Changes abound for Kirkland residents in 2011 – some exciting, some complicated.
Two parks will open this coming year, including the city’s first off-leash dog park and the renovated Juanita Bay Park.
Kirkland Dog Off-Leash Group volunteers worked hard over the years to get a dog park in Kirkland. The council approved the park in November and now volunteers are busy raising funds for the park.
The park, which could open as soon as January, is located at a vacant property in the Totem Lake neighborhood near the intersection of 113th Ave. N.E. and N.E. 120th St.
Despite some setbacks with the $3 million Juanita Bay Park renovation, we look forward to a new park on the south side of Juanita Drive. The improvements include a beach front promenade that extends the length of the waterfront to make the park more handicap accessible. The park will also feature a well-lit parking lot, an open-air amphitheater for community events, new benches and picnic tables.
And with the creation of new wetlands at the park, we hope this means better water quality and no more beach closures that have plagued the park during the summertime.
The park was initially set to open this summer, however the opening may be pushed to the fall if the grass doesn’t grow in time.
Another exciting change, the downtown Kirkland Park & Ride is set to open in February. Not only will we get access back on Third Street, we will have an expanded transit center with new bus bays, passenger shelters, enhanced pedestrian crossings, widened sidewalks, bicycle amenities and public art.
But no matter how we look at the changes ahead, many will require forethought and diligence.
In less than six months, our city will double in size as Kirkland absorbs the Finn Hill, North Juanita and Kingsgate neighborhoods. The annexation and adopted zoning regulations will become effective June 1. We hope the city will continue its public outreach to keep new citizens informed on the transition from King County services to city services.
We also encourage all Kirkland residents – current and new – to attend some upcoming annexation events and welcome our neighbors. A volunteer committee is currently planning some welcoming events, so please stay tuned.
Here are more big changes to be aware of in 2011:
• The city is currently studying amendments to the zoning code in support of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) at the South Kirkland Park & Ride. The development would provide for affordable housing, though some nearby residents are concerned that the project would also have negative impacts, including more traffic. Watch for the city’s outreach efforts that are expected to occur in January.
• Kirkland’s Design Review Board gave its final approval for the Parkplace project this month at 457 Central Way.
• City staff has begun work on immediate actions to promote and revitalize the Totem Lake district.
• Three council members will be up for election in 2011, with terms set to expire next Dec. 31: Dave Asher, Bob Sternoff and Jessica Greenway.
• The recently-approved biennium budget addresses the city’s $5-$7 million shortfall. The council will still be creatively looking for new ways to fill the budget gap and fund other services that were recommended for cuts. For example, in mid-2011, the council will consider the idea of a Transportation Benefit District that could include a $20 car-tab tax for road maintenance.
• 520 tolls will begin this spring.
We look forward to staying on top of and reporting on these issues in 2011.
