Housing Density and Tree Preservation Dominate at Public Forum on Seattle's Comprehensive Plan

Housing density and tree preservation were competing topics at a Seattle City Council meeting on June 25.

A council select committee held its second public comment meeting on two pieces of legislation: Mayor Bruce Harrell's proposed Comprehensive Plan and the city's new interim zoning law to comply with Washington state's House Bill 1110, which aims to increase middle housing in "traditionally single-family areas." While supporters of housing density voiced that more homes will solve the affordability crisis, some tree preservation advocates argued that more density and new construction would crowd out or destroy canopy.

Harrell's revised Comprehensive Plan appeal was introduced to the City Council committee in May. The proposal illustrates a 10-year zoning plan with four main goals: expand housing opportunities, promote equity, invest in walkable communities, and meet the challenges of climate change.

A variety of topics were discussed at the public forum, including investing in wheelchair-friendly housing, the increase in the unhoused population, and accommodating queer and trans people who move to Seattle from conservative states. Tree preservation advocates, however, were the bulk of commenters.

By 2037, the Comprehensive Plan aims to have an overall tree canopy cover of 30%. In 2021, Seattle's canopy cover was at 28%. Some speakers urged the council to take on a canopy preservation plan similar to Portland, which aims to plant 660,000 trees citywide.

In 2021, researchers classified South Seattle, University District, and northern King County as "environmental justice priority areas," or neighborhoods that are likely to be disadvantaged by racial and economic disparities. In 2021, those areas had 21% less canopy cover than "advantaged areas," like North Seattle, Queen Anne, and downtown.

"Our public health and anti-displacement infrastructures require tree equity," District 2 resident June Bluespruce said to the council. "When tree canopy disappears, neighborhoods become hotter, less livable, and more expensive to cool."

Sandra Hunt, who has lived in Beacon Hill for 20 years, said she's watched her neighbors struggle with developers who were felling trees on property lines.

"All I've seen is tree loss … when mansions are put up and all the trees are cut around them." Hunt said."Please come up with strategies that allow us to keep the trees that are on the edges [of developments] to protect our South End residents from the airport pollution that is raining down on us."

Meanwhile, Adam Bartell of West Seattle argued that building more housing would bring more vibrancy to Seattle neighborhoods, from local bars to grocery stores.

"I love my neighborhood, and it wouldn't be half as good without all the apartment buildings," Bartell said. "We have a housing shortage, we need more homes … Also, you can just plant more trees."

Harrell's housing plan estimates the city will need a minimum of 112,000 units between 2019 and 2044 to keep up with the projected population growth. Of these units, 42,600 would need to be dedicated to extremely low-income housing.

House Bill 1110 aims to increase middle housing, which consists of buildings modeled like a single-family home but allow for more density, like duplexes, triplexes, and townhouses. Advocates argue that more middle housing would offer a wider variety of housing options to accommodate people with varying income levels.

Pro-housing density advocates argued for removing lot minimums, increasing stack flats, and increasing housing density bonuses citywide.

Dr. Greg Smith spoke about the increasing number of people experiencing homelessness in the last 10 years. In King County, homelessness rates increased from 10,600 people in 2016 to 16,800 in 2024. Seattle has spent more than $1 billion on homelessness since 2015.

"How do you spend over $1 billion and end up with more homeless people?" Smith asked the council. "Any proposals that decrease the amount of housing will increase the amount of homelessness."

The deadline for the city to comply with House Bill 1110 was June 30. The final vote for the Comprehensive Plan will take place in September. There is no other public forum scheduled.