Family-friendly, FREE, and full of surprises, the Sustainable Ballard Festival is celebrating its 10th year in a big way! Test ride an electric bike, sample Ballard craft brews and delicious bites, win prizes, catch some live music on our solar-powered mainstage, press fresh cider, win prizes for “Name That Tool!” and even meet goats, chickens, rabbits, and ducks.  At 1:00 pm, join the Mayor at the mainstage in wishing Sustainable Ballard “Happy Birthday!” with a flourish.  The “Best Fest Ever” features some all-time favorite exhibits, plus more new activities, workshops, and hands-on games than ever before. With more than 75 exhibits, from solar and wind turbine demos to the Citizen Activation Station, the Sustainable Ballard Festival is a fantastically fun opportunity to learn together, get inspired, and discover new ways to live more lightly on the earth.

Also come say hi to East Ballard Community Association folks at the Groundswell NW booth! For more details about the 10th Annual Sustainable Ballard Festival, check out their website.

We’re so excited to see the Ballard Greenway open and so many people who came out to support it at the grand opening last Saturday.

For more information about the Ballard Neighborhood Greenway project, click here.

DESIGN REVIEW MEETING FOR 1426 NW 62ND

Date:           Monday, August 26, 2013
Time:             6:30 p.m.
Location:      Ballard High School Library,  1418 NW 65th St

This coming Monday, the City will be holding a Design Review Meeting at the Ballard High School for a high-density housing solution that is new to our neighborhood, yet exists aleady in other dense neighborhoods in Seattle and around the world. This housing solution is commonly referred to as “apodments” and, in this case, the structure planned for the site in East Ballard at 1426 NW 62nd, would be a 4-story structure with 27 units.

The City has invited the community to attend this Design Review Meeting and if you do decide to attend or provide comment, the EBCA wants to make sure you have all of the facts and understand the topics that are currently under discussion in other communities.

The following is a link from TheStranger to a very in-depth look at “apodments” that explores the pros and cons that are under discussion. It’s an excellent read that gets you up to speed: http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/the-fight-against-small-apartments/Content?oid=16701155

Seattle Magazine also printed a very informative article last year here:  http://www.seattlemag.com/article/are-apodments-ruining-seattle-neighborhoods

The following are detailed links and project description information related to the proposed building in East Ballard:

Land Use Bulletin information: http://web1.seattle.gov/dpd/luib/Notice.aspx?BID=838&NID=15727
Permit status: http://web1.seattle.gov/DPD/permitstatus/Project.aspx?id=3015381&t=4
Property Owner’s Website: http://www.greenbuilddevelopmentllc.com/index.html

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The proposal is for a 4-story structure with 27 residential units. Existing single family structure to be demolished.

OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMENT

The Director will accept written comments to assist in the preparation of the early design guidance through August 26, 2013. You are invited to offer comments regarding important site planning and design issues, which you believe, should be addressed in the design for this project.

Comments and requests to be made party of record should be submitted toPRC@seattle.gov or

City of Seattle – DPD – PRC
700 5^th Avenue, Suite 2000
PO Box 34019
Seattle, WA  98124-4019

http://web1.seattle.gov/dpd/luib/Notice.aspx?BID=838&NID=15727

Thanks to all who came out for such a fun time on August Night Out. We had tons of food to share, happy faces painted, lots of great live music, farm animals to play with, live art demonstrations to watch, games to play, local programs to get involved in and pirates to mingle with. A lot of planning and preparation went into this event and so we thank our dedicated volunteer crew who made this event so successful.

photo credit to http://www.burkegilmantrail.org/

On Thursday, August 8, the Seattle Department of Transportation will host an open house for the Burke Gilman Trail Extension (Missing Link) Project to take comments on the scope and alternatives to be considered in the proposed Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the project. Stations at the meeting will include the EIS Scoping process and timeline, existing area zoning, and aerial maps for the public to note how they suggest connecting the Burke-Gilman Trail through Ballard. The meeting will be:

When:   Thursday, August 8, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Where:  Ballard High School Commons
                1418 NW 65th Street, Seattle, 98117

The Missing Link Project would complete the regional trail system running through Seattle, to Issaquah via the Sammamish River Trail and the East Lake Sammamish Trail. Completing the project is the city’s top-rated trail priority as identified by the Bicycle Master Plan.

The August 8th meeting continues outreach efforts for the July 17 – August 16, 2013 public comment period. If you are unable to attend the August 8th meeting, you may also send comments to:

Peter Hahn, Director
Seattle Department of Transportation
c/o Mark Mazzola, Environmental Manager
700 5th Avenue, Suite 3900
Seattle, WA 98104
Mark.mazzola@seattle.gov

For more information on the Environmental Scoping Process, click here to view the Environmental Scoping Notice.

The Cascade Bicycle Club also has a web form for providing online comment here.

Everything’s set for tomorrow’s August Night Out, Tuesday Aug 6, 6-10pm on the east side of 14th Ave NW between NW 59th and NW 61st. Bring a potluck item to share, we’ll have a grill set up and other food as well. There will be live music, goats and chickens, lots of games for all ages and face painting for the kids, art with fire demonstrations and so much more!

Don’t forget to bring a donation item for Sustainable Ballard’s program to welcome the Nyer Urness House to Ballard as well.

And bring a dark t-shirt, tote bag or whatever suits your fancy and make your screen print of the EBCA logo.