A Monthly Publication of the Cascade Bicycle Club

July 2004

Lake Forest Park Takes Aim at the Burke-Gilman

by David Hiller, Advocacy Director

In a rush to head off King County and its plans to improve the Burke-Gilman Trail, trail opponents on the Lake Forest Park City Council proposed new restrictions on Burke-Gilman Trail.

The proposal was prompted by King County’s plans to improve a two-mile section of the trail from Northeast 145th Street to Tracey Owen Station in Kenmore, one of the oldest stretches of the trail.

The proposal was composed of two elements. The first would require that the trail be built of materials that let water pass through. The other change would require that different kinds of trail users, such as bicyclists and pedestrians, be separated on the trail and would allow the trail to cross roads or driveways only where there is no other “practicable” alternative.

That alarmed trail supporters because it would be up to a hearing examiner to determine whether there are practicable and financially feasible alternatives to crossing driveways.

“The ordinance ... would put up roadblocks to any improvements to the trail,” the Cascade Bicycle Club said in a statement. “By imposing unreasonable permitting burdens on the county, the city can essentially watch the trail fall into disrepair and force its closure on safety grounds.”

Tom Eksten, King County’s trails coordinator, said Lake Forest Park’s proposed ordinance “certainly raises warning flags. This could lead to shocking conditions. That’s our concern.”

Turning Up the Volume

Opponents of the proposed ordinance turned out in force for the May 13 Public Hearing. Some 56 individuals spent their evening waiting patiently to speak against the ill-conceived proposal. Besides public citizens, there were representatives of City Commissions, disability activists, environmentalists, the County, including County Councilmember Carolyn Edmonds, and staff of the Bicycle Alliance and Cascade.

In the weeks leading up to the Council vote on the issue, City staff confirmed that the volume of comments and degree of opposition to the ordinance was the greatest they had ever seen. Over 85% of the communications were requests that the City either defeat of retract its proposal.

Unfortunately, trail opponents on Council were committed to proceeding regardless of opposition.

Damn the Torpedoes - Full Speed Ahead

In a narrow, 4-3 vote on May 27, the Lake Forest Park City Council passed half of ordinance 907, removing the exemption for the trail from city laws that public and private trails cannot be made of impervious material. (Voting yes: Armanini, Goss, Keist, Thompson; voting no: Herzog, Olstad, Sterner.)

Splitting the ordinance into two pieces, the second issue before the council, subjecting the trail to a conditional-use permit, was postponed until the June 10 meeting.

Eksten said there are types of asphalt and concrete that would be allowed under the ordinance, but these materials are problematic. In addition, he worries about the provision in the proposal dictating how the trail can cross driveways.

“This leaves it wide open,” he said, “and it seems like potentially a way to stop development (of the trail).”

Lake Forest Park officials say the county probably could have repaved the trail under Ordinance 907, but could not widen it without obeying the new ordinance.

In a letter to Hutchinson, King County Executive Ron Sims urged the city not to approve the code changes.

“Given that the likely impact of these amendments would be to obstruct the redevelopment project, we believe the current proposal could, in fact, negatively affect the safety and enjoyment of millions of users of the future,” Sims said.

“It would allow a small minority of the community to deny the majority of the community the benefits of this project and any other trail development.”

Mayor Veto’s Ordinance - Council Overrides

At the May 27 meeting, Lake Forest Park Mayor Dave Hutchinson asked the City Council to set aside the ordinance and negotiate with King County over trail improvements. Hutchinson said the proposed ordinance gives the appearance of blocking any upgrade to the trail and that the city should wait to see what happens with the King County study of the trail.

“I believe the upgrading of the trail is in the best interests of the people who live along the trail, the residents of the city of Lake Forest Park and the people who use the trail,” he said.

On a 4-3 vote, the council adopted the porous-materials ordinance despite a request from Mayor Dave Hutchinson that the issue be set aside while the city negotiated with King County over trail improvements.

Mayor Hutchinson vetoed 907 and asked that the City Council table their reconsideration of Ordinance 907 and its consideration of Ordinance 909 until the July 22 City Council meeting. “I agree with the members of the City Council who raised issues about the importance of preserving our wetlands and stream crossings. This ordinance however, does not address these issues and has the unanticipated outcome of possibly blocking the redevelopment of the trail, and it may not enhance our environmental resources,” said Mayor Hutchinson. Ignoring his sage advice, the Council finally overrode the Mayor’s veto on a 5-2 vote.

Another Bite at the Apple

As of our print deadline, a lot still is uncertain. Lake Forest Park Council members supporting Proposed Ordinance 907, and its companion 909, will have other opportunities to push their anti-trail agenda at upcoming Council Meeting, like the veto override of June 10th.

Although the Mayor has requested the Council table reconsideration of 907 and consideration of 909, one can assume that there will be fireworks at future meetings. Please check www.cascade.org/advocacy/issues for up to date information on this and other issues.

Thank you

The Cascade Bicycle Club would like to thank the Redmond Cycling Club for its work on this issue. We would also like to thank Peter Goldman, Matt Cohen and other trail supporters who gave their time and resources to make this campaign successful.

Finally, Cascade members should thank Mayor Hutchinson and Councilmember Olstad for their measured and statesmanlike approach to the debate over passage of Proposed Ordinance 907 and 909.

Although Cascade’s endorsement was not solicited in the 2003 elections in Lake Forest Park, it comforts us to know that the voters had the good sense to elect a Mayor they could trust and be proud of.

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