If the proposed urban village on Samish Way needs a logo, I’ve got an idea for one — a smiley face.
A public workshop Thursday on ideas for the urban village was marked by something I’ve rarely seen at such gatherings — bountiful goodwill.
“There is energy and there is motivation,” remarked Kathy Bell, a city planner, as the twohour session came to a close.
There are several reasons for the happy feelings. Foremost among them is that neighborhood residents, not city officials, provided the impetus for the idea.
Beyond that, the auto-oriented commercial strip from Byron Avenue to Edwards Street is mostly an underdeveloped, paved-over stretch with little appeal.
People who live close by are intrigued by the idea of turning the area into a high-density mix of shops, offices and housing that, if done right, should be safer for residents, bicyclists and pedestrians.
For several years, students at Western Washington University have used Samish Way as a guinea pig site for assignments in urban design. That’s what got Sehome neighborhood residents going.
When a neighborhood survey four years ago indicated community support for the notion, a proposal for an urban village was wrapped into Sehome’s update of its neighborhood plan.
That’s what got Bellingham officials going. The latest result is the series of four public workshops that began Thursday with support from city planners.
More than 40 people showed up to list features that make Samish Way a good candidate for an urban village, and features that might get in the way. Among the positives:
Location — There’s easy access to the freeway, Western, downtown and neighborhoods.
Room to grow — Samish has large, deep lots, so there’s room for developers to be creative with their projects.
Public support — Some local business people in the area are open to the idea, too.
Public works — Samish Way has good streets and utilities, and would be a no-brainer route for frequent bus service. Among the negatives:
Car-crazy — True to its auto heritage, Samish Way is a wide street with speedy traffic that does nothing to endear itself to walkers and bikers.
Crime — Reports of drug use, prostitution and other crimes give the area a bad reputation.
Aesthetics — There are no parks and no coherent design to the area. Several people called it “ugly.”
If matters stay on schedule, the city will unveil its urban village plan, and related development rules, for public review next spring, with hearings by the Planning Commission and City Council in the summer and fall of 2009.
That’s a long time for everyone to keep smiling, but they’re off to a good start.