​Members and Neighbors-
 
The attached agenda and zoom link for our May 11, 2021 Virtual Meeting are provided below. 
 
The meeting will provide updates on a full range of topics, including:

• Completion of the 108th Avenue NE Sewer and Water Main Project 
• Northwest University 
• Neighborhood Safety Program
• 2021-2022 Neighborhood Matching Grant
• NE 85th Street Station Area Plan
• Siting of a Replacement of the Houghton Transfer Station
• Tree Code Amendments
• Upcoming Dates/Information Related to the November 2021 Election on Whether to Continue the Houghton Community Council

In addition, we will be electing officers/board members for the CHNA. 
In order to successfully continue the neighborhood association we need more people to join the Board. It really doesn't take much time and will add new voices and ideas on how to enhance our community and address community needs and concerns. Please contact us at centralhoughton@gmail.com to find out more about the Board positions.
 
Thank you and hope to see you at the meeting, even virtually.
 
Larry Toedtli, President
Central Houghton Neighborhood Association
 
Central Houghton Neighborhood Association 
May 11, 2021 (7:00 PM) Virtual Zoom Meeting Links
 
Larry Toedtli is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81584217602?pwd=VVp1RzMwdlhBblBVRG5NQjltT0twQT09

Meeting ID: 815 8421 7602
Passcode: 42iCJB
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Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kpFkSM53t
 
 

​To All-
 
The notes from the January 12 Central Houghton Neighborhood Association (CHNA) meeting are attached below. We covered several timely topics at the meeting.
The notes include links to several websites about current projects, such as the Tech City Bowl and NE 85th Station Area Plan.
 
In addition to the meeting notes, we want to alert you to two projects where you can provide input on major current planning and development projects.
 
NE 85th Street Station Area Plan
The City of Kirkland is studying potential changes to the land use designations and zoning along the NE 85th Street corridor. This has the potential to greatly change the heights of buildings and the intensity and type of allowed development. The city has issued a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). Comments on the project and DEIS can be made through February 19. The DEIS and instructions for submitting comments can be found on the City's project webpage. NE 85th Station Area Plan
 
 
Northeast King County Recycling & Transfer Station



King County is leading a site selection process for the new Northeast King County Recycling & Transfer Station. The results of this project will either close and relocate the existing Houghton Transfer Station, or result in revising/upgrading the existing site on NE 60th Street. Over the last several months, King County has considered a long list of potential sites for the new station. This winter, they narrowed the list to four sites. These potential sites will be evaluated using community criteria developed by an Siting Advisory Group and other technical measures.
 
They are asking for community input and knowledge on each of the four sites. Input on what is most important to the community is also being solicited. Community members are able to view each site and share their thoughts by taking a short survey, open through February 9. 
King County Project web page  - https://kingcounty.gov/depts/dnrp/solid-waste/facilities/northeast.aspx
 
Please email us at centralhoughton@gmail.com with any questions, comments, and ideas for future meeting topics.
 
Larry Toedtli, President
Central Houghton Neighborhood Association

​To all-
 
Last year, CHNA moved to a schedule of meetings approximately every other month. We have regularly scheduled meetings on the 2nd Tuesday of each month in September, November, January, March, and May. As needed, we may schedule additional meetings based on specific topics that are more imminent than our regular meeting schedule allows.
 
We also periodically send out emails to the distribution list to provide updates on topics and notices of upcoming events that may be of interest.
 
The following highlights upcoming events and activities over the next couple of months. Please contact us at centralhoughton@gmail.com if you have any questions, comments, or ideas for future meeting topics.
 

• Community Safety Advisory Committee -  The City is looking for neighborhood representatives to serve on the the Community Safety Advisory Group to help review a list of potential projects for a ballot measure for November 2020. Please contact CHNA (centralhoughton@gmail.com) or apply on line from the City's web page  -  https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Residents/Public_Safety/fire-2020-ballot-measure.htm 
   
  "The Community Safety Advisory Group (CSAG) will meet for the duration of October 2019 to March 2020 to review a menu of major investments for fire station seismic renovation, expansion, additional firefighter staffing, potential training facilities, and funding mechanisms for a November 2020 ballot measure for Fire and Emergency Medical Services. The CSAG's recommendation to the Council will be presented March of 2020. The Council will then have until July 21 to approve the ordinance placing the measure on the ballot for the November 3, 2020 General Election. 

• Saturday October 19 - Green Kirkland Day Planting event -- https://www.kirklandwa.gov/NewsRoom/Kick_off_the_planting_season_with_City_Council_on_Green_Kirkland_Day_s3_p27206.htm  
• Thursday October 24 (7 PM) - Planning Commission (PC) Public Hearing City Initiated Comprehensive Plan Amendments (see attached notice) Latest PC packet can be found here:https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Assets/Planning/Planning+PDFs/Planning+Commission/Comprehensive+Plan+Annual+Amendments+09_26_19+PC+Packet+WEB+-+CAM19-00537.pdf
•  Tuesday November 5 (7 PM) - Joint Planning Commission (PC)/ Houghton Community Council (HCC)  Public Hearing  - Tree Code Amendments -Official notice not yet published, Project Wed Page including links to prior meeting packets is available here:  https://www.kirklandwa.gov/depart/planning/Code_Updates/Projects/Tree_Code_Updates.htm 
• Wednesday November 6 (7:30 PM) - City Council City Council Meeting Agenda - Northwest University Master Plan Review and Decision on Hearing Examiner and Houghton Community Council recommendations.
  The HE and HCC recommendations packet is attached.
  Past materials on the Northwest University Master Plan can be found on the project web page:  https://www.kirklandwa.gov/depart/planning/Development_Info/projects/Northwest_University_Master_Plan_Zoning_Permit.htm  
• Tuesday November 12 (7 PM) - Central Houghton Neighborhood Association Meeting at Fire Station 22 (on 108th Avenue NE) Topics include - status of above public hearings/meetings, Kirkland Downtown Association, 2020 Neighborhood Safety Program projects, accessory Dwelling Units/Missing Middle Housing, and others. Please let us know if you have any topics you would like us to include.
• 2020 Neighborhood Safety Program Schedule Project Ideas Due: Monday, December 2, 2019    - CHNA will be discussing project ideas at our November 12 CHNA meeting - come and share your thoughts with us at that meeting or send them to us in advance.- centralhoughton@gmail.com 

 
Please take advantage of the opportunity to provide input to the above programs and projects.
 
Larry Toedtli. President
Central Houghton Neighborhood Association

​Hope you are all having a fabulous holiday.

​The Central Houghton Neighborhood Association's (CHNA) next meeting will be Tuesday September 10 at 7:00. It will be held at Fire Station 22 -- 6602 108 Ave NE.
 
The following includes information on some ongoing and upcoming items which may be of interest to our membership before the next meeting.  
 
1. Tree Code Revisions: A primary purpose of the tree code is to define what trees must be retained and requirements for planting more trees with development. It also addresses how many trees a property owner can remove each year without development. The tree code also addresses a range of other items that may affect your property or other properties as part of development or landscaping, etc.

• Thursday July 11 @ 7:00 PM City Council Chambers -  The Kirkland Planning Commission will meet to start reviewing the first draft of the code changes. The meeting packet, including the code revisions, can be found at the following link.              https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Assets/Planning/Planning+PDFs/Planning+Commission/KZC+Chapter+95+Code+Amendments_PC+Packet_CAM18-00408_07112019.pdf  
• Monday July 22 @ 7:00 PM City Council Chambers - The Houghton Community Council will start their review of the initial draft code.
  
  

2. Northwest University Master Plan Hearing

• The joint Hearing Examiner and Houghton Community Council public hearing on Northwest University's proposed Master Plan was continued from June 11  to a date yet to be established.
• When a new date is established, the City will provide public notice. CHNA will send out an email when we have a date and time.
• Oral testimony on the Master Plan is closed.
• Written comments/testimony can still be made - send them to Tony Leavitt, Senior Planner -   tleavitt@kirklandwa.gov. Be sure to include the project file number in the subject line -   ZON16-02063 
  
  

3. Crossing Kirkland Event

• CHNA will be participating in the Crossing Kirkland event on Saturday September 7 on the Cross Kirkland Corridor. 
• We will be part of the station at the Google site
• We are currently gathering ideas and formulating a plan - if you have some thoughts, please share them with us
• If you would like to help in the planning or day of event activities (set-up, assisting at the station/booth, clean up) please let us know - the more the merrier and many hands makes light work

• You can simply reply to this email or send a separate email to centralhoughton@gmail.com
  
  

4. King County Metro South Kirkland Bus Route Changes

• Regular riders of Route 255 already are aware that the route no longer stops at the Montlake Station because of construction of the west segment of the SR 520 bridge corridor.
• You can no longer take the 255 and get off at Montlake to go to UW . Sound Transit will still be running ST 540 during peak hours and Sound Transit has added service to ST 542 (Redmond to University District). You can transfer at Evergreen Point Station to the 542 and it will take you into the Stadium/Link station area and through the University district
• End of August/early September 2019 – Montlake Triangle improvements are to be finished. Bus stops will be consolidated in front of UW Stadium and the Link Station. This should make for much easier and safer connections to and from Link. 
• March 2020 - route 255 will most likely be rerouted to terminate at UW/Husky stadium. You will need to transfer to Link Light Rail to continue to downtown Seattle.

• More information on these changes can be found on King County Metro's website

           - Find out more details about how routes would change, including new options for routes recommended for deletion, on Metro’s North Eastside Mobility Plan website.  
          - Information about the King County Council’s process, including where to direct comments, can be found on the Mobility & Environment Committee’s website.    



As always, please let us know if you have any questions or if you have ideas for future meeting topics.
 
Larry Toedtli, President
Central Houghton Neighborhood Association
centralhoughton@gmail.com
 

​The notes from our May 23, 2019 Central Houghton Neighborhood Association (CHNA) are attached.
 
A couple of dates for upcoming events to be aware of (more detail is in the meeting notes):

• June 11 (7pm at City Hall) - Northwest University Master Plan Joint Hearing Continuance - you can still provide written or oral testimony at least through that evening's meeting
  
  
• June 15 (9am to 11am at City Hall)- City Connections Workshop - review and discuss potential new local roadway and pathway connections in the City.
  
  
• June 22 (9am-12pm at City Hall) - Sustainability Master Plan Forum - learn about and provide input as this new Plan is getting underway
  
  
• September 7 (11am to 3pm on the Cross Kirkland Corridor) - Crossing Kirkland Event - Join in the fun or volunteer to help out with City wide block party 
  
  

Our next regularly scheduled meeting will be Tuesday September 10 at 7:00 PM at Fire Station 22 (on 108th Avenue NE). If you have ideas for the meeting please let us know - centralhoughton@gmail.com
 
We also have a couple of Board positions open - vice president and Treasurer - these do not take much time, but will help us out immensely - Please contact us if you want to learn more.
 
Thanks
 
Larry Toedtli, President/Chair
Central Houghton Neighborhood Association 
email centralhoughton@gmail.com
web site - houghtonlives.com