In response to ongoing development, the community’s desire to retain Ballard’s character, and Sound Transit’s planning for light rail to Ballard, Seattle Department of Planning and Development (DPD), Department of Transportation (SDOT), and neighborhood groups and non-profits, organized as the Ballard Partnership for Smart Growth, have been working to develop an Urban Design Framework (UDF). The UDF is a collaborative vision of urban design, land use, transportation and other strategies that will guide future development while ensuring Ballard’s people and places thrive.

At a public meeting last spring, we heard that the community loves Ballard’s historic qualities and its tradition of industry. Many appreciate the growth of shops and restaurants in a beautiful, walkable neighborhood. However, they are also concerned that a number of recent high-density projects being built in the area do not contribute to Ballard’s character. There are also worries about affordability and that transportation improvements have not kept pace with growth. Since our last meeting, we have been working with the Ballard Partnership to define responses to the community input on the character of growth in Ballard’s core business areas.

The City and Ballard Partnership for Smart Growth are holding an open house on November 6 from 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM to present and receive comments on the initial strategies to better guide development, addressing the bulk and character of new projects, streetscape design, and public/private open space. The responses we receive from the community will help shape the final proposals. We will also be offering an on-line survey option on the project website for those who are unable to attend the meeting. We want to hear all of Ballard’s ideas about the future.
This meeting will focus on the character of development, streetscapes, and open space within Ballard’s core. Future meetings will focus on transportation. Here’s how you can provide feedback:
Attend the community meeting
November 6, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Ballard Branch Library
Light snacks will be provided.
Review the background information and send us your comments
Sign up on the project website to participate in the online survey, and to receive project updates

The Ballard Partnership for Smart Growth is tackling many topics, and this past year received an $85,000 grant from the City’s Only in Seattle program. They identified the following areas that the City is addressing through the year-long UDF project.

Ø Character of Development: Ballard is booming. What should the mix and character of development be as the Ballard core grows?

Ø Improve Connections: Metro introduced Rapid Ride and in mid-2014 Sound Transit completed their Ballard to Downtown Seattle Transit Expansion Study Final Report. What types of transportation connections are needed to support growth, and what are the opportunities and challenges presented by the potential high capacity transit stations?

Ø Expand Economic Opportunity: The local business community, neighborhood groups, and non-profits have mobilized to form the Ballard Partnership for Smart Growth with the mission to encourage investment and identify strategies to augment Ballard’s commercial core. How can the City grow and diversify to expand economic opportunity?

Ø Sustain Health: The primary goal of this collaboration is to foster an environment that supports the health and access to opportunity for a diverse community. What specific actions should we take to increase access to resources such as affordable housing, employment, and safe public spaces.

Questions? Comments?
David Goldberg, Planner
(206) 615-1447
Davidw.goldberg@seattle.gov
Aditi Kambuj, Planner
(206)615-7911
aditi.kambuj@seattle.gov