Moss Bay Neighborhood Association Report February 2001
by Laura Lee Pritt
If
you haven’t had a chance yet, take a drive down 7th Avenue South to
see a mock-up of the traffic circle proposed as an alternative to speed bumps to
slow the traffic. The idea behind
traffic circles is to create a speed reducing device that is also visually
appealing and neighborhood friendly. Try
to picture the traffic circles, or islands as I like to call them, planted with
lush green shrubs and flowers to see how the islands could be a visually
appealing alternative. Unfortunately,
there has been quite a bit of construction on this street due to the
installation of a new water main making it difficult to maneuver the street and
to discern between the construction cones and the mock-up island.
The
island, at 7th Avenue South and 2nd Street South, a T
intersection, is designed with a circular island in the middle of the street and
two half circles framing the center circle on the north side of the street.
These half circles force people to slow down and drive around the island
instead of simply slipping past it on the right.
It is the first of three islands to be installed and tested on 7th
Avenue South. The other two
islands, to be installed on the 1st and 3rd Street South
intersections, will be in place some time in February.
It has been proposed that the 1st and 3rd Street
South islands be slightly different in design to give the neighbors a choice.
Please keep in mind that the islands can be modified from the proposed
mock-ups to make them more attractive, easier to maneuver around or whatever is
needed in order to meet the needs of the neighborhood.
All three islands will be in place for several months, at which time the
neighbors will vote on the one that works best and how many are needed.
The
Neighborhood Traffic Control Coordinator at the City of Kirkland has contacted a
resident on the east side of 7th Avenue South (east of State Street)
to see about implementing the same traffic circles on that end of 7th.
More to come on this.
Your Chance to Voice Concerns to Kirkland’s City Manager
How many of us have concerns or
ideas that go unheard or unexplored? Now
is your chance to have yours heard. Dave
Ramsey, City Manager of Kirkland will be at our next neighborhood association
meeting ready to answer question and hear your concerns.
If you are a resident of the Moss Bay neighborhood which runs north and
south roughly from 85th to N.E. 68th, and east and west
from the train track to the lake, come to our next neighborhood meeting February
7th (see below for details) and talk to Dave Ramsey.
Dave will be fielding question and informing us about the Downtown
strategic Plan Study.
It’s Your Backyard
Concerned with new construction developments or do you have a special
need on your street that needs attention? You
can make a difference in ‘your own back yard’ by helping create a
neighborhood that is safe, friendly and adds to the quality of your family’s
life. Attend your next neighborhood
association meeting (it’s that easy!) and get the ball rolling on the things
you would like to see happen in your neighborhood.
Almost every Kirkland neighborhood has an association.
The next Moss Bay Neighborhood Association meeting will take place at the Rose Hill Fire Station,9930 124th Ave NE, February 7th. Many of us meet at 6:30 for pizza and chitchat before the meeting formally commences at 7pm. We are a very easy going bunch of people but if you feel you might be uncomfortable and don’t want to get too involved yet, you can always start off by sitting in the back and just listening, there are always a few who do. Better yet, talk your neighbor into coming with you and keep each other company. You may even recognize a few faces! Hope to see you (both) there on February 7th.