Seattle City Council: Select Committee on the Comprehensive Plan Public Hearing 5/19/2025 Session I

Excuse me.

Um, council member Kettle like to do a mic check.

Okay.

I'm gonna, I'm gonna allow him to speak.

Okay.

Go ahead.

Awesome.

Good morning, everyone.

The May 19th, 2025 select committee of the comprehensive plan is going to come to order.

It is 9 32 AM.

I'm joy Hollingsworth.

I have the opportunity being chair of the select committee.

Will the clerk please call the roll council member Kettle here.

Council member Moore.

Present.

Council President Nelson.

Present.

Council member Rink.

Council member Rivera.

Present.

Council member Saka.

Here.

Council Member Strauss.

Present.

Council Member Solomon.

Here.

And Chair Hollingsworth.

I am here.

Eight.

Present.

Awesome.

Thank you.

We will now consider the agenda and if there's no objections, the agenda will be adopted.

Hearing none, the agenda is adopted.

So welcome to session one of the public hearing for the interim legislation of House Bill 1110. I want to thank everyone for your attendance.

and engagement today, especially those online as well as the incredible staff and volunteers.

I know this was a lot of logistics today and really appreciate all the planning from our staff to the volunteers today as well to IT, our clerk's office, everyone.

This public hearing is specifically for us to hear community feedback on the amendments for the interim legislation.

There will be an opportunity for future hearings to provide comment on the comprehensive plan and permanent House Bill 11 legislation.

This coming public hearing is not dedicated to those pieces of legislation.

Remember today is just about the interim legislation of House Bill 1110. Today we have broken up into two sessions.

Session one is gonna be in at 930 will be reserved for remote Public comment registration started at 830 and it's going to remain open until 10 a.m.

Our goal is to get through all remote speakers during this morning sessions and recess around 1230 or earlier, depending on the numbers of registered speakers.

If we don't get through all remote speakers by 1230, then those remaining speakers will be recognized during our second session.

Session two will begin at 4 p.m.

and that's gonna be reserved for just in-person commenters and any remaining remote speakers.

Should there be any registration to speak in person, that will start at 3.30.

There will be registration, excuse me.

Registration to speak will begin at 3.30 at City Hall and it will remain open until 5.30.

So that's a two hour window for the in-person.

Members of the public who would like to provide public comment during either session, one or two must register before the deadline.

I wanna emphasize that this hearing does not have a registration I wanna emphasize that this hearing does not have a registration deadline.

If you wanna speak at today's hearing, you must register before the deadline.

Sorry, I kinda, let me back that up, that we do have a deadline.

And so the window for today closes at 10 a.m.

The registration for this afternoon closes at 5.30.

So there's a two hour window between 3.30 and 5.30.

It's not ongoing, it's that two hour window.

Will the clerk please read agenda item number one into the record.

Agenda item one, council bill 120969 related to land use and zoning implementing interim controls to comply with various state laws, establishing findings and adopting a work plan for permanent legislation for public hearing.

Awesome.

Thank you.

The public hearing on council bill 120969 is now open.

And clerk, how many speakers do we have registered?

We currently have 68 registered speakers.

Awesome.

Okay, each speaker will get one minute.

Clerk, can you please read the instructions for the public hearing?

The public hearing period for the session one will be moderated in the following manner.

The remote public comment will alternate between 10 sets of registered speakers and registered speakers from the February 5th hearing who are present.

If we do not hear all registered remote public commenters by 1230 p.m., we will pick up with the next set at the beginning of the in-person session starting at 4 p.m.

If you have not registered to speak virtually but would like to, please register before 10 a.m.

at the council's website.

Registration for the session ends at 10 a.m.

The council will recess after registered remote speakers have spoken.

If the council is not able to call on all speakers by 1230, those remaining speakers will be called on during the 4 p.m.

session.

Awesome.

Thank you, clerk.

So we're gonna go ahead and begin a public comment and as promised, and we kept our promise that we would honor those who were not able to speak at our February 5th public hearing due to the inclement weather.

And so our IT and our phenomenal clerk staff have all figured out, you know, who those people were based on the sign-in sheets that were online and also the ones that people did in person.

So I just wanna thank them because that was a large logistical task for people who signed up and for us to identify those folks.

And so now we'll open, we will begin the public comment period and we are going to start with those that we have identified who signed up on February 5th.

And I will go ahead and call those out.

Give me one second.

All right, awesome.

So first up is going to be JJ Bishop Burrows.

JJ Bishop Burrows, please press star six and following you will be Andrea Ostoviski.

I'm sorry, I messed up your name.

So JJ Bishop Burrows, please press star six and you can begin your public comment.

Hi everyone, my name is JJ and I'm a homeowner in Madison Valley and recently formed Free Madison Valley to defend our proposed neighborhood center.

Over 195 of my neighbors have signed Free Madison Valley's petition calling on City Council to expand our neighborhood center and add additional gentle density near the RapidRide G by improving the mayor's transit-oriented stacked flat bonus.

Specifically, we'll allow City Council to expand the stacked flat bonus to lots within a half mile of all RapidRide bus stops or within a quarter mile of another frequent transit bus stop.

Remove the 6,000 square foot lot minimum requirement, allow at least six units per lot, and add an exceptional tree height bonus to increase the height limit to four stories for stacked flats on lots that preserve a 15 by 15 foot untaped green space for an exceptional tree to be protected or large conifer planted.

Please unleash the potential of more affordable and accessible stacked flats near transit and encourage the market to build up, not out, to expand our exceptional tree canopy.

Thank you.

Thank you, JJ.

Next we have Andrea Ostrowski.

Andrea Ostrowski, please press star six and you may begin.

Hello.

Hello, council members, can you hear me?

Yes.

Thank you.

My name is Andrea Ostrovsky.

My family and I live in Madrona.

I'm a forest steward through the Green Seattle Partnership, and for more than 15 years, I volunteered my time organizing and leading work parties to help restore our city's urban green spaces.

I urge you, do not approve of the interim legislation as it's currently drafted for three reasons.

First, if it's enacted as it is, the interim legislation will harm trees and reduce green space by increasing lot coverage and reducing setback requirements throughout the entire city.

These changes are not required by HB 1110. Second, if enacted as is, the interim legislation will allow for increased development on steep slopes and slide prone areas.

Development on steep slopes is expensive, it's risky, and it doesn't lead to more affordable housing.

Third, there are already big changes for our city in HB 1110. The interim legislation goes way.

Thank you, Andrea.

Next we have Michael Brunner, Michael Brunner, followed by Deb Barker.

Go press star six, Michael.

Star six, Michael?

If not, we'll come back to you.

All right, we will come back, Michael.

Let's do Deb Barker.

Deb Barker, press star six.

Hello.

Are we good to go?

Yes, you're good to go.

I see you too, Michael.

So you'll be next.

Go ahead, Deb.

Hi, Deb Barker, president of the Morgan Community Association here in West Seattle.

Appreciate the opportunity to speak, which we didn't get to do back in February.

Morgan Community Association, appreciate the opportunity to make comments about Council Bill 120969. We support some of the amendments, potential amendments to how portions of lots with critical areas such as steep slopes and hazard areas are treated.

But with a huge caveat, and the last speaker mentioned that, remember that environmentally critical areas do not believe or follow or counsel property lines.

And sometimes it is just prudent to leave a whole environmentally critical area alone and not up zone it, as is in the case of the Morgan Junction area.

ECA combined with narrow inadequate infrastructure cannot always be fixed and we recommend that the council just avoid splitting hairs and not up zone areas that have those conditions.

Lastly, we have an exceptional 100-year-old tree and absolutely none of the modifications listed today would do anything

Thank you, Deb.

Next, we have Michael Brunner.

Michael Brunner.

Go ahead.

Press tar sex.

Can you hear me?

Yes, we can.

Hey, my name is Michael Brunner.

I am the treasurer of the Morgan Community Association.

With regard to the potential amendments, we recommend the following.

Modifications to fiscal development standards and tree protection requirements that require preservation of urban trees, such as the sectional tree on 48th Avenue Southwest that is in the proposed up zone area.

Modifications to FAR and density limits to encourage development of a broad range of middle housing options and designs, including stacked flats instead of just the poorly designed narrow three- and even four-story townhomes that are currently not suitable for aging in place.

Based on feedback from a December 2024 community meeting that we held, we urge improved outreach, improved consideration, of the existing core infrastructure and community services when upzoning and additional attention on the existing undeveloped blocks and opportunities in current upzoned areas.

Thank you for your attention.

Thank you so much.

Next, we have Joanna Cullen.

I don't see you present, but you were here on February 5th to sign up.

But once you become present online, we'll recognize you.

Thank you.

Next up, we have Deepa.

I'm gonna put your last name, Deepa.

And then next we have Riley Avron.

Hi, my name is Deepa Sivarajan, and I'm the local policy manager at Climate Solutions.

I'm also a lifelong West Seattleite.

Climate Solutions strongly supports the recommendations of the Complete Communities Coalition, and we call on council to pass the interim zoning ordinance without delay.

Ensuring that underserved communities can continue to live and thrive in their neighborhoods while Seattle's population continues to grow is necessary for climate justice, allowing them to adapt to the disproportionate impacts of climate change that they face and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions from transportation and housing.

Increasing clean, affordable housing near transit, while still protecting communities of color and low-income communities from being displaced, is key to Seattle's climate future.

Please pass the interim zoning ordinance without delay, and this summer we call on council to pass the full One Seattle plan to ensure a livable future for Seattleites.

Thank you.

Thank you, Deepa.

Next we have Riley Averon followed by Randy Banneker.

Press star six, Riley.

Good morning.

My name is Riley Avron, and I live in West Seattle.

I'm here to ask you to move quickly to pass this interim legislation and the boldest possible comprehensive plan, which was the most popular option during the three years of public outreach that has already occurred.

My landlord is in the process of raising my rent.

During our negotiations, he specifically cited the fact there are so few homes available for rent in West Seattle, which gives him the power to raise So it's frustrating when I hear some council members express doubt that housing prices respond to supply and demand when my landlord clearly understands that it does.

The interim legislation and comprehensive plan are key components of addressing our housing crisis and they are urgent.

Please pass the interim legislation promptly and get the first phase of the comprehensive plan passed this year as well.

Thank you, Riley.

Next, Randy Banneker followed by June Blue Spruce.

Randy Banneker, Chair Hollingsworth, members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to comment today.

My name is Randy Banneker.

I'm here on behalf of the Seattle King County Realtors.

We're in a housing supply crisis.

We don't have enough housing, and what we do have is unaffordable for most people.

The only path to greater housing affordability is to increase our housing supply.

And along those lines, we urge you to pass the interim ordinance without delay to allow a diverse range of middle housing types.

And then looking forward to the One Seattle plan, we hope that you'll accomplish this before budget.

Interm ordinance is only the first step.

We need a bold, comprehensive plan that enables more housing that will bring down the housing prices.

It will take more than the state minimum to solve this housing supply crisis.

Importantly, we can add housing in a manner that makes our neighborhoods and our city even more vibrant and more affordable.

Let's do it.

Thank you for your good work.

Thank you, Randy.

Next we have June Blue Spruce followed by Brittany Cox.

Hello, my name is June Blue Spruce.

I live in District 2 and I work with the Trees and People Coalition.

As we said in our letter last week, we urge you to adjust property setbacks in the current version of CB120969 to match the current code.

This would allow critical room for trees to grow.

The current setbacks in CB120969 are less than the state model code and open the door for even more devastating deforestation.

If you are unwilling to retain the current code at minimum, adopt the state model code setbacks.

We can achieve adequate space for trees and more homes without compromising setbacks.

As currently written, this legislation for however long it is in place will harm the tree canopy of our city and therefore endanger public health, community well-being, and our climate resilience as a region.

Even with Council navigating a compressed timeline, it's imperative that we balance development with the need for tree canopy.

Thank you.

Thank you, June.

Next, we have Brittany Cox, followed by Michaela Daffrin.

Hi.

We need to create both an innovative future that we want and need, a healthy city of dense, affordable housing with 30% tree canopy, clean groundwater runoff into Puget Sound, and climate resilience.

If we allow the proposed current planning to build a future without tree canopy, we may get a city with dense housing, but we will also get significantly contaminated urban water runoff, heat islands, and a decline in overall health, except in wealthier neighborhoods where they can afford trees.

We know there is a critical link to polluted groundwater runoff killing our southern resident killer whales and impacting our newly declared marine bull kelp forests of Washington state.

We acknowledge that we are on occupied indigenous land.

How is it that our city then feels it can decide the fate of the southern resident whales through failing to protect them with proper environmental considerations, such as tree retention that benefits all of us?

These whales are not just endangered, they are critical valued members of many indigenous tribes in the Pacific Northwest.

We need to be innovative about how we can have both a healthy environment and a flourishing city where everyone has a home and a healthy place to live.

Let's build the future we want, build up with stacked flats and shared walls.

95% lot coverage.

Thank you, Brittany.

And for the record, let that reflect.

And she joined a while ago.

Thank you, council member Rink for joining us.

Next we have Michaela Daffern and then followed by Joanna Cullen.

Hello, Council Members.

My name is Michaela Dafford, and I co-chair the Seattle Planning Commission.

Thank you for the opportunity to offer comments on behalf of the Commission this morning.

The Planning Commission recommends rapid passage of the interim legislation so that City Council can move forward with permanent legislation for middle housing, the comprehensive plan, and updates to the centers and corridors.

The Commission also recommends that the Council adjust the interim legislation to align density limits with the proposed permanent legislation.

Rather than allowing four or six units per lot regardless of size, the interim legislation should be adjusted to allow a density of one unit per 1,250 square feet.

This adjustment will make zoning for middle housing more efficient and better align with the proposed permanent legislation.

The timely implementation of permanent zoning legislation will help reduce confusion and delays for those who wish to build housing in an already challenging market.

We look forward to speaking with you again soon about permanent legislation.

Thank you, Michaela.

Next we have Joanna Cullen.

Hi.

Hello.

Thank you.

So anyway, I'm asking, I'm Joanna Cullen, and I live in the Central District.

So I'm asking you to please pass the setback amendment.

The current interim code reduces setbacks without adding space for retaining trees.

And we should not be paving over our urban forest with no plan for sustaining and building environmental and clean air resilience.

Council members who speak mainly for planting new trees without defending and expressing the value of existing trees have got it wrong.

We want housing and trees and passing this amendment won't affect our ability to build dense housing.

Environmental justice isn't about creating more heat islands and poor air quality for everyone.

It's about ensuring that all residents live in areas with a canopy.

Thank you, Joanna.

Next we have Howard Greenrich followed by Melissa Neher.

Go prep.

There we go.

Good morning, Chair Hollingworth and Dr. Member.

I'm Howard Greenwich, Research Director for the Puget Soundstage.

We need 60,000 new units of affordable housing by 2045, or Seattle will lose its working-class households and families, becoming the most exclusive city in the Pacific Northwest.

As such, we urge two amendments to the interim zoning.

First, areas in the city that are at risk of displacement should be exempted from the proposed zoning to let the rest of the city catch up with the density that they already have.

time other neighborhoods take on their fair share of affordable housing.

Second, new residential zoning should allow as much affordable housing as will fit anywhere else in the city, especially in areas that have excluded vendors through single-family zoning.

This means allowing the maximum affordable units on large lots, no matter how far they are from transit and no matter their next-door mansion.

This includes stacked flats, town homes, and all forms of affordable units.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Howard.

Next, we have Melissa, followed by Maria.

Thank you, council members.

I'm Melissa Kay Nair.

I'm speaking on behalf of AIA Seattle's 2,800 member community.

That's the American Institute of Architects of Seattle chapter.

We understand the time constraint imposed by HB 1110 and support swift passage of legislation this spring with targeted improvements in the future.

This initial legislation could include in the future stack flats Legalizing SAC flash near frequent transit without lot size minimum.

In the future, we'd like to see increased FAR.

That's adjust the floor area ratio for neighborhood residential zones to 1.6 FAR for four units to truly unlock missing middle housing production.

Eliminate parking requirements near all frequent transit, not just in urban centers.

Please create flexible, affordable housing bonuses for accessible bonus programs for non-profit, private, and social housing developers.

And retain and expand neighborhood centers like North Queen Anne and Loyola Heights to promote walkable service bridge communities.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next, we have Maria Bataiola.

And just for the record, once you hear a ring, you still have 10 seconds.

So don't stop.

You continue to have 10 seconds.

That's just a little timer.

Maria, followed by Deb Lester.

Good morning.

Good morning, Chair Hollingsworth, Vice Chair Solomon, President Nelson, and members of the Select Committee.

And of course, you're also part of the Sustainability Committee.

My name is Maria Batiola and I chair the Beacon Hill Council.

We thank you very much for your hard work.

We've sent in our written comment.

In short, as a tree desert neighborhood with 70% people of color and 40% immigrants and refugees, we respectfully ask for equity's sake that you replace the regressive tree preservation language in the interim comp plan, but either the current code or the Washington state code.

We thank you for listening to us, and we look forward to a positive response.

Thank you, Maria.

Next, we have Deb Lester, followed by Galen Ward.

Hi, my name is Deb Lester, and I live in Maple Leaf.

I support an increase in affordable and middle housing.

However, the proposed interim ordinance goes well beyond the minimum requirements of HB 1110. I agree with Councilmember Kettle's amendment to retain 25 setbacks in Queen Anne.

However, this amendment should apply to all neighborhood residential areas and not just affluent neighborhoods.

10 or 15-foot setbacks are inadequate for trees, especially large conifers.

20-foot setbacks are critical in areas like Napoli for the right-of-way is too narrow, less than two feet, and sometimes non-existent.

To support the street trees, the city's policy claims will mitigate canopy loss from development.

This 20-foot setback will not impede development of middle housing, but allows space for trees that provide ecological value and treat the overall purview surface area.

As with much of the comp plan and proposed zoning changes, the mayor's ordinance prioritizes developers and not his constituents.

I urge you to amend your ordinance to meet the minimum needs of HB 1110 and conduct a more thorough analysis before developing the final legislation.

Thank you.

And just for the record, just want everyone to know that we did complete the backlog of people that signed up online who are present from February 5th.

And now we're moving on to the people that have signed up, uh, currently, if you are, um, just wanted to state that for the record.

So we have moved and work through the backlog.

Thank you so much.

Next we have Galen Ward followed by Evan.

Show cups.

Good morning, counsel.

Uh, hello.

Good morning.

I urge you to quickly pass this interim plan and to move forward to pass an ambitious plan that will let more people call Seattle home.

The biggest threat to Seattle's tree canopy, according to the city's own study, is the construction of single family homes.

Middle housing is conducive to our climate and housing goals.

Let's follow the research.

To be viable, stacked flats need small setbacks.

We have room for open space to accommodate trees.

So let's keep front setbacks at three feet or even less or being ambitious a height bonus so that they're economically viable and we need to allow stack flats on smaller lots so they can build it be built in more neighborhoods and lower cost lots to make them more affordable thank you thank you next we have evan followed by craig walker good morning council and i'm a north seattle homeowner located in an rsl zone

A nuanced definition of dwelling area has prevented me and my family from building our new home for the past three years, even after approval from a paid coaching session with SDCI.

An opportunity presents in Amendment 6, the Council Bill 120969, which updates Municipal Code Section 234417 to include RSL zones in the same category of density allowances as neighborhood residential zones.

The update allows up six units to be built if the lot is within a quarter mile of a major transit stop.

It does not, however, address Section 234418, which limits the net dwelling area in RSL zones defined as a cumulative calculation to 2,200 square feet or 344 square feet per dwelling at the max unit.

Please consider amending Section 234418 to align with the city's intent of increasing density with realistic size family housing units.

This can be accomplished by removing the cumulative definition of net dwelling area or increasing the 2200 limit to a number that considers the new allowances purposes.

Thank you.

Thank you, Evan.

Next we have Craig Walker followed by Nancy Lichter and it's 10 a.m.

so registration is closed for public comment for our online first session.

Craig followed by Nancy.

Go ahead and press star six, Craig.

We see you online.

You just press star six to unmute yourself.

We'll go to Nancy.

We'll come back to you, Craig.

We'll go to Nancy.

Nancy, press star six.

Just press star six, Nancy to unmute yourself.

Hi, Nancy, we can hear you.

Hi, I'm Nancy Lectera, Maple Leaf resident.

I want to thank Council Member Moore for her support and comments about thoughtful density as well as the entire council for all their work in this process.

I'm sharing my concerns along with a dozen other Seattle neighborhoods who have come together regarding the proposed changes.

The city's proposed interim legislation, which is not required by state law, goes beyond implementing HB 1110. And this impact is alarming.

It would cut setbacks in half for the whole city from 20 feet to 10, which is significant climbing tree canopy.

Second, it increases block coverage, resulting in even more existing free removal.

And thirdly, it raises the building height by two feet and reduces sun exposure, et cetera.

My ask is for the people to apply logic and implement the minimum HB 1110 with no changes to setback, block coverage, or building height, allowing for software

Thank you, Nancy.

Next we have Craig Walker.

We'll come back to you.

Press star six, unmute yourself, followed by Steve Zemke.

Can you hear me?

Yes.

Hi, Craig.

Good.

It works this time.

Thanks.

Good morning, Chair Hollingsworth and members of the committee.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment this morning.

My name is Craig Walker and I'm a state director for Washington Realtors.

And today I'm representing Seattle King County Realtors.

I've been proud to call Seattle and vicinity my home for all of my 65 years.

I was actually born at Swedish on First Hill 65 years ago today, and I'm still here.

I care deeply about the city, both the neighbors I grew up with and the people who are coming here hoping to build a life.

But without bold action, Seattle is becoming a place fewer and fewer people can afford.

That's why I urge you to pass the interim zoning ordinance now to allow a more diverse range of middle housing options in our neighborhoods.

And after that, please adopt the full one Seattle plan before budget season.

We need more than the bare minimum if we're serious about solving this crisis.

We can grow in a way that keeps our communities vibrant and makes room for everyone.

Let's make it happen now.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you, Craig.

Next we have Steve Zimke followed by Caroline Ullman.

My name is Steve Zimke.

I'm speaking for TREPAC and Friends of Seattle's Urban Forest.

I'd urge that you only do minimal changes now required as required under House Bill 1110 and look at other changes to be considered in the final comp plan.

We support maximizing housing and maximizing tree canopy at the same time.

Keep the current setbacks of 20 feet in front and 20 feet in the back to allow more space to retain and plant trees.

Allow SDCI to ask for alternative site designs if it would save more healthy trees.

Bend and remove the basic tree protection area cannot be modified that's in the SMC 2511. Require all street trees projects in projects, including ADUs, require street trees for all those projects.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Caroline Ullman followed by Shawn Kemna.

Hello, I'm Caroline Ullman.

I live in Maple Leaf along the recently designated Greenway where the mayor wants to build up to six-story apartment buildings.

Today I'm testifying about something else that doesn't make sense, CB120969 interim legislation.

The city's proposed interim legislation goes well beyond the minimum requirements of HB 1110 and was written per staff's April 11th memo to give developers maximum flexibility.

What about your constituents?

The interim legislation boosts building heights by two feet, cuts in half space for trees along the street, and increases overall lot coverage.

We all want trees and thoughtful density that produces affordable housing types and encourages community, but the interim legislation fails on all counts.

Please, preserve existing setbacks, building heights, and long coverages, and protect our trees.

Thanks for the opportunity to share my views this morning.

Thank you, Caroline.

Next, we have Sean Kemma followed by Sol Villarreal.

Hello.

Good morning.

My name is Sean Kemena.

I'm a residential architect who's been working in Seattle for over 20 years and a resident of West Seattle.

I'm here today to express my support for quickly adopting the interim ordinance without delay.

I believe it's a thoughtful step towards addressing the affordability crisis in our city.

In my professional work, I've seen how the rising costs of construction makes it harder and harder to deliver projects that are truly affordable.

And while they've gone up significantly, the construction costs have gone up significantly, but one of the biggest barriers we face is access to land.

It's possible to build more than one home.

I believe this ordinance gives us flexibility to create different types of homes in areas where we've long been restricted.

These aren't radical ideas.

We've had these kinds of housing for a long time that can help create affordable choices for people at different stages of their life.

As architects, we're ready to help make that growth work well with good design and livable spaces that can address housing density and the natural landscape of our city but we need these policies thank you sean next we have a soul followed by ryan talen soul villarreal

Good morning, council members.

My name is Sol Villareal, and I'm a realtor in Seattle working primarily with first-time home buyers.

For many of my buyers, the first home that they buy in Seattle will also be the last one they can afford.

The housing ladder that many of us were able to access is broken because we stopped building the middle rungs of that ladder a decade ago.

Seattle desperately needs more family-sized houses, backflats, and other townhome alternatives for median-income families.

Those are exactly the types of housing that the one Seattle plan will allow throughout the city.

On behalf of my clients, I urge you to pass the interim ordinance without delay and to pass a bolder version of the mayor's full One Seattle plan before you get into budget season this year.

Each of you has the power to help solve this big housing crisis.

I just ask that you put it to good use.

This is not the time to do the bare minimum required by state law.

Thank you.

Thank you, Saul.

Next, we have Ryan Talen followed by Aline Fortgang.

Good morning, council members.

My name is Ryan Talon.

I'm a resident of Capitol Hill and a registered nurse at Harborview Medical Center.

Seattle faces twin crises, unaffordable housing and climate change.

The solution to both lies in bold, smart growth, not sprawl.

Every home we fail to build in our city pushes development outward, destroying forests, increasing emissions, and deepening the inequality of our city.

Seattle must first act now by passing the interim housing ordinance, delays fuel displacement and sprawl, Second, pass the full one Seattle plan before Seattle's for the summer recess, prioritizing dense transit-rich neighborhoods to protect our region's ecosystem, and lastly, rejecting false choices.

We can house people and safeguard our environment by building sustainably within city limits.

Crawl isn't inevitable.

It's a policy failure, and we have the tools to prevent it.

Upzone, near transit, streamline green construction, and reject our dependent expansion.

Don't kick this to the fall.

The climate and thousands of rent-burdened families can't wait.

Lead with urgency.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ryan.

Next we have Eileen Fortgang.

Hello, I'm Eileen Fortgang, and I'm on the board of Humane Voters of Washington, a constituent in District 5. I'd like to ask, what will this council's legacy be?

Will it be leafy tree-lined streets welcoming pedestrians?

Or will it be uninviting, barren hardscapes devoid of greenery?

Will your legacy be streets softened by the presence of trees or lifeless, paved-over stretches of concrete?

Will your legacy be streets with natural shade or sterile, sun-scorched hardscapes?

Or will your legacy be green corridors or countless heat islands?

Please reconsider interim legislation, CB120969, and adjust setbacks to match the state model code of a 15-foot setback for single units and a 10-foot setback for three units or more.

This will allow space for tree-lined streets.

Please do this.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next, we have Cheyenne followed by Peter Reese.

Good morning, Chair Hollingsworth and members of the committee, and thank you for the opportunity to comment today.

My name is Cheyenne Gulli, and I am president-elect of Seattle King County Wilders, and I'm proud to be a wilder.

Seattle was in a housing emergency.

People are being priced out, not because they don't want to live here, but because they can't afford to.

We're simply not building enough homes.

If we want to preserve a livable, equitable, and thriving Seattle, we must act now to increase housing supply.

That means removing barriers, Updating outdated zoning and making it easier to build more of every kind of housing, especially in your jobs, schools, and transit.

This crisis won't solve itself.

It's time for bold pro-housing leadership now.

In that spirit, we urge you to pass sign-room ordinance without delay to allow diverse range of middle housing types in residential neighborhoods.

Then adopt the full one Seattle plan before budget.

Sign-room ordinance is only the first step.

We need a bold comprehensive plan that enables more homes of all types to be built.

It'll take more than that state minimum to solve our housing supply crisis.

We can build a Seattle that works for everyone.

Thank you, Cheyenne.

Next we have Peter Reese, followed by Matt.

Good morning, council members.

My name is Peter Reese, District 3 resident, and thanks for the brief opportunity to speak with you.

I'd like to reiterate my request that you adopt interim legislation that satisfies the requirements of HB 1110, but does not go any farther in altering current land use regulations.

As you've heard from testimony and learned from your own reading, the legislation that OPCD brought forward is simply a rewrite of their proposed permanent legislation, and it fails to adequately address the issues of displacement, affordability, tree protection, protection of environmentally critical floats, and thoughtful setback regulations.

enacting interim legislation that is truly interim and that does not accidentally grandfather unintended development rights will allow you the time and space to do this properly and it will send a strong message to OPCD and the executive that their work is not yet done.

This is a great opportunity to do density right.

You should grab it and understand that the proposed legislation in front of you is not a step in the right direction.

Thank you.

Thank you, Peter.

Next we have Matt followed by Richard

Hi, my name is Matt Bork and I'm from the Ballard neighborhood.

I'm here to speak today about the interim zoning ordinance.

The state passed HB 1110 so that cities could better join the fight against housing affordability from a supply side standpoint.

And look, I know supply side economics isn't the silver bullet, but at the moment, it's what we have to work with before we decide to nationalize everything.

So in my experience, we really need to be doing this so that

You're still good, Matt.

We can still hear you.

Okay, we'll come back to you, Matt.

Sorry about that.

We'll come back to you.

Hi, Richard.

We have two Richards.

Hello, this is Richard Ellison.

I'm a District 4 homeowner And I have been trying to protect trees in the city since the 1990s in front of Jan Drago and the Urban Forest Task Force.

The interim legislation that's proposing to reduce setbacks to zero feet or 10 feet is really kind of an outrageous giveaway to the development community.

We are already removing so many of our large trees.

We can build taller.

We can protect our trees.

seeing 60 inch and 40 inch diameter giant redwoods and western red cities being cut down because developers say we don't have to we don't want to we're not going to if the city council does not stand up and protect these trees they are going to be lost forever if you build 10 foot setbacks and five foot setbacks and zero foot setbacks there will be hard scale there forever for the rest of the city i urge the city council to do all that it can to protect trees on.

Thank you, Richard.

Next we have Richard Newman, followed by Jerry Stanton.

Press star six, Richard.

Just press star six to unmute yourself.

We'll come back to you, Richard Newman.

Next we'll have Jerry Stanton.

Jerry, press star six to unmute yourself.

Richard Newman, we'll come back to you.

My wife and I live in Madrona.

At your March 28th meeting, Council President Nelson asked the question, how is frequent transit defined?

As frequent transit occurs extensively in the comp plan collateral material, significantly 27 times in the environmental impact statement, it is the FAQ.

That has correctly answered the question, frequent transit is our code for parking requirements, meaning bus routes with weekday service every 15 minutes.

However, I respectfully submit you got a correct answer to the wrong question.

Better questions then than are today.

Why is frequent transit not included in the definition of major transit stop?

HB 1110's key criterion to allow six middle housing units within a quarter mile and to eliminate off-street parking within a half mile of major transit stops.

O'Connor, when actually realized their transit resources didn't coincide with the definition, contacted the Department of Commerce for guidance who allowed them to modify the definition of their respective ordinances.

I respectfully ask that the council consider including frequent transit area.

Thank you, Jerry.

Next we have Richard Newman.

We see you online if you press star six to unmute yourself.

Star six.

Is Matt Bork back online?

Matt, you were cut off.

We wanna make sure you get your full comment period.

No.

Richard, star six.

We'll come back to you, Richard.

We see you online.

Star six.

Once you get that, we'll get you going.

We're going to go on to Garrett Nelson, followed by Allison Bradywood.

Garrett Nelson, go ahead and press star six, my friend.

Thank you.

Chair Hollingsworth, members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to comment today.

My name is Garrett Nelson, president of Seattle King County Realtors.

I'm here to represent over 6000 Realtor members and their clients across the county, many of whom live in Seattle, live and work in Seattle.

Seattle is in a housing crisis.

People are locked out of housing because of lack of supply has made it unaffordable.

To end the crisis, we must enable more housing to be built.

In that spirit, we urge you to pass the interim ordinance without delay to allow a diverse range of middle housing types in residential neighborhoods, then adopt the full One Seattle plan before budget.

The interim ordinance is only the first step.

We need a bold, comprehensive plan that enables more homes of all types to be built.

It will take more than the state minimum to solve our housing supply crisis.

We can add housing in a manner that makes our neighborhoods and our cities even more vibrant and more affordable.

Let's do it.

Thank you for your good work.

Thank you, Garrett.

Next we have Allison Bradywood followed by Jessica Dixon.

Hi, Allison.

Go press star six.

Good morning.

Can you hear me?

Yes, now we can.

Allison, good morning.

Good morning.

For the record, I'm Dr. Allison Bradywood, a Montlake resident for the past nine years.

I'm testifying today in opposition to the interim legislation requesting the council instead keep to House Bill 1110's mandate for middle housing compatibility with single-family homes.

As a nurse, I have tremendous appreciation for the legislature and the City Council's focus on supporting equity in housing and access to transportation.

We do need to increase density in urban corridors, particularly those with transportation access.

That said, the proposed ordinance vastly exceeds recommendations included in House Bill 1110 related to lot coverage, setbacks, and building height.

This bill outlines the comprehensive plans must include a housing element that ensures the vitality and character of our established residential neighborhoods.

I would ask the council to preserve our neighborhood character by adding density without reducing 20 foot front yard setbacks or increasing building height.

Most importantly, this forward building developer interests leading to unaffordable housing.

Thank you, Dr. Brady-Wood.

Next we have Jessica Dixon followed by...

Oh, Matt's unmuted.

Hold on, Jessica.

My bad.

Matt, you're unmuted.

Matt, let's go back to you.

Matt Bork.

Sorry you got cut off there.

No, that's my fault.

I apologize.

I was on a walk, dropped my phone.

Again, I just want to say that I support the interim zoning ordinance.

The state passed the bill so that we can better join the fight against housing affordability, and Seattle really needs to be leading the way.

The fact that other cities in this state are doing more expansive zoning than we have right now is pretty embarrassing.

And listen, again, I know supply side economics isn't the best, but kind of what we have to work with.

I've benefited from such policies.

You know, during my time in Minneapolis, there was a bunch of new housing going up and I was paying $800 for a studio.

That would be a dream here.

And young people like me really need that dream to happen.

So right now I would really encourage the city to up zone as much as possible and get that.

Thank you.

Thank you, Matt.

And enjoy your walk.

Jessica Dixon.

Hello.

Can you hear me?

Yes.

Good morning, council members.

My name is Jessica Dixon and I live in district six.

Without the following amendments, both the One Seattle Plan and the current tree ordinance will result in a net loss of tree canopy citywide.

Amendment CB 120969 to keep the current setbacks, amend it to keep the current setbacks of 20 feet in front and rear instead of 10 feet in front and 10 feet in back or zero feet in an alleyway.

These reductions will not allow sufficient place to retain or plant those trees.

Amend the Seattle Tree Protection Ordinance Section SMC 2511-70 to remove the provision that the basic tree protection area cannot be modified during development.

The International Standards of Arbiculture and SMC 2511-130 say it can be modified.

This provision is a bullseye on all our remaining large trees in residentially zoned areas of the city, the areas with our greatest share of trees.

Allow the Seattle Department of Construction inspections to ask developers for alternative site designs to save existing healthy trees are possible and create designated tree planting areas.

Thank you, Jessica.

Next we have Kevin Kilbet followed by Conard Stein.

Hey, Kevin.

Morning.

Yes, we can hear you.

Good morning.

Good morning, thank you for the opportunity to comment on this discussion.

I want to ask the council to adopt the measure for increasing housing, and I want to encourage that we do it immediately.

And then last summer, we also adopt the A1 Seattle plan.

I also want to encourage the council to look into waiving and be able to encourage more housing.

and that's hard on, enable housing to be adopted.

In terms of the setback, I think tools, to allow tools in the DCI and the permitting format so that we can be able to still get a win-win and have the flexibility to be able to increase housing and still have some kind of coverage for housing.

And also I think it's important also to remove the loss size, to ensure that Um, missing that will be spread all over the city.

Thank you.

Thank you, Kevin and Richard.

I still see you online.

Are you able to press star six?

No worries.

If not, we'll keep you posted, uh, right there and we'll come back to you.

Star six, unmute yourself.

All right.

Next we have Connor Stein followed by Jacob.

Hi Connor.

Welcome.

good morning council my name is connor stein i'm a renter living in fremont and i'm asking you to pass the interim ordinance without delay this ordinance does the bare minimum to comply with hb 1110 and we can't afford to wait any longer quick passage of the interim ordinance will allow council to focus on adopting a bolder version of the full one seattle plan before summer recess council must move swiftly and decisively to adopt a vision for our city that allows more homes in every neighborhood our housing shortage requires much more than the bare minimum We need to allow dense multifamily housing off of toxic polluted arterials.

We need to build up, not out by aligning our land use code with our single stair building code to preserve tree canopy and build daylit family sized stacked flats close to parks and schools.

We need small setbacks, shared walls, greater density, height, and FAR bonuses, and no minimum lot size for stacked flats in neighborhood residential zones.

We need more city in the city.

We're in a crisis.

Our government is destroying our institutions.

Climate is irrevocably changed and our neighbors are living on the streets.

Our city needs to step up to make Seattle home for all who wish.

Thank you, Connor.

Next we have Jacob Abriz.

And this is a call for Bruce Hall.

You're not present, but you're next.

So Jacob Abriz.

And go ahead and press star six, Jacob.

Did I get it at that time?

Okay.

Good morning, everyone.

My name is Jacob Avery.

I'm a renter here in Seattle, specifically Northgate.

I'm speaking today in favor of a setback amendment for the comprehensive plan.

As a low-income renter, I fervently believe in the value and urgency of the One Seattle plan.

This said, I also recognize that with the interim bill as is, we're in a situation where we won't be able to put the genie back in the land.

The plan makes insufficient allotments for green space, especially trees.

As someone who lived in Southern California for many years, I can tell you that LA County, as a Mediterranean climate is Much cooler than the desert in Riverside County where I lived.

I can also tell you that downtown L.A.

was just as hot as the desert I came from most days.

This far north, our summers can get many hours of sun, further exacerbating the issue of so-called heat islands.

We will feel it as we go to our commutes to Pike Place and most anywhere around town.

And again, we're not going to be able to put the genie back in the lamp.

There won't really be an opportunity to mandate this green space later.

We have to get it right the first time.

Thank you.

Thank you, Jacob.

Next, we have Susan Burnett.

followed by Ruth Hooper, Susan.

Yes, my name is Susan Burnett and I'm a retired Seattle secondary teacher.

And I want to say that we desperately need housing that is for moderate income folks, but to allow 95% of a lot to be covered by buildings and pavement is an obscenity.

We need vertical flats with green space around them.

We need little trees planted on public and private land, and they are a nod to the future, and that's great, but it takes decades for trees to grow, and that is if they are maintained.

We need to preserve our mature trees.

Homeowners spend thousands of dollars maintaining their trees.

We live with trees because we do not want to be surrounded by conflict.

The last Last Friday, much to our neighborhood shock, the log cabin cedar was cut.

The tree was easily 80 to 100 years old.

It's on the boundary of two properties.

And it was being assessed.

In my opinion, this was a rush to judgment.

And the SDCI arborist should be removed from that department.

We needed it.

Thank you, Susan.

Next, we have Ruth Hooper.

And then we'll come back to you, Richard, and see if you got star six.

Hi, Ruth.

Good morning.

I'm Ruth Hooper.

I'm a homeowner in Rainier Valley, and I urge the council to pass the setback amendment.

We can have both housing and trees.

Climate change is real.

It's happening fast and faster, and trees make a dramatic difference in the ability of the residents of a neighborhood to survive a heat wave or a flood.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ruth.

Richard Newman, star six, are you able to do that?

We'll pause and we'll keep going and try to get you on.

All right, next we have Robert Morgan followed by Robin Briggs.

We don't see Robert Morgan, so we have Robert Briggs.

Press star six.

You're off mute.

Can you hear me?

Yes, we sure can.

Loud and clear.

Great.

Thank you.

My name is Robin Brakes.

I live in Capitol Hill.

I support the request of the connected community.

And sorry, I'm not finding my notes here.

You know, I think it's a big equity thing for more housing.

If more people can choose to live in the city, that's a good thing, specifically in parts of the city with quiet streets.

More housing will have economic benefits as there will be more people for local businesses and more people to work many of the jobs that now require hours of extra driving time.

And the reduced driving time will also help reduce free and a half gas emissions.

We need more housing because without it, more and more of us are ending up on the losing side of an increasingly desperate battle for something that used to be basic and achievable, a place to live.

We can't get back to a path where fewer people wanted to live here.

We can only choose whether to greet more neighbors or live in an increasingly exclusive onslaught.

Thank you.

Thank you, Robin.

Next, we have Ingrid Denter, followed by Thomas Robinson.

Robeson.

Ingrid, go ahead and press star six.

I'm Ingrid Dinter, Council Bill 120969. Collectively, we, the citizens of Seattle, understand that more affordable housing is needed, but it is shameful how the mayor's comprehensive plan to address housing supply and affordability has been driven by developer interests.

Do not pass the interim legislation.

Keep instead HB 1110 mandates for middle housing compatible with single-family houses.

The city ordinance, you are voting on changes these standards and exceeds what's required by state law.

The 20-foot front yard setback has been a consistent feature of Seattle's neighborhood for over 100 years.

It's the infrastructure for the city's white, cool air, shade, and protection against the danger of increasing high temperatures due to climate change.

It will be more important in the future since no more parks are added.

HB 1110 does not require the city to change lot coverage.

Thank you, Ingrid.

Next, we have Thomas Robeson followed by Judith Benditch.

Thomas, I don't see you online.

We'll come back.

Judith Benditch followed by William Waldman.

Hello.

Hello.

Hi.

Hi.

I have written you a letter.

It has six parts to it.

which I can't cover today, that please adopt Kathy Moore's amendments.

Please actually do some legislation on the tree ordinance to protect our trees, and I've sent those out in the letter.

Add the full definition of middle housing, which contains the word compatibility, for example, and it's never been included, and it needs to be included.

It's mandatory in the Department of Commerce's example.

and adopt at this time only legislation required to enact HB 1110 and defer everything else.

This is complete overreach by OBCD.

Also, adopt your own amendment, Council Member Hollingsworth.

And...

You still have 10 seconds, Judith.

What?

I'm sorry, I didn't...

For some reason, I was cut off.

OK.

And I'd also think it would be wise to include for displacement those areas in the city that you will be getting to that really should not be upzoned at all.

And this is permissible under HB 1110 for 25%.

Thank you so much.

Next, we have William Waldman, followed by Lariska.

William Waldman, go ahead and press star six.

Two comments.

One is we all know of cities and parts of cities that have density entries.

So we know we know And secondly, it's a very, very, very good bet that developers live in neighborhoods with trees.

So why shouldn't the rest of us please do the right things in council?

Thank you.

Thank you, William.

Next we have Larissa.

Followed by Whitney.

Hi, thank you.

This is Larissa Wonserski, a longtime West Seattle resident.

I was alarmed to learn recently that Seattle is in the top five nationally for urban heat islands.

That's not a good statistic.

And also that about a thousand trees have been removed so far this year.

I think that's unacceptable.

WTF.

I moved here because I thought the region in Seattle cared about the health of our planet.

As others have pointed out, fair, affordable housing and trees are both achievable.

So please pass the setback amendment to add poor space for trees.

It's the right thing to do.

Thank you.

Thank you, Larissa.

Thank you for your acronym as well.

Whitney Rarick, followed by Irene Wall.

Go ahead and press star six, Whitney.

You might be on mute as well.

We'll come back to you, Whitney.

We'll go Irene Wall, star six.

My name is Irene Wall, a resident of District 6 and a lifelong Seattle resident.

As drafted, Council Bill 120969 goes well beyond what is required of jurisdictions under House Bill 1110. Allowing additional density is not the same as requiring it or bending over backwards to make it happen on every lot, regardless of size or locational characteristics.

at least maintain the existing setbacks in all NR zoned areas.

This is the only way to save existing mature trees and provide adequate space for new trees on redeveloped lots.

If we really want to incentivize the construction of duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes, called the so-called middle housing, then go back in time to when we actually zone specifically for these types.

There's no need for sandal to go over density.

since H Bill 1110 was intended to spur other cities in King County who are not meeting their obligations to provide new housing.

Seattle does not need...

Thank you, Irene.

Next we have, I know we have Ruby Holland, but before, let's go Whitney.

I don't know if you can press star six to unmute yourself.

I will move on and move on to Miss Holland.

Hi, Miss Ruby Holland.

Go ahead and press star six.

This is Ruby Holland.

The recently passed last fitting bill will help working class homeowners obtain cash to fully embrace HB one one one zero and help with growth by converting to a duplex or triplex or creating a basement ADU.

Homeowners beware, allowing Harold's master builders to create million-dollar ADUs in your backyard may tax you out of it, so choose wisely who you sell half of your land to.

Mayor Harold uses upzoning to steal lots for working-class homeowners in Seattle, CD, to give to the rich oligarchs that he's recruited to Seattle.

Absent a solid anti-displacement plan, he is likely to continue that practice with a comp plan.

Therefore, I'm begging you to release the CD from Blue Arrow's Reign of Terror and suspend all further upzoning in the CD.

Allow us to work with HB1110 like every other neighborhood in Washington State.

Thank you, Ms. Ruby.

Next we have Judith Waldman.

Judith Waldman, followed by Lang Reynolds.

Go ahead and press star six.

We see you online, Judith.

Go ahead and press star six.

All right, we'll come back to you, Judith.

We'll go to Lang Reynolds.

Lang Reynolds, go ahead and press star six to unmute yourself, Lang.

Lang is not present.

So we're going to go keep chugging along here and we will come back to those who might have issues with Preston Star 6 to see if we can get you off mute.

Let's go to Rick Kingel.

I apologize for messing up your last name.

Hi, Rick.

Hello.

Hi.

I wanted to say that It's pitiful that documents created by OPCD and SDCI on this topic have been lacking a revision date or even a version number.

Is it your recommendation that we go to Olympia to get that fixed?

Why not?

The private equity lobby has gone to Olympia, disenfranchising us by passing their agenda there.

You seem unaware that this kind of overreach into local policy has been driving people to Trumpism and defunding governments, and that the impacts of that have been massive, especially for the most vulnerable.

Please tell Olympia that you are now opposed to them passing bills for the private equity lobby.

And if they want a job in local politics, then they know where to go.

Please employ better documentation practices and create a city neighborhood council to bring people together to engage in a far more intelligent way than these public comment monologues.

Having OPCD as middleman for engagement doesn't work either.

as they have a conflict of interest and they withhold from you the scientific proof that the policies of the private equity lobby are neither scientifically sound nor compassionate.

Thank you.

Thank you, Rick.

And Judith or Whitney, if you press star six, either one, we can get you all going with public comment.

Judith Waldman, star six.

We got Whitney.

We see you offline.

We see you.

Hey, there she is.

Hi, Whitney.

Hey, thank you so much, and sorry about not being able to hop on a second ago.

My name is Whitney Rierke.

I live in Queen Anne, and I just wanted to say I fully support not just the interim zoning ordinance, but also the full One Seattle plan.

And I want to make sure that I know that you're hearing a lot from people in Queen Anne, and I'm just going to say it's not everybody who lives in Queen Anne.

believe that we should bring up the drawbridge behind us.

A lot of us want more neighbors, and we think density is the way to do it.

We also believe that that's the more environmentally friendly way of doing housings with density.

And we live in a terrific neighborhood, and it's only right to share that rather than shut it down and make it only for rich people.

So please support the full One Seattle Plan and the internal ordinance.

Thanks.

Thank you, Whitney.

Judith Waldman, we still see you online.

You press star six.

If not, we'll come back to you.

All right, we'll give you some more chances.

Sanjay Kotopali, you are next, followed by Charlotte Sherbert.

Hi, Sanjay.

Go press star six to unmute yourself.

You might be muted, Sanjay.

We do see you off mute, but you might have your phone on mute.

We cannot hear you.

Sorry about that.

Now we can.

Hi, my name is Sanjay and I'm a PhD student at UW.

As the Puget Sound region continues to grow in population, if we don't provide enough options for people to live in Seattle near transit stops and without requiring a car, the endless urban sprawl of the suburbs will inevitably threaten even more of our region's forests.

This means mass clearing of trees in favor of endless networks of roads and surface parking to accommodate the never ending appetite for space the cars demand.

I call on city council to immediately pass this interim legislation and look towards strengthening the full comprehensive plan.

The state government just passed a few bills that effectively removed parking limits for nearly all multifamily buildings that drastically increased minimum density near transit stops, which goes much further than the current bill.

Transit oriented development is the only way forward.

I ask the question, why is our city government being outdone with regards to urban policy by the statewide government?

Thank you, Sanjay.

Just a reminder, when you hear the buzzer, you still have 10 seconds.

It's just a little reminder.

Charlotte Sherbert, you can go ahead and press star six.

Press star six, Charlotte.

Go ahead and press star six and we can't hear you just yet.

I also see Judith Waldman, if you press star six so we can try to hear you for your public comment.

If not, we will come back to both.

All right, we're gonna go with Rita Hayes.

Rita Hayes, press star six to unmute yourself.

Star six, unmute yourself, Rita.

Okay, Rita, we will come back to you.

We will come back to Charlotte and we'll come back to Judith.

Next we have, we're going to go to Lori.

Hi, Lori.

Press star six.

Press star, sex.

Hey, Charlotte got it.

Hi, Charlotte.

Oh, thanks.

Yeah, I have to use my regular different keypad.

Okay, I am a longtime resident of Malt Lake, and I am pro-density.

Malt Lake is a key central neighborhood close to transit and employment hub.

It is critical to add more housing here.

The neighborhood also has a lot of green space and access to lakes.

The current plan is not tailored to the geography of the neighborhood.

Mott Lake offers the opportunity to build taller apartments along green areas like the Arboretum and Interlaken Drive, and even near the lake.

Building along these areas offers the opportunity to do something that Seattle generally does not, which is prioritize building along green spaces instead of arterials.

Critically, this approach offers a better environment for new people moving in, especially for children.

In addition, the current plan does not even prioritize density near the hefty light rail station, instead concentrating it a half mile away.

I urge you to slow your roll and consider other options to increase in density.

Look at other plans and take the time to vet them.

Thank you all for your service.

Thank you, Charlotte.

Rita Hayes, we see you're off mute.

Yes, hi.

Can you hear me?

Sure can.

Okay, thank you.

Hello, my name is Rita Hayes.

I'm a lifelong Seattle resident and I've lived in Wedgwood since 1984. Growing up in Seattle, I knew that I lived in a city of great natural beauty with a world-class park system, outstanding public schools in vibrant and distinct neighborhoods.

Today, I am asking the city council to not go beyond House Bill 1110 and to amend Council Bill 120969 as follows.

One.

Remove the proposal to allow 50% lot coverage under 2344010. Remove the changes made to height limits under 2344012. Remove all changes to setbacks under 2344014. Finally, I ask the City Council to enact design standards that require new development to match the scale and character of the existing neighborhoods.

Thank you.

Thank you, Rita.

And I see Lori, you're offline.

I mean, you're online, but off mute.

Can you hear us?

Hi there.

Yes, hello.

My name is Lori Vetti.

I live in District 4, and I'm a member of the Maple Leaf Community Council.

We in Maple Leaf respectfully request that the zoning legislation be modified so that the tree retention is a high priority.

The City of Seattle has stated a goal of increasing its tree coverage by 30%, yet developers are removing trees from all tiers of the regulated tree categories.

They justify their removal of trees and building nearly edge-to-edge on the property by suggesting that the removed trees will be replaced.

Any established tree cannot be replaced by a sapling, especially heritage trees, trees 24 inches at DSH, and tree groves.

These trees have been growing and contributing to clean air, heat reduction, wildlife habitat, and livability for our residents for decades.

Please retain the previous setbacks and mock coverage to save our green canopy.

Thank you.

Thank you, Lori.

Judith Waldman, are you able to press star six?

And I also see Robert Morgan is present.

He will be next.

Robert Morgan.

Do you press star six?

All right, Robert.

Can you hear me now?

We sure can, Robert.

Thank you.

Good morning, Chair Hollingsworth and committee members.

The interim ordinance, it must be clean of additions that go beyond what is required for HV 1110. I'll focus on amendments related to major transit stops.

The definition of major transit stop is broader than the definition of HB 1110. It adds stops that are merely funded or projected within a six-year transit plan.

Those stops are too speculative to be the basis of permanent development implications.

Walking distance should be as measured along improved public pedestrian facilities at grade by walkable at all groups.

That needs to be defined and not as the crow flies as some maps have shown.

Stops and bus route operated by sound transit, that needs to be defined as part of the definition At least one stop at North 72nd and Linden Avenue North provides no service to downtown Seattle within a quarter-mile walking distance.

Please require that there be a stop accessing downtown within 150 feet of any stop to be considered a major transit stop.

And the term frequent transit service area is used to trigger reduced parking requirements for congregant residents.

That should be eliminated.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Next we have Judith, key press star six.

We'll come back to you.

If not, we'll keep rolling here.

Judith Waldman, star six.

Next we're going to do Joseph Santana.

Hi, Joseph.

Press star six.

Hi.

Hi, everyone.

My name is Joseph Santana.

I work at Duomas River Community Coalition for District 1. I'm really working in the South Park and Georgetown neighborhoods.

The Duans Valley is a community made up of predominantly people of color, indigenous communities, and immigrants.

I manage an asthma and air pollution program there.

The current interim plan and tree ordinance, I think, would really cause, and as many people have noted, an irreversible loss of critical tree canopy in high-impact areas, especially urban industrial areas of Powell Park in Georgetown.

I urge the council to keep the 20-foot setbacks and protect green-facing communities who need it the most.

We must also protect our old evergreen trees that provide the most protection from heat and air pollution.

I also recognize that density protects the environment by preventing suburban sprawl and greatly reducing vehicle miles traveled.

I think that we can do both.

We can protect our trees and increase density, especially in areas that are the hottest like in South Park in Seattle.

Thank you, Joseph.

Next we have Wasik Mohamed.

Wasik followed by Douglas Lind.

Wasik Mohamed followed by Douglas Lind.

Hi.

Good morning, Council.

My name is Wasik Mohamed and I'm a new homeowner between Stevens and Capitol Hill.

My home search was incredibly difficult, but I got lucky.

Capitol Hill's density meant I could move from an apartment to a townhome without leaving my neighborhood.

Most people in Seattle aren't that lucky.

Friends and peers are being priced out because we haven't built enough homes.

The lack of density in most of the city is a major reason why.

We need more housing everywhere, no exception.

Density supports affordability and is one of the best things we can do for the environment.

Cutting emissions, car use, and sprawl.

Some have proposed increased setbacks in the name of tree preservation, but blanket rules like the Queen Anne Amendment undermines our housing goals.

This should only be considered on a case like a basis to preserve mature, large trees, not as a backdoor way to oppose density, making things worse for the environment.

Pass the interim ordinance now, and after that, pass the Boulder version of the One Seattle Plan with greater FAR, higher height limits, and more density.

Remember that even Bellevue has gone further than we have.

Thank you.

All right, awesome.

Thank you so much.

We had people call into the office just now, cause they don't know where they are on the list.

So I'm gonna actually read the remaining speakers so people can be ready.

Cause there's a number of people not present towards the end and they might have thought that they had a little longer.

So I'm gonna go ahead and read those who are our next speakers.

So right now we're gonna, next we have Eric Rose.

We have Dan Howes, and I apologize if I am messing up your last name, please forgive me.

Blame my head, not my heart.

Douglas Lind.

We have Rebecca Dietz.

We have Mia.

Ayala Marshall.

We have John Kroger.

We have Thomas Kamarski.

We have Leo Kitchell, Bonnie Williams, and we also have Brad Corey.

Those are the next speakers listed.

And I'm also going to go on to the people that are not present, okay, that did sign up.

So maybe you'll come back to us.

Bruce Hall.

We also have Richard Newman.

We have Thomas Robinson.

We have Aiden Thornsberry.

We have Arthur Doros.

We have Paulina Lopez.

Judith Waldman.

Lang Reynolds.

Connor Cohn.

And that's it.

So we're gonna begin with Eric Rose.

Well, Eric, you're not present, but so I'm calling on, y'all are up.

Eric Rose, Dan Howes, Douglas Lynn, Rebecca Dietz, Mia, John Crosher, Thomas Kumarski, Leo Kitchell, Bonnie Williams, and Brad Cohee.

So right now we're going to go to David Haynes.

You are present, David Haynes.

Press star six.

Next up we'll have Eric Rose.

Hi, David.

Hi, thank you, David Haynes.

The city council can be noble with the legislative pen and be a revolutionary leader throughout the nation if you simply take off the restrictions and sabotage the comprehensive plan.

That's going to cheat multitudes of younger generations needing a better choice in home and real equity without arbitrary numbers purposely limiting housing units to appease sellouts who already got their home and want to take advantage of the supply and demand squeeze to further oppress the working class with low-quality housing developments.

Proving Seattleites who already got theirs are purposely conspiring to deny everyone else their need for a better choice at home.

You know, I'm going to have to defer my, or yield the rest of my time.

I have a pressing issue.

I'm going to have to try and finish this later.

Thank you.

Goodbye.

Thank you, Mr. Haynes.

Next we have Douglas Linde, but next up is really Eric Rose and Dan Howes.

You all are not present, but we're gonna go to Douglas Linde.

We'll come back to you.

So Douglas Linde, star six.

Hi Douglas, go ahead and press star six.

We see you online.

Thank you for being here.

If not, we'll go to Mia Ayala Marshall.

Hi Mia, go ahead and press star six to unmute yourself.

Hi, can you hear me?

We sure can.

My name is Mia Ayala Marshall, and I work at the Duwamish River Community Coalition from District 1, the communities of South Park and Georgetown.

The Duwamish Valley community is made up of predominantly people of color, indigenous communities, and immigrants.

Under the current interim plan, the highest number of renters will be displaced with new and less affordable housing produced, and the greatest benefits will instead be reserved for moderate-income households seeking to access the home ownership market and associated wealth generation opportunities.

Residents who persist are likely to see their cost of living increase.

In South Park, where the average number of people per household is higher, the average proportion of low-income households is higher, and residents are at a persistent risk of displacement.

Housing solutions proposed in the OSCP are extremely lacking in equity and well-being for all.

The only alternative that prioritizes genuine citywide equity is Alternative 5, and we request that the comp plan be amended to adopt Alternative 5's policy to put the City of Seattle in full alignment with

hospital one one one zero thank you for the opportunity to provide comments awesome thank you Mia next we have John Crosher and then followed by Leo Kitchell Leo Kitchell you're on deck hi John hi uh thank you I'm uh I have degrees in architecture landscape and planning I live in Fremont our living environment is not just about stark boxes that's just bad design

Density and green space are not mutually exclusive.

The current plan is bad for trees.

We need to have setback and make use for the room.

The trees are a vital part of the livability of Seattle.

It's sad that money is the only language that some people understand, but in that vein, Michigan State University has determined that in 50 years, a single tree generates $31,000 of oxygen production $62,000 of air quality and pollution control, $32,000 of erosion and control in soil fertility, $37,000 of water treatment, and that's in 50 years.

As a single intervention, trees reduce flooding, stabilize soil, boost biodiversity, and reduce crime, producing the oxygen that we breathe, removing 22,000 kilograms of CO2 in a year.

Thank you.

Thank you, John.

Next we have Leo Kitchell followed by Bonnie Williams.

Hi, Leo.

You're gonna go ahead and press star six to unmute yourself.

Hello, my name is Leo Kitchell.

I'm a resident of Madison Park and I've lived in Seattle for 25 years.

Seattle has a housing crisis and a crisis demands more than a minimum response.

A crisis demands more than doing the legal minimum.

A crisis demands action today and ongoing evaluation rather than a two-year study and delayed implementation.

Please take bold action today to address our housing crisis, pass the interim ordinance without delay, and adopt a bolder One Seattle plan before the summer recess.

Council members, please rise to today's challenge.

Act with urgency to build a Seattle that works for everyone.

Thank you.

Thank you, Leo.

Next we have Bonnie Williams, Bonnie Williams, and then we'll go back to Douglas Lind.

We see that you're present.

Hello.

Hello.

Now we can hear you.

Okay.

Good morning, I'm Bonnie Williams.

I'm a D4 homeowner.

HB 1110 will not bring affordability, and it's a false narrative.

We do need more density, but CB 120969 is overreached by OPGV.

I'm asking...

Hello?

Yes, we can hear you.

Hello?

Hello.

We can...

Okay.

I'm asking...

I'm asking.

Excuse me.

Hey, Bonnie.

Yes, I'm going to continue.

We're going to hold on.

Hold on, Bonnie.

We're going to go ahead and start your time over.

OK, there's like a disconnect with the technology.

So just give us one second.

We're going to go ahead and restart your time.

OK?

OK.

OK.

You ready?

Yes.

All right, awesome.

OK, I'll start over.

All right, thank you.

Bonnie Williams.

I'm a D4 homeowner.

Yes.

OK.

OK.

Hi, Bonnie.

Okay, I'm here.

It's just that I'm hearing an echo from the TV.

So I guess I need to turn that off.

Yeah, go ahead and turn off the TV, Bonnie.

Okay, I turned it off.

Okay, perfect.

Yes, their timing is different.

Okay, so I'm saying that CB120969 is overreached by OPCD.

I would like some things removed, which would be to not change the lot coverage from 35% to 50% in our zone.

I would also like it changed that the height limits remain at 30 feet, three story, not going to 32 feet, just another bonus for developers.

Also, the low rise one needs to stay at 30 feet, which is where it is now.

Also remove the front setbacks from 20 feet to 10 feet.

We don't want that.

Thank you.

Thank you, Bonnie.

So right now I'm going to go and read the names of all the people that are not present that have signed up so we can get one last call for you all to give public comment.

So we're going to go down the line.

I'm going to read your all your names and hopefully we can get you all present so you can give your public comment before we end our remote session.

So we have Douglas Lind.

Douglas Lind.

And I'm gonna read everyone's name twice.

We also have Richard Newman.

Richard Newman, you are present.

And if you can get star six here, then we can get you going on your public comment.

We see you.

Can you press star six for us?

Hi, Richard, just press star six.

We're gonna come back to you.

We're gonna read the rest of the people's names.

Bruce Hall, Bruce Hall, you are not present, but you are signed up.

We also have Thomas Robinson, Thomas Robinson.

You are signed up, but not present.

Please come.

Two public comment.

We have Aiden Thornsberry.

Aiden Thornsberry.

Next, we have Arthur Doros.

Arthur Doros.

We have Paulina Lopez.

Paulina Lopez.

We also have Judith Walden.

We see that you're present.

There you go.

Hi, Judith.

Oh, finally.

Okay, here I go.

You won the lotto.

I'm speaking a little differently.

I come to you as a tree.

Here's what I do for you as a tree.

I keep your breathing air much cleaner.

This is for you, your family, your friends, your neighbors, and all others living in this beautiful city.

Many others need all the clean air they can get.

They suffer in many ways.

I, a tree, understand that we need more housing in this beautiful city.

Keep me and my other trees in place and plant new ones.

You have been building affordable housing for quite a while.

This is what you need to do in the future.

My neighbor trees in Portland have reported good progress with good setbacks with trees.

I keep you cooler and truly more physically comfortable during heat waves.

Finally, I and all my other tree companions are beautiful.

You and all your other people need us for calm and solace.

in this difficult world.

I ask each of you to use your heart, your conscience, and your intelligence.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Judith.

What a beautiful tree you are.

Thank you.

Next, we have Lang Reynolds.

Lang Reynolds.

You are not present, but you are signed up.

We also have Connor Cohn.

Connor Cohn.

Eric Rose.

Eric Rose.

You're signed up, but you're not present.

We have Dan Howes.

Dan Howes.

Also, we have Douglas Lynde.

We have Douglas Lynde.

Also, we have Rebecca Dietz.

Rebecca Dietz.

You are signed up, but not present online.

Rebecca Dietz.

Next, we have Thomas Kuzmaki.

Thomas Kuzmaki.

You are signed up, but not present.

And next, we have Brad Koury.

Brad Koury.

So we've called everyone's name twice.

Last but not least, we have Richard Newman.

We see you online.

Press star six.

Go ahead and press star six to unmute yourself for your public comment.

Star six, Richard.

We see you online.

Richard Newman, star six.

There we are.

Can you hear me?

Yes, we can hear you, Richard.

Hello.

Hi.

Good morning.

Thank you.

I'm a 25-year resident of northeast Seattle.

I have several comments today on behalf of the Thornton Creek Alliance, a nonprofit based in North Seattle.

We support increasing housing density while balancing this effort with environmental and climate objectives.

First comment, we support Councilmember Hollingworth's Amendment 2, Second comment, we're prepared to support a pending amendment by Councilmember Kathy Moore for more protection, more tree protection under the circumstances of development when this amendment becomes available.

Comment three, regarding the proposal that, quote, density on lots with environmentally critical areas would be reduced and portioned to percentage of lot that contains ECAs.

We do not support this idea.

ECAs must retain normal required buffer zones in all cases.

Supporting salmon requires a healthy waterway.

and habitat for their prey.

A forested buffer zone is integral to that.

Flexibility with ECAs today is not necessary for increasing housing, and it could result in permanent loss for wildlife, for watershed functions.

And lastly, setback proposals risk encouraging too much impervious coverage.

Thank you.

Awesome.

Thank you, Richard.

So we have a couple of things we've gotten through.

Everyone who signed up for public comment on February 5th, who did not get a chance to speak, you were prioritized to be at the beginning.

So we heard from you all and just wanted to state that for the record that we got through that.

So thank you to our technology team, my RT, our clerk's office, and also our volunteers for cross referencing those names to make sure that we heard and prioritize those people.

We also got through all of our public commenters here.

I still see the list of people that have signed up, but they are not present.

And we have called you throughout the meeting.

So thank everyone for signing up today.

And if there is no objection, the select committee on the comprehensive plan will be in recess until 4 p.m.

for our in-person public comment period on interim legislation for House Bill 1110. Hearing no objections, we will be in recess until 4 p.m.

Thank you.