City considers extra parking near library
February 9, 2010
By J.B. Wogan
More parking may be on the way in the Sammamish Commons Park near City Hall.
At the Feb. 3 City Council meeting, Deputy City Manager Pete Butkus told the council that adding a parking lot west of the Sammamish Public Library is possible, though the city has no idea how much it would cost. Simply studying the issue, coming up with a broad design and producing a technical information report could cost as much as $30,000.*
The council directed Butkus to look into additional parking that could accommodate the visitors for the library, the Sammamish Commons Park, the Sammamish Farmers Market and other events near or in City Hall. The new library opened in January with 67 total parking spaces, 22 surface parking and 45 underground.
Butkus cautioned the council that the city’s cost estimate of $30,000 was rough at best. He proposed three parking lot options, one with 52 spaces, one with 76 spaces and one with 102 spaces. He added that the Public Works Department did not have the funding to tackle the parking lot in 2010, but could allocate funds for the 2011-2012 budget cycle.
The council agreed that they wanted the city to proceed with exploring parking lot designs (with cost estimates attached). The council also agreed that if it installed a parking lot, it would be lighted.
The site for the proposed lot served as an interim gravel parking lot during the new library’s construction near City Hall. The city had plans to fence it up and reseed it.
Councilman John James said he was in favor of adding parking now, rather than restoring the lot and then tearing it back up for parking later.
Deputy Mayor Nancy Whitten said she was in favor of looking at the designs, but wanted the city to be cautious about how the lot might impact future Town Center development.
“As the Town Center develops out, we may want to reclaim this for a different use,” she said.
Reporter J.B. Wogan can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 247, or jbwogan@isspress.com.
*This story corrects the estimated cost of the parking lot.
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