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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2016
Battle over seminary building heats up, Kenmore meeting planned BY AARON KUNKLER akunkler@bothell-reporter.com
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lthough no finalized proposals have been presented to the Washington State Parks Commission detailing possible development by Daniels Real Estate to restore a seminary at Saint Edward
State Park, battle lines are being drawn between those in favor of development and those opposing it. Tensions ran high at a Parks and Recreation Commission meeting at Edmonds Community College Jan. 28, where dozens of people came to voice their opinions on the seminary
rehabilitation. “Change. People don’t like it, it’s very uncomfortable,” said Kenmore business owner Carl Michelman, addressing the Commission. “We’re reactive, we’re never proactive.” And so the dialogues went, as both sides made their cases to either
preserve or restore the seminary. “I urge you to do this, this is the best opportunity we could have,” Michelman said. The 85-year-old seminary was built to train priests, but was sold to the state in 1977 and turned into Saint Edward State Park.
Since then, the building has continually deteriorated, with certain portions maintained to facilitate events, and for a time housed the park’s rangers. Heating and lighting the building costs the state around $100,000 annually, and as State Parks continues to feel a post-recession
budget crunch, they began looking at new ways to generate revenue and preserve the seminary, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Repairs to bring the building up to code have been estimated to cost as much as $15 million. [ more SEMINARY page 8 ]
Bus rapid transit for 522 could be included in ST3 BY AARON KUNKLER akunkler@bothell-reporter.com
If the bid of five area cities is approved, infrastructure construction for a rapid bus transit could begin along State Route 522, providing a speedy commute along the congested corridor and easy access to the planned light rail link in Shoreline. “Right now the focus is getting on the list, and staying on the list,” Kenmore City Manager Rob Karlinsey said. Sound Transit is creating light rail in its Sound Transit 3 (ST3) development which will run from
Lynnwood and connect to the current rail which travels down to SeaTac airport, scheduled to be completed in 2023. Cities all across the area have submitted plans to the company for expanded services to be included in ST3. Current proposals from the cities of Kenmore, Bothell, Lake Forest Park, Shoreline and Woodinville include the creation of an SR 522 rapid bus transit, three parking garages and road improvements to facilitate the buses. During what was described as an ‘unprec[ more TRANSIT page 2 ]
Construction has become a normal thing along State Route 522 in Kenmore. Bus rapid transit could be placed on 522 if Sound Transit includes funding in the November ST3 ballot measure and it is approved by voters. AARON KUNKLER, Kenmore Reporter
Bothell Council drops Fitzgerald appeal, against attorney’s advice An appeal by the city of Bothell challenging a state agency’s ruling, which overturned an easing of environmental restrictions, has been shelved. Some Bothell City Council members raised concerns about the
ability of the city to legislate in the embattled Fitzgerald subarea. During the Jan. 19 meeting, the city council voted 4-3 to drop their challenge to a Growth Management Hearings Board decision reversing the city’s Ordinance 2163, which allowed
for greater development in around 220 acres of environmentally protected land in northeast Bothell. In previous meetings, City Attorney Joe Beck and outside legal council urged the city council to continue with the appeal, arguing that dropping it would greatly
restrict the city’s ability to legislate in the Fitzgerald subarea, which is within a critical habitat protection area. The city had also spent around $90,000 on the appeal, with only $10,000 needed to finish it, Beck said. Councilmember Del
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Spivey, who voted to continue the appeal, said these issues concerned him. “I think that by not appealing it, that it will limit our ability to legislate in that area,” he said. “In where Mayor [Andy] Rheaume stated he wants to find a compromise, I think that by
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not appealing, we will not be able to find a compromise.” The city created Ordinance 19.88 in 2007, and revised it in 2008, implementing environmental regulations which Spivey said were stronger than what was required by state law. [ more APPEAL page 7 ]
Now Enrolling for ½ Day Kindergarten Preparatory Program!
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BY AARON KUNKLER akunkler@bothell-reporter.com