Warning! The draft community plan is laying out our future and when you look closely, you’re not going to like it. General statements of “increase affordable housing” (yes, we all agree) have become specific plans giving a “density bonus” for high-density developments in town and areas stretching down to Center.

I have a few questions:

1. If we need about 100 units of affordable housing, which can be accommodated by current zoning, why are we opening the door to 1,500+ units at half buildout?

2. Isn’t “density bonus” just an upzone without opportunity for public comment?

3. Why is “affordable housing” being defined as housing affordable to 40 percent of the Puget Sound population? Won’t developers market these widely? What will be the impact on water, traffic, ferry lines, schools, etc?

Please look at this draft plan. There are good reasons that the citizens group was divided. Please comment to Bradley.Clark@kingcounty.gov and cc: JoeMcDermott@kingcounty.gov.

— Frank Jackson