The following is a post prepared by concerned members of the Wedgwood community regarding city’s One Seattle Plan, the city’s proposed update to its comprehsneive plan. While this post is not a formal statement or position of the Wedgwood Community Council, we appreciate those in the community who have organized and are working to inform Wedgwood residents about this important plan.
Those who have prepared this post have asked that we also note the imporantance of contacting the city councilmember to share your opinion. Contact information for councilmembers can be found here (link). Also, Councilwoman Maritza Rivera will be joining the Wedgwood Community Council at our Tuesday, May 6th, board meeting (link). All are welcome to attend.
Wedgwood is a unique community, one that has a more robust tree canopy and mature trees when compared to almost any other Seattle neighborhood. This tree canopy is critical to support mental health, buffer us from climate change impacts, and provide homes to innumerable animals. It is also what makes this neighborhood one of the most highly sought after in the city. The tree lined entry to our neighborhood along 35th Avenue NE creates a distinctive and valuable buffer. Importantly, Wedgwood is home to significant tree groves with a notable contiguous canopy, stands of trees at least 30” in diameter, groves that took 100-plus years to mature.
We strongly believe that higher densities can be achieved while protecting the tree canopy, and in fact, protecting mature trees will lead to more affordable housing than the current proposals would. We want to see thoughtful building design and lot configurations that maximize tree preservation, while supporting higher density.
We, the residents of Wedgwood, stand against some provisions of the One Seattle Plan as they do not address the unique nature of our community nor protect it from deleterious harm, due mainly to the serious lack of tree protection. To that end, we urge the City Council and Mayor to:
Amend the current Tree Ordinance to ensure appropriate protection of trees during review and construction of development:
- Amend the Tree Protection Code, SMC 25.11 to place the enforcement with an independent urban forestry division to be housed in Seattle Utilities, SDOT, or Parks.
- Require all building permits affected by SMC 25.11 to be reviewed by this division.
- Ensure code language protects significant groves of trees, exceptional trees and stops the illegal removal of trees.
Increase housing density and incentivize affordable housing, while facilitating tree retention and canopy growth:
- Require a moratorium on the removal of all Tier 2 trees as defined by SMC 25.11 until such time that the code is amended as stated above.
- Preserve existing mature trees and usable open space via thoughtful design and construction as a measure to build units with smaller footprints (e.g. stacked flats), which by their nature will be more affordable.
Let Wedgwood be a great example of what we can achieve with increased density and preservation of a tree canopy throughout the city.
Trees are not a problem in Wedgwood. Affordable housing is. Specifically, affordable housing for couples and parents with children.
A statement which suggests Wedgwood is only interested in those provisions of the One Seattle Plan that relate to tree preservation is wrong. It’s wrong because there’s been no public discussion of the issue in the neighborhood. It is wrong because it overlooks the direct conflict that exists between the current tree ordinance and the Future 35th Ave NE Plan. And it is wrong because special interests have been adept at distracting us from evaluating community developments with a critical eye.
Obviously, I’m talking about Security Properties’ proposed development along 35th. Obviously, too, I’m talking about the Wedgwood Community Council’s apparent abandonment of the height restrictions it proposed in the Future 35th Ave NE Plan. Frankly, if we’re to have a discussion tonight with Councilperson Rivera, I would like it to include discussion of whether the recommendations fin the Future 35th Ave NE Plan for height restrictions between NE 82nd and NE 85th can be incorporated in the One Seattle Plan.
I agree with the statement on the tree preservation. Currently, the tree code allows developers to clear cut lots while current home owners are held to much higher standards. Developers should be required to plan around large trees. You can’t just replace a 100 year old tree with a sapling. Personally I would be all for taller buildings in exchange for saving more trees. The city should be doing more for keeping the tree canopy we have and increasing it where it is missing.
I am also supportive of more multi-family housing, recognizing the legitimate housing crisis. But it can be designed to preserve the tree canopy which serves such important purposes to keep temperatures down and baffle sound. These things are important to quality of life. It may be less profitable for developers to work around the trees instead of cut them down, but the trees profit all residents current and future.
The current design proposes to preserve the significant tree along the south property line and provide greater setbacks to those trees along the east property line than is required.
According to the arborist’s report that was prepared for this project, the significant tree is in “fair” condition. Which means it has a “below average life expectancy.” Which means the request to add a sixth story to the five stories allowed for this location is based on the developer’s promise to preserve one tree with a below average life expectancy.
What does it mean to add a sixth story to the five stories allowed under the code? Solar analyses provided in support of the Master Use Permit application show a significant loss of exposure to afternoon daylight, especially during the winter months. So yes, there’s a argument to be made about setbacks, but the reality on the ground is that our neighbors are being asked to give up something more than the code requires – something that impacts the quality of their lived experience in their own homes – because a single one of the 40+ trees on or adjacent to the property meets standards that enable developers to squeeze a little more revenue out of a project.
I offered two observations in my initial comment: one having to do with the Future 35th Ave NE Plan; the second having to do with the lack of (informed) neighborhood discussion about the One Seattle Plan. To the first point, it bears mentioning that the Future 35th Ave NE Plan called for a 40 foot height restriction from NE 82nd to NE 84th. The proposed development exceeds the community’s preferred height restriction at that location along 35th by a full 25 feet.
Second point. There has been no open public meeting in Wedgwood to inform the community about the One Seattle Plan or the proposed development at NE 85th since the One Seattle Plan has been proposed. That’s the kind of thing the Wedgwood Community Council used to do. It should be doing it now.