What are your thoughts regarding the limits on commercial, office space, and residential density in the town center, given the oftentimes competing considerations of environmental impact, revenue production, and local infrastructure?

Position 5

Don Gerend

I personally believe that the Town Center should be zoned for more square footage of retail and commercial office space than the market will demand in the near future.

That allows for some flexibility in the proposed master development plans that might come to the City for review.

Higher density development generates less environmental impact and more revenue per land area, and more efficient use of infrastructure improvements.

Incorporating dense residential living in a mixed use town center provides an opportunity to create a vibrant urban village designed around people and places, with great connectivity for both motorized and non-motorized trips.

It is possible to increase the residential density by using transfer of development rights from other areas of the city.

Using “smart growth” concepts and a philosophy of sustainability, the future town center could become the heart and soul of an even more livable Sammamish.

Michael Rutt

A vibrant gathering spot in the center of our city.

That is friendly to small local businesses and offers more employment opportunities.

Transportation choices including public transit, local shuttle, and a walkable core area.

Choices in housing, including affordable work-force housing.

All of the above are goals contained within the Town Center plan that I agree with.

I believe it will be very difficult to attain what we are trying to achieve by placing limits.

I am an advocate of smart growth within the Town Center.

The current limit on square footage of retail would be conducive to corporate style franchise businesses instead of small local businesses.

We need zoning and land-use decisions that will stimulate rather than stagnate our economy.

This can be achieved by restricting the square footage of each business, but allowing for a larger amount of total retail.

Without higher residential density, the goals set within the Town Center vision will never be a reality.

Position 7

Tom Odell

We need to remember why we came to Sammamish in the first place – the overall ambiance and character of this wonderful place and what it means to our quality of life.

I am more concerned with the interests of people who live here today than those who may come in the future.

Town Center as currently contemplated would change our lifestyle. Yes, we could use more restaurants and the business community more leasing alternatives. Additional retail opportunities might be nice.

However, there are many nearby options.

This project is driven by special interests.

It is unclear if Town Center is financially positive for the city. Retail sales taxes generate little additional city revenue net incremental costs.

Without very careful planning and management it will bring major change to our living environment with significant potential for overloading our roads, schools, and even water and sewer systems adversely impacted by major storms.

Jack Barry

Our Town Center plan provides a thoughtful mix of retail, office, residential and public space on 240 acres.

With up to 600,000 sq. ft. of commercial space and 1,500 to 2,000 new residences (10 percent designated “affordable”); the plan advances our city vision and honors the values of Sammamish citizens.

Specifically, the Town Center plan will create an attractive gathering place, protect the environment by reducing car trips, protect existing neighborhoods from unmanaged growth, bring the type of business we want and need, and keep growth consistent with the “family friendly, kid safe” principles that have guided city government since incorporation.

Position 3

John Curley

All hail the Town Center, generator of sales tax, provider of affordable homes, masterpiece of low impact. All hail.

For those who haven’t been following this saga let me try and bring you up to speed in the remaining 121 words.

On 228th between Eastside Catholic and Arbor School someone is suppose to build a Town Center on both sides of the street.

Your Planning Commission has been on the project since 2003. Therefore you the taxpayers have also been on the project since 2003. You have spent 3 million dollars to pay for experts and city employees’ time.

The would be Town Center involves a lot of land right now owned by a bunch of different people. And there’s the rub.

Developers don’t want to deal with different people. They want a nice neat parcel of land to begin with before a single shovel full of dirt is turned.

This is a complicated issue with many parties that need to be satisfied. Before we talk about square footage let’s make sure everyone has had their say.

Tom Vance

The Town Center Market Analysis, published in late 2006, suggested a prudent approach to planning commercial space in the Town Center, suggesting combined retail and office space of between 250,000 and 450,000 square feet.

The Council decided on a more aggressive 600,000 square feet with incentives.

Ultimately the market will decide both the amount and type of commercial space that will be built in the Town Center.

Although the pressure for more residential development may revive in the future, the Town Center development of between 1300 and 2000 dwelling units, built over the next several years with a variety of housing types, including single family homes, cottage homes, townhouses, and condominiums is close to the family friendly suburban vision in our Comprehensive Plan.

The Town Center development and infrastructure will be guided by storm water and other environmental conditions, and should also reflect attention to sustainable environmental standards.

Position 1

John James

The current plan for the Town Center seems to have an adequate mix of retail, office, and residential housing.

I am for protecting our environment and water quality, so impacts should be considered when permits are finally granted.

Sales tax revenue generated by a vibrant town center will help to diversify our local economy and not make it so reliant on residential property taxes.

My concern is that the roads and infrastructure may quickly become congested, so plans need to be made to address this potential problem.

I would like to make sure that there is adequate parking and that it is designed so you can park once and then visit, public, private and recreational amenities.

Overall, I had hoped that the planning process would have progressed faster, but with my leadership and real estate experience I will do everything I can to make the Town Center a viable reality.

Erica Tiliacos

People envision some specialized retail and residences in a small area with charming, walkable streets and green spaces, a plan that’s in keeping with the city character.

The plan is high-density, transit-oriented development spread over 243 acres; requiring frequently served mass transit for it’s success.

Development will be costly. Erosive slopes draining to two class 1 wetlands that are the headwaters of Ebright and George Davis Creeks require environmental mitigation, costly infrastructure, and future operational costs that will not be off-set by the retail/business revenue.

The main traffic corridor will remain 228th due to limited east/west access. This will most likely develop first, and the Town Center core may not be realized.

It’s believed increasing density will make it more economically viable, however, part of that density has a 10 percent affordability requirement with additional density incentives.

Needed structured parking, stormwater infrastructure and road network will make this density very expensive.