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Public commenters urge council to expand neighborhood centers and allow stacked flats to address Seattle’s housing crunch
Summary
Hundreds of citizens at a June 23 public hearing supported the mayor’s housing goals but pressed the council to go further: expand neighborhood centers, legalize stacked flats and remove lot minimums and parking mandates to increase family‑sized and accessible housing across the city.
Scores of residents told the Seattle City Council select committee that the 1 Seattle comprehensive plan and local implementation of House Bill 1110 should do more to create abundant housing across neighborhoods.
Commenters offered a consistent set of policy requests: expand and restore proposed neighborhood centers, increase or make citywide the affordable‑housing density bonus, permit stacked flats broadly (including on smaller lots), remove lot‑size minimums and parking requirements, and prioritize anti‑displacement protections alongside up‑zoning.
"We can make this a more diverse and vibrant city for all income levels and lifestyles if we want to," said Mike Bertrand, a North Ballard resident, who argued for stacked flats and removing lot minimums. "Please consider removing lot minimums and setback requirements to allow for the construction of stacked flats throughout the city."
Advocates framed the proposal as a combined housing‑and‑climate strategy: denser housing near transit reduces car dependence and sprawl, they said, while targeted canopy protections can keep green space. Multiple speakers asked that affordable‑housing bonuses be available for publicly owned social housing and for small‑scale family housing that keeps teachers, nurses and social workers in the city.
Young speakers and renters emphasized immediate hardship: speakers described friends and family priced out, landlords raising rents where alternatives are scarce, and students and young workers leaving Seattle for more affordable regions. Several speakers who identified as renters or social‑service providers urged the council to expand neighborhood centers so residents can live near groceries, transit, and services.
Some residents urged care in crafting local zoning changes. Julie Holland of the South Lake Union Community Council warned about a 2024 omnibus ordinance she said had included a substantive zoning change inside a minor amendment, and asked the council to protect transparency and an open rezoning process.
On the state‑law front, several witnesses said HB 1110 sets a baseline that the city can build on. Sanders, an advocate speaking during the second panel, asked council members to align the HB 1110 compliance legislation with the final comprehensive plan so builders can start projects sooner rather than wait for local changes.
No council votes were taken during the hearing. Commenters asked the council to use the coming amendment window to restore neighborhood centers removed from the mayor’s draft, increase stacked‑flat bonuses and extend affordability incentives citywide.
