LAURELHURST L E T T E R

Published by the Laurelhurst Community Club … serving the Laurelhurst community since 1920 October 2019

LCC Funding Priorities Let’s Build the Second Now for City Budget LCC supports City Council Resolution 31904 to update the City’s participation of the Second Bascule Bridge as part of the State funded In the past five years, the City of SR520 Bridge Replacement Program for the following reasons: has made historic changes The State’s SR520 Corridor includes, and has funded through its to its land use policies with the legislation, the second bascule bridge over the as an goal of providing more housing integral part of that transportation system and HOV that will be built units. HALA, the MHA, the onto the I-5 reversible lane. The additional capacity of a second bascule upzoning of most single- and bridge for buses, bikes, and pedestrians would add relief to the multi-family neighborhoods, and bottleneck of transit stuck in north/south traffic. Traffic is bumper to the abolishment of regulations bumper along Montlake Blvd. for four hours a day during the morning restricting building accessory and afternoon peaks – wreaking havoc with schedules, testing patience, dwelling units, have all been and spewing excess carbon emissions. A 14-foot shared-use path for executed without upgrading the bikes and pedestrians, similar to the one on the Floating Bridge could City’s infrastructure. including, as the existing Montlake Bridge with only 7 feet in width is not Over the next five years, LCC safe. believes that the City’s top budget Times have changed since 2012 when former City of Seattle resolutions priority should be to make the new 31411 and 31611 rejected a second bascule bridge. Seattle has density work for its taxpayers, experienced exponential growth. Light Rail at Husky Stadium averages residents, and employers. Pairing 10,000 weekday boardings, making pedestrian safety and access critical. appropriate impact fees from the Upzones, increased residential density, plus retail and major institution developers (who now reap the expansions north of the Ship Canal are occurring without upgrades to benefits from unobstructed view the City’s transportation infrastructure over the Ship Canal. lines and savings from the lack of expenditures on parking) with continued on page 3 existing annual revenue sources, the City budget should fund these Retain City Environmental Review Regulations key infrastructure needs: LCC urged members of the City Council’s Planning, Land Use, and Zoning n Fund SDOT for all modes of Committee (PLUZ) not to pursue Council Bill 119600 for a vote by the full transportation, namely sidewalks City Council. The City has enacted sweeping changes to its land use without impediments for all, streets policies to provide a more than 30 percent increase in housing units. in good repair without sinkholes or Most of the newly upzoned areas, urban villages, and centers have not potholes, enough capacity on roads even begun to build out to capacity. Impacts from the coming changes for transit, freight, emergency cannot yet be measured and evaluated. LCC recommends that the City vehicles, and other vehicles needed wait several years to allow for this analysis before considering changes for transport, especially families, in the SEPA review process. Only SEPA regulations currently provide any the mobility challenged, and the type of framework for measuring and, potentially, mitigating unforeseen self employed. SDOT should adverse impacts. coordinate with SPCI and OED to This bill serves no purpose except to remove the opportunity for partially fund repairs by assessing impacted stakeholders to comment on land use issues. Collaboration developers for road damage from among affected parties has been proven to produce far better outcomes continually impacted streets. In than “top down” approaches. CB 119600 eliminates individual project D-4, Union Bay Pl. NE and NE vetting, ignoring unique and site-specific issues. Impacts in high-density Blakeley St., which lack sidewalks, downtown residential areas are different from than those in single-family are now severely damaged by four neighborhoods, and one size does not fit all. “small” projects. These should be LCC has specific concerns about the following elements of this proposal: repaired on the developer’s dime. n Section 1. Projects within an Urban Village should not be automatically n Invest funds in transit that exempted from SEPA review. Developers love these loopholes so they can moves the most people. Extended avoid regulations and impact fees by doing piecemeal projects. No reason service hours. Ditch streetcars that for ANY exemptions. continue to be a fiscal drag on the n Section 2. The Director of Seattle Department of Construction and continued on page 2 continued on page 2 LAURELHURST LETTER • October 2019

LCC Funding Priorities for City Budget continued from page 1 Retain Regulations continued from page 1 SDOT budget and do not offer the connectivity needed throughout the Inspection is not an elected region. Divert the streetcar expenditures and substitute more flexible official, and should not be buses to meet demand. authorized to promulgate rules n Save taxpayer revenue by putting a moratorium on “road diets,” that have served the local EPA which have sometimes exacerbated congestion and slowed buses. Focus regulations of local jurisdictions. on efficiently transporting the majority of people and goods to benefit This bill states that the rules “may the community. have different standards,” which is counter to applying standards at n Engage immediately with WSDOT and Metro to improve mobility all. Thus, this bill makes no sense. around the Montlake Interchange and Triangle at the University of The existing regulations already Washington Light Rail Station. Seattle has neglected the importance of offer numerous discretionary this transportation juggernaut. In March 2020, Northeast Seattle allowances as “Director’s Rules.” residents will find that Metro has allowed Eastside buses to divert onto No further waiving of SEPA Montlake Blvd., eliminating the SR520 stop. SDOT should be funded to regulations is needed. collaborate with the UW and Sound Transit to make the “last mile” to n Light Rail Stations seamless, regardless of mode. With the City’s carte Section 3. This section refers to blanche approval of the UW’s Campus Master Plan, it is time that the City transportation impacts that are and UW partner to achieve better mobility throughout the Northeast the results of various types of Seattle corridor. development. Transportation impacts are cumulative on the n Earmark funds to work effectively with WSDOT to relieve congestion City’s road infrastructure and in Seattle with planning for a second bascule bridge (part of the SR520 transit capacity. Such impacts are Bridge Replacement). best vetted and tracked using n Budget funds to build a new . It is unconscionable that existing SEPA regulations. The its replacement has not been planned for through a depreciation proposed new rules waive the schedule in the City budget, nor have monies been set aside for its SEPA analysis, neglect the fragile replacement. environment, and fail to measure n Fund more officers for our police and fire departments. The increase amy project’s carbon footprint. in population, especially in Northeast Seattle, requires more responses n Section 4. This section contains from the Seattle Police and Fire Departments. It is well known that language that is outright confusing Seattle now has a deficit in the number of officers recommended to and can be misinterpreted: “With provide adequate and effective public safety. Budget for replacing the the amendments, the following outdated Northgate area station with two new ones, one centered in non-project actions will be exempt Northwest Seattle and one in Northeast Seattle. entirely from SEPA review.” (No n Continue to fund and expand the effective work of the Law amendments presented.) This Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) teams that identify homeless entire section is unnecessary and folks and refer them to appropriate services. These teams tackle the could be used to undermine tough issues behind the homeless crisis in our City. environmental protections n Restore funding to Seattle Parks and Recreation for local community intended to protect and preserve center programs and operating hours. LCC supports restoring funding to treasured City shoreline and tree its Community Center with hours to operate at least two days/week with canopy assets. classes, public meeting space until 8:30 p.m., and year-round school n Section 5. This concerns programming hours from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. Often, the community removal of the current time period centers are the most accessible and affordable option for parents of allowed after an appeal. No reason young children, for after school enrichment, and for senior exercise and to change any of this language, life-learning enrichment classes. For example, LCC and LEAP (emergency which should be left in the Seattle preparedness) evening meetings held at the Community Center benefit Municipal Code. the whole community while, at the same time, senior enrichment Retaining the opportunity to classes, youth piano lessons, and yoga classes take place. assess the impact of development n Provide financial resources for historic preservation. The City has is crucial for protecting our City’s allocated vast resources in its budget to support developers with better environment. n permitting processes. The City can equally benefit from resources earmarked to preserve irreplaceable historic sites and buildings. LCC, LEAP Disaster with its own 100-year history, requests funding continue to expand to support Historic Seattle’s expert work. Mostly notable in D-4, the Preparedness Class University District and “The Ave,” with its ethnic small business October 16 character, needs historic preservation support to retain this history. With Laurelhurst Community Center funding in the City’s budget, Historic Seattle could operate as a more Wednesday, October 16, effective resource for communities to save historic places that are 7 to 8:15 p.m. disappearing due to lack of community know-how. The history of the Please RSVP for this free class by City’s places and structures inform its identity and values, which are the emailing LEAPlaurelhurst@outlook. roots of its future. Allocate resources to fund preservation. n com. n LAURELHURST LETTER • October 2019

Retain Regulations continued from page 1 PAINTING: Luis Ramirez 206-465-3593. Interior and exterior. Great Laurelhurst UNCLASSIFIEDS references. Bonded and insured. Any size job. CALENDAR RAPID COMPUTER HELP: PC/Mac. Upgrades; hardware, software installation; BABYSITTER: RHS Senior and Camp Firwood troubleshooting, repair. Spyware, virus Oct. 14 (Mon.) 6:30 to 8 p.m. CIT. CPR and First Aid trained, energetic, removal. Windows, MS Office certifications. LCC Board of Trustees responsible, fun and loves kids! Volunteer Local References. Matt, 206-498-8901. Laurelhurst Community Center experience in preschool programs and working REMODELING/HANDYMAN SERVICES: with children of all ages. Call Libby at 206-258- Oct. 16 (Wed.) 7 to 8:15 p.m. “Bob of All Trades.” Licensed, Bonded, LEAP Disaster Preparedness Class 3335. Also available for dog sitting/walking. Insured. Lic#BOBALAT936N3. Reasonable BABYSITTER: Reliable 8th-grade girl from The rates, experienced, professional, reliable. Laurelhurst Community Center Bush School with Better Babysitting, CPR and www.BobOfAllTrades.com. Email: bobstocco@ Oct. 19 (Sat.) 3 to 7 p.m. 1st Aid certificates looking for babysitting jobs gmail.com or call 425-301-9265. 11th Annual Monster Bash in the neighborhood. Two year’s experience. WANTED: Laurelhurst Homes - As Is. Top St. Stephen’s Grounds – Rain or Shine 206-972-4792 or [email protected]. Dollar Paid. I will buy your house as is. Don’t Nov. 13 (Wed.) 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. BEST CLEANING LLC: 25 Years cleaning worry about problems or cleaning up or Windermere and Laurelhurst homes. Regular preparing for sale. Quick and easy cash sale. SUN Park Weed and Sweep cleaning and special projects; references from I live in the neighborhood. Call Mike, LREA, at 47th Ave. NE and NE 47th St. current clients; quality guaranteed. 206-459-9375. Nov. 18 (Mon.) 6:30 to 8 p.m. 206-948-2433. [email protected] LCC Board of Trustees MOVING: Let Moves Made Simple pack. We Each month, trustees review Laurelhurst Community Center specialize in packing, unpacking, downsizing, organizing, de-cluttering and simplifying Calls and Concerns from Drop off donations for Elizabeth your life. Contact Katie Hennings Larson, neighbors. Please contact any Gregory House, a U District women’s 206-307-9424, www.movesmadesimple.com trustee to bring up something shelter: Huda Giddens at 4338 NE 44th St. for free consultation. (Leave in dark green, covered bin at the you would like LCC to be aware front of the house.) Build the Bridge continued from page 1 of or consider action on. Projections for population and The Laurelhurst Letter is published ten times employment increases north of the a year. DISPLAY ADS cost $75 per space per Laurelhurst Blog issue, with a five-issue commitment paid in Ship Canal in the coming years will http://thelaurelhurstblog.blogspot.com/ advance. UNCLASSIFIED ADS are free for result in more than 16,000 daily News, events, issues, restaurants, businesses PAID members of the Laurelhurst Community and lots more. Email a tip or story idea or new trip generations without Club, except that repeat ads or ads deemed subscribe at [email protected]. commercial cost $20; 25-word maximum. added infrastructure capacity. The blog and LCC are separate entities. n Email copy to [email protected]. The new bridge design should be approved with input from both the Seattle Landmark Preservation Living Laurelhurst, Selling Laurelhurst Providing quality Board and the Seattle Design Commission. The Montlake Historic in-home / live-in care District with its Olmsted that supports comfort architectural traditions and the and independence. historic character of the existing 206-498-4606 bridge must be considered when [email protected] 206.545.1092 discussing a second bridge. The familyresourcehomecare.com past history of the City’s places Partnership for a Lifetime and structures inform its identity Excellence Education Prevention Comfort Compassion and values, which are the roots of its future. Seattle must advocate 206-528-1980 www.hhvh.net for the resources to preserve Where senior living is full of JOY. Robin E. Riedinger, DVM them. Brandi L. Eskesen, DVM Call (206) 306-7920 for a Adrian E. Nevill, BVM&S personal visit & to learn more.

Seattle has taken on more than its th 4020 NE 55 St Seattle, WA - across from Metropolitan Market th share of the region’s growth 450 NE 100 Street, Seattle • aljoya.com without ANY major improvements F  P   in the infrastructure to ease S T  S congestion for those who live and Serving Seattle & Vicinity work here. Seattle’s traffic Chip Kennaugh Co. congestion rating is the seventh Call (206) 523-7315 for a 206-487-3830 personal visit and to learn more worst in the country, which also ers hiennughgil.o about Ida Culver House Ravenna. increases our carbon footprint oriulure hiennugh.o erise through inefficiencies and excess 2315 NE 65th St, Seattle • eraliving.com emissions. Sign up for LCC’s Constant Contact LCC urges the City Council to electronic newsletter for time- support the approval of Council critical communications: email SAVE 10%! Resolution 31904, which would [email protected]. If you Mention this ad to save! give our City a seat at the table to have signed up and do not receive analyze the data and participate in it, please add laurelhurstnews@ (206) 682-7110 comcast.net to your address book. whatever form a second bascule Allcoveredpainting.com bridge might take. n www.laurelhurstcc.com PRSRT STD LAURELHURST October 2019 U.S. Postage PAID LETTER Seattle, WA Laurelhurst Community Club Permit No. 1793 PMB #373, 4616 25th Ave. NE Seattle, WA 98105 Carrier Route Presort OFFICERS & TRUSTEES Postal Customer Jeannie Hale, Co-President 525-5135 [email protected] Colleen McAleer, Co-President 525-0219 [email protected]

206 area codes for all Brian McMullen 367-9325 Jim Rupp 524-5880 Emily Dexter, Treas. 526-2927 Connie Sidles 522-7513 Katherine Burk 849-4955 Stan Sorscher 522-7660 Kay Kelly 522-6773 Jan Sutter 683 9280 Liz Hemer 517-5862 Don Torrie 524-4316 Newsletter: [email protected]; Leslie Wright, editor, 206-229-1505 Security Patrol: [email protected] Aircraft Noise Hotline 206-433-5393 Animal Control 206-386-7387 Community Center 206-684-7529 Laurelhurst Beach Club (business) 206-729-3724 Police, Non-emergency 206-625-5011 Street Light Out, City Light 206-684-7056 24-Hour Crisis Line 206-461-3222

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Locally Owned Real Estate Company Excellent reputation, customized customer service, 11th Annual team approach. All in, for Laurelhurst. Monster Bash Helen Kelleher Senseney 206-909-9367 Fabulous Halloween Fun! Eddie Muanda 206-915-7041 Cynthia Williams 206-769-7140 Chet Crile ...... 206.498.4606 Jenn Flynn 206-427-3900 Saturday, October 19 Kim Dales ...... 206.235.7772 Cathy Millan ...... 206.228.8558 3 to 7 p.m. (rain or shine) Quorum-Laurelhurst, Inc. 3505 NE 45th St. Seattle 98105 Renee Menti Ruhl ...... Location: On the grounds of St. (206) 522-7003 206.850.1800 Barbara Shikiar ...... Stephen’s - 4805 NE 45th St. 206.484.2446 Jeri Smith ...... 206.295.8785 Cost: $13 “Fright Fee” for all this fun! Karen Pecota Maggie Weissman ...... 206.226.0543 Grab your little ghosts and goblins Licensed Electrologist since 1977 and fly by for a spook-tacular KAREN PECOTA CHOOSE A BROKER FROM YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. celebration presented by Susannah

White’s Three Feet of Sunshine. 206.794.1258 Performances by Recess Monkey at www.sandpointelectrolysis.com 4 and 5 p.m.! Haunted house, pony Hawthorne Hill Professional Center 4026 NE 55th Street, Suite E rides, kids tunes, ghoulish games Jim Thorpe Northlake Capital + Development, LLC and prizes, creepy crafts, pumpkin Jim Thorpe decorating, costume contest and has been the leading “off-market” acquisition companyNorthla kfore Coverapi t25al years+ De vandelo phasme continuednt, LLC parade. Trophy Cupcakes for all! thehashas growthbeen the of leadingleading real estate “off-market”“off- market”in the Greater acquisition Seattle Area.companycompany forfor overover 2525 years and hashas continued continued the All proceeds benefit Seattle Forthegrowth inquires growth of please real of real callestate or estate email in the us in at: Greater the Greater Seattle Seattle Area. (206) 547-1370 Area.For inquiries please call or email us at: Children’s Pediatric Palliative Care. northlakecd.comFor inquires please call or email us at: (206)(206) 547 547-1370-1370 Great fun for a great cause! northlakecd.comnorthlakecd.com Contact: threefeetofsunshine.org or 206-304-9339. n Proud homeowner in the Laurelhurst Community Proud homeowner in the Laurelhurst Community Thanks to our advertisers for their support.