Letter to the Editor: Transit Oriented Development misunderstood

To the Editor:

I recently attended the Lake Forest Park ST3 forum and left convinced that Shoreline is making a mistake with Transit Oriented Development. We need to design density around business centers and busing commuters to the rail station (just like the ST3 plans) while moving the rest of the car trips away from the station. I feel strongly enough about this concept I am asking you to vote No on Shoreline Prop 1to express a lack of confidence in the City’s current rezone plans.

My proposal supports existing businesses while the city plans imply 4 new business centers (at Shoreline Center, Town Center, 145th south of the Crest and 145th west of the freeway). I'll bet there are more bus riders going to the station if they reside near the business centers than station density optionally using buses to go to the grocery store and other errands.

Station density means commuters can walk, but will congest the area for everything else. Zoning to single lot MUR 70 means there isn't enough parking underneath. Putting it alongside means you reduce walkability. If we want to support the north shore cities and improve walkability, we have to move Shoreline density away from the 145 station.

The Shoreline rezones EIS included a traffic study that depends on business centers inside the rezone for car trip reduction. The current zoning treats business as an afterthought which means we applied the wrong model. The city budget includes a half million dollars for a traffic study for 185th which goes down the drain without a different model. These are a couple of reasons why I am requesting you to vote No on Shoreline Prop 1 and show you lack the confidence in their dumb density.

Dave Lange
Shoreline

updated title 10-30-2016