# The release of the city's final environmental review of the One Seattle growth plan is likely to be followed by an appeal, in an attempt to stop neighborhood-level zoning changes. But while an appeal may add time, it's likely to ultimately fail.| The Urbanist - Examining urban policy to improve cities and quality of life.
# The state responded to feedback from urbanists and homebuilders by finetuning its draft model code for missing middle housing to be more generous around lot coverage, floor area ratio, setbacks, and design standards.| The Urbanist - Examining urban policy to improve cities and quality of life.
# The draft plan still isn't out, which is worrying housing advocates. But success is still within reach. Last year, the City of Seattle had planned to release its draft “One Seattle” Comprehensive Plan in April, but that draft has still not been released to the public after the Harrell administration has repeatedly set new timelines| The Urbanist - Examining urban policy to improve cities and quality of life.
# Single family zoning will soon be a thing of the past for most Washington cities thanks to passage of statewide “missing middle” housing reform this state legislative session. This monumental success was thanks in large part to lawmaker heroes named below and the far-ranging coalition that coalesced behind the bill. The state legislature took up| The Urbanist - Examining urban policy to improve cities and quality of life.
# On Monday, the Seattle City Council unanimously (8-0 vote) adopted a land use reform bill, easing restrictions on building accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in single-family zones. The legislation is projected to promote development of another 2,460 new ADUs over a ten-year period. The changes brought forth by the legislation are far reaching, touching on topics| The Urbanist - Examining urban policy to improve cities and quality of life.
# On Friday, Seattle Hearing Examiner Ryan Vancil issued a pre-hearing ruling largely in the City of Seattle's favor, taking some wind out of the sails of the homeowner groups that brought a lengthy appeal of the Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA) rezones. The various appeals sought to poke holes in the MHA Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS)--the| The Urbanist - Examining urban policy to improve cities and quality of life.
The Mount Baker neighborhood was subdivided in 1907 and lots were advertised as "highly restricted." Although the original restrictions did not mention race, the developer, J.C. Hunter, tried other means to exclude anyone of color, including filing lawsuits to block two Black families. Later, the Mount Baker Park Improvement Association monitored property transactions and kept Japanese Americans and African Americans from occupying properties and also from using the park and beach. | depts.washington.edu
# On October 18th the Queen Anne Community Council filed an appeal to the City of Seattle's Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), better known as backyard cottages, basement apartments, and mother-in-law suites. The organization is currently raising money to finance the environmental and legal counsel needed to defend their appeal, and it| The Urbanist » Advocacy journalism for better cities.
# Housing advocates outnumbered opponents by a margin of 89 to 75 during a five-hour public hearing Wednesday on the One Seattle housing growth plan. Nevertheless, several councilmembers made it clear they sided with slow-growth advocates, rather than the majority demanding more housing options.| The Urbanist - Examining urban policy to improve cities and quality of life.
# The 1,300-page environmental review of the One Seattle plan shows that the Mayor's preferred plan would increase hardscape, tree removal, and greenhouse gas emissions, while decreasing affordable housing over broadly supported Alternative 5.| The Urbanist - Examining urban policy to improve cities and quality of life.
# By the time the Seattle City Council convenes for the first meeting of the Select Committee on the Comprehensive Plan on January 6, a group of residents from every single council district will have been pushing to scale back proposed zoning changes in their midst, all using similar arguments around lack of infrastructure and loss of neighborhood character.| The Urbanist - Examining urban policy to improve cities and quality of life.
Constantine Defends Bus Electrification Focus as King County Metro Service Lags| The Urbanist