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PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT

Randy has served on the Downtown Task Force and has been an integral part in implementing the Downtown Plan. Kenmore lies within the Growth Management Area. It is mandated that we supply numerous additional residences in the next 20 years. Instead of increasing density in our single-family and outlying neighborhoods, we look for the majority of the growth to happen in the new downtown core.

The Downtown Plan calls for mixed-use developments that integrate parks, public spaces, residences, and retail shopping into an attractive city center. Included in this plan would be restaurants, cafes, open areas, markets, and condominiums all combined in a pedestrian friendly environment. This will stimulate our local economy, and entice us to leave our cars to get out and see our city.

City-Owned 10 Acres

The city owns a total of 10 acres including where the City Hall and Kenmore Village Shopping Center now sit as well as the old Park and Ride lot above to the north. Right now, the Downtown Task Force is preparing a Request for Qualifications to publicly look for developers with the qualifications to build a mixed-use project of the desired magnitude. The proposed project would have commercial and retail space on the first level, and be topped with floors of residences. The plan would also include plazas and a signature public space. Part of the Request for Qualifications (or RFQ) will be to see the visions of the developers and pick one that best matches the people preferences. We must be careful not to get entwined with a single developer that can then drive up the cost and control the negotiations. As a young city, we must not get burdened with excessive debt in hopes of stimulating other like-kind development. If done carefully, and without huge debt, it will be a large step toward becoming the lake shore city that we envision.

While the City waits to develop this parcel they have substantially increased its occupancy. The first step to a thriving downtown.	Not only is the city outgrowing the current City Hall, it sits on the city-owned 10 acres that is set for re-development.

Lakepointe

I am a strong advocate of the Lakepointe development proposal so long as it contains ample provisions for public enjoyment of the shoreline. The Lakepointe development is a privately owned area that has already obtained city permits. They are currently seeking a developer to assist them in making this vision come to pass. I feel that it is the responsibility of the city council to promote and assist in these types of developments. They have wisely placed residential, retail and commercial areas together in a development that will cover about 45 acres of waterfront property. It will include many open areas and will be family friendly. It could well be the crown jewel of the Kenmore downtown area.

A drawing of one Lakepointe proposal.	Lakepointe: one of the Community’s greatest assets.
This is what sits on the ground where the Lakepointe project is proposed. We currently have no access to the beautiful shoreline.	This is the upper portion of the city-owned property.

Card Rooms

Kenmore is at a crossroads. We must now make a key choice about what kind of city we want. A recent court decision ruled our moratorium on card rooms illegal. Now, the only options open to the city are to totally ban card rooms or accept them all. As the Task Force works to implement the people’s vision for a family and pedestrian friendly downtown, a few blocks over we have the threat of a “Casino Row.” Some have suggested, still clinging to the hope of status quo, that we scare off would be applicants with threats of banning card rooms once they apply. Our campaign has received a letter stating that a local business owner wishes to expand his business by adding a restaurant with a social card room. It is absolutely not fair to his business to keep this issue in limbo. We must put an end to this long divisive issue and join every other Eastside city and ban card rooms. Then we can move forward to building our lake shore city that we desire.

In today’s 21st century economy, efforts to encourage and sustain a developing city do not get successfully started without effective leadership. Randy’s work on the Downtown Task Force as well as his years of experience as a real estate consultant have provided him with a sound understanding of what it takes to realize this vision.

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