Community Club's Proposed Alternatives

Excerpted and condensed from the Community Club Newsletter...

Community Club's Position
The Community Club is appreciative of Children’s mission and all of the wonderful work it has done over the years in serving families in the area. That is not in question here. What is in question is whether the scope of this proposal is appropriate at this particular location, and whether other alternatives should be explored as well as or instead of the ones provided by Children’s. The intensity and building heights Children’s has proposed are grossly incompatible with the low density, low heights and residential character of the Laurelhurst neighborhood. They are contrary with City policies and inconsistent with other major institutions. The highest heights approved by the City for major institutions in locations similar to Laurelhurst is 105 feet—less than half the 240 feet proposed by Children’s. The only institutions allowed a 240 foot height limit are in the First Hill Urban Center Village—an area targeted for increased growth with high-rise and commercial zoning.

Community Club's Proposed Alternatives
The Laurelhurst Community Club has submitted detailed comments to the Department of Planning and Development prepared by an independent and well-respected land use consultant, Carol Eychaner. These comments can be read on the LCC website. In its comment letter, the LCC requests that the hospital’s alternatives be tabled and offers three new alternatives based on less square footage and more reasonable building heights

One alternative would retain existing building heights as Children’s has not developed fully under the current height limits. The other two would limit building heights to 90 feet. Square footage expansion would be limited to 250,000 square feet, but exploring greater square footage within the height limits would be allowed. There would be no expansion of institution boundaries across Sand Point Way and no new access points to the hospital on Laurelhurst residential streets.

The Seattle Community Council Federation; a coalition of community groups throughout Seattle; and the Ravenna-Bryant Community Association have endorsed the Laurelhurst alternatives. In addition, the Northeast District Council, representing 20 community and business groups in northeast Seattle opposes the two alternatives Children’s has proposed for expansion and has asked that the environmental impact statement study alternatives with far less square footage expansion and height limits. The Laurelhurst PTA also recently voted to write a letter opposing Children’s alternatives for expansion.

Two Ways to Get Involved:

1. Submit Scoping Comments: The deadline to submit comments is 10 a.m., September 17. Send comments to: Scott Ringgold, Land Use Planner, Department of Planning and Development, 700 5^th Avenue, Suite 2000, P.O. Box 34019, Seattle, Washington 98124-4019, Email: scott.ringgold@seattle.gov, Fax: 206-233-7902
2. Attend the September 26^th Children’s Advisory Committee Meeting: The meeting is from 6-8 p.m. at Children’s, 4800 Sand Point Way, in Room W3747A of the Whale Building. There will be an opportunity for public comment at the meeting. The committee will provide its recommendations regarding alternatives to include in the EIS. They need to hear from you.

Contact Steve Sheppard from the Department of Neighborhoods at 206-684-0302 or steve.sheppard@seattle.gov to be added to the list to receive notices of upcoming meetings and Children’s updates.