The Seattle City Council is expected to receive legislation from Mayor Greg Nickels this week that could assign developers the responsibility of providing affordable housing if they chose to build higher than existing zoning allows.

The policy is known as incentive zoning, and it was first implemented in Downtown Seattle in 2006. That year, much of the area was rezoned, allowing for greater building height. In exchange, if developers decided to take advantage of the new zoning increases then they would have to set aside 11 percent of the increased density for affordable housing.

Rent of these units must be reasonably priced for those who earn up to 80 percent of the area's median income. In downtown Seattle, that is typically about $43,000 a year. Units would be required to remain at this same level of affordability for 50 years.

Alternatively, if developers choose not to include the affordable housing in their own structure, they can pay the city approximately $18.94 per square foot for off-site affordable housing.

The mayor's expected legislation would extend incentive zoning throughout the city for most other Seattle neighborhoods, including West Seattle.

Seattle City Council member Sally Clark emphasized that the ordinance itself would not rezone any property, but that it allows opportunities for neighborhoods to gain more affordable housing.

John Fox, coordinator of the Seattle Displacement Coalition, sees the ordinance as a threat to neighborhood character. He said that he would prefer the city focus its efforts on maintaining existing affordable housing and green spaces rather than creating new units.

"Our communities already have construction cranes on almost every block," Fox said. "There's less open space, views are obstructed, and we lose truly affordable housing with off-site building."

He added that the affordable housing units created though incentive zoning are still more expensive than the typical worker can afford.

When asked if she is concerned that the new legislation could result in more upzoning and affect the nature of different communities, Clark explained that neighborhoods are already changing.

"There is already lots of new development in West Seattle and Ballard," Clark said. "This would provide more public benefit for these changes.'

According to Clark, incentive zoning Downtown has resulted in four new off-site affordable housing projects and one upzoned building that will include affordable housing within the structure. She said that many community members prefer to see affordable housing units developed on-site, creating economic diversity in neighborhoods.

The ordinance is scheduled for further review by the Planning, Land Use and Neighborhoods Committee on Sept. 24 and Oct, 8. If approved by the committee, the city council could take action on the ordinance by the end of 2008.

Rose Egge can be reached at 932-0300 or rosee@robinsonnews.com.