Looking ahead in Sammamish — to 2040 | Mayor Tom Vance

Published 12:00 pm Wednesday, December 31, 2014

By Tom Vance

When we gather for our annual retreat in a few weeks, an important theme for the Sammamish City Council will be our vision for 2040, a look at services, infrastructure, the environment and finances for the long run. This will be a valuable exercise, particularly as the council works towards revising our comprehensive plan. I’m looking forward to the conversation.

However, success in the long term can’t happen without hard work in the short term. The year 2015, much like our past year, will be full of important challenges, opportunities, and — I’m hoping — many accomplishments.

As ever, the source of much of our anxiety is our ongoing struggle with growth. Sammamish has never courted growth; our very existence as a city was a response to the fast pace of growth in the ‘80s and ‘90s, without accompanying improvements in infrastructure. We’ve had some success stories over the past years, protecting hundreds of acres of sensitive areas and open space. And we have maintained our environmentally friendly zoning regulations.

This coming year, we will be considering a revised Tree Retention Ordinance for new development. Although the details aren’t yet clear, I’m hopeful that our new ordinance will help ensure that future generations of Sammamish residents will live in a city of trees. Along with the new ordinance, our council will be considering other potential strategies to improve our city’s tree canopy, including reforesting public spaces and rights of way.

The Klahanie annexation could come to a vote as early as April, with annexation completed in August. If successful, the annexation will provide benefits for Klahanie area as well as Sammamish residents. Klahanie residents will see lower taxes and improved services. And improved local roads will provide better commutes for all our residents, current and future.

This is a budget year in the Legislature. When we approve our legislative agenda, transportation likely will be at the top of the list, including a statewide transportation package, with a strong transit component.

And with our neighbors, Issaquah and Redmond, we will work to solve local roads and transit problems, north and south of our city. Issaquah, in particular, is taking on an ambitious plan to improve traffic in the I-90 corridor. We have pledged to help however we can. Their success will benefit all of us.

Near the end of 2015 our new Community and Aquatic Center should be nearing completion. Before the end of next winter, our residents will have a new place to exercise and recreate, even as the weather outside is cold and rainy.

And, by the end of the year, much of the Town Center should be under construction, providing future new restaurants, retail stores, and services for our citizens – without Big Box stores.

I can’t speak to all the issues, challenges and opportunities that will likely come our way in 2015, in this forum. As in 2014, many issues will emerge. However, I believe I can speak for all the council and staff in pledging our dedication to working for a great city of Sammamish.

Have a happy new year!

Tom Vance is mayor of Sammamish.