The document summarizes an open house held by the City to engage the Benson Hill community in developing a plan. It provides background on the community planning process, describes the Benson Hill community boundaries and demographics. It outlines potential projects identified by the community such as parks, transportation, and enhancing the business district. Examples of how community plans have worked in other neighborhoods are provided. The document recaps initial feedback received through an online map where residents identified priorities and issues to guide the planning process. It concludes with next steps for the open house to identify objectives and opportunities.

1. February 29, 2012 Open House
• Introduction and background
• Large group discussion to frame “vision”
• Small group mapping exercise
• Report back and next steps
• Dots on priorities

2. What the City is doing and why?
Community Planning
•Ensure livable
neighborhoods
•Preserve community
character
•Build neighborhood
connections
•Prioritize City investments
in services and
infrastructure
•Provide opportunities to
shape the community’s
future

3. Why the Benson Hill Community?
•Benson Hill is home to
more than 20,000 people
and 400 businesses
•The 2007 annexation area
had been underserved in
King County
• Fewer parks
• Fewer community areas
• Less maintenance (roads,
storm drains, etc.)

4. Where is the Benson Hill Community?
•Boundaries were created in 2009
•Includes many neighborhoods:
• Benson • Royal Hills
• Cascade • Spring Glen
• Chinquapin • Tiffany Park
• Eagle Ridge • Vantage Glen
• Falcon Ridge • Victoria Hills
• Huntington • Woodbury
Heights Lane
• Renton Park • & Surrounding
• Rolling Hills Areas

5. Who is the Benson Hill Community?
We are racially and
ethnically diverse
with a growing
minority population

6. Who is the Benson Hill Community?
About a quarter of
us were born
outside the US
About 7% of our
neighbors are in
homes where no
one speaks English

7. Who is the Benson Hill Community?
Although part of
our community is
aging… there are a
lot of young
families in the
neighborhood as
well

8. Who is the Benson Hill Community?
A growing number
of our neighbors
are living in poverty

9. What has the City been up to?
Neighborhood Picnics
Code Compliance Emphasis
Parks Planning
Improved Police and Fire Response
Emergency Preparedness
Block Watch
Business Assistance
Tiffany Park Safe Routes to School Program
EPA Grant for Walking Audit for Cascade
Neighborhood
Street and Sidewalk Improvement Program:
• 2010- SE 186th St
• 2012 and 2013- Benson Rd South (2 phases)
• 2012- planning for 116th Ave Improvements

10. Potential projects
Parks and Open Space
• Off-leash dog park
• Connect Tiffany and
Cascade Parks
• Program community
center

11. Potential projects
Parks and Open Space
• Establish a pea patch

12. Potential projects
Parks and
Open Space
116th
• Create new
park south of Petrovitsky
Petrovitsky
108th
192nd

13. Potential projects
Streets and Transportation
• Identify streets most in need
• Build traffic calming devices
• Add local input on 116th project
• Sidewalks, crosswalks, etc.
Sidewalk/path
Traffic calming
Crosswalk Traffic calming

14. Potential projects
Other
• Facilitate Cascade
Village redevelopment
and/or business Development that
supports businesses
enhancement
• Enhance block
watch program

15. What community plans can do
1. Spur short-term
small-scale actions
such as street
maintenance,
modest park
improvements, etc.

16. What community plans can do
2. Help direct larger, longer-term actions
such as park acquisition, street
improvements, community center, etc.

17. What community plans can do
3. Help the community get organized to undertake
local efforts such as clean-up, coordination with
school and church activities, etc.

18. What community plans can do
4. Build a partnership with the City to facilitate
services such as security and address emergencies
and comprehensive problems

19. Community plan example: Wedgwood
First, they identified their objectives

20. Community plan example: Wedgwood
Then, they identified and mapped key
concerns and opportunities
ddd

21. Community plan example: Wedgwood
Then they identified their priorities and an
action plan to achieve their objectives
More local
services
Sustainability Safe, pedestrian friendly streets
Transportation Choices

22. Community plan example: Wedgwood
Working with
City on business
opportunities
Secured a park site
Produce stands
ddd Design
guidelines

23. What we’ve heard so far…
• Online
interactive
map
(BensonPlan
.org)
• Around 30
comments
with
additional
votes/
comments
on a few

24. Example post

25. What we’ve heard so far…
What would make Cascade Village
better for you?
• Community center
(e.g., YMCA)
• Park
• Community garden
• Grocery store
• Burger joint

26. What we’ve heard so far…
Suggestions include:
• Sidewalks on 116th St,
Petrovitsky, 164th St, Puget Dr
• Crosswalk on Puget Dr near
Grant Ave
• Speeding vehicles in multiple
locations
• Traffic lights/turning lanes
• Panhandlers at 108th and
176th
• Cascade Park: graffiti and
safety
• Petrovitsky: “The Road of a
Thousand Names”

27. Now, its your turn – Tonight we will:
1. Identify most
important
objectives
(large group)
2. Identify some
challenges and
opportunities
(small group)

28. Stay involved!
• www.BensonPlan.org (Sign up for the email list here.)
• www.facebook.com/BensonPlan (Follow us here.)
• Email Erika: EConkling@rentonwa.gov