Dear Shoreline City Council Members,

We, the undersigned residents of 11th Ave NW in Shoreline (98177), are writing to express our strong opposition to the proposed construction of multi-unit housing on our street.

While we understand that the zoning for this area was recently changed to allow higher-density development, we believe this decision does not reflect the character, infrastructure limitations, or long-term interests of our neighborhood. 11th Ave NW has historically been a quiet, single-family residential street, and the proposed multi-unit housing project would significantly disrupt the fabric of our community.

Our concerns include:

Traffic and Safety: 11th Ave NW is a narrow, dead-end street with limited access, restricted sight areas, and no through traffic. Increasing density here would bring more vehicles, congestion, and parking strain to a street not designed for such volume. This raises serious safety concerns for drivers, pedestrians, and especially children.

Parking Pressure: Under the new zoning rules, developers are not required to provide on-site parking. The proposed lot could accommodate up to 23 units, and if each unit brings even one or two vehicles, that could mean 30–40 additional cars competing for space on a street with limited capacity. When cars are parked on both sides of the street—as they would need to be to accommodate overflow from a multi-unit development—only a single vehicle can pass at a time, creating bottlenecks and safety hazards.

Conflict with Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Efforts: Our neighborhood has met multiple times with a Shoreline traffic engineer to address longstanding safety concerns on 11th Ave NW and 190th Street. These discussions focused on reducing car traffic and improving pedestrian conditions, especially given the lack of sidewalks on 190th. Residents of 11th Ave NW are—and will continue to be—car dependent, meaning any new units will inevitably add more vehicles to already strained streets. This increase in traffic will make conditions even less safe for pedestrians and directly undermine the mitigation strategies we’ve been working to implement.

Transit-Oriented Zoning Misalignment: The zoning change on our street was based on proximity to public transportation. However, our specific location is not conducive or practical for transit-oriented living. 100% of existing households rely on personal vehicles for daily transportation, and this will remain true for any additional units built—whether 6 or 23. The result will be more cars, more emissions, and a direct contradiction of the city’s stated goals for carbon reduction, as stated here.

Environmental Impact: The development may require tree removal and increased impermeable surfaces, affecting local drainage and wildlife habitats.

Loss of Neighborhood Identity: The shift toward multi-unit housing threatens the architectural cohesion and community feel that define 11th Ave NW. Residents chose this area specifically for its single-family character.

Precedent for Future Development: Approving this project could set a precedent for further high-density construction, accelerating the transformation of our neighborhood without adequate public input or infrastructure planning.

We understand that multi-unit housing will be part of Shoreline’s future, and we are committed to engaging in thoughtful planning. However, this particular street is not conducive or practical for this type of development. Should the project move forward, our neighborhood plans to oppose it vigorously and advocate for reducing the number of units to the absolute minimum—consistent with safety, infrastructure, and community character.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely, Concerned Residents of 11th Ave NW Shoreline, WA 98177