Letter | Kirkland, a divided city

By on April 5, 2010 in Archived, Opinion
By Robert Style

Many neighborhoods like the small town feeling.  Some Councilmembers want more development.  Who will win?

Thanks to the Growth Management Act, cities are required to update their comprehensive plans.  The same development problems have not gone away – protecting neighborhoods, promoting economic development, and compliance with regional county, state, and federal requirements.  Starting with the Lakeview and Central Houghton neighborhoods, the City will try to address everyone’s concerns.  It will not be an easy task.

METRO wants to develop King County property located at the south Kirkland Park & Ride.  Will the City listen to METRO or listen to its citizens?  About 1/3 of the property is not within city limits and is governed by Bellevue.  They have yet to consider the proposal.  Should Kirkland act before knowing what Bellevue will do?

The seriousness of the issue prevailed at last year’s council’s retreat.  The discussion was over goals and promotion of the “small town feel.”  The Council could not come to an agreement, to pursue more citywide economic development or to protect the neighborhoods.  They were deadlocked.

Will METRO’s proposal to provide mixed uses that includes more affordable housing encourage the use of mass transit and if it does, will it attract more cars to Kirkland?  It will not reduce congestion.  Are 200 more parking spots necessary and if so, who will use them, the new housing units or transits?  What are the impacts of traffic to Kirkland?

Currently, about 25% of the housing units are considered affordable.  Is more subsidized housing really necessary for the city?  Will these neighborhoods accept them?  If these neighborhoods don’t, which other neighborhoods will?    Who will win?

Affordable housing belongs where property is more affordable.  State law requires the Counties to address affordable housing.  The City of Seattle wants more.  Kirkland citizens should ask if providing more in Kirkland is acceptable.  Where they are located will stir controversy.

I believe METRO’s project will endanger the small town feeling of the neighborhoods?  Almost every neighborhood objects to more traffic especially if the added traffic is for commercial reasons.

The Council is divided.   How do they protect neighborhoods and the small town feeling and yet provide the resources needed to promote economic development?  Who will they listen to, outside agencies like METRO or the neighborhoods within the city?

Bob Style

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  • Lisa McConnell

    Currently, about 25% of the housing units are considered affordable. Is more subsidized housing really necessary for the city? Will these neighborhoods accept them? If these neighborhoods don’t, which other neighborhoods will? Who will win?
    — As part of the Advisory group that is looking at this issue in Central Houghton, I must disagree with Mr Style’s perspective on affordable housing. The fact that our firefighters, police, RNs, teachers, retail service people, and many of the other people who serve our community cannot afford to rent, let alone own a house in Kirkland is decidedly obscene to me. Yes it is really necessary for the city and yes the neighborhoods will “accept” them. (for more info on salaries by job needed to afford housing see http://www.ci.kirkland.wa.us/Assets/Planning/Planning+PDFs/aff+salary.pdf) The City of Kirkland had a chance with the South Kirkland Park and Ride TOD to not only increase the amount of affordable housing in Kirkland, but also to develop transportation options that might help to reduce the amount of cars on our roads.

    That being said, I do however, think that the particular location of this TOD is not well situated to provide success for either of the two goals that Kirkland is hoping to acheive with this TOD. The South Kirkland P&R is located is a isolated area of the city, not near any employment centers, schools, parks, or services except the transit station.

    Some of the parking problems we have in the neighborhood are due to the fact that the 255 bus route is so popular that people are parking “up the line” in order to get a seat on the bus. Some of the problems are because the P&R fills very early, a situation that will only worsen as tolling begins on our highways. Obviously we need to rethink our investment in transportation options, such as improving and expanding the system we already have before we decide to invest in a new project.

  • Lisa McConnell

    Currently, about 25% of the housing units are considered affordable. Is more subsidized housing really necessary for the city? Will these neighborhoods accept them? If these neighborhoods don’t, which other neighborhoods will? Who will win?
    — As part of the Advisory group that is looking at this issue in Central Houghton, I must disagree with Mr Style’s perspective on affordable housing. The fact that our firefighters, police, RNs, teachers, retail service people, and many of the other people who serve our community cannot afford to rent, let alone own a house in Kirkland is decidedly obscene to me. Yes it is really necessary for the city and yes the neighborhoods will “accept” them. (for more info on salaries by job needed to afford housing see http://www.ci.kirkland.wa.us/Assets/Planning/Planning+PDFs/aff+salary.pdf) The City of Kirkland had a chance with the South Kirkland Park and Ride TOD to not only increase the amount of affordable housing in Kirkland, but also to develop transportation options that might help to reduce the amount of cars on our roads.

    That being said, I do however, think that the particular location of this TOD is not well situated to provide success for either of the two goals that Kirkland is hoping to acheive with this TOD. The South Kirkland P&R is located is a isolated area of the city, not near any employment centers, schools, parks, or services except the transit station.

    Some of the parking problems we have in the neighborhood are due to the fact that the 255 bus route is so popular that people are parking “up the line” in order to get a seat on the bus. Some of the problems are because the P&R fills very early, a situation that will only worsen as tolling begins on our highways. Obviously we need to rethink our investment in transportation options, such as improving and expanding the system we already have before we decide to invest in a new project.

  • Lisa McConnell

    Currently, about 25% of the housing units are considered affordable. Is more subsidized housing really necessary for the city? Will these neighborhoods accept them? If these neighborhoods don’t, which other neighborhoods will? Who will win?
    — As part of the Advisory group that is looking at this issue in Central Houghton, I must disagree with Mr Style’s perspective on affordable housing. The fact that our firefighters, police, RNs, teachers, retail service people, and many of the other people who serve our community cannot afford to rent, let alone own a house in Kirkland is decidedly obscene to me. Yes it is really necessary for the city and yes the neighborhoods will “accept” them. (for more info on salaries by job needed to afford housing see http://www.ci.kirkland.wa.us/Assets/Planning/Planning+PDFs/aff+salary.pdf) The City of Kirkland had a chance with the South Kirkland Park and Ride TOD to not only increase the amount of affordable housing in Kirkland, but also to develop transportation options that might help to reduce the amount of cars on our roads.

    That being said, I do however, think that the particular location of this TOD is not well situated to provide success for either of the two goals that Kirkland is hoping to acheive with this TOD. The South Kirkland P&R is located is a isolated area of the city, not near any employment centers, schools, parks, or services except the transit station.

    Some of the parking problems we have in the neighborhood are due to the fact that the 255 bus route is so popular that people are parking “up the line” in order to get a seat on the bus. Some of the problems are because the P&R fills very early, a situation that will only worsen as tolling begins on our highways. Obviously we need to rethink our investment in transportation options, such as improving and expanding the system we already have before we decide to invest in a new project.

  • Downtowner

    Mr. Style-

    What is the divide on the Council? Who is for and who is against?

  • Downtowner

    Mr. Style-

    What is the divide on the Council? Who is for and who is against?

    • Bob Style

      Mr., Ms., or Mrs. Downtowner, whoever you are, to find out who on the Council is for or against promoting the small town feel, I suggest you research what happed at last year’s retreat.

    • Bob Style

      Mr., Ms., or Mrs. Downtowner, whoever you are, to find out who on the Council is for or against promoting the small town feel, I suggest you research what happed at last year’s retreat.

  • Downtowner

    Mr. Style-

    What is the divide on the Council? Who is for and who is against?

    • Bob Style

      Mr., Ms., or Mrs. Downtowner, whoever you are, to find out who on the Council is for or against promoting the small town feel, I suggest you research what happed at last year’s retreat.

  • bigyaz

    If “small-town feel” means being as small-minded as Mr. Style, count me out.

  • bigyaz

    If “small-town feel” means being as small-minded as Mr. Style, count me out.

  • bigyaz

    If “small-town feel” means being as small-minded as Mr. Style, count me out.

  • Zach

    I personally use METRO to commute to work 5 days a week. with congestion and traffic all day, i now have to leave 1 hour before my shift, when it only takes 20 minutes to get to my work. and the buses still come late. its absolute BS to “try” to improve the park and ride. its fine how it is, enough people use it daily, and i hope others would agree.