UPDATED OPINION: Big Possibilities For Redmond's Overlake Urban Center

 

Redmond is trying to do something like this. Woodinville, above is designing some attractive buildings and open places for pedestrians and bicycles. These buildings are next to City Hall.  Notice the wide sidewalks with lighting and landscaping on either side. The corridor is an alley.  

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I'm one of the few in Redmond that actually listen in to the Planning Commission meetings. [I think the city is working them too hard.] The commissioners studied the "Urban Pathway" concept last night.  Elements are 12-foot wide sidewalks with 8-feet of landscaping on either side.  The sidewalks have lighting and are intended for pedestrians (not scooters.)  They will connect to plazas.  Setbacks weren't discussed.  A favorite commissioner, Tara Van Niman was very positive about alleys.  She said they draw people in and are perfect for cafes and pubs.  

Urban Pathways are intended only for the Overlake Urban Center area. The planners missed their calling for the downtown. Very sad.  However, the concept could be applied for the Nelson Legacy Village and Redmond Town Center. 

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SHOCKING!  Currently, Overlake is zoned 12 stories.   Now the city is seriously looking at 30-story  heights for Overlake, in the vicinity of Sears, as noted in the 9/7/2022 PC meeting.  

Laugh at me if you will, but could the 30-story rezone be attributed to downtown seismic conditions as described on one of my posts by a blog reader?  

Well put Bob! We discussed this at length during one of the planning meetings for the Redmond 2050 planning process. Most of us felt that due to the aquifer and the risk of earthquakes we need to push more of the development into the Overlake and surrounding areas. However some of the surrounding areas are at risk for landslides. There’s no perfectly safe space, but losing her aquifer because the building collapses into it would be catastrophic for Redmond. Thank you for responding, I am also being more aware of the various buildings going up near downtown. I feel like we don’t get enough of a notice. I think the city should be required to send notices to a wider area for each project. There are projects that are Amir two blocks from me that I have not received information for. Be alert citizenry and reach out

Jeff Churchill, the intelligent Long Range Planning Manager went back and forth with the commissioners on how the three major master planned developers in Overlake would respond well to a 30-story rezone.  (Sears, Limited Edition, and Seratige)  It appears the city is encouraging the three to wait for the 30-story rezone; especially Sears. Is the push to densify Overlake attributed to the seismic conditions of our shallow downtown aquifer?  Council Member Dr. Jeralee Anderson would be a good one to ask.  She has a PhD in Civil Engineering.  

-- Bob Yoder, opinion, 9/28/2022

Creativity Abounds In Campaign Signs This Year

We enjoyed lots of creativity and flourish in Council candidate signs this year!  My favorite was Tara's. Absolutely loved the colors and design! She was handily defeated by incumbent Jeralee Anderson. Jeralee scattered an abundance of signs all over the City.  Her bicycle logo looks pretty cute 😉. My wife really liked Janet Richards flowered, green sign with the tag " Redmond Thrives When Everyone Thrives." Janet lost to incumbent Steve Fields in a big way.  Steve staked his standard 2-tone, blue wavy sign everywhere.  

Incumbency aside, it seems quantity rules over quality. I'm always amazed how quickly candidates remove their signs.  

-- Bob Yoder, 11/9/2021

"Safe Eastside" - Activists Fighting Off The Homeless.

 "Safe Eastside's"  relentless attacks on Mayor Birney are unconscionable. Kudos to CM David Carson for his efforts to defend the Mayor and the City.  Anderson, Fields, Forsythe, Kahn and Kritzer should defend the Mayor and City, as well.  They have the same voice as the Mayor in representation of the public. Councilmembers, please actively stand up and defend the Mayor and City tomorrow.  B. Yoder, 10/18/2021

KAN QIU'S MESSAGE TO "SAFE EASTSIDE" VOLUNTEERS:

Please come to public comment Tuesday 10/19 to demand amendment of Ordinance No. 3059 at City Hall, 15670 N.E. 85th Street, Redmond, Washington, 6:30 PM, the last public comment opportunity before the council's study session 10/26 on this matter. We have all witnessed, in the public hearing nearly two weeks ago, Mayor shamefully staged her out of area supporters to call in before many of us who showed up physically since as early as 6:30. But we are more determined than what she could ever have imagined. We need to pack the room again, speakers make sure you sign up in advance on the sheet outside the chamber room. To help us track attendee numbers, please register at  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/keep-up-the-pressure-tuesday-october-19th-speak-up-at-redmond-city-hall-tickets-193136014017 .

What's even more outrageous after the shameful display of public hearing is that Mayor Birney's puppet in the council David Carson had to go the extra mile and filed a frivolous PDC complaint on October 14 against us in an apparent attempt to suppress public voices. Sadly as an elected official, puppet CM David Carson obviously forgot that this is America and people's rights express themselves are fully protected by the constitution, particularly on matters that are lack of government transparency. Since when citizens setting up and running a website to inform the public becomes an issue ? It's appalling that such despicable scare tactics have being used against average citizens who simply fill in the vacuum due to the very lack of information from the government!

Vote For Jeralee Anderson, Position 6

A very short clip of Council Vice President Jeralee Anderson introducing herself at the OneRedmond 2021 Candidate Forum.  

Incumbent Dr. Jeralee Anderson Focuses On Climate Action, Improving Infrastructure, And Economic Justice

 

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  Dr. Jeralee Anderson

  
  Incumbent Dr. Jeralee Anderson was first elected to the Redmond City Council in 2017. She is the president and co-founder of Greenroads International, which rates and advocates for sustainable transportation infrastructure. She has also been recognized for her achievements at the state and national level, working on the Gov. Inslee-appointed Washington State Public Works Board, as an alternate on the King County Regional Transit Committee, and on the Cascade Water Alliance board of directors.
  
  Anderson's re-election campaign is focused on climate action, improving infrastructure, and economic justice. She is committed to implementing the city's climate goals by 2030 and wants to expand the tree canopy. Anderson will prioritize reduce housing costs and rents so that seniors aren't displaced and first responders can live in the community they serve. In addition, she supports expanding mental health response services and focusing development around transit hubs.
  
  Anderson faces a challenge from AT&T program manager Tara Van Niman. Her platform emphasizes the need to take local action on climate change, improve community engagement, and promote smart growth that accommodates the influx of people moving to Redmond. Van Niman has earned the endorsement of some local leaders like Sen. Manka Dhingra and Reps. Roger Goodman and Larry Springer.
  
  Anderson's thoughtful platform and strong support from our Progressive Voters Guide partner organizations make her the best choice in this race.

2021 Private Development -- Low Affordablity, High Commercial

Rendering of Redmond Square (facing light rail) ckos.com

Recap of Redmond Council's 9/14 Study session:

PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT: Summary: 1) excessive commercial space (office space; industrial; multi-family rentals; and retail.) 2) lack of affordable housing units.  

• Of significance, Commercial Space grew 90% from last year.  7,500sf (2020) 77,912sf (2021)  The senior planner glazed over this; council didn't raise any questions. Redmond is becoming a retail desert.  Our planners should report retail statistics and be held accountable. 
• Staff reported 58 Pre-Applications on all projects under review.  😩
• Nelson "Project One,"  4,316 Sq ft Commercial proposed, 25 Affordable units,Woonerf and Open Space.
• Redmond Square:  623 New units, only 62 affordable units, 30,000 Commercial SqFt Retail is getting shoved out.
• Redmond Sunrise Apartments:  93 dwelling units. 2,000 SqFt Commercial (yes, more) Roof top activity deck and Car stackers. Innovative design! 
• LMC South Marymoor Village: 284 Units, 28 low-cost affordble units. Why is 10% affordable units the city standard for all these projects?  Why not an extra story to incent 25% affordable?
• The Spark, 217 Dwelling units, 12,800 Sqft proposed. Here we go again:  22 affordable units.
• Proctor Willows:  195 Dwelling Units, 20 affordable,  22,000 Sq ft. commercial (yep) Trails/Public Art. (Yay)
• NOTE:  President Padhye asked the Planning Director why 10% affordable units are so common in developments. The Director appeared to brush this aside saying the large projects have a higher percentage of affordable.  Why not an extra story to incent 25% affordable?

This clip was taken during Council's Private Development discussion in City Hall. CM Vanessa Kritzer is the first to speak.  She was concerned with the retail driven out of Redmond Square and other developments.  She thought shoppers may have to take light rail to get their things.  Council V.P. Jeralee Anderson asked Planning Director Carol Helland questions related to parking challenges.  Jaralee is up for re-election in November.  

Watch the video in full screen.  It makes a big difference.

 -- Bob Yoder, 9/20/2021 

Jeralee Anderson Up For Re-election

 

City Council Vice President Jeralee Anderson

Dr. Jeralee Anderson is serving her first term as Councilmember in the City of Redmond, Washington and is currently Vice President of Council.  Jeralee is running for re-election in November.

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Professional

In her day job, Jeralee Anderson is the President/CEO and co-founder of Greenroads International, a globally recognized nonprofit organization leading the green and equitable transformation of the transportation industry through education and the independent third-party sustainability certification of transportation projects. Currently, she manages an infrastructure project portfolio of over $35 billion dollars in more than 11 states and 8 countries. She collaborates with public works professionals, departments of transportation, ecologists, planners and designers, general contractors, and multiple non-profit partners daily.

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She earned her undergraduate degree in civil engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and her doctorate from the University of Washington in construction engineering and sustainability, including a certificate in business administration from the University of Washington Foster School of Business.

 

Dr. Anderson is a licensed civil engineer in Washington State and California and legacy LEED Accredited Professional. As the executive leader for the small nonprofit she founded in Redmond, she manages day to day operations and is responsible for governance, board development, program management, human resources, budget, strategic planning, and more. 

 

In 2013, President Obama recognized her and her team at Greenroads as White House Transportation Champions of Change for the 21st Century.  View her Greenroads YouTube presentation HERE.

She serves in a variety of Mayoral and Council appointments including as an alternate on the King County Regional Transit Committee as part of the Sound Cities Association (SCA).

 

Dr. Anderson also is an alternate to the Mayor on the Cascade Water Alliance Board of Directors, and sits on its Finance & Management Committee.

 

Recently, in 2020, the Mayor appointed her to serve on the Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters (LEOFF I) Disability Board.

OPINION: Observations of a Pandemic Council Meeting

City Hall chambers / (r-l) Stuart, city clerk, Mayor Birney, Padhye, Carson,
Anderson, Helland, Beverley - photo Yoder)

Thanks to new work habits brought on by the pandemic only three (of seven) council members attended this study session meeting.  Some are at home, a cafe, etc. working remotely.  Most report they "are attending;" though one member rarely participates.  The quality of the meetings has taken a turn for the worse. I hope Mayor Birney can call them in.  After all, council members are city employees, paid $18,648 annually. As is, when a member is speaking remotely you can never see him/her.

I must say this meeting was vibrant despite the lack of physical presence.  Two very interesting land use projects were studied, guided by Planning Director Carol Helland.  She is amazing; her work is brilliant. Council member David Carson led the discussion and appeared the decision-maker in the Pier 67 session.  Council member Jeralee Anderson (center) was thrilled the Marymoor development would be LEED certified....one of her requests.  President Tanika Padhye discouraged "pocket zoning." 

The lady in the audience (of 2) dressed in pink is Melissa Stuart. She was the only one wearing a mask. Ms. Stuart is running for Council Seat No. 4.  I learned she would be the only council member living in Overlake. This is key! 

-- Bob Yoder, 7/28/2021

 (Tip: Go to the city Facebook page for live viewing and commenting.) 👀  

"How Can We Build Greener Roads?" By Jeralee Anderson, TEDx Everett

 

Redmond Councilmember Jeralee Anderson is the CEO and Co-Founder of Greenroads International, a globally recognized nonprofit organization leading the green transformation of the transportation industry and infrastructure through education and the independent third-party sustainability certification of transportation projects. Dr. Anderson is a licensed professional engineer in Washington State and California, and was recognized in 2013 by the Obama White House as a Transportation Champion of Change for the 21st Century. In 2018, Jeralee was elected to the Redmond City Council, serves as Council Vice President, and in 2019 was appointed to serve on the Washington State Public Works Board by Governor Jay Inslee.  

-- LinkedIn, 12/19/2020

"Streaterie" Ribbon Cutting Ceremony At Redmond Bar And Grill

I'm happy to report that at least three businesses have had permits processed for streateries so far, since this was adopted by the Council on June 16, according to Director Helland at last night's meetings. I understand from the Mayor's communications team that there is a ribbon cutting on Friday at 4:30pm for Redmond Bar and Grill, in case you are interested to attend.

Jeralee

Jeralee L. Anderson, PhD, PE, LEED AP Council Vice President │City of Redmond (: 425.588.1619 |*: janderson@redmond.gov | Redmond.gov MS: 4NEX │ 15670 NE 85th St │ Redmond, WA 98052 Pronouns: She/Her/Hers | #blacklivesmatter