Published January 28 2015
Also, proposed electrical line
City and Sound Transit staff on Monday provided the City Council an update on Sound Transit's East Link light rail project. The presentation focused on the status of mitigation measures for the project and included an updated version of Sound Transit's computer animation of how the project will look and feel once constructed, including where mitigation will occur. Mitigation is the effort to avoid, minimize or offset known impacts of a project.
The city and Sound Transit have worked together for the past four years to design a light rail system that minimizes the need for mitigation and will serve as a long-term asset to the city and the region. In addition to the planned mitigation measures, the presentation reviewed impacts to traffic and roads, noise, residents, businesses, parks and the environment.
Also included in the presentation was information about the city's permitting role on East Link, the current project phase and planning for construction. Staff emphasized that while a great deal of planning has been completed, there is still much work to be done to prepare for East Link construction. Community outreach will continue to be a key focus during the remainder of the final design process and during construction.
The city will perform design and mitigation work through 2015, while the technical permitting process will continue throughout construction. East Link construction is slated to begin early next year, with light rail service beginning in 2023.
More information on the East Link presentation is available online.
Recommendations on proposed electrical line in Lake Hills
Also on Monday, the council considered a recommendation to approve plans by Puget Sound Energy to build a 115-kilovolt electrical transmission line connecting the Lake Hills and Phantom Lake substations.
The Lake Hills-to-Phantom Lake project is separate from PSE's Energize Eastside proposal to route an 18-mile-long, 230-kilovolt line from Renton to Redmond.
The 2.89-mile route for the 115-kilovolt line would include an estimated 39 poles in the right of way along Southeast 16th Street, 148th Avenue and Northeast Eighth Street. PSE has indicated the line is needed to improve reliability and reduce power outages.
PSE conducted several public meetings on its proposal in recent years, some in conjunction with the city, including three with the East Bellevue Community Council.
The city's Development Services Department recommended approval of the proposal, with conditions, to Bellevue's hearing examiner, which provides independent oversight on land-use and code issues. After holding a public hearing in November, the hearing examiner recommended approval of PSE's applications for a conditional use permit and a shoreline conditional use permit. The recommendation includes a condition that PSE pay the city $856,750 as mitigation for the loss of 295 trees that would need to be removed along the route.
The council will make a decision on the applications at an upcoming meeting. Because the applications are part of a prescribed permit process, the council won't accept additional testimony on the project. The hearing examiner's summary is available.