The city held a meeting on Monday night in Northgate to listen to North Seattle neighbors about proposed legislation — called the Mandatory Housing Affordability plan — to increase housing density in “urban villages, urban village expansion areas and all places with multifamily or commercial zoning.” That includes Central Ballard, the 15th Ave. corridor and parts of Crown Hill.
“I’m shocked to learn that you are proposing a zoning change which would allow as many as four homes up to 40 feet tall to be built on every 5000 square foot lot in my neighborhood,” said Christy Robertson of Ballard, according to KING 5.
Most of the testimony urged a slower, more measured approach to upzoning that preserved neighborhood character and protected on-street parking.
The Mandatory Housing Affordability plan “is coming in with a club; we need a scalpel,” testified Lee Pate of Crown Hill, according to KUOW.
The city council is expected to take up the plan later this year.