Project Overview

Background

2004

The City completed Sustaining a Livable Lake Forest Park: The Future of our Town Center, which recommends “a paradigm shift at Town Center, from shopping center to a mixed-use center with housing, as well as retail, commercial, and public spaces.”

2006

The City adopted design guidelines and regulations to implement the 2004 plan’s vision. The City was in discussion with the owners of the shopping center about redeveloping it into a mixed-use center when the economic downturn hit and the project was no longer economically feasible.

2016

The Lyon Creek Project, a $6.9 million endeavor replaced undersized culverts, restored a half-mile of stream bed, rebuilt a park, and added a new park, resolving flooding issues and showcasing the potential of waterways as features of the Central Subarea.

2017

The Healthy Creeks Project, a salmon runs recovery study and preliminary design project, will add another 1.5 miles of barrier-free passage through the Subarea.

2017

The City will complete a surface street mobility study with the intent of identifying multi-model ways to access the SR 522 transportation corridor and kick off a SR 104 and SR 522 corridor study to identify projects that meet today’s and long-term challenges.

2017-2024

As part of the $54 billion Sound Transit 3 (ST3) package, Sound Transit will plan and build a bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Lake Forest Park, better connecting the City to the region. It will include a stop at Town Center, 25 blocks of sidewalks along SR 522 to access bus stops, and a 300-vehicle parking garage.

Study Area – Revised October 26, 2017

On October 26, 2017, the Lake Forest Park City Council adopted a resolution to modify the boundaries of the Central Subarea Plan to those shown on the map below.

Planning Process

Phase 1: Design Framework Plan

September – December 2017

During 2017, we will focus on compiling and reflecting community priorities and evaluating options for the Town Center site and Central Subarea. This Phase will include three public events, an online survey, multiple Interbranch Steering Committee meetings, coordination with Sound Transit and Merlone Geier, Planning Commission and City Council briefings, and meetings or online engagement targeted to specific interests or user groups (see Get Involved). The following tasks are included in Phase 1:

• Vision and objectives: With a broad and diverse spectrum of community members, we will discuss our town center’s role as a central mobility and community hub over the next 50 years. Some topics will include living options, community facility needs, connectivity demands, experience retail, gathering places, and natural features.
• Market feasibility and development economics analysis: This analysis will ground the plan in realistic assumptions and show how different land use regulations would affect development.
• Infrastructure investment review and coordination: We will evaluate options for the ST3 park-and-ride garage location, site circulation, and a park.
• Design framework plan and findings report: We will develop a design framework plan for the primary study area (the Town Center property) and findings regarding surrounding areas.

Phase 2: Central Subarea Plan, development regulations, and design guidelines

January 2018 – January 2019

Phase 2 offers the opportunity to share Phase 1 results, including the design framework plan and findings report, with Sound Transit and Merlone Geier. Also in this phase, the options will be analyzed more fully through environmental review. These efforts and subsequent refinements will lead to a full Central Subarea Plan and associated development regulations and design guidelines. The following tasks will be completed during Phase 2:

• Central Subarea Plan: This will present a 50-year vision with interim steps and identify desired land uses, development patterns, building height and bulk limits, design character, parks, natural areas, primary circulation routes, impact mitigation as needed for neighboring properties, and public and civic facilities. It will also outline implementation measures and ways to work with Sound Transit and property owners.
• Environmental (SEPA) review: A programmatic environmental review will assess impacts of proposed development and transportation infrastructure alternatives and recommends mitigation measures. Mitigation measures will be included in the Central Subarea Plan.
• Development regulations and design guidelines: Adopting the preferred regulations and guidelines will be the City’s first and most important step to implementing the Central Subarea Plan.