Montlake Rezoning Task Force Update and Call to Action
Author: Janice Sears
As a reminder, the Montlake Rezoning Task Force's (MRTF) Mission is to work with the City of Seattle, on behalf of the Montlake Community, to accommodate growth while at the same time preserving the unique character of our Historic Neighborhood.
The MRTF, currently comprised of 10 professional Montlake residents, has been hard at work, since December 2024, on two fronts:
1. Background Refresh
The State’s HB 1110 was passed in 2023 effectively eliminating single family zoning in the entire state of WA in order to increase density and accommodate growth while making housing affordable – a tall order!
Temporary Legislation was passed by the Seattle City Council to meet the State’s 6/30/2025 implementation deadline.
Montlake joined a coalition of 21 other Seattle Neighborhoods, called “Seattle Residents for Thoughtful Growth”, to challenge the “overreach” by the city in implementing HB1110. The city is requiring significantly more density than required by HB1110 and in a different form – aka less “middle housing” and more “higher rises”. Things such as Seattle’s healthy and coted tree canopy are at risk with major “setback” reductions in the entire city! Heights are planned to significantly increase along with Floor Area Ratio (FAR). Historical Design Reviews will be gone. Seattle’s old infrastructure will most certainly be “stretched”. There will be no going back! We need to slow down.
The Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD) has also proposed 30 Neighborhood Centers (NC) to further increase density in specific neighborhoods on top of what is required and not required by HB1110. Montlake is one of the NCs!
The first proposed Montlake NC included about 24 blocks, 400 historic homes or about 32% of our neighborhood. Community concerns include lack of true affordable housing, infrastructure, transit, amenities, setbacks/tree canopy, lack of parking, missed opportunities, scale and more!
The new NC boundary (scroll down to Montlake) now includes the WSDOT site (former Hop In Market site) and eliminates the blocks adjacent to the Arboretum. This reduces our NC to about 18 blocks, 280 historic homes or about 22% of our neighborhood – some progress, but still not necessary under HB1110.
2. So, What’s the Current Update?
HB1110
A whopping 110 Amendments have been proposed for permanent legislation or final implementation of HB1110 described above!
Despite Rep Hollingsworth’s letter to Montlake summarizing many, but not all, of Montlake’s concerns, the Amendments do not address our concerns but probably make them worse based upon review by SRTF and MRTF!
There is one Final Public Hearing on 9/12.
Voting on permanent legislation of HB1110 by the Seattle City Council will occur 9/17-9/19.
Montlake Neighborhood Center
Since Rep Hollingworth was unable to submit an Amendment to further reduce our NC boundary, there is no longer the ability to adjust the boundaries on our NC. Unless something highly unusual happens, Montlake’s NC boundary will pass as is on 9/17.
3. What can you do? Speak Up!
Stop by the Montlake Community Club table at the Yard Sale on 9/7 from 10am-2pm for more information. A representative of the MRTF will be at the information table in front of Cafe Lago.
Share this update with your neighbors and have them sign up for Montlake.net!
Watch for the SRTG ad in the Seattle Times!
Write to the Rep Hollingsworth, District 3 Rep and Lead on this project. But remember to write to all twelve City Council members since they all have a vote 9/17-9/19. Nelson and Rinck, at large, are City Council members who technically represent Montlake as well at Rep Hollingsworth.
Write to Mayor Harrell (who’s plan this is) who is up for re-election in November.
Testify in writing, remotely or in person at the 9/12 Public Hearing. Click here for participation information.
And view SRTG’s response letter here to give you inspiration!
Sign the SRTG Petition if you haven’t already done so.
Check our Tree Action Seattle!
MRTF plans to send out another communication after Labor Day with more specific input on the amendments for your communications!
4. Next Steps
There are no “next steps” for HB1110 in Seattle after the final vote on 9/17-9/19 – it will be implemented as law!
The next step for Montlake NC is to finalize zoning/heights within our new boundary later in the year or the beginning of 2026. MRTF is currently working on a proposal to reduce heights in our NC and will present it to Rep Hollingworth later this year or early next year after Council returns to session following “budgeting” this fall.
For comments or questions please email zoning@Montlake.net. We’d appreciate a “cc” on the letters you write!
Thank you all!!
