Issaquah road closures expand due to downed power lines, fallen trees
January 19, 2012
NEW — 7:50 p.m. Jan. 19, 2012
Trees loaded with snow continue to snap and fall on state highways and local streets across Issaquah and nearby unincorporated areas, causing street closures.
Crews said a coating of ice on trees and power lines is further complicating travel. Motorists should be on the lookout for falling debris as well as ice on roads.
Early Thursday, crews responded a downed tree and power lines on state Route 900 between Northwest Talus Drive and the southern city limits. The stretch between the access road to the Talus urban village and the city line closed early Thursday and remains closed as Puget Sound Energy crews tend to the problem.
Southeast 56th Street from 229th Avenue Southeast to East Lake Sammamish Parkway Southeast is closed due to downed power lines.
On Squak Mountain, Highwood Drive Southwest near the intersection of Greenwood Boulevard Southwest is closed and Southwest Forest Drive is closed from Wildwood Boulevard Southwest to Wildwood Boulevard Southwest. In addition, the road is closed at 845 S.W. Ellerwood St.
Motorists encounter fallen trees on local, regional roads
January 19, 2012
State Route 900 remains barricaded at midafternoon Jan. 20 to motorists wanting to go southbound past Northwest Talus Drive, a day after a downed tree blocked access to the urban village. By Greg Farrar
NEW — 1:15 p.m. Jan. 19, 2012
State transportation officials said the ice after a major snowstorm continues to create difficult driving conditions throughout the region.
Department of Transportation planners said frigid temperatures should continue to cause harsh conditions throughout Thursday.
“We had our crews out all night de-icing the roads. We threw everything we had at this storm — sand, de-icer, salt and plows,” Regional Maintenance Manager Dave McCormick said. ”It’s so widespread that it’s been very difficult to keep up.”
State Route 900 is closed at Southeast May Valley Road. State Route 18 remains closed from Auburn Way and Issaquah-Hobart Road Southeast due to multiple downed trees for several miles. State Route 202 is closed between Fall City and Snoqualmie due to downed trees. The roads should remain closed for several hours.
Downed trees prompt state Route 900, Southeast 56th Street road closures
January 19, 2012
NEW — 10 a.m. Jan. 19, 2012
Downed trees and power lines prompted road closures on state Route 900 in Issaquah and rural King County early Thursday morning.
Crews responded a downed tree and power lines before 7:50 a.m. between Northwest Talus Drive and the southern city limits. The stretch between the access road to the Talus urban village and the city line remains closed as Puget Sound Energy crews tend to the downed tree.
Outside city limits, in rural King County, the state Department of Transportation said state Route 900 is closed at Southeast May Valley Road due to a downed tree.
In Issaquah, Southeast 56th Street from 229th Avenue Southeast to East Lake Sammamish Parkway Southeast is closed due to downed power lines.
The closures came as ice weighted down trees and power lines, contributing to road closures and power outages throughout the region.
PSE reported more than 12,000 customers in the Issaquah area without power at 9:55 a.m.
Downed trees snarl morning commutes in Issaquah area
January 19, 2012
NEW — 7:25 a.m. Jan. 19, 2012
Fallen trees caused road closures and traffic headaches early Thursday, as icy conditions caused fresh problems a day after a major snowstorm.
Newport Way Northwest from Northwest Oakcrest Drive to state Route 900 is closed due to a downed tree. State Route 900 from Northwest Talus Drive to the southern city limits is closed due to a downed tree.
Meanwhile, outside Issaquah city limits, state Route 18 is closed in both directions from Issaquah-Hobart Road Southeast to Interstate 90 due to multiple fallen trees blocking the lanes.
Puget Sound Energy reported more than 1,200 without power at 7:45 a.m.
Early Thursday, National Weather Service meteorologists issued a regional ice storm warning through noon. Forecasters said to expect travel impacts related to icy conditions, although temperatures should start to rise by midday.
City road crews continue to focus on high-priority routes, as ice poses a different challenge than the snow from previous days.
In landmark decision, buildings up to 150 feet in business district OK’d
December 27, 2011
Rowley Properties could someday build tall buildings on 78 acres in the business district, as shown in the rendering above. Contributed
Rowley Properties plans to redevelop land in decades ahead
Tall buildings could someday punctuate the skyline in the modest business district along state Route 900, after city leaders created a framework Dec. 19 to transform acre upon acre blanketed in storage units, low-slung office buildings and automotive service centers into a dense neighborhood for shops and homes.
In a landmark decision, City Council members approved a 30-year agreement between the city and longtime Issaquah developer Rowley Properties to overhaul almost 80 acres in the coming decades. The council agreed to allow buildings up to 150 feet tall and mixed-use development on up to 4.4 million square feet in Hyla Crossing and Rowley Center — parcels along Interstate 90 and state Route 900.
The landowner, in turn, is required to pay for transportation upgrades, affordable housing construction, Tibbetts Creek restoration efforts and storm-water system improvements.
Leaders said the potential for change in Hyla Crossing and Rowley Center offers a rare opportunity to reshape Issaquah as the city readjusts after a decadelong population boom.
In major development decision, city OKs buildings up to 150 feet in business district
December 22, 2011
NEW — 9:30 p.m. Dec. 22, 2011
Tall buildings could someday punctuate the skyline in the modest business district along state Route 900, after city leaders created a framework Monday to transform acre upon acre blanketed in storage units, low-slung office buildings and automotive service centers into a dense neighborhood for shops and homes.
In a landmark decision, City Council members approved a 30-year agreement between the city and longtime Issaquah developer Rowley Properties to overhaul almost 80 acres in the coming decades. The council agreed to allow buildings up to 150 feet tall and mixed-use development on up to 4.4 million square feet in Hyla Crossing and Rowley Center — parcels along Interstate 90 and state Route 900.
The landowner, in turn, is required to pay for transportation upgrades, affordable housing construction, Tibbetts Creek restoration efforts and storm-water system improvements.
Environmental report arrives for Rowley Properties redevelopment
November 29, 2011
Planners released a key environmental report about a proposed Rowley Properties redevelopment Nov. 23, days after City Council members heard from citizens about the project.
Citizens can offer input on the proposed development agreement between the city and Issaquah-based Rowley Properties at public meetings in December.
The council listened to almost three hours of testimony about the project at a Nov. 21 public hearing. Most speakers supported the project, although others raised questions about possible environmental impacts.
The upcoming meetings mark the latest step in a decadeslong process to reshape 80 acres near Interstate 90 and state Route 900 — areas called Hyla Crossing and Rowley Center.
The council plans to review the proposal through mid-December and reach a decision by Dec. 19.
The proposed agreement requires Rowley Properties to provide or pay for transportation upgrades, affordable housing, creek restoration and storm water management.
Find a complete meeting schedule and read the environmental impact statement at www.ci.issaquah.wa.us/rowleyda.
Citizens can offer input on proposed redevelopment
November 22, 2011
City leaders could seal a deal to redevelop almost 80 acres in the business district next month.
In the meantime, citizens can offer input on the proposed development agreement between the city and Issaquah-based Rowley Properties at public meetings in late November and early December.
The hearing is the latest step in a decadeslong process to reshape 80 acres near Interstate 90 and state Route 900 — land dubbed Hyla Crossing and Rowley Center.
City Council members plan to review the proposal through mid-December and reach a decision by Dec. 19.
City seeks input on proposed Rowley Properties rezone
November 15, 2011
The process to transform about 80 acres in the decades ahead is due to continue Nov. 21.
City Council members plan to gather input from citizens about a proposed rezone of Rowley Properties-owned Hyla Crossing and Rowley Center from commercial land to urban village — a designation used to foster mixed-use construction in the Issaquah Highlands and Talus.
Deadline looms to remove campaign signs
November 8, 2011
Relief is in sight for local motorists and residents tired of seeing signs for City Council, Issaquah School Board and other political candidates.
Though the ballot count continues, Election Day is done, and the deadline to yank political signs from along state highways and city streets looms.
Under state law, property owners must remove temporary political signs visible from state highways by Nov. 18 — or 10 days after the election.
Issaquah rules call for campaign signs to be removed by Nov. 15, or within a week after Election Day. City Code Compliance Officer Michele Forkner starts to round up rogue signs after the deadline passes.
