It’s been a decade since Seattle’s 38 neighborhood plans were approved so this year the Seattle Planning Commission decided to check in with residents to measure the success, and frankly relevancy, of the Neighborhood Plans today. You may remember CHS encouraging you to fill out a survey on this topic and beat Ballard as the most politically engaged neighborhood. Unfortunately they won. But we had more fun right…

Anyway, today the Planning Commission released its report on those surveys, combined with a few poorly attended public meetings it held over the summer, in an executive summary. An important thing to note is that with respect to the neighborhood plans, Pike/Pine and Capitol Hill are separate neighborhoods.

For Capitol Hill the city received 273 online surveys along with 10-20 meeting attendees. According to the Executive Summary, this is what we said:

• Newer mixed-use development represents positive progress to many, but it also engenders a deep anxiety about change.
• Respondents are eager for rail transit service to begin, but are apprehensive about unknowns regarding the streetcar route and the prospect of further development
• Respondents appreciated the lively street life spurred on by new development, however they lamented the loss of notable neighborhood businesses.
• Many feel that the relatively consistent aesthetic qualities of new development detract from the “eclectic” character of the neighborhood
• Cal Anderson Park and the new library are widely seen as positive additions to the neighborhood
• Many respondents related growth in the Pike/Pine Corridor to change on Capitol Hill

Only a few respondents commented on the impact of Seattle Central Community College

For Pike/Pike the city received 39 online surveys and sadly had no meeting attendees. Here is the how the Executive Summary sums up that data:

• People are generally pleased with the amenities that come from new development (ie. parks, open spaces, new businesses, etc.) but are equally concerned that this is destroying the existing character, gentrifying the neighborhood and driving out affordable housing and art spaces.

Of equal concern is public safety–people are concerned about illegal and dangerous activities in and around public parks–and transportation opportunities to other Seattle neighborhoods.

So what do you think? Did the Planning Commission get it right? Do they understand our needs well? You will have an opportunity to share your thoughts about this data, and anything else you think they missed at a final public meeting on November 10th from 6-8pm at Seattle Central Community College, Rm. BE 1110/11.

A few interesting things that struck me in other neighborhoods:

• Parking was a huge issue for West and North Seattle neighborhoods. I’m proud that it wasn’t for us :)
• New townhomes in Delridge have both helped and destroyed the neighborhood.
• People in Westwood/Highland Park really love Zippys!
• I was unaware that Morgan Junction existed. My apologies Morgan Junction folks.

• Apparently Ballard was the PC’s favorite. The report states that,  “People in Ballard are poised and energetic to engage in a community-wide discussion of their neighborhood plan”. That could have been us if you had filled out your survey.

You can download the full executive summary here. Its also a good idea to review the Cap Hill and Pike/Pine neighborhood plans, which you can do at the Department of Neighborhoods Website.