Heritage Hall
Moss Bay Co-Chair
Mark Eliasen called the meeting to order. Mark mentioned that Moss Bay
had received a generous donation of $250 from the Portsmith Condominium
Association. Rob Brown, of that group, presented the check and said that he
hoped the donation would spur more donations from other groups and
individuals.
Mark pointed out
that Jim Lauinger was present at the meeting and that he had recently been
elected Mayor of Kirkland. The mayor is chosen from among the City Council, by
a vote of the seven members.
Our first guest
was Daryl Grigsby, Kirkland's Director of Public Works. Daryl, a Kirkland
resident of 12 years, manages the largest department in the city, with 260
vehicles and a budget of $10 million. Daryl addressed the parking problem in
Kirkland. A parking study in 2002 identified a shortage of 55 parking spots in
the downtown area. One means of mitigating the shortage is the "Parksmart
Program", which encourages downtown employees to park in the library
parking garage.
The issue of new development parking was addressed. The
current standard is that 1.7 parking spaces per unit must be provided, however
there is a question as to the accuracy of this number. As a result, developers
often can get a lower number approved, sometimes based on a "one spot per
bedroom" general rule.
Daryl fielded some questions and comments. Some claimed
that one bedroom units often had two adults with two cars and only one space.
Several commented that the reduced parking requirements were not sufficient.
Kirkland could give developers incentives to add parking to projects, was one
suggestion. Glenn Peterson of the Parking Advisory Board said that their group
was about to propose a zoning study of appropriate parking requirements for
new downtown developments.
Brian Fritz and Dan Scheider of Trammell Crow Residential
updated us on their two projects. The
Boulevard, under construction on Kirkland Ave, is a 119 unit project that
will be complete in September, 2006. Units are on the market and selling well.
Brian mentioned that their State Street/2nd Ave. S. project will get
started soon. It will have 124 units / 157 bedrooms, with 167 parking spaces
including 10 guest spots. Unlike The Boulevard, this complex will have no
retail. The construction will use light gauge steel, poured floors, steel
wrapped studs, and almost no wood -- providing resistance to the water
problems that have plagued newer buildings in recent years. Construction
starts in February should be finished in 18 months.
Bruce Knowlton of CamWest Development spoke next. Bruce
told us that CamWest had purchased the Nettleton site, better known as Green
Funeral Home, in December, and planned to build 30 homes in a combination of
single and multi unit buildings on the 2.7 acre property. Current plans
are to move the historic Nettleton home to the corner of the property on State
Street and 4th Ave. S., renovate it, and sell it as a single family
home. The chapel will be offered to the church across the street and
would be moved, while several other outbuildings on the property will be
demolished, probably in March. CamWest will haul away contaminated soil discovered
on the property.
Bruce mentioned the Pace Chemical site on 7th Ave. S.
CamWest has had an option on this five acre property for several years now,
but contamination on the site has prevented closure of the purchase. The
seller is working to clean up the site, but when this will be completed is
uncertain.
Don Winters mentioned that the Kirkland Hotel is finally
starting construction at 220 Kirkland Ave, and that more information could be
found in an article in the Puget
Sound Business Journal.
Our next meeting will be March 20, 2006.
Meeting
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