Minutes from the last Morgan Community Association Meeting

Morgan Community Association Meeting

October 18, 2006 – 7:00 pm

Kenney Home

Steve Sindiong, Chair

Seattle Multi-family Zoning Update – Dennis Meier, City of Seattle Department of Planning

and Development http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/planning/multifamily_code_update/ or

206 386-1988 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

DPD has been re-examining zoning codes for multi-family housing. The current ordinance needs to be revamped – half of all households in Seattle are now within multi-family zoned areas, 47,000 households will be added within the next 10 years. Current zoning regulations predate the l995 comprehensive planning processes of the city. The consensus is that we need a more accessible code, one with more flexibility, providing a variety of types of multi-family housing – duplexes, triplexes, condominiums, cooperatives, townhouses, flats, stacks, etc. The current 7 zones will become collapsed into 4 or 5, with new regulations more tied to floor space size ratios, with provisions to promote design quality, open spaces for landscaping, parking space ratios. Of concern also will be provisions for low income housing, sustainability incentives, and provisions for environmental concerns. Current codes for MoCA area are for low-rise multi-family units.

Question: Will there be changes in the extent of current zoning?

The current efforts only deal with areas that are now zoned as multi-family, with no changes in zoning for single-family or business districts. Set-back requirements for single-family zones will hold for adjacent multi-family zones.

Concern: Parking regulations? The effort will be made to adapt any parking requirement changes to different areas of the city.

Question: When is the Design Review Board called for? Lots of townhouse, smaller projects are not currently subject to Design Review processes.

Question: How can we find zoning height, size limits? In the zoning codes which are on-line, in DPD, “zoning charts”

Question: Are proposed changes tailored to be equitable throughout the city? Most city growth is projected to take place within the current five ‘urban centers’. Areas of less growth will receive a greater concentration of city services.

Concern: Group (ca. 30 persons) from neighborhood opposed to proposed development of multi-family housing unit at corner of 45^th and Juneau. Response: That property would require re-zoning for it to become multi-family units. The City Council has tight controls on that process – changing the code and criteria is very difficult. Public notice will be given of any proposals for zoning changes.

Seattle Police Dept. – SW Precinct – officer Mark Spadoni (MoCA contact officer) SW

Precinct, 2300 SW Webster, 206 233-1549 or www.seattle.gov/police

There has only been one major crime in neighborhood recently, apart from minor theft and car

prowls. The cooperation of the city and County has created a much better situation for crime

in White Center area.

Concern: recent fatality of bicyclist on 35^th, other fatality accidents in area. Driver was cited for not yielding right-of-way.

Concern: need for speed signs on Fauntleroy near Fairmont school. We need more data on

this. Also concerns for light at blind intersection at Fauntleroy and Graham.

CIP and CRF applications – Stan Lock, SW Seattle Service Center

16 projects in W Seattle were nominated for Capital Improvement Program grants. The city has reviewed the list. At the end of 2006, a short list will be issued for city department budgets. Other items will be held for future possible action. 6 items have been prioritized by SW District committee.

9 projects have been proposed from the SW District for Cumulative Reserve Fund grants, 5 of which were prioritized within the District Council. The top 3 will be funded (sidewalk at Arbor Hts. Elem. School, crosswalk on Admiral, traffic circle on Fairmount.

Question: Who pays for traffic circles? Depends on number of accidents, neighborhood requests, resources, etc.

Concern re zoning changes for development at 4515 SW Juneau.

Neighborhood has received information re zoning change for 4 units of housing. (SE corner of 46^th and Juneau). All 30+ persons attending this meeting were opposed. MoCA will write a letter to DPD asking for more information, requesting public hearings, and clarification on process of any zoning change applications.

Announcements:

• Morgan Festival Sept. 17 was very successful – about 500 attending. We need volunteers to assist with the next festival. The current plan is to hold festivals on a 2 year cycle.

• Orchard Street Ravine Park – a letter has been received (distributed) that recommends a trail through the park to link 38^th St. to cul-de-sac.

• Morgan Plaza – Public Planning will take place during the 2^nd quarter of 2007

• Myrtle St. Reservoir Park – Public Planning will take place during 1^st quarter of 2007

• Lowman Beach Pump Station – Upgrading of electrical equipment will be done soon, with little disruption. Major construction will take place a year from now.

• Neighborhood Business District Strategy – Note City Council Bills CB 115745 and CB 115746 on-line “Commercial Code Revisions”.

• Public Safety Workshops – SNAP (Seattle Neighborhoods Actively Prepare) kick-off events Oct 24 (6:30-8:30) at Youngstown Cultural Arts Ctr. Or Oct. 26 (same times) at Southwest Police Precinct (SW Webster at Delridge Way). For more information, contact

JoAnn Jordan at the Seattle Office of Emergency Management 233-7122 or Ron Angeles, Delridge Neighborhood Dist. 684-7416

• Grant writers are needed at the SW Historical Society – for a project to create an oral history of W Seattle.

• Megawatt – 3^rd Annual Gathering of Neighbors – Saturday, Nov. 4 at Sealth High School. For information on Expo participants, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 938-4120.

• W Seattle Trails System – effort to develop connected trail systems (like the Longfellow Trail) for green spaces along streets and stairways, etc. as element of MoCA Green Crescent Plan. Volunteers are needed from MoCA to formalize a structure to implement planning to the city. If interested, contact Charles Redmond at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

• Volunteers are needed to fill MoCA officers posts – several current members are resigning. Contact Steve Sindiong at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Eldon Olson, Secretary

Next Meeting; January 17, 2006