(The Center Square) – Proposed legislation to allow housing development near Seattle’s professional sports venues sparked some divisiveness during a recent committee meeting.
Council Bill 120933 would amend the city’s land use code to allow for workforce housing in the Stadium Transition Area Overlay District, which encompasses Lumen Field and T-Mobile Park. The district was established with the intention to provide a safe pedestrian environment for people attending events, while minimizing conflicts with industrial uses that occur in the SODO neighborhood.
The Stadium Transition Area Overlay District was rezoned to the urban industrial zone, but unlike other urban industrial zones, most residential uses were prohibited within the district.
According to a summary of the bill, the intent of the bill is to create a livelier Stadium District by allowing residential uses that serve a mix of incomes.
During a Governance, Accountability, and Economic Development Committee meeting on Monday, the public comment period took nearly an hour and a half with a number of speakers testifying on the impacts of proposed Council Bill 120933.
Members of the International Longshoreman’s and Warehouse Union argued that the zoning change would impact freight mobility in the port by worsening traffic in the area.
However, supporters for the stadium zoning changes say allowing residential growth near the stadiums provide more economic opportunities.
John Marshione, executive director at the Public Stadium Authority, was one of the public commenters supportive of the council bill. Marshione said it allows the creation of a new neighborhood, which in turn, creates more housing and jobs.
But speakers who got to interact directly with committee members voiced strong opinions against the bill, saying the area is not able to have residential spaces coincide with the port’s industrial work.
Port of Seattle Commission President Toshiko Hasegawa urged the city council not to proceed with the bill and to enable the agreements made in 2023 that prevents housing from being constructed in the urban industrial zones within the Stadium Transition Area Overlay District.
Hasegawa argued against the direct impacts to residents in an urban area, saying the proposal compromises safety by putting pedestrians in direct conflict with freight and trains, which she characterizes as “reckless urban planning.”
“If you pass this legislation, you compromise our ability to compete for cargo market share and lead in our vision for sustainability, transforming industries and fighting climate change,” Hasegawa said during the Seattle Governance, Accountability, and Economic Development Committee meeting.
Seattle City Council Chair Sara Nelson sponsored the council bill. When she announced the legislation last month, Nelson said allowing workforce housing to be built near T-Mobile Park and Lumen Field would support the creation of a “Stadium Makers’ District” with mixed residential and light industrial uses adjacent to the stadiums. In turn, Nelson expects the creation of tens of thousands of new jobs.
During the committee meeting on Monday, Nelson noted the urban industrial zone does come with several conditions, such as all dwelling units having sound insulating windows and a permanently installed air cooling system, among others.
“With all those conditions, doesn’t that kind of point to the incompatibility of those residential and industrial areas?” Seattle Freight Advisory Board Chari Dan Kelly asked in response.
The committee is expected to vote on the proposed legislation on Thursday. If it is approved, it will then be voted on by the full Seattle City Council sometime next month.
