Montlake Rezoning Task Force Update

Dec 28

Author: Janice Sears

Montlake Neighborhood Center (NC) - Current Update!

Montlake’s NC reduced boundary passed on 9/17. To view current boundary, click this link and scroll down to Montlake.
The next step is for the Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD) and Seattle City Council to finalize zoning/heights within the 30 Neighborhood Centers, including Montlake (aka Phase 2 of the One Seattle Plan).
The current Montlake NC plan submitted by the Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD) calls for NC2-55 (55 –62 feet mixed use) in our commercial district (along 24th between E Calhoun and Boston streets), LR3 (40-65 feet residential) between Roanoke and E Newton Streets and 24th and 25th and LR2 (40-55 feet residential) between 20th and 22nd and E Louisa and E Lynn Streets.

MRTF presented a detailed and professional alternate proposal to CM Hollingsworth’s office on December 5th which reduces the OCPD zoning/heights by 1-2 stories in our NC, from the current plan, above.
MRTF’s alternate proposal has now been passed on to OCPD. They will either include some/all of it in the final plan, and/or D3 CM Hollingsworth can file an amendment with some/all of the feedback prior to the City Council vote.

What’s next?

The 2026 timing on Phase Two of the One Seattle Plan is TBD based on the Mayoral transition. In addition, a new leader, TBD, of the One Seattle Plan, replacing D3 CM Hollingsworth is yet to be appointed.

Phase One of the One Seattle Plan is final!

As you may recall, the State’s HB 1110 was passed in 2023 effectively eliminating single family zoning for cities over 25,000 population in the entire state of WA to increase density and accommodate growth while making housing affordable.

On December 16, Seattle City Council finally and formally voted to adopt the One Seattle Plan (Council Bill 120985) and the Neighborhood Residential Update (Council Bill 120993) to satisfy the State’s HB1110. This legislation is anticipated to be signed by the mayor shortly and will become effective in mid-January. Council also adopted a companion resolution (Council Resolution 32183) which outlines requested follow up work for OPCD, including a docket of potential annual amendments to the Comprehensive Plan.
So, in the end the city is requiring significantly more density than required by HB1110 based on questionable growth numbers! Montlake will now be zoned for duplexes, fourplexes and sixplexes (in addition to ADU’s) in our formerly single-family (NR) neighborhood with potentially little or no off-street parking. Things such as Seattle’s healthy and coveted tree canopy are at risk with major “setback” reductions! Heights are planned to significantly increase along with Floor Area Ratio (FAR). Historical Design Reviews (and standards) will be gone. Seattle and Montlake’s old infrastructure will most certainly be “stretched”.

All suggestions, comments and questions are welcome via zoning@Montlake.net!