Dollars steered to economic development projects
May 24, 2011
King County leaders scrapped the outdated Economic Enterprise Corp. and directed funds from the program to economic development programs throughout the region.
The legislation approved May 2 by the County Council directs almost all of the $95,000 remaining in the corporation to be disbursed to smaller projects.
The beneficiaries include $10,000 for the Puget Sound Regional Council — the planning authority for King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties — to update a regional economic strategy and $20,000 for the county Department of Natural Resources and Parks.
“This small investment can make a big difference for our economy,” Councilwoman Kathy Lambert, a co-sponsor of the legislation and the Issaquah representative, said in a release.
Created in 1984, the Economic Enterprise Corp. issued industrial revenue bonds to economic development in the county. The agency issued bonds totaling more than $48 million and created more than 600 jobs.
State lawmakers created the Washington Economic Development Finance Authority in 1990. The statewide agency served the same purpose as the county’s Economic Enterprise Corp. Eliminating the county agency eliminates duplication and saves money.
Leaders steer dollars to economic development projects
May 6, 2011
NEW — 6 a.m. May 6, 2011
King County leaders scrapped the outdated Economic Enterprise Corporation and directed funds from the program to economic development programs throughout the region.
The legislation approved Monday by the County Council directs almost all of the $95,000 remaining in the corporation to be disbursed to smaller projects.
“Standing on the cusp of economic recovery from the greatest recession of our lifetimes, we need to invest in solutions that will help us build prosperity and get people back to work,” County Executive Dow Constantine said in a release. “These one-time funds can help lay the foundation for job creation now and in the future.”
Issaquah growth center proposal raises questions
May 3, 2011
The nascent proposal to add almost 5,000 residential units to the business district in a pedestrian- and transit-friendly hub received a skeptical reception from city planning commissioners last week.
The city is considering a proposal to add a regional growth center in a bid to attract dollars for transportation and mass transit to Issaquah. The initial plans outline such a hub in 915-acre Central Issaquah, the commercial area spread along Interstate 90 and state Route 900.
The long-term blueprint for the Puget Sound region calls for areas designated as regional growth centers. The designation helps officials plan regional transportation infrastructure and determine the best sites for economic development.
The centers also receive higher priority for state and federal funding in order to connect the regional hubs — a crucial selling point.
Still, Planning Policy Commission members raised questions about a proposal to create a regional growth center and add up to 4,650 residential units in a dense neighborhood.
“I think the biggest question is, do we want to do this?” Commissioner Joan Probala asked during the April 28 meeting. “Because when we decide that we want to do it, you’re looking at changing the rest of the areas to some extent, and you’re going to encourage building to happen there” in the targeted area.
Muni League honors transit group, councilman
February 1, 2011
King County Executive Dow Constantine congratulated Issaquah Councilman Fred Butler and other members of a transit task force last week for receiving a prestigious honor from the Municipal League of King County.
The recommendations from the 28-member Regional Transit Task Force represent a potential roadmap to long-standing differences related to Metro Transit bus service. The group released the report to county leaders in November.
The group has received the James R. Ellis Regional Leadership Award for the effort, the Municipal League announced Jan. 27.
“We asked 28 local leaders to set aside arbitrary political divisions and come up with transit recommendations that meet the needs of the entire county, and they exceeded all expectations,” Constantine said in a statement. “That takes real leadership, and I’m pleased to see their hard work and vision recognized by the Municipal League.”
The award honors individuals and organizations for contributing significant leadership in tackling regional public policy problems. The league recognized task force members for efforts “to clarify and organize the priorities and implementation processes for local transit during a time of budget reductions.”
King County transit task force receives top honor
January 27, 2011
NEW — 1 p.m. Jan. 27, 2011
King County Executive Dow Constantine congratulated Issaquah Councilman Fred Butler and other members of a transit task force Thursday for receiving a prestigious honor from the Municipal League of King County.
The recommendations from the 28-member Regional Transit Task Force represent a potential roadmap to long-standing differences related to Metro Transit bus service. The task force released the report to county leaders in November.
The group has received the James R. Ellis Regional Leadership Award for the effort, Constantine announced Thursday.
“We asked 28 local leaders to set aside arbitrary political divisions and come up with transit recommendations that meet the needs of the entire county, and they exceeded all expectations,” he said in a statement. “That takes real leadership, and I’m pleased to see their hard work and vision recognized by the Municipal League.”
Undercrossing opens to link north and south Issaquah
December 21, 2010
Crews completed the Interstate 90 Undercrossing last week and opened the north-south connector to traffic Dec. 16. By Greg Farrar
The link between north and south Issaquah opened to traffic Dec. 16, after years of planning and months of construction.
The long-planned Interstate 90 Undercrossing — Fourth Avenue Northwest — runs from a traffic signal at the post office along Northwest Gilman Boulevard, connects into the rail corridor behind Gilman Station, forms a T-shaped intersection at Southeast 62nd Street, continues along 221st Place Southeast and then terminates at Southeast 56th Street.
Crews experienced a last-minute delay last month, after the installation of bridge safety railings lasted longer than expected. The city planned to open the connector around Dec. 6, but the slowdown prompted planners to update the schedule.
The link supplements traffic-clogged Front Street North and state Route 900, the other connectors between north and south Issaquah. Both older crossings also provide access to the interstate, but the combination of local traffic and vehicles from the on- and off-ramps add to the gridlock.
Because part of the undercrossing is located within the King County East Lake Sammamish Trail Corridor, the link also serves as a multimodal facility.
Pickering Trail also crosses Fourth Avenue Northwest at a signalized crossing, and then connects to the East Lake Sammamish Trail.
Issaquah accepts grant to study land swap
November 23, 2010
Issaquah city leaders accepted a state grant last week to study how to preserve rural land and instead add density inside city limits.
The city received $100,000 to study a potential transfer of development rights between the Issaquah Creek watershed and the business district. Under such a transfer, a landowner sells development rights from properties in low-density areas to parties interested in building denser development in another area.
City Council members accepted the grant in a unanimous decision Nov. 15. The grant does not require any local matching dollars.
The city plans to use the funds to conduct environmental and market analyses to create a transfer-of-development-rights receiving site in part of a 915-acre commercial core along Interstate 90. The area is the focus of a detailed planning process to redevelop strip malls and parking lots into a pedestrian-friendly blend of businesses and residences.
The state Department of Commerce and the Puget Sound Regional Council — the planning authority for King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties — announced Sept. 15 more than $1 million in grants to 10 cities for transfer of development rights projects.
Issaquah receives $100,000 grant to study potential land swap
October 5, 2010
Issaquah has received $100,000 to study how to protect land in the Issaquah Creek watershed and, at the same time, add density in the urban core.
The city plans to use the grant to conduct environmental and market analyses to create a transfer-of-development-rights receiving site in part of a 915-acre commercial core along Interstate 90.
Under such a transfer, a landowner sells development rights from properties in low-density areas to parties interested in building denser development in another area.
The state Department of Commerce and the Puget Sound Regional Council announced Sept. 15 more than $1 million in grants to 10 cities for transfer of development rights projects.
The dollars come from a federal Environmental Protection Agency program to support regional planning in the Puget Sound watershed.
Issaquah receives $100,000 grant to study potential land swap
September 16, 2010
NEW — 8 a.m. Sept. 16, 2010
Issaquah has received $100,000 to study how to protect land in the Issaquah Creek watershed and, at the same time, add density in the urban core.
The city plans to use the grant to conduct environmental and market analyses to create a transfer-of-development-rights receiving site in part of a 915-acre commercial core along Interstate 90.
Under such a transfer, a landowner sells development rights from properties in low-density areas to parties interested in building denser development in another area.
The state Department of Commerce and the Puget Sound Regional Council announced Wednesday more than $1 million in grants to 10 cities for transfer of development rights projects.
Council OKs money to change Providence Point intersection
June 22, 2010
City Council members took the initial step June 7 to improve the accident-plagued intersection at the entrance to Providence Point.
The city and consultants will make the project “shovel ready” — and more competitive for state or federal dollars. Officials hope the state or federal governments could pick up all or most of the eventual construction cost. Beyond the city-funded planning, however, the future of the project remains uncertain.
City Council members agreed to spend up to $100,000 to complete plans to realign the intersection at Southeast 43rd Way and Providence Point Drive Southeast. The effort will require utility providers to prepare plans to move utility lines in order to accommodate proposed changes.
Before city engineers consider the project to be “shovel ready,” the city must also complete the environmental review for the project and secure right of way for the proposed realignment. Providence Point management has indicated interest in donating right of way to the city.
