Smart Growth Seattle, called a “creature of the internet” by the Department of Planning and Development(DPD), has successfully fought DPD’s attempt to dismiss our appeal of a proposed downzone of Seattle’s low-rise zones.

Now, our appeal can go forward and will be heard. Our goal, and the reason why we filed the appeal, is to have the City Hearing Examiner direct DPD to evaluate the true environmental impacts of downzoning the low-rise zones. Some of those environmental impacts that DPD ignored or under-played, include:

• Greater pressure to more densely develop single family zoned lands,
• Increased pressure to more intensely develop lands in adjoining cities – together with the transportation impact that causes throughout the region,
• The practical impact these proposed amendments will have is to reduce the construction of new parking spaces in LR zones with new development, creating environmental impacts from increased street parking and traffic,
• That the City asserted these amendments will have only a minor impact on housing affordability when, in fact, development potential for some low-rise zoned sites will be reduced by 40% which will result in a significant impact on housing affordability,
• That there will be a significant adverse environmental impact on energy usage created by the proposed elimination of the ability to construction low energy buildings with unenclosed exterior halls, stairs and breezeways, and
• The lack of any analysis by the City of the cumulative impact of this legislation on all of the above, when combined with the pending microhousing amendments.

Now, with the City’s motion defeated, we can make our case to the Hearing Examiner that the City needs to do more work on the legislation to show the profound impacts on housing supply. We’ll keep you updated on what’s next.