Appellants who challenged the adequacy of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the "One Seattle Plan" were upheld by the Division 1 State Appeals Court with a ruling on June 1 that denied the City of Seattle's motion to dismiss and remanded the case back to Superior Court (and the Hearing Examiner) to take a closer look at the environmental impacts that were not evaluated. More information on the impact of this decision on the timing of pending legislation to upzone many more areas of the city will be provided when available.
A second appeal to the Growth Management Hearings Board is also pending.
The Public Hearing on the Phase 2 legislation (Centers and Corridors) is currently scheduled for July 23rd at 9:30 am. Check the Council's website for any changes and links to the legislation.
https://www.seattle.gov/council/topics/comprehensive-plan
Patrick Condon Coming to Seattle June 15th
Seattle Residents for Thoughtful Growth is hosting an evening with Patrick Condon on June 15th at Mt. Baker Community Club (2811 Mt Rainier Drive South, Seattle). Condon is the author of Broken City: Land Speculation, Inequality, and Urban Crisis.
Register for the Event as space is limited: https://www.seattlethoughtfulgrowth.org/contact
Background: Mayor Katie Wilson’s One Seattle Plan 2.0, “Taller, Denser, Faster” to accelerate high density development, will affect every neighborhood in Seattle. In this second phase of the city’s long-range growth planning, zoning has been guided exclusively by representatives from the builders and development sector and the groups that advocate on their behalf. They advocate for density as the cure for inequality and high housing costs as they all but write the policies that will shape Seattle for decades to come. Keynote speaker, Patrick Condon, author of Broken City: Land Speculation, Inequality, and Urban Crisis, will explain how cities deal with the pressures of growth, while expanding affordable housing. Market-driven density, when purely guided by the principles of trickle down economics, lead to gentrification, displacement, and the erasure of nature from the urban environment. Join us to learn how Seattle can grow sustainably and equitably, welcoming families, seniors, and all levels of income, while maintaining its environmental sustainability for a long-term future. The evening’s presentation will update Seattle residents on where the Comprehensive Plan stands now, and what is being planned by the city, and ways to connect with advocates for thoughtful growth.
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ARCHIVAL MATERIAL
This section is for historic reference only.
Effect of District 6 Amendments on Phinney Ridge and nearby neighborhoods
CM Strauss proposed to substitute a new East Ballard Neighborhood Center instead of the Mayor's original proposed center on Phinney Ridge (at 65th/Phinney). That amendment passed and amendments also passed that made changes to the boundaries for the Upper Fremont and NW Green Lake Neighborhood Centers. The companion Resolution also includes studying a Phinney Center and potential boundary changes to other District 6 Neighborhood Centers for a future year Comprehensive Plan amendment.
Maps of changes to Neighborhood Centers can be found in the FEIS Addendum.
Stay Informed on Future Agendas and Votes
Check the Council's meeting page or sign up to receive agendas by e-mail.
Written Comments: You can always email comments to the all council members at Council@seattle.gov Revisions and Additions to Phinney Ridge Neighborhood Center Maps
Our District 6 Council representation, Dan Strauss, has offered several amendments including three new versions of the Neighborhood Center at Phinney/65th. plus a new East Ballard Neighborhood Center at 8th NW/65th with three different proposed boundaries. Click here to see new boundaries.
Links below are to the original maps which were changed by Council amendments (see above.)
The City has released a new zoning proposal which includes significant changes to residential zones citywide and rezones many areas to allow greater density. View the City's interactive maps at link below:
https://one-seattle-plan-zoning-implementation-seattlecitygis.hub.arcgis.com/
These changes impact several blocks around the 65th/Phinney intersection and at West Green Lake (Winona/Linden) which are designated "Neighborhood Centers" under the proposed One Seattle Comprehensive Plan Update. The proposals expand both commercial zoning, and change some residential blocks to new heights and scales to encourage four to six story apartments, condos, and townhomes. The link above includes a document describing changes including expanding lot coverage allowance to 50%, reducing setbacks, and other changes to former "single family" (NR) zoned lots to allow four or up to six residential units on NR lots if they are close to "frequent transit" or meet criteria for "affordability."
