Summary of Present Rules versus Council Member O'Brien's Proposal
[1] The O’Brien proposal would reduce the maximum square footage of homes to half the size of their lot (e.g., you could build a 2,000 SF home on a 4,000 SF lot). However, it would allow two additional houses of 1,000 SF apiece in the backyard of that home. Stated reasons for Queen Anne Community Council’s appeal (See website for appeal at https://queenanneappeal.org/). Note: The following is a summary of a more detailed list in Queen Anne’s notice of appeal. 1. The City didn’t provide for adequate citizen involvement in the process.2. The EIS doesn’t adequately analyze the proposal’s impacts on issues such as the overall reduction in affordable housing, change in neighborhood character, loss of more modest and affordable homes, increased housing costs for existing residents, and quality of life. 3. The EIS doesn’t adequately analyze the cumulative impact of the proposal in conjunction with HALA upzones in other areas. 4. The EIS doesn’t adequately consider other alternatives that could accomplish its goals with less impact. 5. The EIS doesn’t adequately examine parking impacts. The study on which it relied involved four outlying neighborhoods that don’t represent conditions in more crowded areas. 6. The EIS doesn’t adequately consider the impacts of allowing 12 unrelated persons to live on one lot, especially with respect to parking and traffic-circulation. 7. The EIS provides no comprehensive studies to support its conclusion that removing the owner-occupancy requirement would have no impacts. 8. The EIS doesn’t adequately analyze the proposal’s effect on public utilities. 9. The EIS doesn’t consider a range of alternatives that would vary zoning requirement to fit the unique conditions of different neighborhoods in the City. 10. The EIS doesn’t adequately address the proposal’s effect on the City’s tree canopy.
The Queen Anne Community Council’s appeal website also asks for donations to help fund the appeal, including a donations link. https://queenanneappeal.org/
Prepared by Ted Inkley 11/13/18 |