A presentation of the revised streetscape guidelines, supplemental design guidelines, and zoning recommendations developed by residents in NE Seattle for the 35th Ave NE business district between NE 65th Street and NE 95th Street.

1. Future of 35th Ave NE
NE Seattle residents proactively planning for change

2. BACKGROUND
VISION PLAN
• Completed in 2010 by the Wedgwood Community Council
through grant following outcry over a development.
Prompted the WCC to ask “what do we want.”
• +800 respondents to Wedgwood Vision Plan survey
• Applies to Wedgwood only (north of NE 75th St &
south of NE 95th St)
• First 2 suggested actions:
1. Undertake a neighborhood plan that includes a review
of current zoning standards and design guidelines with the City DPD. Revise
development standards as appropriate in accordance with community preferences
established in the neighborhood plan.
2. Work with Seattle DPD to establish neighborhood-specific design guidelines that
direct new development

3. BACKGROUND
35th AVE COMMITTEE
• Formed out of Vision Plan in 2012 to
pursue neighborhood plan for 35th Ave NE
• Hosted 2 kick-off community meetings
• Invited anyone in community to join
the 35th Ave Committee
• Comprised of residents of Ravenna, Bryant,
Wedgwood, View Ridge, Hawthorne Hill
Click to Link to Slideshow
Click to Link to Video

4. BACKGROUND
35th AVE COMMITTEE (cont)
• Co-hosted 7 “Coffee Talks” in 2012 with APA-WA
CPAT on planning topics and principals for community
• Completed 35th Ave NE Business District survey in
2013 with +1,000 respondents. Results include:
• 89% respondents live in neighborhood.
• 84% are comfortable with more development.
• 92% would like increased retail diversity.
• 88% believe business district is underdeveloped.
• People were comfortable with more development if it
improves streetscape/walkability (75%), well designed (72%),
located appropriately (55%), provides increased retail (46%), and
transitions well with single-family (44%).

5. BACKGROUND
35th AVE COMMITTEE (cont)
• Following survey results, developed a planning process
in consultation with Seattle DPD which was endorsed
by both RBCA & WCC
• Awarded grant by Seattle DON to complete:
- Streetscape Guidelines
- Zoning Recommendations
• Hired consultant team and scheduled 3 public workshops

6. BACKGROUND
35th AVE COMMITTEE – PROJECT GOALS
• Recognizing that change is inevitable, the goal was to initiate a
community discussion to develop a proactive plan for the 35th Ave NE
business district which includes:
• Streetscape Design Guidelines
• Zoning Recommendations
• The plan is not intended to change the 35th Ave NE business district
immediately, but to create a platform for community supported
change in the future.

7. BACKGROUND
PUBLIC WORKSHOP 1 & 2 OUTREACH
• Mailed +1,800 postcards to all residences
within 5-blocks of 35th Ave NE in project area.
• Mailed postcards to all landowners along
35th Ave NE in project area.
• Posted flyers and 200 additional postcards at businesses
along 35th Ave NE.
• Visited all businesses and hosted “Business & Beer” happy
hour event for them.
• Website/blog posts, Facebook, Twitter, Nextdoor, &
e-newsletters.
• A-boards on 35th Ave NE from NE 65th St to NE 95th St.

8. BACKGROUND
PUBLIC WORKSHOP 1
• ~80 participants
• Presentation explaining background,
describe current zoning, and project goals.
• Work groups to discuss:
• Existing and desirable landuse & building character
• Existing and desirable streetscape design features

9. BACKGROUND
PUBLIC WORKSHOP 2
• ~80 participants
• Presented streetscape concepts based
on PW1 results.
• Presented 3 zoning alternatives:
• Existing conditions
• Moderate increase
• Higher increase
• Breakout tables to discuss alternatives.
• Participants scored alternatives from 1-5.

10. BACKGROUND
PUBLIC WORKSHOP 2 (cont)
Results of participant score sheets:
NE 65th St Alternatives
Existing (3-story) 2.4
4/5-story 3.5
NE 75th St Alternatives
Existing (3-story) 2.6
4-story 3.6
6-story 3.1
NE 85th St Alternatives
Existing (4-story) 2.8
5-story: 3.6
6-story: 3.1
NE 95th St Alternatives
Existing (3-story) 2.6
4-story: 3.7
5-story: 2.9

11. BACKGROUND
PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3 OUTREACH
• Mailed 2nd postcard to all residences (+1,800)
within 5-blocks of 35th Ave NE in project area.
• Posted flyers and 200 additional postcards
at businesses along 35th Ave NE.
• Website/blog posts, Facebook, Twitter, Nextdoor,
& e-newsletters.
• A-boards on 35th Ave NE from NE 65th St to NE 95th St.

12. BACKGROUND
PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3
• ~70 participants
• Presented proposed streetscape guidelines and zoning
recommendations based on PW2 results.
• Prepared supplemental design guidelines to accompany zoning and
streetscape plans. Not originally included in project scope.
• Breakout tables to discuss alternatives.
• Participants rated aspects of the supplemental design guidelines,
streetscape plan and zoning recommendation: Yes, No, Maybe

13. BACKGROUND
PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3 (cont)
IMPORTANT:
The streetscape design guidelines, supplemental design guidelines, and
zoning recommendations are intended to complement each other.
Focusing on any one particular aspect of the ‘plan’ without
understanding the others results in an incomplete understanding of the
plan.

14. BACKGROUND
PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3 (cont) – SIDEWALK WIDTHS
Seek 2-foot setback from developers at nodes to increase sidewalk
widths.
CONNECTORS NODES

15. BACKGROUND
PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3 (cont) – IMPROVE SAFETY
Add friction along 35th Ave NE to reduce speeds and reduce crossing
widths to improve pedestrian safety.

16. BACKGROUND
PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3 (cont) – IMPROVE SAFETY & TRAFFIC FLOW
Improve traffic flow at 35th/75th and eliminate peak hour parking
restrictions.

17. BACKGROUND
PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3 (cont) – CONNECTOR AMENITIES

18. BACKGROUND
PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3 (cont) – NODE AMENITIES

19. BACKGROUND
PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3 (cont) – SUPP DESIGN GUIDELINES
• Intended to supplement the city-wide design guidelines which were
updated in 2013 (e.g., post Jasper Apartment building).
• Requests setbacks and design features for the community at the
expense of developers in exchange for modest height increases.
• Create more desirable pedestrian environment.
• Allow for improved retail opportunities in business district.
• Provide adjacent residents with increased transitions, privacy, and solar
protection.
• Provide developers with improved predictability during design review
process.

20. BACKGROUND
PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3 (cont) – SUPP DESIGN GUIDELINES
Maximize floor height to
create more desirable retail
spaces for preferred business
types.

21. BACKGROUND
PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3 (cont) – SUPP DESIGN GUIDELINES
Seek 2-foot setback from
developers at nodes to
increase sidewalk widths for
safer, more comfortable
pedestrian experiences; allow
public benches and art; and
accommodate for sidewalk
cafes.

22. BACKGROUND
PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3 (cont) – SUPP DESIGN GUIDELINES
Seek height and depth setbacks
from sidewalks for ground-level
residences to improves privacy
and create more desirable
residential experiences.

23. BACKGROUND
PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3 (cont) – SUPP DESIGN GUIDELINES
Seek wider sidewalk radii at
intersections to improve
pedestrian environment and
connections to side streets.

24. BACKGROUND
PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3 (cont) – SUPP DESIGN GUIDELINES
Require parking behind or below
buildings, not along street frontage.
Minimize driveway cuts and vehicle
access off of 35th Ave NE.

25. BACKGROUND
PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3 (cont) – SUPP DESIGN GUIDELINES
Request additional setbacks
from single-family residences
to protect solar exposure and
use vegetation screening or
80 ft buffer between
developments and SF homes
for privacy.

26. BACKGROUND
PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3 (cont) – SUPP DESIGN GUIDELINES
Respond to neighborhood
architectural character and quality
of materials.

27. BACKGROUND
PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3 (cont) – ZONING CHEAT SHEET
Neighborhood Commercial (NC1 and NC2) are further characterized by height. For instance,
NC1-40 means NC1 with a 40 foot height.
The currently allowed height limits for NC zones within the Seattle Zoning Code include:
NC-30, NC-40, NC-65, NC-85, NC-125, and NC-160.
Note: There is no NC-50 or NC-55 in the Seattle Zoning Code.

28. • Currently zoned NC1-30 for 3-story
neighborhood commercial buildings with
commercial on ground-floor along NE 65th St
from Bryant Café to Wedgwood Mart.
• Currently zoned L-2 for multifamily lowrise
(e.g., apartments, townhomes, rowhouses)
along 35th Ave NE from NE Branch Library
south to NC1-30 zone.
BACKGROUND
PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3 (cont) – NE 65th STREET NODE
NC1-30

29. • Currently zoned NC2-30 for 3-story
neighborhood commercial buildings with
commercial on ground-floor from Starbucks
to Thai of Wedgwood.
• Currently zoned L-2 for multifamily lowrise
(e.g., apartments, townhomes, rowhouses)
from Messiah Lutheran to south.
BACKGROUND
PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3 (cont) – NE 75th STREET NODE
NC2-30
NC2-30

30. • Currently zoned L-3 for multifamily lowrise
(e.g., apartments, townhomes, rowhouses)
around NE 87th St (except for US Bank).
• Currently zoned NC2-40 for 4-story
neighborhood commercial buildings with
commercial on ground-floor from
Homestreet Bank to the US Bank.
• Currently zoned L2-RC for multifamily lowrise
with commercial on ground-flood allowed
from Seattle Audubon south to Wedgwood
Presbyterian Church.
BACKGROUND
PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3 (cont) – NE 85th STREET NODE
NC2-40

31. • Currently zoned NC1-30 for 3-story
neighborhood commercial buildings with
commercial on ground-floor at whole NE 95th
Street node.
BACKGROUND
PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3 (cont) – NE 95th STREET NODE
NC1-

32. BACKGROUND
PUBLIC WORKSHOP 3 FEEDBACK
• Received comments and scores from PW3 participants.
• Posted PW3 documents and presentation online and advertised post on
website/blog posts, Facebook, Twitter, Nextdoor, & e-newsletters.
• Mailed all landowners where zoning changes were proposed a letter
explaining the project, changes, and public comment period.
• Hosted 2-week public comment period for those who couldn’t attend PW3.
• 2,608 pageviews between August 1-15 (public comment period)
• 60 public comments received.

33. REVISED PROPOSAL
REVISIONS MADE TO PREFERRED PLAN(S)
• Based on PW3 ratings, public comments, and previous data received,
revisions were made accordingly.
• No revisions were warranted for the streetscape design guidelines.
• 1 additional supplemental design guideline was added.
• Made revisions to zoning recommendations at 3 of 4 nodes.

34. REVISED PROPOSAL
REVISIONS MADE TO PREFERRED PLAN(S)
• No changes were made to the proposed supplemental design
guidelines.
• 1 additional supplemental design guideline was added.
• To reduce the potential of the “canyon” feel along the business district, a
10-foot setback from the street frontages for all floors over the 4th floor.

35. REVISED PROPOSAL
REVISIONS MADE TO PREFERRED PLAN(S) –
NE 65th STREET NODE

36. REVISED PROPOSAL
REVISIONS MADE TO PREFERRED PLAN(S) –
NE 75th STREET NODE

37. REVISED PROPOSAL
REVISIONS MADE TO PREFERRED PLAN(S) –
NE 85th STREET NODE
NOT SHOWN: Change zoning south of NE 80th Street
on part of Wedgwood Presbyterian Church parking
lot, Hunter Farm lot, and US Post Office from L2 to
L2-RC to allow commercial uses on ground floor.

38. REVISED PROPOSAL
REVISIONS MADE TO PREFERRED PLAN(S) –
NE 95th STREET NODE
NO CHANGE

39. CONCLUSION
FUTURE OF 35TH AVE NE - OUTCOME
• Through this public planning process, the 35th Ave Committee has
attempted to lead the community through an open and proactive
planning process to articulate a consensus vision and plan for the
future of the 35th Ave NE business district. We have reached out to
residents, businesses, landowners, and others who could be most
effected for their input. While unanimity is not realistic and has not
been achieved, we believe the proposed planning tools complement
each other and are consistent with what the community has stated at
public workshops and other data collected over the past 4 years.

40. CONCLUSION
FUTURE OF 35TH AVE NE – NEXT STEPS
• We intend to seek the endorsement of this plan by the Ravenna-Bryant
Community Association (RBCA) and Wedgwood Community Council (WCC)
• It is our intention to work with our consultant team to assembled these planning
tools into a single document for the 35th Ave NE which can be used by the 35th
Ave Committee, RBCA, and WCC. The plan will also be provided to Seattle DPD,
SDOT, and the Seattle Planning Commission.
• The Streetscape Design Guidelines will be reviewed by SDOT and hopefully
adopted into Chapter 6 of the City’s Right-of-Way Improvements Manual.
• It is our intention to provide the Supplemental Design Guidelines to the Seattle
Design Board and NE District Design Review Board.
• We intend to meet with DPD to discuss the zoning recommendations and discuss
next steps. The zoning changes described in this plan are only
“recommendations” at this time. Actually changing the zoning is a lengthy
process that would likely require further public notice.

41. Q&A