Instead of pontificating about land use, here’s an actual current case:

Is industrial the right zoning for the 5 large blocks in the Fremont Urban Village lying west of Evanston, east of 3rd Ave NW and between the Ship Canal and N 36th Street?

While other close-in Seattle neighborhoods like Ballard have enjoyed a revival in recent years, this particular section of Fremont has been suppressed by outdated industrial zoning.

Although it’s been zoned industrial for decades, the number and sizes of actual industrial users has declined steadily and sharply, until now there are less than 2 or 3 small “industrial” companies remaining. Outfits of a bygone era like the lumber mill, coal yard, dog food factory, trolley switch yard, chrome plating and paint brush plant have all disappeared or moved to places better suited to industrial businesses – like those with access to shipping by rail or water-borne freight. Instead, this area supports many single family and multi-family residences in the zone. It’s bordered on the south by the canal, a beautiful city park and the Burke-Gilman Trail; and is bordered on its other sides by commercial and residential uses; and yet it retains obsolete industrial zoning.

The City has conducted a series of meetings to discuss changing the zoning to either:

“Neighborhood Commercial” (potentially allowing for a diversity of mixed-use commercial/residential like the Epi/QFC, but not heavy industrial)

OR

“Industrial Commercial” (potentially allowing for larger non-industrial uses such as the garbage dump, bigger offices and “big-box retail” such as Wal-Mart Discount, but not housing).

The zoning that would obviously allow the most flexibility for the long-range future needs of the property owners, the potential tenants and especially the community of Fremont would be the Neighborhood Commercial zones (not Industrial). This would allow for a sustainable mix of residential and commercial uses that would much better support the viability and vibrancy of the neighborhood and potential improvements in public transportation.

Here is what the Seattle Comprehensive Plans says: “LU147.2 – Industrial zones are generally not appropriate within urban centers or urban villages, since these are places where the City encourages concentrations of residential uses. However, in locations where a center or village abuts a manufacturing/industrial center, the IC (“Industrial-Commercial”) zone within the center or village may provide an appropriate transition to help separate residential uses from heavier industrial activities. “

If you’re interested in doing something about land use instead just talking about it, the city will be hosting a meeting regarding this on November 18th at the Fremont Public Library (4:00-6:00pm).

See also http://www.seattle.gov/DPD/Planning/FremontUrbanVillageRezone/Overview/