4. I AM HERE TO OPPOSE
CB 121215. THIS LEGISLATION IS
VERY ALARMING BECAUSE IT REMOVES
THE ABILITY TO APPEAL AND OUR
MENTAL IMPACT STUDY AN IMPORTANT
SAFEGUARD HELPING ENSURE MAJOR
DECISIONS ON COMFORTS OF PLANS,
AREA WIDE RESOUNDS AND SEATTLE
PLANS. AND DEVELOPED REGULATIONS
INDEPENDENT CITIZEN SCRUTINY
THAT AFFECTS SEATTLE CITIZENS
FOR DECADES. THE WASHINGTON
COURTS RULED ON JUNE 1 THAT THE
SEATTLE CITY PUBLIC HEARING
EXAMINER FOR APPEAL IN ERROR AND
SUPERIOR COURT BACK TO THE CITY
HEARING EXAMINER. [
INDISCERNIBLE ] THE COURT SAID
TIMING OF INCREMENTAL REVIEW
UNDER SEPA IS CRITICAL. ONE OF
THE BASIC PURPOSES OF AN EIS IS
TO ENSURE THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
CONSIDER TOTAL OUR MENTAL AND
ECOLOGICAL FACTORS TO THE
FULLEST EXTENT WHEN TAKING MAJOR
ACTION SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTING
THE QUALITY OF ENVIRONMENT. THAT
WAS YESTERDAY IN THE SEATTLE
TIMES ARTICLE. REFLECTION OF NEW
NUMBERS THAT WILL HAS BEEN BUILT
AN EVALUATION [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
ARE ADDED BENEFICIAL NOW.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO THE
HEARING EXAMINER DURING THE
APPEALS PROCESS WITH ANALYSIS
AND TESTIMONY BEFORE REZONE
LEGISLATION IS PASSED AT THEIR
EXPENSE. CHAIR LIN INSULT
CITIZENS WHO FILE APPEALS
CALLING ANYONE WHO FILES
AUDITORY. CITIZENS HAVE REAL
ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS IS THE
TRUE MOTIVE. THE CURRENT APPEAL
PROCESS ALLOWS APPEALS TO BE
FILED BEFORE LEGISLATION IS
PASSED. CHAIR LIN AND OPCD SAID
WANT TO [ INDISCERNIBLE ] WHICH
IS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT .
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE SANDERS.
>> HELLO. [ INDISCERNIBLE-LOW
VOLUME ] I'M 32 YEARS OLD. [
INDISCERNIBLE-LOW VOLUME ] VOTE
TO PASS OUT OF COMMITTEE [
INDISCERNIBLE-LOW VOLUME ]
COUNCIL CANCELED ALL OF ITS
MEETINGS FOR THIS YEAR ,
REGARDING THE COMP PLAN. [
INDISCERNIBLE ] WHICH IS CRAZY
THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE
STRETCHING INTO 2028 , FINISHING
COMP PLAN THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO
BE DONE IN 2024. PLEASE PASS
THIS BILL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE MARY. MARY,
PLEASE GO AHEAD. MARY, I SEE
THAT YOU ARE UNMUTED. PLEASE
PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
>> HI. THIS IS MARY. CAN YOU
HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY. THANK
YOU. EIGHT URGE YOU TO REJECT
121215. [ INDISCERNIBLE ] THIS
BILL IS WRITTEN LIKE IT WAS PAID
FOR BY DEVELOPERS. AGAINST
DEMOCRACY WITH DEROGATORY
COMMENTS ABOUT THE CITIZENS. ARE
TREES AND HEAT [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
CANNOT HANDLE [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
RESULTING IN SEWAGE GOING INTO
LAKE UNION. DEMOCRATIC OVER 70
PROPOSED CHANGES BEFORE
PUBLICATION AND AFTER. ARE
CRITICAL GRID FOR THE EIS CAN
HANDLE THE ONE SEATTLE PLAN WITH
300,000 UNITS AT ITS
WAREHOUSING. 50% OF SEATTLE'S
CARBON FOOTPRINT IS CONSTRUCTION
AND CONSTRUCTION RELATED
TRANSPORTATION. THE WORLD
ECONOMIC FORUM SAYS THE NUMBER
ONE THING WE CAN DO TO LOWER
WORLDWIDE CARBON FOOTPRINT IS TO
REUSE EXISTING BUILDINGS. WE
HAVE 100 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF
OFFICE SPACE DOWNTOWN SITTING
EMPTY. WE HAVE 40% VACANCY RATE
IN OUR LUXURY APARTMENTS. THOSE
BUILT IN THE LAST 10 YEARS AND
GOING FOR MARKET RATE. AND THE
ONE SEATTLE PLAN HAS NO
REQUIREMENT FOR FORMAL HOUSING.
THIS, REMOVING APPEAL, IS NOT
THE ANSWER. THE ANSWER IS TO
REQUIRE AFFORDABLE HOUSING . THE
KIDS A BEEN TOLD A FAIRYTALE
STORY THAT IF WE DON'T GET
EVERYTHING THEY WANT, AND
REMOVING THE APPEALS PROCESS FOR
EIS IS PART OF IT, THEY WILL GET
CHEAP HOUSING. EVEN THOUGH
DEVELOPERS ONLY BUILD MARKET
RATE $1 MILLION TOWNHOMES IN
SEATTLE. IF WE WANT AFFORDABLE
WE HAVE TO REQUIRE IT, NOT
REMOVE DEMOCRACY. TO BALANCE IN
OUR MENTAL PROBLEMS VARSITY
WHICH WE MUST MITIGATE. I WANT
TO SEE A VACANCY TAX AND EMPATHY
-- [ INDISCERNIBLE ] OUT TO SEE
A REGISTRY OF EMPTY MARKET RATE
HOUSING. THERE OTHER THINGS WE
CAN DO TO GET AND ADDRESS THE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS WE
HAVE HAD --
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE JAMES. JAMES,
I SEE YOU ARE UNMUTED. PLEASE
PROVIDE YOUR COMMENT.
>> HELLO. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
>> YES.
>> SORRY. DEAR COUNCIL MEMBERS,
I AM WORKING IN HEALTHCARE. AND
CALLING IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THE
BILL. I WORKED EVERY DAY AND
PEOPLE'S HEALTH AND I AM WHERE
-- [ INDISCERNIBLE ] LIKE I WAS
FOR THE MAJORITY OF MY LIFE. IN
FRACTURED COMMUNITIES BURNING
THEIR LIFE ON FREEWAY COMMUTE
HOURS AND [ INDISCERNIBLE ].
EVERY DELAY COST LIVES. YOU'VE
HEARD TODAY FROM PROPERTY OWNED
TREE REACTIONARIES THAT THE
STATUS QUO WORKS GREAT FOR THEM.
THEY SPEAK OF LIFE-AND-DEATH
HEAT ISLANDS WILL SAFELY
SHELTERED IN THEIR HOMES THAT
HAVE BEEN FOR DECADES GONE UP ON
PERCENT VALUE. OF THE MOST
PORTABLE PEOPLE ARE HOUSING
INSECURE PEOPLE AND WHAT THEY
NEED MOST OUR HOMES. THESE SAY
PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE THEIR
DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS. TO APPEAL.
IT'S VERY INTERESTING THESE
RIGHTS ARE JUST ONE WAY, APPEALS
BACK TOWARD THE STATUS QUO. IS
OUR PUBLIC RIGHT TO STUDY AND
FOR MENTAL IMPACT OF NOT
BUILDING DENSELY ENOUGH? THE
IMPACT OF NOT HAVING HOUSING
FAST ENOUGH. YEARS IN THE LIFE
EXPECTANCY. IN WHAT VENUE DO I
GET TO BRING THE DAMAGES TO MY
LIFE AND MY FRIENDS LIVES
AGAINST [ INDISCERNIBLE ]? THOSE
DO NOT EXIST. THEY NEVER
EXISTED. DEMOCRATICS RIGHTS DO
NOT EXIST BY DESIGN. [
INDISCERNIBLE ] FOR THE HEALTH
AND EVERYONE WHO THRIVES. NOT
JUST PEOPLE WHO WORK FORTUNATE
TO BUY HOUSING THREE DECADES AGO
IN SEATTLE. PLEASE PASS 121215
WHICH ALREADY DOES NOT GO FAR
ENOUGH OR FAST ENOUGH TO MEET
THE SCALE OF OUR GLOBAL
CHALLENGES. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE ANN.
>> THIS IS ANN NIGHT. A LONGTIME
RESIDENT OF SEATTLE'S DISTRICT.
I OPPOSE 121215. OVER THE PAST
FIVE DECADES I'VE BEEN INVOLVED
IN CITY PROJECTS AS AN EMPLOYEE
OF THE CITY AND COMMUNITY
ACTIVIST. WHAT I HAVE LEARNED IN
AT TIMES THE IMPORTANCE OF
EVERYONE'S VOICES IN BUILDING A
CITY THAT BALANCES THE NEEDS OF
ALL. IT IS EASY FOR AN AGENCY TO
THINK IT UNDERSTANDS ALL THE
IMPACTS OF A PROJECT. BUT IT IS
IMPORTANT TO INCORPORATE
DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES IN
DETERMINING THE FINAL OUTCOME IF
THE GOAL IS TO CREATE A CITY
THAT SERVES ITS FULL COMMUNITY.
SECTION F IS PARTICULAR
CONCERNING THAT IT IMPACTS
PROJECTS WILL BE ON JUST HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT. HAVING A DEMOCRACY
OR HAVING A DICTATORSHIP FOR
GOVERNMENT REQUIRES THE ABILITY
FOR CITIZENS TO APPEAL BECAUSE
DECISIONS TO THE HEARING
EXAMINER. THIS IS THE ONLY LEVEL
US REGULAR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
AND HOPE TO PARTICIPATE IN , A
COMPLEX PROCESS AND HOPE TO HAVE
THEIR CONCERNS HEARD. MUCH
BETTER PROJECT [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
AND ALTERNATIVES. WITHOUT AN
APPEALS PROCESS HEARING EXAMINER
THERE'S NO INCENTIVE TO PRESENT
IMPACT. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE AWAY
THE ABILITY TO ENSURE SEATTLE IS
THE BEST CITY CAN BE FOR
EVERYONE. NO ON THE AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE DAVID HAYNES.
DAVID, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX.
>> THANK YOU. IT SHOULD BE NOTED
THAT THE SMALL-TIME LANDLORDS
DEALING WITH CONFLICTS OF
INTEREST ON THE COUNCIL
SABOTAGED THE CONFERENCE A PLAN
WITH RESTRICTIONS ON
DEVELOPMENT. TO MAKE SURE NO ONE
BUILD BACK BETTER. SO LANDLORDS
AND CERTAIN HOMEOWNERS CAN TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THE SUPPLY AND
DEMAND SQUEEZE. IT ALSO COULD BE
SAID THAT THE NEW REDLINE FOR
DISCRIMINATION AND HATREDS OF
OTHER PEOPLE TRYING TO BUILD
BACK A BETTER HOME ORIGINATES
FROM PEOPLE WEAPONIZE THE TREE
ORDINANCE. PARKING MANDATES, AND
THE CHARACTER OF AN ANTIQUATED
HOME. ALL TO STOP OTHER PEOPLE
FROM BUILDING BACK BETTER. SELF
LANDLORDS ON COUNCIL WITH
CONFLICT OF INTEREST TO ALREADY
SABOTAGE THE CONFERENCE A PLAN
WITH RESTRICTIONS TO MAKE SURE
NO ONE BUILD BACK BETTER ARE
USING THE TREE ACTION GROUP AND
OTHERS TO INTIMIDATE REST OF
COUNCIL OF THOSE WHO CLAIM THAT
ORG IS GOING TO BE SUFFERING AND
SOMEHOW TRUMP IS THE PLAN FOR
ALL OF THIS IS IRRATIONAL. IF
YOU'RE REALLY CARE ABOUT
HOUSING IN THE ENVIRONMENT,
IT'S TIME TO TEAR UP ALL THE
ASPHALT SIDE STREETS AND REBUILD
SUSTAINABLE WALKABLE
NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCKS WITH
ADVANCED HOUSING THE GOES HIGHER
. WITHOUT THE ROAD RAGE DRIVING
THROUGH ALLOWING STRANGERS IN
YOUR NEIGHBORS TO DRIVE THROUGH
AND SEE HOW YOU ARE LIVING. RID
OF THE RESTRICTIONS THE
LANDLORDS PUT INTO THE
CONFERENCE A PLAN TO SELF DEAL
AND CATER TO THE SAME PEOPLE WHO
SHOWED UP TO INSPIRE AGAINST
YOUNGER GENERATIONS NEEDING A
BETTER CHOICE IN HOME AND REAL
EQUITY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER, THERE ARE NO
MORE PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU, EVERYONE.
THAT WAS OUR LAST REGISTERED
SPEAKER TO SPEAK AT THIS PUBLIC
HEARING. THE PUBLIC HEARING ON
COUNCIL BILL 121215 IS NOW
CLOSED. I WOULD ASK HER
REPRESENTATIVES FROM CENTRAL
STAFF TO JOIN US TO PRESENT AND
ANSWER QUESTIONS IF COUNCIL HAS
ANY. COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF COULD
INTRODUCE YOURSELF BRIEFLY AND
SEE IF ANY QUESTIONS?
>> COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF.
>> IF NOT, WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE
NEXT ITEM OF BUSINESS AND WILL
TRY TO KEEP IT BRIEF. I KNOW WE
ARE RUNNING LATE. IF WE CAN MOVE
ON TO OUR EIGHTH ITEM OF
BUSINESS. WITH THE CLERK PLEASE
READ AGENDA ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.
>> AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO LAND
USE AND ZONING; ADOPTING
TEMPORARY REGULATIONS PREVIOUSLY
IN ORDINANCE 127309 FOR SIX
MONTHS TO EXEMPT HOUSING
PROJECTS THAT MEET MANDATORY
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
REQUIREMENTS USING ON-SITE
PERFORMANCE UNITS FROM DESIGN
REVIEW, AND ALLOWING PERMIT
APPLICANTS FOR ALL HOUSING
SUBJECT TO FULL DESIGN REVIEW
THE OPTION OF COMPLYING WITH
DESIGN REVIEW PURSUANT TO
ADMINISTRATIVE DESIGN REVIEW;
TEMPORARILY SUSPENDING
MANDATORY, AND ALLOWING
VOLUNTARY, DESIGN REVIEW OF
PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT IN TITLES
23 AND 25 OF THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE, CONSISTENT WITH
CHAPTER 333, LAWS OF 2023 AND
PREVIOUSLY IN ORDINANCE 127309;
AND AMENDING SECTIONS 23.41.002
AND 23.41.004 OF THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE. FOR BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU. CAN YOU PLEASE
INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND IF
YOU'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE A REVIEW
THAT WOULD BE GREAT? AND THEN WE
WILL GO TO COUNCIL QUESTIONS.
>> KETIL FREEMAN, COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF.
>> CRYSTAL TORRES, DESIGN REVIEW
MANAGER WITH THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND
INSPECTIONS.
>> CHRISTINA, LEGISLATIVE
RELATIONS MANAGER.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I WILL JUST SAY A FEW WORDS
TO SITUATE THE COMMITTEE. THIS
IS AN INITIAL BRIEFING ON
COUNCIL BILL 121243 WHICH WOULD
REENACT SOME EXPIRED INTERIM
REGULATIONS FOR THE DESIGN
REVIEW PROGRAM. IT WOULD EXTEND
THOSE REGULATIONS FOR AN
ADDITIONAL SIX MONTHS , AS I
MENTIONED THOSE HAVE LAPSED BACK
IN MAY. PERHAPS APRIL. THERE
WILL OF COURSE BE A PUBLIC
HEARING ON THIS BILL. THE PUBLIC
HEARING IS SCHEDULED FOR JULY
30, YOU HAVE A MEMO FROM ME WITH
SOME BACKGROUND . DATED JUNE 29,
2026. THERE WILL BE FURTHER
IDENTIFICATION MEMO ON JULY 30.
I WILL TURN OVER TO SDCI TO WALK
THROUGH INTERIM PROVISIONS.
>>
>> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. OKAY,
SO, TODAY WE'RE GOING TO GO
OVER THE INTERIM DESIGN REVIEW
LEGISLATION. WHAT IT IS AND WHY
WE NEED IT. I'M GOING TO
BRIEFLY TOUCH ON NEXT STEPS AS
WELL. ALL RIGHT, SO THIS IS
RELATED TO THE DESIGN REVIEW
PROGRAM, WHAT IS THE DESIGN
REVIEW PROGRAM? IT IS ONLY A
PIECE OF THE PERMITTING PROCESS.
IT SUPPORTS LARGER CITY GOALS
AND A VISION FOR LIVABLE URBAN
ENVIRONMENTS, IT GIVES THE
PUBLIC AN OPPORTUNITY TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE DEVELOPMENT
OF THEIR COMMUNITIES. AND
PROVIDES FLEXIBILITY FOR NEW
DEVELOPMENT THAT IS NOT
OTHERWISE PERMITTED BY THE LAND
USE CODE. WHY WE ARE HERE, HOUSE
BILL 1293 REQUIRED CHANGES FOR
ALL DESIGN REVIEW PROGRAMS IN
THE STATE. THOSE INCLUDED TO
MAKE THE DESIGN GUIDELINES CLEAR
AND OBJECTIVE. TO LIMIT THE
DESIGN GUIDELINES TO EXTERIOR
ELEMENTS OF THE BUILDING DESIGN
, AND ALSO TO LIMIT DESIGN
REVIEW MEETINGS TO ONE. AND NOT
REDUCING PROJECT DENSITY BELOW
WHAT IS OTHERWISE PERMITTED BY
THE ZONING CODE. THE GOAL OF THE
INTERIM IS TO FILL IN THE GAP
BETWEEN THE EXISTING NOT BEING
COMPLIANT WITH THOSE STATE
REQUIRED CHANGES, WHILE WE WORK
ON THE CHANGES. THE INTERIM WILL
ALLOW US TO BE FURTHER
COMPLIANCE WITH THE STATE. ALSO,
IT WILL PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY FOR
DEVELOPMENT AND AFFORDABILITY,
OR HOUSING AFFORD ABILITY, AND
ALLOWS US TIME TO CONDUCT
ADDITIONAL STAKEHOLDER RESEARCH.
THE INTERIM LEGISLATION WOULD
SUSPEND REQUIRED DESIGN REVIEW
AND IN PLACE WOULD ALLOW
APPLICANTS TO OPT INTO THE
PROGRAM SO THAT THEY CAN SEEK
DEPARTURES THAT ARE NOT
OTHERWISE ACCESSIBLE TO THOSE
PROJECTS. IT ALSO EXTENDS THE
EXEMPTIONS FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING THAT ARE PROVIDING
ON-SITE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
THEY WOULD ALSO BE -- THERE IS
ALSO ADDITIONAL DEPARTURES OR
ADJUSTMENTS AVAILABLE FOR THOSE
PROJECTS THAT ARE EXEMPTED. THAT
PIECE WAS ALSO EXPIRED , WITH
PREVIOUS LEGISLATION. SO THIS
INTERIM LEGISLATION WOULD AGAIN
FILL IN THE GAP AND ALLOW THOSE
PROJECTS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
THOSE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
EXEMPTIONS. THE GOAL WITH THE
PERMANENT LEGISLATION IS TO
BRING THE PROGRAM INTO
COMPLIANCE. THAT WOULD INCLUDE
SIMPLIFYING THE DESIGN REVIEW
PROCESS, SIMPLIFYING AND RAISING
THE DESIGN REVIEW THRESHOLDS.
UPDATING AND ADOPTING NEW DESIGN
GUIDELINES. AND ALSO INCLUDING A
LIMIT TO JUST ONE PUBLIC
MEETING. HOWEVER, WHILE WE ARE
WORKING ON THE PERMANENT
LEGISLATION, WE DO NEED
SOMETHING IN PLACE, WHICH IS WHY
WE ARE HERE TODAY. WE HAVE HAD
SOME PROGRESS ON THE PERMANENT
LEGISLATION, AND THIS WOULD
ALLOW US THE ADDITIONAL TIME TO
CONTINUE ON WITH THE DEVELOPMENT
OF THAT. BEFORE BRINGING IT BACK
TO COUNCIL. ALL RIGHT, AND
AGAIN, TO SUMMARIZE THE INTERIM
LEGISLATION. THAT WOULD SUSPEND
REQUIRED DESIGN REVIEW ALLOWING
PROJECTS TO OPT INTO THE PROGRAM
TO SEEK OUT DEPARTURES AND ALSO
CONTINUE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
EXEMPTIONS. THAT IS IT, THANK
YOU.
>> WONDERFUL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS?
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> THANK YOU FOR THIS OVERVIEW.
JUST A BRIEF QUESTION, BECAUSE
YOU MENTIONED THE WORK YOU ARE
DOING RUN PERMANENT LEGISLATION.
I UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE DONE
TWO PREVIOUS EXTENSIONS TO STAY
COMPLIANT WITH THE STATE LAW.
AND NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT A
THIRD. CAN YOU UNPACK A LITTLE
MORE THE WORK YOU ALL ARE DOING
ON PERMANENT LEGISLATION AND THE
TIMELINE FOR THAT AND WAS GOING
INTO INFORMING THAT?
>> THAT IS ACTUALLY THE FIRST
EXTENSION OF THE LEGISLATION. SO
WE WORKED ON THIS LAST YEAR. AND
UNFORTUNATELY THE EXTENSION, THE
INTERIM LEGISLATION DID EXPIRE,
WE WOULD SAY SEEKING AN
EXTENSION HOWEVER IT HAS LAPSED.
THIS WOULD BE BRINGING BACK THE
INTERIM LEGISLATION. AND WE HAVE
BEEN WORKING HARD TO FIGURE OUT
HOW WE CAN BEST ENGAGE
STAKEHOLDERS IN THIS PROCESS.
YOU KNOW, WE WANT STAKEHOLDER
INPUT IN HELPING FIGURE OUT THE
NEXT STEPS IN DEFINING DESIGN
REVIEW WITHIN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. THAT WORK WILL
CONTINUE. WE WILL CONTINUE TO
BUILD UP OUR FOCUS RIGHT NOW IS
WE HAVE PROJECTS THAT ARE
WAITING FOR THIS TO GO BACK INTO
EFFECT. THEY ARE READY TO GO AND
WE DON'T WANT TO KEEP THEM
WAITING ANY LONGER BECAUSE THOSE
ARE UNITS WE NEED ACROSS THE
CITY.
>> POINT OF CLARIFICATION, WE
NEED THIS TO BE ABLE TO ISSUE
PERMITS.
>> CERTAINLY. THANK YOU FOR
CLARIFYING THOSE POINTS AROUND
THE RENEWAL AND EXTENSION
COMPONENTS AND WHAT HAPPENS IF
WE DO NOT RENEW . I WOULD LOVE
TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION ON
FORMATION OF PERMANENT
LEGISLATION. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK. COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS? OKAY. SO, IT SOUNDS
LIKE WE WILL HAVE SOME NEXT
STEPS INCLUDING A PUBLIC
HEARING. COLLEAGUES, I ALSO
ENCOURAGE YOU TO ARRANGE
BRIEFINGS, IF YOU DID HAVE ANY
OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, I
LOOK FORWARD TO BOTH SORT OF
FURTHER HEARINGS AND BRIEFINGS
ON THE INTERIM AS WELL AS I
THINK PROBABLY THE MORE
INTERESTING PART WILL BE THAT
PERMANENT DESIGN REVIEW
LEGISLATION AND I LOOK FORWARD
TO FURTHER ENGAGEMENT ON THAT. I
VERY MUCH. OKAY. COLLEAGUES, WE
HAVE REACHED THE END OF TODAY'S
AGENDA. IT IS 12:03 PM. I JUST
WANT TO PROVIDE A BRIEF COMMENT,
AGAIN, TO THANK , THE ROOM IS
MOSTLY AMPLY EMPTY NOW. THINK
EVERYONE FROM HEARING TODAY. WE
HEARD PASSIONATE COMMENTS ON
BOTH SIDES. I JUST WANT TO SAY
THAT I DON'T QUESTION
ANYBODY'S AUTHENTICITY AROUND
THE VALUE OF THE ENVIRONMENT. WE
HEARD VERY CLEARLY THAT OUR
COMMUNITY CARES DEEPLY ABOUT THE
ENVIRONMENT. ALSO CARES DEEPLY
ABOUT HOUSING AND WE NEED TO
FIGURE OUT A WAY TO DO BOTH.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE WILL HAVE
FURTHER DISCUSSIONS ON COUNCIL
BUILT 121215, THAT IS A
PROCEDURAL BILL -- SUBSTANTIVE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OR
REQUIREMENTS. I WILL HAVE MORE
TO SAY ABOUT THAT BUT IT IS
ALREADY 12:04 PM AND SO I WILL
NOT SORT OF TAKE UP MORE OF YOUR
TIME. COLLEAGUES, I WANT TO
PAUSE HERE, IF ANYBODY ELSE HAS
ANY , ANYTHING TO BRING BEFORE
THE COMMITTEE? OKAY. HEARING NO
FURTHER BUSINESS,