Meeting Notes - March 21, 2011

Mark Eliasen called the meeting to order. 
We had a turnout of about 80 for the meeting, many of them neighbors of the proposed Potala Village development at 1020 Lake St. S. Our first guest was Lobsang Dargey, principal of Potala Village. Charlie Morgan, architect on the project, was also on hand. Lobsang gave us the details of his project which will be a 143 unit four story apartment building with 6000 square feet of retail on the ground level. The property is under what is called a "ground lease" which runs for 100 years. The building will be the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver designated residential building on the Eastside, and will incorporate such features as a "green roof". There is an open plaza planned for the front of the property on Lake St. The apartments will average 700 square feet and the rents will range from $1200 - $2600. There will be an underground parking garage. Moss Bay has received detailed information from the Kirkland Planning Dept., including how to comment on the project, which is available here. 
Bea Nahon gave us the KAN (Kirkland Alliance of Neighborhoods) report. Coming up on May 30 is the 7 Hills of Kirkland bicycle event which is a benefit for KITH (Kirkland Interfaith Transition in Housing). Jim McElwee told us how this is a very worthwhile event which needs volunteers . Send a message to [email protected] if you can help. All volunteer hours should be reported to [email protected] so we can apply this to our matching grant.
Kari Page showed us a video with great information on the upcoming 520 tolling system called "Good to Go". The video is also available online here. The tolling, which was scheduled to start April 15, has been delayed until May or June because of various problems. 
Don Winters updated the group on several issues. There will be a walk to benefit NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) at Marina Park on May 14. 1500 walkers are expected. Visit the NAMI web site for more info and to contact the organizers. 
Phase 2 of the Hector's project, which was to start in June, has been pushed back until at least the end of the year. The owner of the property wants to lease existing office space in the phase 1 area before proceeding. 
Don reported that the former Pace Chemical property on 7th Ave. S. will undergo yet another cleanup attempt. A 30 day comment period will be created and we will be notified of this.
A PAR request has been made by MRM Development to change the zoning on their property located at 434 Kirkland Way. They want multi-family to be the predominate use rather than the minor use currently allowed. In addition they want a maximum height of 8 stories rather than the current allowable 3-5 stories. In a memo to the Planning Commission, the Planning staff recommends putting this request off until 2012.
John Charpentier, of our association, reported that the property on the corner of State St. and 2nd Ave. S. is being sold to a developer who wants to build housing, possibly 12 detached-condo style units similar to Nettleton Commons. 
Our next meeting will be May 16, 2011 7PM at Heritage Hall, 203 Market. St.