Time is Running Out to Tell the City of Shoreline to Scale Back their Massive Rezoning Plans for the Future 185th St Light Rail Station Area in the City of Shoreline, WA (Part 2)

(Continued from Part 1)

Speaking of Widening Roads, New Roads, Alleys, and Paths…

The City said that they may need to use eminent domain for roadway, sidewalks, bicycle lane, or traffic lane improvements. There has been talk of requiring alleys for new development along 185th St. What if the new development is not on a corner lot? Is the City going to eminent domain private property to accommodate new alleys and access ways? There has been talk that the blocks in the 185th St Area are “too long” and these blocks are “evil superblocks” and must have more cut throughs for cars and pedestrians. What does that mean for possible future private property takings? http://www.shorelineareanews.com/2014/09/city-will-not-use-eminent-domain-to.html

What Are Community Renewal Area Laws?

Sounds like a nice enough idea, right? Guess again. http://www.atg.wa.gov/uploadedFiles/Home/News/Press_Releases/2010/CRL.pdf Community Renewal Area is a “nice” way of saying eminent domain. At the moment, the City claims they are not going to eminent domain property for housing redevelopment, however, the Market Assessment that was prepared for the City of Shoreline in regards to help plan the Station areas mentions the following about Community Renewal Areas: “To the extent the City is able or willing to undertake land assembly, it could increase developer interest in the area. Strategies that the City could consider to enhance development potential and facilitate site assembly could include creation of a Community Renewal Area, if the required blight standard can be met. Minimum or contingent zoning that only provides density for infill TOD-type development once a certain parcel size has been achieved (e.g. one acre or more) could enhance interested neighbors in working with each other to facilitate site assembly.” http://shorelinewa.gov/home/showdocument?id=15888

We Just Didn’t Fall off the Turnip Truck

An awful lot of time, effort, and resources have gone into planning to dissuade any resistance or opposition to these overly aggressive rezoning plans.

From the beginning, the public has been told, change is coming, it’s inevitable, so you’d better be obedient, keep sweet, and not try to fight it. Well, we’re not obedient, we’re not sedate, and more and more people are waking up and are seeing clearly through the facade that has been painted by the powers that be.

Questioning haphazard plans does not make you a NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard).

Demanding that these plans be scaled back does not mean that you’re anti-progress or anti-change.

Demanding that our neighborhoods not be flipped into Urban Villages does not mean that you’re anti-transit.

Don’t buy into the ‘Smart Growth’ ideology. Let’s talk ‘Intelligent Growth’ and demand nothing less.

Demand that developers be required to pay their fair share for impacts, utilities, and infrastructure improvements, instead of receiving incentives and property tax exemptions. Demand that growth pay for growth!

Demand that the zoning and land use plans be scaled back to a reasonable level.

Demand that growth be controlled and monitored and managed responsibly.

Demand that the tree canopy in these areas not be destroyed.

Demand more transparency. Demand that the planning commission meetings, meetings of subcommittees, citizen committees all be filmed and available on the City website with existing granicus technology, just as they do in other progressive cities.

Demand that historical data about problem drainage areas, flooding, and lots with high water tables be included in the subarea plans as areas unsuitable for large footprint development.

Demand that no part of the Station Subareas be deemed as “Community Renewal Areas” at any point in the future.

Demand that Sound Transit stay true to their word in that they will not take more private property than is necessary for construction of the light rail lines, stations, and parking structures. Demand that they do not take more than they need, only to dispose of surplus property later on at a profit for development that is out of scale for this area.