Council approves 'Roots to Roofs' pilot allowing limited height and density bonuses for community-based affordable housing projects

The Seattle City Council voted Sept. 23 to adopt the Roots to Roofs pilot program, council bill CB 121011, which grants community-based organizations (CBOs) and similar mission-driven developers the option of a height and density bonus on qualifying sites to enable more affordable and community-serving development.

Councilmember Dan Rink, the bill’s primary sponsor, described the pilot as a tool to help CBOs “build more via a height and density bonus.” He told the council the program is time-limited and capped at 35 total projects citywide with a maximum of five projects per council district.

Public comment at the meeting was extensive and sharply divided. Dozens of individuals and organizational representatives spoke in favor, including Rachel Snell, who said the pilot “would help address these harms, create more community-centered housing, potentially even some social housing, and doesn't cost the city much money.” Representatives of Central Area Youth Association (CAYA), Habitat for Humanity of Seattle, King, and Kittitas County, African Community Housing and Development, Friends of Little Saigon, and other…