Background:

The City of Seattle is currently in the midst of the Comprehensive Planning process, a part of Washington State's Growth Management Act. This process requires cities to plan for growth, and has successfully prevented sprawl and protected our wildlife from further incursions.

For its part, the City of Seattle has recently released a Draft Zoning Update. This proposal includes 30 Neighborhood Centers, including Bryant. Neighborhood Centers are intended to expand existing neighborhood hubs that already support denser housing options and commercial uses. In Bryant, this Neighborhood Center is centered on the Metropolitan Market.

Why Get Involved:

The Seattle Comprehensive Plan process is built on community feedback. While Seattle residents have consistently shown support for more density, and the more density has been backed by a broad coalition, including the Seattle Chamber of Commerce, feedback from immediate residents is key. This process will shape the next 20 years of growth in Seattle.

As a result of pandemic-induced ridership declines, our transit services in Bryant have recently been cut. While the end of work-from-home may help  reinvestment in Route 79, there is no guarantee of a return to regular service. With transit-oriented development in the minds of policymakers, future density in Bryant will go a long ways towards directly reconnecting Bryant to U District and Roosevelt.

Inclusivity is a Seattle value. While north of Montlake has had a difficult history with racial, economic and religious exclusions, Seattle is now one of America's least segregated major cities. We believe that our neighborhoods should be inclusive to people from all backgrounds. With housing costs continuing to reach record highs, it's time to relax some of the stringent requirements about what sorts of housing we have in our neighborhoods, and make sure they are inclusive for everyone.

Without allowing for greater housing options, Seattle is likely to continue to grow less affordable, and the homelessness problem will deepen, as we've seen in places like San Francisco. Seattle's own Gregg Colburn, a UW professor, has done excellent research on this issue, and you can listen to a recent talk he gave on the Seattle Channel about his findings here:

How to get involved:

City leaders need to hear from their constituents that they support the housing Seattle desperately needs. Councilmembers Martiza Rivera represents District 4, which includes Bryant. In addition to signing this petition, please consider sending her an email at Maritza.Rivera@seattle.gov. Please also consider sending feedback to the Planning Department through the portal available on the zoning update page, or their email oneseattleplan.zoning@seattle.gov.

On November 13th, City officials will be meeting at Nathan Hale High School from 5:30-7:30 to present their plan and receive feedback. While this meeting is focused on District 5, it is the closest opportunity to talk with City staff. On November 19th, a meeting on District 4 will be held from 5:30-7:30 at Magnuson Park Hangar 30. This is the best opportunity to make your voice heard. More information is available here. 


Additional Information:

• The City of Seattle intends to invest further in the Route 65 corridor, which serves this neighborhood center. More information about these plans can be found in Chapter 3 of the city's Transportation Master Plan. 
  
  
• The City of Seattle is increasing density throughout it's lowest residential zoning code, NR3. This change originates from the state level, through HB 1110. This bill, supported by both Democrats and Republicans, intends to both limit sprawl and accommodate demand by increasing housing supply inside existing communities like Seattle. Throughout the city, Seattle will be required to allow for a minimum density of sixplexes on most lots, among other provisions.
  
  
• The City of Seattle is required to plan for future demand for wastewater, electricity, and other utilities as a part of its Comprehensive Plan. Detailed information about these forecasts is available in the Appendices of the Final Comprehensive Plan.