Aldercrest Proposal: A big win for parks, a model for collaboration

by Janne Kaje, Co-Chair, Friends of Aldercrest

On Thursday, February 17, the Shoreline Planning Commission will decide whether to recommend proposed changes to zoning and land use at Aldercrest Annex, the 16-acre School District site that many in Shoreline remember as ‘Old Kellogg’. 

If approved, the proposal will create a new 6 to 7 acre permanent city park, while allowing higher-density development on the remainder, with several provisions in place to buffer neighboring properties from new development. How big is 6 to 7 acres? As a point of reference, Paramount Park is about 8.5 acres in size - this will be a fantastic addition to the city’s park roster! But for the Ballinger neighborhood, this is really about saving existing open space that we had enjoyed for decades, before realizing how close we were to losing it forever.

How did we do it? In a dire economic climate for the city and School District, and in a city with an unfortunate tradition in recent years of bickering and negative politics rather than teamwork, it is amazing and hope-inspiring that we have a plan in hand that is a win for the School District, a win for the neighborhood, and a win for the city. 

This could not have happened without the willingness of the District as the property owner to work toward a solution and to trust the intentions of the neighborhood groups. It also could not have happened without the support of the City Council who directed the city manager and staff to make this process a high priority over the past eight months. Getting the right folks to the table was a big part of the battle, but other aspects of the process were equally important.

Everyone who participated in the negotiations truly sought to understand the interests and challenges faced by the other parties. The reality is that the District owns the property and has a right and obligation to sell it for fair market value. The community representatives understood and respected that fact from the outset. By recognizing and respecting the rights and interests of all parties, we were able to hit the ground running.

Sometimes the actions and stated positions of public officials are viewed as reflective of personal beliefs, and criticism is launched in personal terms. The participants in this process came to the table trusting that each of us personally had the best interest of the community in mind, but understanding that professional responsibilities define many of the boundaries for negotiation.

As neighborhood representatives, we understood from the outset that in the absence of an agreement, the entire 16 acres would be developed, possibly at single-family density, but more likely at much higher density considering the surrounding land uses and location.Would we have liked to secure even more space for a park? Of course. But a realistic understanding of the alternative to an agreement can go a long way toward defining reasonable boundaries for negotiation.

Thursday’s public hearing is an opportunity to support parks and to support collaboration as a path forward on other issues that we are sure to face in the years ahead. 

Make your voice heard at the hearing or by sending comments to the Planning Commission.