Category Archives: Land Use

WCC June 3 Meeting Reminder — Comp Plan Update & Two Bills to Watch

📝 A Note from the President

Hello, Wallingford! I’m honored to have been elected President of the Council for the 2026–2027 term. I’m grateful to Bonnie Williams for her years of capable leadership, and I look forward to building on her work — advancing our initiatives, expanding our voice at City Hall, and deepening community ties for everyone who lives here, between the lake and the lake, from the freeway to the speedway.

Please join us on Wednesday, June 3 to meet the new board, and to get the latest on the Comprehensive Plan Phase 2 “Centers and Corridors” rezoning proposals. With the final Public Hearing set for July 23, the window to make your voice heard is closing — come learn how to use it.

— Alexis Chartouni, President

📅 Reminder: WCC Monthly Meeting — Wednesday, June 3

Wednesday, June 3 · 7:00 PM
Room 202, Good Shepherd Center (4649 Sunnyside Ave N)
Topic: Phase 2 “Corridors and Centers” map update, ahead of the July 23 Public Hearing.

🏙️ Comp Plan Phase 2: Where Things Stand

The City Council is finishing its review of the Phase 2 “Centers and Corridors” rezone maps. The proposals — first released as online maps in October 2024 — would change zoning for thousands of individual lots citywide, including many along Wallingford’s frequent-transit corridors (the #31/#32 and #62 bus routes) and within the new Tangletown Neighborhood Center. The June 3 meeting will cover the latest from the Council’s May 14 committee session (the May 28 session was canceled) and how to weigh in before the hearing.

Public Hearing: Thursday, July 23 · 9:30 AM (morning & afternoon sessions)
Committee review: Thursday, July 30 · 9:30 AM
Possible final Council vote: Wednesday, August 5

Full background is in our May 2026 newsletter. Check your property’s proposed zoning on the One Seattle Plan zoning map. Council contacts and how to comment: seattle.gov comprehensive plan.

⚠️ Two Bills to Watch — Limited Time to Comment

Two related zoning bills are moving quickly, with little time for public input:

CB 121196 — “Housing Opportunities.” Would allow significant building-height increases and spot rezones in several areas, including Fremont/Stone Way, Belltown, Downtown, the U District, Madison-Miller, and Rainier Beach. The Land Use & Sustainability Committee voted on May 20 to advance it to the full Council, with a vote expected June 2.

CB 121215 — rescission of SEPA appeal rights to the City Hearing Examiner. Would exempt the environmental reviews (EIS) tied to Comprehensive Plans, Comp Plan amendments, area-wide rezones, and zoning-code amendments from appeals to the City Hearing Examiner — removing the public’s main formal way to challenge an inadequate environmental impact study. A Land Use Committee public hearing is set for Tuesday, July 1, with chances to comment on June 3 and June 17 (9:30 AM, Land Use Committee).

Make your voice heard. Email your councilmember — for Wallingford, District 4’s Maritza Rivera (maritza.rivera@seattle.gov); for Tangletown and South Green Lake, District 6’s Dan Strauss (dan.strauss@seattle.gov) — along with Land Use Chair Eddie Lin (Eddie.Lin@seattle.gov) and Mayor Wilson (mayor@seattle.gov) to oppose removing the public’s right to appeal environmental reviews (CB 121215).

🗓️ Save the Date: Annual Waterway Walk — Sunday, June 14

Sunday, June 14 · 2:00 PM
Meet at the Wallingford Steps (south end of Wallingford Ave N, across from Gas Works Park)
~1-hour tour of the waterways along the north shore of Lake Union. Optional happy hour after at Ivar’s Salmon House.

💧 Waterway 20 Update

On Tuesday, May 26, WCC held Waterway 20 Community Meeting #2 at Ivar’s Salmon House, continuing the push to reopen Waterway 20 to public access on Lake Union. Slides from the April 8 and May 26 meetings are on our Shoreline & Environment page. Questions or want to get involved? Contact Shoreline Committee Chair Ted Hunter (shorelines@wallingfordcc.org).

🌿 Join or Renew Your Membership

Membership keeps WCC independent and effective. Join or renew at wallingfordcc.org.

See you Wednesday, June 3 at 7 PM, Room 202, Good Shepherd Center.

WCC May 2026 Newsletter — Phase 2 Comp Plan Update & New Board

Dear Neighbors,

📝 President’s Message

Thank you to all who attended the Tuesday, May 5, 2026 7 PM WCC Annual Board Election Meeting. It was a pleasure to hear from our keynote speaker, Assistant Police Chief Tyrone Davis. We had a large crowd, including Wallingford Chamber of Commerce business owners who connected directly with the Seattle Police Department after recent burglaries along 45th.

A/C Davis took a wide range of questions. Among the highlights:

  • The Community Service Officer program is restarting, with 24 CSOs assigned across the five Seattle precincts (no badges, no guns) to handle a variety of non-emergency police business.
  • 103 police recruits are in training (one-year program), though A/C Davis acknowledged the ongoing shortage of officers in Seattle.
  • The Seattle motorcycle police force is preparing to escort dignitaries and athletes for the FIFA World Cup (mid-June to mid-July), with help from other jurisdictions to absorb the expected 800,000 visitors.
  • A new community engagement program, “Our City, Our Safety,” will rotate monthly between precincts. The next session is Monday, July 7, 6:00–7:30 PM at Bitter Lake.

More info: SPD Blotter — Our City, Our Safety 2026

Assistant Police Chief Tyrone Davis at WCC meeting
Assistant Police Chief Tyrone Davis addresses WCC members at Good Shepherd Center, May 5, 2026.

🗳️ Board Election Results & Transition

Thank you to our dedicated outgoing board from the past two years: Ted Hunter, Mark Johanson, Matt Hallett, Mary Hodder, Margaret Holt, Jen Ring Perez (one year), and Bonnie Williams (President). Bonnie is the only member leaving the board after two terms as President and ten years of WCC involvement. She will help with the summer transition to incoming President Alexis Chartouni and prepare the board for the fall.

Alexis brings significant Building and Land Use knowledge to the role. Thank you also to Miranda Berner (past President), who remains involved year-round and served as Nominating Committee Chair for the May 5 election.

Newly elected board, joining President Alexis Chartouni:

  • Mark Johanson — Treasurer
  • Matt Hallett — Secretary / Tech & Communications
  • Margaret Holt — Vice President
  • Jen Ring Perez — At Large
  • Larry Bush — At Large (begins September 2026)
  • Michelle Hamilton — At Large (begins September 2026)

At the May 20 board meeting, the President will appoint the Shoreline Committee Chair and the Gasworks Park Committee Chair. No WCC meetings are scheduled in July or August.

Outgoing 2025-2026 WCC Board
Outgoing 2025–2026 WCC Board. Back row (L–R): Mark Johanson, Mary Hodder, Matt Hallett. Front row (L–R): Jen Ring Perez, Bonnie Williams, Margaret Holt, Ted Hunter.
Incoming 2026-2027 WCC Board
Incoming 2026–2027 WCC Board. L–R: Matt Hallett (Secretary), Mark Johanson (Treasurer), Larry Bush (At Large), Alexis Chartouni (President), Jen Ring Perez (At Large), Margaret Holt (Vice President), Michelle Hamilton (At Large).

🏙️ Comp Plan Phase 2 — Where Things Stand

When can you expect final decisions on future land-use map rezoning by City Council district under Phase 2 “Corridors and Centers” of the Comprehensive Plan? What are the remaining opportunities to use your voice and influence the Council before the scheduled August 5 final vote?

Join us Wednesday, June 3 at the WCC meeting for the latest news from the May 14 and May 28 Select Committee (Full Council) meetings, and to prepare for the Public Hearing scheduled for Thursday, July 23 at 9:30 AM.

The City Council has a revised Select Committee schedule for May–August (see below). The Council will review maps by neighborhood and decide zoning categories for thousands of individual Neighborhood Residential (NR) lots citywide. The controversies center on the massive proposed change from NR (3-story / 32-foot maximum) to Lowrise 3 / 5-story apartment heights — a plan that has been contested by many neighborhoods since the online map proposals first appeared in October 2024.

In Wallingford and Tangletown, NR lots targeted for rezoning to LR3 / 5-story are either on a local bus route (“corridor”) or within the boundary of one of 30 new neighborhood “centers”. Specific locations include:

  • Wallingford: #31, #32 bus routes along N 40th, Wallingford Ave N to N 35th, and N 35th to Stone Way
  • Tangletown: #62 bus corridor from N 50th to N 56th on Meridian

OPCD and Council have purposely excluded neighborhood voices by voting down a 2025 amendment that would have required mailing rezone notifications to property owners by address. Each neighborhood is unique — different street widths, historic properties, layouts, and density already absorbed from 2019 upzones. OPCD is short on customer service to its property-owner tax base. Seattle is now more dependent on residential property tax payers than on its commercial property tax base, as so many commercial properties remain vacant (especially downtown, per King County Tax Assessor John Wilson in 2025). OPCD priorities — and Mayor Katie Wilson’s (see Seattle Times editorial on closed-door meetings) — appear to favor developers and newcomers without real concern for preserving the character of family neighborhoods like Wallingford, or for scaling back the predominantly LR3 / 5-story one-size-fits-all approach.

Double-check your property’s proposed zoning category: One Seattle Plan Zoning Map

Background on Wallingford and Tangletown rezoning: April 2026 WCC Newsletter

📅 Phase 2 Council Meeting Schedule (Revised)

Public Hearing moved from May to July; June meetings cancelled.

Date / TimeMeeting
Thursday, May 14 — 2:00 PMSelect Committee
Thursday, May 28 — 2:00 PMSelect Committee (amendments may be published before this date)
Thursday, July 23 — 9:30 AMPUBLIC HEARING (morning + afternoon sessions)
Thursday, July 30 — 9:30 AMSelect Committee
Wednesday, August 5 — 9:30 AMPossible Final Vote on Phase 2

Council contacts, background, and how to make your voice heard: seattle.gov/council/topics/comprehensive-plan

Seattle Times editorial on Mayor Wilson’s April 22 closed-door meeting (“Taller, Denser, Faster”): No more closed-door City Hall meetings on Seattle growth strategies

📅 Upcoming WCC Events

  • Tuesday, May 26 — 4:00 PM · Waterway 20 Grant Community Meeting #2 · Ivar’s Salmon House (4:00–5:30 PM)
  • Wednesday, June 3 — 7:00 PM · WCC Monthly Meeting · Room 202, Good Shepherd Center · Topic: Phase 2 “Corridors and Centers” map update ahead of the July 23 Public Hearing
  • Sunday, June 14 — 2:00 PM · Annual Shoreline Waterway Walk · Meet at Wallingford Steps · ~1 hour, optional happy hour at Ivar’s Salmon House after

🙋 Join or Renew Your Membership

Your membership powers WCC’s work on land use, transportation, public safety, and shoreline stewardship. Join or renew at wallingfordcc.org.

See you Wednesday, June 3 at 7 PM in Room 202 at Good Shepherd Center.

We Want Housing That Works for Families — City Council Needs to Hear From You

Growing Our Neighborhoods — and Getting It Right

What proposed zoning near Neighborhood Centers & Transit Corridors could mean for Wallingford & Tangletown

Seattle is growing, and neighbors broadly agree: we need more housing.

But the decisions being made now will shape what kind of housing gets built — and whether Seattle continues to support family‑sized homes alongside studios and one‑bedroom apartments.

Why family‑sized housing must be part of the plan

Many neighbors support adding housing, including increased density near transit and shops. What’s missing from current proposals is a clear commitment to encouraging family‑sized housing — both rental and ownership.

  • No requirements or incentives for family‑sized homes in proposed Lowrise 3 (LR3) zoning
  • LR3 zoning most often results in studios and one‑bedroom units, because these maximize financial return under unlimited density
  • When zoning strongly favors small units and removes limits on unit count, larger homes with multiple bedrooms are less likely to be built

Seattle invests heavily in schools, parks, libraries, and neighborhood amenities. Residents want zoning choices that align with those investments by making room for households with children and multi‑generational families — not just smaller households.

What’s already been approved — Phase 1

On December 16, 2025, Seattle City Council passed CB 120993, permanently implementing Washington State’s HB 1110 Middle Housing law as Phase 1 of the One Seattle Plan.

This already added substantial housing capacity across Neighborhood Residential (NR) zones (formerly “single‑family”):

  • 4–6 homes on most residential lots
  • Duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, townhouses, cottage housing, and stacked flats
  • Increased flexibility near major transit
  • Subdivision options that allow ownership or shared land ownership

Seattle already has citywide opportunities for modest‑scale, family‑oriented housing growth.

What’s being decided now — Phase 2

City Council is now considering Phase 2 zoning legislation (March 19 – June 18, 2026) focused on:

  • Neighborhood Centers (30 citywide)
  • Frequent transit corridors
  • Expanded Lowrise and Neighborhood Commercial zoning

Two public hearings:

  • Monday, April 6
  • Thursday, May 29

Why Wallingford & Tangletown neighbors are concerned

Wallingford transit corridors

Along frequent bus routes 31, 32, and 62, proposals would rezone over 30 blocks of current Neighborhood Residential streets currently zoned NR — those facing Meridian Ave N, N 40th Street, Wallingford Ave N, and N 35th Street — from NR to Lowrise 3 (LR3) zoning.

These blocks currently support 1–2 story homes, duplexes, small 2–3 story apartments, courtyard‑scale housing, and sixplexes. Under proposed LR3 zoning, these same lots could be redeveloped with:

  • 5‑story apartment buildings
  • No limit on number of units
  • 80% lot coverage
  • 5‑foot front setbacks

The concern is that existing family‑sized homes and apartments could be replaced with predominantly studio and one‑bedroom units, without encouraging 3-4 bedroom units, reducing opportunities for families to live along these corridors.

Tangletown Neighborhood Center

In Tangletown, Phase 2 proposals would:

  • Eliminate all Neighborhood Residential zoning within the proposed Neighborhood Center
  • Rezone roughly 400 residential lots from NR to LR3
  • Allow 5‑story buildings adjacent to 1–2 story homes
  • Remove unit caps and significantly reduce shared outdoor space

The result could be the loss of existing family‑sized housing without creating comparable family‑friendly replacements.

This isn’t about saying “no” to growth

It’s about aligning growth with community needs. Residents across Wallingford and Tangletown support more housing near shops and transit, reducing sprawl and car dependence, and welcoming new residents citywide.

What they’re asking for is intentional zoning that supports both smaller households and families, rather than zoning that strongly encourages studios and one‑bedroom apartments by allowing unlimited units per lot to maximize building yield.

Is there a middle path? Yes.

Neighborhood Residential (NR) zoning offers a balanced approach — designed to add housing while supporting everyday neighborhood life:

  • Encourages stacked flats and family‑sized homes
  • Allows 3–4 story buildings (height cap at 3 stories, with a stacked‑flat exception up to 42 feet / approx. 4 stories)
  • Maintains front setbacks and 50% lot coverage for daylight, trees, gardens, and social space
  • Includes unit caps, making family‑sized homes more feasible
  • Supports growth while keeping neighborhoods welcoming and livable

Community members support retaining NR zoning in Neighborhood Centers like Tangletown and along neighborhood‑scale transit corridors where buildings are currently 1–3 stories. This approach allows Seattle to add homes without losing family‑friendly housing choices.

Why speak up

These decisions are being made now. Hearing from residents who support housing growth thoughtfully helps the City Council make better choices.

A short email, phone call, or public comment makes a difference!

How to make your voice heard

1. Show up

Attend the Monday, April 6 City Council meeting at City Hall and sign up to speak.

  • Online public comment sign-up begins at 8:30 AM
  • In-person public comment starts at 2 PM and typically runs past 6:30 PM
  • Arrive as early as you can to get in line for public comment

2. Email and call your councilmember

Emails matter — as do phone calls. Share your street and your story. We recommend CC’ing all of City Council and the Mayor.

District / SeatNameEmailPhone
District 4 — WallingfordMaritza RiveraMaritza.Rivera@seattle.gov(206) 684‑8804
District 6 — TangletownDan StraussDan.Strauss@seattle.gov(206) 684‑8806
Citywide Position 8Alexis Mercedes RinckAlexisMercedes.Rinck@seattle.gov(206) 684‑8808
Citywide Position 9Dionne Fosterdionne.foster@seattle.gov(206) 684‑8809
All Council Memberscouncil@seattle.gov

Mayor Katie Wilson: Contact form | (206) 684‑4000

3. Share this message with your neighbors

Post this on your block’s message board. Forward it. Hand it to a neighbor.

Suggested message to send to elected officials

Feel free to personalize this — even a few sentences in your own words make a stronger impact than a form letter.

Subject: Support Family‑Friendly Housing in Neighborhood Centers & Corridors

Dear Councilmember [Last Name],

I am a resident of Wallingford, and I’m writing about the proposed zoning changes in Neighborhood Centers and along corridors like Meridian Avenue N, N 40th Street, Wallingford Avenue N, and N 35th Street.

I support building more housing in Seattle, including near neighborhood‑serving business districts. The question is what kind of housing gets built, where, and at what scale — especially now that state law already creates substantial opportunities for new homes citywide. I want our neighborhoods to remain welcoming to both current residents and the next generation of families.

Family‑sized homes, including family‑sized rental homes, are increasingly hard to find in Seattle. Without intentional zoning, families can be priced out — even though access to Seattle’s schools, parks, and neighborhood amenities is a major reason families want to live here.

I’m concerned that the proposed expansion of Lowrise 3 (LR3) zoning extends beyond Neighborhood Center cores into surrounding residential streets, while not requiring or encouraging family‑sized homes, meaningful front setbacks, or gradual height transitions. LR3 zoning allows 5‑story buildings, up to 80% lot coverage, 5‑foot front setbacks, and no limits on units per lot — which strongly incentivizes studios and one‑bedroom units, and results in open space being pushed to private rooftop decks instead of shared, street‑level green space.

I encourage the Council to consider a more balanced approach by prioritizing Neighborhood Residential (NR) zoning in and around Neighborhood Centers and along neighborhood‑scale corridors. NR zoning already allows 4–6 homes per lot, encourages stacked flats and family‑sized units, and preserves setbacks for daylight, trees, and shared outdoor space.

Seattle can add housing and remain a place where families can live, grow, and stay. Thank you for considering this perspective.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address or Neighborhood]

For more information

Attend the WCC Meeting — Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at 7 PM, Good Shepherd Center, Room 202

WCC website: wallingfordcc.org

Interactive zoning map: One Seattle Plan Zoning Map

Mar 5 WCC Meeting 7-9 pm: Zoning Proposals, FEIS Appeals, Q&A, Memberships

The Wallingford Community Council will hold a meeting on Wednesday, March 5th, from 7-9 pm. The meeting will cover updates on City Council Zoning Proposals and Select Committee February meetings. It will also detail the six appeals filed to challenge the FEIS’s validity. There will be a Q&A session on the city’s Wallingford rezone maps, a reminder to join or renew Wallingford Community Council memberships for 2025, and information about volunteer opportunities.

The City Council’s Select Committee is currently paused, awaiting the outcome of six appeals challenging the Final Environmental Impact Study (FEIS), which was released on January 29, 2025. The appeals were filed within the 14-day window in mid-February and will be heard by the City’s Hearing Examiner.

The Select Committee/City Council must resolve these appeals before voting on legislation within the One Seattle Zoning Plan, including the HB1110 state plan, the Mayor’s Plan, and the Comprehensive Plan. Although the Council may continue Select Committee discussions, the appeals likely prevent them from voting on legislation as previously scheduled.
March, April, and May Select Committee meetings are awaiting rescheduled dates.  The Wallingford Community Council did not join any appeal on the FEIS.
SAVE THE DATE: The Next WCC Meeting is Wednesday, March 5, from 7-9 PMWallingford Community Council Meeting
Date: Wednesday, March 5, 2025 
Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: Room 202, Good Shepherd Center (4659 Sunnyside Ave. N.)

The FEIS (Final Environmental Impact Study) was just released on Jan 30, 2025. There was only a two-week appeal period. This document is 1300 pages if you are interested in downloading it, here is the link: https://www.seattle.gov/opcd/one-seattle-plan?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
  
Here is the link to look at details of the appeals challenging the FEIS by appeal sponsors: https://web6.seattle.gov/Examiner/casesearch?fid=0&sval=w-25

We recommend reading the talking points about the impacts of rezoning for upcoming Select Committee meetings and public hearings on the Comprehensive Plan 2044 Wallingford Community Council’s “One Seattle Plan-Call to Action”. https://www.wallingfordcc.org/2024/12/14/call-to-action-the-city-needs-to-hear-from-you-on-one-seattle-plan/
 
Join or renew your Wallingford Community Council Membership for 2025 online at wallingfordcc.orgJoin or renew your Wallingford Community Council membership for 2025 online today! Your annual membership fee supports our primary fundraising efforts and helps sustain our operations throughout the year (January- December). As a member, you’ll stay informed about current issues, meet new friends, and give back to your neighborhood. You’ll also receive our emailed newsletter and have the opportunity to participate in Wallingford Council initiatives that shape our neighborhood’s future on a local, citywide, and statewide level.

This year, we’re focusing on outreach and educational information about the city’s rezone plans. Our all-volunteer board members work on concerns voiced by neighborhood residents and businesses. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to vote in the mid-May Annual Election Meeting for 2025-26 board officers – you must join by April 25th to be eligible.

Annual dues are as follows: Family Membership $25.00, Individual Membership $15.00, Senior Member $10.00, Business $100.00.

Key Criteria: You must be an active part of Wallingford to join as a voting member. (You have to either reside, own a property, or manage a business, in Wallingford).You must join or renew by April 25 to vote in the mid-May election.Join or Renew Today!
Volunteer to be a “Friend of Wallingford Council” to offer occasional helping hands If you would like to help us out during a demanding year of challenges with rezoning proposals for Wallingford, please give your contact information to any of the board members to be a “Friend of Wallingford Council”. This means we would contact you for occasional tasks such as distributing informational flyers about special meetings, graphics, or extra hands at meetings or special events, such as greeting people at the door. Give us your contact information at the next WCC meeting or sign up to volunteer online!
Gasworks Park Project Needs Volunteer with Excel or Numbers SkillsIn 2024, the city permitted special private weekend music concerts/events at Gasworks Park, accommodating up to 10,000 people per event. These events are expected to continue in 2025.  We need help creating a calendar or graph of permitted events to ensure sponsors meet contractual obligations for allowed usages (e.g., displaying permits) and that the public retains access to Gasworks during peak weeks of public demands for park access.

If you have a few hours and Excel or Numbers skills to help with this project, please email hodder@gmail.com.
 
Key Topic for 2025: The City Council/Select Committee now focuses on the Public Process for the Comp Plan 2044 and Re-zoning Legislation. The City Council’s Select Committee, consisting of all nine City Council members, began discussions on January 6th regarding the 2044 Comprehensive Plan and the One Seattle Plan. The Council is responsible for making final decisions on the Comp Plan legislation, the HB1110 Middle Housing state mandate (passed in 2023), and the Mayor’s additional rezone map proposals.

Select Committee meeting dates and times for public participation in Phase 1 legislation (through May 2025) are subject to change due to appeals filed on the FEIS. The state deadline for the city to adopt HB1110 legislation is June. 

All Select Committee meetings can be seen live at the time of the meeting or recordings are made available on the Seattle Channel shortly after the meeting ends. (Link: https://www.seattlechannel.org/mayor-and-council/city-council/select-committee-on-the-comprehensive-plan)Jan. 6 “Comprehensive Plan Overview”Jan. 15: “Growth Strategy Overview & Phase 1 Zoning Preview”Jan. 29: “Select Committee key Topic ‘Displacement’”Feb. 5 “Public Hearing on rezone plans” 5 hours of neighborhood commentsFeb. 19 “Special meeting from City Departments on Infrastructure Needs”Refer here for the full City Council Select Committee Schedule.

Only two more Public Hearings are planned through May!

Please review the Wallingford Community Council’s “One Seattle Plan-Call to Action” page for more details and talking points. 

The Select Committee meeting schedule below is now subject to change due to the appeals filed on the FEIS

Comprehensive Plan reference for March, April, and May meetings:https://www.seattle.gov/documents/Departments/OPCD/SeattlePlan/OneSeattleComprehensivePlan.pdfWednesday, March 5th – “Comp Plan Issue ID Part I”Wednesday March 12 Comp Plan Amendments due sponsored by a council personWednesday, March 19th – “Comp Plan Issue ID Part II”April 2,16,( April 30 Public Hearing Comp Plan and Zoning)May 16 Public Hearing, May 22,23May 29th – Final Vote on Phase I – Meeting the state requirements for HB1110June to Sept – “Phase 2 zoning legislation”Other Resources: Zoning Proposal Maps: https://one-seattle-plan-zoning-implementation-seattlecitygis.hub.arcgis.com/ OPCD Project Documents / Mayor’s Recommended Growth Strategy (2024). This contains the Draft Plan and other key related documents. Essential WCC November / December – Meeting Information on One Seattle Plan and Rezone Maps Attached and Major Impacts explaining the 5 story plan on Bus Arterials for Wallingford 

On October 16, 2024, the city released online maps with the locations of “NR” (Neighborhood Residential) zones where formerly single-family lots outside urban villages will be converted to denser multi-family 5,000 square foot lots allowing 4-6 units per lot as required in the state-mandated legislation HB1110. Four units are now allowed in all designated NR zones, but six units are allowed ¼ mile from major transit (rapid ride or light rail). 

OPCD provided opportunities to comment on online maps using social media and held open houses for each city council district, distributed paper maps for neighborhoods, and closed public comment in December 2024. 

At our meetings, we demonstrated how you can use the online maps to show current and proposed zoning for individual properties by address. We also distributed maps showing proposed rezone locations and differences in the lowrise and NR zones, including heights, setbacks, and far, lot coverage for each of the zone changes.

WCC’s November presentation explained the details of the Mayor’s plan which is additional and separate from the state plan. The Mayor’s rezone proposals include expansions of 30 Neighborhood Centers and conversions of thousands of single-family lots to multi-family surrounding the 30 Neighborhood Centers citywide increasing bulk, height, and scale. In addition, the Mayor’s proposal proposes to rezone single-family lots facing arterials city-wide on the bus routes for “frequent transit” from “single-family lowrise” to 5 stories. The public comments received on the rezone maps through December 20 will be compiled and shared this coming spring 2025.

The Comp Plan housing growth target from April 2024 set a target of 80,000 to 120,000 housing units. The FEIS ( Final Environmental Impact Study) just released studied the 80k to 120k impacts for that housing growth target. The Mayor’s plan released on Oct. 16, 2024, surpasses the Comp Plan housing growth target by increasing housing unit growth to 330,000 housing units. 

The public comments during the Select Committee hearings for the next several months will be considered before the second set of rezone maps are prepared by OPCD and released in May 2025. The vote on revised maps will follow. Michael Hubner, Director for the Comp Plan said “he guarantees there will be changes on the revisions of rezone maps.

Major Wallingford Impacts

Ask the city to reduce heights in the Mayor’s frequent transit plan from “Lowrise 3” 5-story/50-foot buildings to more compatible heights of “NR” (4-6 units per lot 30 height) or “Lowrise 1” (30 feet) along arterials in Wallingford of routes 62, 31, 32.Let us consider the residents who want to stay in their neighborhoods and the potential displacement here. Many blocks of the formerly single-family zoned lots located along these bus routes in Wallingford have naturally affordable older homes. Many homes are family-sized rentals, including duplexes, triplexes, small apartments, and businesses. 

The Mayor’s plan is proposing city-wide upzoning on all “frequent transit “arterial facing streets encouraging demolitions, not rehabilitation. These proposed high unit capacity zone proposals at LR3 allow 5-story/50-foot buildings to offer more built-in profitability for developers and will likely accelerate demolitions. This can displace and force out occupants of all ages, races, and incomes who reside in these homes facing arterials citywide. Rezoning for greater unit capacity and jumping to the highest residential zones can increase land values and property taxes for homeowners, renters, businesses, and those on fixed incomes who simply can not keep up with these increases. Assessors base property values on market sales on “highest and best use”. That means you can have property tax increased on the rezoned potential capacity of your lot even though you choose not to redevelop it.

The 5-story city-wide plan for rezones citywide along “frequent transit” bus routes….Lack of nuances of various neighborhood street considerationsOver-reliance on the city’s online website and absence of  direct outreach by the city to neighborhoodsLack of consideration of context and existing heightsCreate corridor and canyon effects, reduce access to light and airShadow neighboring homes, devaluing investments in solar panelsCreate a loss of trees with an increase in lot coverage from 35% to 50%. Decrease front setbacks for larger tree retention and plantingCreate a scarcity of amenities like parks, libraries, and grocery stores for increased populations.Lack of mitigations for traffic, parking congestion Overall, a very weak plan for truly affordable housing Loss of older “naturally affordable “ small duplexes, triplexes, small apartmentsDisplacement of those who cannot keep up with higher property taxes as a result of rezones
A win/win can be achieved with either an NR designation (Hb 1110 4-6 units per 5,000 sq. foot lot) or a Lowrise One zoning designation both blending in with existing heights of 30-foot maximum in the context of older neighborhoods instead of such a height jump to 50 feet to large 5 story buildings on the bus route arterials described below. NR zones 4-6 units per lot or Lowrise one zones increase unit housing capacity and density at heights, but are more compatible with the existing context of these blocks.

Ask the council about revisiting and implementing impact fees for parks, fire, schools and roads instead of more levies which could help reduce property taxes.  Many other municipalities outside of Seattle collect impact fees for infrastructure.

Ask for reduced heights from LR3 /5 story /50 feet zoning proposed to NR or LR One /3 story/ 30 feet zoning for residents of these specific streets impacts for arterials on Wallingford bus routes 62, 31,32.Route 62 proposes to upzone properties to Lowrise LR3/5 stories, 50-foot buildings along Meridian north/south from 50th- 56th Routes 31 & 32 propose to upzone properties to LR 3 5 stories, 50-foot buildings along 40th east/west from UW to WallingfordRoutes 31 & 32 arrive at the 40th and Wallingford intersection then travel south on Wallingford to 35th Routes 31 & 32 at 35th and Wallingford intersection the bus travels west/east to Fremont Ave



(Click here for larger versions of the Wallingford Impacted Areas as seen above) 
 
Email all city council: at council@seattle.gov or contact them directly by phone with your concerns.

Next WCC Meeting on Feb 12th with Maritza Rivera, Seattle City Council Member (District 4)

Wallingford Community Council Meeting
Date: Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: Room 202, Good Shepherd Center (4659 Sunnyside Ave. N.)

Join us on February 12 for the first WCC meeting of 2025, featuring District 4 Council member Maritza Rivera. We’ll discuss the latest updates on the Comprehensive Plan and zoning changes and their impact on Wallingford. With the Final Environmental Impact Study (FEIS) just released and a short window for public input, this is a critical time to stay informed and engaged. Key upcoming meetings and public hearings will shape the future of our neighborhood—get involved!

Maritza is a representative of the “One Seattle Team,” and this is a critical opportunity to hear about and discuss the impacts/mitigations identified resulting from the Comprehensive Plan updates and zoning proposals for Wallingford.  Maritza can review her role on the Select Committee as she and the full council review the One Seattle Zoning plans and Comprehensive Plan legislation with a public process. (The Select Comm for 2044.)

Mark your calendar, bring your questions, and provide feedback to shape the future of our community.

BREAKING NEWS: The FEIS (Final Environmental Impact Study) was released yesterday, Jan 30, 2025. There is only a two-week appeal period that closes on Feb 13th, 2025. This document is 1,300 pages and available for reading here: https://www.seattle.gov/opcd/one-seattle-plan?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

We recommend reading the talking points about the impacts of rezoning for upcoming Select Committee meetings and public hearings on the Comprehensive Plan 2044 Wallingford Community Council’s “One Seattle Plan-Call to Action”
Key Topic for 2025: The City Council/Select Committee now focuses on the Public Process for the Comp Plan 2044 and Re-zoning Legislation. 

The City Council’s Select Committee launched discussions on Jan. 6 on the 2044 Comprehensive Plan and the One Seattle Plan. The “Select Committee” is comprised of all nine City Council staff members. They are responsible for final decisions on the Comp Plan legislation, the HB1110 Middle Housing state mandate passed in 2023, and the Mayor’s additional rezone map proposals. We are including the Select Committee meeting dates and times for people to participate in the public process for Phase 1 legislation through May 2025. The state deadline for the city to complete adoption legislation for HB1110 is June. 

All Select Committee meetings can be seen live at the time of the meeting or recordings are made available on the Seattle Channel shortly after the meeting ends. (Link: https://www.seattlechannel.org/mayor-and-council/city-council/select-committee-on-the-comprehensive-plan)

Upcoming “Select Committee” Meetings. (located at City Hall 600 4th Street Floor 2)
– Wednesday, February 5 at 11 am – “Public Engagement” 
– Wednesday, February 5th at 5:00 pm – “Public Hearing”.Pre-register to be able to make public comments either in person or remotely by signing up here.
– Email: council@seattle.gov.

Refer here for the full City Council Select Committee Schedule.

Only two more Public Hearings are planned through May!

Please review the Wallingford Community Council’s “One Seattle Plan-Call to Action” page for more details and talking points. 

Past “Select Committee” Meetings:

Here is the link to a Seattle Times article with quotes from the council from the first Select Committee meeting on:
– Jan. 6: “Comprehensive Plan” Overview: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/fault lines-emerge-as-seattle-council-takes-up-housing-plan
– Jan. 15: “Growth Strategy Overview & Phase 1 Zoning Preview”
– Jan. 29: “Select Committee key Topic ‘Displacement’”You can watch recordings and find the presentation slides for the Jan. 6th, 15th, and 29th meetings here: https://www.seattlechannel.org/mayor-and-council/city-council/select-committee-on-the-comprehensive-plan. 

Future “Select Committee” Meetings:
The Select Committee has announced tentative dates for future meetings in March, April, and May. 
– Wednesday, March 5th – “Comp Plan Issue ID Part I”
– Wednesday, March 19th – “Comp Plan Issue ID Part II”April 2,16,( April 30 Public Hearing Comp Plan and Zoning)
– May 16 Public Hearing, May 22,23
– May 29th – Final Vote on Phase I – Meeting the state requirements for HB1110
– June to Sept – “Phase 2 zoning legislation”

Other Resources: Zoning Proposal Maps: https://one-seattle-plan-zoning-implementation-seattlecitygis.hub.arcgis.com/ OPCD Project Documents / Mayor’s Recommended Growth Strategy (2024). This contains the Draft Plan and other key related documents. Recapping the WCC November / December  Meeting Information on One Seattle Plan and Rezone Maps

On October 16, 2024, the city released online maps with the locations of “NR” (Neighborhood Residential) zones where formerly single-family lots outside urban villages will be converted to denser multi-family 5,000 square foot lots allowing 4-6 units per lot as required in the state-mandated legislation HB1110. Four units are now allowed in all designated NR zones, but six units are allowed ¼ mile from major transit (rapid ride or light rail). 

OPCD provided opportunities to comment on online maps using social media and held open houses for each city council district, distributed paper maps for neighborhoods, and closed public comment on December 2024. 

At our meetings, we demonstrated in our meeting how you can use the online maps to show current and proposed zoning for individual properties by address. We also distributed maps showing proposed rezone locations and differences in the lowrise and NR zones including heights, setbacks, far, lot coverage for each of the zone changes.

WCC’s November presentation explained the details of the Mayor’s plan which is additional and separate from the state plan. The Mayor’s rezone proposals include expansions of 30 Neighborhood Centers and conversions of thousands of single-family lots to multi-family surrounding the 30 Neighborhood Centers citywide increasing bulk, height, and scale. In addition, the Mayor’s proposal proposes to rezone single-family lots facing arterials city-wide on the bus routes for “frequent transit” from “single-family lowrise” to 5 stories. The public comments received on the rezone maps through December 20 will be compiled and shared this coming spring 2025.

The Comp Plan housing growth target from April 2024 set a target of 80,000 to 120,000 housing units. The FEIS ( Final Environmental Impact Study) just released studied the 80k to 120k impacts for that housing growth target. The Mayor’s plan released on Oct. 16, 2024, surpasses the Comp Plan housing growth target by increasing housing unit growth to 330,000 housing units. 

The public comments during the Select Committee hearings for the next several months will be considered before the second set of rezone maps are prepared by OPCD and released in May 2025. The vote on revised maps will follow. Michael Hubner, Director for the Comp Plan said “he guarantees there will be changes on the revisions of rezone maps.

Major Wallingford Impacts

Ask the city to reduce heights in the Mayor’s frequent transit plan from “Lowrise 3” 5-story/50-foot buildings to more compatible heights of “NR” (4-6 units per lot 30 height) or “Lowrise 1” (30 feet) along arterials in Wallingford of routes 62, 31, 32.Let us consider the residents who want to stay in their neighborhoods and the potential displacement here. Many blocks of the formerly single-family zoned lots located along these bus routes in Wallingford have naturally affordable older homes. Many homes are family-sized rentals, including duplexes, triplexes, small apartments, and businesses.

The Mayor’s plan is proposing city-wide upzoning on all “frequent transit “arterial facing streets encouraging demolitions, not rehabilitation. These proposed high unit capacity zone proposals at LR3 allow 5-story/50-foot buildings to offer more built-in profitability for developers and will likely accelerate demolitions. This can displace and force out occupants of all ages, races, and incomes who reside in these homes facing arterials citywide. Rezoning for greater unit capacity and jumping to the highest residential zones can increase land values and property taxes for homeowners, renters, businesses, and those on fixed incomes who simply can not keep up with these increases. Assessors base property values on market sales on “highest and best use”. That means you can have property tax increased on the rezoned potential capacity of your lot even though you choose not to redevelop it.

The 5-story city-wide plan for rezones citywide along “frequent transit” bus routes….
– Lack of nuances of various neighborhood street considerations
– Ignore direct outreach by the city to neighborhoods
– Lack of consideration of context and existing heights
– Create corridor and canyon effects
– Shadow neighboring homes
– Devalue investments in solar panels
– Reduce access to air and light
– Create a loss of trees with an increase in lot coverage from 35% -50%. 
– Decrease front setbacks for larger tree retention and planting
– Create a scarcity of amenities like parks, libraries, and grocery stores for increased populations.
– Lack of mitigations for traffic, and parking congestion
– and overall is a very weak plan for truly affordable housing 

A win/win can be achieved with either an NR designation (Hb 1110 4-6 units per 5,000 sq. foot lot) or a Lowrise One zoning designation both blending in with existing heights of 30-foot maximum in the context of older neighborhoods instead of such a height jump to 50 feet to large 5 story buildings on the bus route arterials described below. NR zones 4-6 units per lot or Lowrise one zones increase unit housing capacity and density at heights, but are more compatible with the existing context of these blocks.

Ask the council about revisiting and implementing impact fees for parks, fire, schools roads instead of more levies which could help reduce property taxes.  Many other municipalities outside of Seattle collect impact fees for infrastructure.

Ask for reduced heights from LR3 /5 story /50 feet zoning proposed to NR or LR One /3 story/ 30 feet zoning for residents of these specific streets impacts for arterials on Wallingford bus routes 62, 31,32.
1. Route 62 proposes to upzone properties to Lowrise LR3/5 stories, 50-foot buildings along Meridian north/south from 50th- 56th
2. Routes 31 & 32 propose to upzone properties to LR 3 5 stories, 50-foot buildings along 40th east/west from UW to Wallingford
3. Routes 31 & 32 arrive at the 40th and Wallingford intersection then travel south on Wallingford to 35th 
4. Routes 31 & 32 at 35th and Wallingford intersection the bus travels west/east to Fremont Ave.
(Click here for larger versions of the Wallingford Impacted Areas as seen above) 

Email all city council: at council@seattle.gov or contact them directly by phone with your concerns.

Thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to making Wallingford a thriving community. Our goal is to update you on the Select Committee meetings and public hearing dates so you can be a part of the public process before final maps and policies for the Comp Plan 2044 are voted on in 2025. 

Warm regards,
The Wallingford Community Council
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