Recent legislation considered (with some approved) by the Seattle City Council Planning, Land Use, and Sustainability Committee takes anti-development politics to a new level in a city reacting to years of growth.
Josh Feit reports on the latest development in an anti-development crusade from an outgoing city councilmember in Seattle. "Already pushing blank-check 'neighborhood conservation district' legislation to halt development in single-family zones, [Councilmember Tom] Rasmussen set out yesterday to make it more difficult for developers to build in multi-family zones—the stretches of apartment and town homes in low-rise zones on the edges of single-family neighborhoods in places such has Capitol Hill and Ballard," according to Feit.
The proposed legislation would come as amendments to earlier legislation proposed by Councilmember Mike O’Brien. Councilmember Rasmussen, however, wanted more out of the slow growth measure. Feit provides amendment by amendment analysis of Councilmember Rasmussen's platform.
Feit's coverage provides a lot of insight into the development politics of the Seattle City Council, as well as how future elections are influencing the politics of a fast-growing city.
FULL STORY: The War on Density
Seattle NIMBYs Protest Dense Development, Cite Eastern Bloc
A zoning bill has stirred up the fear that dense development projects will transform Seattle into a "Soviet cityscape." Residents accuse developers of using loopholes to squeeze in pricey, out-of-character townhomes.
The Problem With Tone Policing
One common criticism of pro-housing advocacy is that supporters of new housing are (in the words of one commentator) “arrogant.” But there is no reason to believe that this is any less true of their opponents.
Thousands of Seattle Housing Units Blocked by Lawsuits
Legal challenges filed by condo associations are holding up multiple high-rise housing developments that could bring much-needed housing and jobs to downtown Seattle.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.
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Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
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