Kirkland Reporter, September 28, 2012

Page 1

KIRKLAND .com

REPORTER

NEWSLINE: 425.822.9166

CHARGES | Man shot by police allegedly seeking sex [9]

Residential sweets | City looks at affordable FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012 housing options [6]

Houghton/Everest business district rezoning causes stir

City prepares for second Totem Lake Symposium Part two: First event yielded work plan for neighborhood

Residents say city rushing project that could result in five-story buildings BY RAECHEL DAWSON rdawson@kirklandreporter.com

S

ome Kirkland residents are concerned over proposed zoning amendments to a Neighborhood Center that rests on the dividing line between the Everest and Houghton neighborhoods on N.E. 68th Street. The changes could mean four- and five-story buildings in what most consider the Houghton business district. Houghton homeowner Sandy Helgeson said that the rezoning means higher density with an extreme traffic impact. “I feel like the residents in Houghton were not adequately informed to the immense changes to the comprehensive plan and the zoning amendments,” Helgeson said. Houghton Community Council member Rick Whitney said the council and the Planning Commission have been working on the Central

Houghton Neighborhood Plan for the last couple of years. In July, the Kirkland City Council directed the Planning Commission to start the process for rezoning as a part of the 2012 Work Program. As a result, Whitney said the Everest Neighborhood Association didn’t get much time to deliberate. “I understand their concern and their resistance on the pace,” Whitney said. “We had two years and they are asked to update their most important part of their area in two months.” The Everest Neighborhood Plan has not been updated in over 20 years. “We will have a little over a month (a public hearing is scheduled for Oct. 25) to inform our residents, study the facts and give our input,” said Everest Neighborhood Association member Anna Rising. “There is no way that this can [ more ZONING page 12 ]

Hilda Wilson Krahn, 101, attended the Golden Grad celebration at Lake Washington High School on Saturday. Krahn has lived in Juanita and Kirkland during her life. She is pictured above and below earlier in life. RAECHEL DAWSON, Kirkland Reporter

Golden Grad returns to Kirkland Hilda Wilson Krahn graduated in Kirkland in 1928 BY RAECHEL DAWSON rdawson@kirklandreporter.com

Makers’ conceptual rendering shows what redevelopment of the Houghton Neighborhood of Kirkland could look like in the future. CONTRIBUTED ART

Hilda Wilson Krahn was the oldest Kangaroo at last Saturday’s Golden Grads Reunion. The 101-yearold Union A High School graduate made her way to Lake Washington High

Bill Pace’s Fruit & Produce 425-467-0501 | 2380 Bellevue Way SE, Bellevue Monday - Sunday 9 AM to 7 PM

Sports | Lake Washington girls beat Juanita in volleyball [11]

School to celebrate 84 years since she graduated in 1928. Prato Barone, the associate principal for LWHS said that having the Golden Grads Reunion at the school is great because its core values in tradition and history really connect the Golden Grad community. “We literally have thirdgeneration students coming through,” Barone said. “So many people who have

settled (in Kirkland) have a connection to Lake Washington High School.” Krahn said her high school’s mascot was also the Kangaroo and its colors were purple and white, the same as Lake Washington High School. “‘Find a way or make one’ - that was our motto,” Krahn said. According to Krahn, hers was the biggest gradu[ more GRAD page 2 ]

BY MATT PHELPS mphelps@kirklandreporter.com

From its prime visibility for commuters on 405 to supporting the biggest employer in the city - Evergreen Hospital - to its economic impact on Kirkland, the Totem Lake area is vastly important to the City of Kirkland. City officials have made the Totem Lake neighborhood a priority during the past three years. The city began its outreach in 2010 with the Totem Lake Symposium and continued that dialogue with community members through four Totem Lake Conversations meetings. City officials and community members met for the fourth Totem Lake Conversations on Monday at Cafe Veloce to talk about community issues and to promote the second Totem Lake Symposium, set for 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 26 at Studio East. During their meetings with the public, city officials have received input and direction from business leaders, real estate developers, residents and others. “We want to turn the second Symposium into a work plan like we did with the first Symposium,” City of Kirkland Economic Development Manager Ellen Miller-Wolfe during the meeting. [ more PLAN page 3 ]

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