East Main Transit Oriented District

With an East Link light rail station to be located in the East Main neighborhood, the city is working to create a vibrant transit-oriented district there. The district will comfortably span the change in character from downtown to the low-density residential neighborhood west of 112th Avenue Southeast.

Council discussion on proposed guiding principles July 8

On July 8, 2019 The City Council adopted proposed guiding principles for the project. The council on May 28 began discussing the principles, intended for development of a land use code amendment to facilitate the East Main district. The following documents were presented at the July 8 meeting:

• Agenda Memo
• Attachment A: Consolidated Principles
• Attachment B: East Main Map
• Attachment C: Timeline
• Attachment D: Guiding Principles Matrix
• Attachment E: FAR and Incentive System Graphics
• Attachment F: Land Use Code Amendment Process  

Background

The East Main station will serve the southeast portion of downtown, the East Main transit-oriented district and the Surrey Downs residential neighborhood. In 2016, the council adopted the East Main Station Area Plan to guide growth in the area, east of the station to Interstate 405 and south from Main Street to Southeast Eighth Street. A resident advisory group and staff had developed the plan.

To implement the transit-oriented district, the city's land use code and zoning map must be amended. Related amendments to the city's Comprehensive Plan and Southwest Bellevue Subarea Plan map are also proposed.