On the waterfront
July 23, 2008
By Emily Keller
City begins planning for Sammamish Landing
City park planners are beginning planning work for Sammamish Landing, a strip of land that could become the city’s first public waterfront on Lake Sammamish.“For those who aren’t on water already this is their little piece of water,” said Mayor Lee Fellinge.
Planners are working on the first steps of developing the park. They are also conducting a traffic analysis and a cultural assessment of the area, which may be historically linked to the Muckleshoot or other Native Americans, as well as to railway activity.
The park, which will run along the city’s northwestern edge, will be comprised of two pieces of land.
Property owners William and Barbara Nelson donated a 1,765-foot long piece of land to the city in 2001.
The park will also include 1,000 of additional feet of shore from the city of Redmond.
City officials for Sammamish and Redmond are currently discussing the terms of the transfer, said Jessi Richardson, director of the Parks and Recreation Department.
The land is currently closed to the public, but trash at the site indicates there may be occasional visitors.
The first phase of work, which will include picnic areas, canoe pullouts, habitat restoration, docks and some parking, could be funded through a park bond that the department wants to place on the Nov. 4 ballot.
The measure totals $18 million, which includes $3 million for Sammamish Landing, and has an accompanying proposal to increase the property tax levy for maintenance of the facilities paid for by the bond.
Construction could begin as early as 2010, but acquiring required permits will likely push the start date to 2011, Richardson said.
The department’s 2004-2009 capital plan also allocates $100,000 for the landing’s master plan, which includes environmental analysis and planning for joint development of the parcel with King County.
The plan does not allocate any funds for phase two of the landing, which is set to include expanded parking and improved pedestrian access.
That phase is planned for 2015 or later and is expected to cost $2 million.
Fellinge said that planners should also try to feature the area’s railroad history with a signboard of history and artifacts to make the park unique.
“It would cost next to nothing and I think it would give it a market distinction and connection to past that is absolutely fascinating,” he said at a July 8 City Council study session.
Councilwoman Nancy Whitten said she is thrilled about the future park, which she hopes will have canoeing and kayaking as a major part of the project and perhaps have a launching or landing area for boats.
“Its natural features are absolutely phenomenal and can’t be replicated,” she said about the land. “I can’t think of any more exciting opportunities than of biking down to the water with some young kids and wading.”
Councilwoman Michele Petitti said she wants the park to have a boathouse program for public use and probably a dock as well.
The department plans to begin discussions with the public in September and to begin drafting sketches of the future park afterwards, which will be followed by more public input.
Reporter Emily Keller can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or ekeller@isspress.com.
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One Response to “On the waterfront”
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Give me a break. We are being asked to support an initial investment of 3 million dollars that gives us a lake shore property at the edge of the city with no access and no parking. The initial investment gives us an incomplete project? Several years later 2016 to 2017 or whenever 2 to 3 million is found to complete the project, we may have access and limited parking. Given the location, most citizens of Sammamish will not even know this lake landing exists. Parking facilities will accommodate how many cars? We are not told.
What we should understand is that this is a very narrow piece of property and parking will be extremely limited. Sammamish residents have access to the Sammamish State Park that provides suitable access to Lake Sammamish. The Lake Landing will cost Sammamish citizens a minimum of 5 million, probably more but the facility will be utilized by very few people. Local weather conditions mean this is a facility that will be used by a small number of people for several months during the summer.
We don’t need more city council pet projects that waste our tax dollars. If this project is on the bond ballot, I won’t vote for it. Let the city council come back to votes with projects that will use our tax dollars wisely.