Showing posts with label fircrest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fircrest. Show all posts

Learn about new nursing facility building at Fircrest Open House July 31, 2024

Saturday, July 27, 2024

The Department of Social and Health Services is holding an Open House to show the details for a new nursing facility building to be built in the Fircrest Residential Habilitation Center in Shoreline. (see our previous story on the project)

Event Details:

The open house will welcome community members to view plans for the new facility, meet the staff, and learn about the services to be provided. Attendees can ask questions about the project and engage with DSHS officials, Anchor Health Properties (developer), and Kiewit Construction (contractor).

Project Information:

The Fircrest Nursing Facility project will be a new three-story, 120-bed nursing facility in approximately 130,000 square feet. The building will be built with Person-Centered Care to promote choice, purpose, and meaning in daily life.

As per the pre-design study, the new facility includes:
  • Private and semi-private bedrooms with adjacent toilet and bathing facilities
  • Shared common areas and dining rooms
  • Meeting and multi-purpose rooms for resident recreation, therapy, activities, and operations
  • Individual and shared spaces for program managers and nursing, custodial, and maintenance staff
  • Storage space for an abundance of equipment and supplies, including wheelchairs and laundry carts
  • Access to outside porches, patios, and serene gardens
  • Staff and visitor parking with canopy structures for photovoltaic panels
In addition, the project will include:
  • Upgraded site utilities to include water system improvements
  • Funding for street/sidewalk improvements as required by the City of Shoreline
  • A new, separate 6,400-square-foot laundry facility to support the entire Fircrest School program

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Hearing Examiner wants more information on Fircrest behavioral health facility

Sunday, March 17, 2024

A screen shot from the March 6 public hearing shows
Hearing Examiner Gary McLean asking for more information
from DSHS and Shoreline city staff. 
By Oliver Moffat

At a public hearing on March 6, 2024 Hearing Examiner Gary McLean told the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to release more details about the behavioral health facility planned for the Fircrest campus. 

He told DSHS to engage with the Shoreline School District on the plan and gave DSHS more time to solicit input before he makes a final decision. 

McLean said he could issue a ruling on the overall Fircrest Master Development Plan sooner if it were separated from the behavioral health facility plan.

As previously reported, DSHS is seeking permits to move forward with redevelopment plans on the Fircrest campus.

One plan - called the Master Development Plan - outlines redevelopment changes for the overall campus including a new skilled nursing facility to replace the dangerously outdated “Y” buildings.

At the same time, DSHS is seeking a permit to build a new 48 bed behavioral health facility on the campus that would provide mental health treatment in a secure environment for civilly committed individuals.

A map from the Fircrest Master Development Plan shows the proposed location of a behavioral health facility in the northeast quadrant of the Fircrest campus.

The facility will have large spaces for activities, exercise, and life skills instruction to help transition patients back into the community. According to the plan, “these facilities would give the state a unique opportunity to improve access to behavioral health services by providing more capacity and reduce the stigma associated with mental illness by creating a more effective treatment model.”

Hearing Examiner McClean heard public comments on both permit applications at the March 6th meeting, but his concerns focused on what he considered insufficient public engagement on the behavioral health facility.

In remarks about the proposed facility, Examiner McLean issued the finding “that I don’t think a lot of people had any idea what the individuals might be…” who could be involuntarily committed at the facility. “And I dare say the school district doesn’t have a clue either,” he said.

The Shorecrest campus is adjacent to the Fircrest property.
Kellogg Middle School is north of Shorecrest.
Photo from Google satellite view.

In an emailed response to questions, a spokesperson for the Shoreline school district said, “DSHS has reached out to the school district, and we are in contact and working with them to learn more about the project and move forward together.”

According to the plan, the project will be licensed as a residential treatment facility, will be secure and locked in compliance with state law, and will comply with nine other codes and guidelines for such facilities.

The 198-page plan includes detailed descriptions of security measures from architectural floor plans that maximize safety for patients and staff to the kinds of locks used on the doors.

Executives from DSHS testified and answered McClean’s questions at the public hearing about the patients who might be treated at the facility and the security measures that will ensure the safety of staff, residents and the community.

McLean gave DSHS until March 20 to post additional information about the plan for the facility on the city’s website so that “parties of record” could provide written responses via email. “That’s not everybody. That’s the people that came and the people that spoke…” at the public hearing said McClean. He also named the school district a party of record.

In a concession, McClean will allow DSHS to “bifurcate” the two permit applications so that he could rule on the Fircrest plan separately from the behavioral health facility permit. If McClean approves the Fircrest plan, this would allow DSHS to start work on the skilled nursing facility without having to wait for the time consuming public engagement process he is requiring for the behavioral health facility.

Behavioral Health Facilities have faced controversy in King County.

The King County Department of Public Defense argues against the use of involuntary commitment, according to their website. “Our goal is to see resources diverted away from an expensive, court-based system that strips people of their liberty and dignity and to instead put resources into community-based programs that can provide housing, health care, and other supports to people living with chronic mental health disorders.”

As reported by The Seattle Times, one of the region’s largest behavioral health facilities unexpectedly stopped accepting new patients last summer. The move reduced the number of available beds for treatment of people suffering from acute psychiatric symptoms and followed allegations of safety lapses.


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Public hearing for Fircrest nursing facility “Grudgingly Accepted” by some

Sunday, March 3, 2024

The Fircrest plan calls for a new nursing facility to replace the badly outdated buildings like this one.
 Photo by Oliver Moffat

By Oliver Moffat

A stroll along the meandering pathways of the forested 65 acre Fircrest campus provides a quiet and peaceful break from the busy car traffic of 15th Ave NE.

Despite the peaceful setting, the future of the Fircrest campus has long been the focus of controversy with some advocates calling for the facility be closed while others seek upgrades.

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) has applied for a permit to proceed with the Fircrest School Master Development Plan - a twenty year plan for the campus. A public hearing on the plan will be held on Wednesday night March 6, 2024 at Shoreline city hall.

The plan calls for the demolition of aging buildings that have fallen into disrepair. In their place, new residential cottages, and a commissary.

The southeastern quadrant where the dog park is today will be redeveloped into commercial spaces. In the center of the campus, the historic chapel will be preserved and the plan calls for retention of as many significant trees as possible. A new public, forested trail will connect the chapel to Hamlin Park to the north.

A rendering from the Fircrest plan shows the proposed nursing facility that has drawn criticism 

A controversial 120-bed nursing facility is also planned that would replace the dangerously aging “Y buildings”.

Originally a Naval Hospital during World War II, the site was used as a tuberculosis sanatorium before Fircrest opened in 1958. By the middle of the 1960s Fircrest was home to over a thousand residents with mental and physical impairments. 

Since then, the population has declined to about two hundred residents thanks to advances in rights for people with disabilities that moved people out of isolated institutions and helped parents support family members at home.

Some of those residents now live in the Fircrest nursing facility in the northwest quadrant of the campus in six Y-shaped buildings dating from the 1960s. These structures do not meet current seismic codes according to the plan and virtually everything needs to be replaced including heating, plumbing and electric.

Current view of Fircrest from Google Earth shows the Y shaped buildings.

After decades of conflict between advocates, families and caregivers, the State Legislature tasked a workgroup to broker consensus between stakeholders and make a specific set of recommendations.

According to the workgroup report, most adults with developmental disabilities live at home with their aging parents acting as caregivers. As their parents age and are no longer able to care for them, they need long-term supportive care.

After listening to over 135 people including residents, parents, and caregivers, the workgroup made a series of twenty recommendations five years ago.

One of those recommendations was for the state to build a new 120-bed nursing facility replacement on the Fircrest campus.

To many disability rights advocates, Fircrest is a relic of a bygone age when people with disabilities were segregated from the community. Advocates including The Arc of Washington and Disability Rights Washington have called for shutting down the facility arguing that residents can receive better care within the community.

An alternative preferred by some advocates was a plan to build multiple 6-bedroom homes across the state that would site residents closer to their communities of origin while allowing them to live in a non-institutional home.

According to a follow up report published by the workgroup early this week, the Fircrest recommendation is still contentious with some while others have “grudgingly accepted” that the facility will be built; like it or not.

DSHS is also seeking a special use permit to build a new 48 bed behavioral health facility on the campus that would provide urgently needed capacity to serve people who have been involuntarily committed to receive mental health treatment in a secure environment for up to six months. The facility will have large spaces for activities, exercise and life skills instruction to help transition patients back into the community.

Some neighborhood residents have expressed concern over the development of the campus, preferring preservation of open space and historic buildings instead of new buildings and commercial space.

In September of 2023, the Naval Hospital Chapel on the campus was listed on the Washington State Registry of Historic Places. (See previous articles about the Chapel and Fircrest)

A locked gate separating Fircrest from Hamlin Park could be removed under the plan.
Photo by Oliver Moffat

According to the proposed plan, the chapel and its surrounding forest will be preserved and a new network of trails will connect the chapel to Hamlin Park to the north. Currently, access to Hamlin Park is blocked by locked gates, preventing Fircrest residents and caregivers from waking north into the 80 acre forested park. The plan also includes badly needed sidewalk and bicycle lane improvements along 15th Ave NE to the west and NE 150th St to the south.

A study in 2023 recorded 2,258 significant trees within the Master Development Plan boundary. It is unclear at this point which trees will be retained: the plan says a minimum of 60% of significant trees will be retained while city staff are recommending that 80% of trees be retained.

A map from the Fircrest plan shows the location of the proposed nursing facility and walking trails connecting the historic chapel to Hamlin Park.

On a typical Saturday afternoon, the noisiest thing on the peaceful campus is the Eastside Off-Leash Dog Area located in the southeast quadrant of the campus. The city currently has a month-to-month lease to use the site which is expected to end when dog parks at Ridgecrest Park and James Keough Park funded by the 2022 Park Bond open. According to the proposed plan, the dog park will be redeveloped into commercial or office space and will include publicly accessible open space.

The Fircrest Master Development Plan does not include the southwest quadrant of the campus where the COVID testing site was located during the height of the pandemic. 

A proposed amendment to the city’s Comprehensive Plan would rezone that parcel which is owned by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). A bill (House Bill 2003) that would provide tax exemptions to incentivize affordable housing on DNR owned lands is on the way to the Governor’s desk after sailing through the House and Senate with broad bipartisan support in this year’s legislative session. State Representative Cindy Ryu has championed a proposal for an affordable housing development on the parcel.


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Naval Chapel listed on National Register of Historic Places

Sunday, January 7, 2024

The chapel sits in a grove of evergreens in the middle of the Fircrest property
Photo by Janet Way

After four years of hard work by Shoreline resident Janet Way, the Naval Chapel located in a small grove of trees in the middle of the Fircrest property, has been listed on the 
National Register of Historic Places maintained by the National Parks.

Interior of the Naval Chapel at Fircrest
Photo by Janet Way

Listing as it appears on the weekly report of the National Parks registry of historic places:

WASHINGTON, KING COUNTY,
Seattle Naval Hospital Chapel,
1902 NE 150th Street,
Shoreline, SG100009645,
LISTED, 12/26/2023

Last fall it was listed on the Washington State Registry of Historic Places (see previous article)


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Fircrest School Master Plan community meeting Wednesday on Zoom

Monday, May 2, 2022

The Navy Chapel and Forest are in the center of this plan

Fircrest Master Plan Community Meeting, Wednesday Night, May 4, 2022, 6-7:30pm

The meeting will be held virtually via Zoom. The meeting link is: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89237905907

Contact Larry Covey, Capital Projects Manager Department of Social and Health Services at coveylg@dshs.wa.gov if you have any questions.

The master plan as drafted completely surrounds the historic and recently landmarked Navy Chapel and surrounding forest.

The Shoreline Preservation Society, which shepherded the landmark process, in understandably concerned about the future of the Chapel.

So now, DSHS and many other “Stakeholders” are pushing hard to build huge new facilities at Fircrest, and even eventually huge housing developments as well. 
Shiny new facilities may indeed be needed to replace aging medical facilities there, however many in our community want these to be “designed around the trees” to maintain their historic and environmental value they provide for our community and could continue to provide to the disabled residents of Fircrest. 

So, is the Landmarked Chapel and Forest truly protected? The answer still remains to be answered by whatever is finally permitted by the City of Shoreline and Washington State decision makers.
 

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Naval Hospital Chapel Landmark Designation

Sunday, March 20, 2022


By Janet Way

It’s official! The Seattle Naval Hospital Chapel has been designated a historic landmark by the Shoreline Landmarks Commission and the King County Historic Preservation Program.

The Shoreline Preservation Society (SPS) received this certificate denoting the official designation.

SPS worked with funding from 4Culture and with historical consultants at Northwest Vernacular, Shoreline Historical Museum, and dozens of other organizations and community members to tell the story of the Chapel and ensure it was properly designated for its unique place in World War II history.

The Chapel was completed on the campus of what is now Fircrest School in 1944, at the Naval Hospital built to treat sailors wounded in the Pacific Theater during the war. 

It is the very first non-denominational, freestanding Naval Hospital Chapel in America. It was built because Captain J.T. Boone, the commander of the base, was inspired by the surrounding forest and believed that patients recovering from their wounds needed a place of respite and beauty to heal. 

The groundbreaking was in June 1943, and it was completed with meticulous local craftsmanship in the neo-Tudor style, with beautiful rustic woodworking and period lighting in the interior.

Naval Hospital Chapel photo by Janet Way

This site is the only remaining example of Shoreline’s contribution to the war effort. And the Chapel is still uniquely inspirational in its wooded setting. The surrounding Forest was also designated a Landmark because of its distinct relationship with the building.

Captain (later Vice Admiral) Boone was also a remarkable part of the story because he was the most decorated medical officer in the history of the U.S. armed services. He received the Medal of Honor for bravery under fire as a doctor during World War I and was awarded numerous other medals, including the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, and Bronze Star. He also served three presidents as their physician.

Shoreline Preservation Society will continue advocating for further designation of the Chapel and Forest on the National Register of Historic Places, for which it is highly eligible.



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Fircrest School public meeting re Master Development Plan

Monday, March 7, 2022


The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) Fircrest School is hosting an early community input meeting to discuss progress on the Master Development Plan that DSHS is preparing to allow for continued maintenance and redevelopment projects on the campus.

The Master Development Plan is a land use permit with the City of Shoreline that is required prior to the construction of projects on properties zoned as "Campus."

The Master Development Plan process began in later 2018, however, was put on pause due to delays in State Legislature providing direction for the future use of the campus. The planning process was relaunched in late 2021 and this meeting is required by the City of Shoreline to allow the public to learn about the Plan and provide input to DSHS and the City of Shoreline Planning Department.

Fircrest School provides support to about 200 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in a residential setting. Its employees take pride in providing excellent care and service to the individuals who reside at Fircrest. 

In order to continue the operations of the campus several facilities need to be upgraded as well as new facilities added.  The nature of these proposed improvements will be discussed in this early community input meeting.

The meeting will be held virtually via Zoom. The meeting link is:

The meeting is Tuesday, March 8, 2022 from 6-8pm

Staff will be available to answer questions regarding the Master Development Plan process. The public is welcome to attend.

Agenda:

6:00pm  Meeting begins
6:10pm  Presentation
6:40pm  Question and answer session
7:00pm  Small group discussions
7:40pm  Group reconvenes
8:00pm  Meeting adjourns



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On a hill with a northwest forest canopy....

Tuesday, June 1, 2021

Veterans and volunteers placed flags at the Naval
Chapel on the Fircrest campus. Photo courtesy Shoreline
Preservation Society.
A beautiful little Chapel stands in Tribute to veterans who lived and died in service to their country. 

It was built there to provide comfort and healing to soldiers who experienced the pain of war.

A small group of veterans and supporters placed flags around the Shoreline Naval Hospital Chapel at Fircrest School.

They offered hope that the Landmark status it has achieved would be maintained and strengthened.

Shoreline Preservation Society has filed a legal appeal to oppose the last challenge by DSHS in a Motion for Reconsideration.

If you would like to help, now would be a great time for a donation to support this work.

https://preserveshoreline.wordpress.com/donate/ 

For more information contact Janet Way at 206-734-5545

The Fircrest campus is on 15th NE, south of Hamlin Park.



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Shoreline Naval Hospital Chapel at Fircrest Landmarked by King County Landmarks Commission

Saturday, January 30, 2021

Fircrest Chapel
Photo by Janet Way


Thursday night, January 21, 2021 the King County Landmarks Commission decided to Landmark the historic Seattle Naval Hospital Chapel at Fircrest School in Shoreline, WA.

Interior of chapel
Photo by Janet Way

The Commission also took the unusual step to landmark most of the interior of the chapel and approximately three acres of surrounding native forest.

The forest was specified by Base Commander, Captain JT Boone in 1944 as one of his main inspirations to build the chapel. The setting of the Chapel within the beautiful forest makes it quite unique, especially in Shoreline.

Three acres of woods around the chapel were also given 
landmark status. Photo by Steven H. Robinson

 
The building is a lovely but humble “Tudor Revival” style and is distinctive in its brick exterior and custom designed original interior. Captain Boone was actually quite notable as one of the most decorated officers in American History and eventually served three presidents.

The Chapel is extraordinary and notable because it was the very first freestanding, nondenominational Naval Hospital Chapel in America. It was built at the height of the World War II in the Pacific theater.

The nomination was made by a small non-profit, the Shoreline Preservation Society and the research and submission undertaken by historical experts at Northwest Vernacular.

Shoreline Preservation Society Chair, Janet Way said, “We are extremely proud and happy to have this beautiful building and its surrounding forest at Fircrest School protected with this Landmark designation. 
"We hope to host a celebration of this Landmarking later this year and invite the community and the Navy to participate.”

Naval Hospital Chapel, 1902 NE 150th Street Shoreline, WA 98155



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Fircrest Chapel still under consideration as a King County Landmark

Saturday, January 23, 2021


There is a continuation of the KC Landmarks Commission process of the nomination to designate the "Seattle Naval Hospital Chapel" (Fircrest School) on January 28, 2021. 

The Chapel was the very first freestanding Naval Hospital Chapel built in the Nation. It was constructed in 1944 and is surrounded by a beautiful native forest which inspired its original construction as a place of peace and quiet contemplation.

A small, lovely brown building nestled in tall green evergreens
Fircrest Chapel
Photo by Steven H. Robinson
We encourage everyone who is interested to please tune in again and testify to reinforce the points we made before. 

Our excellent consultants, Northwest Vernacular, responded in a couple days after the previous hearing with some measurements to better verify the extent of the beautiful surrounding forest we are also nominating for preservation. 

We feel we have a very good chance of getting this landmarked!

KING COUNTY LANDMARKS COMMISSION MEETING
Zoom (Call-in) Conference
January 28, 2021
4:30 p.m. – 6:30 pm
Meeting ID: 851 2935 5688
Passcode: 653869
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

If you would like to write an additional letter of support, that would be helpful. Send it to Sarah Steen, ssteen@kingcounty.gov

If you would like to speak in support that would also be welcome. If you have questions, you can respond to me here or call.

Janet Way
206-734-5545


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Brick Garden at Fircrest

Thursday, November 19, 2020

Bricks from the Brick Garden at Fircrest
Photos by Janet Way


Near the Navy Chapel on the Fircrest campus is a commemorative Brick Garden.

Made to be accessible to people in wheelchairs, the bricks are engraved with notable historical events and the year they occured.

It was designed and created by the University of Washington Public Art Program Spring Quarter 2003 by the Design Build Studio which included students and faculty from the School of Art, College of Arts and Science; and The Department of Architecture and Urban Planning.

It was funded by the Stella Osborne Family.

The Navy Chapel at Fircrest is on the agenda for the Thursday meeting of the Landmarks Commission, nominated for Historical Landmark Status.

Comments on the nomination can be email to ssteen@kingcounty.gov

The meeting can be viewed on zoom.

Thursday, November 19, 2020 4:30pm on Zoom.

Link to Zoom Conference Meeting 

Name and location of nominated property:

Naval Hospital Chapel, 1902 NE 150th Street Shoreline, WA 98155



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Mad Tom's berries at Fircrest

Tuesday, November 17, 2020

Photo by Janet Way


Janet Way found these berries on the Fircrest campus.

 


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Step back in time: Interior of the Seattle Naval Chapel at Fircrest is virtually untouched from the day it was built

Sunday, July 19, 2020

Seattle Naval Hospital Chapel at Fircrest
Story and photos 
by Janet Way

Captain J.T Boone (MC) USN was a highly decorated veteran of WW I, and took up the command of the Seattle Naval Hospital (which eventually became Fircrest School in Shoreline.)

It was 1943 and WWII was still raging when the Captain decided that what was needed at the Hospital Base to offer solace and inspiration to the patients, families and staff was a beautiful chapel.

Custom woodwork, original chandeliers,
round stained glass window
So, Captain Boone set out to build one. It turned out to be the very first Naval Hospital Chapel on American soil.

He specifically wanted it to be built up on a hill, set apart in a peaceful grove of pine, cedar, fir and hemlock.

He wanted the chapel to be a non-denominational “church of all creeds” that could provide solace to these wounded soldiers and their caregivers.

Stained glass window, organ pipes,
baptismal font
At the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Chapel, an account by Captain Boone stated in the June 14, 1944 newsletter The Stethoscope,

“The Commanding Officer has wished that the building of a chapel would be the highlight of his administration and he feels confident that his desire will be realized by his auspicious beginning as expressed on the ground-breaking ceremonies at the chapel.”


Now Shoreline Preservation Society has taken up the challenge to protect this humble chapel nestled in the wooded grove overlooking Fircrest School.
Custom built organ

The good news is that it is in particularly good condition.

In fact, most of its beautiful and simple interior is intact, except that the flooring was replaced some years ago because of asbestos.

But all of the other custom crafted woodwork, pews, chandeliers, leaded glass windows, and even a beautiful small pipe organ are original.

And the Fircrest Chapel (officially still named the Seattle Naval Hospital Chapel) is still used regularly for Sunday services, weddings, memorials, and other ceremonies.

Beautiful woodland settings
It is still surrounded by a beautiful dell of healthy native trees and understory, just as Captain Boone wanted.

Along with the beautiful building, interior, and landscaping, as historians we were delighted to view some of the original drawings and drafting work from which it was created.

It is arguably one of the most beautiful buildings in Shoreline.

Custom-made cabinets
SPS is working with historians from NW Vernacular on a nomination process with a grant from 4Culture and expect that to be completed in the next few months.

If anyone reading this article has any knowledge about the Chapel or other historical aspects of the Naval Hospital or persons associated with it, especially from the Navy, we invite you to contact Janet Way through our Facebook Page or website.


Architect's original sketch for the chapel


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Shoreline Preservation Society awarded grant to research Fircrest Chapel

Friday, April 24, 2020

Fircrest Chapel
Photo by Janet Way


The Shoreline Preservation Society is proud to announce they have been awarded a Special Projects Grant by 4Culture to research and nominate the Fircrest Chapel for Landmark Status!

The Fircrest Chapel (historically known as the Seattle Naval Hospital Chapel) was, according to U.S. Navy records, the very first freestanding Naval Hospital Chapel in America. It was built 1945 while the war still raged in the Pacific. It was designed largely by staff and situated on a peaceful hillside surrounded by fir trees.

Shoreline Preservation Society will be working closely with professional historians from Northwest Vernacular Northwest Vernacular, as well as others with expertise such as the Shoreline Historical Museum and Friends of Fircrest. They will be seeking input from the US Navy historians and members of the community who may have had family members who were staff or patients there during World War II.

The building is particularly beautiful and is largely intact from its original design. It is set off by its location amidst a lovely forest setting.

Fircrest School is now the home of many disabled people who receive services there and was also previously the TB Sanatorium after being relocated from Firlands (now CRISTA) in the late 1940's and early 1950's.

The property is owned by the the State Department of Natural Resources and Fircrest School is run by DSHS.

Shoreline Preservation Society is an all volunteer WA State Non-Profit that strives to work for preserving Shoreline's cultural and environmental assets for the benefit of current and future residents.




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American Legion Women's Auxiliary presents hats and gloves for Fircrest residents

Friday, January 3, 2020

Marcia Sanders (left) and Barbara Berg (right) making
presentation to Lori Johanason (center)
Photo courtesy American Legion Post 227


The Women’s Auxiliary of American Legion Post 227 has been collecting hats and gloves for the handicapped residents of Fircrest Home in Shoreline.

The auxiliary also made picture books for the residents.

These items were presented to the Fircrest Program Manager, Lori Johanason, on December 20, 2019. 

Making the presentation were Marcia Sanders, Barbara Berg and Rusty O’Rourke.



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Notes from Shoreline council meeting October 7, 2019: Fircrest and Point Wells

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Shoreline City Hall and Council Chamber
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

Shoreline City Council Meeting 
October 7, 2019
Notes by Pam Cross

Mayor Hall called the meeting to order at 7:00pm
All councilmembers were present.

Report of the City Manager Debbie Tarry

Last Saturday, there was an enthusiastic group at Monster Mash Dash 5K. Thanks to our sponsors and everyone who attended.

Volunteers are needed for Shoreline’s first Emergency Weather Shelter. Volunteers over 18 years old are needed to be on call for a certain number of nights from Nov 1st to Mar 30th. Training provided. For information email staff@nuhsa.org or call 206-550-5626

Oct 12 from 10:00am - 2:00pm Celebrate Arbor Day by volunteering to help plant and maintain trees and shrubs in Darnell Park. No experience necessary. More information available online.

Public Reminders

Oct 9 There is a public hearing held by the Hearing Examiner, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm in the council chamber regarding Sound Transit’s petition to vacate portions of 7th Ave NE and 185th right of way

Oct 17 The planning commission will hold a hearing on the Comprehensive Plan Amendment (IronsBC rezone). We have instructed staff to follow up with the planning commission to confirm that the hearing will need to be continued to a date in November that will accommodate attendance by the IronsBC.

Council Reports

Deputy Mayor McConnell attended the Seashore Transportation Forum meeting. There was a report from Metro regarding the additional 65,000 annual service hours they put in last month while working on expansion routes, overcrowding and increased reliability.

There was a powerpoint presentation on the Pioneer Square Platform in preparation for the turning area for light rail.

Also there was a presentation regarding Initiative 976 which Shoreline Council already rejected. This is Tim Eyman’s initiative to bring back the $30 car tabs. It’s important for voters to recognize the impact this will have passed. We are one of the 60 cities that will see a big loss of money for road maintenance. There will be a loss of $1.9B revenue over 6 years in this area. Whatever road maintenance you thought we weren’t doing, we will be doing even less if this initiative passes.

Councilmember Scully. There is a late change in the Regional Homelessness Authority. The original plan had an organization something like a corporation: a board at the top that was comprised of elected officials, and then others who set policies. But another step has been inserted. The top level (elected officials) has little authority, the next level, comprised of a panel of experts, makes most of the operations decisions and steers the money. Councilmember Scully is not happy with this because he doesn’t feel comfortable turning decision making and money allocation over to a non governmental entity that is not accountable to voters. He will continue to follow this.

Councilmember Chang met with Katya Fels Smyth who is director of the Full Frames Initiative. It looks into how we can help a homeless person in a more complete way, rather than just offering housing or just providing drug treatment because choices offered may be untenable. This approach is something we need to implement as we move forward with Community Court.

Mayor Hall noted that they had the last meeting of the Governor’s OrcaTask Force. Draft recommendations were finalized for the second year of the work to try to protect the orcas, and it will be available for public review and comment in about a week. All recommendations were adopted unanimously which was a challenge with 40 people on the Task Force.

Council had a dinner meeting with the school board before this meeting and they talked about various issues of mutual concern, including how our community and our schools are changing.

Public Comment

Item 8a is Public Hearing and comments regarding it will be heard later.

Janet Way, Shoreline, mentioned that Seattle City Council wants to get rid of SEPA but she offers thanks to Shoreline for using this tool, the state environmental act, for issues like Point Wells (Item 8a) on agenda.

Joseph Irons, Shoreline, owner of IronsBC spoke regarding the amendment to the Comprehensive Plan. The notice of the public hearing was given to them late which put a two week delay in the process and he hoped they wouldn’t be penalized for this. However he did just learn that the hearing date will be changed (see comments by Debbie Tarry, City Manager).

Alley Johnson, Shoreline, is a student at Einstein. IronsBC came to the school and made a presentation that said you can pursue your dream and that anything is possible.

Venitia Irons, Shoreline, daughter of Joseph and Melissa. There are a number of people opposed to their amendment so they brought a lot of people with them tonight to show that there are a lot of people who support them and the amendment.

Neil Kappen, Edmonds, does business in Shoreline. He supports IronsBC and the quality of their small business. He talked about their contributions to the City of Shoreline.

Jack Malek, Shoreline, serves on the Planning Commission. Today he is here representing his own interests and his own thoughts on this issue.

He provided a North City sub area plan 2001 to Council. It appears that some commercial extends south of 172nd Street (the location of the IronsBC properties). The planned pedestrian city plan goes north from 175th. The city has grown since then, and it’s a lovely area. He is not a proponent for spot zoning but thinks it’s worth considering this segment on a broader scale, on a bigger plan. To go back and study it.

Cheryl Anderson, Shoreline. Things are happening that we have no control over such as Sound Transit and related rezones, building and remodeling schools, and tearing up Ronald Bog. She does not know the Irons personally, but sees their community contributions at various City events.

Melissa Irons, Shoreline, asks Council to review the facts of the case and the support they have garnered, that has been, in her opinion, overshadowed by emotions and objections by a few vocal neighbors. She asks Council to create a solution for their property that supports harmony for small business and residential neighborhoods.

The agenda was approved unanimously.
The Consent Calendar was adopted, without discussion, unanimously.

Action Item 8(a) Public Hearing and Adoption of Ordinance No. 868 – Establishing a Citywide Moratorium on the Filing, Acceptance, Processing, and/or Approval of Applications for Master Plan Development Permits and Applications for Essential Public Facility Special Use Permits

Staff report presented by Rachael Markle, Planning and Community Development Director

The Department of Social and Health Services is currently developing a Fircrest Master Development Plan permit application that includes expansion of existing uses and that may include new uses and the siting of a behavioral health facility which is considered an *Essential Public Facility (EPF). The Development Code identifies both the Special Use Permit and the Master Development Plan permit as processes to be used for the siting of EPFs.

*RCW 36.70A.200

(1) Essential public facilities include those facilities that are typically difficult to site, such as airports, state education facilities and state or regional transportation facilities as defined in RCW 47.06.140, regional transit authority facilities as defined in RCW 81.112.020, state and local correctional facilities, solid waste handling facilities, and inpatient facilities including substance abuse facilities, mental health facilities, group homes, and secure community transition facilities as defined in RCW 71.09.020.

(5) No local comprehensive plan or development regulation may preclude the siting of essential public facilities.

This was last discussed at the September 16, 2019 Council meeting.

Why is staff recommending a moratorium?
  1. The City’s Master Development Plan permit decision criteria may be outdated
  2. The Master Development Plan permit criteria may not be adequate for siting an “Essential Public Facility”
  3. The Master Development Plan permit process may not be the best method to conduct multi-agency planning
  4. New uses from the State Legislature not yet defined and regulated locally
  5. City’s process for siting an Essential Public Facility is unclear
  6. Clear and robust decision criteria as a guide for the Hearing Examiner
This Moratorium will provide the City Council time to review these regulations and policies.
No questions from Council.

Public Hearing is opened
Public Comment

Janet Way, Shoreline, lives just a few blocks from Fircrest. She is an advisory board member for Friends of Fircrest and is well acquainted with the history. She has been an advocate for preserving Fircrest because of the unique needs of the residents.

Janet Way attended a meeting in Olympia where they talked about the draft Master Plan for Fircrest. She said they thought it was a pretty good plan. It showed development all over the grounds and all appropriate for current Fircrest residents. Fircrest should not be broken up.

Reverend Kristin Ellison Oslin, Pastor at Fircrest Chapel. Lives nearby in Lake Forest Park and grew up in Shoreline.

Friends of Fircrest have a statement where they have advocated for the betterment and enrichment of lives challenged with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We want to support the City of Shoreline as well as Fircrest. The Fircrest Master Plan has been an ongoing project since the 90’s. The current one comes principally from the. Governor’s office. We understand that possible addition of the Behavioral Health Facility may be a cause for some review - but 6 months? Washington State is 47th in the nation for care of people with mental crises. 3 or 4 months will be better.

Michael Abate, North Seattle, just one block from Shoreline. He is the representative of the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). We have this conversation every few years. We haven’t endorsed the State’s Master Plan for Fircrest, we do not want to limit options of the State to serve the residents. The land should be used to help people and not be limited by the City of Shoreline or private interests.

Rod Palmquist, Seattle, is the organizing director of the Organization of Washington Federation of State Employees, the largest public employee union in Washington. We do not support the limitation of options for land use at Fircrest.

The Public Hearing is closed.

Discussion

There was a move and second to adopt the ordinance as stated.

The last plan we heard included a behavioral health facility without any description of what that is. We need to know what, exactly, is a “behavioral health facility” This is new to us. Who will live there? What services will be provided? And where in our City would we want it to be located. We need clear guidelines before we can consider. We should have the option of deciding where in Shoreline we want this and also we need to know how the community feels about it.

The State should have talked to us about it. The State legislature didn’t know about it either. There are multiple state agencies working on multiple things. We need to partner and work out any difference, if they exist, rather than be told “here’s what’s going to happen” without any input. Sometimes small changes can better integrate changes into the community. The State took a right turn from where our staffs were discussing the possibilities for the property. All of sudden, there is a new map. At this point we can’t trust our partners to know what the plans are going to be and how much is left for the City’s role

This is not a vote against behavioral health or anti mental health. But Shoreline should be able to use its usual process.

It is frustrating that the State agencies are not on the same page. A year ago we were approached by the State to use part of the land for affordable housing, and just a few months ago the plan showed Fircrest meeting all of its needs without including a lot of the land. Then, with a couple of days notice, we are given this new map that shows Fircrest using all of the property. Like it or not, the State gives local government use authority. That means Shoreline has the legal right, and the responsibility, to zone our city in a way that locates uses in places we have deemed appropriate for those uses.

This most recent map that occupies the whole site with new uses thwarts a budget proviso adopted by the state legislature and signed by the governor that calls for the allocation of some of that land to be available for open space and affordable housing.

Yes, we have a mental health crisis, and it’s embarrassing how Washington State is doing. But we also have an affordable housing crisis. But we need local government to have authority over it.

Two state agencies (DNR and DSHS) still meet with us separately - they won’t all sit down together. We need to know what everyone wants out of this site. We need to all sit down together. It is 85 acres and that is plenty of land to meet everyone’s needs.

Is a moratorium the right way to go? With multiple agencies, that may be the best option. This is a large part of our community and we have to be part of the decision making. While it appears they quietly have moved in a behavioral health facility, we are not getting feedback that we need.

Will another idea come back in a year or two? The staff report uses the work “may” frequently. This “may be outdated”, “may be inadequate”. A moratorium may become a way to stop a project that we don’t like. Could it be a bad precedent?

Vote in favor of citywide moratorium:
Passed by a vote of 5 to 2, with Councilmember Roberts and Mayor Hall dissenting.


Action Item 8(b)Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Settlement and Interlocal Agreement Between the City of Shoreline and Town of Woodway
Margaret King, City Attorney, presented the staff report

The Council discussed the draft Settlement and Interlocal Agreement, regarding Point Wells, at its September 23, 2019 meeting.

The proposed Settlement and Interlocal Agreement provides for clarification of SEPA responsibilities for the two cities and clarification related to Shoreline’s and Woodway’s roles in the provision of sewer services. Woodway is opposed to making changes to the agreement regarding the access road which would give any third parties an implied or perceived right to require that Woodway approve an access road. Woodway is also opposed to any change related to their traffic level of service

Staff Recommends Council authorize entering into interlocal agreement
Motion and second to authorize

Discussion

We’ve done a good job. Refined and retooled and improved upon. There is overwhelming support from the community. It will never be exactly perfect and it’s time to move on to the next stage.

What about the purchasing of property by Woodway for the access road? Isn’t that the responsibility of the developer? Yes, Woodway wanted to confirm they will not be condemning or acquiring property on behalf of the developer.

If Snohomish County rules to develop this property, then neither Woodway nor Shoreline will have their interests protected so the best approach is to do everything we can do to help provide annexation into a city to protect our interests.

Vote to authorize interlocal agreement
Agreed unanimously.

Meeting adjourned at 8:06pm




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Hot Topics: Agenda for Shoreline council meeting includes Fircrest and Point Wells

Thursday, October 3, 2019

Shoreline City Hall and Council Chamber
Photo by Mike Remarcke
The agenda for the October 7, 2019 Shoreline Regular Council meeting features two Action Items. 

Action Item 8(a) Public Hearing and Adoption of Ordinance No. 868 – Establishing a Citywide Moratorium on the Filing, Acceptance, Processing, and/or Approval of Applications for Master Plan Development Permits and Applications for Essential Public Facility Special Use Permits

The Department of Social and Health Services is currently developing a Fircrest Master Development Plan permit application that includes expansion of existing uses and that may include new uses and the siting of a behavioral health facility which is considered an *Essential Public Facility (EPF). The Development Code identifies both the Special Use Permit and the Master Development Plan permit as processes to be used for the siting of EPFs.

This was last discussed at the September 16, 2019 Council meeting.

The City’s Master Development Plan permit and Special Use Permit decision criteria adopted in 2008 and 2000 respectively, may be outdated and not reflective of Shoreline’s current goals and policies; the City Council has significant concerns about development in the City under the current permit regulations in the context of the visions and goals of the City’s Comprehensive Plan; allowing the submittal of applications for these permits before the City can conduct a comprehensive analysis, may result in applications being approved that could not only violate the goals and policies of the City’s Comprehensive Plan but also result in adverse impacts to the character of the City and its citizens.

This Moratorium will provide the City Council time to review these regulations and policies.

*RCW 36.70A.200

(1) Essential public facilities include those facilities that are typically difficult to site, such as airports, state education facilities and state or regional transportation facilities as defined in RCW 47.06.140, regional transit authority facilities as defined in RCW 81.112.020, state and local correctional facilities, solid waste handling facilities, and inpatient facilities including substance abuse facilities, mental health facilities, group homes, and secure community transition facilities as defined in RCW 71.09.020.

(5) No local comprehensive plan or development regulation may preclude the siting of essential public facilities.

Action Item 8(b)Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Settlement and Interlocal Agreement Between the City of Shoreline and Town of Woodway

The Council discussed the draft Settlement and Interlocal Agreement, regarding Point Wells at its September 23, 2019 meeting. After discussing the proposed agreement, the City Council gave staff direction to talk with Woodway regarding potential edits to the Agreement to clarify SEPA responsibilities, required second access through Woodway when 25 or more housing units are proposed for development, and traffic levels of service. Staff have concluded these discussions and the proposed Settlement and Interlocal Agreement provides for clarification of SEPA responsibilities for the two cities and clarification related to Shoreline’s and Woodway’s roles in the provision of sewer services. Woodway is opposed to making changes to the agreement regarding the access road which would give any third parties an implied or perceived right to require that Woodway approve an access road. Woodway is also opposed to any change related to their traffic level of service.

Council is scheduled to either continue to discuss or adopt the proposed Settlement and Interlocal Agreement with the Town of Woodway.

--Pam Cross



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Notes from Shoreline council meeting Sept 16, 2019

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Shoreline City Hall and Council Chamber
Photo by Steven H. Robinson
Shoreline City Council Meeting
September 16, 2019
Notes by Pam Cross

Mayor Hall called the meeting to order at 7:00pm

All councilmembers were present.

Mayor Hall declared 09/21/2019 Mayor’s Day of Concern for the Hungry in the City of Shoreline.

The proclamation was presented to James Pabiniak, Hopelink Shoreline’s Food Bank Supervisor.

The Mayor also thanked the Twin Ponds and Sunset volunteers who grow fresh vegetables for the food bank at their community gardens.

Report of the City Manager Debbie Tarry

Sept 23, 2019 - 2:00pm - 3:30pm Under Our Skin: Conversations About Race. Join in a discussion on race and inclusion using the Seattle Times “Under Our Skin” video project at Dale Turner Family Y in the Rotary Room. This session will focus on the terms: ally, micro aggression and white fragility.

Park volunteer work parties are Saturdays and Sundays in September. This week work parties will be held at Richmond Beach Saltwater Park, Twin Ponds, and Hamlin. Additional details including times and meeting locations available online.

Public Reminders

The Planning Commission meeting scheduled for Sept 19th has been cancelled. The next meeting will be on Oct 3rd.

Council Reports

Councilmember Scully attended a Continuum of Care homelessness advisory meeting. The focus now is working out the details between Seattle and King County. Once this major central piece is in place and running smoothly, attention can be turned to extending the system to Shoreline and other cities.

Councilmember Roberts stated that Sound Cities Association had a robust discussion at their meeting prior to the Continuum of Care meeting. There was concern that this process is not going as fast as expected.

Public Comment

Zhen Li, Kenmore, has 3 parcels of land in Shoreline around 145th. Sound Transit will take about 20’ of this property which will impact his planned project. He wants to see what can be done to protect his interests. Council doesn’t answer questions during public comment, but will ask staff to contact him.

Theresa LaCroix, Shoreline. The senior center worked to create greater inclusion and diversity in programming for underserved groups in 2018 when one-time bond funding was proposed by King County. In 2019 this was changed to a competitive hub process.

Ginny Scantlebury, Shoreline, picked up the same topic, listing the various and numerous projects that are now on hold because of lack of funding. (This list of projects is available online in written comments for this meeting)

Mike Dee, Lake Forest Park. He appreciates that Shoreline is talking about slowing down the process while the City reviews how the Fircrest proposed Master Plan fits in with its codes.

The agenda was approved unanimously. 

The Consent Calendar was adopted, without discussion, unanimously.

Action Items
8(a) Public Hearing and Discussion of Ordinance No. 865: Amending the City of Shoreline Commute Trip Reduction Plan

Staff report by Nytasha Walters, Transportation Services Manager

Shoreline is required to have a Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) Plan because it is located in a county experiencing the greatest automobile-related air pollution and traffic congestion. The aim is to develop and implement plans to reduce single-occupant vehicle trips. The CTR Plan must be updated at least once every four years per state law. The current Plan has an effective period through the 2015-2019. Staff would like to utilize the state CTR Board exemption by extending the City’s current CTR Plan for the 2019-2023 cycle without any additional updates, allowing a thorough review of the plan’s targets and program strategies over the next few years as staff updates the Transportation Master Plan.

Public Comment
Mike Dee, Lake Forest Park,  appreciates that there’s a hearing so the public can comment on it.

Closed public hearing

Discussion

Councilmembers support the extension in order to look at the Transportation Master Plan at the same time. Shoreline should take advantage of the available extension. If no changes are necessary, there is no need to update. This is good government efficiency.

Ordinance moved to the Consent Calendar.

Study Items

9(a) Discussing Ordinance No. 868 – Establishing a Citywide Moratorium on the Filing, Acceptance, Processing, and/or Approval of Applications for Master Plan Development Permits and Applications for Essential Public Facility Special Use Permits

Staff report by Rachael Markle, Planning and Community Development Director

Staff recommends that Council consider a citywide moratorium on the acceptance of applications for Master Development Plan (MDP) permits and Essential Public Facility (EPF) Special Use Permits.

Staff has worked with the State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) on other attempts to Master Plan the Fircrest Campus that have not progressed to the application phase. However, the recent Fircrest Master Development Plan (MDP) includes the expansion of existing uses on the campus, new uses that would support persons with developmental disabilities, and the siting of Behavioral Health Facilities. These had not been previously contemplated by the City.

Additionally, other state agencies have expressed interest in advancing their missions on the Fircrest Campus.

Staff determined that the City’s strongest tools for local control over current and future uses of property within its boundaries are zoning, permitting, and development standards.

A moratorium will allow staff time to study the current approval criteria for permit types in relationship to the City’s goals and policies, and determine and adopt adequate and relevant processes to best evaluate a plan that includes the siting of an Essential Public Facility. This decision is based on these considerations:

  1. Master Development Plan permit decision criteria may be outdated
  2. Master Development Plan permit criteria may not be adequate for siting Essential Public Facilities
  3. Master Development Plan permit process may not be the best method to conduct multi-agency planning
  4. New uses from the State Legislature are not yet defined and regulated locally (i.e., Behavioral Health Facilities)
  5. The City’s process for siting an Essential Public Facility is unclear
  6. Clear and robust decision criteria is needed as a guide for the Hearing Examiner

Staff recommends the City hold a public hearing on 10/07/2019 and implement a 6-month citywide moratorium on the acceptance of applications for Master Development Plan (MDP) permits and Essential Public Facility (EPF) Special Use Permits.

Discussion

This has been an interesting journey. For years the Fircrest property has been completely underutilized. Then the City received one map and, shortly thereafter, another completely different map. After years of inactivity, the State is moving faster than anticipated. This landscape will keep changing, and the City can’t keep putting off a decision by implementing a moratorium every time DSHS comes back with a new plan. What happens if the State calls it Essential Public Services? There are lots of questions about what DSHS is proposing. We don’t know what a Behavioral Health Facility is or what it looks like. Is that type of facility allowed within current campus zones? DSHS wants three independent 16-bed facilities side by side, presumably because of Federal funding of 16 bed facilities. If the intent of federal law is to not concentrate them in one place by limiting to 16 beds, then thwarting that does not achieve the federal goal.

This is a large property located in Shoreline so Council has to protect the property and the community. The State is not as responsive to the community as the City is, because our systems are set up to protect the community. The moratorium would give Council the opportunity to hear from the community. With multiple property owners and divergent interests, a moratorium will also give all of the property owners time to come to some kind of agreement.

CRISTA and Shoreline CC, the other campuses in Shoreline, tried to use their land as efficiently as they could. Land is scarce especially within walking distance of light rail. But this latest approach from DSHS does not seem efficient. Also, the current Master Development Plan permit process is not designed to mediate between State agencies. We have part of the land owned by one state agency and leased to another, one independent elected official vs a governor appointed department secretary. It is messy. The community must have a chance to weigh in. However, we must keep in mind that the City will have to deal with these state agencies in the future so we don’t want a legal land use battle with State.

As part of the process for approving a Master Development Plan, we should consider the layout of the land, maximize needs of the community and preserve open space in order to maintain a good quality of life. In the most recent map, there is no public open space, no public benefit, and who knows what the legislature will want to add? This makes it difficult for the City to trust our partners.

Do we need a moratorium to change the code? If we allow ourselves 6 months, we can get some of these items done by the 12/31/2019 deadline. The DSHS secretary has requested a meeting for October 14th. Maybe there will be progress at that meeting so we can determine whether or not we want a moratorium.

Per Margaret King, Shoreline City Attorney, we can always remove a Moratorium in the event the 10/14 meeting changes anything.

This Ordinance is scheduled for October 7th for Hearing and action.

Meeting adjourned at 7:28pm



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