CB zone is a Community Business zone. If a project goes entirely residential, there is a net loss of business opportunity in the city. The use of upper floors as residential is a bonus allowable in CB zones because of the close proximity to shopping and transportation.
If the unanimous Planning Commission recommendation is adopted, the higher density will by its nature provide more choices within the box and therefore allow a margin of affordability due to the developer being able to offer studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units.
To eliminate commercial in the CB zone would in essence be a downzone.
This matter has been studied for more than 14 months and has come to the council twice and the Planning Commission twice. There has been opportunity for community input at both the Planning Commission and the council. City staff has expended hundreds of hours.
The expertise of the commissioners, who are both citizen advisers and professionals in the field of planning, as well as the years of experience of planning department staff, should not be ignored.
The recommendation meets two City Council goals: economic development and housing. The Housing Strategy Committee suggested that we must offer more choices to meet the changing demographics of our city.
Regular Shoreline Council agendas are action items. These items are in their third reading and the public has had ample opportunity to consider them. In this particular case, this is the sixth or seventh reading. All council members should come to the table prepared to vote. How each individual votes is their decision, but delay is a discourtesy to the Planning Commission, the staff and to other council members, as well as the citizens who elected you. We expect that there will be 4-3 votes; 5-2; 6-1; and sometimes even a unanimous vote. What is expected is that a motion is placed on the table and that the question is called for in order to accomplish the business of the city.
Our patience is running thin!
La Nita Jordan Wacker
Shoreline
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