Shoreline City Council Meeting Monday April 22

Devon Vose Rickabaugh
Photo by Jerry Pickard

Notes from Shoreline City Council Meeting Monday April 22

By Devon Vose Rickabaugh

Several residents on Linden Avenue across from Ronald United Methodist Church complained that they were not properly notified about a change in the building code from a 15 feet setback from the property line to zero in their transitional neighborhood. The church is planning to divide its property and work with Compass Housing Alliance and Hopelink to build low income housing.

Planning Manager Paul Cohen brought before the Council a reconsideration of the ordinance passed on March 18th in which the setback was changed. This brought much debate from council members. Councilmember Salomon suggested a moratorium on the zero set back for six months when the setback would revert to 15 feet.

Councilmember Hall said that a 15 foot setback is unreasonable if the city wants to encourage building in the center of town. He said property owners won’t be able to use $1.5 million worth of their property with a 15 foot setback. “It removes development potential”. Hall also said he was not comfortable with a moratorium as it sends the wrong message. He said he could remember a moratorium in the past which lost the city a Shag Housing Project. Mayor McGlashan said he remembered a city moratorium where for 18 months there was no development.

All of the councilmembers regretted the public frustration with not having enough input so they directed city staff to have the planning commission revisit the setbacks in the transition areas opening it up for more public comment.

Councilmember Eggen said the city has an obligation to develop affordable housing for its citizens. He addressed the fear that a couple members of the public expressed. He asked “Are they people we should be afraid of? Low income can mean beginning teachers or policemen.” He said he respected and admired Ronald Methodist Church for creating housing for low income. Eggen said a real issue is the higher crime in communities living closer to Aurora and he suggested the council consider ways to help them.