Date:

November 10, 2014

To:

Kirkland Alliance of Neighborhoods

From:

Juanita Neighborhood Association

Subject:

Aquatic & Recreation Center (ARC) site selection

Board Members of the Juanita Neighborhood Association have been following

the City of Kirklands efforts to build a new Aquatic and Recreation Center (ARC)
in our neighborhood by using city owned park land for this purpose. We go on
record in support of building a new facility in Kirkland, because we understand
that our current facilities need to be updated and improved to meet Kirklands
growing demand.
However, after careful consideration and strong neighborhood opposition, the
Juanita Neighborhood Association has adopted a position that firmly opposes
siting the ARC at Juanita Beach Park or the North Kirkland Community Center.
We ask that you support our position and join us in our mission to save this
priceless park land from development for the reasons listed below.
Juanita Beach Park
1) Building the ARC at Juanita Beach Park is not the highest and best
use of a priceless public asset.
Juanita Beach is one of a few open spaces on Lake Washington with a natural,
tranquil setting and great tree canopy. It has historic significance and is regularly
used by families region wide.
When Juanita Village was proposed and the design approved, there was
considerable discussion on the impact to the surrounding neighborhoods due to
density, traffic and building height. To mitigate those concerns, the city promoted
the large open space at Juanita Beach and developed the Juanita Beach Master
Plan as a complete package that balances the needs of all parties.
Juanita was the first neighborhood, outside of downtown that has undertaken this
form of dense commercial development in a residential zone. It is an experiment
now being planned for other neighborhoods in the city. Citizens should expect
that the promises made during the planning process and goals written into each
Neighborhood Plan, be honored by the city.
As our population grows, Juanita Beach Park can become the living room of our
city and a place for civic activities. If done right, this park can be our legacy to
future generations, similar to the vision by our city leaders years ago to purchase
other waterfront properties for park land to enrich the lives of our citizens.

2) Negative impact to existing park and neighborhood density.

As currently proposed, the scope and scale of the new ARC facility will
require that the total park site north of Juanita Drive be used for the facility and
parking. This development will significantly increase building density in the area,
reducing open space and decrease the functionality of the remaining park land.
3) Traffic!!!
City streets in north Kirkland are currently severely congested and will be for the
foreseeable future. In the south Juanita neighborhood, morning and evening
traffic is delayed with significant back-ups along all major arterials and side
streets for a number of hours each work day.
The ARC traffic study data provided by the City is not representative of the true
traffic congestion at this site as experienced by those of us who live and drive our
neighborhood every day. The ARC proposal does not include plans to
significantly mitigate current traffic issues, let alone the impact of hundreds of
additional cars and school busses daily. It is not acceptable to residents, that the
overflow traffic this facility will generate can be accommodated by local side
streets, as stated in the traffic study.
4) Juanita Beach Park is located in an environmentally sensitive area
and Liquefaction Zone.
City maps clearly show this and the city has stated in its mission statement to
protect these types of areas. The Citys consultants have stated that the
preliminary engineering estimates included adequate costs for a foundation that
will reach down to solid levels to keep the Citys investment from sinking into the
soft liquefied soils in the large seismic event expected in the next 50 years. This
issue should be addressed by the geotechnical specialists with more detailed
description of building these types of foundations and how these foundation costs
are estimated with adequate assurance.
5) Juanita Beach Master Plan
The Juanita Beach Master Plan was approved by Council in May 2006 with
resolution R-4570 after an extensive planning process and recommendation of
the Park Board. This Master Plan included the north side of Juanita Dr. and
currently consists of a 10,000 sq ft skateboard park, multi-use playfields, picnic
areas and shelters, childrens play area, restrooms and would keep the historic
Forbes House and tennis courts which the ARC proposal does not. The master
plan is more fitting with the neighborhood and maintains the feeling of open
space.

North Kirkland Community Center

We agree that the North Kirkland Community Center site is too small for the
intended full aquatic and recreation center project.
Unless the City is willing to acquire 3-7 homes in this neighborhood there will not
be room for the full ARC project here. Building here would take most of the
current site, and eliminate the outdoor park facilities, the local basketball court,
train-park, picnic area and open fields. We agree that the full project would be
too massive for this neighborhood.
We would however support a new expanded recreation center here, without
the aquatic portion of the facility.
Timeline
We agree with many Park Board and City Council members that have expressed
feeling rushed and not having enough information to make a decision in the site
selection process. Many residents we talk to did not know anything about the
ARC plan or proposal to use park land for this purpose. The City normally
provides residents with detailed information early in the process for large projects
so that adequate time is given for busy residents to understand and voice their
opinions. We do not feel that this has happened on this project.
We applaud the City Councils decision to authorize an additional $100,000 to
further inform Kirkland residents and to continue to look for alternative publicly
owned sites and private land which could be used for this facility. The Park
Board and Parks Department are to report back to the City Council by Spring
2015.
Please keep in mind that there is a consistent theme stated in the following
master plans:
- Park Board Mission Statement
- 2014 Parks, Recreation & Open Space Plan
- Kirkland 2035 Comprehensive Plan
- Juanita Neighborhood Master Plan

The theme throughout stresses the importance of open space for quality of
life. With a stated goal to protect and preserve open space, maintain and
improve existing parks and to acquire new park land.
City-wide Site Selection

In addition to revisiting the original list of proposed park locations, we suggest the
following list of private sites for review.

Skymania Trampolines and River Storage Company along

116 Street.
th

Along 120th AVE NE south of HopeLink. There are three

large commercial properties including the original Costco Headquarters
that is along the CKC.

The Parmac site near 112th Street and CKC.

Christ Church Kirkland along 118th Street opposite the Police

and Justice.

Ave NE.

North and East of intersection of NE 124th Street and 124th

Snyders Corner

Summary:
The JNA Board stands with the many residents of Juanita who have expressed
themselves this year in support of a City-wide Aquatic and Recreation Center.
We stand with our community to find a location that will serve all residents of
Kirkland at a location that is most easily accessible.
We are firmly opposed to Juanita Beach Park and the North Kirkland
Community Center sites.
We feel that since the Aquatic Center will be used by many individuals and
organizations beyond the City of Kirkland, city leaders should seek to effectively
partner with nearby cities, Lake Washington School District and regional swim
organizations to join us in planning and financing the Aquatic Center.
Just as our predecessors on the Park Board and City Council have been
visionary in their purchase and preservation of land along the lake for park use,
we must develop and expand our vision for the best location for this regional
facility.
Juanita Neighborhood Board:
Patrick Fitzgerald, Chair
Doug Rough, Vice-Chair
Ken Albinger, Treasurer

Jim Boril, Member-at-Large