If the city gets its way, the land currently housing the Greenwood Fred Meyer and Greenwood Market will one day be home to taller and denser buildings and a more pedestrian-friendly experience.

The Seattle Department of Planning and Development released its recommendations for the Greenwood Town Center Rezone Nov. 2. The department is recommending changing the parcel of land bordered by Northwest 85th Street, Third Avenue Northwest, Northwest 87th Street and Palatine Avenue North from Commercial with a 40-foot height limit to Neighborhood Commercial with a 65-foot height limit.

The rezone of that parcel, referred to as Subarea 1, would create an opportunity for higher-density, mixed-use developments, such as townhouses, condos and affordable apartments, according to the department's recommendation.

In an email to the community, Greenwood Community Council President Trevor Stanley said the change in zoning will discourage auto-oriented development while encouraging pedestrian-oriented development.

According to the Department of Planning and Development, a number of themes emerged regarding the rezone of Subarea 1 during a June 29 public open house and a subsequent online survey.

Residents want to make the area pedestrian friendly, including an increase in public amenities and open space. But, they are concerned about a lack of parking and the potential for increased traffic.

While recommending Subarea 1 of the Greenwood Town Center for rezone, the Department of Planning and Development is recommending leaving Subarea 2 and Subarea 3 as they are for now but continuing discussions about changes in the future.

Subarea 2 is the west side of Third Avenue from Northwest 86th Street to 87th Street and the north side of 87th Street from Third Avenue to Greenwood Avenue North. The department is recommending leaving Subarea 2 as a Single Family Zone because of uncertainty about how the area's infrastructure and underlying peat bog would react to increased development.

According to input from the open house and online survey, residents were concerned about a change in neighborhood character if Subarea 2 was rezoned from single-family to multifamily. They also worried about devalued property or higher taxes.

Subarea 3 is the south side of 85th Street from Third Avenue to Palatine Avenue. It is currently zoned for Neighborhood Commercial with a 40-foot height limit. The Department of Planning and Development had looked at increasing that height limit to 65 feet.

According to the department, residents were concerned about creating a tunnel-like feeling on 85th Street and were uncertain about the level of demand for mixed-use space in that area. But, residents did express a desire to attract new businesses into what has become an abandoned stretch.

The department believes it is worthwhile to pursue height increases in Subarea 3 in the future in order to increase development on traditionally difficult sites.

Andrea Petzel, senior urban planner for the Department of Planning and Development, said the next step is to prepare a full rezone analysis and State Environmental Protection Act checklist. After that, there will be a comment and appeal process, Seattle City Council briefings and a City Council hearing.

"There is plenty of process left," Petzel said. "So, rest assured there will be time for public comments, and there will be a public hearing."

The Greenwood Community Council will include a discussion of the Greenwood Town Center Rezone during its next meeting at 7 p.m. Nov. 16 at the Greenwood Library, located at 8016 Greenwood Ave. N.

For more information on the rezone, visit the Greenwood Town Center Rezone website or download the Department of Planning and Development's recommendation with the link at the top of this article.