Klahanie residents want to stay in Issaquah’s plans
February 9, 2010
By Warren Kagarise
Sammamish officials monitor Issaquah action, waiting on Klahanie Park takeover
Klahanie residents asked the Issaquah City Council not to enable a Sammamish takeover of Klahanie Park.
At its Feb. 2 meeting, Issaquah’s council heard from 13 Klahanie residents, who encouraged Issaquah officials not to cede the community to potential annexation by Sammamish. The residents also protested a proposal by Sammamish to take over Klahanie Park.
Then-County Executive Kurt Triplett proposed closing Klahanie Park and 38 others in unincorporated areas last August to help the county close a budget gap. County Parks Director Kevin Brown has said the park will close this year unless the county can find a new owner.
Sammamish has offered to take over the cost of operating the park. Some Klahanie residents have opposed the move.
The takeover is complicated since, although the park, and Klahanie, are in unincorporated King County, the areas are in Issaquah’s long-term growth plans.
The Sammamish City Council is in a holding pattern while Issaquah works through its issues with Klahanie residents. Sammamish’s council is concerned that if Klahanie Park closes, Sammamish’s parks will experience a sharp increase in use.
Proposed amendments to Issaquah’s growth map related to the Klahanie Potential Annexation Area — about 1,200 acres spread across several subdivisions and home to about 11,000 residents — prompted Klahanie residents to address the council.
Issaquah and Sammamish officials entered discussions in December about tweaking the map to include Klahanie in long-term growth plans for Sammamish instead of Issaquah.
Concerned Citizens of Klahanie — a neighborhood group opposed to a Sammamish takeover of the park —addressed the Issaquah council. The organization claims almost 500 members.
Gisela Bleiweiss, who lives near Klahanie Park, urged Issaquah officials to stop the park transfer from King County to Sammamish.
“We don’t feel it’s fair for us to have this land that’s always been there with us and Sammamish can take it and do whatever they want,” she said. “We have no representation and we can’t vote them out of office if they do things we don’t like.”
If Sammamish and King County reach a deal to transfer the park, then Issaquah and Sammamish could move to amend the cities’ comprehensive plans, or long-term growth blueprints. Only Issaquah can annex Klahanie until officials redraw the potential annexation area. A vote by Klahanie residents to annex faltered in 2005.
“Personally, I don’t really care whether we are annexed ultimately by Sammamish or by Issaquah, but I do think that Klahanie as a package needs to stay intact,” Klahanie resident Ken Stanfield said. “I think our park is an important part of that. I think that it may be the park today, but if we don’t solve this issue of not belonging to either Sammamish or Issaquah, it’s going to be Klahanie Boulevard some other day.”
Issaquah Planning Director Mark Hinthorne said action by Issaquah hinges on whether council members decide to pursue the Klahanie switch. Then, officials will discuss the proposal further with neighboring Sammamish.
“We need to make sure we’re on the same page as Sammamish,” Hinthorne said.
Reporter Warren Kagarise can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 234, or wkagarise@isspress.com. Reporter J.B. Wogan contributed to this story.
Other Stories of Interest: Klahanie Park
Comments
One Response to “Klahanie residents want to stay in Issaquah’s plans”
Got something to say?
Before you comment, please note:
- These comments are moderated.
- Comments should be relevant to the topic at hand and contribute to its discussion.
- Personal attacks and/or excessive profanity will not be tolerated and such comments will not be approved.
- This is not your personal chat room or forum, so please stay on topic.
THE proposed Clearwire internet tower, 60 ft tall placed alongside the ‘big rock’ in Klahanie Park has not been addressed, though King county accepts comments through February 16, 2010.
Backtracking to the annexation woes only leaves Clearwire and King Co. to take a place in the park that will be a permanent fixture,and monument to the 30 year long angst over whether or not this should become a town or annex to one.
Give me a break.