Welcome!

Let's have Seattle housing that's abundant, high quality and affordable.

We advocate for more abundant and affordable housing in Seattle while preserving the nature of our neighborhoods.

in a nutshell

Upzoning decisions by the state and city are in the final stages. Is it right for your neighborhood?

What's Happening Now

The legislation now being considered by the city is the "Centers and Corridors Legislation", which will define the zoning to implement legislation that has already passed. (See the dropdown under "What's Happening" in the main menu.)

The One Seattle Plan, or "Comp Plan" was passed on December 16, 2025. It mandates 30 newly created "Neighborhood Centers" and increased height and density in larger urban areas. In each of these Neighborhood Centers, there would be a 6-story "core" transitioning to lower Neighborhood Residential areas at the periphery.

The City Council is currently considering the exact zoning for each neighborhood to implement the plan. It is currently open for public comment.

OPCD (Office of Planning and Community Development) has put forward a proposal called the "Centers and Corridors Legislation", along with an interactive map of how these areas would be specifically zoned.

See the synopsis of the legislation here.

See the interactive map which will show you how your neighborhood would be up-zoned.

You will notice on the map that each neighborhood is re-zoned to, mostly, LR3 - 5-6 stories throughout the area, and out to the edges of the Neighborhood Center.

The OPCD proposal would expand on the legislation passed in December by defining zones (height and density allowances) for the Neighborhood Centers AND adding new density areas called "Corridors".

This public comment period includes public hearings and will lead to a vote by the City Council in August, 2026. The next City Council public hearing is currently scheduled for July 23, with a vote on August 5.

There is still time to make your voices heard. You can email the City Council at council@seattle.gov. All council members will receive your email. And/or you can call your District Representative with your thoughts and preferences. Find your representative here.

Some Background

There have been three pieces of housing legislation for you to be aware of. Each one affects us all, and the future of our neighborhoods, in different ways. All of them have been passed either at the city or state level.

1. State House Bill HB 1110 was passed in 2023. It mandates "Middle Housing" (4 to 6 units) to be allowed on all residential lots throughout the state.

Current stage: Passed. Cities were required to send their form of compliance to the State by June 30, 2025. Seattle's bill, called the "Interim Legislation", was passed by the City Council on May 27th. The Seattle version includes state-mandated requirements, yes, but with extra allowances built in, that paved the way for the now-adopted Comp Plan. (Next) You can read the full legislation here.

2. The One Seattle Plan, or "Comp Plan", is a growth strategy for Seattle that goes way beyond increases in housing required by HB 1110. This "Mayor's Plan" created 30 newly-defined and newly upzoned "Neighborhood Centers" throughout the city, and added significant height and density to already existing Urban and Regional Centers.

Current stage: Passed. This was passed on December 16, 2025.

What is under consideration now in the "Centers and Corridors Legislation" is the specific ZONING changes throughout the city that will implement the One Seattle Plan.

3. In addition, State House Bill HB 1491, which the Governor has signed into law, mandates high-density, multi-unit, residential buildings within 1/4 mile or 1/2 mile of transportation "stations", which includes all Light Rail and Rapid Ride stops, as well as frequent transit routes.

Current stage: Passed but not yet implemented. This was signed on May 13, 2025, but has not yet been implemented locally. We are still learning about it's ramifications and how it will apply in each of our neighborhoods.

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Brief background of our group.

The majority of us in West Green Lake only learned about these proposed changes to our neighborhood through an anonymous flyer left at our doorsteps on December 15, 2024, saying "URGENT: public feedback to the OPCD - Office of Planning and Community Development - closes December 20". In five days!

We still don't know who left it.

Since then, we have learned this was the same for many neighborhoods that would soon be designated and upzoned as "Neighborhood Centers". Many hundreds of residents have been scrambling to understand and respond to these complex and sweeping proposed changes.

Currently, the specific zoning for the One Seattle, i.e. "Comp" Plan is in the final stages in the form of the Centers and Corridors Legislation: with public feedback, appeals, amendments, revisions, etc., and will then be voted on by the City Council, currently scheduled for August, 2026.

There is still time to make your voices heard.

HB 1110 and the "Interim Legislation", Seattle's fulfillment of the state mandate. (passed.)

THE ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS BY THE STATE:

In short, this requires the city to allow four to six units on all residential lots throughout the state. Here are the core requirements.

Middle Housing Types: Cities must allow a range of middle housing types on all residential lots. This can include duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, fiveplexes, sixplexes, townhouses, stacked flats, courtyard apartments, and cottage housing.

Unit Allowance: Cities must allow at least four units on all residential lots, and at least six units if located within a quarter mile of a major transit stop or if at least two units are affordable. Note: In Seattle, developers can opt to pay a fee to the city instead of actually providing affordable units and still get the additional number-of-units benefit.

Design Review and Parking: The bill mandates the streamlining of design review processes and restricts the ability to require off-street parking.

Seattle's version of how this bill will be implemented, the so-called "Interim Legislation" was passed by the City Council on May 27, 2025.

It not only contains the state requirements of HB 1110, but contains additional provisions that paved the way for the Mayor's Comp Plan, such as:

increased height allowances
increased allowable lot coverage
decreased allowable lot size
decreased front and back setbacks

The Comp Plan has also been passed.

Mayor Harrell's "One Seattle Plan", or "Comp Plan" (passed.)

This proposal was passed on December 16, 2025. The specific zoning that will implement the plan's mandates is under consideration now in the Centers and Corridors Legislation.

The mayor’s proposed plan added to both HB 1110 and HB 1491 by:

· Creating “Neighborhood Centers”: newly defined and upzoned “Neighborhood Centers” (30 of them), would be established throughout the city.

· Redefining and upzoning existing areas: expanding and upzoning existing Regional and Urban Centers, Commercial Centers and areas along frequent transit arterials.

And,

Decreasing front and back setbacks from sidewalks (from currently 20 feet to 15 or 10 feet) and alleys (0 feet).
Increasing the allowed footprint of structures on residential lots, decreasing space for yards, trees, gardens, etc.
Increasing the height limit to encourage multi-unit apartment buildings.
Allowing no off-street parking to be provided.

The One Seattle Plan, which can be viewed in its entirety here, aims to create a more equitable and affordable future for the city, taking steps to make neighborhoods more economically and racially inclusive.

We fully support the goals of abundance and affordability of housing. At the same time, we want that to also result in quality living for all residents.

HB 1491, or "Transit-Oriented Development" (passed.)

HB 1491, was signed by the Governor on May 13th, 2025. It promotes "transit-oriented development" by requiring cities to allow increased housing density near transit "stations" like light rail, commuter rail, and bus rapid transit.

Specifically, cities must allow increased height, lot coverage, and number of units (apartment buildings and condos) within a 0.5-mile radius of light rail, commuter rail, and streetcar stops, and within a 0.25-mile radius of bus rapid transit stops. The bill also includes provisions for affordable housing and mandates that cities planning under RCW 36.70A.040 allow multifamily residential housing in these station areas. It also allows no additional parking to be provided for the increase of residents to the area.

It allows 5-6 story (+), buildings along all of these routes.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) The bill's primary goal is to encourage the development of housing near public transportation hubs.
Required Density Cities are mandated to allow for more residential density within specific distances of various transit stations, including light rail, commuter rail, and bus rapid transit.
Affordable Housing The bill includes provisions related to affordable housing, ensuring a certain percentage of units in new developments meet affordability requirements.
Minimum Floor Area Ratios The bill mandates that cities establish minimum floor area ratios for developments in station areas, further promoting higher density (higher buildings) and more efficient use of land.
Reduced Parking Requirements The legislation outlines regulations that prevent cities from requiring off-street parking for residential or mixed-use developments in station areas, encouraging the use of public transit.
Grant Program HB 1491 establishes a grant program to help cities develop infrastructure for TOD, facilitating the implementation of the bill's provisions. ("upon appropriation")
Inclusionary Zoning The bill's approach to affordability, known as inclusionary zoning, requires developers to include a certain percentage of affordable units in their projects (or pay into a fund).

- From the Sightline Institute - (italics added).

Welcome!

Let's have Seattle housing that's abundant, high quality and affordable.

Our Mission

in a nutshell

Upzoning decisions by the state and city are in the final stages. Is it right for your neighborhood?

HB 1110 and the "Interim Legislation", Seattle's fulfillment of the state mandate. (passed.)

Mayor Harrell's "One Seattle Plan", or "Comp Plan" (passed.)

HB 1491, or "Transit-Oriented Development" (passed.)

If you want even more detailed information, see these designated pages:

What is state HB 1110 and what does it do?

What is state HB 1110 and what does it do?

What is state HB 1110 and what does it do?

What is state HB 1491 and what does it do?

What is state HB 1110 and what does it do?

What is state HB 1110 and what does it do?

What is the Mayor's One Seattle plan and what does it do?

We need transitions in height from 6+ stories to neighborhood residential areas.

Join Our Announcement List

Welcome!

Let's have Seattle housing that's abundant, high quality and affordable.

Our Mission

in a nutshell

Upzoning decisions by the state and city are in the final stages. Is it right for your neighborhood?

HB 1110 and the "Interim Legislation", Seattle's fulfillment of the state mandate. (passed.)

Mayor Harrell's "One Seattle Plan", or "Comp Plan" (passed.)

HB 1491, or "Transit-Oriented Development" (passed.)

If you want even more detailed information, see these designated pages:

What is state HB 1110 and what does it do?

What is state HB 1110 and what does it do?

What is state HB 1110 and what does it do?

What is state HB 1491 and what does it do?

What is state HB 1110 and what does it do?

What is state HB 1110 and what does it do?

What is the Mayor's One Seattle plan and what does it do?

We need transitions in height from 6+ stories to neighborhood residential areas.

Join Our Announcement List

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