Seattle Zoning Decisions: May 2026

In May 2026, Seattle held 7 public meetings covering zoning matters. Of 4 zoning decisions with a clear outcome this month, 4 were approved (100% approval rate). Activity was up 8% compared to April (184 activity items across 9 meetings).

Zoning Decisions This Month

Housing Opportunities Legislation (CB 121196)

Approved.

Rezones land in University District, Fremont/Stoneway corridor, Madison/Miller neighborhood (including Meredith Matthews YMCA and Ebenezer AME Church parcels along 23rd corridor), Rainier Beach, and downtown to increase housing supply. Removes code barriers for modular and mass timber construction, enables commercial-to-housing conversions, and incentivizes community-serving uses. Vote: 4-0-1 with Council President Hollingsworth abstaining.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Repeal of SOTO Residential Zoning (CB 121171)

Approved.

Council Bill 121171 repealing Ordinance 127191, which had allowed residential use within the Stadium Transition Area Overlay District under chapter 23.74 of Seattle Municipal Code. The repeal was required to comply with a Growth Management Hearings Board ruling that found procedural irregularities in the original ordinance. Vote was.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Georgetown Arts and Cultural District Designation

Approved.

Resolution 32201 created an arts and cultural district in Georgetown neighborhood, recognizing the area's history as a creative community built by artists combining industrial history with active arts.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Confirmation of Liliana Alaia as OSE Director

Approved.

Liliana Alaia confirmed as Director of the Office of Sustainability and Environment. The Land Use and Sustainability Committee recommended confirmation with overwhelming community support noted during committee hearing.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Zoning Changes

• Industrial/warehouse → Residential (higher density) at Block between North 34th, North 35th, Stoneway and Woodland Park Ave, Fremont (Multiple property owners including Andrea Breda)
• Lower density → Higher density residential at 23rd corridor, Madison/Miller neighborhood (Ebenezer AME Church, Meredith Matthews YMCA)
• Not specified → Higher density residential at University District (City of Seattle)
• Not specified → Higher density for affordable housing at Rainier Beach neighborhood (Nonprofit partners)
• Not specified → Higher density residential at Downtown/Belltown (City of Seattle)
• CDM Transition Area Overlay with residential use allowed → CDM Transition Area Overlay without residential use at Stadium Transition Area Overlay District (SOTO) (City of Seattle (compliance action))

Top Keywords This Month

• land use: 74 instances
• zoning: 27 instances
• comprehensive plan: 16 instances
• residential: 12 instances
• industrial: 12 instances

What to Watch

• Land use mentions were up 68% from April.
• Comprehensive plan came up 220% more often than April.
• Industrial saw 71% more mentions month-over-month.

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