Marchione Administration Proposes Job and Population Growth Targets

President Richard Cole

UPDATED:  Redmond City Council reviewed the Administration's proposed 2030 growth targets last week.   Council was told most new residential and job growth is planned for the Overlake and Downtown Urban Centers. SE Redmond is targeted for the most new employers.  Residential growth in the neighborhoods will be heaviest in North Redmond and Willows-Rose Hill.

Councillor Hank Margeson rattled off the Administration's plans for 6,000 new residents in eight years; that's 750 new residents/year with 1,075 new jobs by 2011.  Margeson asked staff:  "are we on course"?  Councillor Hank Myers said "it's clear to me we have capacity (for growth) without degrading lifestyle or quality of life."   Read more...

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A city planner responded indicating the city is on course. The last growth plan update of 2004 was in a 2020 horizon.  This update will take city growth targets to 2030, after approval by Council.  The planner said it's better if the number of jobs balance with the population and that "we want more people living here."

According to Wikipedia, the estimated residetial population of Redmond in 2010 is 53,600.  The 2022 growth target is 1.64 jobs for every Redmond resident. It's high because commuters raise the day-time population.  1.62 jobs/residents are projected by 2030.  By 2030 the Administration proposes 78,000 people and 126,000 jobs; that's an 8.8% increase in residents and 7.3% increase in jobs from the 2020 update.

Council President Richard Cole said Redmond is "leading the pack on housing and won't support it" (the Update).  He referred to the city's ADU and Back-Yard housing innovations and experience with the 2020 Suburban Cities update.  Councillor Cole spent four years on the Puget Sound Regional Council with Suburban Cities working "to fairly distribute densities."

Mr. Cole concluded "we are taking on more density than our fair share."   Cole is retiring from Council after over 30 years of public service for the city.  (Anyone want to run for his office next year?)  Council still needs to vote on the proposed 2030 Growth Update.  If you want to influence a councillor on their decision email:  council@redmond.gov.  Of course, your comments are welcome on this post, too!

Report by Bob Yoder
Photo from old city website