U District Upzone Comment Period to City Planners EXTENDED to July 15th

Contact Councilmembers!
These documents were released in draft form on May 27, 2016, and the Seattle Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD) is inviting community feedback before finalizing the drafts and sending them on to the City Council and Mayor for formal adoption. 

Project Documents 
Director’s Report - This document gives background on the planning process and explains the draft proposal in detail. 
Draft rezone map - This map shows where zoning would change under this proposal.
Draft ordinance - Proposed code language contains the technical details about development standards, affordable housing requirements, historic preservation incentives, and other policy issues.
Rezone analysis  (Appendix C to the Director’s Report) - This provides a detailed, area-by-area discussion of how the rezone fits the City’s rezone criteria. 
 
Please email comments to udistrict@seattle.gov or mail to Dave LaClergue, Office of Planning and Community Development, 700 5th Ave, Suite 1800, Seattle, WA 98124.
Summary of Actions to Take re: U District Upzone Proposal
 
Continued...

• Spread the word to as many people as possible to sign Livable U District Position Statement at www.LivableUDistrict.com .
• Comment to OCPD before July 15 on the draft Ordinance, as noted above.
• Contact Seattle City Council and Mayor Murray and ask them to oppose the proposed U District upzones until the following is done:
  • Require a risk analysis for all proposed low income redevelopment and provide mitigation for those being removed.
  • Provide one to one replacement when low income rentals are removed.
  • Require landlords to disclose rent they charge in their annual City report, and use this information to prepare an inventory of existing affordable housing in the U District.
  • Support the policies in the Solutions to Seattle’s Housing Emergency.
  • Impose impact fees on new development so developers pay their fair share and the public doesn’t bear the increased infrastructure costs.

For more on Concerns and Action: U District Upzone Concerns & Actions Handout
More on the problems caused by U District upzones see: Impacts of Upzoning on Housing Affordability in the University District
 

Even though city planning staffers are inviting comments on their draft documents, it is very important to let your elected officials know what you think. 
 


Feel free to send a version of this sample comment or craft your own.

I am opposed to the proposed upzones in the University District. The University District is a historic and unique neighborhood that deserves to be protected.
 
The city should require a Displacement Risk Analysis and Affordable Housing Inventory to be done for the U District and for each neighborhood prior to considering upzoning.

I support Livable U District’s call to immediately suspend plans to upzone the University District until the following measures are adopted: require developers to pay impact fees, develop a traffic and parking mitigation plan, develop a meaningful anti-displacement strategy that includes one-for-one replacement of low cost housing, develop a historic preservation plan for landmark buildings, increase public open spaces, increase protections for trees and the natural environment, and improve homeless services.
Councilmembers on the Planning, Land Use & Zoning (PLUZ) Committee 

Rob Johnson, Chair  206-684-8808
rob.johnson@seattle.gov                    

Mike O’Brien, Vice Chair  206-884-8800                
mike.obrien@seattle.gov                    

Lisa Herbold, Member                                   
206-684-8803                                     
lisa.herbold@seattle.gov                     

Lorena González, Alternate               
206-684-8802                                     
lorena.gonzalez@seattle.gov               

Other Seattle City Councilmembers:

Bruce Harrell 206-684-8804
bruce.harrell@seattle.gov

Kshama Sawant  206-684-8016
kshama.sawant@seattle.gov

Debora Juarez  206-684-8805
debora.juarez@seattle.gov

Sally Bagshaw  206-684-8801
sally.bagshaw@seattle.gov
 
Tim Burgess 206-684-8806
tim.burgess@seattle.gov

Mayor Ed Murray                            
206-684-4000                                     
http://www.seattle.gov/mayor/get-involved/contact-the-mayor
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