Full Commission Meeting 4.13.2017
Many discussions at H&N and Full CommissionExec and H&N whittled down list to most urgent and critical issues to include in a letter to OPCDOther items can be followed up later in process, depending on topic and audience
Today: decide on priority issues and resolve issuesStaff to distribute draft letter early next weekComments due back by 4/25Discussion and possible vote 4/27 (or May 11)Opportunity to follow up on recommendations and provide more specifics after DEIS is released
Go over recommendations vetted by H&Ndetermine if there is consensus or outstanding issues to resolveDiscuss recommendations to include in letter (priorities)Discuss letter outline
Increase Housing Capacity Through Urban Village Expansions & RezonesAnti-Displacement Policies & StrategiesIncrease Housing Options Through MHA, Housing Funding Policies, and Complementary Policies
Directly related to proposed urban village expansions and rezonesAddress missed opportunities for increasing housing capacity due to methodology and criteria for urban village expansions
Equitable access to housing requires affordable housing in areas of high displacement and increasing housing opportunity in other areas across the city.High-cost areas that are most likely to remain economically feasible under MHA
The methodology used to delineate urban village boundary expansions should consider:areas within 1-3 blocks of UV boundaries that are near existing schools, parks and usable open space, major medical and educational institutions, cultural centers, and other essential facilities and servicesareas between urban villages, or areas that are in close proximity to urban villages
Additional households around other important community assets that are within walking distance to transit.Ensure that land around our public investments is not underutilized
Only adding new housing supply in higher-density zones around the core limits housing choice and makes transitions in scale difficultAir quality and traffic safetyDistributing more evenly provides more housing opportunities throughout an urban villageOpportunities for more pedestrian-oriented “centers”
Limit growth and potential for additional housingLimited housing supply may accelerate gentrification and/or displacementCounter argument:smaller development capacity (rezones) will make redevelopment of individual property less attractive to for-profit developers
Outside the scope of rezones and boundary expansionsAimed directly at displacement
May stagnate growth, exacerbate housing shortages, and further limit access to jobs, housing, and amenitiesDon’t stall growth, but continue and expand work to ensure growth is benefiting existing residentsCounter argument:Slowing growth in the short-term may provide chance to better plan for future and work on building community capacity
Encourage additional units to be added to sites with existing structures by altering MHA requirements and creating predictability in development outcomes
Aimed at reducing disparities in housing choicePromote variety of affordable units across the cityPromote economically diverse buildings and communitiesComplementary policies aimed at balancing growth and livability
Balance the need for maximizing the number affordable units with ensuring a range of housing types in a variety of locationsWork with the Office of Housing to ensure funding policies produce a variety of housing options.Included in A&F letter; can attach as reference
Target MHA investments in areas that are generating funds and seeing growth, but are producing few affordable (performance) units.Align housing investments with goals of communities experiencing displacement.Strengthen policies that make land acquisition feasible for affordable housing projects in high-cost areas.Encourage larger supply of income-restricted units in smaller-scale multi-family developments through both performance and payment options.Continue to explore partnerships with public, private, and nonprofit housing and community-based organizations to develop innovative housing models and build capacity for local redevelopment.
Establish metrics and targets beyond total unit countbuilding type/sizeunit size & bedroom countlocation of units as it relates to displacement risk, access to opportunity, and the cost of landpopulations served by income, race, family size, and/or unique needsnumber of units in each urban village as it relates to payments generated and overall growth
Changes to development standardsremove density standards in LR1 (previously 1:2000sf)replace with requirement that 1 of 8 units be 2BR (850 sf); for every 16, either one 3BR unit (1,050sf) or 2 2BR.Performance unitsIf calculation of required units under MHA is <2 units, may round up to two units or provide one 3+ BRSLU/DT: extra 10’ height allowed for projects with (>10) 3+ bedroom units
Prioritize city funding for projects that meet family-friendly requirements (would require adopting formal definitions)Develop family-friendly housing typologies with higher FAR allowances and more flexible site layouts.Expand family-sized unit requirements to all LR zones.Raise requirements for family-sized units in LR from 1 in 8; or, raise requirement to require 1 3BR for every 8 units.Exempt floor area of ADUs in townhouses and rowhouses from MHA calculations.Exempt 3rdbedrooms from MHA calculations.Revise Green Factor scoring to incentivize outdoor play areas.
Greater inclusivity and socioeconomic diversity within projectsKey to producing affordable units in tandem with growth and increasing the diversity of housing choices in high-cost areasProvide incentives and streamlined processes
Discourage redevelopment/expansion of existing SF houses into larger SF housesEstablish minimum unit requirements for new development; orReduce FAR allowances for developments with only one unit on lots over 2,000sf
New development balance growth with livabilityMore than upper level setbacks
Comp plan is successfully directing growth strategically to urban villages with frequent transitPromote equitable growth by increasing development capacity in all of Seattle’s neighborhoodsLook for opportunities and updated approaches to accommodate growth throughout the city
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