ATTACHMENT A Definition of Activity Centers
Lynnwood Link Extension DEFINITION OF ACTIVITY CENTERS FTA definition: When performing an assessment of Land Use and Economic Development Effects, the FTA New Starts Criteria Guidance identifies high trip generators including: colleges/universities, stadiums/arenas, hospitals/medical centers, shopping centers, performing arts centers, and other significant trip generators. PSRC definition: Centers are characterized by compact, pedestrian-oriented development with a mix of uses. Centers provide proximity to a diverse collection of services, shopping, recreation, and jobs, as well as a variety of attractive and well-designed residences. They are locations identified to take a greater proportion of future population and employment in order to curb sprawl by encouraging development in strategic places inside the region s designated urban growth area. PSRC developed policies for and descriptions of centers in VISION 2040: Regional Growth Centers Regional Growth Centers are designated areas of high-intensity residential and employment development. They are most typically located in the historic downtowns or other major activity areas of the region s five Metropolitan Cities and in Core Cities. The North Corridor s Regional Growth Centers designated by PSRC are Lynnwood and Northgate. Other Centers This category includes centers in larger cities and small city or town centers. The PSRC definition follows: Centers in Larger Cities are designated as key areas for concentrating growth in Larger Cities that currently do not have a regional growth center. Small City or Town Centers are focal points for the region s smaller cities and towns. These locations are not designated regionally but through countywide planning processes. Other Centers within the North Corridor are Centers in larger cities, including Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace, and Shoreline. Other Central Places Other Central Places include neighborhood centers, activity nodes, and station areas defined as Relatively small areas (ranging from an intersection to a couple of blocks), often at key cross roads. These centers can be located in cities of any regional geography type. Central Places are identified locally and many cities have multiple centers. A-1 Station Area Transit-oriented Development Potential Report April 2013
Lynnwood Link Extension Definition for Activity Centers to Assess Station Area Development Potential for Lynnwood Link Extension The definitions from both FTA and PSRC form the basis of identifying activity centers near Lynnwood Link Extension station alternatives. Published data on activity centers within the project area were collected, compared with FTA guidance, and its significance confirmed in consultation with local jurisdictions. Activity centers within an approximate 0.5 mile radius from alternative stations are included. This measurement is a direct as a crow flies and does not take into account topography and/or street and sidewalk networks. That information is considered in the evaluation for each activity center connection. To identify local activity centers, comprehensive plans and other planning documents were reviewed. Each city was consulted to provide additional information. Activity centers based on PSRC definition default to the smaller central places locations to avoid double-counting. For example, the larger Lynnwood Regional Growth Center includes multiple smaller activity nodes and neighborhood centers. The result is the total of the smaller centers and the regional growth center is not counted. Also, in locations where activity may run along a corridor, specific centers/nodes along that corridor are identified versus an entire corridor. Where a district is identified, the major intersection is labeled the activity center. High schools are identified as activity centers while elementary and middle schools are not. Transit facilities such as park-and-ride locations are not included. Activity Centers by Jurisdiction Seattle Ingraham High School Lakeside School Campus Commercial and Multifamily node at NE 125th Street and 15th Avenue NE Commercial and Multifamily node at NE 125th Street and Roosevelt Way NE Commercial and Multifamily node at 1st Avenue North and Roosevelt Way N Commercial area at 15th Avenue NE and NE 145th Street (Note: same area as Southeast Neighborhood, Shoreline count once) Shoreline Southeast Neighborhood (15th Avenue NE and NE 145th Street) Includes Fircrest Campus North City Business District (15th Avenue NE and NE 175th Street) A-2 Station Area Transit-oriented Development Potential Report April 2013
Lynnwood Link Extension Ballinger Terrace (centers on Ballinger Way NE and 19th Avenue NE) Shoreline Conference Center, including Shoreline s Spartan Recreation Center, Shoreline Pool, and Shoreline Park Edmonds Hospital Community and Family Retail Center (SR 99 and 216th Street SW to 220th Street SW) Includes Stevens Hospital Mountlake Terrace Mountlake Terrace Town Center Mountlake Terrace Recreation Pavilion Melody Hill/Premera Lynnwood Includes Western Washington Premera Blue Cross (220th Street SW and 70th Avenue West) Note: Although Premera is located near the Edmonds Hospital Community and Family Entertainment Center along SR 99, it will be counted separately. Premera is one major employer in the larger Melody Hill neighborhood that is slated for more commercial growth. Lynnwood City Center Includes Lynnwood Convention Center Alderwood Mall Group Health Lynnwood Recreation Center A-3 Station Area Transit-oriented Development Potential Report April 2013