Seattle Tightens SEPA Appeals to Accelerate Housing Drive

Seattle City Council approved a narrow 5-4 SEPA reform to curb city-level appeals of broad zoning changes by moving SEPA challenges to King County Superior Court or the Growth Management Hearings Board, aligning Seattle with nearby jurisdictions. Supporters say the change speeds housing production and supports Mayor Wilson’s Taller Denser Faster plan, while opponents warn it weakens environmental protections and could reduce public input. The measure affects the Harrell growth plan’s next phase and reflects continued partisan debate over how quickly Seattle should grow.