Published July 21 2023
Plus, Curb Management Plan, Transportation Benefit District and more
On Monday, the City Council was briefed on the Planning Commission's recommendation for a preferred alternative approach to the Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update and Wilburton Vision Implementation. Councilmembers reviewed key elements in the growth plans.
Once a preferred alternative is selected, the environmental impacts of the plan will be further studied in a Final Environmental Impact Statement and further analysis will inform the growth strategy to be recommended for the plan in late 2023.
The Comprehensive Plan update aims to guide Bellevue's growth until 2044, incorporating state, regional and county requirements along with community feedback. The Comprehensive Plan is updated roughly every 10 years, and the most recent update will be finalized in 2024. The Planning Commission worked on the initial recommendation for a preferred alternative based on analysis from the plan’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement and feedback from the public.
The full council discussion is available on Bellevue Television.
Curb Management Plan, Transportation Benefit District advance
The council voted unanimously to return with a resolution to adopt the Curb Management Plan as recommended by the Transportation Commission at a future meeting. Mayor Lynne Robinson added a request, agreed to by the rest of the council, to study impacts to neighborhoods adjacent to the urban core as part of the paid parking study.
The curb management policy recommendations, practices and long-range planning concepts will help the city accommodate continued growth and respond proactively to mobility changes seen along the curbside over time. More information is available at Curb Management Plan and in the meeting agenda materials.
The council also approved an ordinance establishing a Transportation Benefit District. The district will be an independent entity governed by the council with taxing authority. This week’s council action formed the district; council can choose to assume the district in the future so it is not a separate entity, and can fund the district through several different means. Outreach to the community will occur in the coming months to provide more details on how the district will function and the options for generating funds through the district.
The district was created in response to the need to restore transportation maintenance funding that was reduced in the last two budget cycles. The council voted 6-1 to create the district, with Councilmember Lee voting no. More information on the district is available at Transportation Benefit District.
Affordable housing efforts advance
The council also approved two housing-related ordinances that are part of a larger suite of initiatives related to the Next Right Work, which is intended to further increase housing production, affordable housing production and housing diversity within the city.
The first ordinance amends the Land Use Code to remove barriers to the construction of attached accessory dwelling units to encourage construction of this housing type and provides a means for separate ownership of ADUs.
The second establishes a permit review and inspection fee reduction program for qualifying affordable housing projects in the city. Projects providing shelter, housing and services for individuals experiencing homelessness will also qualify for the program.
More information on the ordinances is available in the meeting materials under Other Ordinances, Resolutions and Motions.
Library Board appointment
In other business, the council unanimously approved the appointment of Imran Siddique to the Library Board. Recommended by Councilmember Conrad Lee, council liaison to the board, Siddique will serve a full term expiring on May 31, 2027.
The council appoints residents to boards, commissions and committees that provide detailed study and recommendations on policy. More information is available at Boards and Commissions.
Recognition for probation staff and 425 award
The council also highlighted the city’s probation and parole professionals with a proclamation for Pretrial, Probation and Parole Supervision Week and celebrated the recent win by Bellevue as Best City in the 425 Magazine Best of 425 annual awards.