(The minimum idea is still to get busses off streets for layover using parking assoc. land.) Parking for 16-20 busses. No passenger facilities - should there be? More complicated, maybe worse perception for any housing also built there. (But this worked well in Vancouver, so maybe not.)

Have already talked to U. Baptist church across street, they're happy as long as they aren't boxed in.

Some busses might move to crossing off 15th on 47th to help clean up intersection of 15th & 47th.

Request for less emphasis on commercial properties to not cannabalise the ave; A: There may be some, but it'll be facing NE 45th only. This is important to prevent the "big cement wall" on 45th. Also would encourage metro employees to bus here when working here, to provide more commercial support for businesses in general. The main commercial potential is for space for a Big Anchor store; building smaller spaces would be avoided.

It's noted that the site does have a nice downtown view, and you can see the space needle from ground level.

Parking would be for local shopping customers, employees of UDPA, then overnight for residents - NO PARK & RIDE. Nobody wants the Park & Ride, including Metro.

The facility MUST be secure, whatever it ends up being.

Question about open space; A: One stated objective of the project is good sidewalks and public pedestrian amenities - designers and architects will be brought in w/this in mind and told to include it.

Question: Can this be integrated w/other projects coming up? A: maybe. A pedestrian bridge over 12th isn't unlikely, maybe carry it on to Ave later. The whole project is maybe one project in four stages over time; that's up to property owners. (Maybe build the bus layover and parking now, and architect to add on later. Any design will be expandable to handle future additional growth - parking, apts, etc.)

UDPA insists upon ending up w/3x as many parking spaces as now. (200ish on site now.)

Granting agency coming up with a big chunk of the money says "doing this sooner is better than doing this later" and "if you need more money, we might be able to do that." Unusually positive.

More emphasis on open space being integrated. Cost issues will affect, of course.

Serious talk of "lidding" 12th & putting a park atop. Feasability study coming. Real data should be in by the above August date.

Lots of speculation until 24th/25th August event.

They could be building the structure in 18 months if all goes well.

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The NEW Dept. Of Neighbourhoods rep is welcomed. Deirdre.grace@ci.seattle.wa.us.

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Ravenna Woods update

The "acquire and preserve" plan is ongoing, and is a separate project from everything else.

The attempt to prevent development, or at least reduce to minimum density, effort is also ongoing and separate. The zoning loophole is for "congregate housing." A PUBLIC HEARING will be announced in early August to talk about the proposed development. The developer is desperately trying to avoid having to do an environmental impact statement. Roberts LLC paid $550K for the land. The group to save the woods is applying for big grant; they already have one big chunk of money. The first letter of intent for the grant due MONDAY (19 July), letters of support can come as late as September.

(Note to me: UPCC needs to send one of these supporting letters. E-Mail Laura Dixon-Dybvad.)

City departments are blowing off the acquire-and-preserve plan. Several people see this as a test of the system and the will of the people, to see if the city is going to take any of this seriously and whether people are willing to yell when they don't. The city took a $20,000 grant to survey and evaluate the land back in Feb., but have so far produced nothing.

ALL projects in the plan are going to be like this if these are allowed to slide.

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NEXT MEETING - 19 Aug 5:30 U. Heights Community Centre Prime topic: Deirdre's job? ADUs? (Steinbreuck) Sound ordinance revision? CUCAC.
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