This page discusses some of the information you need to know about actions taken by the City of Seattle to work through a legislative rezone. Our Hot Topics page contains more information about how the Roosevelt Neighborhood Association approached neighborhood planning that led to the zoning recommendations and what we're facing today.

In response to the latest rezoning recommendations from Mayor McGinn and DPD, which have now been submitted to City Council for evaluation, the RNA has convened a special workgroup of representatives from various parts of the community. The “Consensus Group”, as it is called, has been meeting since early August to review the City’s specific proposals and to prepare a detailed response.  That response, in draft form, is now available for review by the broader community. Links to documents listed below. 

This information was presented at the City Council public hearing at Roosevelt High School on Monday, Sept. 19^th at 6:00 PM at Roosevelt High School.

Sustainable, Livable Roosevelt 9/19/2011

RNA Rezone Proposal  Map DRAFT 9/13/2011
RNA Rezone Proposal  Matrix DRAFT 9/19/2011

The chart below shows that the Consensus Group plan beats the density of the Mayor's proposal by 149 units while maintaining the 2006 proposed heights around the high school.

The Roosevelt Neighborhood has entertained several proposals to provide additional housing around the future Roosevelt light rail station.  This chart highlights the major milestones in this process and shows how many "housing units" have been added with each subsequent proposal.   Starting with Roosevelt’s own 2006 plan, the neighborhood suggested adding 410 units on top of an estimated baseline of 272 un-built housing units. This meant the neighborhood could grow by 682 units.   In June 2011 the Mayor proposed zoning that said the neighborhood hadn't gone far enough. His plan added 197 units while raising heights around the high school and near single family homes. This meant 879 units to grow.   The neighborhood responded. In September 2011 the "Sustainable, Livable Roosevelt Plan" proposed zoning that adds 346 units to the 2006 plan (149 more than the Mayor's proposal) while still maintaining the integrity of the "wedding cake" step down to single family units and preserving the Roosevelt High School as the centerpiece of the neighborhood.   The "Sustainable, Livable Roosevelt Plan" means another 1028 units of growth for Roosevelt.   A housing unit for this study is any house, apartment, condo or building that would typical house a family, couple or an individual. Therefore each apartment in larger building is counted as one unit as would a townhouse or a typical single family residence.  Additional  housing units are estimated by analyzing the maximum building capacity using City zoning designations and then applying a factor to reduce that maximum capacity based on the assumption that many parcels of land do not get built to their maximum capacity.

The City of Seattle Legislative Rezone process

A set of specific recommendations were developed by local residents in 2005 and 2006 as part of the Neighborhood Plan update. In order to put the new zoning into effect, it is first necessary for the Seattle Department of Planning and Development (DPD) to review the neighborhood’s suggestions, make adjustments they deem necessary, consult with the Mayor, and then send their formal recommendations to City Council. Council will conduct a public hearing and consider other input, before voting on whether or not to approve the zoning changes.

On April 21, 2011 DPD published their draft of the Roosevelt Legislative Rezone. The Land Use Information Bulletin includes important documents:

(1) DPD Director’s Report and Recommendations (14MB)
This is a very detailed summary of each proposed zoning change. Includes a color map of all proposed zoning changes.

 

(2) Determination of Non-Significance (DNS) 
This document establishes DPD’s opinion that the proposed zoning changes should not require an Environmental Impact Study (EIS) under the state’s Environmental Protection Act (SEPA).

(3) SEPA Checklist
More detail here about the DNS ruling.

(4) Ordinance
This is a draft of the actual legislation which City Council would consider to change Roosevelt zoning, and which the Mayor would sign to make it effective.

 

(5) Incentive Zoning Analysis
This is a consultant’s report on the probable effect of the City’s new affordable housing incentive program in terms of the Roosevelt Legislative Rezone.

DPD’s recommendations contained in the documents issued on April 21 may change before they are finalized and sent to City Council. The RNA Land Use Committee is working closely with DPD to understand and to influence their final recommendations, to reflect our Neighborhood Plan and zoning input.

Related web stuff

June 17, 2011 Mayor McGinn responds to Roosevelt Neighborhood input 

brute force collaborative » Suburban development can trump TOD on site energy…

How Much Density is Too Much for Roosevelt?

Department of Planning and Development - Roosevelt Legislative Rezone Overview

Here's a Refreshing Change: Group Lobbies City for More Density Around Light Rail

Mayor Pushes for More Density Around Roosevelt Light Rail Station

Burgess Calls for More Density in Roosevelt; Roosevelt Residents Push Back