Land Use Committee - June 3, 2024

This Seattle City Council Land Use Committee meeting on June 16, 2025, centered on **Council Bill 120975**, legislation designed to streamline light rail permitting processes. The session featured intense debate over **Councilmember Rivera's Amendment 1**, which would require Sound Transit to submit community outreach reports with permit applications. **Key participants** included Chair Solomon, Councilmembers Rivera, Moore, Strauss, and Rinck, along with staff from SDCI, SDOT, and Sound Transit. The committee heard from **11 public commenters** - 6 in-person and 5 remote - with most opposing Rivera's amendment as potentially delaying transit construction. **Major outcomes:** - **Amendment 1B passed 3-2**, striking language that would have given SDCI directors discretionary authority to require additional outreach - **Amendment 1C was withdrawn** to allow consultation with Sound Transit before full Council consideration - **The underlying bill passed 5-0** with amendments, moving to full Council on June 10, 2025 - Chair Solomon presented an **overview of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)** principles for future codification **Timeline:** The bill addresses permitting for West Seattle and Ballard Link extensions, with Sound Transit anticipating **59 permits for West Seattle alone**.

### Council Bill 120975: Light Rail Permitting Streamlining **Background Context:** This legislation represents a critical effort to address Seattle's notorious reputation for slow infrastructure delivery. The bill updates city codes to support efficient permitting for Sound Transit's West Seattle and Ballard Link extensions, fulfilling permit process improvement goals identified by both the city and Sound Transit in 2019. **Current Status:** - **Base bill** streamlines permitting by allowing permit bundling and reducing bureaucratic hurdles - **Amendment 1 (Version 3)** requires Sound Transit to submit community outreach reports documenting: - List of impacted stakeholders targeted for outreach - Methods of communication used - Purposes and objectives of outreach - Summary of public comments received **Technical Details:** The legislation affects an estimated **59 master use permits** for West Seattle extension alone, plus over 200 additional individual permits. Sound Transit will have discretion in "bundling" permits to optimize review efficiency. The amendment adds a documentation requirement but doesn't mandate pre-approval of outreach plans, distinguishing it from earlier, more restrictive versions. ### Amendment Evolution and Political Dynamics **Version 1 to Version 3 Changes:** - **Eliminated** pre-application outreach plan approval requirements - **Removed** mandatory SDCI director response to public comments in permit decisions - **Retained** basic reporting requirements for outreach activities - **Added then removed** discretionary authority for directors to require additional outreach

### Coalition Patterns and Strategic Positioning **Pro-Amendment Coalition (Rivera/Moore):** - **Strategic motivation**: Protecting against future legal challenges by ensuring documented community engagement - **Key argument**: "Show your work" - transparency without delay - **Political positioning**: Framing as good governance and constituent protection **Anti-Amendment Coalition (Strauss/Rinck):** - **Strategic motivation**: Preventing any potential delays to transit construction amid regional budget pressures - **Key argument**: Voters already approved projects; additional process creates unnecessary risk - **Political positioning**: Emphasizing regional competitiveness and delivery urgency **Power Dynamics at Play:** - **Regional vs. Local tension**: Seattle has only 2 of 18 votes on Sound Transit board - **"Haves vs. Have-nots" dynamic**: Districts with existing light rail (4,5) vs. those waiting (1,6) - **Executive branch influence**: Mayor's office and departments helped craft compromise language - **Interest group pressure**: Over 750 emails received opposing original amendment ### Strategic Implications **Councilmember Strauss's regional warning** carries significant weight: Sound Transit's budget faces sustainability challenges in the 2040s, potentially forcing "minimum operating segments" that could truncate Seattle extensions. This creates pressure to demonstrate Seattle as a cooperative regional partner rather than an obstructionist jurisdiction like "old Bellevue."

### Immediate Opportunities for Public Input **Full Council Meeting - June 10, 2025:** - **Amendment 1C** (requiring documentation of project information shared during outreach) will be considered - **Contact strategy**: Email council members before June 8 to influence final vote - **Key message points**: Focus on specific impacts rather than general opposition/support **Ongoing Sound Transit Engagement:** - Sound Transit continues robust community outreach independent of city requirements - **Quarterly board meetings** provide ongoing input opportunities - **Project-specific workshops** occur throughout design phases ### Key Decision Points and Timeline **Critical Milestones:** - **June 10, 2025**: Full Council vote on CB 120975 - **60% design threshold**: When Sound Transit typically submits permit applications - **Permit bundling discussions**: Ongoing between city and Sound Transit **Contact Strategies for Maximum Impact:** - **For transit advocates**: Emphasize regional competitiveness and delivery urgency - **For community engagement supporters**: Focus on transparency and legal protection - **For specific neighborhood concerns**: Engage directly with Sound Transit's community outreach team ### Action Items for Engaged Citizens - **Monitor** Sound Transit board meetings for budget discussions affecting Seattle projects - **Participate** in ongoing community workshops for West Seattle and Ballard extensions - **Contact** council members with specific, fact-based concerns rather than general talking points - **Engage** with neighborhood organizations affected by construction

### Related Policies and Initiatives **Sound Transit 3 Implementation:** - **West Seattle Extension**: Environmental review complete, moving to final design - **Ballard Extension**: Still in environmental review phase - **Regional budget challenges**: 2040s sustainability concerns affecting all projects **Seattle Housing and Zoning Reforms:** - **One Seattle Comprehensive Plan**: Similar community engagement debates - **Missing Middle Housing**: Parallel discussions about process vs. delivery - **CPTED codification**: Chair Solomon's initiative to formalize crime prevention design standards ### Cross-Cutting Themes **Process vs. Delivery Tension:** This debate reflects Seattle's ongoing struggle between thorough community engagement and efficient project delivery. Similar tensions appear in housing policy, transportation projects, and development review processes. **Regional Competitiveness:** Seattle's role as regional leader requires balancing local concerns with regional cooperation. The Sound Transit debate connects to broader questions about Seattle's relationship with suburban jurisdictions and regional governance. ### Upcoming Milestones **June 2025:** - Full Council consideration of CB 120975 - Potential CPTED presentation continuation - Sound Transit budget discussions at regional level **Summer 2025:** - West Seattle extension permit submissions likely - Community engagement for Ballard extension continues - CPTED codification development

### Budget Implications and Funding Sources **Sound Transit Financial Pressures:** - **2040s budget gap** threatens project completion - **Cost escalation**: West Seattle extension already double original estimates - **Minimum operating segments** could truncate Seattle projects to Delridge (West Seattle) and Smith Cove (Ballard) **City Administrative Costs:** - **59 master use permits** for West Seattle extension - **200+ individual permits** across both projects - **Staff time** for reviewing community outreach reports minimal according to SDCI ### Procedural Insights and Next Steps **Amendment Process Irregularities:** - **Late introduction** of Amendment 1 without prior public notice - **Version control issues** with multiple iterations during single meeting - **Limited stakeholder consultation** before committee consideration **Implementation Challenges:** - **No precedent** for SDCI director discretion in community outreach requirements - **Undefined standards** for adequate outreach documentation - **Coordination complexity** between city departments and Sound Transit ### Technical Details **Permit Bundling Strategy:** - **Efficiency optimization** through strategic grouping of related permits - **Review complexity** varies by site conditions and project scope - **Timeline coordination** between design phases and permit submission **CPTED Integration Opportunities:** - **Design review process** could incorporate crime prevention principles - **Code development** needed for systematic implementation - **Professional training** requirements for city staff and private practitioners The meeting demonstrates Seattle's ongoing challenge of balancing thorough governance with efficient delivery, particularly for regionally significant infrastructure projects where local process decisions have broader implications for transit equity and regional cooperation.