Zoo garage plan shot down
A controversial parking garage can't be built at Woodland Park Zoo under the city's land-use code, a Seattle hearing examiner has ruled in a decision announced Tuesday.
The summary judgment is a dramatic victory for activists who have opposed construction of the four-level garage as too big, too expensive and unnecessary.
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This sets up a problem for the Zoo Society's business plan. Like it or not, the modern zoo survives by boosting attendance -- new visitors and repeat visits. To accommodate this, these people need someplace to park. Well, there are only two real alternatives: transit -- 10% mode share on a good day -- and dedicated shuttles -- expensive to operate or pay Metro to operate, as well as being point sources for tailpipe emissions. I should point out, for these reasons, that Heathrow Airport won't be using shuttle buses at the new Terminal 5 (automated peoplemovers instead), and plans to eventually phase them out for the other terminals.
So, if the business plan requires "driving" attendance, but parking is problematic, two options remain.
1. New Zoo Society business plan. But they already did a plan, and the neighbors and now the City have seen fit to veto part of it -- which is their right, I'm not complaining about that.
2. Return to direct City management of Woodland Park Zoo. I think this is the thing to do. Not only because it is unfair to hand the Zoo Society the reins and then tell them, in effect, they can only hold on with one hand. But also because the Zoo is still a public park and internationally recognized conservation institution, and should return to giving 100% of its attention to those missions. Not catering to party and conference rentals, and prepackaged touring exhibits, in order to generate revenues.
