Puget Sound Regional Council's Draft Land Use Forecasts for Communities Surrounding 35th Ave NE

The Puget Sound Regional Council has recently released its Draft Public Review Version: 2012 Land Use Forecasts.  Based on this report and its forecast results, the "Wedgewood/View Ridge" Forecast Analysis Zone (FAZ) is projected for growth over the next 30 years. The information within this report reinforces the reality that change is inevitable for the 35th Ave NE corridor.

Before we summarize the results for the "Wedgewood/View Ridge" FAZ, there's a few things that need to be explained. First, I've already pointed out to the PSRC that Wedgwood is spelled incorrectly.  Secondly, this FAZ (6226) includes all of Wedgwood and portions of the View Ridge, Maple Leaf, Meadowbrook, and Ravenna-Bryant neighborhoods (Census Tracts 20, 21, 22, 26, 25, 24, 38, 39, and part of 40).  So, despite its name, it is comprised of numerous communities that surround the 35th Ave NE corridor.

According to the PSRC's data, the total population of this FAZ grew 104% between 2000-2010, from 28,982 in 2000 to 30,094 in 2010. During this same period, total households grew 103%, single-family households grew 104% and multi-family households decreased to 94% of what it once was.  While this is interesting, the forecast for the next several decades shows significant growth.  The PSRC's draft results are summarized below in Table 1.

Of particular note is the jump in total population (127%) and multi-family households (167%) between 2010 and 2020. While these numbers may change (they are only in draft format) and are only forecasts, we can be reasonably confident that growth is going to happen. Our City and our part of the City is too wonderful for people not to want to move, live, and work here. The question that we need to ask ourselves is where and how it happens. 

What's not shown in Table 1 but is discussed in the PSRC's draft report and forecast results is employment forecasts for the "Wedgewood / View Ridge" FAZ. According to the PSRC's draft results, "Retail" is projected to grow nearly 200% within the FAZ between 2010 (650 jobs) and 2020 (1,296 jobs). The highest growth rate for any category of employment. 

35th Ave NE Planning Boundary

One of the first things necessary for any planning exercise is to establish boundaries.  That's exactly what was done at the last 35th Ave NE Steering Committee meeting.  Earlier, the committee had decided to look at three specific elements for the 35th Ave NE corridor as part of the community's planning.

• Zoning - Does the existing zoning provide the framework for the community's desired outcome looking 20 years into the future?
• Design Guidelines - What guidelines does the community want to provide to help shape development and provide a desirable pedestrian environment along 35th Ave NE as growth occurs in the future?
• Transportation - What are critical transportation features and needs to support the community's desired outcome for 35th Ave NE looking 20 years into the future?

With this in mind, the committee established boundaries for the 35th Ave NE corridor planning.  It's important to note that just because there is a boundary doesn't mean that anything or everything within that boundary is going to change.  It simply defines the geographic extent to which the community and 35th Ave NE Steering Committee will be addressing the above planning elements, or at least the zoning and design guidelines elements.

So, what went into defining the boundary?  Great question. There were numerous factors that went into defining the extent of the 35th Ave NE planning boundary.  The 2 primary factors though were:

• Existing land use and zoning (e.g., location of existing commercial "nodes" and multi-family housing)
• Proving sufficient width to consider how the existing and potential development along 35th transitioned to the single-family neighborhoods.

Let us know what your thoughts are in the comments section below. This is a community-driven planning effort and it is paramount that the community's voice is heard throughout this process.


View 35th Ave NE Neighborhood Plan in a larger map

What Makes A Neighborhood Walkable? Revisiting Coffee Talk 2.

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Very Walkable

Walk Score

Here in NE Seattle and other Seattle neighborhoods north of NE 85th Street, the most frequently heard answer to this question is "more sidewalks." While sidewalks is certainly a critical component of walkability, the more complete answer is more complicated.  Traffic calming, destinations to walk to, land use, pedestrian scale lighting, ADA-accessibility, maintained vegetation, and numerous other design elements go into making a neighborhood more walkable. 

How do I know this?  Well, I was at the most recent Coffee Talk in a series of Coffee Talks that the 35th Ave NE Steering Committee are putting on thanks to the Washington Chapter of the American Planning Association’s Community Planning Assistance Team (CPAT). 

On Thursday, March 22nd, Paula Reeves with WSDOT, Kevin O'Neill with SDOT, and Lisa Quinn with Feet First shared their thoughts on walkability and the importance of proximity at our 2nd Coffee Talk. The presentations and following discussion was exceptionally useful for those neighbors and 35th Ave NE Steering Committee members that came.  In case you missed it, have no fear, you can relive the Coffee Talk (in far-from-high-definition and minus the delicious coffee and donuts provided by Top Pot) here:



Download the presentations in .PDF form below:

• Presentation 1 of 3: Paula Reeves, WSDOT and APA Washington CPAT Co-Chair
• Presentation 2 of 3: Kevin O'Neill, SDOT Transportation Planning Manager
• Presentation 3 of 3: Lisa Quinn, Feet First Executive Director

See the results of the post-Coffee Talk survey completed by all attendees HERE.
 
Don't miss the 3rd Coffee Talk, “Design at a Human Scale. A Primer on Urban Design Concepts and City of Seattle Design Review Guidelines,”on Thursday, April 26th from 7-8:30PM at Wedgwood Presbyterian Church (Fellowship Hall).  The speakers will be John Owen with Makers Architecture and Urban Design and Cheryl Sizov, Senior Urban Planner with City of Seattle DPD.

Ravenna-Bryant Helps Spread the Word

A very kind thank you to the Ravenna-Bryant Community Association for spreading the word about the community planning being done by residents from Ravenna-Bryant, Wedgwood, and other NE Seattle neighborhoods for 35th Ave NE.

Many thanks, RBCA!

Welcome To Our New Blog!

Recently, residents of the Wedgwood, Ravenna-Bryant, and other NE Seattle neighborhoods have begun a community-driven neighborhood planning process for 35th Ave NE.  (You know this already if you're on this website.)  Yet, while the Wedgwood Community Council's (WCC) Land Use Committee did a lot of leg work to initiate this process and get it up and running, the neighborhood planning is not necessarily a WCC or Ravenna-Bryant Community Association (RBCA) en devour, despite the two groups being critical components of the planning process.  Therefore, to clarify this and make sure the planning more reflects the broader community it represents, we have moved off of the WCC website and have started this blog.  Enjoy!

Mayor McGinn Visits Wedgwood

(This originally was posted on the Wedgwood Community Council's website) 

UPDATE: The mayor’s office posted photos from their weekend, including their stop in Wedgwood.
UPDATE: Video of the town hall is embeded below.

Mayor McGinn paid Wedgwood a visit on Saturday, March 10th, for a walking tour of 35th Ave NE and to host a community town hall.  The mayor, who arrived on his trusted two wheeled chariot, was also joined by numerous City staff from the Mayor’s Office, Department of Neighborhoods, Seattle Police, Seattle Public Utilities, Seattle Department of Transportation, and Seattle Parks and Recreation.   Additionally, several community members joined the walking tour representing Sustainable NE Seattle, North East Seattle Together (NEST), Eckstein Bikes and Bryant Bikes,Ravenna-Bryant Community Association, and Wedgwood Community Council.

We started the brief walking tour by showing the mayor the new Jasper building and describing the history of recent Wedgwood land use issues including the evolution of the Vision Plan and the ongoing neighborhood planning.  We then walked down to Van Gough Coffeehouse to meet Janet Gibson, who owns the coffee shop.  The walk then carried on south to the Seattle Audubon where the mayor met Russ Steele (store manager), Shawn Cantrell (Executive Director), Cathy Jaramillo (current board president), and Charlie Kahle (incoming board president).  Lastly, we showed off the mayor the Hunter Farm Project and discussed all the different events that occur at the site such as the Wedgwood Art Festival, Planet:HOME, and theemergency preparedness drills.  As we walked, the mayor and City staff were very gracious to share their thoughts and ideas.

Following the walking tour, the mayor hosted a town hall at Wedgwood Presbyterian Church.  McGinn addressed a slew of questions to nearly 70 community members on a range of topics.  Thanks to all that came to the town hall.  A special thanks to Mayor McGinn and all the City staff that came out to Wedgwood and made time to listen to us and our NE Seattle neighbors. Watch the town hall below on the Seattle Channel.

The mayor’s office also posted photos from his weekend neighborhood walk and town hall here in Wedgwood.

Coffee Talk 2: Making a Neighborhood Walkable and the Importance of Proximity

(This originally was posted on the Wedgwood Community Council's website) 

Coffee Talk: “Making a Neighborhood Walkable and the Importance of Proximity”
Thursday, March 22nd, from 7-8:30PM at Wedgwood Presbyterian Church (8008 35th Ave NE)

As part of the ongoing neighborhood planning process for 35th Ave NE, we are hosting a series of Coffee Talks on various planning concepts.  These Coffee Talks are hosted thanks to the help of the Community Planning Assistance Team (CPAT) of the Washington Chapter of the American Planning Association.

Our next Coffee Talk will be on March 22nd at Wedgwood Presbyterian Church (Fellowship Hall -downstairs) from 7-8:30PM. The presentation will be on “Making a Neighborhood Walkable and the Importance of Proximity” and will feature Paula Reeves from WSDOT’s Safe Routes to School Program; Kevin O’Neil, transportation planning manager from SDOT; and Lisa Quinn, the Executive Director of Feet First; and will be facilitated by the UW Urban Planning Department. As always, everyone is welcome.  Thanks again to Top Pot for providing coffee and some other deliciousness for the Coffee Talk. 

Future Coffee Talks Include:

• Coffee Talk: “Design at a Human Scale. A Primer on Urban  Design Concepts and City of Seattle Design Review Guidelines” - Thursday, April 26^th at Wedgwood Presbyterian Church (Fellowship Hall – Downstairs) from 7-8:30PM.  Speakers: John Owen, Makers Architecture and Urban Designand Cheryl Sizov, Senior Urban Planner with City of Seattle DPD.
• Coffee Talk:  ”Place-making and Successful Streetscape Features” – Thursday, May 24^th, Location TBD.  Speakers: Brice Maryman, SvR Design and Catherine Benotto, Weber + Thompson Architects
• Coffee Talk:  ”Density and its Benefits” – Thursday, June 21st, Location TBD – Speaker: Kevin Shively, Nelson\Nygaard Consultants
• Coffee Talk: “Financial realities of development.  Incentivizing successful development” – Speakers, date, and location not yet confirmed.  Possible dates:  July 23-27
• Coffee Talk:  ”The Trade Offs of Land Use Planning” – Thursday, Aug 23^rd , Location TBD. Speaker:  Erin Christensen, AIA, LEED AP ND, Mithun