Heritage Hall
Glenn
Peterson called the meeting to order. Larry Martin of Milliken-Martin gave a
presentation on the "Lake and Central" project, a 40,000 square foot
site which is located at a 100% corner of Downtown Kirkland. The project will
consist of three levels of housing over neighborhood-oriented street level
retail uses, including a new U.S. Bank branch. The residential portion of the
project will consist of 85 condominiums. The plan has generated much debate,
and many downtown merchants have voiced their concerns to the city. Larry
addressed several of these concerns, including the possibility of a
business other than a supermarket for the main tenant. Delivery and garbage
would be in an alley behind the building and would not be intrusive, Larry
said. The cost and parking issues also were addressed. An interesting
article recently appeared in the Seattle PI with more information on the
debate http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/197910_ncenter03.html
City
Manager Dave Ramsay and planner Jeremy McMahon were on hand to answer
questions. Dave mentioned that the city has gone through an extensive process
to get to this point with the project. (first presented to Moss Bay
Neighborhood in Sept. '03 -- http://mossbay.org/MeetingMinutes/9-03.htm)
A second public hearing on this project will be
held before the KIRKLAND CITY COUNCIL on December
14, 2004 at 7:30 p.m. (or as soon thereafter as possible) in the Council
Chamber at 123 5th Avenue.
Glenn Peterson
spoke about the parking situation in downtown Kirkland. Glenn is vice chairman
of the new city Parking Advisory Board and a resident of the Moss Bay
neighborhood. He told us the following:
An extensive
parking study by community stakeholders and consultants produced some
revelations, led to some significant changes by City Council, and recommended
the formation of the Parking Advisory Board. We have a parking shortage
in downtown Kirkland which is getting worse every year. In June of this year,
before the PAB was appointed, the city extended the enforcement of the
2-hour parking time limit that covers most of downtown from 7:30
p.m. to 9:30 p.m. This change has been poorly received
by the downtown business community, despite the benefit of making parking
available to more people. In December, the PAB will recommend to the
City Council that the limit be rolled back to 7:30 p.m. The conversion of
parts of the two downtown parking lots to pay parking with 4-hour limits will
remain.
The future
remains challenging with several new construction projects approved or under
discussion which would significantly affect parking. The development of the
Lake and Central lot would add parking but also add demand; it is unclear
if the net result would be better or worse. The Central Way Improvement
project will eventually add parking along that street. However, both of these
undertakings would disrupt the parking supply while underway. Lake and Central
may not be developed, but Central Way will break ground in the near future.
Don Winters
updated our group on several issues. Don mentioned that there was no new
information on the rumored sale of Green Funeral Home, but that the home was
planned to shut down by year's end, adding credence to the rumor. (Since the
meeting, several newspaper articles appeared about Green's closing:
http://www.kingcountyjournal.com/sited/story/html/178798
http://www.kingcountyjournal.com/sited/story/html/178924
)
Don mentioned the
Pace Chemical site on 7th Ave. S. CamWest development has plans to build 60
units on the 12 acre property, and apparently the project is still on track,
pending resolution of environmental issues that are said to be "resolvable".
Lakeshore Clinic
has moved out of their building on State Street and the building is for sale.
The City Council will rule on their zoning request in December, but it's very
likely that the request will be denied and the zoning will remain at 12 units
per acre (medium density).
The building on
the southwest corner of State Street and Kirkland Avenue has been demolished
and construction is under way on the "Kirkland Central" condominium
project. To be completed by June, 2006, the project is a 5 story building with
the main floor having 9000 square feet of retail space. There will be 110
condo units ranging in size from 474 to 1251 sq. ft., and in price from $139,950 to $489.950.
Mark Eliasen
spoke about the Magnuson Park issue. The Seattle Parks Dept. is attempting to
solicit the Washington National Guard to build the playfields, as a way to get
the job done without having the funding. MBNA is opposed to the massive
lighting proposed, and thinks that using the Guard in such a manner is not the
best use of taxpayer money and not the best way the Guard could be ensuring
our safety. An article appeared in the Seattle Times addressing this issue: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002073961_danny27.html
Our next meeting
will be held on Monday, January 24 -- a week later than usual because of
the Martin Luther King holiday.
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