To all-
​
Thanks to all of the people that attended our meeting last week. some really good discussion on several topics.

A focus was on the proposed legislation moving forward at the state to sunset the Houghton community council (and East Bellevue Community Council).  We discussed how people can track the bill and provide comments. This information and web links are summarized in the meeting notes. If you have any questions or comments, please email us at centralhoughton@gmail.com. 

We also discussed current activities related to our 2021-2022 Matching Grant. If you would like to assist on any of these, please contact us (centralhoughton@gmail.com).

At the end of the meeting, we also discussed possible changes to our Bylaws to allow high school students to be members. We also noted a need for more people to assist CHNA as Board members or volunteers.

Sincerely

Larry Toedtli, President
Central Houghton Neighborhood Association

​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

What is now the Cross Kirkland Corridor was previously a part of the Lake Washington Belt Line railroad. Kirkland History.org has documented the history of rail service along the Lake Washington Belt Line (LWBL), including it's section serving the Central Houghton, Lakeview and Everest neighborhoods (as well as others). 

The history and historical photos are very interesting. The following link will connect you to their web site on the LWBL.

kirklandhistory.org/1905-lwbl-ckc/

Their web site also includes some history about Juanita Beach, some Kirkland pioneer families, and other topics. Their main web site is:

​kirklandhistory.org/

Enjoy

The January 14 meeting of the Central Houghton Neighborhood Association (CHNA) was rescheduled to February 11 due to inclement weather. The notes from the meeting are attached (or you can download them from the link below).

Our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday March 10, starting at 7:00 PM. If you have ideas for meeting topics, or any other comments or questions, please email us at - centralhoughton@gmail.com.
 
We have a couple of board positions open - Vice President and Treasurer. These positions allow you to help CHNA support and promote our neighborhood. These positions do not require much time but would help broaden the discussion and perspectives of the CHNA leadership team.

Following the February 11 meeting, the City's Planning Commission forwarded its recommendations on code changes related to Missing Middle Housing and Accessory Dwelling Units to the City Council. The City Council is scheduled to take action on these code changes at its March 3 meeting. The City Council packet can be found here:
https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Assets/City+Council/Council+Packets/030320/9c_Business.pdf

The City Council is also continuing to review and discuss various elements of the proposed changes to the Tree Code (Chapter 95 of the Zoning Code). These changes will affect properties with and without development. The latest City Council packet on the Tree Code was for their February 18 meeting - https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Assets/City+Council/Council+Packets/021820/9c(1)_Business.pdf
The City Council is currently scheduled to continue their discussion at their March 17, April 7, and April 21 meetings. if interested in this topic you can access the Council packets the Friday before each of these meetings from the City Council's web page.

In addition to the meeting notes, the following files include meeting materials covering the Wireless 5G concerns and upcoming Census and Census Jobs.

Please let us know if you have any comments or ideas for future meetings, or if you are interested in becoming a Board member or assist on specific projects or programs.  

Thank you and hope to see you on March 10 where we will be finding out more about the 108th Avenue NE sewer and water main replacement project that is about to get started and could extend into spring 2021.

Larry Toedtli, President
Central Houghton Neighborhood Association 

A reminder that the Central Houghton Neighborhood Association is hosting a celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the merger of the City of Houghton with the City of Kirkland. The event will be at Fire Station 22 (on 108th Avenue) between 6:00 and 9:00 pm.

It is forecast to be a nice evening, walk on down through a neighborhood or along the CKC. Parking at the Fire Station is pretty limited. The Kirkland Seventh Day Adventist Church, located about a block south of the Fire Station, has graciously allowed us to use their parking lot for the event. Signs will be out to direct you to it.

We will have snow cones, cake, old photos and other history. We also will have a map for a short walking tour with NOW and THEN photos around the Houghton Center (Met Market Center). If you want something more than snow cones and cake, you can vist the Taco Truck (next to the Fire Station), Starbucks, Subway, or Met Market before or during the walking tour. The Taco Truck and Starbuck’s close at 8:00 pm.

Thanks and we hope to see you there!

The Kirkland Planning Department says:​

"Carillon and Seaplane Scenics agreed (finally) that the City does have the authority to regulate the floatplane operation and have agreed to cease operation out of Carillon Point immediately, and will not resume operation until such time as a CUP approval for the operation may be granted. However, we have not agreed on appropriate fines for the illegal operation to date. But at the request of the applicants, the Hearing Examiner continued today’s hearing to a future date to adjudicate the fines. A date for the continued hearing hasn’t been set but it may be combined with the CUP hearing. We’ll have to sort this out later."
​
If the planes continue to fly, please notify Penny Skovold, Code Enforcement Officer: pskovold@kirklandwa.gov. A video would be ideal.

A bit of Houghton history sent to us from Karen Story in the Highlands neighborhood. This is from  "Lucille McDonald's Eastside Notebook," available at the library.