Residents Consider Potential Facelift for Lake Forest Park's Southern Gateway

The Lake Forest Park Planning Commission which is looking at development of the Southern Gateway held its second public meeting at the Elks Club Wednesday evening where concrete ideas were presented and then evaluated by citizens.

It was the second of three community outreach events that are part of the commission’s first planning phase, funded by the city with $25,000. The Phase will result in recommendations for City Council, which will look to approve phase two in February 2012.

Development is an issue now because the property is for sale and LFP has the opportunity to encourage desirable kinds of development by rezoning various areas on the Southern Gateway, defined as the stretch of Bothell Way between 145th Street and N.E. 157th Street.

“We’re looking at a fifteen to twenty-year plan,” said commission co-chair George Piano. Without a city plan there will be sporadic development that goes to the highest bidder, like strip development, and does little to improve the standard of living and aesthetics.

Piano also stressed that the Southern Gateway is not a viable economic community and that by expanding that tax base, property taxes for the rest of LFP can be kept under control.

The majority of the time was spent in small groups evaluating concrete options that were brainstormed at a previous meeting, like creating a gateway at 145th or zoning the Elks Club for offices, using criteria such as “improves identity” and “good for business and economy.”

Many attendees were concerned about the Déjà Vu strip club, considered an eye-sore in the community.

“We don’t have a lot of control over when things actually change,” said Planning and Building Director Steve Bennett.

The only thing LFP can do is improve infrastructure and zoning to make the area more “palatable” for the "right" kind of development to some, for example by making Déjà Vu’s property more valuable, creating an economic impetus to move.

Three options were also laid out for the Elks Club. Right now it is zoned for multi-family development or 250 units of senior housing. The city could rezone it for offices, commercial development or mixed use, which would include housing and businesses, almost like another town center. The latter was identified as the most rewarding option fiscally (the city would break even).

Residents in the area are concerned about increased traffic flow in an already busy area, noise and light pollution. While offices would be convenient, some commented that there is not enough economic demand to justify such a rezoning.

The issue of adding more points of access for the Burke-Gilman Trail caused some back and forth mainly between residents of the city at large and those living at the suggested sites. While everyone’s taxes go toward maintaining the trail, there are few entrances. Those living close by argue that they would be overrun by commuters and parked cars and that there is enough access already.

“It’s a good time to plan when things aren’t happening,” said Bennett and added that the goal is to “find something the majority can agree on.”

Residents are encouraged to take the planning commission’s online survey and attend the next community vision meeting on January 24.