Seattle Addresses Tree Canopy Concerns

Seattle King County REALTORS® continues to work throughout the region to encourage cities to adopt flexible and bold comprehensive plan policies and related development regulations to encourage ADUs and middle housing in their cities.

We are encouraging policy makers to view increased housing supply through zoned density as the first and best strategy to make housing affordable, underscoring that until we better balance supply and demand, affordability will remain unachievable.

In Seattle, SKCR is working with council to address concerns from many neighborhoods about the loss of tree canopy associated with infill housing development and redevelopment. We believe the city can have robust tree canopy and an adequate supply of housing. To accomplish this, we are encouraging the council to pursue two key strategies: 1) establish flexibility in front and rear setbacks to accommodate tree retention and allowed FAR for the residence; 2) redesign, improve, and expand the city’s use of public property including streets, parks, and utility properties for trees.