A barrier to Seattle’s plan for Mandatory Housing Affordability upzoning in its densest neighborhoods has been breached as the city’s Hearing Examiner has ruled against a coalition of neighborhood groups calling for further review of the program.

In the ruling released late Wednesday afternoon, the Hearing Examiner upheld the city’s environmental review of the program across most of the 55 points brought against MHA in the coalition appeal. “On review of the entire record, the level of environmental analysis under the FEIS (Final Environmental Impact Statement) satisfies the rule of reason in all aspects except historic resources, and the Department’s determination of adequacy should be confirmed,” the examiner writes.

BECOME A 'PAY WHAT YOU CAN' CHS SUBSCRIBER TODAY: Support local journalism dedicated to your neighborhood. SUBSCRIBE HERE. Join to become a subscriber at $1/$5/$10 a month to help CHS provide community news with NO PAYWALL. You can also sign up for a one-time annual payment.

Pro-housing advocate group Seattle for Everyone Coalition lauded the decision. “As we look forward to the thousands of affordable homes and millions in investments that will house people at risk of being priced out by rising rent rates, Seattle for Everyone Coalition celebrates the energy of MHA’s champions on the Council and in the community,” the group’s statement reads.

Under the MHA framework, affordability requirements chained to the proposed upzoning vary by scale and developers can choose to pay fees instead of including rent-restricted units. The legislation was expected to result in $380M in revenue from the payment option and 1,325 units over 20 years, according to city planners. That $380 million could build another 4,300 affordable units, according to the city’s analysis.

CHS reported previously on the possible changes that would come to Capitol Hill zoning and the neighborhood’s relatively strong support for the plan — especially in comparison to some of the backlash that has emerged in other parts of the city.The proposed zoning changes for Capitol Hill and the Central District include transitioning Broadway from around Cal Anderson Park all the way north to Roy to 75-foot height limits and “neighborhood commercial” zoning that would allow seven-story buildings with commercial use throughout. Some of the bigger changes would also come around the Miller Community Center.

In the Central District, most proposed changes are focused on the area around Madison and 23rd with smaller areas around 23rd and Union and 23rd and Jackson where surgical upzoning has already been approved.There has been considerable opposition to the planned changes in some corners of the city though Capitol Hill’s community groups have mostly been supportive of the changes. The Miller Park Neighbors have not. The Miller Park YAY-bors? All for it.

Before it is implemented and available to developers, MHA still will require another pass through the City Council for amendments. Further legal battles could follow.

BECOME A 'PAY WHAT YOU CAN' CHS SUBSCRIBER TODAY: Support local journalism dedicated to your neighborhood. SUBSCRIBE HERE. Join to become a subscriber at $1/$5/$10 a month to help CHS provide community news with NO PAYWALL. You can also sign up for a one-time annual payment.