Draft Shoreline Town Center Design Standards now available for review and comment
Residents are invited to review this working draft of the Shoreline Town Center Design Standards and to offer any suggestions, questions or critiques to City staff. Please submit any comments to project manager Paul Cohen at pcohen@shorelinewa.gov or by calling him at (206) 801-2551.
After reviewing any public input submitted by September 20, City staff will prepare the final draft that will be taken to public hearings before the Shoreline Planning Commission this fall.
Watch this space for further information about the specific dates for the public hearings this fall on both the Town Center Subarea Plan and Design Standards. You can also ask to be put on the City's email list for subsequent notices about future meetings
Town Center Project Background
In April 2009, the City Council adopted a Citywide Vision that identifies the lands along Aurora Avenue N between N 175th and 185th Streets as the core of an emerging Town Center.
This Heart of Shoreline is the location of civic landmarks like the new City Hall, the Interurban Trail and the proposed new Shorewood High School. By the summer of 2011, Aurora Avenue will be completely rebuilt through this area, with bus transit lanes, two traffic lanes in each direction, landscaped medians, underground utilities, new light standards and wide sidewalks.
The Town Center study area is centered on Aurora and is bound by N 170th and 195th Streets to the north and south and Ashworth and Fremont Avenues N to the east and west. Although no residential to commercial rezoning of property is proposed, the City wants to explore how best to "protect and connect" nearby residential neighborhoods along Stone Ave. N and Linden Ave. N. as commercial and mixed-use growth occurs along Aurora. Residents received an update from City staff and voiced additional concerns and suggestions in June at two neighborhood meetings hosted by the Richmond Highlands and Meridian Park Neighborhood Associations.
Take the Town Center Tour - clicking this link will launch a video tour of town center.
Next Steps
The Planning Commission will conduct public hearings on the proposed Town Center Subarea Plan and Zoning this fall, with final Council adoption projected for early 2011.
How do I stay up to date on the next steps in the Town Center planning process?
Please call or email Paul Cohen (contact info above) if you have questions about the Town Center process. You can also ask to be put on the City's email list for subsequent notices about future meetings and opportunities to review the Town Center Plan, Zoning and EIS when they are available this fall.
Updates will also be posted on this webpage (which you could make a bookmark on your computer) as well as the City's Town Center Facebook page.
Also, notices of future meetings will be posted on the large plywood notice board signs along the Interurban Trail.
The following table lists past and upcoming City of Shoreline meetings having to do with Town Center, and includes links to meeting materials:
| Date |
Meeting |
Description |
Documents |
| 7/9/09 |
Planning Commission |
Staff presented background information regarding the Town Center Subarea Plan process. |
-Memo
-Meeting Minutes |
| 7/23/09 |
Town Center Walkabout |
Tour of the town center study area on foot to observe and discuss the opportunities and limitations that are site specific to this area. |
-no documents |
| 8/20/09 |
Planning Commission |
Synthesis of past relevant actions and projects, and updates on the Aurora improvement project, economic development potential, and plans for public outreach. |
-Memo
-Meeting Minutes |
| 1/7/10 |
Planning Commission |
Discussion of project background, next steps, work program and coordination with design review work, the Transportation Master Plan and the SEPA for Town Center, etc. |
-Memo |
| 4/1/10 |
Design Review and Town Center Charrette |
Work on ideas for City design standards and to vote in a visual preference survey. |
- Agenda Packet
- Visual Preference Survey Results |
| 6/1/10 |
Richmond Highlands Neighborhood Meeting |
Discussion with Richmond Highlands Neighborhood over connection to and protection from Town Center. |
- Meeting Notes |
| 6/22/10 |
Meridian Park Neighborhood Meeting |
Discussion with Meridian Park Neighborhood over connection to and protection from Town Center. |
- Meeting Notes |
| 7/15/10 |
Planning Commission |
Study Session on draft Town Center Subarea Plan |
- Memo |
| 8/19/10 |
Planning Commission |
Study Session on draft Town Center Design Standards |
- Memo |
| 9/16/10 |
Planning Commission |
2nd Study Session on draft Town Center Design Standards |
|
Background Information
Project History
Since incorporation the City has envisioned this area as a Civic Center. In 1998 the majority at a community meeting agreed that the Heart of Shoreline centered around Aurora Avenue and N 175th Street. View results of the exercise here.
In October 2007, the Council adopted a town center study area and framework policies for guidance until a subarea plan is adopted. The Town Center Subarea is located generally between N 170th and N 185th Streets and between Linden and Stone Avenues, with Aurora Avenue in the middle. The study area is a larger area than the subarea, in order to identify ways to connect and protect surrounding neighborhoods
The following policies established the framework for development of the land use, capital facility and programmatic aspects of the Town Center Subarea Plan is adopted.
- FW-1 Articulate a community vision for the town center as an early step in the development of detailed provisions for the subarea. (Began with the October 29, 2009 Open House)
- FW-2 Establish a study area boundary (Figure 1) to provide context for evaluating the opportunities and potential impacts from future development of commercial and mixed uses along Aurora Avenue N. (Completed)
- FW-3 Engage Shoreline residents and businesses in detailed design processes for a) a park site on both sides of the Interurban Trail and b) Midvale Ave N. (Upcoming)
- FW-4 Design roadway, transit and pedestrian facilities consistent with the City's preferred "Flexible alternative" for Aurora Avenue between N 165th Street and N 195th Street. (Design completed, project currently under construction)
- FW-5 Prepare a program of civic directional or 'way finding' signage and evaluate refinements to city sign regulations to reflect the emerging function and visual character of Aurora Avenue. (In progress)
There is a lot already going on in this area. Three large public projects that have located or will locate soon near each other are - the Aurora Avenue Project, the Civic Center/City Hall Project, and the Interurban Trail/Park. Citywide, Shoreline has developed strategies for housing, environmental sustainability, and design standards adjacent to single family neighborhoods.