SEQUIM — What do you envision for downtown Sequim?
The city of Sequim wants to hear from Sequim residents who might have opinions about what the downtown retail district does or does not need to prosper.
City leaders and hired consultants are helping the city come up with a vision and guiding principles for a downtown plan, said Joe Irvin, city interim planning director.
Consultants with LMN Architects of Seattle and Studio Cascade Inc., a community planning and design firm based in Spokane, will set up shop in the westernmost unit of the new Olympic View Properties complex under construction at 175 W. Washington St., where they will conduct an informational exchange and open houses Thursday, Nov. 4, and Friday, Nov. 5.
“They’re going to listen and take in the perspectives,” said Irvin, the city’s lead planner overseeing the downtown visioning process.
The idea is to create a vision and come up with guiding principles that will help create a downtown plan, one the city could use in the future to improve downtown — and have the public buy into the plan, Irvin said.
Schedule
On Nov. 4, members of the public can meet the project team from noon to 6 p.m.
From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., the team will present the downtown background analysis and findings, and talk with residents in attendance.
On Nov. 5, people can visit the studio storefront from noon to 2 p.m to share ideas.
From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., the staff will to share ideas and information.
From 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. the project team will give a final presentation to present a preliminary “vision” of downtown Sequim and will share initial findings of the best guiding principles.
Walking ‘audit’
Already, officials including City Manager Steve Burkett, council members and the Planning Commission, have conducted a walking “audit” of downtown, looking it over Sept. 29.
A survey also has been mailed out to residents asking them for their thoughts on downtown’s quality of experience, what they like and what they want to change, what they find most disagreeable about downtown and what they would like to see added to make them visit more regularly.
Irvin said that, so far, 68 responses have been received but the results have not been examined.
The scope of the contract with LMN, Irvin said, includes tasks that are action-oriented and will identify short-term, mid-range and long-term solutions for making downtown a better place.
The study is expected to identify best practices for parking management, and include a parking inventory and recommendations.
A market feasibility study, design concepts, and recommendations for zoning code amendments also are planned.
Determine boundaries
The study is expected to determine the boundaries of downtown, consider how residential development can be integrated into the commercial core, and how public art can best serve downtown.
Interviews are planned with stakeholders, including property owners, business owners and former City Council members.
A downtown citizens advisory committee has been formed. Members are Mark Ozias, Jacques Dulen, Colleen McAleer, Tom Montgomery, Jeri Sanford, Elizabeth Harper, Mike Lippert, Mike Younquist, Vickie Maples and Rene Brock-Richmond.
Public meetings will be part of the process, as planned.
A project website will be developed to help deliver information and create a place for public comments.
Irvin said another open house would be conducted in January at a date to be determined.
For more information, phone Irvin at 360-681-3439, or e-mail him at jirvin@ci.sequim.wa.us.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
