>>> HELLO AND THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US TODAY.
I AM COUNCILMEMBER MORALES FROM
DISTRICT TO. THAT INCLUDES
CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT
DOWN THE VALLEY TO RANIER BEACH.
THIS IS THE FIRST IN A SERIES I
AM CALLING SEATTLE WITHIN REACH
. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO
TALKING WITH OUR PANELISTS
TODAY AND I JUST WANT TO SHARE
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT I MEAN
BY SEATTLE WITHIN REACH.
WE ALL HAVE IDEAS ABOUT WHAT A
VIBRANT, HEALTHY SEATTLE CAN
LOOK LIKE.
I AM TRAINED AS A NEIGHBORHOOD
PLANNER AND I THINK A LOT ABOUT
GREAT NEIGHBORHOODS AND WHAT
KIND OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND
AMENITIES NEIGHBORHOODS SHOULD
HAVE WITHIN REACH.
THAT INCLUDES EVERYTHING FROM
HOUSING, OF COURSE.
BUT I THINK WE SHOULD STOP
TALKING ABOUT PRODUCING UNITS
AND REALLY START TALKING ABOUT
HOW WE CREATE GREAT
NEIGHBORHOODS FOR PEOPLE.
THAT MEANS NEIGHBORHOODS THAT
HAVE HOUSING THAT AVERAGE
WORKERS CAN ACTUALLY LIVE IN.
IT ALSO INCLUDES LOCALLY OWNED
BUSINESSES, GROCERIES, GREAT
ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND
CHILDCARE.
MAYBE EVEN A CREDIT UNION.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A LOCALLY
OWNED HARDWARE STORE IN MY
NEIGHBORHOOD. I WOULD LOVE TO
HAVE ANOTHER NURSERY DOWN IN
THE SOUTH END. THE SERIES WE
ARE DOING HERE, SEATTLE WITHIN
REACH, IS INTENDED TO BE A
COMMUNITY CONVERSATION ON HOW
WE CAN DO THAT.
HOW DO WE INTENTIONALLY CREATE
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE WELL-
CONNECTED, THAT OFFER THE KINDS
OF GOODS AND SERVICES THAT
PEOPLE CAN ACCESS WITHOUT
HAVING TO DRIVE TO THEM? SO,
THROUGHOUT THE SERIES, WE WILL
BE FOCUSING ON PARTICULAR TOPICS
. IF THERE IS SOMETHING YOU
WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT,
PLEASE DROP US A LINE AND LET
US KNOW.
WE WILL TALK AT THE END OF THE
PANEL ON HOW YOU CAN DO THAT,
BUT FOR TODAY, WE WILL START
WITH AN INTRODUCTION TO LAND
USE PLANNING.
SOME OF YOU MIGHT THINK THAT IS
INCREDIBLY DULL.
I THINK IT IS EXCITING.
LAND USE PLANNING IS THE MOST
POWERFUL TOOL THAT WE HAVE AS A
CITY.
IT AFFECTS HOW THE NEIGHBORHOODS
IN OUR CITY CHANGE AND GROW.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL
UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROCESSES
ARE AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE
ENGAGE IN THOSE PROCESSES.
TODAY WE WILL HEAR FROM EXPERTS
IN PLANNING AND ARCHITECTURE
AND WE WILL HEAR FROM COMMUNITY
ADVOCATES WHO HAVE SEEN WHAT
THESE KINDS OF DECISIONS MEAN
FOR PEOPLE ON THE GROUND AND
REALLY HAVE A CONVERSATION ON
WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO PAY
ATTENTION AND HOW YOU CAN ENGAGE
. I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE
DISCUSSION TODAY.
NOW I WILL ASK EACH OF OUR
PANELISTS TO BRIEFLY INTRODUCE
YOURSELVES AND THEN WE WILL GET
STARTED.
WE WILL HAVE FOLKS FROM THE
SEATTLE PLANNING COMMISSION,
THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF
ARCHITECTS, AND PUGET SOUND
STAGE. IF THE COMMISSIONERS
COULD START, THAT WOULD BE
GREAT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
MY NAME IS JAMIE STROBEL, I USE
HE/HER PRONOUNS.
I HAVE BEEN ON THE COMMISSION
FOR SIX YEARS AND MY BACKGROUND
IS IN CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE.
I WILL PASS IT TO RADHIKA.
>> MY NAME IS RADHIKA NAIR.
I WORK ON THE COMMISSION FOR A
YEAR OR SO.
THIS IS MY SECOND TIME IN THE
COMMISSION.
I AM EXCITED TO PASS IT ON TO
ROSE.
>> HI, MY NAME IS ROSE LEW
WHITSON AND I LIVE UP NORTH.
MY BACKGROUND IS AS A BIOLOGIST
CURRENTLY WITH JACOBS
ENGINEERING AND I AM ENTERING
MY SECOND YEAR AS A VOLUNTEER
PLANNING COMMISSIONER.
>> GREAT.
THANKS, EVERYONE. IF WE COULD
GO AHEAD AND HAVE MATT, DYLAN,
AND AB INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AS
WELL.
>> HI, I AM DYLAN GLOSECKI. MY
PRONOUNS ARE KEY/HIM.
I AM AN ARCHITECT AND URBAN
PLANNER REPRESENTING AMERICAN
INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS THE
SEATTLE CHAPTER.
I HAVE BEEN PRACTICING
APARTMENT AND CONDO DESIGN IN
SEATTLE FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS.
I HAVE WORKED AROUND TRANSIT
CENTERS.
I WILL PASS IT ON TO MATT.
>> HI, EVERYONE.
I AM MATT HUTCHINS, A PRINCIPAL
AT ARCHITECTURE.
I USE HE/HIM PRONOUNS.
WE ARE LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN
CHANGE THE ZONING CODE TO ALLOW
FOR MORE HOUSING OPPORTUNITY.
LET'S SEE, I AM THE COCHAIR OF
THE HOUSING TASK FORCE AND HAS
BEEN FOCUSED ON A LOT OF THE
GREAT CHANGES WE HAVE SEEN IN
ZONING OVER THE LAST DECADE.
>> THANK YOU, EVERYONE.
>> MY NAME IS AB JUANER AND I
PREFER THEY/THEM PRONOUNS.
I LIVE IN COLUMBUS CITY AND I
WILL TALK ABOUT MY BACKGROUND
LATER.
BACK TO YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, EVERYBODY.
WE ASKED THE PLANNING
COMMISSION TO COME AND SHARE
WITH US A LITTLE ON WHO THEY
ARE AND WHAT THEY DO AND REALLY
TO GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS.
THAT IS SOMETHING WE WILL BE
TALKING ABOUT AS A CITY OVER
THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT
COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAD A GOOD
FOUNDATION FOR WHY THEY SHOULD
CARE ABOUT IT.
WITH THAT, I WILL HAND IT OVER
TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO
GET US STARTED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. IF WE
COULD SHARE OUR SLIDES --
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THANK YOU.
SO JUST TO INTRODUCE A LITTLE
ON THE SEATTLE PLANNING
COMMISSION, THERE ARE THREE
HERE TODAY BUT 16 ON THE
COMMISSION.
WE ARE VOLUNTEERS FROM ACROSS
SEATTLE WITH A WIDE RANGE OF
LIVED EXPERIENCE, PROFESSIONAL
AND EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND.
NOT EVERYONE IS A PLANNER.
SOME HAVE BIOLOGY BACKGROUNDS OR
PUBLIC HEALTH BACKGROUNDS OR
POLICY OR DIRECT WORKING IN
COMMUNITIES. WE ARE AN ADVISORY
BODY, SO WE ARE NOT REGULATORY.
WE PROVIDE INPUT TO THE CITY
COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
TO BE ABLE TO ADVISE THEM ON
TOPICS AROUND PLANNING. WE
GROUND OUR WORK IN RACIAL
EQUITY PRINCIPLES AND WE ARE
COMMITTED TO ACKNOWLEDGING AND
ADDRESSING THE HARMS THAT HAVE
DIRECTLY RESULTED IN
INSTITUTIONAL RACISM AND PAST
RACIST PLANNING METHODS AS IT
HAS SHOWN UP IN THINGS LIKE
HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION PARKS
, OPEN SPACES, AND ALL OF THESE
ESSENTIAL PART OF A LIVABILITY
IN OUR CITY.
WE ARE ALSO CONSIDERED THE
STEWARDS OF THE COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN, WHICH ONE OF MY FELLOW
COMMISSIONERS WILL GET A LITTLE
MORE INTO WHAT THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS.
THIS IS A FOUNDATIONAL
DOCUMENT, SO RADHIKA WILL
SPEAK TO THAT MORE.
WE COLLABORATE WITH COMMUNITIES
AND CITY STAFF TO CRAFT A PLAN
THAT SETS A VISION FOR ALL
PEOPLE TO THRIVE.
WE ARE REGULARLY GETTING
BRIEFINGS FROM DEPARTMENTS FROM
ALL OVER THE CITY.
WE ARE LOOKING AT A REALLY
COMPREHENSIVE PICTURE OF ALL OF
THE PLANNING THINGS HAPPENING
IN THE CITY.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE?
>> THANKS, JAMIE.
I WILL SPEND A LITTLE BIT OF
TIME DESCRIBING WHAT THE PLAN
IS, WHAT IT CAN'T DO, WHAT IT
CAN DO, AND THEN I WILL PASS IT
OFF TO ROSE TO TALK ABOUT IT A
BIT MORE.
AS JAMIE MENTIONED, THE OVERALL
GOALS OF THE PLAN AND THE
PURPOSE OF IT IS CLEAR.
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WITHIN
WASHINGTON'S PLANNING FRAMEWORK
IS AT THE HEART OF LOCAL
PLANNING EFFORTS.
IT ESSENTIALLY CREATES AMBITION
FOR THE FUTURE FOR THE NEXT 20
YEARS.
IT IS INTENDED TO BE
INSPIRATIONAL. THE WAY IT IS
ORGANIZED, IT HAS A SERIES OF
GOALS AND POLICIES THAT ARE
TOPICALLY ARRANGED BY CITY,
ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND THE
DEPARTMENTS.
IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS
OPTIONAL. IT IS REQUIRED FOR
CURRENT AS WELL AS NEW
RESIDENTS . ONE GREAT VALUE OF
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS IT
CONSOLIDATES IN ONE DOCUMENT
GOALS AND POLICIES FOR THE
VISION THE COMMUNITY HAS. IT IS
COORDINATED TO ACHIEVE THAT
VISION.
YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
ONE OF THE IDEAS AROUND THE
PLAN BEING COORDINATED AND
CONSISTENT, THE IDEA OF
EXTERNAL CONSISTENCY IS THE
PLAN RESPONDS TO REGIONAL TRENDS
, THE REGIONAL FRAMEWORK, WHAT
THE PUGET SOUND REGION IS
PLANNING FOR, AND WHAT ADJACENT
CITIES ARE PLANNING FOR.
ALL OF THE TOPICS AND CHAPTERS
IN THE PLAN ARE BASED ON THE
SAME SET OF ASSUMPTIONS.
THEY ALL TELL THE SAME STORY.
IT'S ALSO ABOUT MAKING SURE
ADEQUATE PUBLIC FACILITIES ARE
PROVIDED FOR THE GROWTH AND
AMBITION IN THE PLAN.
CONSISTENCY ALSO GETS AROUND TO
IMPLEMENTATION ON SPENDING BY
THE CITY ON INFRASTRUCTURE.
IT SHOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND
ZONING AND LAND USE CODE, WHICH
ARE TYPICALLY REGULATIONS.
THEY MUST BE CONSISTENT OF THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
BESIDE IT REFLECTING THE
COMMUNITY AMBITION, WHICH IS
ITS PRIMARY PURPOSE, THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS A KEY
SOURCE OF INFORMATION AND
GUIDANCE. FOR EXAMPLE, IT
INCLUDES A LOT OF INFORMATION,
A LOT OF MAPS, A LOT OF
INFORMATION ON HOW THE CITY IS
CHANGING.
IT CAN BE A RESOURCE FOR HOW
SEATTLE IS CHANGING AND HOW IT
PLANS TO RESPOND TO KEY ISSUES.
BECAUSE IT GUIDES DECISIONS, IT
CAN ALSO BE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR
PRIVATE SECTORS, WHO WOULD LOOK
TO SEE WHAT THE COMMUNITY
VISION IS.
THIS WILL HELP THEM CREATE MORE
RESPONSIVE PROPOSALS FOR
PRIVATE ACTION.
THE PLAN IS NOT SET IN STONE.
IT CAN BE AMENDED ONCE A YEAR
EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE MORE
MINOR IN NATURE.
IT WILL BE AMENDED ONCE IT 10
YEARS. EVERY EIGHT YEARS, MAJOR
UPDATES MUST ALIGN WITH THE
CENSUS AND THE PLAN MUST BE
AMENDED TO MAKE SURE IT IS
EVOLVING AND ADAPTIVE TO
COMMUNITIES.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE?
SOMETHING THAT IS IMPORTANT TO
UNDERSTAND ARE THE LIMITS AND
BOUNDARIES FOR WHAT A
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CAN DO.
IT OUTLINES THE MISSION.
IT OUTLINES GOALS AND POLICIES,
BUT DOESN'T INCLUDE REGULATIONS
LIKE ZONING.
IT HAS IMPLICATIONS FROM WHERE
THE CITY INVESTS AND HOW AND
THE SPENDING PRIORITIES, BUT IT
DOES NOT INCLUDE A BUDGET. THAT
IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF ITS
LIMITATION. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE?
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, IT HAS
COMMUNITY VISION FOR HOW
SEATTLE GROWS. THIS IS CALLED A
GROWTH STRATEGY.
THERE ARE REQUIRED TOPICS THAT
THE STATE MANDATES SHOULD BE
INCLUDED IN THE COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN, INCLUDING LAND USE,
HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION,
UTILITIES. WE WILL GO INTO
DETAIL THROUGHOUT THE
PRESENTATION TODAY.
THERE ARE OTHER TOPICS THAT
CITIES AND COUNTIES CAN CHOOSE
TO INCLUDE, IN WHICH SEATTLE
HAS INCLUDED COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT, PARKS AND OPEN
SPACE AS WELL.
WHILE THERE ARE GOALS AND
POLICIES ARRANGED FOR THESE
CHAPTERS, THERE ARE OVERARCHING
THEMES ACROSS THE DIFFERENT
CHAPTERS. THE COMMISSION HAS
RECOMMENDED THESE OVERARCHING
THEMES BEFORE THE NEW UPDATE WE
ARE CONTEMPLATING, THE
SUSTAINABLE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR
ALL. WITH THAT, I WILL PASS IT
ON TO ROSE TO TALK IN DETAIL
ABOUT LAND-USE AND OTHER TOPICS.
>> THANKS, RADHIKA.
SO, I AM GOING TO USE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT LAND
USE, LAND USE PLANNING, AND
ZONING.
WHAT ARE THEY?
LAND-USE, DEMYSTIFYING A BIT,
REALLY IT IS HOW WE USE LAND.
ARE USING IT TO GROW FOOD?
ARE USING IT FOR HOUSING?
ARE USING IT FOR PARKS AND OPEN
SPACE?
ALL OF THAT IS LAND-USE.
LAND-USE PLANNING IS A WAY OF
GUIDING THE FUTURE USE, IDEALLY
DETERMINED BY THE COMMUNITY.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO
RECOGNIZE AT THIS POINT WE HAVE
INHERITED SYSTEMS WITH
COMPLEXITIES AND ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT I PERSONALLY LIKE
ABOUT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN,
IT IS A PROCESS AND WE CAN MOVE
THE NEEDLE SO TO SPEAK, CHANGE
COURSE AND EVOLVE EVEN IF IT
FEELS FRUSTRATINGLY SLOW. THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS ONE PART
OF LAND USE PLANNING BUT WE
WON'T TALK ABOUT THAT NOW
BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE A LOT TO
TAKE ON.
SO, THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
DEFINITELY DRAWS ON THE FUTURE
OF LAND USE MAP TO HELP
HIGHLIGHT THE INTENSE FOR HOW
LAND SHOULD BE DEVELOPED.
ZONING, ON THE OTHER HAND, AS
RADHIKA HAS ELUDED, IT'S NOT
NECESSARILY LAND USE PLANNING
ITSELF BUT LAND USE POLICIES.
ZONING TENDS TO BE DEFINED IN
REGULATORY CODE LIKE, OKAY, IF
YOU HAVE A PIECE OF PROPERTY
AND IT IS ZONED AS SOME SORT OF
RESIDENTIAL ZONING, WE WILL
TELL YOU HOW THE HOUSE IS BUILT
. DOES THERE NEED TO BE
SIDEWALKS?
DOES THERE NEED TO BE YARD SPACE
? WE GO OVER THE NITTY-GRITTY
DETAILS SET FORTH IN THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
THE IDEA IS TO WEAVE THE PIECES
TOGETHER AND ZONING IS A PIECE
OF THAT PUZZLE.
AND THEN WITH THOSE BASIC TERMS
DEFINED, I WANT TO MOVE TO
TALKING ABOUT UNDERSTANDING
MORE ON HOW WE CAN INFORM THE
PROCESS.
SO, NEXT SLIDE?
SO, I THINK THE BIGGEST PART TO
EMPHASIZE IS THAT YOU HAVE THE
POWER TO INFORM THE UPDATE
PROCESS WHETHER YOU TALK TO
COUNCILMEMBERS OR COMMUNITY
GROUPS OR TAKE OPPORTUNITIES IN
PUBLIC COMMENT.
WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANTIS
HEARING FROM YOU. THE VARIOUS
GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS OR
DEPARTMENTS WORKING ON SPECIFIC
SECTIONS OF THE PLAN ALSO HAVE
A SPECIFIC AMOUNT OF BUDGET
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.
AGAIN, YOU CAN TAKE PART AND
ATTEND WEBINARS, WORKSHOPS, ALL
SORTS OF WAYS TO GIVE YOUR
INPUT.
OUR COLLEAGUES FROM PUGET SOUND
SAGE WILL BE SHARING MORE ON
THAT LATER.
THERE ARE OTHER MANDATES TO DO
THINGS LIKE EQUITY ANALYSIS TO
INFORM THE PLAN OR EVEN THE
SEATTLE PLANNING COMMISSION, WE
HAVE ISSUES ON SPECIFIC TOPICS
THAT BASED ON OUR SHARED
EXPERTISE WE THINK WOULD BE
GOOD TO CONSIDER.
AND WITH THAT, I WILL PASS IT
BACK TO JAMIE TO TALK A BIT MORE
ABOUT WHAT THE PLAN LOOKS LIKE
FOR INDIVIDUALS.
>> THANKS, ROSE.
THIS PLAN IS DEVELOPED BY CITY
DEPARTMENTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
COMMUNITIES, SO ROSE WALKED
THROUGH A LOT OF WAYS THE
DEPARTMENTS ARE TRYING TO DO
OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY
NGAGEMENT AND PARTNERSHIPS,
EVEN CONTRACTING WITH
ORGANIZATIONS.
THIS DRAFT PLAN IS GOING TO BE
PRODUCED AND AVAILABLE FOR
PUBLIC COMMENTS.
THERE IS A PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD WHICH THEN GETS REVISED
AND SENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL BY
THE MAYOR FOR APPROVAL.
THIS PLAN IMPACTS OUR LIVES AND
OUR COMMUNITIES.
HOW FRIENDS AND RELATIVES CAN
STAY IN PLACE, HOW CAN NEW
NEIGHBORS HAVE ACCESS TO OUR
COMMUNITIES, HOW FAR WE WOULD
NEED TO WALK OR BIKE TO GET TO
A BUS OR TRAIN STOP, WHERE THE
NEAREST PARK IS, WHAT TYPES OF
BUILDINGS ARE AROUND US.
AND AS MENTIONED BEFORE, THERE
ARE LIMITS TO WHAT THE PLAN CAN
DO, BUT IT IS THE BEGINNING AND
IT KIND OF SETS THE STAGE.
IT IS THE OVERARCHING PLAN FOR
ALL OF THE PLANS.
I WOULD DEFINITELY ENCOURAGE
FOLKS TO GET INVOLVED AND LEARN
MORE ON HOW YOU CAN AFFECT YOUR
OWN NEIGHBORHOODS IN THIS CITY.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE?
SO, TO CREATE A MORE EQUITABLE,
LIVABLE, RESILIENT CITY AS WE
GROW, THAT IS THE OPPORTUNITY
HERE, RIGHT?
EVERY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE
THAT HAS COME BEFORE HAS HAD
DIFFERENT MAJOR THEMES.
WE HAVE TALKED A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THE THEMES WE ARE
RECOMMENDING AS WE MOVE
FORWARD.
THIS, AGAIN, IS THE PLAN THAT
OVER ARCHES THOSE PLANS AND
WHERE YOU SEE HOW ALL OF THESE
THINGS INTERCONNECT.
HOW ARE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS,
HOUSING SYSTEMS,
INFRASTRUCTURE, HOW WE CAN
ADDRESS SEVERAL MAJOR
CHALLENGES THAT SEATTLE IS
FACING AROUND RACIAL INEQUITIES
OF THE PAST, HOUSING COSTS, AND
CLIMATE CHANGE AND HOW THAT IS
A THREAT MULTIPLIER THAT MAY
EXACERBATE SOME OF THOSE
THINGS, AND WHERE INVESTMENTS
COULD POTENTIALLY GO.
THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE
TO SHAPE THE SEATTLE THAT WE
WANT TO LIVE IN AND HOW WE CAN
MAKE THIS A MORE EQUITABLE
CITY.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO, LASTLY, A LOT OF COMMISSION
REPORTS THAT WERE REFERENCED
YOU CAN FIND ON THE PLANNING
COMMISSION WEBSITE.
YOU CAN ALSO CLICK ON THE
LITTLE BOX THAT SAYS ONE
SEATTLE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND
YOU WILL BE DIRECTED TO THE
CURRENT WORK AROUND UPDATING A
PLAN, WHICH WE WILL BE TRACKING
THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE PROCESS.
THERE IS A LINK TO THE
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WEBSITE
AND THEIR WORK THAT IS NEWLY
UNDERWAY TO UPDATE THE CITY'S
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE? THAT'S ALL
WE HAVE FOR YOU TODAY.
I KNOW THIS IS A HIGH-LEVEL
OVERVIEW OF A LOT OF COMPLEX
THINGS, SO WE ARE HAPPY TO TAKE
QUESTIONS.
>> WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE WILL BE HAVING MORE
CONVERSATIONS AS THIS PROCESS
SORT OF UNFOLDS. YOU KNOW, THE
PROCESS FOR HOW WE TALK ABOUT
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN HAS
BEGUN BUT WE DON'T ACTUALLY MAKE
DECISIONS UNTIL 2024 SO THERE
IS A LOT OF TIME FOR PEOPLE TO
GET UP TO SPEED AND REALLY MAKE
SURE THEY ARE UNDERSTANDING
WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS
THAT I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN IT UP
TO EVERYONE ON THE PANEL, BUT
CERTAINLY TO THE PLANNING
COMMISSION. THE FIRST THING,
JAMIE, YOU MENTIONED TOWARD THE
END THAT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
IS AN OVERARCHING PLAN RELATED
TO ALL OF THE THINGS WE DO AS A
CITY.
THERE IS A TRANSPORTATION PLAN,
SEVERAL TRANSPORTATION PLANS.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
WHAT THOSE OTHER PLANS ARE AND
HOW THEY INTERACT OR INTERSECT
WITH THE PROCESS?
>> YEAH.
ACTUALLY I MIGHT PASS THIS ONE
TO RADHIKA SINCE RADHIKA LED
TE OVERVIEW SECTION.
>> YEAH.
I THINK EVERY PLAN FROM THE CITY
IS INTENDED TO BE CONSISTENT
WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
THE MASTER PLAN, THE PLANS THE
CITY MIGHT DO TO FOCUS ON
DIFFERENT AREAS AND A CLEARLY
THEY SHOULD ALL BE CONSISTENT
WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
ONE PLANT I WILL SPEAK TO IS
THE SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION
PLAN, WHICH HAS A LITTLE BIT OF
A MAJOR UPDATE. THE SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION PLAN WILL LOOK
AT THE TYPES OF INVESTMENTS AND
TYPES OF TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS
THAT CAN SUPPORT THE VISION
THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS IN THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
IT WILL BE CONSISTENT WITH
THAT.
IT WILL BE ONE WAY IN WHICH THE
VISION IS ADVANCED AND
ACHIEVED.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
EXCUSE ME.
I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION THAT WE
HEAR ABOUT A LOT, WHICH IS THE
FEAR OF CHANGES TO THE ZONING
REGULATIONS.
WE ARE TALKING BROADLY, BUT
THERE IS A LOT OF FEAR THAT
CHANGES WOULD RESULT IN PEOPLE
OF COLOR CONTINUING TO BE
DISPLACED FROM THEIR HOMES,
PRICED OUT OF THE MARKET.
WE ARE HEARING A LOT FROM
HOMEOWNERS OF COLOR BEING
FORCED TO SELL.
I THINK A BROAD QUESTION IS HOW
DO WE ENSURE THAT DOESN'T
CONTINUE TO HAPPEN?
WHAT KIND OF MITIGATION
STRATEGIES SHOULD WE BE
CONTEMPLATING AS WE MOVE
FORWARD IN THE DISCUSSION TO
ENSURE IT DOESN'T CONTINUE TO
HAPPEN?
>> MAYBE I CAN KICK US OFF AND
RADHIKA OR ROSE OR ANYONE WHO
WANTS TO COMMENT CAN JUMP IN
TOO.
THIS IS INCREDIBLY COMPLEX.
WE HAVE WRITTEN IN OUR PAST
REPORTS AND WE ARE WORKING ON
ONE OF OUR ISSUES RIGHT NOW ON
DISPLACEMENT AND ONE OF THE
THINGS WE'RE ADVOCATING FOR IS
ANTI-DISPLACEMENT STRATEGIES
NEED TO BE INCORPORATED INTO
EVERY ASPECT OF THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. YOU KNOW,
YOU CAN'T JUST CHANGE ZONING
WITHOUT HAVING ANTI-
DISPLACEMENT STRATEGIES IN
PARALLEL WITH THAT.
THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT
APPROACHES, SERVICES,
INVESTMENTS, THINGS THAT COULD
BE DONE TO HELP MITIGATE SOME
OF THOSE CONCERNS.
I WILL PASS TO RADHIKA NOW.
RADHIKA OR ROSE , DO YOU WANT
TO ADD TO THAT?
>> YEAH.
I ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT IN
PARTICULAR IT'S IMPORTANT TO
IDENTIFY CULTURAL CENTERS.
SMALL BUSINESSES ARE PROVIDING
OPPORTUNITIES FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING.
WHAT IS CONTRIBUTING TO
SKYROCKETING REAL ESTATE PRICES
AND RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE,
THE FACT THAT THERE IS A BIT OF
A SHORTAGE.
REALLY TRYING TO WEAVE THAT WE
NEED ANTI-DISPLACEMENT POLICIES
IS IMPORTANT.
I DON'T WANT TO SIT IN AN IVORY
TOWER AND SAY YOU NEED TO DO
THIS, THIS, AND THIS.
>> I WOULD JUST ADD, LIKE ROSE
AND JAMIE ARE SAYING, THE IDEA
IS TO HAVE GROWTH WITHOUT
DISPLACEMENT.
SOME OF THOSE STRATEGIES MIGHT
BE TO THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT THE
IMPACTS OF ADDING INFRASTRUCTURE
IN A NEIGHBORHOOD MIGHT BE AND
MAKE SURE WHEN YOU'RE DOING
THINGS LIKE THAT, YOU
POTENTIALLY RAISE PROPERTY
VALUES AND ACCELERATE POTENTIAL
DISPLACEMENT. THINK HOW YOU
MIGHT ADDRESS THAT.
THE CITY HAS A MAP OF AREAS
THAT ARE MORE HIGH RISK FOR
DISPLACEMENT.
WHEN YOU ARE THINKING OF ANTI-
DISPLACEMENT STRATEGIES, THOSE
ARE SOME WAYS A COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN CAN HAND OFF THE POLICIES
TRICKLING DOWN AND CAUSING
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.
>> DOES ANYBODY HAVE A COUPLE
OF EXAMPLES OF WHAT THAT MIGHT
BE?
WHAT KIND OF ANTI-DISPLACEMENT
STRATEGIES YOU THINK WE SHOULD
CONSIDER?
AS A COMMUNITY, WHAT SHOULD WE
BE CONSIDERING?
>> WELL, I WILL POINT TO PUGET
SOUND SAGE.
THEY HAD A GENTRIFICATION
REPORT THAT I THINK HAS A LOT
OF GREAT STRATEGIES IN THERE.
I AM ASSUMING YOU WILL ALL BE
HEARING ABOUT THEM LATER.
AB, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANT
TO ADD?
>> I WANT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT
THE ACTUAL PLAN.
>> OKAY.
FAIR ENOUGH.
THERE IS A REASON WE INVITED
YOU, AB. THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
OKAY, SO I DO WANT TO OPEN IT
UP TO OTHER PANELISTS. IF YOU
HAVE QUESTIONS OR THINGS YOU
WANT TO CHIME IN ON, BUT ONE
OTHER THING I WANT TO ASK ABOUT
IS, YOU KNOW, THE PLAN IS
GUIDED IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE
GROWTH, IT'S JOBS TARGETS.
IT FEELS LIKE THEY MIGHT BE
SHIFTING A LITTLE BIT.
OR, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE HAVE
OVERSHOT THE GROWTH TARGETS
BEFORE.
I AM WONDERING IF YOU COULD
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW WE
PLAN FOR GROWTH WHEN WE AREN'T
NECESSARILY CERTAIN ABOUT WHAT
THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
>> I CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT AND
LET JAMIE AND ROSE WEIGH IN.
TYPICALLY WE HAVE A GROWTH
TARGET THAT IS BASED ON THE
TRENDS IN THE REGION AND WE
THINK THE SHARE OF THE GROWTH
IN THE REGION THAT SEATTLE
MIGHT BE EXPECTED TO HIT RECENT
TRENDS. LIKE YOU WERE SAYING
WITH THE PANDEMIC AND OTHER
THINGS, IT IS HARD TO CREDIT
WHAT THE TRENDS MIGHT BE BUT
TYPICALLY THEY WILL LOOK AT
THREE SCENARIOS FOR GROWTH.
ONE COULD BE BASED ON EXISTING
TRENDS. THIS COULD BE THE TYPE
OF HOUSING AND JOBS THAT WE
MIGHT SEE.
WE CAN LOOK TO SEE THE
INFRASTRUCTURE AND SPENDING WE
HAVE. THERE COULD BE ONE THAT
IS A HIGHER GROWTH SCENARIO.
IF THESE TRENDS CHANGE, WE HAVE
MORE HOUSING AND WE HAVE MORE
JOBS THAN WE HAVE HAD IN THE
PAST.
THIS COULD BE A SCENARIO AND
WHAT WOULD WE NEED TO GET
THERE?
THE THIRD SCENARIO WOULD BE A
REALLY BOOK AND IDEA THAT THIS
IS NOT GROWTH.
THERE IS A NUMBER OF JOBS AND
HOUSING WE HAVE NEVER SEEN BUT
WE WILL TEST IN ANY CASE TO SEE
HOW SENSITIVE IT IS TO THE
TYPES OF INFRASTRUCTURE
SPENDING WE MIGHT NEED TO DO TO
ACCOMMODATE THAT AND USUALLY
THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PIECE
IS WHERE THESE THREE SCENARIOS
FOR GROWTH WILL BE TESTED TO
SEE WHAT KINDS OF IMPACTS IT
HAS ON THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
ON COMMUNITIES AND
TRANSPORTATION.
THE CITY LOOKS AT THE IMPACTS
AND WORKS WITH THE COMMUNITY
AND WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS TO
SAY THIS IS SOMEWHERE IN THE
MIDDLE.
THAT IS WHERE WE THINK WE MIGHT
LAND.
IF WE GO TO THE HIGHER RANGE,
WE KNOW WE NEED TO DO THIS.
IF WE ARE ON THE LOWER END, WE
KNOW WE NEED TO DO THIS.
IT IS A PROCESS THAT LOOKS AT
THE RANGE OF FUTURE OPTIONS.
YOU CAN SEE ALL OF THE POSSIBLE
SCENARIOS THAT IT COULD TAKE.
IT'S NOT A PERFECT SCIENCE.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN
ADEQUATELY CAPTURE BUT THE IDEA
IS WE COULD AT LEAST CAPTURE A
RANGE.
WE WILL HAVE A LOT OF
CONVERSATION IN THE FUTURE ON
WHETHER THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
IS PLANNING FOR THE RIGHT
AMOUNT OF HOUSING AND JOBS IN
THE NEXT 20 YEARS AND WHAT IT
WILL ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WE ARE ALSO JOINED BY THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
PLANNING COMMISSION, THE AMAZING
STAFF THAT SUPPORTS OUR
COMMISSION.
VANESSA MURDOCK WILL JUST ADD
TO THAT.
>> THANKS, JAMIE.
I WILL BE VERY QUICK.
MY NAME IS VANESSA MURDOCK AND
I USE SHE/HER PRONOUNS.
I WILL JUST ADD TO THE
CONVERSATION, WHICH HAS BEEN SO
RICH AND FANTASTIC.
I AM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO
THE REST OF THE PRESENTERS. THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PLANS FOR A
20 YEAR HORIZON, SO IT PLANS
OUT FOR 20 YEARS.
NOBODY COULD HAVE PREDICTED
COVID IN THE LAST COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN.
IT WAS ADOPTED IN 2016, WHICH
TOOK SEVERAL YEARS TO PUT INTO
PLACE.
IT IS NOT SET IN STONE.
IT IS A DYNAMIC DOCUMENT.
IT DOES DO ITS BEST TO
ANTICIPATE WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN.
THE LAST COMPREHENSIVE PLAN,
AS RADHIKA AND JAMIE AND
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES NOTED
DIDN'T ANTICIPATE THE AMOUNT OF
HOUSING GROWTH THAT SEATTLE HAS
EXPERIENCED.
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SETS
GOALS AND POLICIES THAT ARE
PRETTY HIGH LEVEL TO GUIDE CITY
DEPARTMENTS, CITY ELECTED
OFFICIALS.
WHAT DO WE DO WHEN COVID
HAPPENS?
WHAT DO WE DO WHEN WE HAVE
OUTPACED OUR PROJECTED AMOUNT
OF RESIDENTIAL GROWTH BY
THOUSANDS WITHIN A TIME PERIOD
THAT WE WERE EXPECTED TO HAVE
20 YEARS?
I WOULD LIKE EVERYONE TO KNOW
THAT IT IS NOT SET IN STONE.
IT SETS FORTH WHAT WE HOPE TO
DO AND HOW WE HOPE AND PLAN TO
ACCOMMODATE GROWTH IN THE
RESIDENTIAL AND EMPLOYMENT
AREAS AND WHAT SERVICES AND
SUPPORT IS NEEDED TO SUPPORT
THAT GROWTH. WE WILL NEED TO
ADAPT AS WE COME ALONG, AS
THINGS HAPPEN THAT WERE
UNANTICIPATED AND WE CAN POINT
BACK TO THE GOALS AND POLICIES
IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT
ARE PRETTY HIGH LEVEL AND SAY
EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO
HEALTHY FOOD. EVERYONE SHOULD
HAVE ACCESS TO OPEN SPACE.
EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO
A PLACE TO LIVE.
>> THANK YOU, VANESSA. THIS IS
THE HIGH LEVEL VISION, THE
DREAM WE WANT FOR THE CITY.
WITHIN THAT, IT IS UP TO A LOT
OF INDIVIDUAL SMALLER PLANS
THAT RADHIKA AND ROSE WERE
MENTIONING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO
DO THAT. THIS IS OUR
OPPORTUNITY TO SET THAT VISION
FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS.
>> THAT'S GREAT.
THANK YOU.
AND THANK YOU FOR COMING ON,
VANESSA.
I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.
SO, THIS IS A REALLY HELPFUL
TABLE SETTING FOR THE WORK THAT
WE WILL BE DOING, THE
CONVERSATIONS WE WILL BE HAVING
HERE THROUGHOUT THIS SERIES.
I DO WANT TO MOVE TO THE NEXT
PANEL FROM THE AMERICAN
INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS TO
TALK ABOUT THE NUTS AND BOLTS
AND WHAT THIS MEANS ON THE
GROUND AND TALK ABOUT FROM YOUR
PERSPECTIVE AS FOLKS WHO ARE
TRYING TO BUILD THE THINGS THAT
WE INTEND, HOW THAT LOOKS AND
WHAT WE NEED TO BE THINKING
ABOUT.
I WILL ASK MATT AND DYLAN TO
COME ON AND KEEP US MOVING.
>> OKAY.
WELL, THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.
IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE AND TALK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE ARE
HOPING TO SEE AND WHAT WE HAVE
BEEN LOOKING INTO THE PAST
COUPLE OF YEARS AND WHAT WE
WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THIS
UPDATE.
I AM DYLAN GLOSECKI WITH
AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF
ARCHITECTS AND MY COLLEAGUE,
MATT HUTCHINS , IS ALSO CO-
PRESENTING WITH ME.
WE WILL BE HEADING ON A COUPLE
OF TOPICS.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF TOPICS. WE
WILL BE SPENDING TIME IN
ANTICIPATION OF THIS
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE.
SO, THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF
ARCHITECTS SEATTLE CHAPTER , WE
REPRESENT SEATTLE'S ARCHITECTURE
COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE A SERIES OF ONGOING
WORK WE DO TO COVER A RANGE OF
ISSUES BEYOND JUST BUILDING
DESIGN. WE LOOK INTO THE
QUALITY OF URBAN DESIGN, WE
LOOK INTO HOUSING, HOUSING
POLICY, TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS
AND HOW THEY AFFECT AREAS
AROUND THEM.
WE LOOK INTO THE BROAD LEVEL,
THE BIG PICTURE LEVEL ACROSS
SEATTLE.
HOW DO WE MAKE THESE MORE
FRIENDLY IN TERMS OF MATERIALS
TO ENERGY USE?
WE ALSO LOOK AT THE CODES,
PROCESSES THAT GO INTO TRADING
THESE BUILDINGS, SO WE TALK
ABOUT THINGS LIKE STATE ENERGY
CODE.
THERE IS A RANGE OF TOPICS WE
COVER, BUT TODAY WE WILL TALK
ABOUT HOUSING. WE WILL GET INTO
THAT A LITTLE BIT, SO BEAR WITH
ME.
SO, AGAIN, A MAJOR FOCUS OF THE
PAST YEAR OR TWO AND SOMETHING
WE ARE VERY CURIOUS TO ADVOCATE
FOR THIS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
UPDATE IS A NETWORK IN LIVABLE
NEIGHBORHOODS.
TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT
THAT MAY LOOK LIKE.
WE ENVISIONED THE NETWORK TO BE
A SERIES OF COMMUNITIES ACROSS
SEATTLE. IT'S DESIGNED IN A WAY
TO ALLOW FOLKS ACCESS BY
WALKING OR ROLLING TO
NEIGHBORHOOD STORES AND SERVICES
WITH THE INTENT OF PROVIDING
SEATTLE ACCESS TO DAILY NEEDS
AND SERVICES.
TO GET THERE, THERE IS NO SET
PLAYBOOK FOR THIS BUT WE HAVE
THOUGHTS TO WHERE THEY MIGHT
START.
I THINK IT STARTS WITH WHAT DO
WE HAVE NOW?
WHERE ARE CURRENT NEIGHBORHOODS?
IDENTIFYING THOSE LOCATIONS AND
LOOKING AT WHAT'S MISSING.
HOW CAN WE SUPPORT THE GROWTH
OF SERVICES, AMENITIES,
CULTURAL ASSETS THAT MIGHT BE
MISSING FROM CERTAIN
NEIGHBORHOODS?
HOW DO WE PROTECT EXISTING ONES
? DO WE NEED TO CREATE NEW
AREAS, NEW, SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD
CENTERS TO ENSURE WE HAVE THIS
EQUITABLE NETWORK OF ACCESS
ACROSS THE COMMUNITY?
WE WILL LOOK AT THE MAPS HERE.
SO, IN TERMS OF HOW SEATTLE HAS
GROWN THE PAST 20 YEARS, THE
PREVIOUS PLANS HAVE REVOLVED
AROUND THIS IDEA OF AN URBAN
VILLAGE ENERGY.
WHICH BASICALLY MEANS WE HAVE
IDENTIFIED ROUGHLY 30 AREAS IN
THE CITY WHERE WE FOCUS MOST OF
OUR HOUSING AND JOB GROWTH.
THESE NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE BEEN
IDENTIFIED WHERE WE FOCUS OUR
CONNECTIONS AS WELL.
WE HAVE EXPANDED OUR TRANSIT
NUMBERS SIGNIFICANTLY WITH THE
INTENT OF CONNECTING THESE 30
NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE CITY
TO EACH OTHER, TO DOWNTOWN.
THE IDEA OF FOCUSING GROWTH IN
THESE AREAS WITH DENSITY, WE
REDUCE OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT.
THIS HAS BEEN REALLY SUCCESSFUL
, BUT IT HAS ALSO PRESENTED A
SERIES OF CHALLENGES THAT WE
ARE ALL FACING.
SOME OF THESE SUCCESSES HAVE
CREATED A CONNECTION OR A
NETWORK OF WALKABLE
NEIGHBORHOODS. MANY
NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE BEEN CREATED
CONNECTED TO TRANSIT.
IF YOU CAN AFFORD TO LIVE
THERE, IT'S GREAT.
THE ISSUE, AS WE ALL KNOW, WE
ARE DEALING WITH SIGNIFICANT
AFFORDABILITY ISSUES. WE ARE
DEALING WITH DISPLACEMENT AND
WE ARE LOOKING AT INEQUITABLE
ACCESS TO THESE GOODS AND
SERVICES.
MANY FOLKS THAT DON'T LIVE IN
THESE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS HAVE
TO DRIVE TO GET ACCESS.
MANY RESIDENTS ARE KIND OF LEFT
OUT OF ACCESS TO GOODS AND
SERVICES.
SO, AGAIN, WE ARE GETTING A
LITTLE WONKY HERE.
IF WE LOOK AT THESE
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS IN DARK
BLUE, IN LIGHT BLUE, THESE ARE
THE 30 AREAS OF GROWTH FOR
HOUSING AND JOBS. IF YOU LOOK
AT THEM IN COMPARISON TO WHERE
OUR AREAS OF DETACHED HOMES ARE
, WE HAVE A HUGE SWATH OF
SEATTLE THAT ALLOWS FOR
DETACHED HOMES. IT DOESN'T ALLOW
FOR NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES OR
CORNER STORES, DRY CLEANERS. IT
DOESN'T ALLOW FOR THESE DAILY
NEEDS AND SERVICES THAT WE NEED
ACCESS TO.
SO, MANY OF THESE AREAS THAT
YOU SEE IN YELLOW, THEY LACK
LAWFUL ACCESS TO SERVICES.
THERE IS AN INABILITY TO ACCESS
DAILY NEEDS AND SERVICES.
BASICALLY OF THIS AREA IN
SEATTLE WHERE WE CAN BUILD
RESIDENTIAL HOMES, OF THAT AREA,
75% IS DEVOTED TO DETACHED
HOMES, TO AREAS WHERE WE CAN
ONLY DEVELOP LIVED IN CITY
HOUSING AND NOT CORNER STORES OR
BUSINESSES FOR NEEDS AND
SERVICES.
ADDITIONALLY, ONLY 5% OF
SEATTLE'S HOW THING GROWTH IN
THESE AREAS.
AGAIN, IN THESE URBAN VILLAGES.
WE HAVE THESE PLANS WITH VERY
LITTLE GROWTH AND IT DOES NOT
ALLOW SERVICES. IT DOESN'T
ALLOW FOR COMMERCIAL SERVICES.
WE ARE BASICALLY LOCKING IN A
HUGE SWATH OF SEATTLE. OUR
CURIOSITY IN LOOKING AT
NEIGHBORHOODS IS HOW DO WE LOOK
TO GET BEYOND THAT?
HOW CAN WE RETHINK HOW WE ARE
APPROACHING THIS GROWTH?
WE LOOK AT THE TRANSIT NETWORK.
IN 2015, THAT WAS THE GOAL,
PROVIDING 70% OF SEATTLE
HOUSEHOLDS WITH ACCESS TO 10
MINUTE BUSES.
A BUS WILL COME EVERY 10
MINUTES.
YOU COULD WALK TO A BUS STOP.
10 MINUTE WALK WOULD GIVE YOU
ACCESS TO A BUS THAT COMES
EVERY 10 MINUTES THROUGHOUT THE
DAY.
WE HIT THAT GOAL IN 2019, WHICH
WAS VERY QUICK AND INSPIRING TO
SEE WHAT WE COULD DO IN SUCH A
SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.
AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS MAP,
WE HAVE LOTS OF AREAS IN GRAY.
NOT ALL OF SEATTLE IS COVERED.
OUR AREAS OF DETACHED HOMES,
WHICH YOU CAN SEE IN GRAY, ARE
STILL LEFT OUT.
THE QUESTION REMAINS HOW DO WE
PROVIDE ACCESS TO DAILY NEEDS
AND SERVICES ACROSS SEATTLE?
ONE WAY IS WE EXPAND OUR BUS
NETWORK AND WE PROVIDE BUS
SERVICE TO ALL OF THESE
NEIGHBORHOODS.
THAT IS ONE OPTION.
THE OTHER, WE BRING THESE
SERVICES AND CAFES THROUGH THE
NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE ALLOW THESE NEIGHBORHOODS TO
HAVE A SMALL AMOUNT OF
COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT AT VERY
INTENTIONAL LOCATIONS.
IN COMBINATION OF THESE TWO
THINGS, IT IS AN INAPPROPRIATE
ROUTE TO GO. IT IS A FINE IDEA,
BUT ISN'T THAT GOING TO DISRUPT
OUR ENTIRE FABRIC?
HONESTLY, WE HAVE A LOT OF AREAS
THAT DON'T NECESSARILY ALLOW
FOR COMMERCIAL -- NEW
COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS, NEW
CORNER STORES AND NEW CAFES.
BUT THEY USED IT TO.
WE HAVE A VERY SMALL SCALE
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS THROUGHOUT
SEATTLE.
IT'S OUTSIDE OF THE AREAS THAT
HAVE HAD GROWTH AND THEY LIVE
ON AND SERVE THESE AREAS
ATTACHED TO THESE HOMES.
WE HAVE A START OF THESE ACROSS
THE CITY.
THERE ARE 80 PLUS OF THESE
THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO
BUILD OUT THIS LIVABLE NETWORK
OF NEIGHBORHOODS, BUILDING ON
THIS URBAN VILLAGE APPROACHED
ENERGY HAS WORKED AND HAS
REACHED ITS CAPACITY.
AS NOTED, THERE WAS
DISPLACEMENT WITH
AFFORDABILITY.
WE ARE LOOKING TO EXPAND THAT
ACCESS TO BASICALLY FILL IN THE
IN BETWEEN. IN BETWEEN THESE
URBAN VILLAGE CENTERS.
THE IDEA OF CREATING THIS 50
MINUTE CITY IDEA, CREATING A
WHOLE NETWORK ACROSS THE CITY
THAT ALLOWS ACCESS TO DAILY
NEEDS AND SERVICES, EVERYTHING
FROM WORK, FOOD, HEALTH. WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT EDUCATION,
CULTURAL ASSETS, LEISURE,
ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING NEEDED
IN A DAY.
SO, AS WE LOOK AT THESE URBAN
VILLAGE CENTERS WHERE WE HAVE
HAD MOST OF OUR GROWTH THE PAST
20 YEARS, AS WE LOOK AT SMALLER
DEATHS ON THIS MAP, OUR
EXISTING SMALL SCALE
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS, WE START
TO SEE THAT WHILE WE DON'T HAVE
A COMPLETE NUMBER OF
NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE CITY,
WE HAVE A START AT IT.
WE HAVE A LOT THAT AT LEAST
HAVE A CAFE, OR A DRYCLEANERS,
OR A DAYCARE. SOME ELEMENT OF
YOUR DAILY NEEDS AND SERVICES.
WE NEED A START THAT WILL NOT
COMPLETELY DISRUPT THE
NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT RATHER
FURTHER AN EXISTING NOTE IN A
NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT WOULD SEEM THAT CITIES
IDENTIFY THESE LOCATIONS AND
BRING THEM INTO THE STRATEGY.
WE ARE NOT GROWING IN ONLY 30
AREAS ACROSS THE CITY AND
FURTHERING, YOU KNOW,
AFFORDABILITY AND DISPLACEMENT
ISSUES, BUT WE ARE SAYING OKAY,
WE WILL GROW IN THESE AREAS
SOME MORE.
WE WILL ALSO BRING IN A SERIES
OF SMALL-SCALE NODES ACROSS THE
CITY.
WE HAVE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF
GROWTH THERE BUT REALLY WE WILL
LOOK AT WHAT YOU THESE
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS NEED TO
ADEQUATELY SERVE THE
SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS, AND
HOW CAN WE FACILITATE? LET'S SAY
ADDING A SMALL GROCERY STORE.
WHAT SORT OF POLICY CAN GO INTO
PLACE TO CURATE THAT?
I WILL SPEED THROUGH THESE LAST
COUPLE OF SLIDES QUICKLY. ONE
EXAMPLE OF A NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER
WOULD BE SOUTH BEACON HILL.
SHOWING A LITTLE BIT OF OUTLOOK
WHAT THIS MIGHT LOOK LIKE, HERE
ARE A FEW IMAGES.
THIS IS THROUGH HERE. SMALL-
SCALE GROCERY STORE,
DRYCLEANERS, CAFE. AGAIN, JUST
A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES FROM
ACROSS THE CITY ON WHAT WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE TALK
ABOUT THESE SMALL-SCALE CENTERS.
JUST TO RECAP BEFORE I HAND IT
OFF TO MATT, THIS IDEA OF THE
NETWORK OF NEIGHBORHOODS, THE
CITY'S ROLE IS TO STRENGTHEN
ITS EXISTING NETWORK.
IT IS TO STRENGTHEN AND EXPAND
IT.
THE ASK OF RESIDENTS IS TO
SPEAK UP ABOUT WHAT YOUR
NEIGHBORHOOD NEEDS.
HELP THE CITY LOCATE A
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER.
TELL THE CITY WHAT YOUR
NEIGHBORHOOD NEEDS TO PROVIDE
ACCESS TO YOUR DAILY NEEDS AND
SERVICES.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS A KEY
PILLAR OF THIS WHOLE PLAN AND
IS ESSENTIAL TO SUCCESS.
IT DEPENDS ON RESIDENTS OF THE
CITY SPEAKING UP AND TALKING
AND LETTING THE CITY KNOW WHAT
IT IS THAT THEY NEED.
I WILL HAND IT OFF TO MATT
THERE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
YEAH, DYLAN.
YOU WANT TO KEEP THE SLIDES
GOING THERE ON YOUR SCREEN?
GREAT.
ALL RIGHT.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT GROWTH TARGETS.
THE GROWTH TARGET OF JUST
KEEPING THINGS AS PORTABLE AS
THEY CURRENTLY ARE, WE NEED
152,000 NEW HOMES IN THE NEXT
20 YEARS.
THAT IS MORE THAN WE HAVE
SINGLE-FAMILY LOTS IN THE
ENTIRE CITY.
WE ONLY HAVE 128,000. WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT DOUBLING THE
DENSITY OF A GOOD PORTION OF
THE CITY TO MAKE SPACE FOR ALL
OF THE PEOPLE WE EXPECT TO COME
TO SEATTLE.
I THINK YOU CAN THINK ABOUT
THAT AS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY.
WE ARE GOING TO BE EVOLVING AS
WE GROW AND THE QUESTION IS HOW
DO WE DO THAT?
HOW DO WE MAKE ROOM FOR ALL OF
THIS NEW HOUSING AND USE THAT
AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHAPE THE
CITY THAT WE WANT TO LIVE IN?
NEXT SLIDE.
SO, SOME OF THE THINGS WE HAVE
DONE IN THE PAST AND ARE KIND
OF IN OPPORTUNITIES TO THUS
FAR, IN 2019, WE DOUBLED THE
NUMBER OF COTTAGES THAT COULD
BE ON-SITE AND IN THE LAST THREE
YEARS, THE NUMBER OF COTTAGES,
THE RATE HAS TRIPLED.
WE ARE BUILDING -- I NEXT YEAR,
WE WILL BE BUILDING 1000 NEW
ACCESSORY UNITS A YEAR.
THAT IS ONE OF THE MAIN
PROVIDERS FOR NEW HOUSING IN
SEATTLE.
NEXT SLIDE.
WE CERTAINLY DO A LOT OF
TOWNHOUSES. WE INSTITUTED THIS
RESIDENTIAL SMALL LOT.
THERE ARE OTHER MODES WHERE
THERE ARE NOT JUST DETACHED
HOUSES, BUT OTHER WAYS OF
SUBDIVIDING THE LAWN AND ADDING
MORE HOUSEHOLDS.
NEXT SLIDE.
AND WE ALSO HAVE THIS MODE
WHERE WE'VE GOT BIG BUILDINGS.
THIS IS AFRICAN TOWN PLAZA,
WHICH I TALK ABOUT LATER IF WE
HAVE MORE TIME.
PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE
SPEED APARTMENT BUILDINGS.
NEXT SLIDE.
WE ARE BUILDING A LOT OF
APARTMENT BUILDINGS BUT THERE
IS A GAP.
IF WE COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE
, WHAT WE SEE OUR COTTAGE
CLUSTERS, GARDEN APARTMENTS,
INFILL APARTMENT BUILDINGS.
THERE IS A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY
IN ALL OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS
FOR KIND OF A DIVERSITY OF NEW
HOUSING TYPES AND MIXES THAT
WILL ALL RESPOND, OR CAN BE
BUILT ON WHAT WE HAVE AND
RESPOND TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD
CONTEXT.
I THINK THIS WILL BE GREAT FOR
AFFORDABILITY AND CULTURAL
VIBRANCY OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.
NEXT SLIDE.
THINGS LIKE FOUR PLEX IS. THIS
IS A FOUR PLEX. IT DOESN'T SEEM
MUCH BIGGER THAN A SINGLE-
FAMILY HOUSE.
COTTAGE CLUSTERS, THIS IS
ACTUALLY 12 UNITS.
THIS IS POSSIBLE TODAY BUT THE
AREA IS VERY, VERY SMALL.
IT IS ONLY A TINY PERCENTAGE AT
THIS DENSITY.
NEXT SLIDE?
INFILL HOUSING.
AGAIN, NOT MUCH LAND IS ALLOWED
FOR INFILL APARTMENT BUILDINGS.
NEXT SLIDE.
AND THEN GARDEN APARTMENTS.
THREE-STORY SIX PLEX IS ARE
CURRENTLY NEARLY ILLEGAL AND
ECONOMICALLY INFEASIBLE BUT IF
WE HAD MORE LAND ZONED FOR
THESE KINDS OF BUILDINGS, WE
WOULD SEE A LOT MORE.
NEXT SLIDE?
HERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF THE
STREET SCAPE YOU MIGHT EXPECT.
NEXT SLIDE?
I WANTED TO TOUCH -- I DON'T
HAVE MUCH TIME, BUT I WANTED TO
TOUCH ON THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
HOMEOWNERSHIP AND A STABLE
OCCUPATION OF NEIGHBORHOODS,
EVERYTHING FROM COMMUNITY LAND
TRUST TO ADDING MORE COHOUSING,
DOING APARTMENTS WITH A LEASE
TO OWN MODEL, WHICH SOME
DEVELOPERS ARE DOING.
LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE LAND BUT
DON'T HAVE THE WHEREWITHAL FOR
THE DEVELOPMENT.
IF WE COULD TRADE THE LAND FOR
A NEW APARTMENT AND BUILDING,
WE CAN ACTUALLY MAKE IT A WIN-
WIN SITUATION.
NEXT SLIDE?
ONE OF THE BIG PRIORITIES FOR
THE AIA IS MAKING ANY BUILDING
AS GREEN AS IT CAN POSSIBLY BE.
WE ARE BUILDING WHERE PEOPLE
DON'T NEED TO DRIVE.
WE ARE USING THE LEAST AMOUNT
OF ENERGY THAT CAN LAST FOR A
LONG, LONG TIME.
NEXT SLIDE?
HERE YOU CAN SEE A LITTLE
DIAGRAM OF YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT
. IT IS ABOUT A THIRD OF YOUR
CARBON FOOTPRINT IF YOU LIVE IN
MAPLE VALLEY AND ALL OF THAT IS
TIME SPENT COMMUTING TO YOUR
DESTINATION.
ALL THE MORE REASON WE SHOULD
BE SUPPORTING HOUSING. NEXT
SLIDE?
SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT
MAKE BUILDINGS MORE GREEN, I AM
THINKING ABOUT NET ZERO ENERGY
WHERE THEY DON'T PRODUCE AS
MUCH ENERGY AS THEY USE.
WE ARE USING VERY, VERY LITTLE
ENERGY TO HEAT AND COOL
BUILDINGS.
WE ARE ACTUALLY CONSIDERING HOW
WE BUILD THESE BUILDINGS TO USE
THE LEAST AMOUNT OF CARBON AND
BUILDINGS ARE CLOSED LOOPS
WHERE YOU DON'T ADD ANY ENERGY.
THEY TAKE CARE OF THEIR OWN
STORMWATER AND DRINKING WATER.
REALLY, REALLY SOPHISTICATED
SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGIES.
BEING ABLE TO DO THIS IN EVERY
SCALE FOR EVERY NEW BUILDING
AND CHORES WE HAVE GROWTH
MOVING FORWARD AND IT'S REALLY
ORIENTED TOWARD CHANGE.
LAST SLIDE.
SO, I THINK THE BIG QUESTION IS
WHAT IS THE SEATTLE BUT YOU
WANT TO LIVE IN?
WE CAN'T BURY OUR HEADS IN THE
SAND. WE HAVE MASSIVE
CHALLENGES AHEAD BUT THE PLAN
AND THIS PROCESS IS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO THINK ABOUT THE
FUTURE AND ENVISION WHAT KIND
OF CITY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE
IN.
THAT'S IT.
THANKS.
>> OKAY.
GREAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
VERY EXCITING.
MATT, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR
YOU.
>> SURE.
>> SO, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT
THE SLIDE THAT YOU SHOWED WITH
DIFFERENT WAYS TO FINANCE OR,
YOU KNOW, MAKE HOUSING
ACQUISITION MORE FINANCIALLY
FEASIBLE.
YOU KNOW, SEATTLE IS SO
EXPENSIVE.
>> YOU.
>> WE RISK DISPLACEMENT OF
LOCAL BUSINESSES, DISPLACEMENT
OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT COULD BE
PROVIDING SERVICES TO OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD.
MY OFFICE IS WORKING ON THE IDEA
OF CREATING AN ACQUISITION FUND
FOR BOTH SMALL-SCALE COMMERCIAL
AND HOUSING SO THAT FOLKS CAN
STAY ROOTED IN COMMUNITY. SO,
THAT IS ONE IDEA. I WOULD LOVE
FOR YOU TO SPEND A LITTLE BIT
OF TIME TALKING ABOUT THAT
SLIDE THAT YOU HAD AND WHAT
SOME OF THE OTHER IDEAS ARE, BUT
IF YOU DON'T MIND, I GOT A
MESSAGE FROM VANESSA.
SHE WANTED TO ADDRESS -- I
THINK THERE ARE QUESTIONS ON
WHAT THE URBAN VILLAGE IS.
I WILL LET HER ANSWER THAT
QUESTION FIRST AND THEN ASK YOU
TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT
SLIDE.
VANESSA, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SO, THE URBAN VILLAGE -- URBAN
VILLAGES ARE SOMETHING THAT HAS
BEEN DETERMINED OR PUT FORWARD
BY, LIKE, 20 YEARS AGO.
WHAT THEY ARE, THEY ARE PLACES
WHERE THERE IS HOUSING AND
EMPLOYMENT AND COMMERCIAL USES.
THOSE PLACES THAT ARE CALLED
AND DETERMINED TO BE URBAN
VILLAGES ARE WHERE THE CITY HAS
DETERMINED THE MOST AMOUNT OF
HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT SHOULD
BE.
SO, I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT
THAT A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE URBAN
VILLAGES, NOT EVERYONE KNOWS
WHAT AN URBAN VILLAGE IS OR IF
THEY ARE IN ONE OR OUT OF ONE.
URBAN VILLAGES ARE PART OF
SEATTLE'S GROWTH STRATEGY OF
CONCENTRATING HOUSING AND WHERE
PEOPLE CAN WORK IN CERTAIN AREAS
. SO, JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY
THAT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OKAY.
THIS IS THE SLIDE YOU WANTED ME
TO TOUCH BACK ON?
>> YES.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I HAVE COMMUNITY LAND TRUSTS,
CO-OP, COHOUSING, ALL OF THOSE
SEA WORDS. THEY ARE DIFFERENT
WAYS TO MANAGE OWNERSHIP. YOU
KNOW, DETACHED HOUSES ARE
RUNNING UNDER THE AVERAGE HOUSE
COST.
IT IS, WHAT, $800,000 TODAY?
MAYBE MORE.
IF YOU CAN BUY A FLAT IN A
BUILDING, IN A CONDO OR CO-OP,
YOU ARE ABLE TO SUBDIVIDE THE
PRICE OF THE LAND. IT IS A MORE
AFFORDABLE WAY OF OWNERSHIP. WE
DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THOSE SORTS OF BUILDINGS TO
BE DESIGNED.
THEY TEND TO EITHER BE HIGH-
RISE TOWERS OR, YEAH, GENERALLY
SUPER RARE. COMMUNITY LAND
TRUSTS, THERE ARE SEVERAL THAT
OPERATE IN SEATTLE.
A LOT OF THEM BASICALLY ARE
PROVIDING KIND OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. AT LEAST THE ONES THAT
I'VE WORKED WITH BY DOING A
DEED RESTRICTION. THEY ARE
DEVELOPING THE LAND. THEY ARE
PROVIDING THE HOUSING.
THEY ARE ESSENTIALLY SELLING IT
AT A LOWER RATE AND KIND OF
LOCKING IN ITS AFFORDABILITY.
WHEN THAT RESIDENT GOES TO SELL
THIS LAND, OR SELL THEIR HOME
THAT IS IN THIS LAND TRUST, THE
LAND TRUST CONTROLS IT AND SAYS
IT HAS TO BE PERMANENTLY
AFFORDABLE.
THIS IS A WAY FOR COMMUNITIES
TO BAND TOGETHER, CONTROL SOME
LAND AND GUARANTEE THAT IT WILL
MAINTAIN ITS AFFORDABILITY OVER
TIME. IT IS LIMITED BY THE DEED
AND FOLLOWS IT REGARDLESS OF
WHO OWNS IT.
THAT IS A GREAT MODEL.
I THINK THERE IS PLENTY IN
SEATTLE.
ONE OTHER IDEA, THIS LEASE TO
OWN.
WE KNOW ONE PROJECT AND
HOPEFULLY THIS HAPPENS MORE
WHERE THIS STARTS AS AN
APARTMENT BUILDING AND THE
DEVELOPER IS HOLDING IT AND AS
THE RESIDENTS SORT OF LEARN
MORE ABOUT OWNERSHIP, THEY --
THEIR LEASE OR RENT GOES INTO
ESCROW AND EVENTUALLY THEY
QUALIFY TO OWN THEIR OWN UNIT.
THIS KIND OF TRANSITION AND
SUPPORT IS SOMETHING I HOPE WE
WILL SEE A LOT MORE OF.
IT IS KIND OF A LONG-TERM
SOLUTION THAT WOULD BENEFIT A
TON OF PEOPLE.
>> YEAH.
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF CREATIVE
IDEAS.
THE QUESTION IS HOW DO WE PUT
THE MECHANISMS IN PLACE TO ALLOW
FOR THESE THINGS TO HAPPEN?
I AM HEARING PARTICULARLY FROM
ELDER HOMEOWNERS ABOUT, YOU
KNOW, CONVERTING THEIR HOME
INTO A DUPLEX FOR EXAMPLE SO
THEY CAN LEASE PART OF IT AND
STAY IN THEIR HOME AND NOT GET
PUSHED OUT.
I'M SURE WE'VE HEARD STORIES
ABOUT PEOPLE OFFERING CASH AND
ENCOURAGING PARTICULARLY
SENIORS TO SELL THEIR HOMES.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE PUT IN
PLACE MEASURES TO HELP THEM
STAY IN THEIR HOMES.
THESE ARE THINGS WE CAN
CERTAINLY CONSIDER AND
UNDERSTAND BETTER HOW WE CAN
FACILITATE.
I WANT TO ASK ONE MORE QUESTION.
WE MIGHT NEED TO BE
TRANSITIONING, BUT I THINK IT
WAS SLIDE SIX WHERE DYLAN WAS
TALKING ABOUT NEIGHBORHOOD
CENTERS AND WE'VE GOT THESE
SMALLER COMMERCIAL AREAS
THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
I'VE GOT TWO WITHIN A HALF-MILE
OR SO FROM MY HOME.
THEY ARE PRETTY SLEEPY.
THERE IS POTENTIAL.
IT FEELS LIKE THERE IS
POTENTIAL TO EXPAND THEM, TO
ADD MORE STOREFRONTS THAT MAKE
THEM THRIVING AREAS.
I AM WONDERING, DYLAN, YOU
TALKED ABOUT FACILITATING
SERVICES.
SO IF WE ARE LOOKING FOR A
PARTICULAR SERVICE IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD, THAT IS ONE
QUESTION.
I AM ALSO WONDERING WHAT DO WE
NEED TO DO FOR THOSE THAT ARE
ONLY THERE BECAUSE OF A PRIOR
USE THAT MAY NO LONGER BE
ALLOWED?
>> YEAH.
THAT'S A TRICKY QUESTION.
IT CAN BE POLITICAL OFF TOPIC
AS WELL.
AREAS OF THE CITY ONLY ALLOW
FOR SINGLE USE. CITIES HAVE
BEEN BUILT AROUND THESE
NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE YOU HAVE A
MIX OF HOUSING AND SERVICES,
HOUSING AND GROCERY STORES. YOU
ARE MIXED TOGETHER AND IT'S
EASY TO ACCESS.
WE NEED TO LOOK BACK TO OUR
ROOTS AND AT HOW TOWNS WERE
BUILT AND DESIGNED. PEOPLE WERE
WALKING TO THE GROCERY STORES
TO DAYCARE'S.
THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO GET
BACK TO.
LIKE YOU SAID, THEY WERE PRETTY
SLEEPY.
THERE IS A START TO SOMETHING
THERE.
WE NEED TO BUILD OFF THE ENERGY
THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS THERE AND
LOOK AT AREAS AND SAY HEY,
MAYBE THIS BLOCK AROUND THE
CENTER, MAYBE WE NEED TO
RETHINK THAT.
IT'S A SMALL PORTION IN OUR
HUGE SWATH OF AREAS.
LOOK AT EXPANDING THESE SMALL
NOTES A LITTLE BIT SO THEY CAN
REALLY SING AND PROVIDE ACCESS
TO A FULL ARRAY OF DAILY NEEDS
AND SERVICES.
ALSO LOOKING AT HOW WE DEFINE
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTIAL.
CAN WE HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF
DAYCARE'S, SMALL GROCERY STORES?
YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IS THE
REMEDY.
>> WELL, I THINK YOU ARE
EXACTLY RIGHT.
WE NEED TO GET BACK TO
DESIGNING AROUND PEOPLE SO WE
CAN TALK ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE NEED
AND WHAT WE NEED TO SEE IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR SHARING
THIS.
I THINK WE WILL BE PERUSING
THIS QUITE A BIT. I WILL MOVE
US ON TO AB, WHO HAS BEEN VERY
PATIENT. IF YOU DON'T KNOW,
PUGET SOUND SAGE HAS PLAYED A
CRITICAL ROLE IN SUPPORTING
COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDING OF
THESE PROCESSES.
THEY'VE GOT COMMUNITY
LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE, COMMUNITY
REAL ESTATE STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM
THAT REALLY HELPS NEIGHBORS
ENGAGE AND UNDERSTAND WHAT
THESE PROCESSES ARE.
WE ASKED AB TO JOIN US TODAY TO
TALK ABOUT HOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS
AND HOW TO THINK CRITICALLY ON
THESE CONVERSATIONS WHEN YOU ARE
INVOLVED OVER THE NEXT FEW
YEARS AND DISCUSSIONS ON HOW
YOU WANT THE NEIGHBORHOODS TO
CHANGE AND GROW.
AB, I WILL HAND IT OVER TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
GOOD AFTERNOON AGAIN.
MY NAME IS AB JUANER AND I'M
FROM PUGET SOUND SAGE.
SEATTLE HAS BEEN HOME FOR TWO
AND A HALF YEARS.
I COME HERE AS A CHILD AND
GRANDCHILD OF STRONG-WILLED
IMMIGRANT WOMEN WHO CAME HERE
FROM THE PHILIPPINES WITH HOPES
AND DREAMS AND HAVE CALLED
SEATTLE HOME FOR MANY DECADES.
I ALSO ARRIVED HERE WITH MY
STORIES AND EXPERIENCES AS AN
IMMIGRANT AND LOW INCOME WORKER
IN LOS ANGELES AND HAVE CARRIED
WITH ME TOOLS AND KNOWLEDGE
FROM MY TIME LEARNING ABOUT
URBAN PLANNING AND PUBLIC
POLICY DEVELOPMENTS IN NEW YORK
CITY.
NOW I AM PART OF THE EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT TEAM AT PUGET SOUND
SAGE.
I READ THE COMMUNITY DRIVEN
NEIGHBORHOOD VISION IN 2019.
THIS IS A COMMUNITY REPORT
PUBLISHED BY PUGET SOUND SAGE.
I REMEMBER READING IT, FEELING
EXCITED AND INSPIRED AND I KNEW
THEN THAT I WANTED TO BE PART
OF MAKING THE NEIGHBORHOOD
VISION REAL.
LUCKILY SAGE WAS LOOKING FOR A
STEWARD IN ITS EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
YEAH, I SAW MYSELF IN THAT
VISION AS A COMMUNITY BUILDER,,
AS AN AMERICAN AND OPPORTUNITY
COLLABORATOR.
I THINK THAT IS WHAT COMMUNITY
PLANNING SHOULD FEEL LIKE.
THEY ARE REAL, PERSONAL,
TANGIBLE, AND ACTIONABLE TO
PEOPLE.
AT PUGET SOUND SAGE, WE ADOPTED
A TRANSITION FRAMEWORK FOR OUR
STRATEGY THAT SENSORS EQUITY IN
OUR WORK.
OUR LONG-TERM VISION IS TO
ORGANIZE, BUILD CAPACITY,
DEVELOP COMMUNITY LEADERS,
TRANSFORM POLICY, AND CREATE
INFRASTRUCTURE WITH BLACK
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF COLOR TO
TRANSITION INTO A LIVING
ECONOMY WHERE ALL PEOPLE CAN
THRIVE.
SIMPLY PUT, IT IS A SET OF
STRATEGIES THAT COMBINES
STOPPING THE BAD AND DOING HARM
WHILE ACTIVELY IMAGINING AND
CREATING THE NEW FUTURE THAT WE
WANT TO LIVE IN.
SO, WHAT THIS EQUITABLE CITY
MEANS, FOR MYSELF, IT MEANS
CENTERING THE ONES THAT HAVE
BEEN IMPACTED BY POWER
IMBALANCES AND PUBLIC POLICY,
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENTS,
MARKET FORCES IN THE NAME OF
THE CITY GROWTH.
THIS MEANS UNDERSTANDING THE
LEGACY AND IMPACT OF PLANNING
AND LAND USE REGULATIONS, NOT
DETERMINED WHO GETS TO HAVE
HOLMES, WHO HAS ACCESS TO
RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION, WHO
GETS COMMUNITY WEALTH.
COMMUNITY DRIVEN DEVELOPMENT
AIMS TO MYSTIFY THE PROCESSES
THROUGH REAL DEMOCRATIC
PROCESSES AND LIBERATORY
PRACTICES. THAT LOOKS LIKE
PLANNING AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT
ROOTED IN COMMUNITY SELF-
DETERMINATION AND CREATING CARE
ECONOMIES. AS YOU KNOW THE
COVID PANDEMIC EXPOSED WHAT WE
HAD KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME.
THESE INEQUITIES EXPERIENCE
FROM OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN
BY DESIGN CANNOT MAKE THEM
THRIVE.
PARTICIPATORY PROCESSES LOOKS
INTO PRIORITIZING COLLABORATION
BEYOND COMMUNITY INPUT.
WE CAN ALL CHANGE AND SHAPE HOW
THE CITY GROWS BY BUILDING THE
CAPACITY OF COMMUNITIES TO
PARTICIPATE AND CO-CREATE A
SHARED VISION IDENTIFY AND TEST
SOLUTIONS HARNESS THEIR OWN
POWER TO MAKE THESE VISIONS
REAL IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
CREATING AN EQUITABLE CITY
MEANS A PLANNING PROCESS THAT
IS TRANSFORMATIONAL AS OPPOSED
TO BEING A TRANSACTIONAL. I
DON'T TAKE PLEASURE IN READING
300 PAGES OF PLANS, BUT I AM
INVESTED AND INTERESTED TO KNOW
AND HOW IT WILL TRANSFORM THE
LIVES OF PEOPLE.
IS IT MAKING OUR LIVES FOR THE
BETTER?
100,000 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS
. WILL IT BE ENOUGH TO CREATE A
DRIVING CITY?
IS CONCENTRATING INVESTMENTS
DOWNTOWN GOING TO UPLIFT CORE
DOORS?
HOW DOES ACQUIRING A FEW
PROPERTIES AND SHORE
COMMUNITIES WILL BE ABLE TO
STAY ONCE A NEW LIGHT RAIL
STATION COMES?
HOW DO WE GROW OUR CITY AND
TAKE CARE OF OUR COMMUNITY?
THESE ARE SOME OF THE QUESTIONS
WE ASK OURSELVES AS WE WORK
WITH THE COMMUNITY AND BUILDING
SHARED VISIONS. THIS IS OUR
SOLUTION TO ANTI-DISPLACEMENT.
THIS MEANS COMMUNITY CONTROL OF
INFRASTRUCTURE AND RESOURCES TO
CREATE AN EQUITABLE CITY.
COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP OF LAND
TRANSFORMS LOCAL LAND AND
HOUSING FROM COMMODITIES INTO
SHARED RESOURCES FOR COMMUNITY
PROSPERITY. THIS IS ANOTHER WAY
OF THINKING ABOUT LAND USE THAT
CENTERS PEOPLE AND LOCAL
COMMUNITIES INSTEAD OF PROFIT
AND SPECULATIVE IDENTITIES.
IN PRACTICE, THERE HAVE ALREADY
BEEN AMAZING EXAMPLES ON THE
GROUND.
YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE JUST OVER A
YEAR AGO, WE HAD BUDGETING WITH
OUR COLLABORATORS. I BELIEVE THE
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING IS
COMMUNITY PLANNING AND POLICY
DEVELOPMENT IN ACTION.
WE HAVE THE EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE DEAL IN
THE CITY, WHICH ARE POLICIES
FROM COMMUNITY AND RESOURCE
FROM PUBLIC INVESTMENTS.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THERE
IS ALSO THE GRAND STREET
VISION.
THE ACTION TEAM FORMED THE
FUTURE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND
ALSO TO START BUILDING THE
CAPACITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE
NEEDED TO MAKE THE VISION A
REALITY.
THEY ARE BUILDING THEIR CAPACITY
OFF THE MARKET AND TO DEVELOP
THEIR OWN CAPACITIES TO BE LONG-
TERM STEWARDS FOR THE FUTURE OF
THE LIGHT RAIL STATION.
WE ARE ORGANIZING AND BUILDING
COMMUNITY POWER CENTERING
LEADERSHIP OF PEOPLE OF COLOR,
BUILDING ON EXISTING COMMUNITY
ASSETS, PLANNING FOR POLICY
ASSISTANCE CHANGE TO MAKE THE
VISION REAL AND PLANNING FOR
SELF-RELIANCE AND COMMUNITY
RESILIENCE.
WE NEED MORE OF THESE PROGRAMS
AND WE NEED TO ALSO THINK ABOUT
HOW WE ARE DIRECTING PUBLIC
RESOURCES TO THESE COMMUNITIES
THAT ARE BUILDING THEIR CAPACITY
FOR LONG-TERM COMMUNITY
STEWARDSHIP. I GUESS I WILL
WRAP UP BY JUST SAYING THAT IF
WE SEE THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AS
THE GUIDING DOCUMENT TO HOW THE
CITY SHOULD GROW, THEN I THINK
PEOPLE MUST BE CENTERED ON
VALUES THAT GUIDE THE DOCUMENT.
ALONGSIDE THAT, WE MUST ALSO
THINK OF CITY BUDGETS AS MORAL
DOCUMENTS THAT MUST BE DEVELOPED
AND DRIVEN BY COMMUNITY AS WELL.
THE BUDGET SHOULD BE REFLECTING
ON THAT AS WELL. I
WILL TURN IT BACK TO
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, AB.
THIS WAS GREAT.
I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS AND THEN
IF OTHERS ON THE PANEL WANT TO
POSE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE
RAISE YOUR HAND AND I'M HAPPY
TO CALL ON YOU.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT
CAPACITY BUILDING MEANS AND HOW
DO YOU DO IT?
I KNOW HOW SAGE DOES IT.
I THINK IT'S CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT, THE WORK YOU DO TO
HELP FOLKS UNDERSTAND.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE
ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BUILD
CAPACITY?
>> I WILL USE AN EXAMPLE OF
COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO DO LONG-
TERM PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
WORK.
PART OF OUR WORK IS TO DO
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND
GAUGE IN HOWELL COMMUNITY
PLANNING HAPPENS THROUGH OUR
COMMUNITY REAL ESTATE
STEWARDSHIP CIRCLE. WE ARE ALSO
BUILDING POWER THROUGH
RELATIONAL ORGANIZING.
OVER THE PAST TWO AND A HALF
YEARS, I SPENT A LOT OF TIME
GETTING TO KNOW PEOPLE.
WHAT THEIR STORIES ARE AND WHAT
THEIR HOPES AND GOALS ARE FOR
THE FUTURE.
WE IDENTIFY WHAT IS MISSING,
WHAT RESOURCES ARE NOT
AVAILABLE TO US AND HOW DO WE
MAKE THOSE RESOURCES REAL TO
THESE FOLKS?
YOU KNOW, THE EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE IS AN
EXAMPLE OF A COMMUNITY RESOURCE
THAT CAME OUT OF COMMUNITY
PARTNERS, IDENTIFYING A NEED FOR
A FUNDING SOURCE AND CAPACITY
BUILDING SOURCE TO HELP THEM,
THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPERS AND
COMMUNITY STEWARDS.
A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITY
ORGANIZING WORK IS REALLY
TAPPING INTO THE EXISTING
RESOURCES. THEY ARE EXPERTS AT
NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND WE
ARE BRINGING IN ALL OF THESE
TALENTED STORIES AND LOOKING AT
THE VISION AND IDENTIFYING HOW
DO WE LEVERAGE EXISTING
RESOURCES?
HOW TO MAKE THE GOVERNMENT SEE
THIS VISION AND HOW DO WE MAKE
IT REAL?
>> THANK YOU.
BECAUSE SO MUCH OF THIS IS
ABOUT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, CAN
YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
WHAT COMMUNITIES NEED IN ORDER
TO AUTHENTICALLY ENGAGE IN THESE
PARTICIPATORY PROCESSES?
>> YOU HAVE GOT TO MEET THEM
WHERE THEY ARE AT.
THAT IS ORGANIZING 101.
YOU KNOW, WE CAN CREATE SURVEYS
BUT IF WE ARE NOT TALKING TO
THEM DIRECTLY, WE ARE NOT
GETTING TO THE HEART OF WHAT
THESE COMMUNITIES REALLY NEED.
THEY ALREADY HAVE A LOT OF
INSTITUTIONS IN SEATTLE AND
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS.
THEY HAVE STRONG RELATIONSHIPS.
THEY KNOW THEIR COMMUNITY.
THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IS TO
ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE THE
RESOURCES THEY NEED SO THEY CAN
COME TO THE TABLE.
THEY CAN PARTICIPATE.
THAT COULD LOOK LIKE DIRECTLY
PROVIDING FUNDING SO THEY CAN
ORGANIZE THEIR COMMUNITY AND
HOST THEIR OWN LISTENING
SESSIONS. IDENTIFYING DIFFERENT
METHODOLOGIES WERE TECHNICAL
RESOURCES SO THEY CAN ENGAGE IN
DIFFERENT WAYS AND REALLY
MAKING THE PROCESS TRANSPARENT,
ACCESSIBLE, SO THEY CAN REALLY
SEE THEMSELVES AS ACTORS IN THE
PROCESS AND AS REAL
COLLABORATORS AND NOT JUST
CHECKING OFF A BOX AND
IDENTIFYING WHERE THE NEXT
PLAYGROUND SHOULD BE, BUT
REALLY BEING PART OF THE
PLANNING AND THE ACTIVATION AND
REALIZING OF THE VISION.
YEAH.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IF YOU HAVEN'T WORKED WITH
PUGET SOUND SAGE BEFORE, I
WOULD ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO CHECK
THEM OUT.
THERE IS SO MUCH COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT WORK THAT THEY DO AND
THAT HAS PROVEN REALLY HELPFUL
TO ME AND MY WORK OVER THE LAST
SEVERAL YEARS, AND ESPECIALLY
NOW IN THIS POSITION WHERE THERE
ARE POLICYMAKING OPPORTUNITIES
THAT HAVE DIRECT IMPACT ON
COMMUNITIES.
THANK THESE FOR BEING HERE, AB,
AND FOR SHARING YOUR EXPERTISE
WITH US. I
DON'T SEE ANY QUESTIONS FROM
OTHERS, SO I REALLY WANT TO
THANK EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE.
I WANT TO RUN THROUGH A FEW
THINGS THAT I HEARD TODAY,
THINGS THAT I THINK ARE WORTH
KEEPING AT THE FOREFRONT OF OUR
THOUGHT PROCESS AS WE MOVE
THROUGH THIS CONVERSATION.
SO, THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS
REALLY FOCUSED ON PRIORITIES --
PRINCIPAL PRIORITIES AS WE MOVE
THROUGH THE PLANT AROUND RACIAL
EQUITY, RESILIENCE,
SUSTAINABILITY.
A REMINDER THAT THE COMP PLAN
ALLOWS FOR THE ROADMAP, AS MATT
SAID.
IT IS A VISION OF HOW WE CAN BE
DOING THINGS AND ZONING IS THE
REGULATORY IMPLEMENTATION OF
WHAT THAT VISION LOOKS LIKE.
THAT IS A CONVERSATION THAT
COMES LATER AND AFTER.
I WAS INTERESTED TO HEAR DYLAN
MENTIONED THAT THERE IS 30% OF
THE CITY THAT STILL IS WITHOUT
A 10 MINUTE ACCESS TO REGULAR
TRANSIT SERVICES.
YOU KNOW, BASED ON THE MAP THAT
DYLAN SHOWED, IT LOOKS LIKE
THAT IS ALONG THE WATERFRONT.
THIS MIGHT PERHAPS NOT BE AN
EQUITY ISSUE PER SE BUT IT IS A
REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE WHEN IT
COMES TO OUR CLIMATE GOALS AND
TRYING TO REDUCE CARBON
EMISSIONS IN THE CITY.
HOW WE EXPAND OUR TRANSIT
ACCESS, HOW WE EXPAND OUR
NETWORK SO ALL PARTS OF THE
CITY CAN HAVE THAT SORT OF
FREQUENCY AND RELIABILITY IS
REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO
THINK ABOUT TOO.
WE HAVE SAID MANY TIMES IT IS
IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND WE
ARE DESIGNING FOR PEOPLE.
THAT REALLY HAS TO BE FRONT AND
CENTER.
PARTICULARLY FOR FOLKS, EVEN
DISTRICT 1 UP IN NORTH SEATTLE,
WEST SEATTLE HAVE HISTORICALLY
NOT BEEN AT THE TABLE WHEN WE
WERE HAVING THESE
CONVERSATIONS.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT WE
ARE ACTIVELY WORKING TO INCLUDE
THE VOICES OF RENTERS, LOW
INCOME PEOPLE, PEOPLE OF COLOR,
FOLKS THAT HAVE TYPICALLY BEEN
EXCLUDED FROM THESE REALLY
IMPORTANT POLICYMAKING
DECISIONS FOR THE CITY.
SOMETHING AB SAID THAT I THINK
IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO
REMEMBER, COMMUNITY PLANNING
SHOULD FEEL REAL AND PERSONAL
AND TANGIBLE AND ACTIONABLE.
THAT IS HOW WE EMPOWER PEOPLE
TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT
THESE PROCESSES ARE AND
UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CAN IMPACT
THE DECISIONS THAT ARE BEING
MADE SO THEY CAN DRIVE HOW
THEIR COMMUNITIES CHANGE AND
GROW OVER TIME.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR
PANELISTS FOR BEING HERE AND
SHARING YOUR WISDOM AND
EXPERTISE.
IF FOLKS HAVE COMMENTS,
QUESTIONS, SUGGESTIONS, OR
OTHER TOPICS THAT YOU WOULD
LIKE TO LEARN ABOUT, YOU CAN GO
TO MY WEBSITE, MY COUNCIL
WEBSITE.
SEND US AN EMAIL OR NOTE ON
WHAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN
HEARING ABOUT AND WE WILL BE
HAPPY TO INCLUDE THAT AS WE ARE
PLANNING FOR FUTURE SEGMENTS.
OUR NEXT DISCUSSION WILL BE
THURSDAY, APRIL 14th AT 9:30.
IT WILL BE FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT AND BUILDING
EQUITABLE NEIGHBORHOODS,
PARTICULARLY INCLUDING A
DISCUSSION AROUND SOCIAL HOUSING
, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE
ARE WORKING ON IN MY OFFICE AS
WELL.
I LEARNED ABOUT THAT A LITTLE
BIT LAST YEAR WHEN I WENT TO
VISIT OUR SISTER CITY IN FRANCE.
I AM EXCITED THAT WE WILL BE
JOINED AT THE NEXT SESSION BY
THE DEPUTY MAYOR. THERE IS A
FRENCH DELEGATION COMING HERE
IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS TO TALK
ABOUT LOTS OF THINGS IN
SEATTLE.
WE WILL ALSO BE JOINED AT THAT
DISCUSSION BY ISABEL RICHARD,
VICE PRESIDENT OF MOUNT
UNIVERSITY, MINNEAPOLIS CITY
COUNCILMEMBER, AND CHICAGO
ALDERMAN. I AM REALLY LOOKING
FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION AND
HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US THERE.
AND FINALLY, IF YOU'RE
INTERESTED IN WATCHING THIS
SEGMENT AGAIN OR SHARING IT
WITH FOLKS, YOU CAN FIND A LINK
TO THIS ON MY CITY COUNCIL
WEBSITE.
WE WILL BE ARCHIVING THESE
CONVERSATIONS THERE.
YOU CAN GO THERE AND MAKE
WHATEVER COMMENTS YOU WOULD LIKE
. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU
AGAIN TO EVERYBODY FOR BEING
HERE.
THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT
CONVERSATION THAT WE ARE JUST
GETTING STARTED.
WE WILL HAVE MORE CONVERSATIONS
TO COME.
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ARE
ENGAGING WITH US BECAUSE THIS
IS MEANT TO BE A DISCUSSION SO
FOLKS CAN LEARN AND UNDERSTAND
THE PROCESSES THAT WE ARE
EMBARKING ON.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE,
EVERYBODY.
HAVE A GREAT AFTERNOON.