Showing posts with label Lake Forest Park. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lake Forest Park. Show all posts

Sound Transit response to concerns of Lake Forest Park residents

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

Sound Transit has released a detailed response to Lake Forest Park citizens and City Council, who gathered in the hundreds to let Sound Transit leadership know their concerns about the plan to create a Bus Rapid Transit lane on Bothell Way through almost the entire length of the city.

The lane will require cutting deep into the hillside, removing hundreds of trees and shoring up the hillside with a two story concrete retaining wall.

The report is thorough, responding to each major issue and listing every comment submitted and made in person at the meeting.

There are minor concessions, for example, the concrete wall will have cut-outs to allow planting of vines to grow up and cover the concrete.


Lake Forest Park has a webpage devoted to this issue. Access it here.

--Diane Hettrick


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LFP Early Registration for Fall Recreation Programs with the City of Shoreline begins Thursday August 24, 2023

Saturday, August 19, 2023

Live in Lake Forest Park? Interested in recreation?
 

Take advantage of recreation programs offered through the City of Shoreline. 

Lake Forest Park residents are eligible for a 24-hour early registration period prior to the start of each season’s programs plus an 8% discount on all program fees (not rentals) through the entire year! 

LFP Residents' early registration for Winter 2023 begins August 24, 2023 at 8:00am.

Visit Shoreline Recreation for more information or give them a call at 206-801-2600 with any questions.

Reminder, LFP offers scholarship reimbursements for eligible youth and specialized recreation participants who reside in the City and are registered for and attend cultural, recreation, or aquatic programs and camps. 

For more information, go to our webpage or call City Hall, 206-368-5440.


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LFP Councilmembers request speed reduction on Bothell Way

Wednesday, August 16, 2023

A two story concrete wall the length of Lake Forest Park under Sound Transit plan

Five of the six city councilmembers in Lake Forest Park have sent a letter to the Regional Administrator of the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), asking for a speed reduction on Bothell Way / SR 522, which runs the entire length of Lake Forest Park.

8-14-2023

Brian Nielsen
Regional Administrator, Northwest Region
WA State Department of Transportation

Lake Forest Park City Council formally requested our administration to apply for a speed reduction on State Route 522 at our August 10th meeting. This letter is in full support of a speed reduction. In addition to the important information in Resolution 23-1910 we want to encourage WSDOT take into consideration additional information that has been identified by our community.

We are at a point in time where Sound Transit is nearing completion of their redesign of State Highway 522 to accommodate their Stride project. Their project widens 522 to add a North/East bound transit lane and sidewalks. The final configuration of the roadway will be very similar to 522 in Kenmore where, after a recent speed review, WSDOT reduced the speed to 35MPH.

The most impactful element in the Sound Transit design that WSDOT can have a positive impact on is the two-story retaining wall. The City has been working with both Sound Transit and WSDOT to improve the visual design of this wall through tree relief patterns and vines pockets along the wall. While we support these efforts, the wall will still be a large shift from a green corridor to a concrete corridor. 

Reducing the speed limit to 35MPH allows a reduction in lane width from 11’ to 10’. This would yield a narrower road profile overall by approximately 4’ and consequently reduce the amount of hillside that needs to be excavated. This would reduce the height of the retaining wall by approximately 3’ (approximately 19% lower). 

A lower retaining wall lessens the visual impacts in our community, reduces the quantity of soil being trucked offsite, shortens the excavation schedule, saves additional trees, reduces acquisition extents, and reduces costs. 

In addition, the reduction of the speed limit would make living in the single-family homes along SR 522 safer. While these driveways are typically considered low volume and do not generally contribute to lowering speeds, these residents are at high risk as they back into the highway instead of the shoulders they have now and should be considered as part of the speed limit review.

We entreat WSDOT to reconsider the speed limit of State Highway 522 through Lake Forest Park as this is a win for WSDOT, Sound Transit, and our community.

Kindly, in our individual capacities,

Councilmember Semra Riddle
Councilmember Larry Goldman
Councilmember Tom French, Deputy Mayor
Councilmember Phillippa Kassover, Vice Chair
Councilmember Tracy Furutani
Councilmember Lorri Bodi


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Hopelink has financial help for renters in Lake Forest Park

Thursday, October 20, 2022

Hopelink’s Financial Assistance Program is offering financial aid to those affected by the pandemic in order to prevent evictions and assist with move-in costs for renters in Lake Forest Park.

If you’re behind on rent or having trouble making the high up-front costs for a new place, call Hopelink today!

Who qualifies?
  • Must be currently renting or moving into a rental unit in Lake Forest Park.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic affected your finances.
  • Household income be at or below 50% AMI (area median income) or 200% FPL (federal poverty level)
YOU MUST APPLY BEFORE NOVEMBER 15, 2022

Call your local Hopelink Center in Shoreline at 206-440-7300 to apply or visit https://www.hopelink.org/need-help/financial-assistance to learn more about the program.

*If you want to learn about other Hopelink programs, please visit our website https://www.hopelink.org

Hopelink offers Food Assistance, Transportation Services, Adult Education programs, and much more!



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Hopelink has financial help for renters in Lake Forest Park

Saturday, September 3, 2022

Hopelink’s Financial Assistance Program is offering financial aid to those affected by the pandemic in order to prevent evictions and assist with move-in costs for renters in Lake Forest Park. 

If you’re behind on rent or having trouble making the high up-front costs for a new place, call Hopelink today!

Who qualifies?
  • Must be currently renting or moving into a rental unit in Lake Forest Park.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic affected your finances.
  • Household income be at or below 50% AMI (area median income) or 200% FPL (federal poverty level)
YOU MUST APPLY BEFORE NOVEMBER 15, 2022

Call your local Hopelink Center in Shoreline at 206-440-7300 to apply or visit https://www.hopelink.org/need-help/financial-assistance to learn more about the program.

*If you want to learn about other Hopelink programs, please visit our website https://www.hopelink.org

We offer Food Assistance, Transportation Services, Adult Education programs, and much more!



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Stocking Stuffer Show at The Gallery at Town Center

Friday, November 20, 2020





November 18, 2020 – January 2, 2021

Shop small this holiday season and support your local arts organization at the same time! The Gallery at Town Center has a large selection of handmade art items by Pacific Northwest artists, including jewelry, ceramics, glass, fiber, and wood. 

Artist Julie Steed

We are always on the lookout for new and interesting inventory. Stop by and discover our most recent finds.

On the walls will be 12”x12” (or smaller) paintings, mixed media, prints, and photography – the perfect gift size! Plus, boxes and bags are available for most small items helping to make your gift-wrapping a snap.

Artist Elsa Bouman

NEW this year! Shop the Stocking Stuffer Show online. We have curbside pick-up and shipping options available. We’re also continuing to add new products to the Online Gallery Shop. No shortage of beautiful handmade items this holiday shopping season!

Featured Local Artists: Carol Austin, Elsa Bouman, Jean Burnett, Jennifer de Mello e Souza, Lee Harper,Janis Howes, Cheryl Hufnagel, Monica Josephson, Susan Lally-Chiu, Sonya Lang, Alison Leigh Lilly, Marsha Lippert, Jennifer Munson, Mary Peterson, Sue Robertson, Rebecca Shelton, Julie Steed, Shannon Tipple-Leen

Artist Sonya Lang

Holiday Hours:
  • Every Wednesday – Saturday, 12-5pm
  • Sunday, November 29 (Artists Sunday) 12-5pm
  • Closed: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day
Questions? Call the Gallery at 206-588-8332.

While at the gallery, you can sign up to become a member of the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council and save 10% on all of your gallery purchases throughout the year! 

Artist Sue Robertson

We also want to share some of the updates and precautions we're taking related to COVID-19 at the Gallery:
  • Face coverings are required
  • We are cleaning high-touch surfaces
  • Hand sanitizer stations are available in the mall
  • We’re ensuring 6-foot physical distancing can be maintained by limiting store occupancy
  • We have a contactless payment system for those that want to use it
Thank you!

The Gallery at Town Center is a program of the Shoreline - Lake Forest Park Arts Council and is located inside the Lake Forest Park Town Center on the lower level. 17171 Bothell Way NE, Lake Forest Park, WA 98155.

The Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to cultivate creativity and inspire our community through the arts.




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Lake Forest Park police report; 55th Ave NE; map of police activity year to date

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

From the City Administrator

There seems to be a recent uptick in crime along 55th Ave NE and the surrounding neighborhoods.

We have heard reports from citizens and the businesses that there is an increase in suspicious persons, vehicles, and activity.

On September 8, 2020 alone, there were several reported incidents, to include numerous vehicle prowls, mail theft, and a residential burglary.

In the residential burglary (which occurred in the 19200 blk of 53rd Ct NE), the suspect entered a vehicle and used a stolen garage door opener to access the house. Another incident in the 5400 blk of NE 197th Pl reported a similar MO, though the homeowner is unsure if entry was made to the house.

These reported incidents occurred overnight.


Police Activity From January 1, 2020 to September 16, 2020


It has been a busy (and different) year. We created a "heat map" of this time period to show the locations where officers had calls for service. Generally, the city is covered fairly evenly in calls for service, although the darker areas show increased calls.

The calls for service include all responses, including officer-initiated activity. Activity varies from traffic complaints, traffic stops, citizen contacts, to criminal activity.




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Town Center Ghost Town

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Third Place Commons is closed
Photo by Cynthia Sheridan


The Commons dining area at Lake Forest Park Town Center is usually a beehive of activity for dining, social gatherings, bridge, board games, music events or just relaxing. The dining area is now closed.

Honey Bear Bakery
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

Honey Bear Bakery will continue their menu on a take out basis and plans to connect with GrubHub going forward.

Dumpling Generation was new
Photo by Steven H. Robinson


The brand new Dumpling Generation barely had time to open their new restaurant before they had to close.

Third Place Books is open
and also doing business online


Third Place Books is open daily till 7 with room for physical distancing. They are doing a lot of online business as well.

Plenty of parking spaces
Photo by Cynthia Sheridan


On a normal sunny afternoon it is difficult to find a parking place at LFP Town Center.

--Cynthia Sheridan




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Lake Forest Park Municipal Court Judge issues Administrative Order regarding COVID-19 response

Saturday, March 7, 2020

Judge Linda Portnoy
On March 6, 2020, Lake Forest Park Municipal Court Judge Linda Portnoy signed an Administrative Order pertaining to the Public Health Emergency resulting from the recent outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Judge Portnoy has put in place protocols if persons call in sick or show up to court with cold or flu symptoms. The Court’s webpage alerts persons to call the court or their attorney if they are ill. For many cases, arrangements will be made for a continuance.

If you have a court case before the Lake Forest Park Municipal Court, please read the Administrative Order in its entirety, here.



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Photos: Lavender skies at Lake Forest Park Town Center

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Photo by Cynthia Sheri
Photo by Cynthia Sheridan


I love trees, but they don't give you much of a view of the skies. The local shopping centers with their large parking lot provide the best sky view. Open parks are good also, but they close at dusk.

So Town Center in Lake Forest Park, where these photos were taken Tuesday night, is one of the best sky views. Ballinger Village is another.

Completely unscientific observations on my part: there's more wind activity in the sky above Ballinger Village and Town Center is always warmer than the surrounding areas.

DKH



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Reminder: Saturday presentation on Astonishing History of Lake Forest Park

Saturday, April 6, 2019

The Lake Forest Park Library is offering a special event on Saturday, April 6, 2019, 2:00pm.

“The Astonishing History of Lake Forest Park,” presented by Vicki Stiles, Executive Director of the Shoreline Historical Museum.

Co-sponsored by the King County Library System. The library is located on the lower level of Town Center, intersection Bothell and Ballinger Way, Lake Forest Park.

Resident Sally Yamasaki, who grew up in LFP, said that she believes Vicki Stiles and the Shoreline Museum “holds the key to the city’s history’s heart.” 

Come join in for a short but insightful journey with Vicki as she opens the history’s heart up to us all.

The Shoreline Historical Museum covers North Seattle, Shoreline, and Lake Forest Park. It is located at 18501 Linden Avenue North, just one block west of Aurora Avenue North, in Shoreline.



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65 Brookside residents attend meeting about proposed changes at Town Center

Friday, February 1, 2019

Brookside Town Center Open House meeting
Photo by Bart Shilvock


By Donna Hawkey

Residents of the Brookside neighborhood in Lake Forest Park organized a Town Center Open House on the evening of January 30, 2019 at Brookside elementary school. Organizers set up stations with different topics related to Town Center and invited participants to talk to others interested in that topic.

Participants then gathered for a general discussion.

About 65 people attended. They gathered to share information and build support against what they see as an immense housing development allowed for in the current version of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for Lake Forest Park Town Center.

Three alternative scenarios are spelled out in the DEIS. One, which is required, is for no action. The second calls for varied heights up to 75 feet. The third scenario is for uniform heights with structures up to 85 feet tall and potential housing for as many as 1,500 new residents within Town Center.

Residents expressed shock at the number of housing units as well as the building heights.

There are no specific proposals or plans at this point, but residents have different understandings and concerns about the terms of the DEIS and the process to create it.

The DEIS assumes a 15-25 year multi-phase time frame, but some residents fear that if circumstances change, such as if the property is sold to a new owner, that time-frame could be expedited.

Most of those attending the meeting live close to Town Center. They are concerned about what will be built next to them and about the lack of time to understand the issues and make comments to the City.

The public commenting period for the DEIS ends Friday, February 1st at midnight.

These residents would like an extension of this deadline to re-evaluate the process as they don’t feel the DEIS represents the community’s stated visions and values.

The Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation has expressed similar concerns.

Much of the process has been driven by deadlines imposed on the City by Sound Transit, which is trying to implement its Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) through Lake Forest Park. LFP needs to site a parking garage in Town Center to serve the BRT.

Recently, Sound Transit pushed their plans back in LFP for one year.

Most of those in attendance seemed to agree that a future possible Town Center redevelopment plan is a welcome idea to increase vitality, diversity, and density in Lake Forest Park. However, they want restrictions that help maintain its current sense of community and beautiful natural surroundings.

A statement submitted by LFP resident Ray Skjelbred, seemed to sum up the feelings of many. “Lake Forest Park is not a suburb. It is a little city that represents an idea of how to embrace and coexist with the natural world, and today it is an endangered species.”

Former LFP Councilmember Jack Tonkin attended the meeting, but instead of any zoning changes, Jack suggests increasing population by loosening regulations of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) so that they can be rented and bring in income to help offset other living cost increases for residents. He likes the idea that the City creates incentives for residents to build additional ADU type housing.

Councilmember Mark Phillips was the only council member at the meeting. He joined in and helped answer questions as best he could. 

He said the City Council has “no specific plans or preconceived notions for any development. The DEIS is the beginning of a long process with various other opportunities for residents to input."

Citizens questioned why these new density levels are so much higher than the required 2035 Growth Management Act (GMA). In the City’s 2015 Comprehensive Plan, only 551 new housing units are stated. The DEIS speaks to 1,500 new housing units, seemingly a large number for a small city like LFP to absorb.

Census bureau data shows that the rate of growth throughout King County has seen a 2.5 percent increase in population just from July 2016 through July 2017. Since 2010 that also represents a nearly 19 percent growth rate.

One long-time resident, who is also an environmental lawyer, sent a letter to Stephen Bennett, Director of City Planning which states, “the DEIS is inadequate, incomplete, and misleading about key issues, impacts and features. The alternatives, the hearts of the DEIS, are skewed toward dramatic increases in density and traffic, and away from the community’s values and needs.”

Even though this is a non-project, and the DEIS states an assumed multi-phased time frame of 15-25 years or more, once it becomes the final EIS, it becomes City code.

Another resident stated that “City Council seems tone-deaf and submissive. What they direct in the Final EIS is translated into code. From the code, a developer could build out the Town Center to over-maximum capacity at any time.”

To help with education, the Lake Forest Park Stewardship recently provided this definition of a DEIS:

“DEIS is the acronym for Draft Environmental Impact Statement. An environmental impact statement (EIS) is a document required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for certain actions ‘significantly affecting the quality of the human environment.’ 
"An EIS is a tool for decision making. It should describe the impacts on the environment as a result of a proposed action, it should compare impacts of alternatives as well as plans to mitigate the impacts. To ‘mitigate’ means to lessen or remove negative impacts.”

The deadline for residents to comment on the DEIS is by February 1st midnight. Send any written comments to this address steve@cityoflfp.com

Here is a copy of the DEIS

--Donna Hawkey can be reached at dhawkey@comcast.net


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Photos: Decades of difference - NE 155th

Friday, January 11, 2019


This is NE 155th in Lake Forest Park, looking down toward Bothell Way - which was called Lake City Way then. It's from the collections of the Seattle Municipal Archives.


Photo by Steven H. Robinson

Fascinating that the Sheridan Market is still there and with the same name. The house on the left is the same and so is the tree - it's just 60 years bigger. It was pretty spindly in 1961.

There are a lot more houses on the other side of the lake.

The paved road and guardrail are important improvements. In the first photo it looks like a heavy rain will wash out the whole hillside.

I haven't found a lot of local photos in the SMA, so finding this was a real treat.


DKH




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LFP City Council 2013 audio recordings are available on City website

Tuesday, October 8, 2013



Although the Lake Forest Park City Council has not yet started videotaping meeting, you can now listen to any Lake Forest Park 2013 City Council meeting audio recording on the City’s website.

1.  On the left hand side of the homepage, click on City Council. Then scroll down the page under the photo to the words 'Audio Recordings.'

2.  On the left hand side of the City’s homepage, click on 'Agendas / Minutes.' Scroll down to the meeting you are interested in hearing, and click on the 'Videos' heading.

(The web provider is not able to change the “Videos” heading to read “Audio”.)

If there was a break in the Council meeting, there will be more than one recording posted for that meeting because a new tape starts after the break. Each file is playable in media programs such as Windows Media Player or VLC Media Player.

If you experience any problems listening to these audio files, please contact City Hall at (206) 368-5440.



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Win a $250 gift card to the Town Center retailer of your choice

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

From Madison Marquette, owner of Lake Forest Park Town Center:

WIN a $250 gift card to the Town Center retailer of your choice! 

All you have to do is click this link and tell us who your favorite Town Center retailer is! 


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Photo: Orchid cactus at LFP Farmers Market

Monday, June 17, 2013

Photo by Jerry Pickard
Photographer Jerry Pickard says that G&C Nursery had an Orchid Cactus for sale at the Lake Forest Park Farmers Market. The blossoms are the size of saucers and very beautiful.


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Lake Forest Park home remodel featured in Puget Sound Business Journal

Sunday, March 24, 2013

The Puget Sound Business Journal features an article about the remodel of a lakeside home in Lake Forest Park's Sheridan Beach neighborhood owned by Zillow Marketing Director Amy Bohutinsky and her husband Francesco Crocenzi of Frankie’s Table.

Like many of the homes along the lake, it started life as a get-away cabin for Seattle dwellers. Rooms were added over the years to create a large house with no overall design.

Crocenzi was a working architect for a decade and headed up the remodeling team.

They have two small children and see themselves "living our lives here for a very long time.” 



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Flooding in Lake Forest Park

Monday, November 19, 2012

After heavy rains all night, water was over the roadway at NE 170th at Highway 522 (Bothell Way) in Lake Forest Park on Monday, November 19, 2012.


Hamlin Road and Brookside Boulevard at the intersection of Hwy 522 were closed briefly due to water over the roadway but were opened later in the day. 

LFP Public Works officials continue to monitor the situation. 


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Business: Diamond in the Mall

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Ron Nordblad stands in front of his store
in the Lake Forest Park Mall


Story and photos by Jerry Pickard

Ronald Nordblad graduated from the University Of Washington in 1978. His specialty was Accounting. After a career as a banker and accountant, Ron says "I had a need to do things my way with as much control of my own destiny as possible," so I started my own business, Diamond In The Mall, in 1990.


Diamond In The Mall is located on the lower mall of Lake Forest Park's Town Center between the escalator and Rite-Aid. Ron specializes in vintage collectable trading cards, gold and silver coins, and autographed pictures of famous baseball players. Being "too stubborn to fail" Ron has been in business at Towne Center for twenty two years.

The Lake Forest Park Town Center mall is located at 17171 Bothell Way NE at the junction of Bothell and Ballinger Ways. Diamond in the Mall, phone 206-384-7652.


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Lake Forest Park farmers market Sunday 11am-4pm

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Soft, friendly, eats carrots
Photo by Jerry Pickard at the LFP Farmers Market


Last Sunday, Pam Wilmot from Duvall, Washington, co-owner of Heart Of Dreams Alpacas Farms, brought some of her prized Alpacas and one Llama to the Lake Forest Park farmers market. They were very soft and friendly, and kid magnets!

She and her sons went through about thirty pounds of carrots which they cut up for kids to feed to her animals.

She also had hats, scarves, capes and carded wool for sale.

They won't be at the market this Sunday, but lots of other vendors will be, selling crafts, vegetables, fruit, meat, eggs, honey, and everything else that is in season on our local farms.

All the farmers are organic or in the process of being certified.

The market is held on the lower parking area of Lake Forest Park town center at 17171 Bothell Way NE, at the junction of Ballinger Way and Bothell Way. 145th to Bothell Way is a direct route from I-5 and Shoreline. 11am to 4pm


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