Highlands meeting summary: ped/bike safety, stormwater, station area plan

[Karen Story]

Highlands Neighborhood Meeting

November 17, 2021

Active Transportation Plan Update

City of Kirkland Transportation Planner Kimberly Scrivner
kscr...@kirklandwa.gov

Kirkland's Active Transportation Plan is a plan for improving safe conditions for walking and biking in Kirkland. The city is updating the current plan and hopes to adopt it in March, 2022. The plan goals are:

• By 2035 eliminate all transportation-related fatal and serious injury crashes in Kirkland.
• From 2015 to 2019 there were three pedestrian fatalities and 25 injuries. There were no bike fatalities and 11 injuries.
• Complete a safe network of sidewalks, trails, and crosswalks where walking is comfortable and the first choice for many trips.
• Interconnect bicycle facilities that are safe, nearby, easy to use, and popular with people of all ages and abilities.

Here is the plan website: https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Government/Departments/Public-Works-Department/Transportation/Plans-and-Studies-Transportation-Division/Active-Transportation-Plan

Click on the Story Map link for a great overview of what is being proposed, and to see the city-wide pedestrian and bicycle network maps.

The city wants our input. Email Kimberly at kscr...@kirklandwa.gov or use the public comment form on the website.

People expressed concern about bike-pedestrian accidents on the CKC, especially with higher speed electric bikes. Electric bikes are allowed on the CKC but must not exceed 15 mph. Enforcement is difficult, however.

The city is designing a greenway (streets that prioritize pedestrians and bicycles) called Stores to Shores, that would run from Totem Lake to downtown Kirkland. The proposed route in the Highlands is across the NE 100^th St. pedestrian bridge to 112^th Ave NE, and south on 112^th. Learn more about greenways here: https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Government/Departments/Public-Works-Department/Transportation-and-Traffic/Data-and-Resources-Transportation-Division/Greenways-Guidelines

Surface Water Master Plan Update

City of Kirkland Public Works
Rachel Konrady, Surface Water Planner, rkon...@kirklandwa.gov
Kelli Jones, Surface Water Program Supervisor, kjo...@kirklandwa.gov

The Surface Water Master Plan is a five- to ten-year strategic plan for managing storm and surface water in Kirkland (runoff from buildings and land surfaces, and natural water flow of lakes, creeks, and streams).

The city wants to hear our stormwater priorities, problem areas, and ideas. Learn more about the plan updates and give input here: https://www.kirklandwa.gov/swmp. You can also email storm...@kirklandwa.gov.

Goals of the plan are to:

• Reduce flooding
• Maintain infrastructure (hundreds of miles of pipes, thousands of storm drains)
• Improve, monitor, and maintain fish and wildlife habitat, and lake and stream health and water quality

Report stormwater pollution or flooding issues 24/7 by calling 425-587-3900.

Free extra yardwaste pickup until the end of November (bags or bins).

Keep streets and drains clear of leaves to prevent flooding!

Past and Future Stormwater Projects in the Highlands

·       CKC Rain Garden at NE 87^th St

Highlands helped plant native plants in the rain garden on the CKC at NE 87^th St. Work party to remove invading blackberries on Nov. 20 from 9-11 am.

·       Yard Smart Rain Rewards

This ongoing program helps homes at the north end of the Highlands take advantage of free technical assistance and rebates to install rain gardens, native landscaping, and cisterns on their property, to manage rain water runoff. Learn about the Yard Smart Rain Rewards program here.

·       Spinney Homestead Park Stormwater Vault Proposal

The development occurring around Spinney Homestead Park is creating additional runoff that is detrimental to Forbes Creek, and a potential contributor to flooding. The city is applying for a grant to build a stormwater vault under the south end of the park. (According to the current drawings, we would not lose the sledding hill, and we would gain more parking.) The park and playground would remain as open as possible during construction. The project is on hold pending grant funding.

NE 85^th St. Station Area Plan

City Planner Allison Zike
az...@kirklandwa.gov

The City of Kirkland is creating a Station Area Plan for city property surrounding the I-405 and NE 85th Street intersection. The purpose of the plan is to look at how neighborhoods near the station can leverage the planned BRT station and intersection upgrades to create the most value and quality of life for Kirkland.

Learn more at: https://www.kirklandwa.gov/stationareaplan and see visuals here.

No zoning changes are proposed for the Highlands.

Google wants to buy the Lee Johnson property and build a campus for 6000 employees. They are proposing:

• Three phases of construction between 2027 and 2032.
• Large setbacks, and buildings surrounded by green space, trees, and trails
• 180' tall building next to freeway, with lower buildings stepping down to the east (to help minimize the height impacts on surrounding properties)
• They're asking the city for 250' height allowances on the property to accommodate rooftop structures such as antennas that would be counted as height, and the 80-foot lot slope

Several people asked why there is no provision for a park and ride near the new transit stop on I-405. For background information about parking and dropoff areas, see: https://groups.google.com/g/kirklandhighlands/c/rImYmvXpeGg

The Station Area Plan is scheduled for April adoption.

Send questions and comments to az...@kirklandwa.gov. Also send comments to cityc...@kirklandwa.gov.