LICTON SPRINGS COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Minutes of Community Meeting, February 18, 2015
NSCC Campus OCE&E Building, Room 220B
Directors Present: Jan Brucker, Tom Meyer, Melanie Davies, Liz Kearns, and Ellen Beck.
Visitors: Charles Bond, John Figge (North Seattle College), Renee Arevalos, Lee Bruch (Greenways), and Nathalie Farage.
Treasurer’s Report. The January 31, 2015 bank balance was $5,401.91.
Minutes. The January 21, 2015 minutes were approved as presented.
President Jan Brucker called the February meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Introductions were made around the table.
OLD BUSINESS.
Northgate Pedestrian/Bicycle Bridge Over I-5. The community meeting is Saturday, February 21st, from 10:00 a.m. to noon, in the lunchroom at the College. The bridge will cross I-5 at North 100th on the west side and meet the new Light Rail Station on the east side. Discussion followed. There is a current Senate bill with $10 million to be voted on. Art Brocaw with Seattle Department of Transportation will make the presentation. Dr. Brown will be at the meeting on behalf of the College, or someone else if he is not available. Lee Bruch will make a presentation on other transportation issues (Green–ways).
We can send notice of the meeting to the LSCC list serve folks and get the message out on Nextdoor. Arrangements will be made to have water, coffee, tea, etc., and something to eat. It was estimated that this would cost $250.00. It was believed that the Expresso Bar would also be available.
Maple Leaf supports the pedestrian bridge, as well as Mayor Murray and North Seattle College. Tom Meyer reported that some of the representatives at the Northwest District Council are not in favor. He felt this was a funding issue for them. The Aurora Merchants’ representative is not in favor. Those opposed believe the money should be spent for other needs, i.e., pedestrian issues, sidewalks, curbs, traffic lights, water and drainage issues, etc.
We need to gather opinions of the people who come to the meeting. This could be done by putting dots on a chart or some other way. Discussion followed regarding refreshments and tallying of opinions. John Figge can take the pulse on campus. How will it tee into pedestrian/bike plans. John committed to also seeing that signs get put up.
Mayor’s Tour. Liz Kearns gave a recap of the Mayor’s visit to Northgate. She announced that the Mayor would like to take tour of Licton Springs. This is good news!
Greenways. Lee Bruch talked about Greenways, getting kids to and from school via a safe route. He said a study was needed of 92nd to see if a light was warranted. Aurora North and 90th is the most dangerous intersection in the city.
Jan responded to a question about having two topics at our neighborhood meeting on Saturday. We don’t have big meetings often, so two issues (pedestrian bridge and Greenways) is appropriate this time.
Neighborcare Health. Ellen Beck reported on attending the community briefing on Tuesday, February 17th, concerning Neighborcare Health’s new Meridian Center for Health. The health center will be located at North 105th Street and Meridian Avenue North. It will be built on site owned by King County and will have a 50 year ground lease. This will be the biggest structure Neighborcare Health has ever built and will cost $2.5 million. It will be a “green” building. They already treat 800,000 people and are bigger than Group Health in Seattle. This new health center will offer care for anyone who comes through their doors. They are partnering with the Public Health Department, WIC (maternity support), and Valley City (mental health; substance abuse). They now have 24 clinics/school based health centers in Seattle. Meridian Center for Health will be a “one stop campus for health.” They will offer low-income families a health care home with: primary medical and dental care; specialty mental health and recovery services; WIC nutrition and maternity support services; and additional human services, to be included over time, to meet “evolving patient needs.”
NEW BUSINESS.
Aurora-Licton Pedestrian Zone Legislation. Tom Meyer informed us about the new pedestrian zones with businesses oriented toward the public. Existing businesses will be grandfathered in unless they have been vacant for an extended time period, and new businesses will be under the new requirements, which include no parking between the buildings and the street, and having shops and restaurants on the first floor, etc. The Aurora Merchants are not in favor of some of this legislation.
Proposed Hotel. A five story, 65 feet high hotel is proposed for the location where Arby’s presently exists. The plans are for the hotel to be from lot line to lot line with two levels of underground parking. DPD is ready to permit. Discussion followed. The SEPA period has closed. The project has been in permitting a long time. It seems inappropriate. There is so much ground water in this area. Having a building take up a complete lot with no open space around it, is not appropriate and hasn’t been allowed in the City for a location like this before.
Our next meeting is Wednesday, March 18, 2015.
The meeting adjourned at 9: 10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Ellen M. Beck, Secretary