Background

In 1998 the majority at a community meeting agreed that the Heart of Shoreline centered around Aurora Avenue and N. 175th Street.  Since incorporation the City has envisioned this area as a Civic Center.  The City of Shoreline now wants to use that community vision to start developing a Town Center Subarea Plan.

The Town Center Subarea Plan is the City’s effort to create a distinctive and cohesive center to Shoreline that generates activity around public facilities and services and sparks commercial and residential redevelopment that is appropriate to the City’s needs.   The core of the study area for Town Center is generally between North 175th and North 185th Streets and between Linden and Stone Avenues, with Aurora Avenue in the middle. 

There is a lot already going on this area.  We have three large public projects that are locating near each other - the Aurora Avenue Project, the Civic Center, and the Interurban Trial/Park.  City-wide we are developing strategies for housing, environmental sustainability, and design standards adjacent to single family neighborhoods.  As these projects continue we are receiving more inquiries for the redevelopment of private property.  All of these could help create a dynamic center to Shoreline.

A community meeting was held January 30, 2008 to hear ideas for the Town Center.  Future public meetings will be announced probably sometime in fall 2008.

Framework Policies
passed by the City Council on October 22, 2007

The following policies establish the framework for development of the land use, capital facility and programmatic aspects of the Town Center Subarea Plan.

• FW-1  Articulate a community vision for the town center as an early step in the development of detailed provisions for the subarea.
• FW-2 Establish a study area boundary (Figure 1) to provide context for evaluating the   opportunities and potential impacts from future development of commercial and mixed uses along Aurora Avenue N. 
• FW-3  Engage Shoreline residents and businesses in detailed design processes for a ) a park site on both sides of the Interurban Trail and b) Midvale Ave N.
• FW-4  Design roadway, transit and pedestrian facilities consistent with the City’s preferred "Flexible alternative" for Aurora Avenue between N. 165th Street and N. 165th Street.

• FW-5  Prepare a program of civic directional or 'way finding' signage and evaluate refinements to city sign regulations to reflect the emerging function and visual character of Aurora Avenue.

Strategic Points
passed by the City Council on June 4, 2007

The following Strategic Points are a contextual framework of principles and strategies that are to be kept in mind as the City Council makes specific decisions about the four capital projects.

1. In the design and furnishing of the four Town Center Projects, seek ways to create a place with civic identity and provide community gathering spaces for weekend and evening activities.
2. Identify and incorporate low impact development and sustainability, including the highest feasible Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) principles and features.
3. Identify and incorporate appropriate historic features and interpretation opportunities, including, but not limited to, the remaining sections of Ronald Place, within the context of other parts of the Town Center design.
4. Identify and incorporate architectural patterns, materials, and lighting that create human scale and visual interest, while also reflecting the City’s residential character and heritage. 
5. Provide visual and functional linkage between bus rapid transit stops on Aurora and other Town Center Projects.
6. Explore with the citizens of Shoreline, the Shoreline Historical Museum, and Seattle City Light the concept of a “heritage park” or other community focal point, subject to naming through a public process that balances City and community goals with SCL needs.
7. Consider design treatments to tie together, visually and functionally, the public spaces of the City Hall with a park, or other community focal point, Shoreline Museum, Shorewood High School, and east-west connections.
8. Create a walkable Central Shoreline area, with an emphasis on safety, convenience, and connectivity within and to the surrounding community.
9. Incorporate a coordinated parking management and traffic plan.
10. Consider providing meeting space for community/non-profit organizations in the Civic Center.
11. Minimize construction and long-range traffic impacts on the adjacent neighborhoods and businesses.
12. Develop a strategic design for Midvale from N. 175th to N. 185th including: pedestrian access to the Civic Center without crossing driveway or parking lots, pedestrian linkages between the Civic Center and the Interurban Trail, and pedestrian facilities with landscaping and other amenities.