Thanks to everyone in Shoreline and beyond for signing the petition so far. If you have the time, please take advantage of this next opportunity to submit your comments online or in person directly to the City Planning Commission to voice your concerns about the *excessive* 185th St Station plans: http://www.shorelineareanews.com/2014/10/shoreline-planning-commission-to-work.html The City of Shoreline Station Planning Page was updated recently so please review the information and form your own opinion. http://www.cityofshoreline.com/government/departments/planning-community-development/planning-projects/light-rail-station-area-planning/185th-street-station-subarea-planning My concerns are many... -The proposed Phasing is still way too expanse of an area. -The proposed MUR-35, MUR-45, & MUR-85 zoning are still way too drastic of a change. -Out of control growth (at the whims of “market forces and individual homeowner decisions.) -Increased property taxes. -Apartment/house rental fees becoming unnaffordable. -The impact of higher density and traffic on critical areas. -It’s bad enough that some people will be forced to sell their homes to Sound Transit for the construction of the light rail line, station, and parking facility, but haphazardly laying the groundwork for redevelopment on top of that? No one I’ve spoken wants to live in a noisy construction zone for housing redevelopement for the next few decades, in addition to the light rail construction noise. -The hypocrisy in focusing so much time, energy, and re$ources into setting the stage for drastic change for the 185th/145th areas when the Aurora corridor is in shambles. I walk and bike all over these neighborhoods and it’s amazing what you see, notice, and observe when you go places sans car… worsening crime… car theft and cars being broken into at the Aurora transit center and the other park ‘n rides, all sorts of shady goings on along the interurban trail and trails behind ballinger commons, every couple of weeks I come across various sordid paraphernalia discarded along the trails, streets, and sidewalks. By the way, this is a walkable/bikeable community as it currently exists. -If expedited development is to be encouraged and incentives are to be offered, where does that leave the City Tree Code? I fully expect there to be exception upon exception made for destruction of the 100+ year old trees in these areas. Expedited and incentivized development will win out and it will destroy the tree cover in this area and displace the wildlife that it supports. Making up for the loss of trees with replants of small, scrawny ones in a planter surrounded by concrete isn’t quite the same. -I have some very grave concerns about some or all of 185th/145th areas being designated as ‘Community Renewal Areas’ at some point in the future. An “amenity” of some chain restaurant down the street, a coffee shop, and an occasional light rail ride doesn’t make up for the layers upon layers of colossal disruption that these neighborhoods are about to be put through at the whims of “market forces and individual homeowner decisions”.