"Missing Middle" Housing Forum: Follow Up FAQs and Resources Available Now

The November 16 virtual forum on “Missing Middle” housing was a success! Thank you to everyone who attended and joined the conversation. While most participants were supportive of “Missing Middle” housing types such as cottage housing, duplexes, or triplexes, there were a number of questions about potential impacts to single-family neighborhoods. To address these questions and continue the conversation, a “Frequently Asked Questions” section has been added to “Missing Middle” housing webpage. Additional resources to learn more about “Missing Middle” housing and its benefits also are provided.

The Planning Commission is continuing to develop policies and regulations related to “Missing Middle” housing in some Kenmore neighborhoods. If you weren’t able to attend the forum you can view the forum presentations and submit your comments to Lauri Anderson at landerson@kenmorewa.gov.

December Special Events

Winter Porch Light Parade
#ShineBrightKenmore and enter your display!

The virtual map of displays is now live! Check out the map to see winter displays in Kenmore, Bothell, Shoreline and Lake Forest Park. Want to participate? It's not to late to enter your display (small, large, with lights, or without!) and join the friendly competition to win fun prizes! Enter your display by December 13 for judging consideration. More info:bit.ly/winterporchlightparade

Luminary Walk

Friday, December 10  | 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.  | City Hall Lawn

Come enjoy a 1-mile lighted luminary loop around Kenmore; starting & ending at City Hall Lawn, where there will be food vendors and music. There will be over 600 luminaries! Masks and social distancing are required. This event is free. Leashed dogs are welcome. Find out more.

Food Drive for Kenmore Food Bank Drop off nonperishable food items at the Hangar and City Hall during business hours until December 31. Donations will also be accepted during the Luminary Walk on December 10! Donation ideas: canned fruit and vegetables, beans, peanut butter, pasta & sauce, cereal, oatmeal, pancake mix, gluten free items.

Festive Selfie Station at the Hangar!

Check out the new Hank Heron photo board and snowflake display (made by local elementary school students) at the Hangar all December long. Stop by and take a festive selfie and share it with the hashtag #WhyILoveKenmore.

West Sammamish River Bridge Project:

The New Bridge is Open!

The new West Sammamish River Bridge is now open for traffic! Highlighting a series of “firsts”:

• First of December 2021, 12:30 p.m. – new bridge open for traffic. 
• First car over the new bridge pictured above left.
• First car over the 1938 bridge pictured above right.

This is a major step in the project, which will provide a structurally safe new bridge with higher capacity and a 16-foot wide promenade for cyclists and pedestrians with a viewing platform to enhance traveler experiences. Thank you for your patience as we continue to progress!

Lane shifts and restrictions: While the bridge is complete, there is still much to be done in 2022 to finish the project. Wall work, new sidewalk, and utility work along the east side of the northbound lanes just south of NE 175^th St. is underway. A temporary concrete barrier has been installed on the east side of 68^th Ave NE to ensure worker and traveler safety and to provide room for equipment. This means the northbound lanes will be constricted until the barrier protecting the work zone and travelers can be safely removed. During working hours both lanes of the east bridge will be closed, and all traffic will be routed to the new, west bridge. Lanes will continue to be constricted to one lane each direction during construction hours for utility work and improvements/reconfigurations approaching the NE 175^th St. intersection from the south.

Please follow the 25 MPH speed limit through the work zone for the safety of the public and construction team. Pedestrians and bicyclists please follow all detour and safety signage when moving through the project area. Sign up for email updates at kenmoreconstruction.com to receive updates about changes to the work area.

Waterfront & Natural Open Space Access Project at Squire’s Landing Park (renamed ƛ' a Xw a d i s, and pronounced Tl' awh-ah-dees) Update:

On December 6, City Council approved the project for construction with Strider Construction named as the lowest responsible bidder. Construction is scheduled to begin in January 2022. The 10-acre project area will be closed to the public including the gravel parking lot, boat storage, pedestrian trails, and the dock and float. The remaining 30 acres of the park will remain open. The date of closure will be determined in the coming weeks and posted onsite and on the project website. This project will provide environmental enhancements (including 5,048 new trees planted) and access/ADA improvements. Find project updates: www.kenmorewa.gov/wwtl.

Log Boom Park Waterfront Access & Viewing Project Update:

This month, in-water work to install underwater gravel that forms the wading beach access area on Lake Washington begins, a turbidity boom was placed in Lake Washington to protect against debris migration, and the boat rental building is being erected. More progress has been made on the concrete flatwork including the picnic shelter area, ADA water access ramp to the beach, seatwalls and stairs. The artist, Jennifer Dixon’s concrete stamps and wood inspired board forms are incorporated. Access to the pier will continue to be open through the winter; however, there will be minor work along the east path access path. The path will remain open with pedestrian traffic control to ensure access is safe. If temporary path closure is necessary, a sign will be posted on site. Construction is scheduled to continue through spring 2022. Find project updates: www.kenmorewa.gov/WWLB.

Automated Photo Enforcement Program Planning Moves Forward with Three Site Evaluations

Recently City of Kenmore staff presented a proposal to City Council for an automated photo enforcement program that would be designed and implemented by the engineering department in 2022. The program would be limited to issuing fines for red light violations and school-zone speeding violations per Washington State law.

Three sites for photo enforcement are being evaluated based on the potential safety benefits including school zones on Juanita Drive near Arrowhead Elementary and on 73^rd Ave near Kenmore Elementary, and the intersection of 61^st Ave and Bothell Way. Revenue from fines issued by the program will support the City’s traffic safety and pavement preservation programs. This approach ensures road upkeep costs are shared with drivers who travel through Kenmore, not just Kenmore residents.  A public hearing is scheduled for January 24, 2022. 

The Climate Action Plan (CAP) team recently proposed strategies and actions for adoption by City Council. The strategies and actions include five focus areas: Buildings & Energy, Transportation & Land Use, Consumption & Materials Management, Natural Systems and Water Resources, and Community Resilience & Wellbeing – all of which include municipal and community actions for consideration. After final review and adoption, the CAP team will be moving into the next phase of engagement efforts. If you would like to be included in future CAP updates or have suggestions for the team, please email: CAP@kenmorewa.gov.

Upcoming Meetings & Events

Kenmore City Hall is open weekdays 9am - 12pm and 1pm - 4pm. Receptionists are available to answer phone calls weekdays 9am - 12pm and 1pm - 5pm at 425-398-8900. 

• December 1 - 31: Winter Porch Light Parade | Food Drive for Kenmore Food Bank | Festive Selfie Station at City Hall
• December 10: Luminary Walk | 4pm - 7pm
• December 11: Adopt-a-Park Program Work Park @ Wallace Swamp Creek Park | 11am - 2pm
• December 13: City Council Special and Regular Meeting (Virtual) | 6:20pm
• December 14: Legislative Send-Off Event Special Meeting (Virtual) | 7pm
• December 18: Virtual Coffee with Council | 8am
• December 20: City Council Special and Regular Meeting | 6:30pm
• December 21: Planning Commission Meeting | 7pm
• December 24: City Hall Closed
• December 31: City Hall Closed

Find out more about upcoming events here.

Si gusta communicarse con la ciudad de Kenmore o revisar un documento en otro idioma, envíe su solicitud con su información de contacto a cityhall@kenmorewa.gov o llame al 425-398-8900.