On December 16, the Growth Management Hearings Board (the Board) denied the Shoreline Preservation Society’s appeal of the City’s adopted 185th Street Station Subarea Plan. The Shoreline Preservation Society challenged the ordinance adopting the Subarea Plan and the Final Environmental Impact Statement for failing to comply with provisions of the Growth Management Act (GMA) and the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). The Board denied the Preservation Society’s appeal on all counts and dismissed the case.
The Preservation Society asserted that the City failed to complete required capital facilities planning under the GMA. The Board disagreed finding no violation of GMA requirements for capital facilities and transportation planning. The Preservation Society also alleged both procedural and substantive violations of SEPA. Again, the Board disagreed concluding “the record does not support Petitioners’ complaints of insufficient analysis of environmental impacts or mitigation for transportation, water, sewer, and stormwater management.”
“The City engaged the public in a robust planning process for the 185th Street Station Subarea Plan spanning almost two years,” stated City Manager Debbie Tarry. “We are pleased by the Board’s decision and will continue to engage the public in the planning process as we continue planning for the 145th Street Station Subarea.”
The City has yet to engage or reengage the citizens who live in the proposed 145th area rezone. The last this resident saw was an open door, closed to comment session, that was in November. There have been no fliers, no mailers, nothing and the billboard that talks about the wonders of rezoning is located in such an out of the way place on 5th Avenue as to be likely missed by just about everyone save those who live directly across from the sign.
ReplyDeleteThe City has not engaged the citizens as many of those in the rezone area of 185th are clueless as to what will be happening in the neighborhood. Input was had, but in general what was had was from outsiders who won't be impacted.
185th does not have as many environmentally sensitive areas as 145th does so one would hope that the 145th rezone WILL include a lot of discussion, especially from those who live in the area.
The City has oft argued that development will take many years. The truth is likely more that which has been presented in the Roosevelt neighborhood in Seattle. The Light Rail Station is years away from opening .... and yet the neighborhood is now enveloped with high rise density.