Shoreline City Council rezones 294 acres in the 185th subarea

By Diane Hettrick

In a five hour meeting on Monday night, the Shoreline City Council rezoned 294 acres of Shoreline neighborhoods for high-density, high-rise buildings.

They made no changes to the zoning map mailed out to the 1969 households affected by the zoning and few changes to the development code.

Phase I is to take place immediately, with Phase II in 2021 and Phase III in 2033.

Councilmembers Roberts and Eggen offered around nine amendments, most of which were defeated 4-3.

There was some concern expressed about an amendment by Will Hall to allow research and development and testing labs in MUR 70 zones because it could potentially allow labs with "nasty viruses" in a transit oriented development. McGlashan and Salomon voted no on this, but the others went with the reasoning that wording could be refined at a later date.

Another discussion that was tabled was how to include performing arts events in station areas, without creating excessive noise in the neighborhood.

An amendment by Will Hall passed 6-1. In the MUR 45 and MUR 70 zones, single family homes would NOT require a conditional use permit. Single family houses can continue, be remodeled, rebuilt, but new construction could not be single family.

Councilmember Chris Eggen tried to reduce the size of the rezone to the 3/8s of a mile 'walk shed' but Councilmember McGlashan argued that half a mile was only the distance from the cemetery to the station and that was an easy walk.

Councilmember Roberts introduced a new map with a smaller rezone, but Mayor Winstead felt that it wasn't all that different from the original map. His proposal was defeated 4-3.

Another Hall amendment passed unanimously for 18 units per acre in MUR 45 zones, to encourage new projects to use land efficiently. Houses could be row houses, townhouses - smaller buildings but more units.

At 11:20pm, Councilmember Eggen moved to postpone the vote on Ordinance 706 until 30 days after the Sound Transit EIS was released. The motion failed 4-3.

At 11:40pm, Councilmember Eggen moved that the proposed zoning be scrapped in favor of an overlay process. Overlay is a process whereby a proposed zoning isn't in place until requested. Developers would assemble parcels and then request a rezone. Eggen explained that there would be three overlay zoning areas. First equivalent to phase 1, 2nd six years for Phase 2, 18 years from date of adoption for Phase 3. Applications shall be processed in a streamlined rezone process.

In response, Will Hall said that the proposal had not been reviewed by staff and had not be given to the council to review and study before the meeting. Hall called for a vote. Eggen's overlay motion failed 4-3.

The main motion, Ordinance 706, to adopt the zoning map, passed 5 to 2 with Eggen and McConnell dissenting.

Ordinance 702, Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Land Use Map. After a brief discussion and a couple of successful amendments by Chris Roberts about affordable housing units, alternative energy requirements, and a wording change, 702 passed 5-2 with Eggen and McConnell dissenting, apparently more out of distaste with the whole project rather than specific objections to 702.

The Council spent about five minutes on Ordinance 707, which passed 4-3.

Some comments by Councilmembers during the meeting:

Will Hall said that the status quo cannot be preserved and talked about the environmental benefits of light rail and that new construction would be built to better standards. He said that a bigger area gives more chance for homes to remain undeveloped whereas a more concentrated map ensures that the entire area will be developed.

Jesse Salomon said that if we don't control growth it will spill into rural areas, that growth should be concentrated in areas that make sense, like light rail stations. He said, "I know that people are concerned, but it's not all bad."

Doris McConnell expressed concerns about the size of the rezone. She said she understood that people were just now finding out about it. She said, "We could have shown the community some level of compromise. We are all servants of this community."

Keith McGlashan said that it's about creating living spaces for all. He said it's about creating development in the right place and he believes that the adopted map does just that.

Chris Eggen said he was very disappointed in the council's actions. He said that Councilmembers and staff seem to think there is a large pool of people who support this rezone, but they were not in evidence. Council was led to believe that the 185th Citizens Committee was wildly enthusiastic about the major rezone but that "it’s clear in looking at their records, and comments, that they are not wildly enthusiastic. Most of the people from the neighborhoods have not spoken in favor. I think we're going down the wrong path."

Next the council will deal with the rezone of the 145th Street Station subarea.

Correction: single family homes would NOT require a conditional use permit. 03-17-2015 9:28am

Correction: dissenting votes on the zoning map were Eggen and McConnell. 03-17-2015 9:38am