By Gene Duvernoy and Matthew Bott of Commerce

It is an exciting time for Issaquah families and businesses. After nearly 1,000 hours of review, analysis and discussion, a diverse group of local residents, businesses and stakeholders, under the appointment of the mayor, have come together to deliver a series of recommendations for the Central Issaquah Plan, a guide for the growth of the community into the next 30 years.

The plan presents an opportunity to define the future of Issaquah, and to thoughtfully plan for the growing population and infrastructure needed to maintain and enhance the quality of life which current residents enjoy and new residents will demand. The choice before us is not whether Issaquah grows or preserves green space. It is how the city does both while creating jobs, increasing transportation options and making sure it’s affordable for the next generation.

The Central Issaquah Plan is an opportunity to make the community more complete – with new jobs, housing options and the growth of existing local businesses. The plan will make the community more compact and walkable by focusing growth in the valley, and more connected by targeting transportation/mobility improvements for local residents.

Cascade Land Conservancy and the Greater Issaquah Chamber of Commerce are excited by the potential of this plan. We look forward to learning more as details unfold, and working with Issaquah residents and businesses to ensure that the final version incorporates all the elements needed for a thriving Issaquah of the future.

The Central Issaquah Plan envisions more complete neighborhoods that incorporate a mix of uses, including office, residential, commercial and manufacturing. Designing urban areas in this manner creates healthy neighborhoods by allowing people to live and work in the same community, and is crucial to help retain and attract the type of employers who will provide the economic vitality for the community, now and in years to come.

Currently, 75 percent of Central Issaquah is parking lots. By using structured parking, a mix of building heights and taking advantage of transit, the Central Issaquah Plan makes more effective use of this land and adds life to these mostly empty spaces.

This is accomplished by focusing new residential and commercial growth in the valley to preserve the forested hillsides that residents cherish, by protecting Lake Sammamish and Issaquah Creek through low impact development techniques, and by creating patterns of growth that support additional transit and allow for walking and cycling. Further, this focus on thoughtful development will provide affordable and attractive housing options to a wide range of people including families, retail and service workers, along with seniors and first-time buyers or renters.

This pattern of growth is better for the environment, residents and local businesses, and will aid in the conservation of open space both within the city and in the Issaquah Alps.

The Central Issaquah Plan will help to ensure that businesses will be able to invest in the community, be they a long-time retailer serving Issaquah citizens, or a major employer serving a global marketplace, and that the community will be economically sustainable into the future. The prosperous communities of tomorrow are those that actively work to cultivate local businesses, enhance economic strength and maximize opportunities to ensure commerce is kept local through thoughtful business recruitment and retention activities. This is accomplished through a diverse group of employers, livable communities that attract a talented workforce, and regulatory predictability – all items included within this plan.

Issaquah’s connectivity, amenities, schools, businesses, quality of life and natural surroundings combine to make the community a growing destination for tourists, business investment and residents. The city has demonstrated the commitment of thoughtful approaches by developing sustainability indicators and becoming one of the first Cascade Agenda Leadership Cities, a growing network of cities advancing programs and policies that cultivate economic development and foster a sustainable future. We believe that the plan now under consideration will continue to reinforce Issaquah’s well deserved reputation in a responsible, forward-thinking manner.

The community recommendations propose a future that makes Issaquah a better place to live, work and raise our families. By carefully planning, we can make sure the city maintains its high quality of life, business vitality and considerable natural amenities. Cascade Land Conservancy and the Greater Issaquah Chamber of Commerce will be closely following the next stages of the process, and we are looking forward to joining the community in seeing a final plan adopted by the Planning and Policy Commission and the City Council.

Gene Duvernoy is president of the Cascade Land Conservancy, Matthew Bott is CEO of the Greater Issaquah Chamber of Commerce. The Cascade Land Conservancy is the largest conservation and community building organization dedicated solely to this region. The Greater Issaquah Chamber of Commerce is a coalition of over 450 businesses, non-profit organizations and individuals dedicated to supporting Issaquah.