SOUTH ROSE HILL/BRIDLE TRAILS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

General Meeting

Tuesday, September 9, 2003

 

President Bruce Feuling called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

 

Bruce introduced the SRHBTNA Officers.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Concomitant Agreements – The City Council will be holding a study session on September 16th.

 

The City of Kirkland is creating a Rose Hill Business District Action Committee (similar to the Downtown Action Team).  If you are interested in being on the Committee, please contact Janice Soloff, Kirkland Planning Department.

 

UPDATES

Over the summer, Kirkland Honda introduced a private amendment to expand northward.  The Executive Committee has been following this issue.

 

Another issue that came up during the summer and is also being monitored is the Sound Transit modifications of N.E. 85th Street (including sidewalks).

 

REPORTS

DOUG BAYNHAM – KIRKLAND SENIOR COUNCIL

Doug reported that the Kirkland Senior Council was created to address issues addressing Seniors in the Kirkland area.  On October 18th, they will be sponsoring a Healthy Living Expo called, “Baby Boomers and Beyond”, from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the Kirkland Senior Center.  Included at the Expo will be health screening, resources, and many issues and options for Seniors and Baby Boomers.  The day will include music, cooking, and discussions on a wide variety of subjects. 

 

HEIDI SCHOR & KAREN BLAKELY – CITIZENS FOR KING COUNTY MONORAIL

Frustrated with traffic on the Eastside, Heidi and Karen discussed the need for transportation alternatives, including a King County monorail which would involve the creation of a commission for the formation of an elevated transportation system.  This system would run on schedule and connect key urban centers on the Eastside, and also connect with Seattle.  The commission would look at this area and get feedback from hundreds of community meetings, look at engineering studies and environmental studies, come up with routes, a funding package, and a time table, and then come back to the voters for a vote (similar to what was done in Seattle).  Karen discussed the initiative drive which had a good start, and plans are for it to be on next fall’s ballot. 

 

DOWNTOWN ACTION TEAM

Jeremy McMahon – City of Kirkland Planning Department; Mike Nelson, Chair, DAT; and George Lawson, Downtown Resident

 

The Downtown Strategic Plan evolved when leaders got together to discuss and plan what they did and didn’t want to see in the downtown.  There were key principles: 

·        Overall, people are passionate about downtown

·        There needs to be better management of downtown traffic and pedestrians

·        People want retail that works with the community

·        Connection to Lake Washington – Downtown turns its back on the lake which is a missed opportunity

·        Redevelopment opportunities – What are the best uses?  Mixed use with housing better supports retail.

·        Parking issues – There is a tremendous need for the future to have adequate parking.

 

As part of the implementation process, DAT formed a subcommittee to look at a number of locations for the Transit Center and determine best location through meetings and open houses, and DAT brought Committee recommendations to the City Council.  The Parking Committee recommendations are coming to DAT next week.  The Committee hopes to have ideas/resolution and implementation in one year to 18 months.

 

A working committee is just starting to get input regarding “opportunity sites” such as Lakeshore Plaza, Plaza on State, a proposed hotel downtown, possibly the Antique Mall location, and putting a lid over Marina Park.  Anyone from the neighborhoods who would like to be involved was invited to attend.  An important issue to be addressed will include what we want Central Way to look like – gateways, traffic calming, pedestrians, sidewalks, landscaping, parking, design standards for future development, etc.

 

OFF-LEASH DOG AREA

Mark Johnston, City of Kirkland Parks Department; Colleen Cullen, Park Board and Co-chair, Kirkland Dogs and Parks Committee; Andy Held, former Park Board member; and Jenna Beardsley-Smith, K-Dog and Kirkland Dogs and Parks Committee

 

The Dogs and Parks Committee was formed initially to create clarity on enforcement of existing leash laws and take up the issue of park access by dogs.  The mission is to develop and recommend appropriate policy and enforcement priorities for park use by people with dogs and to identify potential recreational opportunities for people with dogs including co-use.  They met with SRHBTNA Exec Board to see if the idea of an off-leash dog park had merit, and also have met with King County Solid Waste and Department of Natural Resources. 

 

Keys to Success for Community Off-Leash Areas (OLS):

·        Sitting and Design – A community park, different from Marymoor (more like Seattle Genesee), smaller sized with available parking, buffer, etc.

·        Rules and Regulations – Peer patrolled and enforced

·        Strong Stewardship Agreement – Pilot period where changes can take place

 

Committee Next Steps:

·        Continue feasibility and design work on Santana Site – How much fencing, power, water, move methane, etc.?  All need to be understood (costs?)

·        Explore alternatives and opportunities for off-leash sites

·        Next recommendations to Park Board in November, also getting feedback and giving presentation to Houghton Neighborhood Association

 

Question and Answer Session:

·        Does this park change the original intended use for Little League and soccer?

·        Is the area proposed for the off-leash area a different area from the sports fields?

·        What about using Snyder’s’ Corner?

·        What part of the site would be used?

·        Bridle Trails State Park already has an enforcement issue in that dogs are supposed to be on leash only – what about off leash dogs going over to Bridle Trails park?

·        The Santana Project – Residents have concerns over when Santana is going to be done and why would you propose another project before it is completed.  (Parking is a real issue.)

·        Santana – What is the current situation?  County, City, KALL partnership?

·        Why was the City of Kirkland so far apart from the Santana deal? 

·        What is the public notice process?  (The feasibility study is on the Santana site only.)

·        What about current Leash Laws?

·        Community area – Are there other sites being proposed?  What would prohibit people from Redmond coming here?

·        How many other sites are being looked at?

·        The Neighborhood Association was asked to clarify “NA approval”

·        Why wasn’t an Environmental study done?

·        City Forrester and trees on the site?

·        There is no parking lot at Santana

·        Will it be compatible with the ball fields?

·        What about the children who use the park – and the adults who use the park?

·        What about alleviating the noise of the parking and the dogs?

·        Concerns about neighborhood cats

·        The Kirkland Code Enforcement Officer for the City didn’t know about park

·        Stewardship is a concern

·        Can we see the report of health problems at Waverly Park?

·        Will dog waste be picked up in the park and in the areas around the park?

·        What about enforcement of dog waste laws?

·        What about maintenance of trails into park through the neighborhood?

·        Concerns were voiced about the dust

·        Concerns were voiced about the parking (NE 67th already parking lot)

·        People already want to use the park for off-leash

·        Many people from Bellevue already use the park without a leash

·        Will there be adequate buffer from homes because the area is not very large?

·        Many groups look at the Santana property from time to time, but we need to take a wide lens to make a strategic plan of the property.  The area has improved and includes hawks and quails, etc.  This group is just one of many groups looking for a place to be.

·        Snyder’s Corner is not in Kirkland but is owned by Kirkland.  (Kirkland got it from the County for free.)

·        Be sure to think about more people will be coming since they charge $1 a car at Marymoor.

·        Should we charge?  Pay more if you don’t live in Kirkland?

·        It seems like a decision has already been made. 

·        Will this increase or decrease the value of our property – an eight-foot chain link fence just off our property?  What about the site and smells?

 

People with comments are encouraged to send emails to Barry Russell at the Parks Department, or to Colleen Cullen CMCullen@u.washington.edu

 

MOTION

Steve Tindall moved that the SRHBTNA write a letter to Council to say that the South Rose Hill/Bridle Trails NA requests that a moratorium be placed on the feasibility study of an off-leash dog area in the Houghton Landfill until such a time as the Kirkland American Little League ball-fields are complete and in use, and the impact on the surrounding neighborhoods is known and understood.  In addition, request that the City of Kirkland, in conjunction with King County, the Houghton Community Council, and the South Rose Hill/Bridle Trails Neighborhood Association, research and define appropriate uses for this area and develop a Houghton Landfill Park Master Plan accordingly.

 

The motion was seconded and passed by majority vote.

 

ANNOUNCEMENT

City Councilman Dave Asher announced that the Lake Washington United Methodist Church (which hosts our meetings) is holding its annual picnic on September 21st and all SRHBTNA members are invited to attend.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 9:16 p.m.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Deirdre DeWan Johnson

Secretary

 

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