LICTON SPRINGS COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Minutes of Community Meeting, June 19, 2013
NSCC Campus OCE&E Building, Room 220B
Directors Present: Jan Brucker, Tom Meyer, Kay Mesirow, Melanie Davies, and Ellen Beck.
Board Representatives Present: Ken Thompson (Liaison to North Precinct).
Visitors: Jean Wirch, Thomas Whittemore (Department of Neighborhoods), David Cantey (King County Metro), Jonathan Donj (City of Seattle DOT), and Gordon Clowers (Senior Urban Planner, City of Seattle Planning).
President Jan Brucker called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and we had introduction around the table.
Minutes. The May 15, 2013 minutes were approved as presented.
Bank Statement. The May Verity Bank Statement, which was e-mailed to directors was accepted.
NEW BUSINESS.
Aurora Rapid Ride. Jonathan Donj (SDOT) and David Cantey (King County Metro) spoke to us about transit improvements on Aurora. The Rapid Ride bus will replace the 358 on Aurora. There will be “signal advanced lighting optimization,” that is, the lights will sense the buses approaching and help keep the buses moving.
Rapid Ride will begin on Aurora February, 2014. There will be new buses and new shelters. The Rapid Ride buses will operate almost 24/7 arriving about every 10-15 minutes most of the day, so you won’t need a bus schedule. ORCA readers at the Rapid Ride stations will allow riders to pre-pay and then enter the rear doors of the bus. There will be checkers on the buses to make sure everyone has paid. Cash will still be accepted. All stops will have improved lighting, sidewalk improvements (ADA requirements).
Transit lanes will be in effect from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with no parking in effect during those times.
Jan inquired whether more angle parking could become available on side streets. Could City engineers help get more parking? Side street parking is on the agenda, but feedback is needed from the neighborhoods. The deadline for comments is July 5th.
Melanie Davies commented she did not see any improvements for pedestrians. Sidewalks on Aurora are unattractive and unsafe.
Jonathan told us that the Aurora Merchants had won a lawsuit regarding sidewalks between North 115th and North 145th, but by the time they won, the money was gone.
David told us the areas with planned Rapid Ride Transit are:
A – Federal Way – Tukwila;
B – Bellevue – Redmond;
C – West Seattle – Downtown;
D – Ballard – Downtown;
E – Aurora – Downtown; and
F – Burien – Sea-Tac – Tukwila – Renton.
Jan commented on the need for “bigger thinking.” Major, big projects should pull everyone together to talk about all aspects of the project. It was noted that there are some interdepartmental groups. Our neighborhood plan called for deeper commercial zones and alley development.
Thomas Whittemore suggested that we look at the Bittler Lake/Broadview plan update and their alley plan for Linden – Aurora.
Northgate Urban Design Framework. Gordon Clowers, Senior Urban Planner with the Seattle Department of Planning & Development, told us he has been working on Northgate since the 1990’s. He has been meeting with various groups since January about the development of the Northgate Transit Center property. A draft plan will be available in four weeks.
The pedestrian bridge across I-5 is not 100% for sure. At this time it is only 50% funded.
The parking garage, a 50/50 development with the Northgate Mall, would replace three-quarters of the parking which will be lost from other locations. The new parking garage will be built first – before the loss of the Transit Center lot parking.
We were shown drawings of the development for the site. The new construction will include buildings from five to eight stories tall. Next year the former Transit Center property to be developed will be offered to private developers. The Transit Center will be moved to the far west of the property. There will be screening to block the parking garage and visibility from I-5.
There will be an open house regarding the redevelopment in late July/early August.
Northwest District Council. There was discussion about a letter to the Mayor from the Northwest District Council in connection with $5 million not going far enough for needed sidewalks. As a member of the NWDC, LSCC was invited to comment on the letter.
OLD BUSINESS.
Halloween in the Park. Melanie suggested that we should recruit students to be our Friends of the Forest .
Our next meeting is Wednesday, July 17, 2013.
The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Ellen M. Beck, Secretary