Now is the time to express your opinions on the future of West Seattle’s Triangle as Seattle’s Department of Planning and Development heads into its final month of public comment, ending on August 1.

In the words of DPD, the area of land under the microscope is “an unassuming triangle of land that is located in the heart of the West Seattle peninsula. Bounded and bisected by three major arterials—Fauntleroy Way S.W., 35th Avenue S.W. and S.W. Alaska Street—the Triangle serves as a major gateway to West Seattle. It is located east of the Junction, West Seattle’s central retail district, and is home to numerous locally-owned businesses and the West Seattle YMCA. It is adjacent to a large open space and golf course. The Triangle is the location of numerous bus routes, and will soon be home to West Seattle’s first Bus Rapid Ride network.”

Please see the file "West Seattle Triangle Map" above for a visual representation of the area.

The open house held at the West Seattle Senior Center on June 29 was the latest opportunity for citizens to drop in and peruse a room lined with poster boards explaining DPD’s plan for street design and rezoning. DPD’s Susan McLain and Robert Scully were on hand to answer questions and post-it notes were readily available for any comments people wanted to jot down and paste to a board.

For an all-inclusive look at the plan, visit the DPD website here or download the PDF entitled "West Seattle Triangle Plan" above.

In broad strokes, the urban design framework being developed for the Triangle is all about making the streets and sidewalks more pedestrian and bicycle friendly while encouraging inviting storefronts and mixed-use commercial/residential developments to build. Another prominent goal is creating a “strong physical/pedestrian connection between the Junction retail core and the Triangle.”

A major component to the rezoning proposal is changing from C1 (commercial) to NC3 (neighborhood commercial). The change would mean no more blank warehouse-type walls facing the streets, windows and doors near sidewalks, discouraging off-street parking (think Target on S.W. Barton) in front of buildings and encouraging parking below, besides or behind establishments (think Swedish Automotive on 35th Ave S.W.) and finally, limiting “drive-in businesses” like McDonalds.

The plan also suggests increasing the allowable height of building to 85 feet. According to DPD, increasing the allowed height provides “flexibility … for a slightly more vertical form of development that will encourage structures to open up space at the ground level.”

Plans for the streets include planting trees along the sides and in a median, removing on-street parking on certain sections and widening sidewalks.

When the Huling auto dealership closed up shop in 2007 the Triangle opened up to new possibilities. To have your say in the new direction, contact the DPD and speak your mind.

After the public comment period ends on August 1 there will be City Council hearings and meetings about the Triangle throughout 2011.