Upcoming events to kick-off Kirkland city initiative to involve public with long-range planning
Published 2:46 pm Monday, May 20, 2013
City of Kirkland leaders have launched an ambitious and inclusive public involvement campaign, “Kirkland 2035: Your Voice. Your Vision. Your Future.,” as a way to listen to ideas from community members about the future of the city.
Several long-range and strategic plans are being updated and developed that will shape Kirkland’s future in land use, housing, transportation, parks, and the Cross Kirkland Corridor.
Community members are invited to a planning day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 8 at Kirkland City Hall, 123 5th Ave.
Information and interactive activities will be happening to engage residents and businesses in the Cross Kirkland Corridor Master Plan, Comprehensive Plan update, Transportation Master Plan, and the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan.
A one-hour “crash course” on the Growth Management Act and how the city’s Comprehensive Plan guides the city’s future will be held from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., followed by a moderated conversation from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. with council members on how the city can best manage future growth in housing and jobs and meet the transportation needs of a larger city.
Other plans that need public input include the Juanita Drive Corridor Study, Surface Water Master Plan, and Totem Lake Park Master Plan. Event details can be found at www.kirklandwa.gov/kirkland2035 or by calling 425-587-3001.
As a conversation starter, the city hosted an event on May 14 where more than 100 local business representatives were asked to share their ideas on the future of the Cross Kirkland Corridor and learned how they can be involved in the update to the City’s Comprehensive Plan and Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan.
On June 1, the Parks & Community Services Department will host an outdoor workshop to gather input on the future development of Totem Lake Park. Totem Lake Park is an approximately 17-acre property owned by the King Conservation District (KCD) and operated by the City of Kirkland.
The city has identified the Totem Lake Business District as an urban center and a priority for economic redevelopment, including the nearby Totem Lake Malls property.
Directly east of the park is the recently-acquired Cross Kirkland Corridor, which offers opportunity for future linkages to local and regional recreational trail systems. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 12031 N.E. Totem Lake Way, in the parking lot of Yuppie Pawn Shop.
As part of the Juanita Friday Market, the Public Works Department is hosting a “Walk and Roll” Safety Fair from 3-7 p.m. on June 7 at Juanita Beach Park, 9703 N.E. Juanita Dr. to showcase the city’s programs that support pedestrian and bicycle safety. Activities include a bike rodeo, bike safety clinic and games.
On June 12, a community hands-on workshop will be held on the Juanita Drive Master Plan Corridor Study where residents can help identify traffic, pedestrian, and bicycle safety issues along Juanita Drive between Juanita Village and the northern city limits in the Finn Hill neighborhood. The workshop will be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Finn Hill Middle School, 8040 N.E. 132nd St.
For more information on the city’s Kirkland 2035 initiative, visit www.kirklandwa.gov/kirkland2035 or email kirkland2035@kirklandwa.gov.
