Townhomes – Can the Patient be Saved?

(From Councilmember Sally Clark's newsletter)

Have you noticed townhomes propagating in your neighborhood? Not thrilled with much of what you see? Curious why this happens? If you're like me, you answered "yes" to each of those questions. So, in my ongoing effort to take the Planning, Land Use & Neighborhoods Committee (PLUNC) into the neighborhoods once a quarter, I bring you: "Townhomes – Can the Patient Be Saved?" This will be a special PLUNC meeting slated for Saturday, June 7, 10 a.m.-noon at the Capitol Hill Arts Center (1621 12th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122).

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She cites this Seattle Times article which illustrates and describes many of the perceived problems with townhouse developments. Here's a similar Seattle P-I article.

The City Department of Planning and Development (DPD) is presently revising the zoning rules for multifamily housing, which includes the rules governing townhomes. This document summarizes the proposed changes, with lots of diagrams and illustrations. Here's a P-I article about the proposed zoning changes.

A newly formed neighborhood group (the Livable Seattle Movement) has a long, well illustrated article about their concerns with the multifamily zoning update, and about the issues with townhouse developments.

Our neighborhood is part of the Central Area Neighborhood Plan, so the best way for you to make your voice heard is to became part of the Central Area Stewardship Land Use and Housing Committee. Contact Committee Chair Kathryn Keller (ktkeller@earthlink.net)for more information