Published April 15 2015
Also, Old Bellevue parking, Philbrook House
The City Council held a public hearing Monday to obtain comments on a proposed agreement with Sound Transit regarding the East Link light rail project and the proposed siting of a light rail operations and maintenance satellite facility in the Bel-Red area. Approximately 50 people attended the hearing and 31 spoke.
The proposed agreement would amend a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by the city and Sound Transit in 2011. The amended agreement is the culmination of several years of collaboration between the two agencies to ensure that East Link is constructed in a way that meets the needs of Bellevue and the region.
The council is expected to vote on the proposed agreement at its April 20 meeting. Members of the public may submit written comments on the draft agreements through April 19. Please email comments to council@bellevuewa.gov, or send via mail to: Attn. Bellevue City Council, P.O. Box 90012, Bellevue, WA, 98009.
More information about the draft MOU, including a copy of the agreement, is available on the citys light rail website. The council meeting and public hearing also are available on video.
Old Bellevue parking
Councilmembers again took up the issue of parking in the Old Bellevue neighborhood of downtown, and whether additional parking should be added to nearby Downtown Park, which is scheduled for a major renovation to complete the parks circular canal.
Business groups in Old Bellevue and elsewhere in the city have advocated for the creation of more parking. The city has responded by adding on-street parking, commissioning parking studies and meeting with the Old Bellevue Parking Work Group to explore public-private partnerships to create more parking.
So far, no consensus has been reached on forming a public-private partnership. On Monday, the council directed staff to continue working on the Downtown Park and Inspiration Playground projects, and, if a private partner emerges to address parking in Old Bellevue, the council will take up the issue during its budget prioritization process.
Construction to complete the circle at Downtown Park is scheduled to begin this summer; work on the accessible Inspiration Playground project at the park could begin in the fall, depending on fundraising efforts by the Bellevue Rotary Club.
More information is available with the council agenda material.
Philbrook House considered
Councilmembers considered a recent request from a private citizen to relocate and preserve the Philbrook House. The house, built in the 1890s and located in Old Bellevue, is slated for demolition in early May so the owner can redevelop the property.
Although the city's comprehensive plan addresses preserving and enhancing Bellevues historical identity, there is no specific ordinance requiring the preservation of historic structures. In the past, the city has preserved some historic buildings by moving them to city parks.
Staff estimated the cost to move Philbrook House to a temporary location on parks property at $130,000 to $180,000, depending on the destination and preparation work. A move to a permanent location would involve additional expense.
Given the tight timeframe, staff said it is unlikely the necessary advance work could be completed before the scheduled demolition by the house owner. As an alternative, the council directed staff to look for ways to preserve some aspects of the house, possibly through a detailed historical record and photo survey. The council also expressed an interest in creating a mechanism for accomplishing historical preservation in the future.
Board, commission appointments
The following board and commission members were reappointed to four-year terms beginning June 1, 2015: Trudi Jackson (Arts Commission); Chad Davis and Cris Dreher (Library Board); John deVadoss and John Carlson (Planning Commission); Scott Lampe (Transportation Commission); and James McEachran (Human Services Commission).