Author: Scott Morris

The City of Kirkland has issued the following update on a proposal, previously made by Fire District 41, to replace existing Fire Station 25 (at Juanita Drive and the southern end of Holmes Point Drive) with a new station. July 29, 2011 Finn Hill Fire Station Update Now that the annexation has taken effect (June 1, 2011) the City of Kirkland has assumed responsibility for the proposed Finn Hill fire station project initiated by Fire District #41. Prior to the annexation, the District was studying alternative sites for consolidating the two fire stations on Finn Hill into one location that is better able to serve the area. One of the possible sites for the consolidation was at Finn Hill Junior High and the other was in Big Finn Hill Park at the corner of Juanita Drive and NE 138th Street. A public meeting was held in March 2011 for local residents and a variety of concerns and questions about the project were raised. The City of Kirkland is now planning to hire a consultant to conduct a new site analysis that will consider the two existing sites and other appropriate sites. Considerations such as fire and emergency medical response times, project costs, traffic impacts, the availability of property and environmental and neighborhood impacts will be studied. A community outreach element will include ongoing updates and check-ins with the Finn...

On July 21, DCNA submitted comments to King County Parks on an envirnonmental checkist that Kirkland Youth Lacrosse prepared for its proposed lacrosse field project in Big Finn Hill Park. The SEPA (State Environmental Protection Act) checklist and related information concerning the project that have been posted on the King County Parks Department web site: http://www.kingcounty.gov/recreation/parks/about/notices/bigfinn.aspx. In brief, DCNA’s comments questioned the adequacy of several aspects of the checklist, particularly its sections dealing with lighting, nighttime noise, and the control of surface water runoff. DCNA’s comments can be viewed here: DCNA comments on SEPA checklist for lacrosse field Neighbors living to the north of Big Finn Hill Park also submitted extensive comments questioning the checklist. Their comments can be read here: Finn Hill Neighbors Response to Sepa Checklist King County Parks is now evaluating comments on the checklist and will forward a final determination about it to the City of Kirkland, which will be responsible for determining whether or not the project will have a significant environmental impact (which would trigger the requirement for a full environmental impact report). The City of Kirkland will also determine whether to issue a grading permit for proposed work on the field; this determination will be based on recommendations from King County DDES, which received the permit application in May, before Finn Hill was annexed by Kirkland. We will keep you posted as...