Published December 13 2017
On Monday night, the City Council said “goodbye” to Councilmember Kevin Wallace and presented him with a commendation for his public service. Colleagues took a few minutes afterwards to praise Wallace for his diligent advocacy on behalf of Bellevue residents, sharp mind and ability to work well with various stakeholders.
Wallace was elected in 2009 and served two full terms, including a two-year stint as deputy mayor. Among his achievements, Wallace helped the city negotiate a mutually beneficial agreement with Sound Transit, weather the Great Recession and secure a $99.6 million Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The commendation and Wallace’s farewell remarks are available to view on the Bellevue Television video.
Councilmembers sworn in
During a short ceremony, Conrad Lee, Lynne Robinson and Jared Nieuwenhuis were sworn in to new terms on the City Council by King County District Court Judge Janet Garrow. Councilmembers Lee and Robinson were re-elected in November. Niewenhuis, also elected in November, will serve as the new councilmember for Position 4. His term will begin on Jan. 1.
Planning Commission appointment
By a vote of 6 to 1, the council appointed Mohammad Malakoutian to the Planning Commission. Councilmember Jennifer Robertson voted against the appointment. Malakoutian, whose term will run until May 2021, will serve in the Position 1 seat.
The Planning Commission is comprised of seven Bellevue residents who are appointed by the mayor with the approval of the council. The commission reviews and proposes amendments to the Comprehensive Plan, and makes recommendations to the council, using public input, on land use issues.
Comprehensive Plan amendments adopted
Later in the regular session, the council unanimously adopted four proposed 2017 amendments to the city’s Comprehensive Plan. They include the Eastgate Office Park and the Old Seattle Times Building site-specific amendments, and city-sponsored Complete Streets policies (Transportation Element) and Downtown Transportation Plan amendments to the Downtown Subarea Plan.
Of note was the adopted Downtown Subarea Plan amendment, which was modified based on direction from councilmembers after the Nov. 27 study session. Much of the discussion, and changes, focused on encouraging all modes of travel in the area.
The Comprehensive Plan is the city’s foundational policy document, which helps guide growth and development. Under the Growth Management Act, plans can only be amended once a year so that the cumulative effect of any changes can be considered. As part of this process, Bellevue works on private and city-initiated proposals.
More information on each amendment is included in the council agenda packet.
East Main redevelopment guiding principles
Councilmembers approved a slate of guiding principles for the redevelopment area east of the future East Main light rail station. The new principles will be used by the Planning Commission as it develops recommendations for the Comprehensive Plan amendment, Land Use Code amendment (LUCA) and legislative rezone of commercial properties east of 112th Avenue Southeast between Main Street, Southeast Eighth Street and Interstate 405. The principles articulate the council’s expectations related to the process, schedule and focus of the work. The Planning Commission will take up the project in January.
In its Nov. 13 meeting, the council approved a process that will save time by allowing the LUCA, Comprehensive Plan amendments and rezone to be worked on concurrently. The city estimates that this approach for the East Main area will result in completion of the project in about one year as opposed to the typical sequential process that can take up to two years or more.
The full list of principles and more background can be found in the council agenda packet.