In the Woodinville Weekly
I’m writing in response to the 1/2 page ad that Northshore Youth Soccer
placed in The Woodinville Weekly issue of Feb.17. I’d like to help
inform not only the writer(s) of the ad, but anyone else who has not
reviewed the numerous materials on the County Parks website.
As the
ad suggested, people need to “get informed.” This does not mean taking
the word of any biased party as truth, which goes for organizations on
both sides of this issue. Northshore Youth Soccer is biased, as the
development proposed most definitely serves their interests. I’m sure
they have their reasons, and I will not insinuate that their claims
regarding their need are untrue. As a 20+ year resident of this
neighborhood, I am also biased, concerned for my property value, the
noise and lighting impact, and mostly for the dramatic increase in
vehicle traffic that is expected as a result of this development.
A
comment in the NSYS ad states that the citizens opposed are “a few vocal
opponents who prefer to protect the open space for themselves.”
Frankly,
I find that comment insulting, very presumptive, misinformed and
self-serving. My primary concern is the increased traffic, and were it
not for a woefully insufficient infrastructure to support this plan, I
would not have a problem with it.
The increased traffic is not just
my opinion, it is a fact that is substantiated by the reports of the
traffic consultant hired by the County, and available on the Parks
website.
I quote from their report: “232 new PM peak hour trips
daily,” “276 new Saturday peak hour trips daily.” It also notes “vast
majority of the visitors/traffic will come from the west” via Hwy 9 and
SR522 (at Costco), citing “long delays” and/or “very long delays.”
Those
who drive to Costco or commute to/from work through that intersection
now already know what a terrible one it is, with the frequent red light
running by exiting shoppers. The County Parks website includes meeting
comments (5/4/2012) made by a NSYS representative that they are looking
to support “8 tournaments a year, to pack the place,” with “130 teams”
with “5-9PM target usage time for NYSA.”
The plan for 700 parking
spaces speaks for itself (I noted the ad didn’t indicate what percent
those will take of the park space, only the field space).
The long,
slow line of cars coming out of Woodinville at PM commute now will be
even longer and slower and during a tournament will be a travesty.
I
also noted on the County website that the name of this development
started out as “Wellington Hills Regional Sports Complex” (meeting notes
4/27/2012), with comments by the Parks Director stating “not just a
sports park but an economic driver of the region,” and the hope to “draw
regional and national tournaments on a regular basis.”
He later
attempted to deny this position (Woodinville Weekly article 5/6/2103),
stating “when you say this is a regional sports complex, we simply don’t
agree with that,” and that the park would host lacrosse/soccer tournaments “once a year, if we’re lucky.” Which statements are we to
believe?
The name for the development was changed to a more benign
“Wellington Hills County Park” when the County realized their sports
park plan was not being embraced by the park neighbors.
My biggest concern?
As
the traffic issues escalate at the Costco intersection, people will
naturally look to the east entrance on 240th St SE as an alternative
(via 156th Ave NE in King Co, 75th Ave SE in Sno.County).
156th/75th
is already heavily traveled as a result of the Costco development and
will certainly see a significant increase in congestion (and accidents
due to the many driveways, cross streets, cycling events and hilly
terrain). The road improvements proposed are seriously inadequate.
Frankly,
the only solution I find acceptable for my biased interests, short of
moving the sports park to a more appropriate locale, is to block any
entrance to it from the east, thus eliminating the traffic through the
residential areas and forcing it through the industrial area on the west
side. I’m sure Costco will not suffer from the added traffic.
Carol Welch, Woodinville
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