Published March 21 2024
Plus, Grand Connection update and state legislative session recap
The City Council Monday received an overview of progress made on the Comprehensive Plan update and implementation of the Wilburton Vision. Both plans have undergone environmental review and extensive community engagement. The plans are also shaped by recent changes to the state’s Growth Management Act, King County’s countywide planning policies and the Puget Sound Regional Council’s Vision 2050 multicounty planning policies.
Bellevue's Comprehensive Plan is an important tool that guides growth and development over the next 20 years. This plan informs future decisions about housing, transportation, parks and more.
The community helped shape the plan through surveys, events and meetings with key stakeholders. More than 7,000 people have engaged with the plan update process to date. The community is invited to stay engaged through city commission and council meetings scheduled for later this year.
The Wilburton Vision Implementation initiative seeks to implement a community-led vision for the west edge of the Wilburton neighborhood area. The vision includes increased housing, economic development opportunities, sustainability features and multimodal transportation options. Staff are working with the Planning Commission to analyze proposed comprehensive plan and land use code amendments to share with the council later this year.
See meeting materials for more information.
Progress update on Grand Connection
The city’s Grand Connection Program team provided an update on the near-term goals and long-term vision for the initiative, which aims to create 1.5 miles of interconnected public spaces between Bellevue's downtown and Wilburton neighborhoods.
This year, the Transportation Department will complete 30% design of the program’s signature crossing (known as the Grand Connection Crossing) over Interstate 405 with funding support from Amazon. The project team is currently soliciting design input from the community.
The city is also working with Amazon and the Bellevue Downtown Association to build a network of project partners to develop the funding strategy for full design completion and construction of the crossing.
Staff also highlighted the growing demand for public space programming in recent years, and the current efforts to develop the partnerships, processes and physical infrastructure needed to effectively manage new opportunities like food trucks, expanded outdoor dining, and special events.
In the coming years, the Grand Connection Program will implement a series of projects delivered by multiple city departments and regional partners. Priority projects such as completing key segments of the Eastrail and implementing Phase 2 of Meydenbauer Bay Park will build on already-completed efforts such as the signature art pieces at Downtown Park and the raised intersections of Northeast Sixth Street. These initiatives, anchored by the Grand Connection Crossing, will foster a more connected city that supports economic opportunity and improved livability for those who live, work and play in Bellevue.
Councilmembers expressed their continued support for both the crossing and the program, and emphasized the program’s potential to increase community connectivity. They also requested further details on funding strategies for the crossing.
More information on the Grand Connection is available in the agenda materials. Community members can also share their input for the design of the Grand Connection Crossing through March 22 by completing a brief survey.
Bellevue to receive key legislative funding
In other business, councilmembers got a recap of the 2024 state Legislative session, which ended on March 7. The state’s supplemental transportation budget reflected investments for Bellevue’s key priorities for 2024 including: funding for electric fire engines and charging infrastructure for Bellevue and Redmond Fire Departments, access to $6.9 million in funding in the 2023-25 budget for the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trail, and funding for interim strategies to keep the I-405 corridor project moving forward.
Additionally, the legislative session addressed affordable housing and land use issues, such as co-living housing, residential parking requirements, middle housing policies and incentives for converting commercial buildings to residential use.
Day of Nowruz celebrated
Also at the meeting, the council read a proclamation for Nowruz, a holiday celebrated by many Bellevue residents from Iran.
