The City of Seattle has ordered the owner of Ballard Mill Marina to address code violations related to school bus parking at the waterfront property.
The Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections issued a notice of violation on Aug. 28 for the property at 4733 Shilshole Ave NW. The notice says more than 60,000 square feet of school bus parking was added without the required city authorization.
The city says structures and uses that are not water-related or water-dependent must be removed from a required 60-foot shoreline setback. The property owner must also remove or obtain authorization for other development and changes in use across the property.
The violations must be corrected by Sept. 28. Continued violations could result in fines of up to $500 per day beginning after the deadline.
Ned Carner of Wing Point Partners, which owns the property, told My Ballard that the bus operator moved to the property in July.
“The City’s zoning code is complex, and we received notice from the City on August 28 regarding a 60-foot setback requirement at the site,” Carner said in an email. “While the current use of the property is supported under the zoning code, we were not aware of the specific setback requirement.”
Carner said the company is coordinating physical changes to bring the property into compliance.
“We take the City’s requirements seriously and are committed to completing the necessary work within the 30-day period provided by the City,” he said.
The notice gives the property owner the option to apply for the required SDCI authorizations, which could include a Shoreline Substantial Development Permit or shoreline exemption. Any approval may require site modifications, mitigation, and inspections.
Wing Point Partners purchased the 16-acre Ballard Mill Marina property for $9.55 million in 2025. The property includes a recreational marina, commercial wharf, and industrial buildings.
Earlier this year, Carner outlined plans to redevelop a former lumber drying kiln at the property into a passenger terminal with craft workspaces and an indoor-outdoor waiting area. Carner said at the time that Wing Point intended to keep the marina operating while preserving the site’s maritime and industrial uses.
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