Committee backs amendment to South Lake Union landscape and infrastructure funding plan

The Parks, Public Utilities and Technology Committee recommended passage Wednesday of an ordinance to amend the Landscape Conservation and Local Infrastructure Program (LCLIP) funding plan to add park and open‑space projects in South Lake Union and downtown.

The amendment updates the list of projects that will be paid for with revenues generated through a transfer-of-development-rights program the city established with King County in 2013 and which Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) said has already funded most original projects since the program began. The committee voted 4‑0 to forward the bill to full council on July 15.

The plan matters because it directs revenues from development-rights trades in a designated local infrastructure project area (LIPA) toward open‑space and infrastructure improvements in dense downtown neighborhoods. Andy Sheffer, deputy superintendent for SPR capital projects, said SPR and partners used five years of community engagement to develop the proposed project list and organized projects by readiness: shovel‑ready work slated for 2025–2030 and longer‑term projects for 2030–2035.

"We have worked diligently and vigorously with community, SDOT, and CBO in this effort," Sheffer said. Jonathan Gardner, senior planner, told the committee the program is voluntary for property buyers and sellers and that revenues for SPR projects are already incorporated in the department's line of business for the next decade.

Community speakers urged the committee to approve the amendment and highlighted neighborhood priorities. Stacy Siegel, vice president of the South Lake Union Community Council and a member of the SLU Parks task force, said, "the 2,700,000.0 for the South Lake Union Community Council task for lehi projects will go a long way to providing needed improvements in these parks, which include Denny, Lake Union, and Cascade." Shegel asked the committee to "support the proposed LCLIF funding plan amendment in full." Bill Farmer, a longtime parks advocate, also urged continued support for environmental education positions and said he is watching how SPR will house stewardship programs.

Council members representing downtown and District 7 spoke in favor. Council member Kettle, who said she represents District 7, described the amendment as unlocking work on unseen infrastructure pieces and enabling future improvements to utilities and parks. Council member Strauss noted the measure continues a multi‑year vision started in 2018 and singled out City Hall Park, Prefontaine Plaza and the Northwest Native Canoe Carving Center as projects she has tracked for years.

Committee members and SPR staff described specific project timing: projects listed for 2025–2030 are design‑complete or under construction (SPR noted the canoe carving center is already under construction and will include external restrooms), while projects listed for 2030–2035 will need additional design and community engagement. SPR said the program preserves a role for SDOT in later years: after SPR's ten‑year project horizon, funding from the program will return to SDOT for the remaining five years of the interlocal arrangement.

Public comment also included concerns unrelated to the LCLIP amendment: a remote commenter criticized the city's racial equity toolkit and used inflammatory language; committee members did not take action on those remarks but the speaker's statements were part of the public comment record.

Chair Joy Hollingsworth moved the committee recommendation to pass council bill 121008; the motion was seconded and carried 4 in favor, none opposed (Council member Kettle: Aye; Council President Nelson: Aye; Council member Strauss: Aye; Chair Hollingsworth: Yes). The committee's recommendation will be transmitted to the full City Council on July 15, 2025.

SPR and community groups will continue design, outreach, and coordination as projects move toward construction and activation.