The West Lake Sammamish Association
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The West Lake Sammamish Association
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The West Lake Sammamish Association is a community organization working to maintain the residential neighborhood character of the West Lake Sammamish Parkway area. (Contact Info. at bottom of this page)
Bellevue Fast-Tracks Its Shoreline Program Other jurisdictions on the lake now have their SMP update processes underway. These efforts have been hastened by a legal determination that a number of cities inappropriately adopted shoreline regulations under the Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) several years ago. The City of Bellevue is among them. Bellevue has been using the CAO to impose shoreline regulations; attempting to force major modifications to the shoreline at homeowner expense. However, there is little to no sound scientific evidence that making these modifications will improve the lake habitat or rectify the damage done each day from culverts dumping pollutants from elsewhere in basin. On May 21st Bellevue sponsored an Open House on the Shoreline Update. Nearly 100 residents were in attendance. While the meeting had been structured by the City to contain a presentation, then for attendees to disburse into smaller groups, early on in the meeting it became apparent there were many issues the audience was concerned about. Demands were voiced that staff answer questions to the whole group. Staff noted that residents have been living under the existing regulations since the 1970's. However, when asked when shoreline setbacks had been increased to 50 feet, they were forced to acknowledge it and other regulations were imposed in 2006 under the CAO. They were reminded of a court ruling negating such regulations. Other statements that piqued resident ire included allegations there is an overwhelming demand for shoreline access and that more than 70% of Bellevue's shorelines are "armored" with bulkheads (which need to be removed). City surveys show only 13% of respondents indicated dissatisfaction with access AND attendees are well aware that less than half of the shoreline has bulkheads. They voiced their discontent. On May 27th, representatives of WLSA as well as Meydenbauer Bay and other neighborhoods attended the Planning Commission's meeting taking the opportunity to address the commission on their concerns. To read a summary of that meeting, click here - Planning Comm. 5/27/09
Redmond Shoreline Master Program Update (SMPU) The City of Redmond was the first lakeside jurisdiction to update its Shoreline Master Program (SMP). Adopted by City Council in early 2008 and forwarded to the State Dept. of Ecology for approval, innumerable hours of Parkway-Lakeside resident involvement were required to achieve a reasonable program.
Parkway Improvement Project Years in the making, preliminary designs for improvements to the Parkway displayed recently at a public meeting sponsored by the City. Residents received notification of the meeting and were surprised to be asked which section they would like improved first. WLSA’s Board, with input from members, debated the merits of each option. As a result, it sent a request for support to residents AND encouraged their attendance at the June 10th meeting (4 to 6:30 PM) at SAMBICA. The meeting was attended by 60+ residents who were provided the opportunity to review the project designs as well as the voting pattern for the first section to be built. Nearly 2 out of 3 responses favored the southern-most section. The Association Board has been involved with the project for nearly 16 years. Sensing potential impacts to the neighborhood and the lake from a road widening as well as unbridled drainage from upland development, WLSA members have worked closely with the City, recreational cyclists, delivery firms, and others to achieve an acceptable design. Since approval of the design concept more than 4 years ago, Bellevue has allocated some $6.5 million dollars to the design phase, but has cited there are limited funding sources if we are to keep the road in its present residential-like design; thus, the need to make improvements in phases. WLSA’s Board encourages all to attend the City meetings, to stay informed, and to continue to support the design concepts of the project. The City’s Project Manager is Paul Krawczyk (PKrawczyk@bellevuewa.gov). Additional information is available at the City’s project website http://www.bellevuewa.gov/west_lk_samm_prkwy.htm Background Information on the Parkway Project -
Will City
Storm Water Code Changes Impact You?
Bellevue’s Utilities Department is updating the City's Storm Water code. This effort is required by the Dept of Ecology at the State level (as well as by Federal regulations). Updates for cities of Bellevue's size has a deadline of mid-August for submission but that may be extended because of several court cases currently being decided. The City's Utility Dept expects an extension until the end of 2009. There are implications to homeowners within the changes, especially if they plan do remodeling that would increase their square footage. The program will have varying requirements depending on the level of project impact; very small projects being exempt, larger and larger projects facing more and more requirements. Of importance to home owners – the threshold is the addition of 2000 sq ft or more of new or replaced impervious surface (not just the building!), and single family homes are not longer exempt, as in the past . Above the 2000 square foot level there will be requirements to “manage” storm water on the site. There are low impact, natural techniques that may be required. These techniques include: Rain Gardens, Amended Soils, Rooftop Vegetation, Rain Harvesting, Porous Pavements, Dispersion through Native Vegetation, and Infiltration Systems. More information can be obtained at –
WLSA Contact InformationTo find out more about WLSA, please contact wsrh93a @ msn.com or call 425-644-6971 WLSA Visitor
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