Proposed Permit Approval Changes Would Stop East Link

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 11^th 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

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”.

I look forward to the BCC implementing that permitting approval modification.