Transportation, Traffic, and Parking studied by School Board -- STEM school project approved.

"Citizen Participation in the Planning Process -- a horrifying prospect for some administrators -- has proved to be the most effective way to avoid mistakes and unintended consequences."  Duany, Plater-Zyberk, and Speck, Suburban Nation, 2000.

JUNE 16, 2011  On Monday, June 8th the Lake Washington School Board made a unanimous decision to approve Hearing Examiner Jim O'Conner's  recommendation to build the STEM secondary school.  STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math and is sorely needed in the district (and around the country.)

Citizen participation in this STEM project was robust with 15 citizens speaking at the April 5th Hearing and others emailing Sup. Kimball and staff.  Mr. O'Conner conditioned his recommendation with the following  items brought to his attention by citizens at the Hearing:    READ MORE >>

• Re-analyze parking to confirm special events won't overflow onto the streets.
• If the parking doesn't meet requirements, build more parking spaces.
• Consult with WSDOT on providing stand-alone emergency access to State Route 202  for public safety beyond the SR 202 / 228 Ave NE intersection.
• Work with Metro Transit on a feasibility study for extending service to 228th during school hours. 

Sup. Kimball assured the board his parking and transportation plan "was really, really good and he was very confident."  He said the plan's traffic and parking standards were double the standards of King County.  Kimball added Alcott and STEM hours are separated by 1.5 hours.  STEM classes start at 7AM and Alcott at 8:30AM. 

Kimball advised the Board to make a decision to approve the resolutions, but President Jackie Pendergrass insisted the public be notified of the findings from Metro and WSDOT.   Kimball said it would be posted in "documents".  Pendergrass directed Dr. Kimball to include the findings in a Regular Meeting Superintendent's Report (for the viewing public).
  

Director Doug Eglington said "we need to be sensitive and mindful to transportation needs and traffic impacts.  Metro is a non-starter. We may have to provide bus service."    Kimball responded,  the traffic ratios and patterns used in the analysis are liberal but he would go to Plan B if necessary.

Sup. Kimball invited, Denise, the school district attorney to explain parking options.  She said,  if needed 15 parking spaces can be created by re-striping the existing lot; however, 50% of the parking stalls would be reduced to compact size -  "sardine cans" as described by Director Bernard.

Director Ravi Shahani questioned "district process", should citizens complain about parking needs.  Sup. Kimball responded, "we would invent a process."  The lawyer then weighed in saying King County has permitting procedures.  She restated:  "the district has doubled  the minimum parking standard required by King County.

Parent and district volunteer, Susan Wilkins addressed the Board during public comment about a procedural error.  The Board and lawyer discussed the issue in public, amended the resolution and thanked Ms. Wilkins for her work.  Director Ravi Shahani stated:

"I'm confident in the work that we are doing but I think it's good to have people from the community there vetting things and making sure that the impact to the community is okay."

Reported By Bob Yoder
Photo courtesy LWSD