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The Mayor sent a proposal to Council in September, suggesting that the elements of the Downtown program be applied city-wide. I considered the draft, and after reviewing economic analysis and listening to many community advocates, came to the conclusion that 20% of the new development area should be set aside for workforce housing.
One major difference between the current proposal and the 2006 Downtown rezone is that this legislation would not change the zoning in any neighborhoods. Instead it would serve as a framework in case any zoning changes are proposed in the future.
When rezone proposals that increase development capacity come before the Council, my goal is to secure affordable housing, along with other benefits, in exchange for that increased height or density. Other cities have traded additional building height or density where it makes sense for some amount of affordable, lower-middle-class housing, and I don't think Seattle should miss out on the opportunity.
After months of analysis by the Planning, Land Use & Neighborhoods Committee (PLUNC) and conversations with neighborhood activists, developers and affordable housing advocates, many questions about the impacts and opportunities of incentive zoning on affordable housing and neighborhoods have come to light and led to great suggestions for how to improve the Mayor's original proposal. I’ve appreciated the feedback.
Between now and the end of 2008, PLUNC and Council will further debate the elements of a successful Workforce Housing Incentive Program. It is likely we'll take a final vote on a program before the end of the year. I'd greatly appreciate hearing your comments, through email, a letter, a phone call or through public comment at one of the meetings listed below.
The Mayor's version of the proposed ordinance to establish Workforce Housing Incentive Program rules for beyond downtown is viewable here.
You can review my version of the ordinance here.
And a comparison of both versions of the legislation here.
The Planning, Land Use & Neighborhoods Committee will consider the legislation at committee meetings on December 4th at 2 p.m. and December 10th at 9:00 a.m. All meetings will be in Council Chambers at City Hall.
To view previous Planning, Land Use & Neighborhood Committee meetings where the Workforce Housing Incentive Program was a discussion item, click any of the below links to view the Seattle Channel video:
2/13/08 PLUNC
3/12/08 PLUNC
6/25/08 PLUNC
7/23/08 PLUNC
7/31/08 PLUNC
9/10/08 PLUNC
9/24/08 PLUNC
10/7/08 PUBILC HEARING
10/8/08 PLUNC
11/19/08 PLUNC
All PLUNC meetings are open to the public and the first part of every meeting is dedicated to hearing comments from the public about the issues at hand. If you'd like to be kept in the loop for upcoming meetings about the incentive program, you can sign up here to receive meeting agendas.
For more information, contact David Yeaworth, my legislative aide, at (206) 684-8802 or david.yeaworth@seattle.gov.
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