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FEBRUARY 02, 2022
VOL. 103, NO. 5
Protecting a Magnolia view
Public can share their thoughts on next steps for Ursula Judkins park
FEATURED STORIES
FALLING AWAKE
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By Jessica Keller
QA&Mag News editor
Now that the Magnolia Community Council succeeded in its appeal to protect the view at Ursula Judkins Viewpoint Park, neighborhood leaders are trying to ensure the city and developer follow through. In May, the Magnolia Community Council appealed the Seattle Department of Construction & Inspection’s decision to permit a proposed development on the hillside below Ursula Judkins Viewpoint, above the Admiral’s House. OceanStar LLC’s development calls for construction of two, three-story singlefamily residences and more at 2500 W. Marina Place. MCC was concerned that OceanStar’s plans to plant serviceberry bushes as a sight barrier between the park and the development would destroy the view. The city’s assistant hearing examiner ruled in October SDCI should have considered impacts of the proposed vegetation on the view at Ursula Judkins Viewpoint. Next week, residents can share their thoughts on how the city and developer should do guarantee the view is maintained at a virtual public meeting next week. “The meeting is not whether you agree with the building. It’s all about implementing the hearing examiner’s decision,” retired attorney Ted Coulson, who acted on behalf of MCC early in the process, said last week. The meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. Tuesday. People can sign up to attend at https://bit.ly/ Mtg3028072. To comment, sign up at https:// bit.ly//Comment3028072. Coulson said he worries SDCI will not require OceanStar to submit a revised plan with specific and strict conditions that ensure the viewpoint is protected in the long term. In a letter he submitted to SDCI, he stated
DR. UNIVERSE
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T JUS
Photo by Jessica Keller Ursula Judkins Viewpoint has been at the center of a dispute between Magnolia leaders and a developer seeking to build two structures on the hill below. SDCI should impose conditions that are “clear” and define a “view protection zone” and include “specific, appropriate plants with height restrictions of 4 to 6 feet” that won’t grow to block the view, as well as call for a fence along the border that does not block the view or go onto park property. The letter also stated conditions should also provide for continual maintenance of the landscaping to ensure the park’s viewpoint is not blocked. In his letter, Coulson stated the conditions should also be enforceable in perpetuity and outline how those terms will be enforced.
As well, Coulson calls for SDCI require a covenant to be drafted and recorded in the King County Recorder’s Office real estate records that binds future property owners to follow those terms and conditions. Coulson said, as of last week, OceanStar had not yet submitted to SDCI maintenance plans for the viewpoint. The project file, including applications, environmental documentation and other information, is available at the SDCI Seattle Services Portal, cosaccela.seattle.gov, and at http:// web6.seattle.gov/dpd/edms/, by entering the project number: 3028072-LU.
QACC public safety tour to target graffiti Queen Anne Community organizations are hosting an antigraffiti walk-about to identify and report graffiti on Queen Anne hill this month. The walk-about will begin at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 12 in the parking lot of Evviva Pizza on the southwest corner of McGraw Street and Queen Anne Avenue North and break into smaller groups. People should sign up to participate at https://signup.com/go/ cbyLwHy. The event is being hosted by the Queen Anne Community Council Public Safety Committee, the Queen Anne Block Captains Network and Queen Anne Together business watch.
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Bob Kettle, QACC Public Safety Committee chair, said at the Public Safety Committee meeting last week that the walk is in response to an increase in graffiti incidents reported on Queen Anne recently. During the walk, people will not only see where this graffiti is, but participants will be encouraged to report the graffiti to the city so it is tagged for removal. “We really want to take advantage of the Find It, Fix It app to get rid of graffiti in Queen Anne,” Kettle said. He said, depending on how many people participate, the walk-about will include as much of the commercial block as pos-
sible, including Queen Anne Avenue North between McGraw and Galer streets; Galer Street between Queen Anne Avenue North and Sixth Avenue West; Sixth Avenue West between Galer and West McGraw streets; and West McGraw Street between Seventh Avenue West and Queen Anne Avenue North. In preparation for the walkabout people should go to https:// www.seattle.gov/customer-service-bureau/find-it-fix-it-mobileapp for links on downloading the app on their mobile phone. Kettle also recommended that people who cannot attend should report any instances of graffiti they encounter via the app.
He also reiterated how important it is for Queen Anne residents to report all crime to the Seattle Police Department, a sentiment echoed by SPD West Precinct Lt. Rob Brown at the Public Safety Committee meeting last week. Brown also stated residents should keep sharing other concerns, including graffiti and traffic hazards. “Just like reporting a crime, if we don’t hear about it, then we can’t respond to it,” he said, adding people may not always get the response they want, but if they don’t report it at all, they won’t get any response from the police department.
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