THE ISSUE

Laurelhurst residents who sign this petition oppose a zoning change that would allow five-story, 55-ft. buildings in a historic, tree-filled, single-family residential area along NE 45th Street in Laurelhurst.

This proposal for NE 45th St in Laurelhurst is misguided, unnecessary, has adverse impacts, and will not result in more affordable housing. Seattle should focus efforts to increase housing on urban centers and major transit, and retain its verdant, vibrant, distinctive neighborhoods.

Proposed changes would:

•  Adversely impact the environment
•  Compromise safety
• Permanently change the character of the neighborhood

HOW YOU CAN HELP 

• SIGN THIS PETITION TODAY.
• Share the petition with concerned neighbors.
• Voice your concerns in an email to Seattle's District 4 Councilmember Maritza Rivera (Maritza.Rivera@seattle.gov), who represents Laurelhurst, by February 5th, 2025.
• Copy your concerns to other City Council Members: Dan Strauss (dan.strauss@seattle.gov), Sara Nelson (sara.nelson@seattle.gov), Cathy Moore (cathy.moore@seattle.gov), Joy Hollingsworth (joy.hollingsworth@seattle.gov), Alexis Mercedes Rinck (alexismerecedes.rinck@seattle.gov), Robert Kettle (robert.kettle@seattle.gov), Rob Saka (rob.saka@seattle.gov)
• Copy your concerns to the One Seattle Plan Project Manager: Michael Hubner Long Range Planning Manager, Seattle Office of Planning and Community Development, (michael.hubner@seattle.gov) 
• Provide public comment at the City Council Comprehensive Plan Select Committee Meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 5th at 5pm, either in person at City Hall or virtually by signing up here. 

KEY CONCERNS

Neighborhood Impact: This proposal would allow five-story, 55-ft.-tall buildings, including apartments, offices and institutions, along N.E. 45th Street between 38th Ave. N.E. and 45th Ave. N.E., where there are now 23 individual lots with detached, one- or two-story homes. This permanent wall of incongruent structures would degrade neighborhood character.

Tax Burden: This upzoning could increase real estate taxes, already doubled over 12 years, possibly displacing neighbors who can’t afford high tax bills.

Environment: Such large developments on this verdant street would destroy hundreds of mature trees as well as habitat of protected birds, cutting away Seattle’s already shrinking tree canopy when it is urgently needed to mitigate climate change. Increased concrete surfaces could cause rainwater runoff to overwhelm our infrastructure, causing flooding. Environmentally Critical Areas in this location cannot support such large structures.

Safety:  Higher density would cause traffic gridlock on our narrow streets, threatening safety for children and others while slowing emergency vehicles. Higher density will strain public services already stretched thin, including policing.

THE PETITION

OPPOSE FIVE-STORY, 55-FT. BUILDINGS ON NE 45TH ST

I join my community in strongly opposing the One Seattle Plan’s proposal to change the zoning from NR3 to LR3 along NE 45th Street from 38TH AVE NE through to 45TH AVE NE, and call for that zoning change to be removed from the final plan.  This segment should be zoned neighborhood residential, the same as the surrounding Laurelhurst neighborhood of one- and two-story detached homes.

This short segment of NE 45th St. does not qualify for LR3 zoning (five-story buildings) for the following reasons:

-- This segment does not qualify because it has no priority, rapid, or high frequency transit. It has only a dead-end bus turnaround and rest stop for drivers. All buses are marked “Terminal.” 

-- This segment does not qualify because the proposed zoning change from 30-ft. NR3 to 55-ft. LR3 conflicts with State law HB 1110, which requires housing that is “compatible in scale, form, and character with single-family houses.” This area is composed of single-family homes, many about 100 years old. Building a permanent wall of incongruent, five-story towers here would forever change and degrade the neighborhood character.

-- This segment does not qualify because it is not in a designated Neighborhood, Urban, or Regional center or near major transit. It is an isolated strip not appropriate for higher density.

-- This segment cannot support such large developments because it contains Environmentally Critical Areas (ECA). Development here would destroy the habitat of protected birds and hundreds of trees, harming climate resilience.

-- This area lacks adequate infrastructure, utilities, and public services for such a dramatic increase in density. It has neither consumer businesses nor a grocery store. Traffic and parked cars would clog narrow streets, endangering children and slowing emergency vehicles.