OPINION: "Group Health Overlake Master Plan" could morph Overlake Neighborhood into a "glitzy urban center."

This is "the heart and soul" of Overlake urban center -- President Richard Cole

UPDATED OPINION:  Hold onto your hats.  Redmond residents are in for a ride of their life once "Group Health Overlake Master Plan" gets underway.  The ride could last for years - the roads dusty?   Patience with the flag men.  Will  "Avoid Overlake" tweet?   But, the potential for this district!  Oh, My!  All you have to do is live long enough. 

The mayor has many names for Overlake -- "a neighborhood," "a village," an "urban center" and the "glitzy part of Redmond."  Whichever name you choose Overlake is sure to be Redmond's urban mecca 20 years from now, leaving our current downtown, the "Old Redmond."

Last week, Redmond city planners presented council with an overview of the 28-acre "Group Health Overlake Master Plan."   Notice of Hearing.  A Hearing is scheduled for October 18th at 7:30 PM in City Hall.   Send your comments for the record to Associate Planner Denis Lisk by October 18. Email:  dwlisk@redmond.gov.   Or call 556-2400. City council  must approve this plan.

The development plan started years ago when Group Health closed their Redmond hospital, located at 15670 NE 85th Street - between 152th Ave and 156 Ave, two blocks north of NE 24th Street.

Group Health and the City of Redmond agreed on a long range development plan for the parcel.   Five types of projects will have to be permitted.  Phase One will develop 1.38 million square feet of office, hotel, and retail.  Most of the construction phase is on the north and east of the parcel, along 156th AVE and includes:

• 12-story, 180 room hotel and conference center (NE corner with underground parking).
• 4 - 10 story commercial office parks (north and SE corner) with landscaped courts and plazas.
• 25,000 s.f. ground floor retail  (on the west along 152nd Ave. -  might be included in this phase)
• 2.6 acre grassy park with pathway up the middle of the site.

Phase Two includes 1400 multi-family residential units in the NW and SW parcel areas.  Development progress depends on transportation infrastructure.  An SR 520 access ramp is crucial.  NE 26th Street construction and grid build-out is needed along with Sound Transit.


Group Health is in the background - trees are scattered between parking areas.

 TREES:  The site is located on hill rising from west to east and covered with 1050 trees scattered throughout the parking areas.  Enormous amounts of earth-moving, grading and clearing are necessary to make a "hardscape" suitable for building.   Underground parking garages will compound the work.  Large earth-moving equipment and trucks traveling local roads may be expected for several years at a time.  Read More >>

Mayor Emeritus Rosemarie Ives objects to clear-cutting 28-acre urban Group Health site

This Group Health structure in Redmond's Overlake Center will be replaced mostly by a park and nearby 13-story hotel.
  "The City is required to seek opportunities to preserve landmark and significant trees in connection with the design
of the park."  The approved plan identifies "approximately 12 significant trees and no landmarks" in the area of the
future park.  There is no guarantee they will be saved.  - D. Lisk, Assoc. Planner, Redmond.

The following, was presented to city officials by Redmond's Mayor Emeritus Rosemarie Ives, on January 3, 2012 during "Items from the Audience"

Good evening Mayor and Redmond City Councilmembers. My name is Rosemarie Ives. I am here tonight as a resident to ask for reconsideration of the council’s decision on December 13th regarding the Group Health Master Plan and Development Agreement.

As the former mayor, I know that this forested property matters to the people of Redmond and those of us who are here tonight object to the clear-cutting of this iconic site. I believe that the criteria for exception to the tree preservation/retention regulations have been misapplied and not justified.  Read More >>

Redmond Historical Society launches 2017 - 2018 Speaker series

The Redmond Historical Society hosts six speakers a year (September - November  and February - April ) Programs are scheduled on the second Saturday of each month, 10:30 am - noon in the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center. The programs are free and  donations are encouraged. Patricia Bailey is the first speaker this year.



Saturday, September 9, 2017 @ 10:30 AM

Washington’s Healthcare Pioneer: Group Health Cooperative

Patricia Bailey

Marketing and Communications Strategist

Kaiser Permanente

"Group Health: An Early Voice for Affordable Care"

Community activists take City of Redmond to court to enforce long-standing tree ordinance

UPDATED:  A legal fight over Redmond's Group Health Overlake Village is brewing from the City waiving a long-standing tree retention ordinance.   "Citizens and Neighbors for a Sustainable Redmond" ("Sustainable Redmond") of which Mayor Emeritus Ives is a member, and two neighborhoods, are suing the City and  the Group Health landowner for a 100% clear-cut of the 28-acre site.  Removal of all trees on the site, including 65 extra-large trees over 30.25 inches in diameter are slated to be cleared.  The diameter on one "Landmark Tree" is estimated to be over 50 inches, and 250 years old.  Group Health's arborists claimed the trees were dangerous and will fall over in wind storms.   City associate planner Lisk said the eleven significant trees in the "park" area will be removed and the remaining "parkland" will be hydroseeded.

City council voted 6-1 (Kim Allen) to waive the long-standing 35% tree retention ordinance.  At least four councilmembers justified the tree ordinance Exception by referencing requirements of the Growth Management Act.   Ive's showed council a city map of all the buildings in Overlake that could absorb the City's density requirements.

Several stakeholders were quoted in a February 12, 2012 online Seattle Times article by Keith Irvine, as follows:    Mayor John Marchione justified 100% tree removal saying:  Read More >>

The city identifies four locations for Group Health's Overlake clear-cut tree mitigation, City concedes additional densities to landowner

Current Group Health site - parking lot
 and treed canopy

UPDATED:  The entire 28-acre "Group Health Overlake Center" site is approved for complete clear-cutting (in phases) once development gets underway.  City council agreed 6-1 to an Exception of the long-standing ordinance that requires 35% retention of all trees in land use projects.    Over 1,100 of the original significant trees and larger landmark trees will be removed.

Bill Biggs, the proponent for landowner Group Health, presented a sealed offer during the December 13 meeting to assuage council and the large crowd speaking against 100% tree removal.  Council held off on their decision  to review Mr. Biggs offer.  (Mr. Biggs is also President of the Redmond Economic Development Alliance).

Mr. Bigg's offer was solely about the park.  It was reviewed by city staff and accepted by council on January 3, as this ammendment:

"The City shall design and install additional park improvements consistent with its neighborhood park standards RZC 21...."  In the process of designing the Park, the City shall consider retention of existing significant and landmark trees where feasible and consistent with good park design and public safety.  The Owner and members of the community shall be consulted and given opportunity to comment on proposed park features, design and materials. 

The City shall seek opportunities for preservation of trees in connection with the design of the Park"    

Associate city planner Dennis Lisk wrote:  "I looked into the number of significant and landmark trees located within the area of the future park and found approximately 12 significant trees, none of which are landmark trees."  Mr. Lisk said there was no guarantee these park trees would be retained, or any others.

Four-hundred trees are slated for planting on the site.  Their size is undefined, as to sapling or 12 foot standard trees.  Rain gardens, planted courtyards, pervious roads, and other LID features are planned.

To compensate for the tree removal, Group Health will plant 3,345 trees and 31,220 shrubs off site in parks and near creeks "to approximate the environmental benefits" of the Group Health forest canopy.  Once Group Health sells it's first parcel for development, ~250 trees will be planted in each of the following 2-acre sites:

• Juel Park (east)  [city contact:  Betty Sanders, bbsanders@redmond.gov]
• Perrigo Park (west)  [city contact:  Betty Sanders]
• Millennium Office Park/Swedish easement adjacent Bear Creek. [city contact: Dennis Lisk, ddlisk@redmond.gov]
• Viewpoint Open Space (after blackberries are cleared).  city contact:  [Betty Sanders]

Group Health will have another 2,300 trees and thousands of shrubs to plant at presently, unidentified locations. 

Of note, according to Lisk, "60% of the parking is underground and expensive and, as a concession to Group Health for this expense additional densities were permitted by the City."  i.e. building height and number of buildings.  Another, unnamed city official said density concessions were given in the earlier planning stages to retain the trees.

Comments are welcome. 

Reported by Bob Yoder
Photo by Yoder

'Sustainable Redmond' Files Petition with Superior Court on Group Health Clear-cut Decision

Group Health 28-acre site to be clear-cut

January 25, 2012

Sustainable Redmond Files Land Use Petition

Redmond, WA – On January 24, Citizens and Neighbors for a Sustainable Redmond filed a land use petition in King County Superior Court, seeking review of the City of Redmond’s decision to approve Group Health’s request to clear cut a 28-acre urban forest within the Overlake neighborhood so as to facilitate the development of a master planned mixed use development. This includes 65 landmark trees, estimated to be 150 to 250 years old, and 985 significant trees, up to 150 years old. Sustainable Redmond was joined in the appeal by Friends at Overlake Village, Villa Marina Condominium Association, and Rosemarie Ives, former mayor of Redmond, 1992-2007. In support of the appeal are the Eastside Audubon Society, Sherwood Forest Community Club (a nearby Bellevue neighborhood), and Techies for Trees (workers in the Overlake neighborhood).

Members from Sustainable Redmond, along with many local citizens and several groups, had urged the Council to reconsider the Group Health Overlake Village development agreement at public hearings in November and December. On December 13, the City Council approved, 6 to 1, the Group Health Overlake Village Master Plan and Development Agreement, with councilmember Allen dissenting.

While Sustainable Redmond supports transit-oriented development, Read More >>

City of Redmond asks community to celebrate Arbor Day....Can we?

Redmond inadvertently mutilates these five Trees near the 91st Bridge

City asks community to celebrate Arbor Day on April 11...can we?

'Celebrate Arbor Day and the importance of Redmond’s trees and forest ecosystems' on Wednesday, April 11 at Farrel-McWhirter Park with a restoration work-party 3:30 pm to 6pm.

“Taking care of our community forests demonstrates the City’s ongoing commitment to the preservation, protection and enrichment of our environment,” notes Teresa Kluver, Park Operations Supervisor. “Preserving our trees and forests is vital to maintaining our quality of life and working to build a better future. I hope residents will want to take part in this effort.”

How is the Redmond community supposed to celebrate Arbor Day when the City breaks their own tree preservation law and allows a 100% clear-cut of trees on their 28 acre Group Health Overlake project? 

To compensate for 100% clear-cutting of 1000 trees, Group Health commits to planting 3,345 trees and 31,220 shrubs, but where?  Read More >>

UPDATED: Help Audubon transplant plants from Group Health to Marymoor BirdLoop

Song Sparrow at Marymoor Park/MICK THOMPSON

UPDATED:  Over 450 plants were dug and stored in containers for planting on January 5 on the Marymoor Bird Loop.  Meet at Parking Lot G at 8 AM to install these valuble plants!

COMMUNITY INVITED TO DO DIRTY WORK

December 1 Event Will Save Plants at Group Health Site for Reuse at Marymoor

KIRKLAND — With the old Group Health Overlake campus in Redmond slated for redevelopment,
Eastside Audubon invites the community to a work party on Saturday morning, December 1, to salvage the native plants currently growing at the site.

At the Group Health-approved event, volunteers will dig up plants that otherwise would be destroyed to save them for replanting later in the winter on the Audubon BirdLoop at Marymoor Park. Eastside Audubon has been continually improving wildlife habitat at the BirdLoop since 2006 through monthly work parties.

No expertise is necessary to help with the native plant salvage; you’ll need only a shovel, work gloves, sturdy shoes, and clothing layers appropriate for the weather. Eastside Audubon project leaders will help identify which plants to remove and explain how to do it.

Coffee and snacks will be provided by Eastside Audubon as well.

Work will start at 8 a.m. and continue until noon. The Group Health campus is in the Overlake area of Redmond, at 2464 152nd Avenue NE.

To facilitate planning, Eastside Audubon asks that volunteers sign up in advance of the event by contacting Jim McGruder, (425) 822-8580, or tmcgruder@gmail.com. Details about where to meet will be given to volunteers

Eastside Audubon is the National Audubon Society chapter active in Bellevue, Bothell, Carnation, Duvall, Issaquah, Kirkland, North Bend, Redmond, Sammamish, Snoqualmie, Woodinville, and unincorporated East King Eastside Audubon works to protect, preserve, and enhance natural ecosystems and our communities for the benefit of birds, other wildlife, and people. We welcome new and experienced birders on our birding walks and field trips and in our birding classes. Visit www.eastsideaudubon.org.

Find Ushttp://www.facebook.com/eastsideaudubon
https://twitter.com/#!/EastsideAudubon

Soul Food Book's "Sustainable Redmond" forum for tree preservation in Overlake a success.

City Council approves plan to strip out ALL 1,000  trees on this 28 acre Group Health site
Sustainable Redmond files lawsuit at Superior Court.

"Sustainable Wednesday" at Soul Food Books to feature Sustainable Redmond - Group to Speak for Tree Preservation in Overlake Village Redmond, WA

OPINION:  On Wednesday, March 28, Sustainable Redmond will be featured at the Soul Food Books’ monthly Sustainability Wednesday series.The program begins at 7pm and all are encouraged to attend. The discussion will focus on plans for the 28-acre Group Health hospital site in Overlake.  Read More >>

May is "Mental Health Awareness Month"

Prevalence Of Mental Illness

• Approximately 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. (46.6 million) experiences mental illness in a given year.1 
• Approximately 1 in 25 adults in the U.S. (11.2 million) experiences a serious mental illness in a given year that substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities.2
• Approximately 1 in 5 youth aged 13–18 (21.4%) experiences a severe mental disorder at some point during their life. For children aged 8–15, the estimate is 13%.3
• 1.1% of adults in the U.S. live with schizophrenia.4
• 2.6% of adults in the U.S. live with bipolar disorder.5
• 6.9% of adults in the U.S.—16 million—had at least one major depressive episode in the past year.6
• 18.1% of adults in the U.S. experienced an anxiety disorder such as posttraumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and specific phobias.7
• Among the 20.2 million adults in the U.S. who experienced a substance use disorder, 50.5%—10.2 million adults—had a co-occurring mental illness.8

Social Stats

• An estimated 26% of homeless adults staying in shelters live with serious mental illness and an estimated 46% live with severe mental illness and/or substance use disorders.9
• Approximately 20% of state prisoners and 21% of local jail prisoners have “a recent history” of a mental health condition.10
• 70% of youth in juvenile justice systems have at least one mental health condition and at least 20% live with a serious mental illness.11
• Only 41% of adults in the U.S. with a mental health condition received mental health services in the past year. Among adults with a serious mental illness, 62.9% received mental health services in the past year.8
• Just over half (50.6%) of children with a mental health condition aged 8-15 received mental health services in the previous year.12
• African Americans and Hispanic Americans each use mental health services at about one-half the rate of Caucasian Americans and Asian Americans at about one-third the rate.13
• Half of all chronic mental illness begins by age 14; three-quarters by age 24. Despite effective treatment, there are long delays—sometimes decades—between the first appearance of symptoms and when people get help.14

Consequences Of Lack Of Treatment

• Serious mental illness costs America $193.2 billion in lost earnings per year.15
• Mood disorders, including major depression, dysthymic disorder and bipolar disorder, are the third most common cause of hospitalization in the U.S. for both youth and adults aged 18–44.16
• Individuals living with serious mental illness face an increased risk of having chronic medical conditions.17 Adults in the U.S. living with serious mental illness die on average 25 years earlier than others, largely due to treatable medical conditions.18
• Over one-third (37%) of students with a mental health condition age 14­–21 and older who are served by special education drop out—the highest dropout rate of any disability group.19
• Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S., and the 2nd leading cause of death for people aged 10–34.20
• More than 90% of people who die by suicide show symptoms of a mental health condition.21
• Each day an estimated 18-22 veterans die by suicide.22

Citations

EvergreenHealth receives "A" Grade for Patient Safety

Kirkland, Wash. – The Leapfrog Group, a leading national nonprofit watchdog on hospital quality and safety, today announced that EvergreenHealth received an “A” for patient safety in the latest Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades. It is one of only 11 hospitals in Washington and 750 of 2,660 nationwide to achieve an A rating this spring.

“At EvergreenHealth, our more than 5,000 employees, providers and volunteers are dedicated to what we call our Community of Absolute Safety,” said EvergreenHealth CEO Bob Malte. “This dedication helps to ensure our patients receive the safest care, with the best quality and most exceptional service – it is at the core of what inspires us. We are proud that this commitment has resulted in earning the highest rating from The Leapfrog Group once again; however, recognition is not what drives us. We are continually focused on partnering with our patients to achieve the best outcomes.”

Fifth-annual King County Park's Big Backyard 5K, June 1, features live music, kids dash, more

Presented by Group Health, this fun family event benefits King County Parks

Join with friends, family and fellow outdoors enthusiasts in a fun event that supports King County Parks – the Big Backyard 5K presented by Group Health, June 1 at Marymoor Park.
The Big Backyard 5K starts at 9 a.m. and takes participants through beautiful Marymoor Park at the northern end of Lake Sammamish. The course follows the Marymoor Connector Trail and a portion of the East Lake Sammamish Trail. Strollers and leashed dogs are welcome.
A free kids’ dash featuring King County’s environmental mascot Bert the Salmon follows the fun run at 10 a.m., and then it’s time for the awards ceremony at 10:15 a.m.
“Our fifth-annual Big Backyard 5K is a tradition that hundreds of people look forward to every year, and it’s a great opportunity to spend some time with friends and family in our most-popular park,” said King County Parks Director Kevin Brown.
“Group Health is excited to continue as a long-time sponsor of the Big Backyard 5K. We believe that participating in fun events like these motivate people to get and stay healthy,” said Theresa Tamura, community engagement strategist for Group Health.
For just $25, entrants will receive an event t-shirt, plus food, drinks and more on race day. Registration for the 2014 run is easy – sign up online at www.bby5k.com. Funds raised by the 5K help leverage King County taxpayers’ investment in parks, trails and open space by keeping these features open and safe for all to enjoy.
Everyone who signs up to participate by Feb. 7 can purchase a hoody for just $5, courtesy of Harborstone Credit Union. Entry fees for the remainder of February are $25 and include a t-shirt; fees increase by $5 for each month up until race day, when day-of-race registration will cost $40 and won’t include a shirt. Entry fees include a timing chip, food and drinks.
Looking for more incentive to sign up? How about cash? Break the course record (16:18 for men, 20:15 for women), and you’ll win $100.
The Big Backyard 5K promotes fitness and community involvement, and has raised more than $125,000 for King County Parks.

EvergreenHealth Receives "A" Grade For Patient Safety

EvergreenHealth Receives “A” Grade for Patient Safety Kirkland, Wash.

EvergreenHealth  announced that it has again received an “A” grade for patient safety from The Leapfrog Group, a leading national nonprofit watchdog on hospital quality and safety. The EvergreenHealth is one of only 15 hospitals in Washington to achieve an A rating this fall, according to Leapfrog’s latest Hospital Safety Grades report.

 “Earning recognition from respected health care quality organizations, including The Leapfrog Group, is affirmation of the commitment and results achieved by our staff in providing safe, high quality care and service. We are grateful for the recognition, knowing that safety and quality are continuous journeys,” said Jeff Tomlin, MD, CEO of EvergreenHealth.

Over-prescribing and inadequate disposal of pharmaceuticals hurts our kids

Growing numbers of neighbors, schools, and local governments have serious concerns about the dangers of keeping unused pharmaceuticals in our medicine cabinets and  later flushing them down the toilet.   For one, drugs like estrogen, anti-depressants, ibuprofen, and antibiotics, when flushed, enter our water supply.  They have been found to change the sex of small fish and some can never be removed from our water supply.

An overriding concern is the ready availability of controlled substances like hydrocodone, oxycontine, and demerol -- getting into the hands of children, students, contractors, and even house guests.  According to USA Today "prescription drugs are more accessible to teens than beer". 

My experience shows doctors tend to over-prescribe pain-killers - out of habit, convenience and/or favor to their patients.   Over-prescribing contributes to substance abuse and disposal issues.    Example 1:  An oral surgeon pulled my daughter's four wisdom teeth and  prescribed 20 tabs of Hydrocodone 500M ("Vicodin") and 25 tabs of Ibufrofen 600mg.  But, she only used 10 tabs of the Hydrocodone.  (Some mothers refuse to give their kids any Hydrocodone, but the doctors still prescribe it in advance).  When I called the office nurse about it, she told me "larger adults can take more."  What does that mean? The doctor wouldn't return my call.  

Example 2:  I found 11 tabs remaining of a 20 tab prescription of Vicodin prescribed by an Urgent Care physician for a shoulder pain.  Example 3:  28 of 40 expired Demeral tablets were found.  I lock controlled substances in a safe.  The examples in my house show our doctors prescribed twice as much controlled pain medication as my family needed.

So where do we dispose of these unused pharmaceuticals?   I spent half a day figuring it out.  Not one pharmacy I visited would take back the controlled substances.   Most pharmacies refer you to Bartell Drug at Bridle Trail Village (425-881-5544).  They have excellent service and advice.  Bartell's take your non-addictive pharmaceuticals and incinerate them.  Both Bartell and Group Health (425-882-6150) recommend you to throw controlled substances in the trash, ground up with water and coffee grounds.  Group Health will dispose your non-addictive drugs in a locked container per their "take back program".   I called Evergreen Hospital.  They are looking into it.  

The QFC pharmacist recommended flushing controlled substances like Vicodin and OxyContin down the toilet, per FDA advisory.  She referred me to Redmond's Group Health "take-back" program.    She also recommended pouring both non-addictive and controlled medications into a sealable plastic bag, crushing it and adding water and then add coffee grounds.  I think the best website to visit for advice is http://www.safedrugdisposalnw.org/ .  They don't recommend flushing any pharmaceuticals. 

Redmond Councilman Hank Margeson has a keen interest in this problem and is working on it.  Redmond Councilman Hank Myers is interested.  Perhaps we can help Hank and encourage our State Representatives,  candidates, and health care providers to take action?

Report and Opinion by Bob Yoder

OPINION: Community Comments On EvergreenHealth's Behavioral Health Practices

EvergreenHealth Public Hospital should initiate a bare bones plan to medically treat community members struggling with behavioral health conditions. This video (140 seconds) explains the value of "Behavioral Health Urgent Care."  Below, are five people making exceptional social media comments gleaned from the article:  King County needs "Behavioral Health Urgent Care."  

 Molly Schroeder

"I am a mental health therapist and have seen first-hand how frightening a mental health emergency can be when there are no resources readily available! And how many clients have I treated over the years for the trauma they endured by resorting to a local ER?! If the ER is all that is available, I support that route, but Urgent Care for behavioral health would be an amazing option!"

Jennifer Z D Baldwin

"In my experience, including multiple mental health trips to Seattle Children’s ER, is that our current mental health system, at least in King County, is solely crisis focused. Meaning we do have systems in place for someone who’s immediate safety is in danger. But there is very little, adequate, on-going, accessible and meaningful/effective treatment for actually helping people heal. 

Imagine what it would be like if we treated mental health like we do physical health. Imagine if our minds were part of our bodies and that anything that impacted one impacted the other. Imagine if we dropped the shame around mental illness and had annuals, well visits, sick appointments, and talked openly with friends about what we were struggling with, trying, working on, and freely shared provider recommendations. That when we knew a family was struggling with mental health we organized meal trains, picked up groceries, or offered to take the kids. Like we do with physical health. Imagine if we had enough providers and treatment options and that they took insurance because dealing with insurance wasn’t a nightmare for everyone.

My rant is done (for now.) I know this is bigger than just King County. But the solutions to these problems start with awareness, social investment, public conversation, and specific needs assessments which can lead to increased funding and infrastructure. Thank you Bob Yoder for sharing this and providing a public space for (what I hope is thoughtful and civil) conversation."

Maggie Quintus

As someone with a person with mental health issues in my family I can assure you that having more resources for mental health would be invaluable. There is nothing worse than being sent home with someone in crisis and no help available

Matthew Dekker

This is timely. I brought a family member having a psychiatric emergency to Evergreen ER recently, and she was treated abhorrently. I kept saying to my wife throughout the process that there has to be another option

Ansley Heinsohn

My husband is a Program Director for a Mental Health Group & they are at capacity w/100’s more needing service & no where to get it. It is desperately needed.

###

Attn:  School Boards

Seattle Children's Hospital Behavioral Health Crisis Clinic . To avoid the ER.  Six Psychology PhD's.  One mental health nurse.  

Pediatric Behavioral Health Urgent Care, an innovative model of care for children and adolescents.

LETTER: "Sustainable Redmond" asks City to save trees in Overlake Village development

Group Healh Overlake Village master plan proposes Exception to city code to remove
every single tree on the site - and create 10 acre canopy forest off-site

LETTER:  One thousand trees are about to fall in our community. All we need to do for this to happen is to keep quiet! Sustainable Redmond, a grass-roots citizens’ action group focused on environmental sustainability, is asking that concerned citizens speak up NOW to persuade the Redmond City Council to consider better, more forest-friendly options in the impending redevelopment of the Overlake Group Health site. The developer of the 28-acre site has proposed a high-density housing and retail shopping complex which will include removing ALL 1,050 trees currently on the site, and with them as many as 120 40-year-old landmark trees. Public awareness and input is extremely important for alternative plans to be requested by the City Council. A public hearing on this issue is scheduled for December 6, 2011, as the third item on the agenda of the Redmond City Council meeting, which starts at 7:30 PM (see http://redmond.gov/cms/one.aspx?portalId=169&pageId=61603  for details.)

Near the planned terminus of the future Eastside Light Rail line, this project stands to become a model for future similar developments on the Eastside. The location of housing and retail near the light rail station to reduce transportation miles is a solid sustainable feature of the plan, but other aspects of this development raise concerns. A distinctive feature of the soon-to-be-demolished Group Health facility is the presence of stands of native woodland, a rarity in that highly developed area. Situated between 152nd and 156th Avenues NE on either side of NE 28th St, current plans call for leveling the existing structures, tearing up the asphalt parking areas, and removing ALL vegetation including ALL trees, some with diameters exceeding 4 feet!

Redmond’s city code states that “In all new developments including additions to existing non-single family buildings and parking areas, a minimum of 35 percent of all significant trees shall be retained.” (RZC 21.72.060). Exceptions can be requested, and the current proposal presented to city council is to allow an exception that all trees can be removed, i.e. 0 percent retained.

Sustainable Redmond is proposing that the city not grant an exception in this case, given that this area is quite unique in that it is the only large stand of trees remaining in the Overlake area, and that at least two stands of existing trees be retained. Please join us at the Council meeting on December 6th at 7:30 PM to help save some of this important woodland area!

 -- Sustainable Redmond
Photo By Yoder

RNB article:  http://redmondcity.blogspot.com/2011/10/opinion-group-health-overlake-master.html

Lake Washington PTSA announces Special Needs events

from the desk of Julie Shalaby
Chair, LWPTSA - Special Needs

1. FEAT of Washington's Experienced Learning Project
2. Eastside CHADD: Tuesday, April 19th: "Making the Educational System Work for Your Child"
3. Got Food Allergies or Dietary Restrictions?
4. DENTAL HEALTH FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
5. FEAT Speaker Series: April 23rd, 2011, 9am-12:00pm
6. Free Behavior Workshop from the Arc of Snohomish County
7. Caring for Loved Ones Under Unique Circumstances
8. Music Therapy—Individual Sessions
9. A.P.P.L.E. Consulting Summer Programs 

Read Details of Each Program >>
READ MORE >>

Transplanting Group Health plants to Marymoor BirdLoop

A few of the plants that will be transplanted at Marymoor BirdLoop 

These plants from Group Health were all transplanted to Marymoor BirdLoop on January 5

LETTER:  

 About 30 community volunteers salvaged 670 native plants last month from the old Group Health site in Redmond. This Saturday (January 5) we had work for at least as many volunteers as we put the plants into the ground on the Audubon BirdLoop at Marymoor Park. Reusing the ferns, mahonia, and salal at Marymoor will improve cover and food sources for the park's birds and other wildlife.

 Work started at 8 a.m. and continued until 2 PM.  About 40 remaining plants were planted the following month.
 

 I'm attaching a self-portrait by our photographer, Mick Thompson, who stands amid a relative few of the plants we transplanted this Saturday. Clearly it was a big job.

Reported by Bob Yoder

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

King County Report On George Floyd Drama And Covid-19

In recent days, community members joined protests locally and across the country in response to the death of George Floyd and so many Black lives that have been taken through senseless, violent and racist acts. This racism and hate comes on top of the stress, burden and illness being inequitably experienced by Black, Indigenous, Latinx and other people of color during the pandemic, the result of centuries of systemic racism.

Public Health recognizes the difficult choices that people were faced with this past weekend. Many in our community grappled with attending protests to stand up against these injustices while also wanting to keep our community safe from further spread of COVID-19.

Statements by public health leaders and answers to key questions are available at our recent blog post, Answering questions about protests and COVID-19.