Westlake Avenue North Corridor Parking Management Plan

Community Involvement June to November 2006

Background
Since May 2005, SDOT has been studying parking conditions in the parking spaces adjacent to Westlake Avenue North from Valley Street to the Aurora Bridge . These spaces serve a variety of users: residents, employees, business owners, recreation users, and commuters. Based upon the results of the 2005 Westlake Avenue North Parking Study and citizen comments, the City developed a draft Parking Management Plan. The objectives of the DRAFT plan were to:

• Maintain access to parking for all users in a way that meets the City's economic and transportation goals
• Balance a variety of user needs
• Strive for simplicity
• Provide parking and transportation options

View the Westlake Avenue North Parking Study

Two community open houses were held on June 6, 2006 to present the draft plan, answer community questions, and request comments on the plan. Comments were accepted until July 7, 2006 . A complete report of all comments and questions from the Open Houses and the comment period is available in the Draft Westlake Avenue North Parking Management Plan Comment Report. At the two June Open Houses, SDOT committed to revisit the development of the plan recommendations with more structured community participation. The next steps were described by the Department's Director, Grace Crunican, in a July 24, 2006 letter to the community.

To achieve more effective participation and communication with the community, SDOT enlisted the involvement of a consultant facilitator experienced in community outreach. The facilitator was asked to interview members of the Westlake community who were identified as having been active in the June community feedback process. The input from the interviews was used to develop a proposal for an effective method to involve the community in making recommendations to revise the proposed Parking Management Plan.

On October 5, 2006 the facilitator and representatives from SDOT met with the community interviewees. The purpose of the meeting was to seek advice about the community involvement process for development of recommendations for a Westlake Avenue North Parking Management Plan. With the results of that meeting, the facilitator and SDOT representatives produced a final proposed outreach process.

Stakeholder Meetings Held in November 2006

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) hosted three stakeholder meetings in November to involve the community in the first steps in developing a parking management plan for Westlake Avenue North from Valley Street to the Aurora Bridge. The meetings were organized around a range of various interests and stakeholders. At the- three meetings, we identified parking characteristics, problems and potential solutions that will help guide the work of a Parking Workgroup that will meet over the course of the next several months to come up with recommendations for a final parking plan.

Community Residents and Liveaboards
Monday, November 6, from 6:15 pm to 7:45 pm
Cascade People’s Center, 309 Pontius Avenue North
Summary Notes from 11/06 meeting

Marina Owners/Operators and Users
Monday, November 13, from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Lake Union Courtyard Marriott, 925 Westlake Avenue North
Summary Notes from 11/13 meeting

Property Owners/Business Managers, Employees and Customers
Monday, November 20, from 5:15 pm to 6:45 pm
Lake Union Courtyard Marriott, 925 Westlake Avenue North
Summary Notes from 11/20 meeting

Contact Information

If you have questions or would like additional information about the process, please contact Sue Partridge at sue.partridge@seattle.gov or 206.233.3718.