North Highline Unincorporated Area Council focuses on fire safety, Subarea Plan @ November meeting
From Thursday night’s North Highline Unincorporated Area Council:
WHITE CENTER FIRES/SAFETY: Guests were King County permitting-division director Jim Chan, fire/building marshal Chris Ricketts, Fire Chief Mike Marrs, and Sheriff’s Office community crime-prevention Deputy Bill Kennamer. Marrs noted that six “large-loss” fires happened in the area in a relatively short time, but no, that doesn’t mean a firebug is on the loose – only one of the six fires (the July 5th fire that started in the Lumber Yard) was a “criminal act of arson.” The others were the result of “reckless” acts but not criminal. The Locker Room fires were both believed to be “discarded smoking material … in the front planter box,” while the Atlas Electric building fires were believed to have been started by trespassers. NHUAC’s Liz Giba wondered, do any of the businesses involved or nearby have fire alarms? Reply: Not that anyone present was aware – “they’re (the buildings) pretty old.” Marrs recalled some deadly fires in other parts of the country – “older buildings quite often have a higher fatality rate,” though so far no lives have been lost here. Giba asked, “Is there any talk about making the buildings in White Center safer?” Ricketts noted that laws often change after a catastrophe somewhere; he noted White Center’s former Club Evo, which was under orders to upgrade and add sprinklers, but ran into a problem connecting to water supply. To her question, it was noted that “we can only hold people accountable to (upgrading to) the code when there’s a change to the structure.” These upgrade systems are “extremely expensive.” Maybe some lower-cost actions – like an alarm – would make a building safer, though not as safe as newer buildings.
Participants wondered about certain kinds of grants or government funding to pay for safety upgrades; not as available as you might hope, said Local Services director John Taylor, though he mentioned the “participatory budgeting” $3 million. He also said Road Services is looking at a potential redesign for 16th SW, and another longer-term effort to look at “building back” in the WC core. Meantime, Marrs said a fire-safety mailer is going out to downtown businesses soon, Are there regular inspections? Short answer, no, as the Fire District doesn’t have a dedicated inspector. All they’re doing is “tactical surveys” so they know what they’d have to do if there’s a fire, Marrs said. Chan recalled an annual-inspection program in the past “but we prioritized the larger structures” – schools, multi-family residential buildings, for example. But they’ve since had to “re-focus” funding on other things, like permit work. Taylor agreed to take a look at what can be done. Ella Williams from County Councilmember Joe McDermott‘s office said they’re looking at ways to help, including through the budget process. Regarding trespassing by unhoused people seeking shelter, Deputy Kennamer said that with LEAD‘s help, many people have gotten housing – but not everyone will accept services, and they’re worried about people breaking into the burned-out building on 16th.
Moving to the topic of help for fire-affected businesses, Taylor noted that a dozen businesses have received $108,000 total do far, and recapped the recent federal disaster declaration making July 5th fire victims eligible for low-interest loans, Giba asked how long the burned-out buildings can stand. It’s up to the businesses and property owner(s), Taylor said; Chan said that if it’s secured and not a safety hazard, “it can stay for a while.” They keep watch on health/safety concerns such as rodents. Deputy Kennamer said he’s been contacted by the building’s owner three times already to clear people out (they were gone before deputies arrived). “We do not have the right to order a property owner to redevelop, or sell,” Chan noted. All the affected businesses are currently going through the insurance-claims process right now, Taylor added. He also said that the county plans to waive the permit fees for rebuilding.
OTHER AREAS OF CONCERN: Asked about other areas of concern, Deputy Kennamer said the Empire Hookah Lounge in Top Hat has been linked to more than a dozen crimes of violence – including four shootings – and 69 other “calls for service.” He would like to see it get a fire inspection because it draws big crowds. It’s been cited for code violations already, Ricketts said. Erick Thomas from the Liquor and Cannabis Board said if they don’t comply, their license could be in jeopardy. … Kennamer also mentioned a Beverly Park house that’s been a hub of criminal activity – recently in one day alone, three stolen cars were recovered. One of the tenants now has an eviction notice because of the criminal activity.
NORTH HIGHLINE SUBAREA PLAN: Jacqueline Reid was there with a reminder that the plan draft is up for public review through November 28th. As point person for the plan, she replaced David Goodman, who moved on to another job. Here’s the timeline for the plan:
The draft is two parts – both a written document and a package of map amendments:
Here’s how to comment:
Part of the proposal is for upzoning to higher density.
How would the resulting loss of yards and trees be dealt with? asked Giba. There are some landscaping requirements, said Reid. NHUAC’s Barbara Dobkin said that’s a surprise to hear because she’s seen many smaller homes built recently “with absolutely no landscaping.” Chan noted that the intent was to pack in the density where there is urban infrastructure. “But we don’t have that infrastructure,” protested Dobkin. Sidewalks are missing, drainage is poor, there’s no way for kids to walk safely to parks. Taylor said that should all be on the “community needs list.” When Reid continued with her presentation, she mentioned that development height between Roxbury and 100th would be limited to 40 feet to keep within scale. She also called attention to the Draft Inclusionary Housing Program, which sounds a lot like the HALA Mandatory Housing Affordability program in Seattle, an incentive for affordable housing, either developed outright or supported by developer fees. Giba urged everyone to take the time to review the draft and comment – in hopes that’ll lead to a healthy White Center in the decades ahead.
CRIME TRENDS: Deputy Kennamer said auto theft is up, probably related to the aforementioned house, but the real story is commercial burglaries, which “really spiked last month” – 19. They’re looking for a suspect who they think is linked to most of them. Firearms calls were up. Dobkin mentioned a huge trash pileup outside the house where Seattle Police shot and killed a man earlier this year, in the 10000 block of 21st SW; Kennamer and Taylor promised to see what could be done.
NEXT MEETING: Thursday, December 2nd, 7 pm online.
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