Friday, March 20, 2009
Changes Coming
This week's city manager report brings up two issues that will likely get a lot of attention, and a third item well worth of mention.
Traffic Impacts of Bridgeport Way Project: I'm just going to do light editing of the city manager's report: The area involved is 59th Ave SW to Steilacoom Blvd SW.
The contractor will be doing roadway excavation between Gravelly Lake Drive and Mt Tacoma for the placement of concrete curb and gutter beginning the week of March 22and lasting for two weeks. There will be excavation work for the placement of new traffic signal foundations throughout that area.
As a result, the roadway excavation and placement of curb and gutter will require 24 hour closure of the curb-side south bound lane on Bridgeport Way between Gravelly Lake Drive and Mt Tacoma Drive. Traffic also may be shifted to utilize the center turn lane during peak hours. Intermittent northbound lane closures will occur along the entire stretch from Mt Tacoma Drive to Steilacoom Boulevard.
In other words, it will be a mess. But if you remember how the light signal poles were tilting, and how dangerous it's been to walk along Bridgeport, this is good news. Please, please be patient and take your time driving.
Housing at Steilacoom and Lakewood Drive: Many folks know this as the site of one of Lakewood's early schools, and a place where there's been a lot of wildlife preservation. I think we've all hoped nothing would get built on the residentially-zoned sections there, but it is privately owned.
What that means is you may see construction soon for Oak Grove Village development, a 254-unit Oak Grove Village multi-family residential development approved for construction on the northeast corner of Lakewood Drive and Steilacoom Boulevard. Says the city manager's report: "The project will preserve the majority of the oak trees on the site, while providing the City with a new well-designed residential complex."
Do they have the right to build there? Sure, a property owner does. Should Lakewood continue to zone for high density? No. Should projects like this get tax breaks? No. I'll keep at it, but meantime I wanted you to know you might soon see construction there.
And congratulations: While we are at it, our mayor, who also has the title of Brigadier General, Doug Richardson, retired from the Army Reserve after 32 years of combined active and reserve service. I admire Doug for many reasons, his sense of duty and service one of them. I hated missing the ceremony but the work project I've been on demanded me. He received the Distinguished Service Medal and the applause and congratulations of many people at Fort Lewis ceremonies.
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Traffic Impacts of Bridgeport Way Project: I'm just going to do light editing of the city manager's report: The area involved is 59th Ave SW to Steilacoom Blvd SW.
The contractor will be doing roadway excavation between Gravelly Lake Drive and Mt Tacoma for the placement of concrete curb and gutter beginning the week of March 22and lasting for two weeks. There will be excavation work for the placement of new traffic signal foundations throughout that area.
As a result, the roadway excavation and placement of curb and gutter will require 24 hour closure of the curb-side south bound lane on Bridgeport Way between Gravelly Lake Drive and Mt Tacoma Drive. Traffic also may be shifted to utilize the center turn lane during peak hours. Intermittent northbound lane closures will occur along the entire stretch from Mt Tacoma Drive to Steilacoom Boulevard.
In other words, it will be a mess. But if you remember how the light signal poles were tilting, and how dangerous it's been to walk along Bridgeport, this is good news. Please, please be patient and take your time driving.
Housing at Steilacoom and Lakewood Drive: Many folks know this as the site of one of Lakewood's early schools, and a place where there's been a lot of wildlife preservation. I think we've all hoped nothing would get built on the residentially-zoned sections there, but it is privately owned.
What that means is you may see construction soon for Oak Grove Village development, a 254-unit Oak Grove Village multi-family residential development approved for construction on the northeast corner of Lakewood Drive and Steilacoom Boulevard. Says the city manager's report: "The project will preserve the majority of the oak trees on the site, while providing the City with a new well-designed residential complex."
Do they have the right to build there? Sure, a property owner does. Should Lakewood continue to zone for high density? No. Should projects like this get tax breaks? No. I'll keep at it, but meantime I wanted you to know you might soon see construction there.
And congratulations: While we are at it, our mayor, who also has the title of Brigadier General, Doug Richardson, retired from the Army Reserve after 32 years of combined active and reserve service. I admire Doug for many reasons, his sense of duty and service one of them. I hated missing the ceremony but the work project I've been on demanded me. He received the Distinguished Service Medal and the applause and congratulations of many people at Fort Lewis ceremonies.
