Montlake Community Club

A letter from a Montlake resident: Montlake Up-zoning Information and Update

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Disclaimer: We are publishing a letter from a resident. This is a letter from an individual and any opinions / thoughts expressed in this letter are not the opinion of the Montlake Community Club (MCC).

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Happy New Year Montlakers!

Some of us thought that this would be a good time to share more information about major Seattle zoning changes being proposed by the Mayor to our City Council which will increase density to accommodate growth and hopefully make housing more affordable. This email is an attempt to clearly show the proposed changes to Montlake. 

Montlake is one of 30 “Neighborhood Centers” in Seattle proposed for significant density increases. The “Neighborhood Centers” are only a portion of the density increases – the neighborhoods themselves are also slated for significant increases.

In Montlake’s case, about 24 blocks will be zoned for Low Rise 2 (up to four stories) and Low Rise 3 (up to five stories), townhouses and apartment buildings. Nearly 400 historic Montlake homes are currently on these blocks. As we know, this is a large portion of tiny little Montlake, and this will significantly change Montlake forever if implemented as proposed!

The remainder of Montlake’s residential lots will be zoned NR which will allow for four units per lot in addition to the already allowed ADU’s. The three-block business district on 24th Ave will be rezoned to NC2-55 which allows 55’ tall mixed-use buildings. But nothing is final yet, so your feedback to City Council is extremely important.

Please click here for the proposed Montlake zoning map on page 4 – it clearly shows the plan!

Montlake Community Concerns with the Process:

  1. Most everyone agrees with the goals but feels that the whole plan is moving us too fast and too far with too much at stake, and with very little outreach from the City!
  2. December 20th, the deadline for community input, was an inconvenient time for most to research and respond due to the holidays!
  3. The plan seems to be developed in a “cookie cutter” approach without taking into account our unique and individual neighborhoods – what makes Seattle, Seattle!
  4. It’s not clear whether this plan will actually make housing more affordable in Seattle!

Montlake Community Concerns with the Plan: 

  1. Montlake is designated a Historic District by the Department of the Interior.
  2. Parking is already problematic without increased density. No off-street parking will be required within a half mile of bus rapid transit stops or light rail stops. One parking spot will be required for every two dwelling units that aren’t and ADUs will be exempted from parking requirements. The plan relies on the fact that we are close to Light Rail and have a bus line. 
  3. Congestion is also already problematic on our narrow little 1920’s streets and the plan does not address this. Congestion continues to increase from SR520 and the increased capacity at Montlake Elementary.
  4. There just isn’t the infrastructure in our historic neighborhood to support this plan. 
  5. Setbacks will be reduced so tree canopy will be lost.
  6. The plan does not include any design requirements to maintain the character of the neighborhood, and blocks can be developed individually lot by lot with no coherent plan. 
  7. Rezoning the site of the old Montlake Market is not included in the plan. It could be a wonderful location for at least six stories (with views) we believe. In addition, the large NOAA Fisheries site is for sale and could be beautifully re-developed into multi-family homes. It’s not included in the plan either.

Key Dates:

1.      December 20th – public comments were originally due

2.      January 6th _ Initial discussion at City Council Meeting

3.      February 4th – Madison Park Neighborhood Meeting 7-8:30 at Bathhouse

4.      February 5th – Public City Council Meeting 5pm at City Hall

5.      May 2025- City Council votes on the plan

6.      June 2025 – One Seattle Plan submitted to Legislature to fulfill HB 1110

What can you do?

  1. Share this email with your neighbors!
  2. Sign the petition – https://www.change.org/p/preserve-montlake-neighborhood-while-growing
  3. Contact Joy Hollingsworth, our District 3 City Council Representative and leader on this project, at Joy.Hollingsworth@Seattle.govalong with OneSeattleCompPlan@Seattle.gov with your feedback. Even though December 20th has passed, City Council feedback is always a great option!
  4. Contact Janice Sears @ JLSears0705@Outlook.com if you would like to help with a counter proposal.

    More information about the proposed changes is coming to montlake.net soon, so please check back.

Thank you!

Janice Sears @ JLSears0705@Outlook.com

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