West Seattle Triangle
Overview    

Executive and City Council Actions for the West Seattle Triangle

In December 2011, the Seattle City Council and Mayor approved legislation implementing new land use standards and maximum building heights for the West Seattle Triangle neighborhood area. DPD planners have been working with members of the community since spring 2010 to ensure that new development in the area is transit- and pedestrian-friendly. Seattle DPD also released a draft-final West Seattle Streetscape Concept Plan that identifies future design of streets in the planning area to accommodate all modes of travel.

  • West Seattle Triangle Urban Design Framework report (draft).  The report identifies directions for future development in the West Seattle Triangle planning area, including the West Seattle Triangle Streetscape Concept Plan that will be appended to the Seattle Right of Way Improvements Manual in early 2012.
  • Land Use Code and Zoning Amendments Report. This report explains the Executive’s land use and zoning proposal.  
  • Land Use Code and Zoning Amendments Ordinance.  On December 29, 2011, Mayor Mike McGinn signed legislation rezoning areas in the West Seattle Triangle and establishing design standards for new structures.
  • West Seattle Triangle Rezone Map. “Exhibit A” of the ordinance identifies final rezones for the West Seattle Triangle.  
  • Resolution.  The Mayor and Seattle City Council signed a resolution calling for additional study of parking issues in the West Seattle Triangle.


Every day, hundreds of people travel to and from West Seattle through an unassuming triangle of land that is located in the heart of the West Seattle peninsula.  Bounded and bisected by three major arterials—Fauntleroy Way SW, 35th Avenue SW and SW Alaska Street—the Triangle serves as a major gateway to West Seattle.  It is located east of the Junction, West Seattle’s central retail district, and is home to numerous locally-owned businesses and the West Seattle YMCA.  It is adjacent to a large open space and golf course.  The Triangle is the location of numerous bus routes, and will soon be home to West Seattle’s first Bus Rapid Ride network. 

The recent closure of a large auto sales business in the Triangle has left several large parcels vacant.  This has prompted members of the community to assess changing conditions in the Triangle and contemplate a vision for the future of the area.  Of particular interest to the community are improvements to public spaces, such as streetscapes and pedestrian amenities, in anticipation of new development that will bring additional services and housing to West Seattle.  Updating land use regulations can help to shape new development and ensure that it will enhance the community.  Two important objectives—public realm improvements and future development consistent with the West Seattle Junction Neighborhood Plan—are the focus of this effort. 
 

West Seattle Triangle Draft Study Area Map

Project Process Goals

  • Plan for a limited geographic area to support the neighborhood’s plan and inform future planning.
  • Engage the community in a process that involves key stakeholders and provides opportunities for broad community participation.
  • Create work products that 1) articulate a shared vision for the neighborhood; 2) provide design guidance, particularly for the public realm; and 3) update the regulatory environment.
  • Conclude the process in a timely manner in advance of the next development cycle.

Project Goals and Long-Term Impacts

  • Identify the preferred character of development, with an emphasis on public spaces and rights-of-way, to complement and strengthen the West Seattle Junction Hub Urban Village.
  • Support feasible residential & commercial development that aligns with neighborhood design and development objectives.
  • Establish strong physical/ pedestrian connections between the Junction retail core and the Triangle.
  • Accommodate various modes of travel:  pedestrians, auto, transit, Bus Rapid Ride, and bicycles.
  • Improve the appearance and function of street rights-of-way, including major arterials such as Fauntleroy Way SW.
  • Identify potential improvements to public spaces in and around the Triangle, and improve access to public parks in the area.
  • Identify future uses that complement nearby business areas, expand goods and services to the broader community, and serve the diversity of needs for a growing population.   
  • Integrate natural systems, particularly natural drainage systems that can help improve water quality within the Longfellow Creek/ Puget Sound watershed.

 

Last Updated:

January 3, 2012