Status
Adopted by the City Council May 11, 2009
In Fall 2008, the City of Shoreline began working with the community to create a Shoreline Vision for the next 20 years to help maintain Shoreline's quality of life. More than 200 people took part in these discussions through a series of "Community Conversations" hosted by various neighborhood associations and community groups and Town Hall meetings hosted by the City Council, generating over 2,500 individual comments. The Planning Commission listened to the comments and created a draft Vision Statement and 17 Framework Goals, which it presented to the City Council in Spring 2009.
The City Council held a Public Hearing on the Draft Vision and Framework Goals at its meeting on Monday, April 13, 2009. The Public Hearing was continued at the April 27 and May 11 City Council meetings. At these meetings, the City Council took oral testimony from the public and provided staff with revisions to the documents. The public hearing was closed on May 11, and after making several revisions and additions to the documents, the City Council passed Ordinance 547, adopting the Vision Statement and Framework Goals into the Comprehensive Plan.
The full Vision Statement can be found below, along with City Council Goal 1 for 2010/2011, which calls for the implementation of the Community Vision. All public comments, meeting agendas and handouts, and staff reports are also available for review at City Hall.
City of Shoreline Vision Statement
2029 Vision Statement
Imagine for a moment that it is the year 2029 and you are in the City of Shoreline. This vision statement describes what you will see.
Shoreline in 2029 is a thriving, friendly city where people of all ages, cultures, and economic backgrounds love to live, work, play and, most of all, call home. Whether you are a first-time visitor or long-term resident, you enjoy spending time here.
There always seems to be plenty to do in Shoreline -- going to a concert in a park, exploring a Puget Sound beach or dense forest, walking or biking miles of trails and sidewalks throughout the city, shopping at local businesses or the farmer's market, meeting friends for a movie and meal, attending a street festival, or simply enjoying time with your family in one of the city's many unique neighborhoods.
People are first drawn here by the city's beautiful natural setting and abundant trees; affordable, diverse and attractive housing; award-winning schools; safe, walkable neighborhoods; plentiful parks and recreation opportunities; the value placed on arts, culture, and history; convenient shopping, as well as proximity to Seattle and all that the Puget Sound region has to offer.
The city's real strengths lie in the diversity, talents and character of its people. Shoreline is culturally and economically diverse, and draws on that variety as a source of social and economic strength. The city works hard to ensure that there are opportunities to live, work and play in Shoreline for people from all backgrounds.
Shoreline is a regional and national leader for living sustainably. Everywhere you look there are examples of sustainable, low impact, climate-friendly practices come to life – cutting edge energy-efficient homes and businesses, vegetated roofs, rain gardens, bioswales along neighborhood streets, green buildings, solar-powered utilities, rainwater harvesting systems, and local food production to name only a few. Shoreline is also deeply committed to caring for its seashore, protecting and restoring its streams to bring back the salmon, and to making sure its children can enjoy the wonder of nature in their own neighborhoods.
A City of Neighborhoods
Shoreline is a city of neighborhoods, each with its own character and sense of place. Residents take pride in their neighborhoods, working together to retain and improve their distinct identities while embracing connections to the city as a whole. Shoreline's neighborhoods are attractive, friendly, safe places to live where residents of all ages, cultural backgrounds and incomes can enjoy a high quality of life and sense of community. The city offers a wide diversity of housing types and choices, meeting the needs of everyone from newcomers to long-term residents.
Newer development has accommodated changing times and both blends well with established neighborhood character and sets new standards for sustainable building, energy efficiency and environmental sensitivity. Residents can leave their car at home and walk or ride a bicycle safely and easily around their neighborhood or around the whole city on an extensive network of sidewalks and trails.
No matter where you live in Shoreline there's no shortage of convenient destinations and cultural activities. Schools, parks, libraries, restaurants, local shops and services, transit stops, and indoor and outdoor community gathering places are all easily accessible, attractive and well maintained. Getting around Shoreline and living in one of the city's many unique, thriving neighborhoods is easy, interesting and satisfying on all levels.
Neighborhood Centers
The city has several vibrant neighborhood "main streets" that feature a diverse array of shops, restaurants and services. Many of the neighborhood businesses have their roots in Shoreline, established with the help of a local business incubator, a long-term collaboration between the Shoreline Community College, the Shoreline Chamber of Commerce and the city.
Many different housing choices are seamlessly integrated within and around these commercial districts, providing a strong local customer base. Gathering places - like parks, plazas, cafes and wine bars - provide opportunities for neighbors to meet, mingle and swap the latest news of the day.
Neighborhood main streets also serve as transportation hubs, whether you are a cyclist, pedestrian or bus rider. Since many residents still work outside Shoreline, public transportation provides a quick connection to downtown, the University of Washington, light rail and other regional destinations. You’ll also find safe, well-maintained bicycle routes that connect all of the main streets to each other and to the Aurora core area, as well as convenient and reliable local bus service throughout the day and throughout the city. If you live nearby, sidewalks connect these hubs of activity to the surrounding neighborhood, bringing a car-free lifestyle within reach for many.
The Signature Boulevard
Aurora Avenue is Shoreline's grand boulevard. It is a thriving corridor, with a variety of shops, businesses, eateries and entertainment, and includes clusters of some mid-rise buildings, well-designed and planned to transition to adjacent residential neighborhoods gracefully. Shoreline is recognized as a business-friendly city. Most services are available within the city, and there are many small businesses along Aurora, as well as larger employers that attract workers from throughout the region. Here and elsewhere, many Shoreline residents are able to find family-wage jobs within the City.
Housing in many of the mixed-use buildings along the boulevard is occupied by singles, couples, families, and seniors. Structures have been designed in ways that transition both visually and physically to reinforce the character of adjacent residential neighborhoods.
The improvements put in place in the early decades of the 21st century have made Aurora an attractive and energetic district that serves both local residents and people from nearby Seattle, as well as other communities in King and Snohomish counties. As a major transportation corridor, there is frequent regional rapid transit throughout the day and evening. Sidewalks provide easy access for walking to transit stops, businesses, and connections to adjacent neighborhoods.
Aurora has become a green boulevard, with mature trees and landscaping, public plazas, and green spaces. These spaces serve as gathering places for neighborhood and citywide events throughout the year. It has state-of-the-art stormwater treatment and other sustainable features along its entire length.
As you walk down Aurora you experience a colorful mix of bustling hubs – with well-designed buildings, shops and offices – big and small – inviting restaurants, and people enjoying their balconies and patios. The boulevard is anchored by the vibrant Town Center, which is focused between 175th and 185th Street. This district is characterized by compact, mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly development highlighted by the Shoreline City Hall, the Shoreline Historical Museum, Shorewood High School, and other civic facilities. The interurban park provides open space, recreational opportunities, and serves as the city’s living room for major festivals and celebrations.
A Healthy Community
Shoreline residents, city government and leaders care deeply about a healthy community. The city's commitment to community health and welfare is reflected in the rich network of programs and organizations that provide human services throughout the city to address the needs of all its residents.
Shoreline is a safe and progressive place to live. It is known region wide for the effectiveness of its police force and for programs that encourage troubled people to pursue positive activities and provide alternative treatment for non-violent and non-habitual offenders.
In Shoreline it is believed that the best decisions are informed by the perspectives and talents of its residents. Community involvement in planning and opportunities for input are vital to shaping the future, particularly at the neighborhood scale, and its decision making processes reflect that belief. At the same time, elected leaders and city staff strive for efficiency, transparency and consistency to ensure an effective and responsive city government.
Shoreline continues to be known for its outstanding schools, parks and youth services. While children are the bridge to the future, the city also values the many seniors who are a bridge to its shared history, and redevelopment has been designed to preserve our historic sites and character. As the population ages and changes over time, the City continues to expand and improve senior services, housing choices, community gardens, and other amenities that make Shoreline such a desirable place to live.
Whether for a 5-year-old learning from volunteer naturalists about tides and sea stars at Richmond Beach or a 75-year-old learning yoga at the popular Senior Center, Shoreline is a place where people of all ages feel the city is somehow made for them. And, maybe most importantly, the people of Shoreline are committed to making the city even better for the next generation.
2010/2011 City Council Goal 1
Goal 1: Implement the adopted Community Vision by updating the Comprehensive Plan and key development regulations in partnership with residents, neighborhoods and businesses
- Adopt the Southeast Neighborhoods Subarea Plan
- Adopt updated tree regulations, including citywide goals for urban forest canopy
- Complete draft Urban Design, Capital Facilities and Transportation elements of the Comprehensive Plan
- Adopt the Town Center Subarea Plan
- Make the permit process clear, timely and predictable through Subarea Plans, Planned Actions and other appropriate planning tools