Comments on: Natural drainage project meeting tomorrow

By: Tony DeVita

Tony DeVita — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 08:50:31 +0000

Those pics make it look really ugly. Hope they put it only in front of houses that want it. Wouldn't want that IFO my house

By: silence.kit

silence.kit — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 22:53:11 +0000

You cherish the majority? Huh? What's that even mean, really?

Also, when engaging in conversation, I find it's best to direct your comments to the other participant in said conversation as opposed to making broad generalizations.

By: chopper_74

chopper_74 — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 22:45:26 +0000

My statement was made toward the elitist minority, in response to your 'majority acting like victims'.
Sorry if you come off as a card carrying member of the former. I cherish the latter.

By: silence.kit

silence.kit — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 22:33:26 +0000

Insane? You're the one insinuating that I said things(light rail? Huh?) when I said nothing of the sort.

No one is saying that you can't drive. I'm only saying that driving isn't all that necessary in a city and with the addition of light rail, it will only become less necessary and therefore, less parking will be needed.

What freedoms and what choices did I say should be taken away? And you call me insane.

By: chopper_74

chopper_74 — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 21:52:38 +0000

You sound just like the elitist minority, still trying like hell to remove our freedoms and choices at every turn.
I chose not to drive, but I'll be damned if I'll sit silent as that option is encroached upon, constantly.
What's with light rail with-out parking? Even Metro has park and rides, are you really that insane?
Never mind…

By: silence.kit

silence.kit — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 21:27:40 +0000

What do you want me to say? I have a car. I use it on rare occasions if I'm leaving the city. Other than that, I bus, bike, or walk. I can understand if you have to drop off or pick up kids from school or something like that but other than that, I don't really see the need for a car if you live in the city. Seattle's public transit isn't the best, but it definitely works.

This seems like another case of the majority acting like victims.

By: stopthebuzz

stopthebuzz — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:47:19 +0000

not to mention that many intersections have cars parked too close as it is. the bulbs would make me happy in that regard.

By: holz

holz — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:54:36 +0000

with the number of near accidents i've seen in seattle, we could use some street calming strategies such as the 'bump out' near the intersection. add in a little xeriscaped rain garden, and i'll actually believe nickels is sticking to his word. we still get street parking, just not as much.

By: M.

M. — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:46:55 +0000

The first photo shows street parking – the other, the curb is bumped out. Look at the yellow center line, I'm sure there would be no parking.
The photos show two different options they are thinking about. Too bad the letter they sent those of us in the “test” area doesn't explain this or tell us which one is planned.

By: Ballardmargarita

Ballardmargarita — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 10:17:24 +0000

As you can see in one of the above pics, there is still street parking. What happens is, the water runs down the street , goes into the planted area at the curb cut, waters the plants in the parking strip, and stays there. In the process, the brake scrapings from the cars, the oils, the fluids, the dirt, etc., goes into this planted area and are filtered by the plants. If there is a heavy rainfall that cannot be held by the planted area, the water that does go back to the street should be somewhat cleaner. Wastewater runoff is the number one pollutant of our waterways.
This is known as a bioinfiltration swale. Part of why we have problems with our streams and thus , salmon, is because we have huge amounts of water rushing into streams, carrying with it all the dirt, etc., from the street, and forcing the erosion of the streambed, and silt into the place where it goes in. So all of a sudden, dirty water floods the streams. There is little or no 'groundwater' left to naturally fill our streams because it is all diverted from where it falls to the sound or streams as it falls. think about it- every building, road, or impervious surface means the water is diverted to a culvert or drain somewhere. Before man built all this, most of the water fell and stayed in the ground where it fell. now, most of the water is diverted.

Please go to the meeting on Wednesday if you have any interest either way on this project. oh- and because the water is diverted to these strips, you don't need to water, and have very little maintenacnce to do- a few weedings here and there. But would you weed and/or mow there, anyway?

By: (n)utcase

(n)utcase — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 07:37:29 +0000

excellent idea. blite. although south of the targeted area (65th), 59th is very wide and would easily benefit from this action (although immeasurable apparently).

I would also say 28th all the way up from 65th would be a good candidate if not already mentioned. man, that street feels like suburbia! or magnolia at least!

By: blite

blite — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 06:01:18 +0000

Sign up 59th St. It's a former trolley street & very wide with tiny little parking strips that aren't big enough to plant a tree. Cars also speed down the street ignoring that it is not an arterial. A few of the curb bulbs at the corner and wider planting strips to narrow the street would be great. Plus the added bonus of being able to plant trees!

By: chopper_74

chopper_74 — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 04:52:37 +0000

You describe the issue so well…'/s'

By: silence.kit

silence.kit — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 03:57:20 +0000

Boo hoo. You live in a city. Use public transit or something. Most people drive far more than they actually need to.

By: Ann

Ann — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 02:38:58 +0000

I'm on 27th and 85th. The entire street is filled with parked cars. As it is, cars cannot pass side-by-side anywhere in this neighborhood. Taking away even more street space is a nightmare.

I have no parking spot other than in front of my house. We have two small cars for our family. This project sounds great, but I'd like to see how they account for parking. The website says that "Most properties have alley access with parking." We don't. We also have no driveway.

These streets are also lined with beautiful trees, vegtable gardens, and other great plants. Where would those go?

And at whose expense would maintain these? My water bill has doubled just keeping my plants alive this summer, nonetheless, shrubs at street level.

By: CHen

CHen — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 01:42:53 +0000

I would gladly turn my 10' wide by 100' long parking strip over to the city to improve the soil, add plants and reroute the water into it.

By: chopper_74

chopper_74 — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 00:58:47 +0000

Cars minus one. …one more, I mean…

By: bilbo_ballard

bilbo_ballard — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 00:25:04 +0000

Sign me up too! Alas I am 3 x 4 blocks out of range ….

By: stopthebuzz

stopthebuzz — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 23:57:40 +0000

sign me up! :)

if they'll maintain it for me.

By: ballardrocksnow

ballardrocksnow — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 23:52:31 +0000

sorry should have put a sarcasm tag on my bit. “/s”

By: pt

pt — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 23:45:09 +0000

Yeah….see its not your front yard it the public right of way…so I would suggest going to the meeting and having your voices heard.

By: Ballardog

Ballardog — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 23:33:36 +0000

As long as it does not take up valuable parking or roadways. Otherwise, I will agree with ballardrocksnow.

By: ballardrocksnow

ballardrocksnow — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 22:58:53 +0000

Not in my front yard.