City seeks Regional Growth Center title
May 14, 2013
To help the chances of receiving additional transportation funds from the Puget Sound Regional Council, the City Council has decided to apply for the title of Regional Growth Center.
The Puget Sound Regional Council provides transportation grants and support for four counties in the area. Regional Growth Centers have a heightened visibility when money is available for such projects.
Planners steer more than $3 million to local road projects
January 15, 2013
Issaquah-area road projects received a green light to proceed — and more than $3 million — after planners approved a regional transportation program.
Puget Sound Regional Council leaders recommended funding for projects on Southeast May Valley Road, Issaquah-Hobart Road Southeast, West Lake Sammamish Parkway Southeast and 228th Avenue Southeast on the Sammamish Plateau.
The lineup includes projects just outside Issaquah city limits, but none inside the city.
Some dollars for the projects come from $440 million in federal funds distributed by the planning authority for King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties. State gas tax revenue and local funds then cover the remaining project costs.
City OKs buildings up to 125 feet tall in business district
December 25, 2012
Redevelopment plan calls for more than 7,000 residences
City leaders raised the building height limit to 125 feet in the business district and raised the stakes for redevelopment in the decades ahead.
The roadmap to redevelopment — a document called the Central Issaquah Plan — also creates a framework to add more than 7,000 residences on about 1,000 acres stretched along Interstate 90.
In a series of decisions reached Dec. 17 after years spent re-envisioning the business district, a relieved City Council adopted the Central Issaquah Plan, but delayed action on a key piece until at least April.
“It’s the right plan at the right time,” Councilman Fred Butler said. “It will not happen overnight, but when the time is right, we will be ready.”
City Council could delay part of Central Issaquah Plan
December 12, 2012
NEW — 10 a.m. Dec. 12, 2012
City leaders recommended Tuesday to delay the implementation of important development rules in a long-term plan to transform the business district from strip malls and parking lots to a dense urban hub.
In the last public meeting for the proposed Central Issaquah Plan before the document reaches the City Council for consideration, a council committee called for more time to refine and review the design and development standards outlined in the 30-year blueprint for redevelopment.
The design and development standards set rules for buildings, community spaces, landscaping, signage and more.
Overall, Council Land & Shore Committee members forwarded to the full council the four pieces of legislation to enact the Central Issaquah Plan. The full council is scheduled to consider the legislation and listen to public input Dec. 17.
Planners steer dollars to Issaquah-area road upgrades
October 26, 2012
NEW — 8 a.m. Oct. 26, 2012
Issaquah-area road projects received a green light to proceed — and more than $3 million — Thursday, after planners approved a regional transportation program.
Puget Sound Regional Council leaders recommended funding for projects on Southeast May Valley Road, Issaquah-Hobart Road Southeast, West Lake Sammamish Parkway Southeast and, on the Sammamish Plateau, 228th Avenue Southeast.
The lineup includes projects just outside Issaquah city limits, but none inside the city.
Some dollars for the projects come from $440 million in federal funds distributed by the planning authority for King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties. State gas tax revenue and local funds then cover the remaining project costs.
Group recommends dollars for Issaquah-area road projects
October 2, 2012
Planners recommended more than $2 million Sept. 13 to help fund road projects in the Issaquah area, including upgrades to West Lake Sammamish Parkway Southeast, Issaquah-Hobart Road Southeast and Southeast May Valley Road.
The projects could garner a small slice of more than $440 million in federal funds proposed by the Puget Sound Regional Council — the planning authority for King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties.
The planning agency is considering transportation improvements throughout the region. Citizens can comment on the proposals through Oct. 25, the day the agency’s executive board votes on a regional transportation plan.
Group recommends funds for Issaquah-area road projects
September 13, 2012
NEW — 8 p.m. Sept. 13, 2012
Planners recommended $1.1 million Thursday to complete road projects in the Issaquah area, including upgrades to Issaquah-Hobart Road Southeast and Southeast May Valley Road.
The projects could garner a small slice of more than $440 million in federal funds proposed by the Puget Sound Regional Council — the planning authority for King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties.
The planning agency is considering transportation improvements throughout the region.
In the Issaquah area, planners proposed $824,586 to preserve Southeast May Valley Road from state Route 900 to 229th Avenue Southeast in unincorporated King County.
Planners also recommended $315,414 for road overlay, or paving, along Issaquah-Hobart Road Southeast.
Outside panel to advise King County Council on arena proposal
June 12, 2012
King County Council members tapped a panel of experts to guide the council and offer independent analysis as officials review a proposal to build a $490 million Seattle sports and entertainment arena.
Council Budget and Fiscal Management Committee members held the initial hearing on the arena proposal May 29. The committee discussed the timeline for arena construction and possible costs to taxpayers, in addition to the terms outlined in the proposal.
The outside panel is comprised of members versed in economics, public finance, public-private partnerships, labor, urban development and transportation.
The members include Justin Marlowe, a professor at the University of Washington Evans School of Public Affairs; urban developer Steve Orser; UW geography professor Bill Beyers; economist Dick Conway; Tracey Thompson, secretary treasurer of Teamsters Local 117; Charlie Howard, transportation planning director for the Puget Sound Regional Council; and former state Secretary of Transportation Doug MacDonald.
The amount of public support for the arena is capped at $120 million if organizers secure only the basketball franchise. The total could rise to $200 million if a hockey team is added to the equation.
King County Council starts to delve into arena proposal
May 29, 2012
NEW — 11:55 a.m. May 29, 2012
King County Council members tapped a panel of experts to guide the council and offer independent analysis as officials review a proposal to build a $490 million Seattle sports and entertainment arena.
Council Budget and Fiscal Management Committee members held the initial hearing on the arena proposal Tuesday. Members discussed the timeline for arena construction and possible costs to taxpayers, in addition to the terms outlined in the proposal.
Committee Chairman Joe McDermott announced the expert panel. The panel is comprised of members versed in economics, public finance, public-private partnerships, labor, urban development and transportation.
“The panel’s participants have graciously volunteered their time and expertise to help us fully understand the benefits and risks of this proposal,” McDermott said in a statement. “This is a comprehensive panel — with skeptics among it.”
Council approves transportation plan
May 24, 2011
Proposal outlines repairs to weakened retaining wall
City Council members laid out a roadmap for Issaquah transportation projects May 2.
The council adopted the Transportation Improvement Program, or TIP, a guide to short- and long-term planning for road, transit and pedestrian projects. The document outlines possible transportation projects for 2012-17.
“Having a project on the TIP makes it eligible for certain types of funding, but more broadly, it signals to the community what improvements we’re considering for the future,” Councilman Joshua Schaer said before the unanimous decision.
The city Public Works Engineering Department lists transportation projects in the TIP, and then prioritizes the projects through a separate process to fund capital improvements.
Transportation planners outlined possible improvements to the timber retaining wall along Southeast Black Nugget Road behind Fred Meyer and The Home Depot.
Some timbers started to dislodge, rot is prevalent, pressure distorted some pilings and the fence atop the wall is failing. The city attributes the problems to shoddy construction. The timber was cut too short and too thin for the area. In addition, the structure was not properly treated.
King County could provide some funding to offset the estimated $496,000 repair cost.
“We’ve been talking with King County for a couple of years now, and we’re very close to reaching an agreement with them whereby we can receive some funds fairly quickly, with the possibility of additional funds over an undetermined period of time,” Public Works Engineering Director Bob Brock told the council.
