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Seeking Feedback on Ballard’s Urban Design and Transportation Study at Our Open House on 11/18!

BallardOpenHouse

The City of Seattle is seeking community input in response to ongoing development, and Sound Transit’s planning for light rail to Ballard. The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) and Seattle’s Department of Planning and Development (DPD) are working with neighborhood groups and non-profits, organized as the Ballard Partnership for Smart Growth, to develop an integrated Urban Design and Transportation Framework (UDTF).

SDOT’s transportation element of this coordinated study Move Ballard, will recommend near-term multimodal transportation improvements for the Ballard Hub Urban Village in response to the area’s recent growth. The plan will also evaluate potential future high capacity (e.g. light rail, bus rapid transit) transit station areas in anticipation of possible Metro and Sound Transit investments in the neighborhood. This meeting is an opportunity to comment on Move Ballard’s draft recommendations.

Over the summer, SDOT gathered feedback on the community’s priorities for transportation improvements and location preferences for a future high capacity transit station. Based on community input, traffic analysis, adopted modal plans, and ongoing projects; SDOT prioritized and evaluated local transportation improvements and future high capacity transit station locations.
The City, and Ballard Partnership for Smart Growth are hosting an open house on Wednesday, November 18 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Leif Erikson Lodge. This meeting is your opportunity to:

• Learn what we heard at the last open house and various stakeholder meetings
• Comment on the draft priorities and recommended design concepts for local transportation improvements
• Comment on draft evaluation of potential high capacity transit station locations (e.g. light rail)
• Comment on draft streetscape designs

While the main focus of this open house will be on transportation, this is also an opportunity to comment on land use and urban design draft recommendations.
Here are ways you can share your input:

• Attend the Community Meeting:
November 18, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Leif Erikson Lodge, Large Hall (2nd floor)
2245 NW 57th St
Light snacks will be provided.

• Review information online and contact the project planners:
Move Ballard and Ballard Urban Design and Transportation Framework.

BallardOpenHouse2

Background:
At the first meeting held a year ago, the community shared its affection of Ballard’s historic qualities and its tradition of industry. Residents conveyed their appreciation of the growth and variety of shops and restaurants in their walkable neighborhood. However, community members also expressed concerns that a number of recent high-density projects being built in the area do not contribute to Ballard’s character. There were also concerns about affordability and transportation improvements that haven’t kept pace with the growth.

The City then worked with the Ballard Partnership to define responses to the community input on the character of growth in Ballard core business areas. At the second project public meeting last November, the City received strong support for preliminary recommendations to shape new development, streetscape and open space in downtown Ballard. At the third project meeting in May, we heard the community’s priorities for transportation improvements for all travel modes and preferences for potential future high capacity transit station locations. At the upcoming meeting, you will have the chance to comment on the draft prioritization of local transportation improvements and assessment of potential future high capacity station locations. Tell us what you think about the future of all modes of transportation in Ballard.

If you have questions or comments, here are the project contacts: Chris Yake with SDOT at Christopher.Yake@seattle.gov or 206-727-8719. Aditi Kambuj with DPD at Aditi.Kambuj@seattle.gov
or 206-615-1739.