Coffee with Elected Officials on 11/4 turns to questions on Sound Transit ST3
Last Saturday November 4th,from 9:00 AM to 1030 AM, three LFP City Council Members and the Mayor were available at city hall for a round table discussion in the council chambers on the 2nd Floor. The City’s Invitation read:
Coffee with Elected Officials (in place of Coffee with the Mayor on this date)
Join your Lake Forest Park elected officials to discuss and answer questions on the “Big Five” planning efforts. A quorum of Council will not be present.
http://www.cityoflfp.com/calendar.aspx?EID=1554
There were about 13 resident concerns raised and addressed as a group. The questions asked were:
- Concern about the Sound Transit ST3 project. There has not been a presentation that has been made by the city about the current status of projects. Will service for the 572 and 372 busses change?
- Concern about the proposed widening of SR522 from the upcoming Safe Highways project. (Safe Highways Open House on SR522 is on November 14 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm)
- Concern about the travel time it will take to get from the LFP Town Center to the Shoreline South Transit Center that will be located on 147th in Shoreline.
- Concern about noise from compression brakes used on SR522, would like the city to see if signage would assist with noise mitigation.
- Concern about Merlone Geier not being in attendance on for the recent planning sessions on SR104.
- Concern about SR105 / Ballinger Way Right-Of-Way Issues with some of the designs that were presented to the public. Three out of the four intersections had alternative roundabout configurations.
- Concern about the Town Center Sub Area Planning process. Concern about “public-funds for private use” with respect to the largest current property holder benefiting from parking infrastructure being considered at the LFP Town Center.
- Concern about communication from the City Government with respect to many upcoming projects and challenges that are being worked on by city staff. There was a general discussion here on the efforts that current council members have made to secure funding from Sound Transit for bus service and parking improvements. The largest property holder at the Town Center has sent up representatives to meet with local and city officials including the Sheridan Community Beach Club. The goal here was to continue to have more public forums going forward.
- Concerns about creating / restarting an Advisory Neighborhood Citizen Committee that advises the city on neighborhood issues. The mayor here expressed the desire to have representatives from all corners of the city. The city administrator it looking at creating a neighborhood map.
- Concern about the expansion at Paine Field. Lake Forest Park finds itself in the middle of the inbound landing flight path for many airplanes that land at Snohomish County Airport. The city is concerned about noise mitigation and reporting loud aircraft. In 2009 or 2010 there was a sound meter that was deployed for days outside of LFP City Hall.
- Concern with permitting for rain gardens where they are typically community efforts but often “GeoTech” reports are required since the rain gardens require good aeration of the sub-soils.
- Recommendation by a resident that we review a recent video of the Mayor of Vancouver, BC. There was a mention that the Kenmore Premix and Lumberyard will be a big future development center.
- Concern the placement and utility of a parking garage in Lake Forest Park. Residents currently regularly park at the Town Center to take public transportation.
The meeting ended at a few minutes after 10:30 AM and many participants ended up staying for an extra 20-30 minutes to converse directly with neighbors and elected officials alike.
The City will be hosing a second open house for its “Safe Highways” program. Click this link for event details.
Sound Transit ST3 Project Map – BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) on SR522/145TH.
