I am deeply concerned about the recent proposal to change zoning regulations in our residential neighborhood to allow the construction of new five-story buildings. This decision not only threatens the character and charm of our community but also raises significant concerns about its future livability.

Please help me by signing the attached petition. The other ways to help are to copy and paste this message into an email to each of our City Council Members: 

maritza.rivera@seattle.gov

joy.hollingsworth@seattle.gov

dionne.foster@seattle.gov

robert.kettle@seattle.gov

alexismercedes.rinck@seattle.gov

debora.juarez@seattle.gov

dan.strauss@seattle.gov

rob.saka@seattle.gov

eddie.lin@seattle.gov ( Chair of the Committee)

The current issue: In March and April, City Council will again approve a new zoning map for land use and heights throughout Seattle which will determine where growth can occur. They are targeting major transit stops. This would include a significant change in height on NE 45th between 40th Ave NE to 45th Ave NE. It is a change from a normal home height of 30 feet to a Low Rise Multi Family  apartment which is 55 feet tall or 5 stores high. 

The City's planned upzone in NOT COMPLIANT with the scale, form and compatibility requirements of the original HB1110 plans. Adding 5 story apartment buildings along this street will start to seep into our neighborhood and it is just a matter of time before they try to change the zoning laws in our neighborhood to allow for this on any street in Laurelhurst. The City has already approved through the OneSeattle Plan,  4 dwelling units on any one lot. They have far exceeded the goal of 120,000 units needed in 20 years as the current plan will produce  360,000 new units via OneSeattle. In short......they DO NOT need the additional multi family apartments on NE 45th Street. 

The bus stop on 45th Ave NE is not a major transit stop. It has very low ridership and primarily provides a pit stop for Metro Transit Drivers who empty their bus at the end of their route. It should NOT be included in the new zoning map. 

Allowing this change on NE 45th St. will displace homeowners and will add more traffic and congestion on a very important street in our neighborhood. 

Our neighborhood is characterized by its peaceful streets, friendly neighbors, and green spaces — qualities that are becoming increasingly rare in urban areas. The introduction of towering structures in this environment would not only overshadow our homes but also strain existing infrastructure. Additionally, new zoning changes could significantly impact on property values. While the developers stand to gain financially, homeowners like us are left worrying about potential decreases in our property’s worth. This is deeply unfair to those who have invested not just money but their lives into building a home here.