The February Ravenna-Bryant Community Association board meeting will take place Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., at the Ravenna Eckstein Community Center. Please note that in 2016 meetings will start at 6:30, not 7:00 p.m.
In addition to Land Use Committee and Transportation Committee updates, the agenda includes a discussion with Councilmember Rob Johnson and updates to the workplan for 2016.
All RBCA meetings are open to the public – please join us!
Today, Sound Transit announced that the University of Washington Link light rail station at Husky Stadium will open on March 19, 2016.
Since the station is just two miles from Bryant Elementary School and less than that from some parts of the Bryant neighborhood, many of our neighbors will be using this station to get to Capitol Hill, Downtown, and points south. This is especially true for neighbors who bike, considering Ravenna-Bryant’s easy access to the Burke-Gilman Trail, or ride the bus.
Over at the University of Washington’s Transportation Services blog, they’ve been posting information about light rail and how UW employees and students can take advantage of it. Some of this information can be equally useful for Ravenna-Bryant community members who will access light rail at UW Station.
4 things to know about bicycles and Link light rail
What University Link light rail means for bus riders
For more information about buses that will take you to UW Station, visit Metro’s website.
This Tuesday, January 26th, from 5-7 p.m. at City Hall Mayor Murray and department directors will launch their conversation on the implementation of HALA (Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda).
The HALA Report, which consists of 65 recommendations made by a 28 member committee, identified ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) and DADUs (Detached Accessory Dwelling Units) as a way to create more housing in single-family areas in Seattle. Last Tuesday, January 19th at the Filipino Community Center, about 100 people gathered to hear former Planning, Land Use, and Zoning Committee Chair Councilmember Mike O’Brien and Nick Welch from the Office of Planning and Community Development discuss policy changes that would encourage more homeowners to construct ADUs and DADUs. (District 4’s Rob Johnson is the current Planning, Land Use, and Zoning Committee Chair Councilmember.)
According to Mr. Welch, the City of Seattle currently has just over 1000 permitted ADUs and 220 permitted DADUs. There were 6 policy changes on which attendees were asked to comment and vote. Based on public comments and the votes on the 6 poster boards, the majority of people at the Filipino Community Center last week were in favor of all of the changes below.
1)Should we remove the off street parking requirement?
2) Should we allow an ADU and a DADU on the same lot?
3)Should we remove the owner-occupancy requirement?
4) Should we modify development standards for backyard cottages?
5) Should we increase the height limit for certain lots?
6) Should we modify the rear yard coverage limit?
The next ADU/DADU meeting is Wednesday February 3rd at Wallingford Senior Center 4649 Sunnyside Avenue North from 6-7:30 p.m. You will get to vote on which, if any, of these recommendations should be implemented.
While the HALA recommendations are being rolled out, the City is also considering expanding Urban Village boundaries for the new 2035 Comprehensive Plan. You can also educate yourself on how the two plans overlap on the City’s website and this timeline.
RBCA Board Meeting
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center
Agenda items include:
— 35th Avenue NE future land use
— NE 65th Street Business Survey
— Sidewalks near U-Village
— 2016 RBCA Workplan & Vision: Ravenna-Bryant is a welcoming, thriving, safe, diverse, and connected neighborhood.
All are welcome!
A friendly reminder from RBCA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: Enjoy the holiday season and don’t drive under the influence.
On December 6, a man brandished two handguns at several downtown businesses, carjacked three vehicles, and fired on police officers before a fatal confrontation on 35th Avenue NE and NE 68th Street in the Ravenna-Bryant neighborhood.
Learn more about what happened, about police follow-up, and what to do if an active shooting takes place in a public setting.
Community Meeting & Debriefing
Monday, December 21, 2015
6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
NE Branch Seattle Public Library
6801 35th Avenue NE
Guest Speakers
Co-sponsored by the Ravenna-Bryant Community Association and the Wedgwood Community Council.
Ravenna-Bryant Community Association Board Meeting
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
7-8:30PM
Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center
Agenda
On November 3, Seattleites for the first time voted in district elections. Of the 55,309 registered voters in District 4, of which Ravenna-Bryant is a part, 26,068 (47%) returned ballots.
Voters in our community chose Tim Burgess and Lorena Gonzalez in the citywide council races and were in favor of Seattle Initiative 122 dealing with campaign finance. Except for the one precinct immediately east of the cemetery, Ravenna-Bryant voters chose Rob Johnson to represent District 4 on the City Council.
Except for the precinct to the east and south of Eckstein Middle School, Ravenna-Bryant voters supported the Move Seattle Levy (Seattle Proposition 1).
For reference, here is a map of Ravenna-Bryant in green.
Ravenna-Bryant Community Association Board Meeting
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
7-8:30PM
Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center
Agenda
All RBCA meetings are open to the public.
RBCA is embarking on some of the most interesting land use discussions that we have had in some time. First, the City is in the process of updating is Comprehensive Plan, called Seattle 2035. The City’s Comprehensive plan is the policy document that guides long-range land use planning strategies. While there are updates to the plan each year, this effort is part of a wholesale update to the Plan that occurs every 10 years. In the Draft Plan, the City has recommended expanding the Roosevelt Urban Village Growth Boundary into portions of Ravenna-Bryant’s Community Association’s Boundary.
This week, Seattle Police Department launched its Crime Data Dashboard, giving Seattle residents access to the same statistical information on incidents of property and violent crime used by SPD to direct police patrols.
Dashboard users can view and sort historic and current data on personal and property crimes, including robbery, burglary, theft, and auto theft, across the city, in precincts, and in each Micro Community. All of the data released through the dashboard is open-source and downloadable for further analysis.
For example, below are 2015 year-to-date crime statistics for the Roosevelt/Ravenna area.
“Do you think four-story buildings would fit in with the future character of 35th Ave?” That was one of the questions the Seattle Department of Planning and Development (DPD) asked Ravenna-Bryant and Wedgwood residents earlier this year. DPD had been asked by the Future of 35th Avenue Committee to include their community-driven recommendations in future land use planning and city planners were looking to affirm the committee’s findings.
Of the 303 people who responded to that question, 150 said “yes” and 153 said “no”.
In a 2013 RBCA survey of Ravenna-Bryant community members, 64% indicated they would be comfortable with more development along NE 65th Street and 29% said they would not.
When DPD asked community members, “Which is more important at the ground-floor along 35th Ave?” 67% said more business, 3% new housing, and 30% said both are equally important. Another one of the questions was, “How important is being able to walk to nearby business districts on 35th Ave?” and 68% responded “very” and 22% said “somewhat.”
Currently, NE 65th Street from 32nd Ave NE to the east corner of 35th Ave NE is zoned NC1-30 or Neighborhood Commercial, 30 feet high, generally 3 stories. Which means that even though the Wedgwood Market is 1 story tall, it could be up to 3. For comparison, where 35th Ave NE and NE 55th Street meet, the land is zoned for buildings up to 4 stories tall.
On 35th Ave NE, the land north of the NE 65h Street corner to NE 68th Street is currently zoned LR2 or Lowrise Multifamily. Areas zoned LR2 do not allow for businesses along the ground floor, like the community would like to see.
That’s why DPD is now proposing that part of the land currently zoned LR2 be re-zoned to NC1-30 with a pedestrian designation. This change would allow businesses on the ground floor with housing on the upper floors, something community members indicated they want. The pedestrian designation would help create a more walker-friendly neighborhood since in these areas:
Previous posts have reviewed zoning designations along a few of the arterial roads in the Ravenna-Bryant neighborhood. As the city grows to accommodate more people, and we engage in discussions about what that growth looks like in transit-oriented neighborhoods such as ours, it’s important to know how areas are currently zoned.
The five block stretch along NE 65th Street from 20th Avenue NE to 25th Avenue NE is often considered “downtown” Ravenna. It is home to many places to eat and drink and health and wellness-related businesses. With a few buildings that include apartments, it is also home to many people.
Earlier this year, the area was re-zoned as a pedestrian area. Below is a map from the rezone legislation.
As the map indicates, most of downtown Ravenna is zoned NCP2-40, Neighborhood 
Commercial Pedestrian up to 4 stories high. Typical land uses in NC2 zones include medium-sized grocery stores, drug stores, coffee shops, customer service offices, medical facilities, and apartments. Non-residential uses typically occupy the street front.
The Ravenna Alehouse and the building that houses daPino, Vitality Pilates, and Thrive Art School are examples of buildings that are 1 and 2 stories tall but could be up to 4 stories according to current land use designations. They both fit in with the pedestrian zoning designation since no residential uses exist on the first floors and windows face NE 65th Street. However, if the land to the east of the alehouse is ever developed, a parking lot abutting the street front would not be allowed.
Half of the southwest corner of NE 65th Street and 25th Avenue NE is zoned Single Family and the half closest to Ida Culver House is zoned LR2 or Lowrise Multifamily. Two houses are currently on that corner. LR2 encourages townhouses, rowhouses, and apartments.
The first-ever Seattle city council candidates debate hosted by neighborhood newsletters and blogs took place last Wednesday in District 4. Candidates Michael Maddux and Rob Johnson answered questions about land use, transportation, human services, and public safety.
Erik Fisk over at Wallyhood provides a good summary of the debate. The debate must have been the end of a long day for the candidates considering they had come from an earlier debate at UW.
Next month, District 4 residents will also vote for two at-large candidates. The choice in District 8 is between Jonathan Grant and Tim Burgess and in District 9 between Lorena Gonzalez and Bill Bradburd.
In August, only 16,795 ballots were cast in the District 4 primary. Don’t forget to vote in this first district election! Ballots are due Tuesday, November 3.
Seattle University is administering the citywide Seattle Public Safety Survey. The purpose of the survey is to solicit feedback on public safety and security concerns from those who live and/or work in Seattle. From October 15th through November 30th it is accessible at publicsafetysurvey.org and is available in Amharic, Chinese, English, Korean, Somali, Spanish and Vietnamese.
A report on the survey results will be provided to the Seattle Police Department to assist them with making your neighborhood safer and more secure.
Engage with City Hall without going downtown:
By Jorgen Bader, RBCA Vice President
With regret, the RBCA Board accepted the resignation of the long-serving chair of our Transportation Committee. Virginia Gunby accepted the position of Transportation Committee chair in order to assist our community in opposing a design proposed by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) in July 2006 for rebuilding State Route 520.
The design proposed was a massive concrete interchange, like those in industrial areas. It included tall stilts over Union Bay with ramps taking up the south Husky Stadium parking lot and the widening of Montlake Blvd NE. As a result of the public outcry, the 2007 legislature required WSDOT to go through a mediation process with a panel of representatives from the affected communities. The process lasted through December 2008 and Virginia spoke for RBCA.
Virginia led the coalition that developed the design which became the basis for the current plan. Throughout the many meetings, some very contentious, Virginia had the persuasive skills, patience, and diplomatic ability to bring others around on many key issues. The mediation process was followed by the environmental reviews procedures, follow-up WSDOT consultations, and then lengthy City Council review and revisions that continued for years. Virginia advocated for lanes for transit and high occupancy vehicles, lids and other measures to mitigate environmental damage, and coordination with Sound Transit.
Back in the 1960’s, Governor Dan Evans appointed Virginia to the then State Highway Commission. As a commissioner, she pushed for the design of I-90 to consider environmental values and for special lanes for transit. She is co-founder and was president of 1000 Friends of Washington, now called Futurewise. Virginia served as a freeholder in framing the 1968 King County Charter and served on two of its review commissions. She chaired a Growth Management Committee for the Puget Sound Regional Council and held important positions on the King County legislative and executive staffs. Virginia has also been a senior official in the League of Women Voters. Her views always carry clout.
Over the years, Virginia was also in the forefront for locating the Sound Transit Station in the Roosevelt business district (rather than next to I-5); against cutting Metro bus service to our neighborhood; and for roadway improvement measures.
Virginia retired from the RBCA board to dedicate her time curating the records of Margaret Tunks, founder of Citizens Against Freeways, for the UW. We will greatly miss her contributions to RBCA.
How do we want the Ravenna-Bryant neighborhood to grow over the next 20 years to best accommodate the increased number of people who will be living in Seattle? Do proposals in the drafted Comprehensive Plan, including the expansion of the Roosevelt Residential Urban Village into part of Ravenna, make sense or should increased housing and related infrastructure be spread more evenly throughout Ravenna and Bryant? How do the recommendations in the Mayor’s Housing Affordability & Livability Agenda (HALA) for increasing affordable housing intersect with the Comprehensive Plan and what do they mean in our community? These are just some of the questions RBCA board members began discussing this past week.
To get questions answered and provide the Seattle Department of Planning and Development (DPD) with input, community members are invited to check out the Key Proposals at one of their upcoming open houses. At the meetings you can learn more about what’s proposed and chat with staff to share your thoughts and ask questions. DPD will have information available about the potential expansion of urban villages and HALA.
Open house dates & locations
Online feedback
You can submit your comments on the Draft Plan through November 20. Here’s how:
1. Join the Seattle 2035 Online Community Conversation at seattle2035.consider.it and discuss the potential pros and cons of Key Proposals with fellow Seattleites.
2. Follow on Facebook and Twitter
3. Send comments by November 20, 2015:
Your feedback will help shape the Mayor’s Recommended Plan which will be sent to City Council in early 2016.
If you had to guess, how many places to eat or drink do you think are in the Ravenna-Bryant neighborhood? If someone said 35, would you be surprised?
1. Third Place Pub
2. Vios
3. Zeeks
4. Bagel Oasis
5. Sod House Bakery
6. Crepe Café
7. Heidelberg Haus
8. Ravenna Alehouse
9. Muddy Waters Coffee
10. Varsity
11. Bai Pai
12. Sushi Wataru (coming soon)
13. Salare
14. Zouave
15. Harissa
16. daPino
17. Bryant Corner
18. Kidd Valley
19. Krua Thai
20. Frank’s Oyster House
21. Queen Mary Tea
22. Duchess Tavern
23. Pair
24. Ventoux
25. Gaudi
26. Mioposto
27. Zoka
28. Mamma Melina
29. Plume
30. Pinkaew
31. McDonald’s
32. Subway
33. Papa John’s
34. Top Pot Doughnuts
35. Grateful Bread
Coming soon: Ravenna Brewing Company and two new restaurants at the very south end of our community next to the Burke-Gilman Trail.
The abundance of places to eat and drink contributes to Ravenna and Bryant being considered very walkable and bikeable by Walk Score. Not to mention University Village, with its plethora of restaurants, is within easy walking and biking distance from a large portion of the neighborhood. Who needs to leave Ravenna-Bryant and be part of our city’s notorious traffic when you can walk or bike to a nearby restaurant?
Is this list missing a place to eat or drink in our neighborhood? Leave a comment below!
Ravenna-Bryant Community Association Board Meeting
Tuesday, October 6, 2015, 7:00 p.m.
Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center
All RBCA meetings are open to anyone who is interested in neighborhood issues.
Tomorrow’s agenda includes land use discussions focusing on proposals being made in Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan and the Mayor’s Housing Affordability & Livability Agenda (HALA).