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Council repeals ordinance to comply with Growth Management Hearings Board; council frames action as procedural
Summary
The council voted unanimously to repeal an ordinance allowing residential uses in the Stadium Transition Area overlay (SoDo) to comply with a Growth Management Hearings Board order; members described the measure as procedural compliance rather than a change in underlying policy.
The Seattle City Council on May 12 voted to repeal the earlier ordinance that had allowed residential use within the Stadium Transition Area overlay district, saying the repeal responds to an order from the Growth Management Hearings Board.
Council member Eddy Lynn, reporting the committee position, said the bill is “simply procedural and meant to comply with the growth management hearings board” and is not intended to revisit the substantive policy about what uses should be allowed in the area. He told colleagues the city lost an appeal and was ordered to take action to come into compliance.
Several council members reiterated that their votes were procedural. Council member Rivera said she would vote yes because the city must comply with the board’s order but restated support for stadium-area housing as a policy preference. Council member Saka reiterated that his vote was limited to procedural compliance: “My vote today is based solely on the procedural aspects of this legislation,” he said.
The roll call showed unanimous passage with nine votes in favor and none opposed; the chair signed the bill on the council’s behalf.
Nut graf: The vote implements a judicial compliance step required by the Growth Management Hearings Board; council members emphasized that passage is not an endorsement of a long-term policy choice about housing in SoDo and urged stakeholders to negotiate a durable settlement.
Background and next steps: Committee chair Lynn said he has met with affected parties — including labor, stadiums and the port — and urged a negotiated settlement to identify long-term uses that can endure changing administrations. Members signaled openness to revisiting policy depending on appeals and future negotiations.
