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Don Winters called the meeting to order. We had a turnout of about 60 members. Melinda O'Rourke brought delicious cookies she baked at home. City Council Member Toby Nixon was in attendance.
Our first guest was Jim Neal of Talon Private Capital. Talon is teaming with Prudential Insurance, the owner of Park Place, to redevelop the site after a previous attempt by Touchstone did not go forward. The new plans are for 650,000 square feet of office space, 300,000 square feet of apartment space in 250 units, and 210,000 square feet of retail and entertainment on the 11-acre property. Compared to the Touchstone plan, the changes include a 50 percent reduction in office space, the addition of multi-family housing and the elimination of a previously approved hotel. Before the master plan can be approved by the Kirkland City Council, however, Talon must seek zoning changes to accommodate the amount of apartment space, approximately 30 percent of the total. Current zoning allows for only 10 percent. There will be a new QFC, and an 8 screen movie complex. Building height will range up to 8 stories. Plans also sets aside two acres of open space and plazas. Goal is to start by March 2016, with about 20 months of construction. Scott and Michelle Holm told us about their plans to open a craft brewery, Chainline Brewing, on 6th St. S., north of the Google Phase I campus. The space will back up to the Cross Kirkland Corridor and an outside deck accessible from the trail will be available to sample the beer. The beer will be brewed using a Czech 10 hectoliter brewing system they found on the island of Kochi in southern Japan. Their beers will range from Wit beers and stouts to IPAs. They have set up a Kickstarter campaign to help them with cost overuns encountered when building their deck over city utilities. If you would like to contribute follow this link. They hope to open for business in January. City of Kirkland planner Jeremy McMahan briefed us on the Moss Bay Neighborhood Plan update. Our Neighborhood Plan, part of Kirkland's Comprehensive Plan, hasn't been updated in years. It is now undergoing an "interim update". Here is a link to the suggested edits so far. If you have comments or suggestions, send them to Jeremy at [email protected] and copy Don Winters at [email protected] The comments should be submitted by Dec 8, 2014 in order to be considered for incorporation into the update. If you would like to meet with the Moss Bay board on the edits, contact Don about that also. Kari Page, Kirkland's Neighborhood Services Coordinator, gave us a PowerPoint and discussion of the Neighborhood Safety Program. The City may fund up to two safety-related projects of our choosing in Moss Bay, costing up to $50,000. This can be a crosswalk, walkway, bicycle lane or similar. We need to choose one or two projects by Dec 15 and get our application in by Feb 9, 2015. Aimee Voelz is our MBNA point person for this program. Kari also mentioned that the Park Lane renovation is getting close. The public can meet with the project contractors on January 8, at two times, either 10AM or 6PM at the Kirkland Libary. Bea Nahon, our rep to the Kirkland Alliance of Neighborhoods (KAN) reminded us that the City’s Neighborhood Matching Grant applications are due soon and we are eligible to apply for approximately $3,000 for a project that would help our neighborhood. Please see the website for more info about this program and what items qualify. We will need to vote on our desired project at our January 2015 meeting so if you are interested in working with the Board on this process, please contact Don Winters at [email protected]. She also let us know that the City Council will be considering the initial report from its Parking Study (regarding downtown parking) in January, and they will also be considering the proposed changes which would reduce parking requirements for multi-family housing. KAN will also be having a joint meeting with the Park Board on December 10 to discuss the proposed Aquatic and Recreation Community Center and the siting process. She also let us know that KAN held its elections and the new Co-Chairs are Lisa McConnell (Central Houghton) and Bea Nahon, and Secretary is Karen Story (Highlands) Bea also noted that there’s a “For Sale” sign on the Antique Mall site – for more information, see www.kirklandcbdoffering.com Jeanne Large mentioned that she is part of a group trying to organize a "Solarize Kirkland" chapter of Solarize Washington. The goal is to install solar panels that can power a building and be sold back to the electric company. Jeanne also mentioned Styrofest, a program through which you can recycle styrofoam and other plastic packaging materials. The event takes place at the Kirkland Public Works Maintenance Center parking lot, 915 8th St., every 4th weekend of most months, starting Friday at 5PM and ending Monday at 6AM. Our next meeting will be Jan 19, 2015 7PM at Heritage Hall, 203 Market. St. Don Winters called the meeting to order. We had a turnout of about 25 members.
Dave Tomson of SRM Development was our first guest. Dave manages the Google Phase II project which is well under way on 7th Ave. S. The project, which will be one of the few LEED Platinum buildings in the state, is slated to be finished by June 1. Google has big plans for the Cross Kirkland Corridor, which passes between Google's Phase I and Phase II campus'. Amenities will include a 16-foot wide hard surface trail, a meandering secondary trail, a basketball court, resting and gathering spots, trees, beach dunes with a volleyball court, and a children's play structure (see map). A pedestrian bridge will be built over the trail for use by Google employees. The CKC will be closed for construction of the improvements. The trail will divert to the west from Nov 1st - December 31st 2014 and divert to the east from January 1st - the end of May 2015 (see another map). SRM / Google also will facilitate construction of two new traffic signals on 6th Street South at Kirkland Way and at 9th Avenue South, as well as new "missing link" sidewalks on the south side of 7th Ave. S. and the west side of 6th St. S. Dave previously reported on this project at our Jan. 21, 2013 meeting and there is more info in the minutes of that meeting. Jim Tosti of Windward Real Estate Services was our next guest. Jim told us about his project located at the current Kirkland Professional Center site at 433 State St. There will be 27 units made up of one multi unit building, a number of duplexes and two affordable units. Access to the project will be off of 2nd St. S. There will be no access from State Street. 25 units will range from 2400 to 3100 square feet and probably be priced in the $1.2 to $1.4 million range. The two affordable units will be available to moderate income buyers who are qualified by ARCH (A Regional Coalition for Housing). They will be 1000-1100 square feet and sell for about $330,000. Jim plans to start construction this fall and complete it by the end of 2015. Pattijean Hooper, Kirkland's Emergency Manager, gave us a briefing on emergency preparedness We Probably Aren't Coming -- But We Are Here Now. The City of Kirkland serves approximately 81,000 citizens. In a major disaster we will have approximately 30 first responders to assist this population! In such times, citizens will have to fend for themselves for some time, even if injured. For info on how to prepare, visit the Office of Emergency Management web site. Bea Nahon, Moss Bay’s representative to the Kirkland Alliance of Neighborhoods (KAN), presented a report: -The City of Kirkland, Kirkland Neighborhoods and Hopelink hope to collect more food and money donations this year than last as part of Kirkland’s Month of Concern for the Hungry. In 2013, nearly 6,000 pounds of food and over $1,300 in cash donations were received. Donations will benefit Kirkland residents and will be available at Hopelink’s Kirkland/Northshore Food Bank. On Saturday, September 27 and Sunday, September 28, 2014 the following Kirkland grocery stores will have collection bins: PCC, Metropolitan Market, Red Apple, all Safeway stores, and all QFC stores. To help with the collection, more than 150 volunteers are needed for the Food Drive scheduled for the weekend. Morning, mid-day and late-afternoon volunteer shifts are available. To sign up to volunteer, go to http://www.kirklandwa.gov/depart/CMO/Neighborhood_Services/Month_of_Concern_for_the_Hungry.htm or contact Kari Page, Neighborhood Services Coordinator at 425-587-3011 or [email protected]. -KAN is proud to present the first ever "State of the City" address for Kirkland residents! It will be held at Kirkland City Hall, in Council Chambers, from 7 until 9PM. Mayor Amy Walen and City Manager Kurt Triplett will share the latest updates on the City Council’s Work Program including: o Cross Kirkland Corridor o Totem Lake Business District Revitalization o Aquatics/Recreation/Community Center o Kirkland 2035 – Comprehensive Plan Update o 2015-2016 Budget There will also be an opportunity for Q&A with the Mayor and City Manager. We hope to see a strong turnout from the Moss Bay Neighborhood! -The Planning Commission is in the process of deliberating possible reductions in the parking requirements for multi-family housing (e.g. apartments and condos). Jeremy McMahan from the Kirkland Planning Department came to our meeting in May to let us know about this, however there are some additional possible reductions being considered which have evolved after that time and those additional possible reductions almost entirely apply only to the Moss Bay neighborhood. This proposal comes from a pilot study that was funded by King County and from data gathered by counting occupied parking stalls in various properties around the area, including several in Kirkland. The requirements throughout the City could be reduced from 1.7 stalls per unit under current rules, to a lesser requirement based on the composition of units. In downtown/CBD, the requirements could change from 1 stall per bedroom with a minimum of 1.3 stalls per unit, to the same requirement being proposed for the rest of the City. In addition, the proposed change which applies to our neighborhood is that if a property is located within a one-half mile walk from the Downtown Transit Center and if certain transit provisions are included for the residents, then a further 15% reduction would be allowed to the number of required parking stalls. The proposal would also change the visitor parking requirements to 10% (in addition to the required stalls for residents). Currently the visitor requirement is “up to” one-half stall per unit. The Planning Commission has held its public hearing and on September 25, they will deliberate their recommendation to City Council. Although the Planning Commission hearing is closed for public testimony, it remains open for written comments submitted prior to its meeting. KAN had requested that the public hearing remain open for written comments to allow neighborhoods and residents to have time to submit their comments. Common “pro” comments include not requiring projects to have to overspend on parking stalls that will go unused. Common “concern” comments include concerns about parking spilling onto neighboring streets from residents with more cars than allotted parking stalls and concerns about availability of dependable transit. For more information, please see http://www.kirklandwa.gov/depart/planning/Boards_and_Commissions/Planning_Commission.htm and specifically the August 28 meeting documents and the packet for the upcoming September 25 meeting. The May 22 meeting data may also be helpful for you. Please submit your comments, be those pro or con or suggestions for changes. Comments should be submitted as soon as possible – and before September 25 - to [email protected]. If you will be sending comments prior to September 22, please also include [email protected] as they are also considering the matter. Glenn Peterson mentioned the upcoming Oktoberfest, a festival of music, beer, and fun that will take place at Marina Park on Sept 26-28. More info at the Oktoberfest web site. Our next meeting will be Nov 17, 2014 7PM at Heritage Hall, 203 Market. St. Don Winters called the meeting to order. We had a turnout of about 25 members.
Ben Friedman, owner of Homegrown Sustainable Sandwich Shops, was our first guest. Homegrown is opening a new shop at Lake St. and Kirkland Ave. in the former Tully's space. Homegrown sells sandwiches, salad, and soups made with organic and locally sourced ingredients. They have 5 shops currently open in Seattle and are planning a shop in Redmond as well as the Kirkland site. The shop is scheduled to open in August. Scott Gonsar – Sr. Project Engineer, Kirkland Public Works updated us on a couple of projects in Moss Bay. Sewer, stormwater and drinking water pipes along Seventh Avenue South between State St. and 5th Place S. will be replaced this summer. The new water main will be larger and the old main will be left if place for possible use as a fiber conduit. Also, there will be new water mains installed on 6th St. S. between Central Way and Kirkland Ave. Kirkland Planner Jeremy McMahon gave us feedback from the first Neighborhood Plan meeting and prime us for the upcoming June 5 session. Kirkland is working on a “Right Size Parking” project and proposed changes to the parking requirements for multi-family housing in Kirkland. Current guidelines result in an oversupply of parking and consideration is being given to reducing the requirements to 1 parking space per unit. Kirkland City Council member and Moss Bay resident Doreen Marchione told us about the work the Council has been engaged in. Moss Bay Neighborhood's KAN representative Bea Nahon gave a report. Our next meeting will be Sept 15, 2014 7PM at Heritage Hall, 203 Market. St. Don Winters called the meeting to order. We had a turnout of about 45 members. City Council Member Toby Nixon was in attendance.
Kirkland Planning Director Eric Shields was our first guest. A number of projects are under way in the Moss Bay Neighborhood. The big news is that the owner of Park Place, Prudential Real Estate Investors, has partnered with Talon Private Capital, a local real estate investment firm. Talon will be the local managers for a redevelopment of the site. Options including more residential and a smaller overall project are being discussed. The Kirkland Reporter covered this issue in detail here. Eric mentioned other projects, including the Crab Cracker site "residential suites", and the White Swan site mixed use project, both of which are close to receiving building permits. Eric discussed Potala Village. The developer is now planning to build 88 units on the site, located at 1006 Lake St. This is down from the 143 originally planned, but more than the 48 units the City would allow now under updated zoning. The City still has an appeal pending that would force the developer to operate under the current zoning. Some work on the site has taken place and the developer is moving forward. Kirkland Police Officer Jason Holland gave us a brief update on police matters. Identity theft and tax return fraud has impacted Kirkland residents associated with the Seattle Archdiocese, where a data breach has occurred. Car prowls and other low level crime are the most common in Moss Bay. Kirkland Public Works spokesman Christian Knight told us about four capital projects that will take place this summer in Moss Bay:
Dave Wagar told us about the Viva Volunteers Fair that will take place at the Peter Kirk Community Center, 352 Kirkland Ave. on Saturday, April 5, 10AM - 2PM. The fair is a great opportunity for citizens of Kirkland to learn about a wide variety of local volunteer programs that benefit people of all ages within our community. Bea Nahon gave us the KAN report. The City of Kirkland will begin its Neighborhood Safety Program this year with a pilot program and the new neighborhoods will be eligible for 3 grants of up to $50,000, funded by the recently passed streets and roads levy. There will be a panel with one representative from each of the neighborhoods to review the proposed projects and make recommendations to the City Council. The attendees at our meeting approved sending Bea, our KAN representative, to represent Moss Bay on this panel. Next year, the eligible projects can be anywhere in the City and later this year, we will have further discussion about projects to improve street and road safety that we would like to see pursued for possible grant funding. Don Winters told us that one of the development projects we have been following, the "6th Street Flats" at 220 6th St., is not going forward. The developer, Waddell Properties, could not secure purchase of the entire site and the project was no longer feasible. The Kirkland Professional Center site at 433 State St., where 19 residential units are being planned by Windward Real Estate Services, is still in the works and the developer is tentatively scheduled to be at our May meeting. Our next meeting will be May 19, 2014 7PM at Heritage Hall, 203 Market. St. Don Winters called the meeting to order. We had a turnout of about 40 members. Delicious brownies were baked by Melinda O'Rourke.
Kirkland Neighborhood Outreach Coordinator Kari Page gave us a preview of the Planning Conversations meeting that will take place Jan 30. The City is hosting four public workshops to engage residents in conversations about their neighborhood plans and how they relate to the ongoing update to the Kirkland Comprehensive Plan. Moss Bay will meet with Market, Norkirk, and Highlands neighborhoods. The meeting runs from 6 - 8:30 at City Hall. Kirkland Police Officer Brian Frankenberger updated us on police activities in our neighborhood. In the past 6 months, theft(47), DUI(25), vehicle break-ins(17), vandalism(17), buglary(16), and assault(13) were the bulk of the crimes reported. Brian thinks that Moss Bay and Kirkland as a whole have a very low crime rate. Kirkland lost it's "action team" when budgets were cut in the recession and Brian hopes it can be reinstated. The new Public Safety Building at 11831 120th Avenue NE will be ready by this summer. Brian fielded many questions from our members, who always seem to appreciate visits by the KPD. Christian Knight and Gina Hortillosa of Public Works teamed up to give a presentation on the Park Lane Renovation, which is scheduled to commence in 2015. The street will be reconfigured in the Flexible Festival Street design. The street will close for fairs, festivals and markets and include public pedestrian spaces without curbs, a raised intersection at Main Street and Park Lane for entertainment, and raised crosswalks, especially at the entrances to Park Lane. Aimee Voelz of our group spoke about her ideas for Reenergizing Neighborhoods. As part of this City led process, Aimee is researching a new mission statement for the Moss Bay NA. We conducted an online survey of our members and found the zoning was the number one issue of concern. We will continue to gather input. Kari Page gave us some background about the City's proposed Safety Improvement Program for Neighborhoods. We may be able to apply for significant grants to fund safety improvements for our neighborhood and/or adjacent neighborhoods if this program is approved by the City Council. Bea Nahon, Moss Bay's KAN representative, encouraged us to start thinking about ideas and suggested that possibly a task force could be appointed to identify projects and gather the information needed for the grant process. Bernie Crane, a resident and long-time volunteer with the Bellevue Police, spoke about the National Night Out program on the first Tuesday of August. Bernie encourages Kirkland residents and the City to participate. For more information about this program, see http://natw.org/ Don Winters reported on several new projects that have been proposed in Moss Bay. Polygon Northwest is planning 90 residential units for the Wells Fargo bank site at 460 Central Way. This is the third such project under way on this stretch of road, along with the Crab Cracker site "residential suites" and the White Swan site mixed use project (76 units). At 220 6th St, the former site of Hart Surveyors, a 53 unit apartment complex is being planned by Waddell Properties. The Kirkland Professional Center site at 433 State St. is once again seeing a proposal, this time to build 19 residential units. The developer is Windward Real Estate Services. We hope to have one or more of these developers at our March meeting. Our next meeting will be March 17, 2014 7PM at Heritage Hall, 203 Market. St. |
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