Council News Release

Councilmember Sally J. Clark

“Trains, Density & Change”: A Workshop Deciphering Legislation to Require Density and Mandate Affordability Near Light Rail Stations

Who: City Councilmembers Sally J. Clark and Tim Burgess, and representatives from the Seattle Urban Land Institute, Seattle Displacement Coalition, Transportation Choices Coalition, and Washington Low Income Housing Alliance

What: “Trains, Density & Change”: A Community Workshop on House Bill 1490. The meeting is free and open to the public; there is no need to RSVP.

When: Wednesday, February 18, 2009 at 6:00 p.m.

Where: Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center Auditorium, 107 17th Ave. S., Seattle

SEATTLE — Councilmember Sally J. Clark will host a community workshop on Wednesday, February 18 at 6 p.m. at Seattle’s Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center to discuss State House Bill (HB) 1490, which deals with transit oriented communities and affordable housing provisions in areas surrounding Light Rail stations. The panel discussion and town meeting will include proponents and critics of the legislation, and planning and land use experts. The panel will discuss concepts surrounding transit oriented development, the possible impacts of the proposed bill on Seattle communities, and take questions from the public.

Councilmember Sally J. Clark, host of the workshop said, “There’s a lot of rhetoric flying around about the bill, its goals, the sponsors' intentions, the opponents' intentions, and current zoning capacity. This bill could have an impact on Seattle neighborhoods. My goal is to get all of the information out there, so residents can get a full understanding of the legislation.”

State House Bill 1490, titled “Reducing greenhouse gas emissions through land use and transportation requirements” would require that zoning around current and future light rail stops meet a minimum average of 50 homes or jobs per acre in the half-mile walking-distance around the stations. The legislation would also require developers to replace existing affordable housing, and require that some units of housing be provided at set affordability levels.

Neighborhood residents around light rail stations are encouraged to attend and participate.

Archives of previous meetings, news releases and copies of legislation are available on the Council’s website at www.seattle.gov/council . Council meetings are cablecast live on Seattle Channel 21 and Webcast live at www.seattlechannel.org/viewer_live.asp . Questions about Council news releases can be directed to Kimberly Reason, Council Communications, at 206-684-8159, or by e-mail at kimberly.reason@seattle.gov .

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City Council