Last fall, when longtime Rainier Valley neighbor and business owner Christie Coxley was elected as the Southeast District’s Neighborhood Planning Advisory Committee (NPAC) representative, she promised to work closely with the Rainier Valley Post to keep the community well-informed and involved in the process, and we knew she wouldn’t disappoint.
Yesterday, Christie delivered her first NPAC update:
Our first two meetings were focused on forming our charter and operational procedures. In our work this past month, we attended a training on The Regulatory and Legal Context of Neighborhood Planning, Neighborhood Planning in Seattle, Summary of Lessons Learned from Previous Neighborhood Planning, Seattle’s Race and Social Justice Initiative, and information from Seattle Department of Transportation relevant to neighborhood planning.
We also discussed the format of the neighborhood planning status report meetings and information that will be presented at those meetings. There is a Community Outreach Subcommittee. Their draft recommendations will be discussed in detail at our next meeting.
Our meetings are set for the third Tuesday of every month and the next meeting will be held on March 17, from 6:30–8:30 pm at Bertha Landes Rm, City Hall.
The agenda will include discussion of community involvement strategies, reaching under-represented communities and involving new people in the status report workshops. We will also discus the scope of neighborhood plan updates that will be occurring in 2008-2011.
The Neighborhood Planning Advisory Committee (NPAC) is a committee formed entirely of Seattle residents who will provide advice to the Department of Neighborhoods (DON) and the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) on conducting the Neighborhood Plan updates. The 24 committee members include one representative from each of the 13 Neighborhood District Councils, the Chair of the Neighborhood District Council’s Planning Committee, two members of the Seattle Planning Commission and eight at-large appointees (four by the mayor and four by the Council).
The NPAC will make recommendations and provide on-going guidance to the Mayor and City Council on the development of the Neighborhood Plan Status Reports and the Neighborhood Plan Update Process.
When asked why she wanted to join the NPAC, Christie emphasized the need for attention to detail and design in the mad rush to develop the South End.
“The market is pushing development into the Rainier Valley for the first time in a long while,” she said. “The aesthetics and appropriateness of scale, open space and exterior built environment of new projects will be critical to maintaining the character and livability of our community.”
Seeing as how Christie currently holds a position on the Southwest Design Board, helped guide Southeast District Council (SEDC) members through a difficult and contentious urban renewal discussion in 2006 and 2007 and has attended all sorts of seminars and discussion groups on neighborhood planning, she’s probably one of the best people to help make that happen.
That said, she also emphasized the importance of community involvement, encouraging neighbors to email her with questions or concerns.
“I would like to hear about your thoughts on these issues so that I am truly representing Southeast,” she said in an email to community members yesterday. “I would also welcome any ideas/suggestions on how to keep the residents of SE informed as the planning process moves forward. Please feel free to e-mail or set up a time to meet with me in person.”
She also invited everyone to attend the upcoming neighborhood plan update meetings designed to help neighbors get involved and learn more about the process that will shape the future of their community:
- Sat., Mar. 14: MLK@Holly Neighborhood; Miracle Temple of God (7100 42nd Avenue South); 9 am–2 pm
- Sat., Mar. 21: North Rainier Neighborhood; Franklin High School (3013 South Mount Baker Blvd); 9 am–2 pm
- Sat., Mar. 28: North Beacon Hill Neighborhood; El Centro de la Raza (2524 16th Avenue South); 9 am–2 pm
Find the NPAC Facebook Group here.
Find agendas and materials from NPAC meeting sessions here.
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