North Rose Hill Neighborhood Association

General meeting

March 17, 2008.

 

 

The meeting was called to order by Arthur Best at 7PM Monday, Board members present introduced themselves: Arthur Best, Margaret Carnegie, Dave Boyer, Betty Lou Crampton, Mike Stults, Karen Tennyson, Patti Sutter.

 

Those in the audience came to the meeting through all the media used to announce the meeting. There were two first time attendees.

 

Announcements were made.

 

Betsy Adams (425-587-3858, badams@ci.kirkland.wa.us) from the City Public Works Dept gave a presentation regarding prevention of global warming: Are You a Carbon Big Foot?

 

Kari Page, from the City, passed out the results of the Neighborhood Connection Grant results. See Attachment.

 

Mayor James Lauinger presented a brief talk on his views of the City Finances. The #1 source of revenue for the City is sales tax, accounting for about $16M of income for the City. The sales tax revenue for 2007 was about the same as for the year 2006. However, the budget for 2007 had calculated a built-in increase in sales tax revenue. A major source for sales tax comes from construction projects in the City. Sales tax as a source of revenue is volatile and unpredictable.

 

Chris Ferko representing Costco and the Costco Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Rezone (BCE #6222, the addition of a gas station at the Kirkland Costco site), spoke regarding questions from two previous public meetings. Costco can build a gas station on the current warehouse site. The rezone is to build the gas station on the north parking lot (north of NE 90th St). The previous meetings addressed two areas of concern:

1.      Traffic. The ‘study’ concludes there would not be an impact on roads or traffic lights (intersections). Costco is a membership only business and members typically share a trip to the warehouse with a gas buying trip. 120th Ave NE and NE 90th St do have congestion and flow problems. Additional sidewalks on NE 90th would help with pedestrian safety.

2.      Storm Drainage and Environmental. Storm drainage is a regional issue not a Costco issue. However there are some things Costco can do. Costco can implement oil and water separation techniques to improve the quality of water runoff. A sediment control facility identified as a City of Kirkland capital improvement item could be located on the Costco parking lot.

Costco believes with the Redmond and Bellevue stores opening soon (?2008) the Kirkland store will experience a reduction in sales by 16% with each opening. (This was the experience with the Woodinville store opening.) The Bellevue store will not have gas until after 2012. Costco is trying to bring the level of service at the Kirkland store to the same level as other locations. Kim Sandford from Costco commented that she has contacted the owners of the 76 Station on 85th regarding the sale of that station to Costco and the owner has no interest at this time.

There will be two more meetings in April regarding the Costco Amendment and Rezone. No dates, times, or locations have been announced as yet.

 

Nancy Cox, Kirkland City Planner, provided an example of a short plat process within the City of Kirkland. A short plat is a division of an existing lot into a maximum of 9 new lots. The example cited is located on NE 97th and 124th Ave NE, Arr Short Plat. The zoning is RSX 7.2. This example encompassed lot averaging, tree retention, stream and wetlands, and floor area ratios (FAR). Lot averaging allows for one lot of a short plat to be slightly smaller than 7200SF by not more than 10%. There is a tree retention plan. Trees may be removed in a 3 step process during the improvement stage of the platting, demolition of an existing structure, construction of the improvements (utilities, streets, curbs, sidewalks, grading, etc), or construction of the new home. A buffer to the wetlands/stream was established to preserve and protect the area. FAR in RSX7.2 allows for a maximum of 3600SF of living space. Lot coverage maximum is 50% and includes the footprint of the home, driveways, walkways, patios, etc.

 

Reports:

            Mike Stults, Treasurer’s Report $2411.

            Karen Tennyson, Planning Commission report: Park Place is moving to planning commission. Planning Commission meets the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month at 7pm at City Hall.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 9:20pm.

 

Patti Sutter

Acting Secretary