The Morgan Community Association (MoCA) has expressed significant concerns about the One Seattle Plan zoning update, detailing their objections and recommendations in a letter to the city. MoCA's concerns stem from a perceived lack of outreach and the potential negative impacts of the plan on the community.

They prefaced their concerns here: 

The Morgan Community Association or MoCA established in 1999 creation of the Morgan Junction Residential Urban Village is a grassroots association of residents, business persons, property owners and other people who have a stake in the future Morgan Junction. Our primary purpose is to make Morgan Junction a better place to live, work, shop and enjoy”. https://www.morganjunction.org. 

MoCA continues to advocate on behalf of Morgan Junction related topics in the City. Attached please find our comments on the One Seattle Proposed Zoning Plan for Morgan Junction, as depicted in the October 2024 One Seattle Plan Zoning Update documents with Exhibit A.

Thank You for the opportunity to comment. 

The Board of the Morgan Community Association (MoCA)

mocacnc@gmail.com

Deb Barker, President

Here are the main issues raised by MoCA:

● Neighborhood Boundaries:

MoCA strongly disapproves of the creation of the Fairmount and High Point Neighborhood Centers, which they say has reduced the Morgan Junction Neighborhood Plan Area by 12 blocks without due process. MoCA requests that the city clarify how these overlapping neighborhood jurisdictions will function. They also suggest expanding the northern boundary of the High Point Neighborhood Center to include the High Point Public Library and Clinic.

● Critical Areas and Infrastructure:

MoCA is concerned about the expansion of the Morgan Junction Urban Center into critical areas like the Eddy Street and Pelly Place ravines, which have steep slopes, streams, and unstable soils, as well as lacking adequate infrastructure. MoCA argues that development in these areas will be problematic and expensive. They also state that adding density to areas with older infrastructure is not smart unless upgrades are mandated, and specifically requests upzones be removed from these areas.

● Affordability and Housing:

MoCA is troubled by the lack of a clear definition of "affordable housing" in the One Seattle Plan. They argue that the plan's reliance on the "trickle-down" principle will not solve the immediate housing crisis. MoCA notes that the plan does not require more affordable housing types, and that builders prioritize townhouses, making new housing unaffordable, especially for renters. They also point out that the Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA) program is not effectively creating affordable units. MoCA requests that the city mandate on-site affordable housing units in multifamily projects, in addition to returning MHA fees to the community.

● Community Concerns and Outreach:

MoCA hosted a community meeting due to a lack of city outreach on the One Seattle Plan. Attendees expressed concern about the lack of outreach, the complexity of the rezoning plan, and the lack of information. Other concerns include the lack of basic services, abrupt upzoning transitions, loss of tree canopy, and the potential for developers to negatively impact existing properties, as well as the disconnect between proposed upzoning levels and school closures. They also note that increased density will displace seniors, people with mobility issues and families with small children.

● MoCA's Summary of Requests:

MoCA requests the city to clarify the function of overlapping neighborhood jurisdictions, eliminate upzones from critical areas, and require on-site affordable housing units, in addition to returning MHA fees to the community.

The Morgan Community Association's detailed concerns emphasize the need for the city to address community needs and concerns as it moves forward with the One Seattle Plan