Seattle City Council passed Council Bill 120933 on March 18, 2025, amending the Seattle Municipal Code to permit residential uses as a conditional use within the Stadium Transition Area Overlay District (STAOD). This rezoning removes the prior restriction on residential development in the UI-zoned STAOD, including the prohibition on housing within 200 feet of major truck streets. Housing developments must meet a strict set of conditions: they must be part of a mixed-use project, include at least 50% affordable housing for 75 years at 60%–90% AMI depending on unit size, and meet environmental safety standards including air filtration, soundproofing to 45 dBA, and seismic readiness due to liquefaction risks. Additional provisions limit parking access from truck streets, require resident disclosures of industrial area risks, and prohibit city funding for these projects. The ordinance aims to support economic revitalization of the stadium area with pedestrian activity, while maintaining industrial operations and freight mobility.
This zoning change opens a critical area of downtown Seattle to residential development, creating opportunities for workforce housing near major transit and employment hubs. It also balances development with industrial preservation and environmental resilience in a dense urban zone.