Notes from Jan 23 2001 Upper Bear Creek Community Council meeting at the Woodinville Water District Offices, hosting a standing room only meeting!

King County Council Reps Louise Miller and Cynthia Sullivan attended, were introduced. Louise Miller gave a brief rundown on the transportation needs and projects in process for our area. Expanding Avondale to three lanes from 155th north is scheduled for June 2002. More work is to be done on the W/D-Avondale intersection.

Matt Nolan, supervisor of the W/D project began the presentation with Rose LeSmith of Woodinville Roads. Luke Korpi, supervisor of the Avondale and W/D intersection projects followed Nolan. Nolan using the term "urban linking corridors" said there are 2200 miles of roads in King County and 150 active road projects; $50 million is spent on construction, design and obtaining right-of-ways annually. The W/D project will improve 1 ½ to 2 miles of road, from 156th NE eastward and will coordinate with the city of Woodinville in planning their leg on the west end of the road. There are 78 properties to from which the County needs to obtain right-of-ways. Project Advisory Groups may be formed for planning. Traffic issues, community involvement, environmental issues and impacts of right-of-ways all contribute to success of a project. Traffic issues= W/D is a principle arterial with 19,000 vpd (vehicles per day 1999 figures), has a 50% higher accident rate than similar arteriales in the county, maintain rural character with addition of urban trails.

Community involvement=recognition of our issues, seeing residents as key stakeholders, holding stakeholder workshops to explore options, hold community open house and involvement of the city of Woodinville.

Environmental issues= sensitive areas of stream and creek crossings, roadside wetlands, proximity to Cottage Lake, the need to avoid nutrient loading of the lake with road runoff, and the high water table of the area. ESA and the Feds need to be considered.

Right of way process of appraisal, negotiations and receipt cost $12. million for less than a mile for the road to Redmond in the Samm. Valley. Rural vs. urban infrastructure=$.

Luke Korpi: CPI of Avondale II and W/D will be combined into one project with construction to take about 6 months beginning June 2002. Project will begin at NE 155, north of the Cottage Lake Creek, road to be widened to 3 lanes (two through plus a continuous left turn lane), have 8-ft shoulders and designated pedestrian walkways, illumination, and traffic lights. Avondale has 15,000vpd and is rated a high priority by King County Transportation Dept. Project requires an update to the 1993-94 EIS figures and additional 20-ft of right of way (total of 100 ft) from 90 individual parcels. Look at land use issues to minimize impact to Cottage Lake Creek and wetlands bordering Avondale plus ESA biological assessment to be done summer of 2001. There will be wetland mitigation at NE168th and on the SE corner of 159th. GMA and available $'s dictate the size/capacity of water retention ponds "crap traps". What level/type of maintenance is required for these ponds? Transportation expects to do a better job than in the past.

The rest of the meeting was devoted to concerns, questions and answers. It was suggested that 1/3 of the traffic in our area is from Snohomish County, bringing up the need for affordable housing to keep the population in King County. The completion of 522 should relieve some of the pressure on W/D and Avondale roads. We need to watch the development of plans to widen Novelty Hill Road, as it will impact us as well.

Next public forum Feb 27th, Woodinville water Dist. Offices with King County Parks and ESA info. Board meeting Feb 13th at Norms House on Cottage Lake…both begin 7:30.