Setting Priorities for Growth in South Lake Union: How You Can Participate

Robert J. Grossman, SLUFANCC

Q: What triggered the South Lake Union Neighborhood Plan Update?

A: The initial Neighborhood Plan was developed in the late 1990s. Obviously, a lot has changed since then, particularly as it related to the new designation of South Lake Union by the city as an “urban village” in order to accommodate Seattle’s future growth and various levels of development in this neighborhood. It was time to update the plan to reflect these new realities.

Q: To provide some background on the purpose of the neighborhood plan, how do the goals and policies in it translate to the future of South Lake Union physically and economically?

A: The plan contains goals and policies that shape the future growth in South Lake Union, grouped around five topics:

• Neighborhood character
• Transportation
• Parks and open space
• Housing
• Sustainable development

These goals and policies will then be used to influence future initiatives, public/private investments and development in these topic areas.

Q: Why did SLUFAN request Seattle City Council members to hold off on adopting the updates in the city’s Comprehensive Plan?

A: While the development of the goals and policies were achieved with significant community input, there were also about 150 “strategies” developed related to implementation of the neighborhood plan. SLUFAN did not feel the stakeholders had had sufficient time to closely review and prioritize those strategies.

Q: Why should property owners, businesses, or residents care about setting priorities in the strategies of the plan? How would it affect stakeholders and the community if these priorities are not set?

A: Without priorities assigned to the strategies, the plan simply becomes a “wish list” of desirable outcomes without any real direction or guidance to city departments of which “wishes” are the most important.  If stakeholders don’t help set neighborhood priorities, the city will take it upon itself to do so. It’s a bit like a child telling Santa there are 50 different toys he wants for Christmas, but not telling him which one he wants the most!

Q: What are the next steps now that the city has agreed to postpone adopting the plan and to work with the community to first prioritize the strategies?

A: While the details are still to be worked out, there will be a community process, working with the SLUFAN Board and Planning Committee, to review (and revise as appropriate) the strategies. Any stakeholder is invited to participate thru SLUFAN in these discussions and reviews. In addition, it is anticipated that there will be one or more stakeholder meetings to review and comment on the proposed changes and priorities.

Q: How can I get involved? 

A: Click here to request updates on the community process and to receive more information on the discussion of neighborhood priorities.

Robert J. Grossman is Chair of the Planning and Public Policy Committee, SLUFANCC.