“Electronic reader board” proposed for Madison Middle School

From today’s city Land Use Information Bulletin – a public notice asking for people to be part of the “Madison Middle School Departure Advisory Committee.” Its purpose – to decide if land-use rules can be waived for this:

The Seattle School District is requesting a waiver (departure) to install an approximately 30 square foot electronic reader board sign on the east face of the gymnasium building wall at Madison Middle School, facing 45th Street, and approximately 12 feet 9 inches above the walkway. The purpose of the sign is to notify the school and neighboring community about school events and community items of interest.

For more details about who they’re hoping to have on the committee, and what its duties will be, here’s the full public notice. They want to receive letters from everyone interested by July 25. (The most recent school-related Departure Advisory Committee was set up to review components of the Denny-Sealth project.)

Robert July 9, 2009 (10:22 am)

Has the Advisory Committee never heard of the Internet?

WSB July 9, 2009 (10:34 am)

I am going to check with the listed contact regarding e-mailed “letters” – By the way, the committee itself hasn’t been formed yet. To make that clear I will change the language to “be part of.” These are usually one-project-only panels set up to deal with specific proposals – TR (added a few minutes later – the listed contact is out for a few days so I’ve left a message with someone else re: whether e-mailed ‘letters’ are acceptable)

Jerry` July 9, 2009 (11:20 am)

With the economy like it is, and the school district hurting for money.this is just a waste of time and money. We should also stop the “Yellow buses”, and have students that want to ride, pay for it, like everyone else…..take Johny Transit. This will also save money while helping the students get back in shape and lose a few pounds.
thanks

Alvis July 9, 2009 (1:40 pm)

A few years back, Hiawatha Community Center sought to get a city permit for a small electronic readerboard with time and temperature display to replace its ugly and beyond-repair midblock reader board on the east side of California Avenue. The city zoning department flatly refused the request on grounds that electronic signs are technically a commercial use and every public park and school in the city — no matter how many acres and no matter how much commercial zoning in the immediate vicinity — is a single-family residential lot.
I hope that Madison can obtain a variance from city zoning and install a discreet and attractive electronic reader board providing public service assistance to the surrounding neighborhood, but I wouldn’t count on that just yet.

Debbie July 9, 2009 (4:36 pm)

Money for this reader board was raised by parents. Parents have been working for quite some time to get all of the appropriate permits and get this installed. The amount of red tape and beaurocracy is really unfortunate.

WSB July 9, 2009 (4:53 pm)

If you have a sketch or any sort of art, please feel free to send it to us so we can add to the story. Meantime, I should add that I talked to Dept. of Neighbors rep this afternoon and they said YES, E-MAIL IS OK for the “letter” to apply to be on the departure committee – TR

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