Sound Transit, Community Updates
Meeting Notes for Saturday, September 6, 2025
Jefferson Park Community Center 10 AM to 12 PM
Attendance In Person:
· 24 people, including several from Sound Transit.
· Board members: Maria, Amy, Scott, Simon, Whit, Kalia, Joseph, Gerry
Some Neighbors on Zoom
10:05 Welcome, BHC Updates
Community News & Issues:
Orcas Street advocates asked to have sidewalks put in place. They shared good news that the project is on the Transportation Levy list of projects.
Issue 1: BHC received an email from Dr. Philip Thompson asking that BHC advocate for Parks Department to create an ADA pathway to the Jefferson Park Amphitheater. Community supported the ask.
Issue 2: Trees- Sept 17 is the City Council vote on the Comprehensive Plan and the last day for community comment is on September 12. We have an ask to support that amendment to allow more trees:
We ask that you pass Amendment 93 Neighborhood Residential Tree Canopy Requirement. The majority of trees in Seattle are located on private property. The amendment would ensure more open area for trees and other purposes, instead of allowing up to 95% of the lot for building and hard landscaping. It won't decrease the number of housing units on the lot. We have a Forestry Grant, CID prioritized first, then Beacon Hill.
Comments from community included concern that the trees are a way to slow down housing development.
Issue 3: CCTV Simon Knaphus reported that on Tuesday the City Council will vote on a Surveillance Cameras Issue, incorporating CCTV to include Beacon Hill. Simon read a draft of a proposed letter, exempting Beacon Hill from CCTV. There was discussion about discomfort with surveillance, invasion of privacy, misuse of AI and data collected, and fiscal impact. The majority of those present voted to support sending a letter addressing these issues.
(Note: Brian Chow left information at the registration table about the CID asking to complete the 1 line before adding the Ballard Extension.)
Sound Transit Presentation
From Sound Transit: Phoebe Wu, Cody Reiter, Steven Mack, Cecelia Gunn
See attached power point presentation. They also brought handouts.
BHC asked Sound Transit to present the station alternatives, provide pros and cons and state how the alternatives impacts on transportation in Beacon Hill.
As background, in 2022-23 – Sound Transit got 5000 comments. The Sound Transit Board confirms or modifies preferred alternatives. The West Seattle and Ballard lines were combined into one project. Once the Draft EIS is published, then it is time for comments. Next year the Jackson station will have the 2 lines train coming in from Bellevue.
Sound Transit is still in the in the Planning and Public Involvement stage on the 7 alternatives:
1. Dearborn Street (Sound Transit Preferred alternative because after much community engagement, it was felt that this station would have the least impact on CID.)
2. Weller Street & 4th Avenue shallow alternative
3. Weller Street & 4th Avenue shallower alternative
4. Weller Street & 4th Avenue deep alternative
5. King Street & 5th Avenue shallow alternative
6. King Street & 5th Avenue shallower alternative
7. King Street & 5th Avenue deep alternative
The final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) should be available the last quarter of this year. Sound Transit can give BHC the pros and cons by that time. Thereafter, Sound Transit staff will prepare one recommendation for Sound Transit Board to adopt.
Community discussion during the meeting:
Question: How much development can occur around the light rail stations? City is beginning to look at development options.
Concern: With the change in the lines, it means all UW students traveling from Beacon Hill will have to change trains.
Sound Transit: From an operational standpoint, shorter lines are easier to maintain, rather than one long line from Everett to Tacoma. Sound Transit’s goal is to maintain equity and prevent disruption within the community.
Comment: Maria clarified that there are 7 options for the new CID station. (See above.) She also noted that there are differences within the CID community as to which is the best option. At BHC, we want to provide an open forum for discussion.
Adjourn Community meeting 11:25
Beacon Hill Council Board meeting convened at 11:30 AM
Present: Maria Batayola, Amy Kaminishi, Simon Knaphus, Joseph Ruiz, Kalia Carter, Scott Haddlesey, Gerry Chambers
Finance: The current bank balance is $6,651.36
Maria was pursuing a $50,00 Neighborhood Matching Grant for Cooling Centers, but there has been little action from the partners. She will ask our partners if spring is a better time to apply.
Maria reported that THE BH Clean Emergy & Cliamte Resiliency Task Force asked our technical assistance partner NREL to 1) research non-gov't funding for conversion to clean energy and 2) study to see if planting trees leads to gentrification and raises property taxes. They will give us a briefing this Friday, September 12 and she will share the link.
The US Forestry Grant ($12M) is for new money Beacon Hill and CID for new trees and for some restoration on land owned by Seattle Housing Authority and Seattle Public Schools.
Community Asks:
· Request for BHC to advocate for ADA Ramp for Jefferson Park Amphitheater. Motion to support by Simon, second Gerry, Unanimous vote.
· Motion to support a letter written by Maria giving input on the Comprehensive Plan about trees stating: “We ask that you pass Amendment 93 Neighborhood Residential Tree Canopy Requirement. The majority of trees in Seattle are located on private property. The amendment would ensure more open area for trees and other purposes, instead of allowing up to 95% of the lot for building and hard landscaping. It won't decrease the number of housing units on the lot. This will encourage our neighbors to build more housing AND keep their trees on their property to help with our extreme heat events problem. Thank you.
Motion - Gerry, Second Scott - 5 in favor, 1 abstention. Simon would like to review the letter.
· The CCTV Surveillance Camera letter was amended to include concerns re privacy of our Beacon Hill Neighbors, fiscal implications, and the use of AI. Motion - Write a letter opposing the CCTV on the basis of privacy, potential misuse of data, at the end asking for an exemption for Beacon Hill. Discussion that the letter will include our ongoing relationship with the South Precinct and cameras have not been part of that. Motion - Gerry, Second Kalia - Passed 6 .
Updates:
· Maria –Our 2025 King County Strategic Climate Action Plan (SCAP) amendments look like they will be included in the SCAP
· KCIA (King County International Airport) Gerry attended the Vision 2045/Project 150 meeting on August 20. They will be having an open house on September 25 and continue to solicit comments. Note: Maria has served on KCIA advisory board for 6 years.
Outreach:
Gerry will be at the Beacon Arts Fair from 10:30 to 4 Saturday 9/13, would welcome company.
Adjourned 12:45