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SCHOOLS | Bellevue’s Spanish immersion school Puesta del Sol to begin Artist in Residence program [17]
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2013
Community | Thanks to Jo Bourgoin, conversation isn’t a lost art. [6]
Sports | Bellevue’s Villani wins school’s first wrestling state title in 36 years [14]
When light rail goes through your kitchen, you’re going to speak up Residents concerned Sound Transit will steamroll city, property owners BY CELINA KAREIVA BELLEVUE REPORTER
Blue arrows show detour routes for West Lake Sammamish Parkway SE. CITY OF BELLEVUE
Motorists warned of significant impacts to West Lake Sammamish Parkway Work on enhancements to West Lake Sammamish Parkway will cause significant impacts to motorists beginning March 19, according to a City of Bellevue announcement. On that date, the parkway will be closed to southbound traffic starting at Southeast 34th Street. A northbound lane will remain open, but significant delays are still likely. All businesses will remain open during construction. The roadway typically carries 11,000 drivers on an average weekday and the city is strongly advising motorists to find alternate routes to traveling on West Lake Sammamish Parkway between Interstate 90 and
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Southeast 34th Street. Delays of 15 minutes or more are possible through the construction zone. The parkway project will include safety enhancements for pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers by providing a multi-use trail along the west side of the arterial. The work also will restore the existing pavement while maintaining the distinct character of the area. The proposed construction plan breaks the roadway into five approximately mile-long segments. The first phase will take at least 10 months to complete. The city began construction of Phase 1 in early 2013. The scope of work includes the construction of a
10-foot wide multi-use path on the west side of the street, a four-foot shoulder on the east side, and two general-purpose travel lanes (one northbound and one southbound). Along with roadway improvements, the city will install new storm drains and replace existing water mains. The first type of work installs erosion control, builds retaining walls, and improves storm drains, water lines, and water service. Construction takes place between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. To expedite the work, two or three crews will be working at a time at different locations. Besides the contrac-
Susan Huenefeld wasn’t going to speak last Monday at a public hearing for land use code amendments concerning East Link’s future alignment in Bellevue. But when she saw a green line drawn through hers and her neighbor’s property in a slideshow visualization of screening on 112th, Huenefeld changed her mind. “That green line on the earlier slides, goes straight through my kitchen, living room and dining room,” said Huenefeld as the hearing drew to a close. “I didn’t buy my house over 18 years ago, to have the enormous douglas-fir torn down so that I could have a beautiful view of light rail, 10 feet from my house.” Last October, the council began a series of meetings to amend land use codes that didn’t anticipate East Link’s extension into Bellevue. The land use code “overlay” will inform future permit processes, development and design standards as the project moves forward. And for many residents of the Enatai and Surrey Downs neighborhoods, whose homes will be the most affected by the alignment, it’s a critical moment for property owners. “There’s no recourse for property owners in this LUC,” said Arjun Sirohi, Huenefeld’s neighbor along 112th Avenue Southeast. Both have long voiced their concern to Sound Transit and the city, most notably about the possibility of partial acquisition, which would allow ST to purchase all but a sliver of grass and the back deck in either yard. But now they’re worried the overlay will set an unfair precedent for Sound Transit, allowing them to steamroll the city and property owners on future occasions. “The debate is already done,” said Sirohi, who clarifies that he’s not trying to banish East Link from Bellevue. “They’ve decided on the alignment. Now it’s about the LUC, and what are the rights of the property owners.” Over the weekend, Huenefeld paused to lead a brief tour of the properties lining 112th, where East Link would construct a portion of its alignment. The exact details of construction won’t be determined until later this spring SEE LIGHT RAIL, 6
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The 2013 Health Resource Guide will provide our readers with local information and eduction regarding health issues. Read this special supplement in today’s paper!
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