The Seattle City Council voted 5-4 this week to shield many citywide zoning changes from appeals to the city’s hearing examiner — a move supporters say will speed housing construction, but critics argue weakens an important check on government.
The vote came near the end of a marathon public meeting that highlighted a broader debate over how Seattle balances the need for more housing with neighborhood concerns about growth and change.
The State Environmental Policy Act requires a report on the environmental impact of government actions. Based on the report, the state may require further study, or determine that the change is “nonsignificant.”…