Councilman Richard Conlin

Regarding:  Dean Falls Meeting

Hello Councilman, my name is Scott Mills and I would like to thank you for
taking the time and moderating the zoning meeting concerning Dean Falls'
property.  Above this I would like to thank you for taking a personal
interest in our neighborhood.

After speaking with the homeowners on my block (100 block of 22nd Ave E.) the
overwhelming response was against granting zoning of NC3-65 for the back two
parcels.  We understand some zoning will occur, and we agreed a zoning change
to NC3-40 is acceptable zoning allowing the buildings a better transition
into our neighborhood.  Or leave the property zoning at L-3.

May I suggest the NC3-85 zoning of any properties on East Madison Street is
the problem?  Dean Falls used adjacent NC3-85 properties as a major point for
his zoning change position.  As mentioned by Darlene Flynn, Councilman Jim
Street put NC3-85 zoning in place 15 years ago as an economic incentive for
development which never happened.  I spoke with Darlene after one of our
community meetings, and asked her why the neighborhood plan had a rezone of
the NC3-85 properties to NC3-65 stricken from the record.  Her response was,
no one showed up at the meeting to voice an opinion to down zone the
properties.  I do not understand why no one on my block knew this meeting was
taking place.  I live on a block full of people who would like to see NC3-85
disappear from our area-zoning map.

In closing, forcing this zoning on us would impact our neighborhood in an
obtrusive manner.
 

Thank you for your time and your efforts,
Scott K. Mills
118 22nd Ave E. #B
Seattle, WA 98112
(206) 323-0389

Thank you for this message.  I appreciate your commitment and concern for
this neighborhood.  I do not believe that the 85 foot height is appropriate
for any of the developments in this area, and probably should not have been
instituted for the properties covered by it.  Downzoning is a lengthy
process, and the information I have indicates that market forces will likely
make an 85 foot development infeasible in any event.

I am therefore not going to propose downzoning of the existing area, but
neither will I support upzoning the Falls property to 85 feet.  I am
considering what other options to suggest, and I am leaning towards some
increase in the permitted zoning on the back half block.  When a proposal is
developed and ready for discussion, there will be a formal public hearing in
the neighborhood at which time all interested parties will have the
opportunity to comment on the proposal.

Richard Conlin
Councilmember
600 Fourth Avenue, 11th Floor
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 684-8805