Council News Release

Councilmember Tom Rasmussen

COUNCIL APPROVES RESOLUTION TO GUIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUNDS
Developers will gain height and capacity for contributions to affordable housing

SEATTLE –Today, the City Council voted unanimously in favor of Resolution 30939 introduced by Councilmember Tom Rasmussen and co-sponsored by Council President Nick Licata that will guide the City in providing funds to develop lower-income affordable housing. These funds would be generated by fees that developers would pay to the City in exchange for increased development capacity or waiver of fees or development standards. "When the City increases the value of property through zoning, I believe there should be a return to the community," said Councilmember Rasmussen, chair of the Council’s Housing, Human Services, and Health Committee. “This Resolution will help guide the City’s goal of investment in new and affordable housing to be built throughout Seattle.” This Incentive Zoning Resolution is a companion to the Comprehensive Plan Amendment, which also was voted on today by the Council.

The Resolution requests that the Office of Housing follow guidelines in the distribution of the funds. The guidelines include the following key points for new affordable housing developments eligible for these funds: neighborhood plan consistency, transit access, economic and social diversity, proximity to social services, and historic preservation.

The Council also requested that the Department of Planning and Development and the Office of Housing report to the Housing, Human Services, and Health Committee on the progress in implementing future incentive zoning programs with information on the funding awarded, units produced, location of those units, and finally participation by developers to create new affordable housing with this program.

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City Council