Critical Area Ordinance, Public Hearing

 Great Blue Heron 
"Species of Local Importance"  
Sammamish River, Redmond, WA.   

Hello Planning Commissioners:

"I only caught part of your meeting last night, but it sounds like the State is requiring updates to the Critical Area Ordinance? 

As a college educated biologist -- similar to Mayor Angela Birney -- Critical Areas are important to me.   In the Ives Administration, I made "Species of Local Importance" and "Habitat of Local Importance" comments to the Planning Commission chaired by Mr. Snodgrass.  After much discussion, the commission decided on the Great Blue Heron (GBH) and Riparian habitat, in which it lives.   

REDMOND BLOG EDITORIAL: Carol Helland, Redmond's Urban Planner Extraordinaire

 

Carol Helland, Director of Planning & Community Development 

The complexity and demands of  Director Helland's job don't compare to Directors of the past. Should the Mayor hire a Deputy of Planning Services?

From observations, I believe Carol Helland, the city's Director of Planning & Community Development is the most influential government executive in Redmond. She oversees land use permitting, is Administrator of the Technical Committee, of Public Notice, Code Administrator, oversees the Design Review Board, and director of Human Services among other high level responsibilities. 

Mayor Birney and Council rely heavily on Helland for her understanding of Washington's Growth Management recommendations and requirements. Her flexible use of building codes shape the form, function and character of downtown Redmond, Overlake Urban Center and our gentrifying neighborhoods. Carol negotiates Development agreements with the Mayor and co-approves project permits with Public Works. (A 22-acre Development agreement for NELSON Legacy's downtown Village was inked; RTC is on deck with others to come.)  

Director Helland recently hired Seraphie Allen as Deputy Director of Planning & Community Development.  Already, Deputy Allen's job responsibilities are to communicate with OneRedmond, work with Director Helland's Redmond 2050 Long Range Planning Team, and guide the Mayor's Planning Commission volunteers.  These roles have the ring of a new title, perhaps "deputy director of community development."

The complexity and demands of Ms. Helland's job don't compare to Directors of the past.  Though outside the HR box, the Mayor might possibly assign a second Deputy Director, one for "Planning services" the other for "Community development?"  Ms. Helland is Redmond's Urban Planner extraordinaire and needs all the help she can get. Once Mayor Birney actively teams up with Helland, fewer mistakes will be made and we'll have a more livable Redmond. 

For answers on how you can make Redmond a better community, email Heather at: info@redmond.gov. She's the city's Customer Experience Coordinator and an excellent resource.  Her phone is 425-556-2900.   

Let's make Redmond better together.

-- Bob Yoder

   Editor, Reporter and Scribbler, Redmond Neighborhood Blog    

   1/21/2023

For the Director Helland's job description....

UPDATED: The Sky's the Limit for Redmond Town Center Building Heights

This sign announces and invites the public to attend and comment at the WEDNESDAY. November, 2nd 7:00 p.m. Hearing about Redmond Town Center building heights. It is installed by the Applicant (Owner) Courtesy of City of Redmond  (click picture to enlarge)

 ATTENTION PUBLIC:  

The City of Redmond Planning Commission will hold a Public Hearing at Redmond City Hall Council Chambers, 15670 NE 85th Street, Redmond, Washington on WEDNESDAY November 2, 2022 at 7 p.m. 

**SUBJECT: Zoning Code Amendment  to provide incentives for additional height in exchange for public benefits, along with minor clarifications to Zone design standards.  

Your comments are encouraged!

•  Public comment can be made in-person at City Hall, Monday, November 2nd, 7 p.m.
•  Public Comment can be made by phone during the meeting by providing a name and phone number to PlanningCommission@redmond.gov now or no later than November 2nd, 5 p.m. 
• Written public comments should be submitted prior to the hearing by email to PlanningCommission@redmond.gov no later than 5 p.m. on the hearing date. 
• Comments are encouraged and should be sent by email or mail to the planningcommission@redmond.gov.
• or to: Planning Commission, MS:  P.O. Box 97010, Redmond, Washington, 98073. 

###

A  RESIDENT'S COMMENT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION: 

What are "the benefits" residents will receive by agreeing to additional building height?  And, how high can the Applicant (Owner) build?  I've heard the Planning Commission and high-level staff are seriously considering 30-story buildings in Overlake Urban Center. They don't have an aquifer to worry about up there.  I've learned the Owner is very concerned about the aquifer interfering with his ability to build subterranean parking. So what are the benefits residents could receive if we give the owner one, two or three stories for above grade parking?  We should  be prepared for a maximum of 12-stories if not an additional 1-2 stories. Growth wins.  

Generous affordable housing is a must. Three and four room apartments for families, please. Other benefits:  8-10 foot pedestrian lit sidewalks with landscaping on either side, leading to plazas and alleys, children's play areas, a park for small dogs, food truck facilitation, outdoor art, interactive water fountains, covered retail and open space for community performances. Adequate street lighting. The scope and massing of two 12-foot and up buildings must be balanced and fit well.  Set-backs similar to Kirkland buildings.  Limit shading.  Wide mobility corridors connecting to Marymoor Village. A stop light at the SR520 Bear Creek Gateway.  Significant and creative landscape, trellised with green walls and green rooftop patio amenities.  Common areas within the buildings have cultural artwork. Walking tours to Lower Bear Creek look-outs. 10-foot plus street trees are necessary. A satellite "Safety Station" with police and mental health specialists overseeing the light rail station and e-scooters.  It's important the Redmond Town Center redevelopment be in character and compatible with the Legacy Nelson Village and the historic district. This could require 1-2 open houses.  If it's decided Nelson or RTC will be eclectic or have some other theme, then the Director of Planning should hold fast to growth unlike at Marymoor Village.  I have no problem with 12 stories if the Applicant provides most of these benefits, whistles and bells.  I don't think they should benefit from any more than two above surface parking levels.  Archer Hotel didn't benefit.  

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION about the proposed Redmond Town Center Code Amendment, Visit  redmond.gov/1860/Redmond-Town-Center. Write to the Planning Commissioners  if you have any serious comments and  questions, or would like to be a Party-of-Record on this proposal, please contact Glenn Coil, Senior Planner, 425-556-2742, gcoil@redmond.gov. A copy of the proposal is available at redmond.gov/Planning-Commission. If you are hearing or visually impaired, please notify Planning Department staff at 425-556-2441 one week in advance of the hearing to arrange for assistance.   

The City is not transparent about the "starting story" and maximum building height.  You have to dig into RZC 21.10.050  "Town Center Regulations and Incentive Standards"  to find the minimum and maximums. 

ACTION: Planning Commission gives their recommendation to Council on the proposed amendment to the Redmond Zoning Code.  Email:  PlanningCommission@redmond.gov.

Updated by Bob Yoder, 10/18/2022

Tom Hinman, Redmond Activist And Commissioner Passes

Tom Hinman
June 6th, 1945 - July, 24th 2022

Share a memory, expressions of sympathy, or give flowers on Tom's Neptune Society Page.

My sympathies will be shared on Tom's Neptune page.  BY

Dear Friends and Family,

This morning, Sunday, July 24th at 7:00 am, Tom went home to God.  I am deeply grateful for the 42 1/2 years of marriage that we shared. He asked that his memorial service and interment be held at the military cemetery at Mira Mar, near San Diego. All who knew Tom know what a wonderful, loving man he was.  His passing is a deep loss to our family and extended family.

Sincerely,

Monica Hinman

Tom Hinman, was a long-standing Redmond planning commissioner and environmental & community activist. 

He founded "Imagine Overlake" to organize and facilitate resident participation in the redevelopment of Overlake. Tom co-founded "Sustainable Redmond." and was nominated for a "Leadership Eastside" award. Tom's annual meetings were attended by council members, environmentalists and citizens at large. 

Tom loved urban trees and their contribution to our ecology and well-being.  After the Group Health clear-cut he led volunteers in salvaging and transplanting understory shrubs to the Audubon Bird Loop.  Tom activated urban tree conversations at Council meetings.  He pushed for and accomplished a city requirement to map trees on land use notices. 

Tom cited the Overlake Corridor expansion, Group Health clear-cut, and the Nokomis Building dispute as examples of the City’s long-standing disregard for resident and community input on issues of growth; and wrote abundant of emails to change that.

Former Redmond Mayor Rosemarie Ives' tribute: 

I am so very sad!!! Thought Redmond was blessed to have an outstanding candidate for the Planning Commission when I appointed him!   His participation there in addition to chairing the commission was exemplary! However, no one in recent times could match Tom’s public participation and diplomacy as a citizen activist from the time he left the Planning Commission up to last year. ..a span of 11 years. He was well researched, thorough, providing live testimony with written copies punctuated and substantiated by citations from City of Redmond documents.  From his Sustainable Redmond commitment to unsuccessfully saving 1200 significant and landmark trees at Group Health in Overlake, to updates of the Comprehensive Plan and related planning issues, he was most strident about the City’s less than authentic participation opportunities for the public…it was about a year ago when the “update of the tree protection regulations” was edited to “tree regulations” omitting the word “protection” that he conceded to me that preparation for and providing input to the City was a waste of his time and mine! Never would he or I know what his fate would be just one year later!

Tom and his wife, Monica, and Jon and I discovered that we had sons living in San Diego. There were years where we saw more of each other there than in Redmond! For several years we worked out at KOKO Fit on Cleveland Street too! He was a “go to” guy to discuss some really important city issues… he now joins Richard Grubb…I miss both of them!!! 

-- Former Mayor Ives

More on Tom Hinman

Council Looks At Citizen Participation

Internet

The City Council reviewed "public comment" parameters during their March 8th Study Session. Why now?  I maintain disruptive "homeless hotel" activists, their personal attacks on the Mayor and staff and endless weekly commenting set the wheels of change in motion. Also, passionate firefighters consumed Council business time with lengthy objections to the vaccine mandate.  

Currently, and historically, Council has given individuals a period up to four minutes "to be heard."  This period is technically known as "Items from the Audience."  Sometimes topics are emotionally charged, with large, time consuming turnouts.  "Being heard" can be lengthy but seldom is it disruptive.  Councilmember Anderson asked Council to read the "public meeting participation guide" https://www.redmond.gov/189/City-Council. She suggested taking comments during Study Sessions and endorsed the four-minute rule.  The Mayor and Council officers decided conducting the business of the City was the number one priority, over participation from the public. 

Councilmember David Carson said listening to the people is part of the job. CM Steve Fields agreed, referring to Hartman pool commenting. At times Mr. Carson helps speakers by sharing relevant information. Council President Jessica Forsythe was concerned about defining "disruption" and asked Mr. Carson how he'd describe it.  He said: pornograpy:  it's hard to describe until you see it."  President Forsythe mentioned you might  be able to stick to four minutes if you kept speakers on the same topic to three. Fields nodded yes.  

I believe in the principle:  "Public participation is the hallmark of good government."  So, who does a good job at this?  The City of Kirkland has a model plan.  Lake Washington School District's procedure is:  1)  sign in, mark your talk topic, 2) a school board member explains: a) the 3-minute rule, measured with green, yellow and red lights, b) total commenting time is limited to 30 minutes, c) emails to the Board are accepted 3) speakers with the same topic can all speak as long as they don't repeat each other. 

The Planning Commission uses the three-minute rule. In my experience, it's rare a citizen will show up to comment, so why not 4-minutes?  Seriously. Complex land uses take time to present.  Recently, I made a HEARING comment to the Commission (about tree regs.) I spent lots of time preparing a 4-minute talk and was shocked when the Chair announced I had 3-minutes, this at the HEARING.  I don't think they sent my written comments to Council either.

-- Bob Yoder, 3/12/2022, opinion

Mayor Birney's ZOOM Chat With The Commissioners

Mayor Angela Birney gave a terrific talk to the Planning Commission last Tuesday. Her presentation provided a great opportunity to observe the depth of her knowledge, leadership skills and pleasant personality. I left her presentation feeling very confident we are in good hands.  

To hear Mayor Birney's video chat with the planning commissioners click this link. (advance to 1:45 minutes)

To get familiar with the Planning Commission visit here.

-- Bob Yoder, 9/23/2021

Flagpole Plaza Park, Redmond's smallest

 "BI-CENTENNIAL FLAG, Dedication September 27, 1974.  This is a beautification Project by the City of Redmond, Jaycee's, Lion's, Kiwanis, Rotary, and Chamber of Commerce."  

When I parked on Gilman Street to buy a book at McDonald's I noticed some very interesting artwork and a brick plaza with a plaque identifying the overhead "Bicentennial Flag."  Mayor Marchione said the plaza with flag was an official city park.  Other than the Naomi Hardy Clock Tower it may be the smallest park in the city.   He said Flagpole Plaza Park it's part of the Gilman Street Design Concept study and wouldn't be demolished during possible redevelopment of Gilman.  In fact, the park may be extended to Redmond Way, and expanded.   

City Transportation engineer Angie Ventura said, "The City has no plans to rebuild Gilman St. as a public project.  The goal of the study is to develop design guidance for potential future private development if and when they occur along Gilman Street."  

Can you see the artwork in the flag photo?  (Click to enlarge.) 

"BRIDGE TO BROTHERHOOD," CHERYLL LEO-GWIN, 1993, Porcelain Enamel Mural, 1% Public Works grant for Art, King County Arts Commission, Redmond Arts Commission, Leadership Redmond

To see the plaques READ MORE:

The Planning Commission openly deliberates on key issues, the Comprehensive Plan

(l-r)  Stephanie Rodriquez, Vidyonana Rajpatkak, Chair Scott Beithan, Vice-Chair Roy Captain, Phil Miller, Sherri Nichols.
 Planning Director Karen Haluza and  two Senior Planners are sitting with backs turned.  

Every year the City offers citizens, developers, property owners and other entities an opportunity to amend (update) the Comprehensive Plan. This amending process is a Planning Commission duty of high significance and importance.

The Planning Commission has been meeting for months to take input and review five re-zoning proposals for consideration of being "calendared" or docketed for further review and approval by the Commission and Council.     

This LINK provides every topic currently under review by the Planning Commission.   It includes docketing proposals, memos, staff recommendations, public/developer comments, exhibits and project approvals. Below are a few topics under review:    

1)  The City is currently proposing to update to their Capital Facilities Element titled   "Future Vision for Redmond - Capital Facilities Element."  The proposal is already docketed and contains a lot of interesting information about the City's future plans. Find it HERE. 

2)  It's my understanding a proposed "Quadrant Homes" rezone from "Business Park" to "Mixed-Use Development" will be re-docketed.   Quadrant is considering constructing 165 town homes, 300 apartments, and 10,000 s.f. of retail/commercial space on 15.57 acres -- on the SW corner of NE 124th & Willows Road. Installing a stoplight on the corner is in the proposal.  

The N.Y,C. developer

3)  A controversial, long-winded proposal by an aggressive N.Y.C developer, Capital Partners is under consideration by the commission.  The developer wants to rezone 4.21 acres on the corner of Avondale and NE 104th from R-4 to R-30. Staff members (the "TC") are not recommending approval though a rezone to R-12 for senior housing is a possibility.  (It seems the commission usually goes along with many or most of the TC's recommendations.)  

4)   A while back, the owners of Redmond Town Center (RTC) proposed a modification of their "Open Space Designation" agreement with the city.  They have since withdrawn this proposal.  

Interesting background:  A 1997 agreement between the City and RTC conveyed a perpetual, non-inclusive easement to allow "among other things, the right to operate a farmers market"  Presently, the "Saturday Market" is located on this 2-acre easement.  Termination of the Open Space Designation requires a mutual agreement between the City and RTC.  

5)  Susan Wilkins, a Redmond citizen, asked the commission to docket an amendment to the zoning code to "adequately plan school facilities" so students residing inside the City of Redmond are not required to travel outside the Urban Growth Boundary in order to attend school. The Planning Commission voted against the proposal.  Ms. Wilkins put in a ton of work, without pay, to formulate this proposal.  Planning commissioners don't get paid either.  

The commissioners are citizen volunteers living in Redmond, appointed by the Mayor and approved by Council.  They don't make land-use decisions; they conduct Hearings and serve only as an advisory body to Council.  

B.Yoder
photos/by

Disclosure:  Trying to understand the Planning Commission's reviews of complex topics is very challenging.  Expect errors, omissions and mis-representations. 

UPDATED, 3/4 Podcast of 13 candidates interviewing for Council Position #4 is enlightening

UPDATE:  10/2/17  Tanika Padyea was appointed to Council.  Ms. Rodriguez  was a runner-up and was appointed to the Planning Commission,  Roy Captain was a runner-up and lost in the Primary to Fields and Schutz, Sherri Nichols interviewed for the open seat but didn't make the finals.



Thirteen candidates were interviewed by City Council for Position #4 last Saturday.  The position was vacated owing to Ms. Kim Allen's retirement on January 31st, 2017.  Council now has to appoint a replacement.  These are screening interviews to pick finalists.  The interviewing took place at City Hall, during a Special Meeting that was open to the public. For objectivity and under City Clerk guidance, the order of interviews and question topics were randomly selected.  President Hank Margeson did a masterful job developing this selection process.

In my opinion, in order of  interviews, Amy Mayes (1:23) Stephanie Rodriguez (1:38)  Tracy Sullivan Prock and A.J. Taylor could be the finalist picks.  The woman candidates are favored owing to a serious gender imbalance.

Ms. Rodriguez is a strong contender and I'm guessing she'll be "the chosen one." Stephanie appeared to get the most interview time. She's smart (Mr. Stilin's requirement.)  She's a Harvard graduate (2001) in history and economics with a law degree from Seattle University. IMO, her only apparent weakness is a dearth of passion for the environment.  She's pro-growth..

Stephanie's a step-mom with two boys that play basketball.  One of her boys graduated from Redmond High.  She was born at Overlake Hospital but spent most of her childhood in the Caribbean.

Her work at Microsoft "blends finance with marketing"and she has a worldly perspective from work in international investor relations. She's "worked on a multi-million dollar budget" at Microsoft...so is budget ready. I especially like she considers "conflict" as healthy; perhaps Council would have more deliberation on the Dias.  Her focus is "thinking beyond."  Though long range planning appears her interest and strength this may distract her from attention to the neighborhoods.

It's important to note that with this podcast Mr. Mayor can listen in to all the interviews putting him in a position to advise Council before their final interviews.  I don't see a thing wrong with this since he has to work and get-along with the appointment.  

Bob, opinion

My earlier interview report 

A Year-end Salute And History Of Blog Development

With the year-end upon us, I want to thank a few of my friends for helping me start my blog:

Paul Dillon - 11 years ago blogs were "new" and facebook wasn't even in the picture.  Paul told me about them and their many different uses, when we were watching our daughters play soccer at 60 acres.  He was using the first version of the I-Phone. Wow! Was that ever cool!


Korby Parnell, City planning commissioner advised me to write a blog to daylight the pollution of Evans Creek by All Wood Recycling.  He appreciated the value of linking.  At the time he had his own blog.

Doug Pratt - Doug came up with the name "Redmond Neighborhood Blog" when we were watching our daughters play Select basketball.

Herons and Dogs?

 

Nesting herons / KIM CASHON-SMITH

 
Herons and Dogs?

Kim Cashon-Smith lives on Education Hill.  This Spring she took a rare photo of herons nesting in a tree at Marymoor Dog Park  Do you see the chicks?  The mama and papa?  Double-click-pic for help. 

They're Great Blue Herons.  The city says "Great Blues" are our most important bird.  They used to nest in the evergreens across from Saturday Market.  A few years ago crows and eagles scared them away. 

They moved their homes to Issaquah.  And now they're back.  Do you think they'll stay?

Herons and dogs?

What do you say!


xxxx
Live video of Great Blue Herons feeding their chicks, Cornell University’s Sapsucker Woods Pond 

LETTER: Commercial development in our neighborhoods? Enough is Enough.

LETTER:  "The Planning commission writes, "We certainly understand the need to keep residential development and rendering plants separate, but do not see the immediate incompatibility of a corner coffee shop, produce store or bakery with the needs of residents who might walk to such an establishment." This kind of "planning" seems very out of touch with reality. The reality is that development in each zone is largely complete. We already have plenty of coffee shops, produce stores, and bakery shops in Redmond. We folks moved out to the suburbs (Redmond) and fell into the State Growth Management Act (1990). A tension was established that pits constant development with a desire for open space, and quality of life. Enough is enough. Let us live in peace, without commercial development in our neighborhoods."

By Richard Morris

Education Hill

This opinion is an excerpted, signed comment written under the post about 'Two planning commissioners Minority report on micro-level neighborhood commercial.'   Your Letters and Opinions are welcome.  Please send them by comment or to my email.   Include your name if you are comfortable doing so.  B.Y.

Planning Commissioner Tom Flynn co-authors Minority Report to council urging "micro-level" neighborhood commercial

Six Neighborhood Commercial zones have been approved  for large

 grocery store-type developments, like "PCC" at Avondale &amp

 116th Ave and "Bridle Trails" at 132nd Ave. NE and Old Redmond Road.

One development is allowed per zone.  CLICK 2X TO ENLARGE

"We certainly understand the need to keep residential development and rendering plans separate, but do not see the immediate incompatibility of a corner coffee shop, produce store or bakery with the needs of residents who might walk to such an establishment."

-- Redmond Planning commissioners Phil Miller and Tom Flynn's Minority Report to City Council on "Neighborhood Commercial," as follows: 

"We need to remind ourselves that one of the principal justifications we have been given for the establishment of the Neighborhood Commercial (NC) classification is to improve “walkability” in our neighborhoods. [  ] We have not seen to our satisfaction that forcing neighborhood residents to walk an extra ½ mile accomplishes anything but encourage the use of automobiles for even very short trips. ½ mile excludes a large number of people in Redmond from convenient commercial. [  ] It isn’t the intent to force car trips downtown, but this certainly is the effect.  Read More >>

Great Blue Heron with fish




JOHN REINKE / REDMOND NEIGHBORHOOD BLOG

"Great Blue Heron with fish." By John Reinke

John Reinke's heron is foraging under the Leary Way Bridge.  Painting or Photo?  Great Blue Herons are celebrated as Redmond's "Species of Local Importance".  They forage in the riparian habitat of Redmond's streams, wetlands and the Sammamish River. Redmond heron raise their young in the trees of  Issaquah rookeries and Marymoor Park cottonwoods.

Picture by John Reinke
Source:  Cathy Beam, Principal Environmental Planner, City of Redmond.

Commissioner Tom Hinman Leads Council Session On "Sustainability"

UPDATED (8/12):  At the Redmond City Council Derby Days booth our representatives weren't just handing out ice-cold  "Otter Pops" !   Councilmembers also listened to comments from passing citizens..

According to a Council report, one citizen wanted to learn more about the Planning Commission and how to connect to them.

Presto!   Wouldn't you know it?   Council invited the Planning Commission to their study session meeting last night - to address the value and need for "Sustainability" in Redmond.  Commission Chair Tom Hinman masterfully lead the thought provoking conversation.   Do you care to listen in?

Tom's 4+ minute talk begins right at the start of the meeting.  The entire council joins in.   This is one of the most revealing  Council meetings (video) I've seen.

Definition of "Sustainability": "to satisfy the needs of today without compromising the future's ability to meet its needs." The three components of sustainability are: environmental, economic, and social dimensions. Ref. United Nations.

Reported By Bob Yoder
Commission Photo on City Website - Tom Hinman (purple shirt)

Rough notes on the meeting  (read more)

The City and Code Rewrite Commission seeks public participation

As part of the City of Redmond’s effort to rewrite its zoning code, the City (and Code ReWrite Commisioners) will host a drop-in Open Office Event on Thursday, April 15 from 3 to 6:30pm in the Trestle Room on the first floor of Redmond City Hall, 15670 NE 85th Street. The purpose of rewriting the City’s zoning code is to improve the clarity, conciseness and predictability of the Municipal code for all users.

Drop-by the Trestle Room to tell City staff how regulations for Downtown, Overlake, land division, telecommunications, performance bonding and design standards can be improved. Ideas now being considered include:

■Update Downtown and Overlake street cross-sections to be consistent with transportation study outcomes

■Emphasize the relationship between buildings and the street in the Downtown and Overlake urban centers

■Clarify when design standards are required vs. when they are encouraged

■Consolidate and streamline performance bonding, telecommunications and land division regulations

City staff seeks your input prior to review of these sections of the zoning code by the Code Rewrite Commission, which will begin its review in May 2010.

If attendance to the event is not possible, provide all ideas either through RCDGrewrite@redmond.gov  or by calling 425-556-2440. To subscribe to the weekly code rewrite e-newsletter, send an email to the above address. More information about the process is available at www.redmond.gov/rcdgrewrite .
-City Press Release

COMMENT:  I participated.  I think I've been the only citizen who has participated, to date.  (Will confirm with public record request).  My total effort was 25 minutes of speaking during three commission visits.  I showed the commission a 15 minute slide presentation on Camwest's Perrigo Heights development - addressed land use public notice failures, final plat deficiencies, and poor maps.  The City would probably get more public participation if they gave more thanks to citizens for participating.
By Bob Yoder

Theno's Dairy

Hundreds and hundreds of kids and families have sat on this cow eating their ice cream.

Notice the incongruency of the two buildings.

Brian Lutz, the Redmond author of The Sledgehammer Version 2. blog recently posted an interesting story about Redmond's locally famous and historic Theno's Dairy. I asked Brian for additional information on the family business that is known for it's yummy ice cream and sherbet and fresh milk. I wasn't sure if the new huge Meta Church, Washington Cathedral owned the land or not.

Brian said "from what I've read, [the church] has pedged to allow Theno's to continue to operate for as long as the Bloor family wishes to do so."

In 2005, Washington Cathedral tried to get the site rezoned for commercial use with the possibility of putting in a strip mall shopping development that would have included a new Theno’s on the corner. An informative Seattle Times article on proposed land use can be found here.

I followed the land use Master Plan Application and Annexation proposals and vaguely remember the Planning Commission deciding against the 5 acre (or was it 10 acres?) development. Most decided a strip mall would be incompatible with the surrounding agricultural land. An influencial neighborhood north of Washington Cathedral held several meetings (I attended one) to organize against the church's plans. Their primary complaint was traffic and congestion at the 124th Street & RED-WOOD intersection. I remember the then Mayor Rosemary Ives suggesting that a small "Farmers Market" would be more appropriate. Environmentalists had concern about impacts to the health of a Class 2 stream.

If anyone has more current information about the status of "our" historic and cultural landmark please comment. Probably, the best source of information is from the children who woolf down the ice cream!

Customer reviews of Theno's Dairy (and their location.)

Brian Lutz is author of The Sledgehammer V 2.0

Photos of Washington Cathedral Grand Opening with Mayor John Marchione. (Photos are available for purchase online)

Tent City is coming to Redmond - Public Meeting set for Monday, 3/23

Two years ago, St. Jude Parish hosted Redmond's first Tent City(4) for the homeless. Tent City is planning to open again at St. Jude from April 25 for about three months. You can see from the above photo of last month's Informational Meeting on Tent City-4 community turnout was low, very low. The few who did speak up were positive and supportive of Father Dave Rogerson's invitation to host TC-4 at St. Jude Parish. The TC-4 nonprofit "SHAREWHEEL" is a co-applicant with Father Rogerson for the Temporary Use Permit required of the City.

A Public Meeting will be held Monday, March 23, 2009, 7PM at the Redmond Junior High School to announce the application and plans for TC-4 and to seek comment from the public.

Interest may be lower this year for some of the following reasons: 1) St. Jude Parish hosted TC-4 two years ago and the community is familiar with the program. 2) The Planning Commission and Council clarified the code to be able to swiftly deal with any permit appeals, 3) the Recession has opened residents minds and hearts that people DO lose their homes and sometimes need a temporary shelter - whether it be in an apartment, a relative's home, or even in an outdoor shelter.

Interest in TC-4 will be heightened for organizations and individuals who want to help with food, clothing, or blanket donations. Call St. Jude Parish 425-883-7685 to donate or volunteer or contact Father Dave Rogerson. Last time the public was welcome to visit TC-4 without apointment after you checked in first at the gate. I spent a lot of time there two years ago visiting the residents. It was both interesting and enlightening.

The TC-4 Code of Conduct - if these rules are not respected and enforced TC-4 may be permanently closed.

FAQ about TC-4 60 -100 residents are expected. Two years ago TC-4 averaged about 40 residents. The average stay is about 3 weeks.

The Site Plan of TC-4 with diagrams of the parking lots that will be use to pitch which tents. "The Hilton" is where newcomers spend their first few nights. It looks like they moved The Hilton and Community Tents closer to NE 104th. St.

The Vicinity Map of TC-4 shows an aerial view of the church and labels the location of the tents and facilities.

The Land-Use Notice

Updated: Kempin Creek, Part II - the misuse of science in classifying city streams, Part II

2005 Stream Map
City of Redmond Stream Classification Definitions


Updated Opinion, 3/14/09: A couple of weeks ago I gave testimony to the Planning Commission and staff during a Public Hearing. The Hearing was a final step in the public process of approving the revised "Stream Map". The Critical Area Ordinance (CAO) requires cities in Washington map out their "critical areas" (streams, wetlands, flood plains, geological hazards, and aquifer recharge zones).

The Stream map is a city guideline to help developers, landowners, citizens, and "qualified consultants" rank our streams according to their value and function. Value is mostly defined by the presence or absence of fish species. A Class I "Shorelines of the State" streams (Sammamish River, Bear & Evans Creek) have the highest value owing to their size and presence of Federally endangered Chinook and other salmon. Class II streams, like Kempen Creek in NE Redmond provide habitat for "salmonid" ( salmon, steelhead, bull trout) and fish. Class III streams as in Perrigo Creek of Hartman Wetlands, have no fish nor potential for fish. Streams are buffered from land use development according to their classification (and usually size) with Class III getting the least amount of buffer

So what does all this have to do with Kempin Creek - the subject of an earlier post? Kempin Creek is unusual because it crosses county-city jurisdictions. In the county, qualified fish and wildlife biology consultants determined during a land use proposal that Kempin Creek harbored salmonid fish and should have buffers equal in size to Redmond's Class II stream rating. However, during the CAO Stream map revisions, city staff downgraded Kempin Creek to Class III when it flowed downstream from the county into Redmond.

But then something weird happens. Several hundred feet further downstream this Class III segment of Kempin Creek is classified a Class II stream again! Question. How can salmonid fish swim up Kempin Creek from Bear Creek, then swim to where they are not supposed to be (the Class III segment) only to re-enter fish bearing waters of Kempin Creek of King County?!

Below is a chart of Kempin Creek's city classification from it's source in King County downstream to Bear Creek.

Creek- County Class22222- City Class333333333333- Class22222 Class1111Bear Creek
upstream in county (fish-2)...... at Redmond border (no fish-3)- then (fish-2 again) further downstream to Bear Creek class 1111 (fish-1).


Note the Class 3 segment containing no fish, yet salomonid are upstream.! How does the the city's best science explain that!

The map is a guideline and I wouldn't make a big deal of this were it not for the city's misuse of "Best Available Science" (BAS). According to the Critical Area Ordinance, "Best Available Science" (BAS) is to be used during land use projects when classifying streams and other critical areas. City stream classification changes are triggered when a "qualified consultant" is hired by a developer for a project. In this case, the developer was CAMWEST. The BAS for Kempin Creek proved the developer's consultant misclassified the creek. A King County qualified biologist proved salmonid were present upstream in the King County segment. Thus, by best science, salmonid have to be present downstream -- all the way to Bear Creek. But for some bureaucratic reason the city's lesser "Washington Trout" mapping data pre-empted the Best Available Science provided by the county. Most importantly, re-classification of the stream mapping guide is is etched by land-use development triggers, not by cartography. As a result, the city presents an embarrassing, illogical mapping of Kempin Creek and a flagrant disregard for Best Available Science.

Some good news: Wise Planning Commissioners recommended that hydrology surrounding Redmond Creeks near the county be monitored. Another Planning Commissioner (KP) recommended stream temperatures be monitored as a city indicator of water quality and fish health.

Fishing Tip: if you're looking for a good fishing hole might try the city's Class III "no fish" segment of Kempin Creek. Your won't find staff fishing there! But, check with WDFW first to see if Kempin is fishable.

Redmond Code: 20D.140.20.-010 - Redmond's Class III streams connected to tributaries are streams without fish and without any potential to support fish or salmonids. They connect to downstream salmonid-bearing Class II and Class I streams. While these streams don’t contain fish themselves, they can be critical “headwater streams,” providing cold, clean water to the salmon-bearing streams into which they flow, further downstream.
Kempin Creek - the stream with a split personality, Part 1

CC: R. Odle, Planning Director, C. Beam, Environmental planner, PlanningCommission@redmond.gov

Commissions are the incubator of city Leadership.

OPINION: In a story a few posts down, I focused on three recent problematic issues surrounding two city Commissions. I hope you'll enjoy reading this positive story about the great good that comes out of our Commissions.

When thinking about "what's right" with our commissions it is clear commissions often serve as an "incubator" for the growth and development of new city leaders, councilmembers, and mayors.

For Example:

1. Four sitting councilmembers were once commissioners. Councilmember Hank Margeson was a past Vice Chair with Parks Commission. Councilmembers Richard Cole, Kim Allen, Pat Vache, and Nancy McCormick were once on the Planning Commission. Of special interest, Pat Vache sat on the first Planning Commission established by the City. I nick-name Mr. Vache "The Commissioner".

2. Tom Payne was on the Parks Commission before election to Council. He has since resigned.

3. Suzanne Querry was a Parks Commissioner before Vice-Chairing the Planning Commission. Suzanne is the only citizen I know who has served on two commissions. She is well qualified to be a councilmember should she choose to run.

4. Richard Grubb has been a long-time community activist, councilmember and eloquent speaker. I don't know if he was ever a commissioner. Maybe a reader could fill in the blanks.

5. Mayor Rosemarie Ives informed me she served on the Planning Commission for six years and as councilmember for four years, before being elected Mayor for 16 years.

6. Mayor Doreen Marchione served on Council for two years.

7. Mayor John Marchione served on Council for four years, though not on a commission.

8. Redmond's first woman Mayor Christine Himes opened up a dozen new parks and a citywide trail system so she may have been on a Parks Commission of sorts before becoming Mayor?

Citizen Advisory Committees and the Redmond Historical Society are other ways to volunteer and grow into a commissioner or council seat. Miguel Llanos, V.P. Redmond Historical Society and Newsletter Editor was recently sworn in to the Landmarks and Heritage Commission. Councilman Hank Margeson served on the Education Hill CAC. Planning Commissioner Querry was the Ed. Hill CAC liaison. Martin and Lori Snodgrass once chaired two different commissions as spouses under the Ives Administration. I posted a story on the Snodgrasses in 2007.

The bottom line? "Much good" comes out of our commissions! Personally, I have high hopes for an Arts Commissioner to rise up to a Council position. I believe their time is coming.