Dear Neighbors,
We are writing to provide an update on the City’s rezoning proposal affecting our neighborhood. The Seattle City Council is now considering the rezoning legislation to allow larger multifamily buildings in the new Whittier Neighborhood Center. As you may recall, the Whittier Neighborhood Center was created last year as part of the Seattle Comprehensive Plan process. These centers are intended to have even higher density and taller buildings than the surrounding neighborhood.
Under the current proposal, most properties on residential side streets within the Whittier Neighborhood Center would be rezoned to LR3. This designation allows buildings up to five stories (approximately 52 feet with the potential for additional height under certain circumstances). Lot coverage up to 80 percent would be allowed, which would result in the loss of many or most of the older trees within the affected blocks. See the rezoning map attached.
In recent conversations with Councilmember Dan Strauss, we understand there might be an opportunity to reduce impacts on our neighborhood by directing more of the increased density to 15th Ave NW. This option could involve allowing greater building height on that arterial in exchange for lower zoning designations on local blocks. This appears to be the only opportunity for compromise in the current rezoning proposal.
If you have input on this potential approach—shifting more density to 15th Ave NW in exchange for reduced scale on side streets—we encourage you to share your views. You can contact us or send comments to Councilmember Strauss at Dan.Strauss@seattle.gov.
The Council’s decision timeline is moving quickly, with action anticipated this summer. We encourage timely input.
If you have questions, please feel free to contact us.
Thank you,
Friends of Whittier Heights
https://www.friendsofwhittierheights.org