For several months Bellevue officials have been working towards
modifying the East Link light rail permit approval procedures as part of their
2011 MOU agreement with Sound Transit. The goals included: Establish a comprehensive and consolidated permit process
and provide a mechanism for addressing any applicable Land Use Code
requirements. It wasn’t clear what
was involved in meeting either of these goals.
The
February 11th Staff Report to the Bellevue City Council
contains the proposed modifications. Section V “Applicable Decision
Criteria-Land Use Code Part 20.30J” states “The City Council may approve or approve with
modifications an amendment to the text of the Land Use Code if :
Sub Section A The
amendment is in accord with the Comprehensive Plan; and the proposed amendment
is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, including the Land Use, economic
Development, and Transportation policies listed below”
The policies listed “below” included the following:
TR-75.1. Develop a
light rail system in collaboration with the regional transit provider that
advances the City’s long-term transportation and land use objectives, minimizes
environmental and neighborhood impacts, and balances regional system
performance.
Sub Section C The amendment is not contrary to the best interests of the citizens and property owners of the City of Bellevue
Sub Section C The amendment is not contrary to the best interests of the citizens and property owners of the City of Bellevue
No one can rationally argue that the current East Link route
into Bellevue "minimizes environmental and neighborhood impacts" or "not contrary to the best interests to the citizens and property owners of the City of Bellevue".
East Link encroaches on the Mercer Slough Park and devastates the neighborhoods along the route into Bellevue. The only way for light rail to meet these requirements is a tunnel into Bellevue. The BBB lawsuit was the result of ST refusing to even consider a tunnel that would have “minimized environmental and neighborhood impacts”.
East Link encroaches on the Mercer Slough Park and devastates the neighborhoods along the route into Bellevue. The only way for light rail to meet these requirements is a tunnel into Bellevue. The BBB lawsuit was the result of ST refusing to even consider a tunnel that would have “minimized environmental and neighborhood impacts”.
I look forward to the BCC implementing that permitting approval modification.
No comments:
Post a Comment