Future of 35th Ave NENE Seattle residents proactively planning for change

BACKGROUND

VISION PLAN

• Completed in 2010 by the Wedgwood Community Council through grant following outcry over a development. Prompted the WCC to ask “what do we want.”

• +800 respondents to Wedgwood Vision Plan survey• Applies to Wedgwood only (north of NE 75th St &

south of NE 95th St)• First 2 suggested actions:

1. Undertake a neighborhood plan that includes a review of current zoning standards and design guidelines with the City DPD. Revise development standards as appropriate in accordance with community preferences established in the neighborhood plan.

2. Work with Seattle DPD to establish neighborhood-specific design guidelines that direct new development

BACKGROUND

35th AVE COMMITTEE

• Formed out of Vision Plan in 2012 to pursue neighborhood plan for 35th Ave NE

• Hosted 2 kick-off community meetings

• Invited anyone in community to join the 35th Ave Committee

• Comprised of residents of Ravenna, Bryant, Wedgwood, View Ridge, Hawthorne Hill

Click to Link to Video

Click to Link to Slideshow

BACKGROUND

35th AVE COMMITTEE (cont)

• Co-hosted 7 “Coffee Talks” in 2012 with APA-WA CPAT on planning topics and principals for community

• Completed 35th Ave NE Business District survey in 2013 with +1,000 respondents. Results include:• 89% respondents live in neighborhood.• 84% are comfortable with more development.• 92% would like increased retail diversity.• 88% believe business district is underdeveloped.• People were comfortable with more development if it

improves streetscape/walkability (75%), well designed (72%),located appropriately (55%), provides increased retail (46%), and transitions well with single-family (44%).

BACKGROUND

35th AVE COMMITTEE (cont)

• Following survey results, developed a planning processin consultation with Seattle DPD which was endorsed by both RBCA & WCC

• Awarded grant by Seattle DON to complete:- Streetscape Guidelines- Zoning Recommendations

• Hired consultant team and scheduled 3 public workshops

BACKGROUND

35th AVE COMMITTEE – PROJECT GOALS

• Recognizing that change is inevitable, the goal was to initiate a community discussion to develop a proactive plan for the 35th Ave NE business district which includes:• Streetscape Design Guidelines

• Zoning Recommendations

• The plan is not intended to change the 35th Ave NE business district immediately, but to create a platform for community supported change in the future.

BACKGROUND

PUBLIC WORKSHOP 1 & 2 OUTREACH

• Mailed +1,800 postcards to all residences within 5-blocks of 35th Ave NE in project area.

• Mailed postcards to all landowners along35th Ave NE in project area.

• Posted flyers and 200 additional postcards at businesses along 35th Ave NE.

• Visited all businesses and hosted “Business & Beer” happy hour event for them.

• Website/blog posts, Facebook, Twitter, Nextdoor, & e-newsletters.

• A-boards on 35th Ave NE from NE 65th St to NE 95th St.

BACKGROUND

PUBLIC WORKSHOP 1

• ~80 participants

• Presentation explaining background,describe current zoning, and project goals.

• Work groups to discuss:• Existing and desirable landuse & building character

• Existing and desirable streetscape design features

BACKGROUND

PUBLIC WORKSHOP 2

• ~80 participants

• Presented streetscape concepts basedon PW1 results.

• Presented 3 zoning alternatives:• Existing conditions

• Moderate increase

• Higher increase

• Breakout tables to discuss alternatives.

• Participants scored alternatives from 1-5.

BACKGROUND

PUBLIC WORKSHOP 2 (cont)

Results of participant score sheets:NE 65th St Alternatives

Existing (3-story) 2.44/5-story 3.5

NE 75th St Alternatives

Existing (3-story) 2.64-story 3.66-story 3.1

NE 85th St Alternatives

Existing (4-story) 2.85-story: 3.66-story: 3.1

NE 95th St Alternatives

Existing (3-story) 2.64-story: 3.75-story: 2.9

BACKGROUND

PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3 OUTREACH

• Mailed 2nd postcard to all residences (+1,800)within 5-blocks of 35th Ave NE in project area.

• Posted flyers and 200 additional postcardsat businesses along 35th Ave NE.

• Website/blog posts, Facebook, Twitter, Nextdoor, & e-newsletters.

• A-boards on 35th Ave NE from NE 65th St to NE 95th St.

BACKGROUND

PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3

• ~70 participants

• Presented proposed streetscape guidelines and zoning recommendations based on PW2 results.

• Prepared supplemental design guidelines to accompany zoning and streetscape plans. Not originally included in project scope.

• Breakout tables to discuss alternatives.

• Participants rated aspects of the supplemental design guidelines, streetscape plan and zoning recommendation: Yes, No, Maybe

BACKGROUND

PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3 (cont)

IMPORTANT:

The streetscape design guidelines, supplemental design guidelines, and zoning recommendations are intended to complement each other. Focusing on any one particular aspect of the ‘plan’ without understanding the others results in an incomplete understanding of the plan.

BACKGROUND

PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3 (cont) – SIDEWALK WIDTHS

Seek 2-foot setback from developers at nodes to increase sidewalk widths.

CONNECTORS NODES

BACKGROUND

PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3 (cont) – IMPROVE SAFETY

Add friction along 35th Ave NE to reduce speeds and reduce crossing widths to improve pedestrian safety.

BACKGROUND

PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3 (cont) – IMPROVE SAFETY & TRAFFIC FLOW

Improve traffic flow at 35th/75th and eliminate peak hour parking restrictions.

BACKGROUND

PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3 (cont) – CONNECTOR AMENITIES

BACKGROUND

PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3 (cont) – NODE AMENITIES

BACKGROUND

PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3 (cont) – SUPP DESIGN GUIDELINES

• Intended to supplement the city-wide design guidelines which were updated in 2013 (e.g., post Jasper Apartment building).

• Requests setbacks and design features for the community at the expense of developers in exchange for modest height increases.• Create more desirable pedestrian environment.

• Allow for improved retail opportunities in business district.

• Provide adjacent residents with increased transitions, privacy, and solar protection.

• Provide developers with improved predictability during design review process.

BACKGROUND

PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3 (cont) – SUPP DESIGN GUIDELINES

Maximize floor height to create more desirable retail spaces for preferred businesstypes.

BACKGROUND

PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3 (cont) – SUPP DESIGN GUIDELINES

Seek 2-foot setback from developers at nodes to increase sidewalk widths for safer, more comfortablepedestrian experiences; allowpublic benches and art; and accommodate for sidewalkcafes.

BACKGROUND

PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3 (cont) – SUPP DESIGN GUIDELINES

Seek height and depth setbacks from sidewalks for ground-level residences to improves privacyand create more desirable residential experiences.

BACKGROUND

PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3 (cont) – SUPP DESIGN GUIDELINES

Seek wider sidewalk radii at intersections to improve pedestrian environment and connections to side streets.

BACKGROUND

PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3 (cont) – SUPP DESIGN GUIDELINES

Require parking behind or belowbuildings, not along street frontage. Minimize driveway cuts and vehicleaccess off of 35th Ave NE.

BACKGROUND

PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3 (cont) – SUPP DESIGN GUIDELINES

Request additional setbacksfrom single-family residences to protect solar exposure anduse vegetation screening or 80 ft buffer betweendevelopments and SF homesfor privacy.

BACKGROUND

PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3 (cont) – SUPP DESIGN GUIDELINES

Respond to neighborhood architectural character and quality of materials.

BACKGROUND

PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3 (cont) – ZONING CHEAT SHEET

Neighborhood Commercial (NC1 and NC2) are further characterized by height. For instance, NC1-40 means NC1 with a 40 foot height.

The currently allowed height limits for NC zones within the Seattle Zoning Code include:NC-30, NC-40, NC-65, NC-85, NC-125, and NC-160. Note: There is no NC-50 or NC-55 in the Seattle Zoning Code.

• Currently zoned NC1-30 for 3-story neighborhood commercial buildings with commercial on ground-floor along NE 65th St from Bryant Café to Wedgwood Mart.

• Currently zoned L-2 for multifamily lowrise(e.g., apartments, townhomes, rowhouses) along 35th Ave NE from NE Branch Library south to NC1-30 zone.

BACKGROUND

PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3 (cont) – NE 65th STREET NODE

NC1-30

• Currently zoned NC2-30 for 3-story neighborhood commercial buildings with commercial on ground-floor from Starbucks to Thai of Wedgwood.

• Currently zoned L-2 for multifamily lowrise(e.g., apartments, townhomes, rowhouses) from Messiah Lutheran to south.

BACKGROUND

PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3 (cont) – NE 75th STREET NODE

NC2-30

NC2-30

• Currently zoned L-3 for multifamily lowrise(e.g., apartments, townhomes, rowhouses) around NE 87th St (except for US Bank).

• Currently zoned NC2-40 for 4-story neighborhood commercial buildings with commercial on ground-floor from Homestreet Bank to the US Bank.

• Currently zoned L2-RC for multifamily lowrisewith commercial on ground-flood allowed from Seattle Audubon south to Wedgwood Presbyterian Church.

BACKGROUND

PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3 (cont) – NE 85th STREET NODE

NC2-40

• Currently zoned NC1-30 for 3-story neighborhood commercial buildings with commercial on ground-floor at whole NE 95th

Street node.

BACKGROUND

PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3 (cont) – NE 95th STREET NODE

NC1-

BACKGROUND

PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3 FEEDBACK

• Received comments and scores from PW3 participants.

• Posted PW3 documents and presentation online and advertised post on website/blog posts, Facebook, Twitter, Nextdoor, & e-newsletters.

• Mailed all landowners where zoning changes were proposed a letter explaining the project, changes, and public comment period.

• Hosted 2-week public comment period for those who couldn’t attend PW3.• 2,608 pageviews between August 1-15 (public comment period)

• 60 public comments received.

• Based on PW3 ratings, public comments, and previous data received, revisions were made accordingly.• No revisions were warranted for the streetscape design guidelines.

• 1 additional supplemental design guideline was added.

• Made revisions to zoning recommendations at 3 of 4 nodes.

REVISED PROPOSAL

REVISIONS MADE TO PREFERRED PLAN(S)

• No changes were made to the proposed supplemental design guidelines.

• 1 additional supplemental design guideline was added.• To reduce the potential of the “canyon” feel along the business district, a

10-foot setback from the street frontages for all floors over the 4th floor.

REVISED PROPOSAL

REVISIONS MADE TO PREFERRED PLAN(S)

REVISED PROPOSAL

REVISIONS MADE TO PREFERRED PLAN(S) –NE 65th STREET NODE

REVISED PROPOSAL

REVISIONS MADE TO PREFERRED PLAN(S) –NE 75th STREET NODE

REVISED PROPOSAL

REVISIONS MADE TO PREFERRED PLAN(S) –NE 85th STREET NODE

NOT SHOWN: Change zoning south of NE 80th Street on part of Wedgwood Presbyterian Church parking lot, Hunter Farm lot, and US Post Office from L2 to L2-RC to allow commercial uses on ground floor.

REVISED PROPOSAL

REVISIONS MADE TO PREFERRED PLAN(S) –NE 95th STREET NODE

NO CHANGE

• Through this public planning process, the 35th Ave Committee has attempted to lead the community through an open and proactive planning process to articulate a consensus vision and plan for the future of the 35th Ave NE business district. We have reached out to residents, businesses, landowners, and others who could be most effected for their input. While unanimity is not realistic and has not been achieved, we believe the proposed planning tools complement each other and are consistent with what the community has stated at public workshops and other data collected over the past 4 years.

CONCLUSION

FUTURE OF 35TH AVE NE - OUTCOME

• We intend to seek the endorsement of this plan by the Ravenna-Bryant Community Association (RBCA) and Wedgwood Community Council (WCC)

• It is our intention to work with our consultant team to assembled these planning tools into a single document for the 35th Ave NE which can be used by the 35th

Ave Committee, RBCA, and WCC. The plan will also be provided to Seattle DPD, SDOT, and the Seattle Planning Commission.

• The Streetscape Design Guidelines will be reviewed by SDOT and hopefully adopted into Chapter 6 of the City’s Right-of-Way Improvements Manual.

• It is our intention to provide the Supplemental Design Guidelines to the Seattle Design Board and NE District Design Review Board.

• We intend to meet with DPD to discuss the zoning recommendations and discuss next steps. The zoning changes described in this plan are only “recommendations” at this time. Actually changing the zoning is a lengthy process that would likely require further public notice.

CONCLUSION

FUTURE OF 35TH AVE NE – NEXT STEPS

Q&A