⬚ figure

Newport

VISION

Newport is a connected neighborhood with strong social bonds and a deep relationship with the natural environment.

The future of the Newport neighborhood is built around supporting connections between neighbors and with the natural world. Newport is home to residents from a variety of cultural and economic backgrounds. Residents often experience the area through smaller sub-neighborhoods and value the hometown atmosphere of the neighborhood. Residents, business owners, and visitors work together to build and maintain the social fabric of the area. The neighborhood-serving commercial center on 119th Avenue SE between SE 56th Street and SE 60th Street is a unique commercial area that contributes to the identity of the neighborhood as a tucked away gem. The neighborhood is anchored by wild areas full of life. It is connected internally and to the region through well-designed

⬚ figure

RELATIONSHIP TO VOLUME 1 OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

The Newport Neighborhood Area Plan contains policy direction consistent with the citywide policies in Volume 1 but with details specific to the Newport context. Some of the features that give Newport its character are the neighborhood center and its strong connection to natural areas and Lake Washington.

roads, convenient transit, trails, sidewalks, bike lanes and paths. Newport's future is supported by transportation infrastructure, environmental amenities and community facilities.

COMMUNITY CONTEXT

The Newport neighborhood area is a primarily residential area in the southwest corner of Bellevue. It straddles I-405 south of I-90 to the southern boundary of the City. It is bounded to the west by Lake Washington and to the east by the Factoria and Somerset neighborhoods.

HISTORY AND CONTINUED EVOLUTION

Prior to farming by Europeans, there is evidence that the area near the mouth of Mercer Slough was a settlement and port used by native people into the 1850s. Mercer Slough was the terminus of the trail leading east to Lake Sammamish and Snoqualmie prairies beyond. Fishing and drying of food were common at settlements in this area. When Europeans took control of the area, it was converted to farming and natural resource extraction. Newport's early settlement by Europeans was tied to the logging industry and the discovery of coal around nearby Cougar Mountain in 1863. Later coal was extracted within the neighborhood area at Newcastle Mine which contributed to the booming local coal industry in the 1870s and 1880s. A railway connected the coal mines to the shores of Lake Washington in Newport where it would then be barged over to Seattle. That rail line and the interurban rail line that connected to Kent, Auburn, Puyallup, and Seattle was the basis for the route of the road that is now I-405 and Eastrail, the active transportation route that runs parallel to it through the Newport neighborhood area.

Newport Landing became a population hub revolving around the ferry service to Seattle and the railroad in the late 1800s. The mining and timber industries were central to the local economy.

NEIGHBORHOOD AREA PLANNING

Planning for the 16 neighborhood areas in Bellevue is directed by three policies in the Neighborhoods element (NH-17, NH-18, NH-19) of Volume 1.

• NH-17. Use the neighborhood area planning process to implement citywide policies adopted within the comprehensive plan.
• NH-18. Periodically update neighborhood area plans consistent with the planning boundaries shown in Map N-1. For any given site, the 2014 subarea plan policies remain in effect until and unless they have been superseded by new planning area boundaries and policies.
• NH-19. Use the neighborhood area planning process to equitably engage local communities to define neighborhood area specific values and policies.

In 1916 Lake Washington was lowered by approximately nine feet through the completion of the Lake Washington Ship Canal, the Montlake Cut, and the Chittenden Locks. These transformative infrastructure projects had a dramatic impact on the local environment as land that was previously submerged became developable and important ecological features such as the Mercer Slough were changed by the lower water table.

The completion of the original Lacey V. Murrow floating bridge (I-90) in 1940 laid the foundation for a dramatic increase in residential development that began in the 1950s. This coincided with the regional “Boeing Boom” which drew thousands of workers and their families to the area. The real estate company White and Bollard platted and planned the subdivisions of Newport Hills in 1958, and five years later the Newport Hills Shopping Center was completed.

Compared to the big evolution of the area in the first half of the 20th century, the contemporary neighborhood's built environment has largely remained unchanged over the past 50 years. The total population of the neighborhood has increased modestly, however, the needs of residents have changed. Many of the original residents were white families with young children. The current demographic profile is much more diverse in age, race, and family status. Recent developments in recreation facilities such as Eastrail and the completion of the Newport Hills Woodlawn Park provide community members with enhanced recreation opportunities and access to nature.

NEIGHBORHOOD CONDITIONS AND BUILT FORM

Newport has historically been a major node in the regional transportation system with its access to Lake Washington as a site of native people's settlement and later as a transfer point for moving coal and timber out of the neighborhood. The residential development of the area, however, was designed to turn the area into self-contained neighborhoods with limited connections to regional destinations, even as some of those routes continue in different forms. The old interurban rail line is now Eastrail. I-405 was a road that provided connection to the areas on either side of it and it has become a highway that facilitates transportation through the area but can be a barrier with limited access points into the area. The neighborhood area is made up of many sub-neighborhoods that developed in the middle-20th century to follow its topography. I-405 bifurcates the neighborhood and limits connections between the sub-neighborhoods to the west and those to the east.

Many Newport residents identify closely with their sub-neighborhood, usually defined by unique signage and other features, housing styles and the boundaries of the original development. The sub-neighborhoods east of I-405 revolve around the Neighborhood Center at the top of Newport

COMMUNITY PROFILE

Homeowner Status

Age & Disability

Race & Language

Commuting

Source: US Census Bureau. 2018-2022 American Community Survey 5-year estimates

Hills and the sub-neighborhoods west of I-405 maintain a strong connection to Lake Washington.

Because of the geographic features like the hills, streams, the lake and the presence of I-405 and its interchanges, access to and from the neighborhood is limited, especially by car. There are primarily four street access points on and off the hill east of I-405 and two street access points

in and out of the area west of I-405. The local street network is typical of suburban development with winding streets focused on fitting in with the area’s topology and natural features.

NEIGHBORHOOD CHALLENGES

AND OPPORTUNITIES

Community Change

Newport community members value community interconnectedness. The residents of the newly built neighborhood in the 1950s were largely young families. This is reflected in the development of three school facilities in Newport. As young families age and residents’ jobs and family situations change, the uniformity of the early community has changed. Today, residents are more diverse in age, race and family make-up. The social life of the early neighborhood revolved around the swim and tennis club and the yacht club, the commercial area—now identified as a Neighborhood Center—and the schools. Today, with the more diverse neighborhood, these places remain important but social connections are made in more contexts and the social life of the neighborhood remains a priority for many people, both new and old residents.

Connectivity Challenges

and Transit Access Historically, connections to other places were primarily across the lake both for native people and early settlers that transported the coal and lumber. Those early routes have been supplanted by other connections. Walking paths wind throughout the neighborhood,. The trails are managed by a variety of public entities, including schools, the City of Bellevue, utilities, and other jurisdictions. Eastrail runs parallel to I-405 but connections to it are limited from the more populous east side of I-405. In addition, the trail network connects to trails in other jurisdictions such as King County and Newcastle. The road network remains a challenge both for active transportation modes and cars. I-405 limits access to neighborhoods to the west and

⬚ figure

⬚ figure

NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER

IN NEWPORT A Neighborhood Center is a small commercial or mixed-use area in a location that is otherwise primarily residential. Neighborhood Centers are often anchored by grocery stores and often meet the daily needs of local residents. Policy support for Neighborhood Centers is in the Land Use Element (LU-16, LU-17, and LU-18) of Volume

1. Newport contains one Neighborhood Center, named for the largest retail development but includes the commercial and mixed use area around it as well.

• Newport Hills Shopping Center

to Lake Washington. There are only two arterials that provide access to the neighborhood to the east of I-405. Improving connections from the neighborhood to other places is a primary priority for the neighborhood.

Environment and Natural Areas

One of the prized characteristics of the neighborhood is the many trails that snake their way through the neighborhood and forested parks. This is in part due to the topography. The steep ravines that are difficult to develop, create excellent habitat for wildlife. They also contribute to the goal of expanding the tree canopy citywide. Newport has a higher tree canopy than some other neighborhoods and it is important to maintain those forested areas. Connection to nature is one of the defining features of the neighborhood and a key part of meeting the citywide goal of 80 percent of households having access to a park, open space or trail within a third of a mile of their homes. Maintaining and enhancing that connection to nature through trails, tree canopy, and neighborhood and regional parks is a priority for the neighborhood.

AN URBAN DESIGN FRAMEWORK FOR NEWPORT

An urban design framework visualizes design strategies and provides policy guidance on how to improve public spaces within Newport to achieve the vision. The framework builds from what the community identified as opportunities and challenges for accessing and using public spaces within the neighborhood today. A robust set of activities and workshops were used throughout the planning process for community members to evaluate public spaces within their neighborhood and identify new opportunities.

Enhancing Neighborhood Connectivity

Arterials such as 118th Avenue SE/Lake Washington Boulevard SE, 119th Avenue SE, Coal Creek Parkway, SE 60th Street are primarily how people move in and out of Newport’s neighborhoods. Community members have noted

⬚ figure

URBAN DESIGN AND PUBLIC SPACES

Urban design is the practice of planning and designing the physical environment of a community. Within a neighborhood area plan, urban design can improve the design and function of public spaces, including community gathering spaces, parks, plazas, streets, trails, natural areas and public art. Rather than focusing on the design of a specific place, urban design considers how experiencing different public spaces throughout a neighborhood provides for enhanced gathering and social interactions, a more attractive public realm, improved neighborhood connectivity, and a clear neighborhood identity.

few access points in and out of neighborhoods, lack of connectivity between local and regional trails, and incomplete pedestrian infrastructure along arterials such as SE 60th Street.

An urban design framework for enhancing neighborhood connectivity in Newport entails potential design strategies as illustrated conceptually by the following concept map and supported by neighborhood area plan policies:

• More pedestrian and cycling through-connections within Newport's Neighborhood Center to provide safe and convenient access to schools, parks, and housing, especially when these areas redevelop in the future.

• Enhanced access to transit options such as the Newport Hills Park & Ride, allowing community members to access opportunities and services across the city and region.

• Improved pedestrian crossings on arterials, such as SE 60th Street, 119th Avenue SE, and 118th Avenue NE, that provide frequent and high-visibility opportunities for pedestrians to cross the street.

• Enhanced thresholds into Newport, especially from the trail system, using wayfinding and other safety improvements to help community members navigate between the trailhead and their intended destination. Thresholds represent the starting point of an experience or place.

Enhancing Neighborhood Gathering Spaces

The Newport community has expressed a desire for more public places to gather and to make intergenerational connections, as many of these opportunities are located outside the neighborhood area. Several privately-owned properties throughout the neighborhood serve as community spaces by hosting local activities and events, while others have expressed a desire to become that type of accessible, community-oriented space in the future.

⬚ figure

THIRD PLACES

Third places are places that people go to when they are neither home nor at work that are seen as spaces to provide connection and build community. They can occur informally in any public or privately-owned place as long as it is known to the community as a safe and welcoming space with low barriers to entry.

An urban design framework for enhancing neighborhood gathering spaces in Newport entails potential design strategies as illustrated conceptually by the following concept map and supported by neighborhood area plan policies:

• Strengthened role of Newport's Neighborhood Center as a place for community to gather and access goods and services.

• Community partnerships with organizations, business owners, property owners, and faith-based communities to develop their existing spaces as third places

• Potential new neighborhood-scale parks to increase the community's access to open space and recreation, especially in areas of Newport not well-served today

• Environmental enhancements that improve the aesthetic and functional qualities of natural features, such as Coal Creek and Lake Washington

• New and enhanced pedestrian corridors that provide better connectivity between and into neighborhood gathering spaces

• Enhanced thresholds into Newport's numerous nature parks and trails, using art and other creative elements to reflect the neighborhood's natural beauty and history

• Arterial streetscape enhancements to make streets, such as SE 60th Street and 119th Avenue NE, attractive, safe, and comfortable corridors for people to walk and bike to gathering spaces throughout Newport

NEIGHBORHOOD POLICY SUMMARY

Neighborhood Identity

A neighborhood identity evolves over time as residents and businesses change, reflecting the varied history of the area and incorporating the cultures and needs of new residents and businesses. Newport has a very close tie to nature, through the multiple parks and its connection to Lake Washington. The trails and pedestrian paths link sub-neighborhoods together and to parks and points outside the neighborhood.

Neighborhood Center

Neighborhood Centers are nodes of commercial activity in otherwise residential areas. The primary purpose is to serve the daily needs of the local residents and be a focus of moderately dense housing development. The Neighborhood Center, on and around the Newport Hills Shopping Center, serves as a hub of activity and identity point for the community. The future of this area will be a mixed use area focused around a pedestrian-oriented commercial district.

Community Gathering Spaces

People in Newport value good relationships with the people that live around them and strive for an interconnected neighborhood. There are key places of connection such as the Newport Shores Yacht Club, the Newport Swim and Tennis Club and Newport Heights Elementary but there are opportunities to develop other indoor and outdoor points of connection on vacant Bellevue School District property and in other community-focused spaces.

Mobility and Access

Connecting to places outside of the neighborhood is a challenge. The topography and regional transportation system restricts access to the neighborhood by car or bus to a limited number of points. There is one transit route through the neighborhood. However, the regional transportation system does offer the potential for better connections. Eastrail runs through the neighborhood west of I-405 and,

⬚ figure

⬚ figure

⬚ figure

with better connections to areas to the east of I-405, could be a primary connector. In addition, there is an opportunity to better connect to the Lightrail and regional transit at the South Bellevue and Downtown stations and at a future station near Factoria.

Environment

Bellevue prides itself as being a "City in a Park" and that is very clear in Newport. The neighborhood is stitched between forested parks and Lake Washington. Bellevue seeks to ensure that the parks, trails, and other natural areas provide a safe and connected habitat for fish and wildlife.

Figure S-NP-1: Concept Map - Enhancing Neighborhood Connectivity

⬚ figure

Figure S-NP-2: Concept Map - Enhancing Neighborhood Gathering Spaces

⬚ figure

GOAL & POLICIES

Newport strives to build connections within the neighborhood through the growth of community gathering spaces and linking trails together into a cohesive system.

Neighborhood Identity

Goal: Support a walkable community with strong connection with natural areas and convenient local shopping and service opportunities.

S-NP-1. Support Newport’s identity as a diverse and connected community, anchored by its commercial district and surrounded by forested natural areas and connections to streams and Lake Washington.

S-NP-2. Enhance locations and thresholds that are significant to the local community and contribute to the neighborhood’s identity.

S-NP-3. Reflect the continuing contributions of many different cultures to Newport in the design of public spaces and through public art.

S-NP-4. Connect the Neighborhood Center with residential areas through a network of safe, pedestrian and bicycle facilities.

S-NP-5. Preserve existing visual features such as trees and hilltops, public views of water, and open space in new development when feasible.

S-NP-6. Strive to minimize loss of trees, especially on slopes and hilltops, mitigate unavoidable tree removal, and maintain and expand the tree canopy and forested environment in natural areas.

Neighborhood Center

Goal: Support the continued evolution of the commercial heart of the neighborhood and encourage small and unique businesses to locate and grow to support the daily needs of the neighborhood.

S-NP-7. Support a neighborhood-serving commercial district as shown on Map LU-2 (Volume 1) Neighborhood Centers as a walkable mixed use area with multiple transportation options.

S-NP-8. Place new buildings adjacent to the sidewalk to create an engaging street life for pedestrians in the Neighborhood Center.

S-NP-9. Encourage the inclusion of space appropriate to grow and retain small and independent businesses in new commercial development.

S-NP-10. Work with developers to retain businesses impacted by redevelopment.

S-NP-11. Support the unique identity of the Neighborhood Center as a center of community life and commercial activity through signage, public art and activities.

S-NP-12. Encourage the construction of multifamily housing and mixed use development within the Neighborhood Center.

Community Gathering Places

Goal: Provide for the evolving social needs of residents through the formation of new indoor and outdoor community gathering spaces in partnership with Bellevue School District and other organizations.

S-NP-13. Create accessible, affordable and welcoming indoor gathering places that support community needs and encourage intergenerational connections on City property or in partnership with organizations like schools, faith communities and social clubs.

S-NP-14. Identify locations and partners to support a community-serving facility augmented to support residents and coordinate resource distribution and services before, during and after a hazard event.

S-NP-15. Encourage the Bellevue School District to include community-serving uses, such as a community center, daycare or senior center in the redevelopment of its property and support the use of surplus Bellevue School District property as third places.

S-NP-16. Collaborate with Bellevue School District on the joint use of public property to benefit operational needs of both organizations.

S-NP-17. Support multi-functional, programmable parks and other outdoor spaces for sports, cultural activities, community gatherings, events and recreation opportunities that meet the needs of the community.

S-NP-18. Acquire parcels suitable for neighborhood parks, especially where such parcels can be connected to the trail system.

Mobility and Access

Goal: Meet the needs of people using all forms of transportation to circulate within the neighborhood and connect to places outside the neighborhood.

S-NP-19. Develop the transportation network to address the mobility needs of a growing and evolving community.

S-NP-20. Improve the experience of people walking, biking, rolling and taking transit through the use of greenery, trees and landscaping.

S-NP-21. Address cut-through traffic, speeding and other traffic safety concerns through traffic calming measures that adhere to Vision Zero and Complete Streets principles.

S-NP-22. Support the expansion of transit service in the neighborhood and work with transit agencies to connect with Downtown Bellevue, light rail service and the region.

S-NP-23. Expand and connect the public trail network as land and funding become available in collaboration with other public landowners.

S-NP-24. Collaborate with King County and other managers of local trails to implement signage to help people identify entrances to and connect between trail systems.

S-NP-25. Support the continued use and enhancement of easements, such as the Pipeline Trail, for active transportation such as walking and biking.

S-NP-26. Work with Newcastle and King County to connect to trail systems across jurisdictions.

S-NP-27. Work with school districts to enhance trails that pass through or are adjacent to school district property and connect them to the rest of the parks and trail system.

S-NP-28. Support the expansion and enhancement of the pedestrian network with an emphasis on safety and connectivity.

S-NP-29. Expand and connect bicycle network facilities consistent with the Mobility Implementation Plan.

S-NP-30. Improve pedestrian and bicycle facilities to connect people to Eastrail safely from nearby destinations.

S-NP-31. Coordinate with WSDOT to improve the I-405 crossing at the Lake Washington Boulevard interchange to provide safer and more comfortable active transportation connections to Eastrail and Newcastle Beach Park.

Environment

Goal: Care for the many parks, trails and green areas in the neighborhood, promoting safe water and fish and animal habitats and contributing to the health of the larger ecosystem.

S-NP-32. Work with partners to preserve and enhance the wildlife habitat in Coal Creek Natural Area, Newport Hills Woodlawn Park, Newcastle Beach Park, Mercer Slough Nature Park and the creeks and green corridors between and adjacent to them.

S-NP-33. Expand access to Lake Washington and its tributary creeks and streams to support their ecological functions, and contribute to educational or recreational opportunities for the community.

S-NP-34. Support efforts to enhance the water quality in streams and creeks to support fish and animal life.

S-NP-35. Use low impact development techniques in new developments and public spaces to minimize flooding and contamination of Coal Creek and other neighborhood streams and to support human, fish and wildlife health.

S-NP-36. Add information signage throughout the neighborhood about the history of the region, the natural areas, the animal habitat, and how people can contribute to the health of the environment.

S-NP-37. Collaborate with King County and King County Conservation District to prepare the neighborhood and its natural areas in the wildland-urban interface to be resilient against brush fires and wildfires.

For alternate formats, interpreters, or reasonable modification requests please phone at least 48 hours in advance 425-452-2042 (voice) or email knesse@bellevuewa.gov. For complaints regarding modifications, contact the City of Bellevue ADA, Title VI, and Equal Opportunity Officer at ADATitleVI@bellevuewa.gov.

Newport Neighborhood Area Plan ■ Page S-NP-13