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Consultants outline Woodinville Creative Arts District plan and zoning tools to support artists
Summary
Consultants and local volunteers presented a Creative Arts District plan to the council that aims to centralize maker spaces, affordable commercial studios and public programming in Woodinville's downtown and Eastrail area; staff said the plan will inform comp-plan and zoning updates and can help attract grant funding and a state arts designation.
A team led by consultant Alicia Ayares and Bob Bankford presented findings from a Port of Seattle economic development grant and a proposed Creative Arts District to the Woodinville City Council on Jan. 20. Jared Hill, the city's intergovernmental affairs coordinator, introduced the volunteer steering committee that has been developing the plan.
Ayares summarized research and stakeholder outreach that identified key needs for the district: affordable commercial studio space, maker spaces, multiuse community venues, and improved connectivity and walkability between arts, dining and wine-tourism destinations. "The plan fosters a dynamic cultural environment and can attract visitors and grant funding," she said.
Bankford focused on land-use and regulatory tools the city could use to support the district. He highlighted policy LU-5.4 in the draft comprehensive plan supporting a state Creative District designation and suggested development-regulation options such as:
- targeted active ground-floor frontage requirements in the downtown core; - an alternative commercial floor-area-ratio requirement (for example, a 0.25 FAR minimum for commercial uses) to guarantee space for creative uses; and - a limit on large-format general retail (about 30,000 square feet) in the core to favor smaller creative businesses.
Bankford also discussed design-regulation topics (storefront and facade standards, usable public open space and green-sward requirements) and parking approaches that would balance development feasibility with pedestrian-friendly design.
Councilmembers praised the volunteer effort and asked how the plan's recommendations align with the draft comprehensive plan; staff said policy LU-5.4 is incorporated in the draft comp plan and that most regulatory details would be considered during the development-regulations phase. Councilmember Martin asked which items are already in the draft and which are development regulations; staff said the policy is in the comp plan but most of the regulatory tools would be crafted later.
Members of the public present, including representatives of local arts organizations, also spoke in favor of greater arts support and affordable creative spaces during public comment earlier in the meeting.
