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After a week of all-day sessions with a Hearing Examiner, City
officials, the park consultants, and an attorney representing some Beach Drive residents, the Hearing Examiner found that there are three main problems that need to be addressed before the City can move forward:
- The parking was insufficient and calculated with an unapproved methodology
- The City needed to apply for a wetland buffer variance
- The pier is too big
The City proposed 22 parking spots at the park, including 6 load/unload spots, 3 ADA spots, and 1 City vehicle spot. 12 spots at
City Hall were proposed.
It’s unclear whether the City understands the scope of the parking
issues at Waterfront Park. When asked, Deputy Mayor Tracy Furitani said:
“The hearing examiner's decision is being considered by FACET, the City's consultant on the park, and the Council is expecting an update at one of the next two Council meetings.
The City will, of course, consider what the consultant suggests, and
Council will base any decision about access, parking, and features of
the park on resident comments and cost constraints, and shares the same concerns on this topic as you and other residents.”
Another question is whether FACET (the park consultant) fully
understands the parking challenges. The author noted that one of the consultants mentioned public bus service near the Waterfront Park during a meeting with the Hearing Examiner, implying that it was a viable means of park access.
The only problem with that is that the only bus stops in LFP are
along Bothell Way and Ballinger Way, so that just means you’d need to
lug your cooler, kids, and paddleboard to the nearest bus stop, get to
the correct side of the state highway with very few crosswalks, and
hopefully arrive at the park before midnight. Ditto for your return
trip.
Bus stop locations.
Beach Drive width.Another logistical problem is the width of Beach Drive. It’s really
only about a single lane width, and there’s no turnaround at the end of
it.
No turn around at end of Beach Drive.The LFP Civic Club is similar in size to the proposed Waterfront
Park, and its 40 parking stalls and 13 boat-trailer spaces fill up on
nice summer days and weekends. It’s unknown if anyone from the City or the consulting firm inquired with the LFP Civic Club about parking issues. Non-LFP Civic Club members can’t park at the Civic Club, so they tend to park in front of City Hall. The same place that Waterfront Park visitors would be seeking parking. On Sunday Farmer Market days, parking for both parks would be even more challenging.
The park plan also includes an event space and an annex, which would require additional parking if utilized while simultaneously
accommodating beechgoers.
Park plan.THE SOLUTION
Since the initial concept of the Waterfront Park, several local
residents have wondered how parking would work. Thankfully, the City didn’t have to pay us 100k in consulting fees to come up with a plan that frankly shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone who has been to most National Parks or flown on an airline. Shuttle service:
Example of 14 passender shuttle.The benefits include:
- Making it possible for the public to actually access the new
Waterfront Park with coolers, kids, paddleboards, etc., without walking across Bothell Way, which is the most dangerous intersection in LFP. And that’s only if you could find a parking spot in front of City Hall. - Gets some cars off the roads and out of the Town Center parking lot (the shuttle would stop at the Town Center)
- Reduce emissions.
- Offer unaccompanied kids a safe ride to the Town Center or the Waterfront Park
- Offer shuttle riders exclusive discounts to select Town Center merchants.
- Prevent the inevitable gridlock on Beach Drive as Waterfront Park guests battle with LFP Civic Club members and local residents trying to get in and out of the waterfront side of Bothell Way.
- Possibly prevent legal action from local residents against the City.
- Solve the parking issue park permit rejection issue so the park plan may proceed.
Shuttle stops would be determined as part of the process and could include Brookside and LFP Elementary when school isn’t in session, possibly the old Kellogg site, the old Cedarbrook site, Animal Acres, the
Town Center, and others to be determined.
A park plan with pull through lanes would be a potential solution.
