A new city survey gives Ballard residents, workers and visitors a direct say in how the neighborhood grows over the next two decades.

Seattle's Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD) opened an interactive online survey to gather feedback for the Ballard Regional Center Plan, MyBallard reported. The survey closes Wednesday, Sept. 30.

Ballard is the newest of seven regional centers in Seattle's Comprehensive Plan. The designation means the neighborhood is expected to absorb significant new housing and jobs.

The plan will guide that growth for 20 years, covering affordable housing, small business support, transit connections and the relationship between residential areas and the adjacent Ballard Interbay Northend Manufacturing and Industrial Center (BINMIC).

What the survey asks

The map-based tool lets participants drop pins on specific locations and flag favorite destinations, frequently visited spots and areas that need improvement. Respondents who have trouble using the interactive map can skip to written questions about their experiences in Ballard. The survey and project details are available on the city's Ballard Regional Center planning page.

Industrial land next door

BINMIC is a 1,458-acre industrial zone stretching from Terminal 91 and Interbay to Salmon Bay and the Lake Washington Ship Canal. It includes maritime businesses, manufacturers, marine terminals, warehouses, breweries and food processors. The boundary matters. Parts of BINMIC sit directly next to the regional center, making the tension between residential growth and industrial activity one of the plan's central questions.

Transit stakes

The growth plan arrives as Ballard faces two major transit decisions. A Seattle transit funding measure on the November ballot includes amendments from District 6 Councilmember Dan Strauss that would prioritize faster bus connections between Ballard, downtown and light rail stations.

As MyBallard reported July 22, Strauss said the regional center designation "means it is expected to accommodate significant housing and job growth, making improved transit service an important part of that planning."

Strauss also noted that bus trips between Ballard and downtown can take 45 minutes to an hour, and that the neighborhood has less direct bus service than when the previous transit measure passed in 2020.

Farther out, Sound Transit is advancing the Ballard Link Extension through environmental review and design. The agency announced July 31 that light rail could reach Market Street in Ballard by 2042 if it closes a funding gap by 2033. Without that funding, service to Smith Cove, Interbay and Ballard could be delayed until around 2060.

Citywide context

OPCD Director Rico Quirindongo said in an Aug. 25 city release on greenhouse gas emissions that Seattle has "managed our population growth by concentrating density within our city's Regional and Urban Centers" for 30 years. The updated Comprehensive Plan expands existing regional centers, including Ballard, and adds 30 new Neighborhood Centers.

No additional public meetings for the Ballard Regional Center Plan have been announced as of Sept. 2.