Lake Forest Park wants the public’s help in examining ways to strengthen the city’s commercial areas and economic base, and to look at ways to increase housing options in a community that is mostly made up of single-family residences.
The city first incorporated in 1961 as a result of opposition to the building of the Towne Centre shopping mall. The 16-acre mall has become the community gathering place, hosts a venue of community events and is the primary commercial center for the community. Smaller commercial areas along Ballinger Way are also in Lake Forest Park’s jurisdiction. On Bothell Way, Lake Forest Park claims commercial areas as far south as Acacia Cemetery on the west side, and to 145th Street on the east side. (From Acadia Cemetery to 145th on the west side is in Shoreline’s jurisdiction.)
While the city’s budget is balanced, forecasts show in the next several years that the city faces budget challenges because the state will no longer help supplement the city’s budget with backfill money, due to Initiative 695. Encouraging economic development is key for the city as it looks toward its economic future as well, says city administrator Karen Haines. Also, the state requires the city to update its Comprehensive Plan to include planning for economic development.
Another priority for the city, as outlined in its Comprehensive Plan, is to look at ways to encourage different housing options in the city besides single-family homes.
According to Haines, the Council has earmarked about $30,000 to go toward a consultant-generated study of how the city can approach economic development and housing options. Also, the city has over $1 million in unallocated reserves it could draw upon.
At the City Council workshop meeting Sept. 1,1 the Council went over the criteria it plans to send out to perspective consultants who will work with a citizen’s Advisory Task Force to conduct a study, then produce a “Strategic Plan for Sustaining a Livable Lake Forest Park.”
The city wants the study to consider demographic and socioeconomic data, analyze the city’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to it commercial and housing options. The study will evaluate the city’s business and market situation and opportunities for increased revenues through sales tax property values and increased investment. It will also look at how much of the city’s local sales tax dollars stay in the community and problems that may exist for the city to capture its fair share of sales tax dollars due to the fact that the city shares a zip code with Shoreline. The study will include a retail analysis and examine existing regulations and identify incentives for redevelopment in the city’s commercial areas.
The city is forming an Advisory Task Force to help select and then work with consultants on the strategic plan. The task force will meet for one year and be made up of three city commissioners representing the Planning Commission, the Environmental Quality Commission and the Economic Development Commission, three City Council members, two business representatives and three citizens at large.
Applications to serve on the task force are available at City Hall and are due back to the city by Sept. 26. Contact Karen Haines at 206-368-5440 for more information.
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