by Jon Lisbin

The Seattle City Council is considering massive upzones in the University District as the first implementation of it's "Inclusionary Housing" strategies throughout the city.

Truth is, if I was Mayor, I may have taken the same approach. Put together a panel of experts and stakeholders to come up with strategies to address Seattle’s affordable housing crisis. Unfortunately, that’s where intelligence ended and corruption began. The composition of HALA (Housing and Livability Agenda) Committee was heavily weighted toward developers and their interests.  The resulting skewed report was biased towards special interests.

I know, at this point you are saying “another conspiracy theorist”. However, the facts behind my assertion are quite compelling.  Maybe I can speak in a language city officials are familiar with?

1. Whereas, of the 65 HALA strategies there are few if any recommendations that actually address livability, ie. “No L in HALA”
2. Whereas the City Council is focused on only one HALA strategy; upzoning?
3. Whereas the city’s set asides that developers are required to contribute towards affordable housing, pale compared to other cities.
4. Whereas government intervention of market forces, intended to help the poor with housing, has historically failed.
5. Whereas, impact fees that would potentially moderate development, add value to neighborhoods, and encourage developers to pay their fair share; are not being considered

​Therefore, it is evident that the city has divested its responsibility to truly help the affordability crisis and instead is contributing directly to it!
​
I know the train has left the station. I know it would take true courage to stop it now. I ask that our city leaders have that courage!

* Seattle's current plan calls for 3 - 8% Set Asides, significantly below other major cities, but not set yet.

​This attachment from  the CNC Land Use  Committee  was sent to Rob Johnson the Land Use Chair on City Council prior to the Sept. 15 hearing on the 2035 comp plan. The 24 page document summarizes recommended changes in each section of the comp plan to be considered before passage of the 2035 comp plan at Full Council Monday, October 10. 
 
You are encouraged to email your comments in support of proposed changes as selected from the attached document or just endorsement of the entire document before October 10. The recommendation is to vote no on the passage of the 2035 plan until more essential recommendations from the CNC document are incorporated into 2035 comp plan.  
 
There will be opportunity to oppose passage at the Full Council meeting Oct. 10.  Bonnie

So according to the Seattle 2035 Development Capacity Report, "Based on current zoning, DPD estimates that the city has development capacity to add about 224,000 housing units."  According to the HALA website, Mayor Murray wants to add 50,000 housing units in the next 10 years.  So there's plenty of capacity with current zoning to meet that goal, right?