Showing posts with label city of lake forest park. Show all posts
Showing posts with label city of lake forest park. Show all posts

Alternatives in Town Center redevelopment concept scenarios raise concerns

Saturday, January 12, 2019

Merlone Geier owns most of Town Center
Photo by Steven H. Robinson
Citizen concerns about alternatives in Town Center redevelopment scenarios

Some citizen groups in Lake Forest Park, such as the Brookside and Sheridan Beach Communities, and members from the Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation (LFPSF), are expressing concerns about alternatives in the Town Center redevelopment concept scenarios.

Two important meetings will be held this coming week, on Monday, January 14 and Wednesday, January 16.

The Lake Forest Park City Council will hold a Special Committee of the Whole Meeting (COW) on Monday, January 14 at 6:00pm to discuss current community concerns.

COW meetings are somewhat informal, opportunities for the Council members to discuss proposals before voting on them in regular meetings.

For citizens, it is an opportunity to obtain insights into the views of individual City Council Members. Note that COW meetings are not videotaped. The full agenda is HERE

The second important meeting will be the Public Hearing on Wednesday, January 16th from 6:30-8:00pm. Citizens will have the opportunity to make comments.

The City Council, along with the City Planning Commission, will develop new code and design standard updates to accommodate the final City Staff recommended option. There has been no final decision as of yet.

Concerns are centered especially around “Alternative 3” which allows for the future (15-20 years from now) addition of 1,500 new multi-family housing units to the Town Center footprint. Maximum building height would be 85 feet to the base roofline.

To understand the issues, review the staff documents HERE which follow the agenda. This packet was discussed at the November 26, 2018, Council of the Whole (COW) meeting. The last half is all photos of buildings, illustrating design options.

Lack of green space and community amenities?

Some citizens claim that the alternatives will not allow for open green spaces or other community amenities that were part of the community visioning process held in 2018.

There is a whole lot of vision and community dreams to pack into this small triangle of Town Center land that is primarily owned by Merlone Geier Partners. 

Initially there was interest to expand the Town Center footprint to accommodate these visions better. However, after adjoining neighborhood groups met with Mayor Jeff Johnson and City Council members, that plan was modified to accommodate those concerns.

Increase in density?

With the growth in King County expected to continue to rise throughout the next decades, all nearby cities are urgently requested to consider as much density as possible.

Added density in LFP can aid in economic growth, but it brings up some key issues: 
  • What impact will this type of growth, the addition of possibly 1,200-1,500 housing units at the Town Center, have on traffic congestion and added air pollution that is already a problem? 
  • What impact will a multitude of several stories 85 ft. tall buildings have on adjacent property owners and to the look and feel of the entire Town Center? 
  • What impact will such a development have on the environments such as the watershed and creeks, or other community valued habitat? 
Is Community Vision process being included? 

Does Alternative 3 represent the community’s vision that took months and substantial consulting dollars to achieve? This is the second time an LFP community vision statement was created. The first Town Center vision report was prepared in 2004 and went into the city’s historical files due to an economic downturn. 

Comment for the record
  • In person: At the Public Hearing meeting on Wednesday, January 16th, 6:30 -8:30pm, citizens will have the opportunity to learn more about the analysis in the DEIS and make comments which will go into the official City record. A final Town Center vision plan is expected to be completed by the end of February. The hearing will be held at the Lake Forest Park City Hall, 17425 Ballinger Way NE, Lake Forest Park, WA 98155.
  • In writing: All written comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) must be received by February 1, 2019. You may mail or email your comments on the DEIS to the responsible official listed below and must be received by February 1, 2019. 

Responsible Official:
Steve Bennett, Director
Department of Planning and Building
City of Lake Forest Park City Hall
17425 Ballinger Way NE, Lake Forest Park, WA 98155
steve@cityoflfp.com

Update 1/31/19 Change the word "proposals" to "scenarios"

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DEIS released for Town Center - Council COW will discuss at Monday meeting

Saturday, January 5, 2019

DEIS
The City of Lake Forest Park has released the DEIS for Town Center.

The Town Center Plan Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) is now available at YourLFP.com.

Agencies, affected tribes, and members of the public are invited to comment on the DEIS. The comment period will extend for 30 days through midnight Friday, February 1, 2019. 

A public hearing will be held Wednesday, January 16, 2019 from 6:30 to 8:00pm at Lake Forest Park City Hall.

The Lake Forest Park Council Committee of the Whole will be discussing it at a special meeting on Monday January 7, 2019, 6:00 p.m. in the Lake Forest Room, 17425 Ballinger Way NE

AGENDA

6pm Discussion Topics
  1. Review high points of the DEIS published on January 2nd and discuss any comments received to date; discuss how outcomes from the EIS will help the City determine: 
    1. Direction for Town Center Plan—preferred development threshold; building height limits; potential for bonus density
    2. Potential capital improvement priorities
    3. Elements to be addressed in the code amendment and design standards and guidelines
  2. Town Center Plan outline – review and discuss anticipated plan contents, including the Program for Action component 
  3. Updates on Code amendments, design standards and guidelines, and key topics: 
    1. Status of Planning Commissions work and input 
    2. List of items to be resolved based on outcomes of EIS process 
  4. Looking ahead to January/February COW meetings (schedule for meetings and topics to be discussed) and the formal adoption process for the Town Center Plan, Code Amendments, and Design Standards and Guidelines 
8pm Adjourn


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Lake Forest Park Conference Room furniture for sale

Tables, office chairs, straight back chairs,
small desks, tables, all for sale on Monday in LFP
See photos here


The City of Lake Forest Park is offering conference room furniture for sale on a first-come, first-served basis on Monday, January 7, 2019.

Furniture in the Lake Forest Room, located on the first floor of City Hall, will not be available for pickup before 9:00am on January 8, 2019.

Click HERE for inventory photos and prices.

Payment methods accepted: cash, check, money order, or credit card. Payment must be made on Monday, January 7, 2019.

City Hall is located at the intersection of Bothell and Ballinger Way NE, 17425 Ballinger Way NELake Forest Park 98155.



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Jobs: Court Clerk for City of Lake Forest Park

Wednesday, December 5, 2018


JOB SUMMARY: This is a full time, technical position. Experienced, qualified applicants must have strong clerical skills and communication skills in support of court operations with the ability to serve the public and perform well in a team environment. Judicial Information System (JIS) experience is required.

DUTIES:
Customer service – answers and directs telephone calls, greets and directs public, responds to requests for information or services
Case filing/maintenance - Assists in filing and electronic entry of infractions/citations into JIS vis Sector and American Traffic Solutions (ATS)
Scheduling – schedules court hearings for defendants and prepares and mails notices
Accounting – Performs various accounting tasks to include daily receipting, payments plans and reconciliation
In-Court clerk – Perform as in-court clerk to include calendar preparation and processing

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of JIS
Basic court practices and procedures
Legal forms, documents and terminology
Modern office practices, procedures and equipment
Municipal court record keeping requirements
Knowledge of general accounting functions
Knowledge of general computer functions, JIS, Sector, ATS, MS Office, Outlook Express
Possess excellent customer service and problem solving skills
Ability to work under stressful conditions in a high-paced environment
Be detail and goal oriented
Communicate effectively both orally and in writing
Meet timelines and schedules
Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships in a small court setting, respecting cultural diversities
Make contributions and participate in a team oriented environment

Read on



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Lake Forest Park participated in effort to simplify local taxes

Monday, November 26, 2018

Working for the benefit of our local business community and allowing for increased efficiency in the administration of LFP’s business tax program, City staff participated in the Local Business and Operations Tax Apportionment Task Force created by Engrossed House Bill 2005.

The task force was comprised of city and business representatives and chaired by the Washington Department of Revenue.

Earlier this month, the Department of Revenue submitted the task force report to the Legislature. 

The full report is available here.



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Fraud: Imposters emailing invoices purporting to be from City of Lake Forest Park

The City of Lake Forest Park has learned that members of the community have received emails from what appears to be a City of Lake Forest Park email address with an invoice attached.

The City of Lake Forest Park does not send invoices by email.

The sender of these emails is not from the City, but has spoofed the sender email address to appear to have come from the City.

If you receive such an email do not click on any attached documents or links and delete the email.

We are working to stop the emails, but please be aware that these emails are very difficult to stop.


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Mayor Johnson Issues Budget Update to the LFP Community

Friday, October 12, 2018

Mayor Jeff Johnson has issued an update on his proposed 2019-2020 budget and opportunities for community members to participate in the budget process.

Read the update HERE.

Areas where additional funding is included in the proposed budget are:

  • New investment in parks and streetscapes;
  • Increased funding for community events;
  • Increased funding for the City's community partners.

New to the budget process this year are a web-based budget survey, a schedule of opportunities for in-person budget involvement, and more documents available on the budget section of the City’s website.

Link directly to the budget survey HERE. The survey is available online until October 31.



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LFP Town Center VISION scoping meeting Wednesday

Tuesday, October 9, 2018

The City of Lake Forest Park is amending its development code to smooth the way for the Town Center VISION created earlier in 2018. 

An Open House on Wednesday, October 10, 2018 from 6-8pm in the LFP City Hall Council Chambers, 17425 Ballinger Way NE, will give citizens an opportunity to give feedback.

Make your opinion known on...
  • the elements of the environment, 
  • potential alternatives, 
  • concerns about potential impacts, 
  • possible mitigation measures 
...to be analyzed in the environmental impact statement (EIS). The EIS will look at potential changes to the City’s Planning and Land Use Regulations and related redevelopment scenarios.

Learn more about the scoping process

If you can't be there, learn about other ways to comment or stop by the October 14 Outdoor Open House between 11:00am and 3:00pm (during the Farmers Market) where you will also be able to submit comments.



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VISION meetings in Lake Forest Park

Saturday, September 29, 2018


Town Center VISION Scoping Meeting
Wednesday, October 10 from 6–8 pm

The City is amending its development code to facilitate the implementation of the Town Center VISION that was created earlier in 2018. Comment on the elements of the environment, as well as potential alternatives, concerns about potential impacts, and possible mitigation measures to be analyzed in the environmental impact statement (EIS). The EIS will look at potential changes to the City’s Planning and Land Use Regulations and related redevelopment scenarios. Learn about other ways to comment.

Town Center VISION Outdoor Open House
Sunday, October 14 from 11 am–3 pm

Stop by during the Farmers Market to learn more about potential redevelopment at Town Center and how the VISION may take shape in the coming years. Participate in a self-guided tour with stops at key locations where change may occur and provide input on the scope of the proposed environmental impact statement (EIS) and potential amendments to the City’s Planning and Land Use Regulations.

All meetings will be held at LFP City Hall, 17425 Ballinger Way NE

For the full list of events, visit YourLFP.com/events



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Lake Forest Park City Council adopts Ordinance restricting use and sale of single-use plastics

Sunday, September 23, 2018

Illegal in Lake Forest Park next year
Following discussion at a Committee of the Whole meeting in May, introduction of an ordinance in August, and a public hearing on September 13, 2018, the LFP City Council adopted an ordinance restricting the use and sale of single-use plastic bags and non-compostable food service containers, utensils, lids, and straws in the City of Lake Forest Park.

The vision statement for Lake Forest Park presented in the Comprehensive Plan updated and adopted in 2016 establishes the City as a “Model for preservation of the environment and natural resources.” 
In keeping with that vision and a goal to implement effective waste-reduction strategies as required by State law, the Council approved Ordinance 1181.

The ordinance distinguishes between “carryout bags,” which are defined as those provided for the transportation of food or merchandise out of the establishment, and bags without handles, as they relate to produce, bulk foods, small hardware, laundry/dry cleaning, and similar purposes.

Retail establishments may provide recycled paper bags upon request; the customer will be charged a pass-through amount of not less than 10 cents per bag, to encourage the use of reusable and/or compostable bags.

Also restricted by the ordinance is the use of non-compostable food containers, utensils, lids, and straws. These regulations extend to the City at any City facility, a City-sponsored/funded event, or by any party who contracts with the City.

The ordinance includes two exceptions:
  1. Allowed are non-compostable food service containers for foods prepared and packaged entirely outside of the City to be sold within the City; and
  2. Establishments are allowed to provide disposable, flexible plastic drinking straws when needed by a customer due to medical or physical conditions. 

The operative date of the ordinance is four months from the date of adoption, which is January 23, 2019. An extension of up to one year may be provided by the Administration for a retail establishment that demonstrates the provisions of this chapter would cause undue hardship.

To read the complete text of Ordinance 1181, click here.


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Mayor’s proposed 2019-2020 Biennial Budget available on LFP website

Saturday, September 15, 2018

Mayor Jeff Johnson
Mayor Jeff Johnson presented his 2019-2020 Budget Proposal to the City Council at the September 13, 2018 City Council meeting.
“Two of my most important budget goals that are always top of mind is making smart investments in the things that matter most to this community and delivering outstanding value for the community’s tax dollars. 
"This budget proposal accomplishes both goals. A lot of hard work went into the budget and I am excited about the outcome and the future of Lake Forest Park.” 

The Mayor’s Proposed 2019-2020 Biennial Budget is now available on the City’s website.



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Weather was cloudy but warm for the Picnic in the Park

Sunday, September 9, 2018

The Reptile Man is always a popular draw for the kids
Text and photos by Jerry Pickard

On Saturday, September 8, 2018 the city of Lake Forest Park held its second annual "Picnic In The Park" at Animal Acres park on Brookside Blvd. 

It ran all day - from 9:00am until 4:00pm.

There were many things for families and little children in particular, to do.

There was the number 1 kid magnet "The Reptile Man" With a King Cobra, Burmese Python and even a young Alligator.


How many kids does it take to hold a corn snake?


There was coloring for the younger kids when they wanted a change from snake handling.

                 
A Petting Zoo had sheep and small alpacas.

Shoreline LFP Senior Center was represented, with information, shirts, and friendly faces.

Sweet Mama Brown's BBQ Sauces were for sale next to her Hot Dog stand.


There were Food Trucks.                                                             


Bounce Houses had lines of little kids waiting for entry.


The weather was cloudy but warm and there were large groups of visitors at many of the attractions.  A fun time was had by all!                                 



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Lake Forest Park ends summer with BBQ and picnic - plus coffee with the mayor - and a farmers market

Friday, September 7, 2018

Mayor Jeff Johnson hosts coffee in the morning
then welcomes everyone to the Picnic in the Park
Photo by Jerry Pickard
LFP has coffee with the mayor on Saturday morning, then you can go straight to the big Picnic in the Park.

On Sunday have BBQ with the police to raise money for Special Olympics and enjoy the farmers market.

Then you can settle in for the fall.

Saturday

Coffee with the Mayor
Saturday, September 8, 2018, 
8:30 to 9:45am
Council Chambers, second floor of City Hall, 17425 Ballinger Way NE
Coffee and light refreshments provided.

Picnic in the Park
Picnic in the Park is from 10:00am to 4:00pm that day at Pfingst Animal Acres Park on Brookside Blvd just south of Town Center. The family fun includes concerts, food trucks, a petting zoo, and kids’ activities!

Sunday

Lake Forest Park Police Department Salmon BBQ Fundraiser 
for Special Olympics Washington

Sunday, September 9
10:00am to 3:00pm
Lake Forest Park Farmers Market, parking lot outside City Hall, 
17425 Ballinger Way NE
Tickets available for purchase in advance at the LFP Police Department and the day of the event: $15 for adults, $12 for children.

Lake Forest Park Farmers Market 10:00am to 3:00pm lower level Town Center, outside. Town Center is at the intersection of Bothell and Ballinger Way NE, LFP.


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LFP Stewardship Foundation funds intern to gather data about tree removals and replacement in LFP

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Maple in Animal Acres
Photo by Dan Short
By Jim Halliday, Stewardship Foundation Board member 

There’s a new intern in the City of Lake Forest Park (LFP), thanks again to funding made available from King County Councilmember Rod Dembowski, and Elizabeth Louden, Grant Manager at the King County WaterWorks Grant Program.

The grant recipient, the Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation, is partnering with Steve Bennett, the City of LFP’s Planning Department Director, and UW Bothell’s Dr. Rob Turner, Senior Lecturer in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, with coordination provided by Tyson Greer, of the LFP Tree Board, to provide a UWB student intern to gather data about tree removals and replacement.

This tree data will be useful to the City Council, City Arborist, the Tree Board, and the public in evaluating the effectiveness of the Tree Preservation and Enhancement Ordinance, including enforcement.

As communities at the north end of Lake Washington such as Lake Forest Park move forward with the implementation of the Return Kokanee to Our Streams Project, the data gathered will be critical for long term planning, and making decisions concerning trees in land use development and avoiding salmon habitat loss.

Other cities in the region, such as Seattle, are spending heavily to replace their tree canopies so they can also benefit from the tree services an urban forest provides.

The entire region looks to Lake Forest Park for leadership in urban forest enhancement and preservation.

Learn more about the Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation and its good works.



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Op-Ed: A response to former LFP Council Members concerned about communications

Friday, June 8, 2018

Councilmember
Phillippa Kassover
Phillippa Kassover is a current Council Member for the City of Lake Forest Park

By Phillippa M. Kassover

In response to the three former council members, who served Lake Forest Park with dedication during their terms (1974-79, 1990-97, and 2006-13), and recently wrote a letter (LFP council vs the citizens of LFP) expressing their disappointment in what they perceive as a reduction in communication between the LFP city council and the public, I hear your frustration.

As a brand new council member, I expressed concern about the dissolution of the citizen commissions recommended by the Mayor, as those who sat in on our meetings in early 2016 may remember.

I then chaired the LFP Council Communications Committee, where I learned that our staffing in City Hall has never recovered from the 2008 recession, when the position dedicated to community relations was cut. I also learned how difficult it is for elected officials to engage on social media due to the stringent public records act in Washington State, which is so tough that the state legislators who created the act refuse to be fully covered by it! 

However, the Communications Committee and the city council insisted that robust public engagement be a vital part of the planning for the important parks, culverts, roads, town center and transportation (Big Five) projects in our city.

Since October of 2017, we have held at least eleven open houses and workshops (as well as on-line forums) on these topics, attended by hundreds of residents and members of council. Once we begin to wind down these focused open houses, I look forward to requesting more general town halls that allow the council and public to engage in the two-way conversations our business meetings do not allow. I will also revive my request for re-instituting citizens’ commissions.

I am pleased that the council approved my recent motion to increase the number of members on the new Parks Board from 5 to 7, including a high-school student. I proposed this change because I believe that community input – including from our younger residents, is vitally important to good governance.

When I ran for office in 2015, I visited 2,000 homes in LFP, and engaged in conversations with hundreds of people, many of whom stay in touch with me. I learned much from these conversations that continues to inform my votes and my work on the LFP city council. 

I ran on a platform dedicated to preserving our unique and threatened natural ecosystem, and keeping LFP a vibrant and healthy city for us and for future generations. These goals were supported by the 61% of our citizens who voted for me in my race against a worthy and credible opponent. They are the goals that inspire my work to understand and vote on the difficult issues before us in this time of stunning growth and unprecedented strain on our public infrastructure and economic and natural resources.

I remain committed to these goals, looking for every available strategy to preserve our natural environment and keep LFP a thriving community. I prepare for each meeting thoroughly and vote my conscience.

I have never participated in any parliamentary tricks or maneuvers to undermine the democratic process. It takes 4 votes to pass an ordinance in Lake Forest Park and in cities across the state, as mandated by state law. 

Consequently, the recent Conservation Cluster Housing ordinance supported by just three council members, including me, should not have been declared as passed and I was surprised that this happened. I had expected to lose the vote, even though I believe the conservation easement and cottage strategy is a good option. I wish I had more clearly understood the procedure and state law during that meeting to challenge the “pass” declaration, because that would have been the right thing to do.

I look forward to continued conversations with the community and my council colleagues about how we move forward and write new regulations or provide incentives to developers and property owners to save our beloved and immensely valuable forested ecosystem. Our children and grandchildren are counting on us to leave them a livable and healthy planet.

In the meantime, please know that you can contact me at any time at: pkassover@ci.lake-forest-park.wa.us I am committed to answering all emails addressed directly to me.



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Mayor Johnson vetoes Conservation Cluster Housing ordinance

Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Mayor Jeff Johnson of Lake Forest Park has vetoed Ordinance 1174, approved by the City Council on May 24, 2018, amending the Lake Forest Park Municipal Code relating to Conservation Cluster Housing.

On May 29, 2018, Mayor Johnson gave notice to the City Council regarding the veto. He expressed his disappointment in the action taken during his absence and reminded the council of the importance of taking time to assess proposed changes.

He reminded the council of the goals previously identified for cluster housing and the importance of an open and transparent planning process.

His entire letter is here.


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Lake Forest Park City Council approves city-wide Conservation Cluster Housing (CCH)

Saturday, May 26, 2018

By Donna Hawkey

On Thursday, May 24, 2018 the Lake Forest Park City Council, by a three to two quorum vote, passed updated Conservation Cluster Housing Ordinance 1174 with one additional technical amendment.

It all created more concerns for residents that LFP now has a “band-aid” type ordinance for a significant housing change.

While all Councilmembers agree that Ordinance 1174 is not a perfect solution, not all agreed that it should pass. The ordinance now allows any residential property in LFP with over one acre or more in lot size to build Conservation Cluster Housing (CCH).

LFP residents have spoken quite loudly that this type of housing, which encourages more population density, is a concern in a City that already struggles with the ability to provide the essential services to its residents due to a lack of commercial tax base. However, stronger density is needed in LFP to support a commercial base, so the coyote is always chasing its tail.

Also, when LFP streets were first platted, they followed the natural curve of the land and with many blind and narrow turns and lack of sidewalks, adding density without safety features in place is not seen as a prudent thing to do.

Residents are already experiencing almost grid-locked arterial streets at rush hour. Many wonder how the roads can accommodate higher capacity, and where will more cars park as the CCH ordinance only requires one parking spot per unit? Councilmember Semra Riddle noted that those citizen concerns are all being well-addressed in the City’s Safe Street-Safe Highway initiatives.

There is no budget approval yet for this costly undertaking, so some residents are wondering – will Sound Transit 3 help bring the necessary funds for such plans? No one has those answers as of yet, and residents have not seen a commitment that ensures safer streets and highway at this point.

Councilmembers Kassover, Resha, and Riddle were the three 'yes' votes that passed Ordinance 1174. Councilmember Kassover expressed concerns about the increase the City sees in short plat permit applications with larger square footage homes being built that look out of character for LFP. “Short Plat” is LFP’s current short subdivision of land into four or fewer property lots. She believes that conservation cluster housing is a better option than the current short plat home building choice.

With CCH she believes LFP can better protect the tree canopy, provide for a range of diversity / affordability of housing, and retain more of the LFP character. For instance, in CCH, the setback requirement for building is 15 feet. In the City’s short plat ordinance, the setback requirement is only 5 feet.

Residents also wonder why the City can’t then update the short plat ordinance to incorporate greater setbacks and restrictions instead of offering another housing choice? Some cities restrict the size of homes that can be built on a single family lot to help maintain neighborhood character.

Other residents, as well as Councilmember John Wright, feel that the current tree canopy and critical tree ordinance updates address previous short plat development and environmental destruction issues. The CCH Ordinance could be a redundant effort for City Staff already burdened with a heavy workload.

Ordinance 1174 is “not a perfect solution,” stated Councilmember John Resha, and it would not impact current single-family zoning laws, even with duplex units included. Residents have expressed concerns that if zoning changes, property tax assessments for similar properties in that neighborhood or area could be assessed at higher rates due to new development potential.

It’s an idea with “good intentions but needs a more thorough approach,” said Councilmember Mark Phillips, who voted against the passage of Ordinance 1174. He has repeatedly questioned how CCH helps current LFP seniors who want to downsize and remain in the community they know and love. Many seniors show preference to move to a single floor home without stairs to age in place.

Councilmember Riddle said that CCH is not only for seniors who are “infirmed.” Stairs are not an issue to active seniors, she believes, and that CCH is more desirable to those whose primary concerns are with the continuation of maintaining a more extensive property.

One resident stated, after sitting through the Council Meeting on May 24th, that CCH, in theory, sounds like a great idea, but it does raise a lot of questions that have not been answered. Other dedicated residents gathered solemnly after the vote passed to discuss whether a lawsuit by the residents is feasible.

Councilmember John Wright stated that he does agree that CCH will not negatively affect property values. He believes LFP will always be an expensive place to live due to its proximity to Seattle, the fastest growing City in America, and that there is no such thing as affordable housing in LFP anymore.

But Councilmember Wright went on to say that he is mainly concerned about the voices of the “people who do live here and not the people who don’t live here.” He said he understands the meaning of a transparent process. For many residents in LFP, this appeared to be an opaque process rather than a transparent one.

He also stated he senses the residents feel “threatened by this CCH ordinance,” as they are viewing it as possibly affecting their overall “quality of life.”

Councilmember and Vice-Chair Tom French oversaw this meeting in the absence of Deputy Mayor Catherine Stanford so he did not have the ability to vote on this ordinance. Councilmember French has stated in previous recent meetings that he felt the topic of CCH “warrants a robust resident discussion,” and that he can clearly see the need to gather the right data to make informed decisions going forward. He said it would be “good for us all of to take a big breath and start over in 2019” regarding this topic.

Mayor Jeff Johnson was absent from the May 24th meeting.

Donna Hawkey is an 21-year resident of Lake Forest Park and can be reached at dhawkey@comcast.net.


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Conservation Cluster Housing in Lake Forest Park

Saturday, April 28, 2018

Bell Cottages are the first proposal for
conservation cluster housing
By Donna Hawkey

Conservation cluster housing is a development alternative that allows smaller sized but a larger number of homes to be built on a residential property lot.

This type of development is very different than conventional cluster housing. Conservation clusters have the “green” environmental element embedded for protection of open space and interconnected lands.

Because 50% of the property has to be designated as permanent, never to be built upon forested easement land, the City can benefit from a net environmental gain. 

Once the open land is gone – it’s gone forever.

Both Lake Forest Park’s Legacy 100-Year Vision and the updated 2015 Comprehensive Plan, discuss green infrastructure planning and ecosystem protection throughout its documents as the basis for City Council’s consideration of conservation cluster housing. 

Also, the Comprehensive Plan “ensures that there will be enough housing to accommodate expected growth in the City, and the variety of housing necessary to accommodate a range of income levels, ages, and special needs.”

Any home development in Lake Forest Park is supported by two progressive tree canopy and critical areas ordinances. City Council, along with other LFP volunteers and City staff, tirelessly updated these to further protect the City from a higher loss of its green and sensitive areas.

Growth in our region will increase with an estimated 1.8 million new residents expected by the year 2050. While LFP was initially conceived as a rural suburb designed to be an “escape” from the bustle of city life, it is only two miles to Seattle’s now fast growing Lake City Way neighborhood. LFP is no longer the island type retreat envisioned but now finds itself sandwiched between high-density growth occurring in Seattle and Kenmore.

Conservation Cluster Housing Ordinance 1150, however, was put on a moratorium February 8th as it “did not follow Council’s intent,” according to Deputy Mayor Catherine Stanford. 

Specific concerns centered around how density is calculated on the remaining 50% of the property and continuation of the easement. The Council attributes this ordinance process confusion and misinterpretation to the overwhelming mountain of work currently on their agendas, and the Sound Transit 3 deadlines.

The Growth Management Act (GMA) was never a consideration regarding Ordinance 1150. The Southern Gateway project (12 Degrees North) helped fulfill much of that goal. This ordinance was meant to support broader City defined goals and policies as per the Comprehensive Plan.

With the regional growth explosion, the Council wants to keep LFP the welcoming community it has been since its inception. A place where many teachers, police officers, and other government employees, who are relied upon for essential community services, could still afford a home amongst a beautiful environment yet convenient to Seattle. LFP’s founding concept was to be a place for all people - not just the financially wealthy.

The other intent, besides environmental, is to maintain a diversity of housing to retain that City character. Larger square footage homes are being built and concerns are arising that the City’s history of being a green and protected haven could disappear.

LFP has also been a welcoming place for outreach to many other communities. The success of the non-profit Third Place Commons/LFP Farmer’s Market highlights a history of care about overall quality of life and recognizes how placemaking can strengthen a community.

Influential voices from the community spoke up during previous City Council meeting public comments. Julian Anderson, President, Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation, was mentioned by Deputy Mayor Catherine Stanford as someone who asked a question that resonated with her. He asked the Council “If Ordinance 1150 is meant to conserve, then what exactly are we preserving or conserving?”

This holistic thinking will be taken into consideration going forward with a slower pace. The City administration can then gather the data needed, and the essential input from the residents to puzzle it all out together.

Also, an inventory of what housing the City now has; ADU’s, condominiums, townhomes, rentals will all be compiled and analyzed with oversight by the Planning Commission. Resident surveys and outreach will be conducted,, and all presented back to citizens in 2019 when the workload for ST3 and Town Center visions are completed.

Ex-Councilmember Don Fiene sent City Council a recent communication that states,” A change of this magnitude should require a complete study and review with ample public comment and input by the Planning Commission, as well as an open community process equal to the public process of the Southern Gateway and the recent Town Center Vision process.”

Councilmember Tom French, who grew up in LFP, remarked that the lack of solid process for this subject is an “unintended consequence of having too much on our plate,” but he feels “a robust discussion” is appropriate. He also reminds everyone that LFP has exceptional population diversity and a unique ecosystem, and it is the Council’s responsibility as stewards to protect these assets.

What types of changes would this type of conservation cluster home construction bring to the character of the community? Are there solutions for seniors who wish to downsize in LFP? Would the City’s lack of pedestrian-friendly assets such as sidewalks and the lack of street parking be a liability? Can this type of development help keep LFP the welcoming community it has been, allowing new residents, such as the young folks returning from college, the ability to buy into a starter home in LFP?

These are just some of the questions that need to be answered, and it sounds like by sometime in early 2019, the answers about future housing needs in LFP will have been accessed and agreed upon community-wide.

For additional information and a question and answer session regarding this subject, attend an upcoming meeting:

Tuesday, May 1st, LFP Citizen’s Commission is hosting an informational meeting and resident gathering to discuss Conservation Cluster Housing at the Third Place Commons stage area from 7:30pm to 8:30pm. The developer of the Bell Homes proposal (see previous article) is scheduled to attend and is interested in a community dialogue. This is the only conservation cluster home proposal that was approved by the City before the moratorium took place.

The LFP Citizen’s Commission is not associated with the City of Lake Forest Park.

~~~~
Donna Hawkey is a 21-year resident of Lake Forest Park and can be reached at dhawkey@comcast.com. This is primarily a summary report of recent City Council meetings on April 23 and April 26 and attendance at the Planning Commission meeting on April 24, and various self-directed research.

Updated with minor corrections 4-29-18

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LFP Joins FileLocal to offer online business licensing and tax filing

Thursday, April 26, 2018

The City of Lake Forest Park is pleased and excited to announce the addition of an online option for filing business license applications, business license renewals, and for filing and paying local Business and Occupations (B/O) tax returns.

FileLocal is a one-stop virtual location for business licensing and local tax option for the cities of Lake Forest Park, Seattle, Bellevue, Everett, and Tacoma.

To get started, click here, or you can access the link, “Go To FileLocal,” on the City’s website (Departments/Finance/Business Licensing and Taxes).

Questions? Send an email or call 206-368-5440, extension 132.



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Last council meeting for City Administrator Pete Rose

Saturday, March 24, 2018

Photo by Steven H. Robinson
Pete Rose with the Lake Forest Park City Council and Mayor on March 22, 2018. From left, Phillippa Cassover, John Resha, Rose, Mayor Jeff Johnson, Semra Riddle, Deputy Mayor Catherine Stanford, Tom French. Mark Phillips not pictured.


Pete Rose celebrated his retirement with a reception from City staff, councilmembers, and members of the public.

He is leaving his position as City Administrator of Lake Forest Park after almost six years. He came to the City while it was still recovering from the Recession and there was serious disagreement about how to handle the finances.

A display of Rose's certifications and awards
Photo by Steven H. Robinson


He leaves with finances in solid shape, and the respect of Mayors and councilmembers.

During his term of office, the city completed major public works projects, acquired and improved parks, and embarked on the ambitious Big 5 projects.

He came to LFP as a deeply experienced and successful public manager, having over 30 years of experience. His previous job was County Administrator of San Juan County, where he served from 2006 to 2012.

Before that, he was the City Manager for Woodinville for over 8 years.

Mayor Johnson congratulates Pete Rose
Photo by Steven H. Robinson
When he submitted his notice of planned retirement in the middle of 2017, he said,

“I appreciate the opportunity that you, the Council and your predecessors, have given me to serve here. It has been a period of recovery from the recession, with some noteworthy accomplishments, and the City is now engaged in planning for the future Lake Forest Park.

"The City is setting the footing for many building blocks for the future and those blocks will bring about others. It is my hope that this is just the dawn of great things for Lake Forest Park.

"At some point in a career, there is a time when one is there for the laying of the keel and not there for the launching of the ship. That time has come for me. 
"I will do my best in the coming months to help you and the City governance structure to lay that groundwork. Best of luck in launching the future Lake Forest Park.
"Thanks to all for your support.”

The City Administrator reports to and is under the direction of the Mayor. The city administrator acts as the chief administrative officer and administrative supervisor of the city government. The city administrator is responsible for overseeing and coordinating all city departments, programs, and activities.

His replacement, Phillip Hill, starts on Monday, March 26. 2018.



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