Ballard has made more progress on the goals from its decade-old neighborhood plan than almost any other Seattle neighborhood. But, thanks in part to the large amount of growth in the area, much remains to be done when that neighborhood plan is updated in the coming years.

Representatives from Ballard and Crown Hill met with a member of the Seattle Planning Commission July 23 to discuss where the neighborhood is right now, how it has changed since the last neighborhood plan and where it needs to go in the next one.

The key goals from last decade's neighborhood plan were the completion of the Burke-Gilman Trail, the acquisition of the Crown Hill School, the establishment of a commuter rail station, and the development of the Ballard municipal center that includes the library, neighborhood service center and Ballard Commons Park

Craig Benjamin, a member of Sustainable Ballard and Ballard's Neighborhood Planning Advisory Committee, said so many of Ballard's key goals from the previous plan have been accomplished because of the organized people and groups that reside in the neighborhood, but also because the growth in Ballard has necessitated that accomplishment.

"I think we're doing pretty well overall," said Dave Boyd of Groundswell NW. "The Ballard hub is a much more walkable place. There is a lot more street life and vitality."

Andrea Faste, also a member of Sustainable Ballard, said Ballard has really only failed on the rail station. And, Shannon Dunn, of the East Ballard Community Association, said that should be a focus this time around.

Neighborhood representatives said they would like to see stronger east/west Metro connections in the coming plan.

Catherine Weatbrook of the Crown Hill Business Association said it is important to have Metro routes that get residents to other Seattle neighborhoods, not just the downtown core.

Benjamin said he returned to Ballard in 2000 after a number of years away. Despite being struck by the amount of growth in the neighborhood, he said he found that Ballard still had the exact same Metro service it had when he left.

Increased growth has necessitated updated infrastructure – including garbage, fire and police services – and that hasn't happened, Dunn said.

Dennis Galvin, a member of the Crown Hill Neighborhood Association, said the infrastructure has not been built to support Ballard's growth. Crown Hill, which is lacking in sidewalks, is still not a walkable neighborhood, he said.

"A walkable neighborhood is a sustainable neighborhood," Galvin said.

Faste said she would like the the neighborhood plan to focus on the growing human services needs in Ballard and Crown Hill.

A number of representatives said they would like the plan to focus on increasing jobs and affordable housing in Ballard.

Ballard has the density of housing it needs, it just needs to be more affordable, said Crown Hill resident Ryan Curren. He said rising housing costs have forced him to continue moving north away from downtown Ballard.

Dunn said if Ballard doesn't invest in affordable housing, it will create a churning neighborhood in which residents move in and out and don't invest in their community.

Andy MacDonald, vice president of the Ballard District Council, said he would like to see increased growth and density outside of downtown Ballard, specifically in Crown Hill, which he said is the "red-headed stepchild" of Ballard.

The representatives expressed major concerns over the neighborhood planning process, one of which was the lack of diversified involvement.

There are thousands of new residents in Ballard, but the same people turn up at every community-related meeting, said Kevin Carrabine of Friends of the Burke-Gilman Trail. He said the social politics of the Ballard District Council can get in the way of new participation.

Of the 12 people representing Ballard and Crown Hill at the July 23 meeting, eight were part of groups that are members of the Ballard District Council.

Boyd said it is also necessary to get the Ballard Interbay Northend Manufacturing and Industrial Center (BINMIC) involved. The industrial area is not included in the neighborhood planning process, and that is a mistake, he said.

By involving the BINMIC in the planning process, it could cut down on conflicts with them in the future, he said.

Peter Locke, former chair of the 14th Avenue Northwest Visioning Project, said it is important to make sure everyone is involved.

"As a neighborhood, we have to come together to look at all the opportunities and develop a plan," he said.

Lisa Miller from the Seattle Planning Commission said Ballard residents' input would be incorporated into the draft status report, which representatives criticized as being too much of a census snapshot and not the story of a changing neighborhood.

The status report doesn't show Ballard changing from a sleepy fishing village to a place where beautiful people walk by the Matador on a Friday night, MacDonald said.

Representatives also showed interest in redrawing the urban village lines of Ballard and Crown Hill to better reflect the realities of neighborhood shopping centers and to include the 15th Avenue Northwest corridor.

Ballard and Crown Hill residents who were not able to attend the July 23 meeting can take an online questionnaire about their neighborhood before Aug. 6.

A meeting to discuss the status reports updated with neighborhood input is tentatively scheduled for October.

The Neighborhood Plans are a part of Seattle's Comprehensive Plan, which describes the city's goals for growth over the next 20 years.

Over the next few years, the Neighborhood Plans will be updated for each of the city's 24 neighborhoods.