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Record of Proceedings

Bellevue Planning Commission Meeting - July 15, 2025: Crossroads and Downtown Plans

City Council — Tuesday, July 15, 2025
BodyBellevue, Washington
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, July 15, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:03:33

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0:41

Okay.

0:45

Okay, we're gonna get started.

0:47

Um so good evening and welcome to the July 9th um City of Bellevue Planning Commission meeting.

0:55

Uh this evening's meeting is held via hybrid format with both in-person and virtual options via Zoom.

1:02

Uh tonight's meeting will provide an opportunity for public comment during the oral communications portion of the agenda.

1:09

All written communicate comments that have been submitted prior to 11 a.m.

1:14

today, Wednesday, July 9th, will be summarized into the record.

1:18

We have two public hearings on the agenda for tonight.

1:22

Um the first is for the final review and public hearing on the neighborhood area plan for crossroads.

1:29

And the second is the final review public hearing on the downtown center redesignation downtown sub-area plan.

1:40

Both of these hearings are for changes to the comprehensive plan as part of the 2025 update uh to the comprehensive plan.

1:48

So let's move forward to the roll call call next.

1:52

Uh Vice Chair Conlu.

1:54

Present.

1:55

Uh Commissioner Ferris.

1:58

I am here.

1:58

Uh Commissioner Kennedy.

2:00

Present.

2:01

Uh Commissioner Liu.

2:03

I'm here.

2:04

Commissioner Nilchin.

2:06

I'm here.

2:07

Uh Commissioner Villevasis.

2:09

I'm here.

2:10

And Council Liaison, Deputy Mayor Malikutian.

2:14

Here.

2:14

Okay.

2:15

And this is Craig and Geppel.

2:17

I'm here as well.

2:18

Um let's go on to the agenda.

2:21

Can I get a motion to approve tonight's agenda?

2:24

I would like to move to we accept tonight's agenda.

2:28

Sarah Second.

2:28

Second.

2:29

Any discussion?

2:31

So all those in favor?

2:33

Aye.

2:35

Next we're going to move on to reports of city council, boards, and commissions.

2:39

Um, so any reports from council.

2:42

And we'll start with you, um, Deputy Mayor.

2:45

Yes.

2:46

Thank you.

2:47

Uh, I just wanted to first welcome our two new commissioners, Commissioner Kennedy, Commissioner Nishian.

2:55

It's so good to see the full house.

2:57

It's really such a great feeling.

2:59

I have warmth inside.

3:01

Uh, thank you for being here.

3:04

Uh yes, the two options I have is that both Wilberton, Luca and Middle Housing now is part of the land use code.

3:15

The amount of work.

3:18

Long meeting after 11 p.m.

3:21

that you guys spend as volunteers.

3:24

Um, I don't even know how to express my gratitude.

3:27

So thank you so much.

3:28

All of your hard work.

3:30

Just know that everyone, city staff, stakeholders, city council, everyone knows how much you work, uh, how much you're spending these all of these large pages of documents that I don't even know how you guys have time to read as volunteers.

3:46

So I appreciate you.

3:48

Uh they are now part of our city.

3:51

Uh Vilberton would be amazing.

3:53

Uh 300 acre of TOD vibrant uh is going to be uh hopefully uh exception neighborhood for the whole region and maybe the whole world and middle housing is also done, and hopefully we have more density and more attainable housing for all of the future generation.

4:15

So that's my two update.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Land Use and Zoning████████████████████████████28%
Procedural████████████████16%
Public Engagement██████████████14%
Community Engagement██████████████14%
Public Transportation█████████9%
Active Transportation█████████9%
Parks and Recreation█████5%
Environmental Protection██2%
Transportation Safety█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Bellevue Planning Commission Meeting - July 15, 2025

This hybrid meeting included two public hearings for comprehensive plan amendments: the Crossroads Neighborhood Area Plan and the Downtown Center Redesignation/Downtown Sub-area Plan. Commissioners heard public testimony, discussed staff recommendations, and voted on motions with amendments. The meeting also included oral communications, approval of the agenda, and approval of minutes from June 11, 2025.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the June 11, 2025 meeting minutes unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Oral Communications (pre-hearing): Two speakers addressed the commission. The first speaker criticized the commission's enforcement of public comment rules, referencing a political candidate. The second speaker, Alex Zimmerman, made repeated violations of ordinance 6752 with off-topic and offensive remarks, and was warned multiple times.
  • Public Hearing – Crossroads Neighborhood Area Plan: Four speakers testified virtually. Valentina Veniva, a Crossroads resident, expressed support for the plan but urged stronger language for bicycle facilities to access light rail. Kate O'Dane, a new resident, supported the plan and requested a safer, connected bicycle network. Alexi Cohn, a Crossroads resident, supported the plan and asked for prioritization of pedestrian, transit, and bicycle safety. Alex Zimmerman again made irrelevant and offensive comments, violating decorum rules.
  • Public Hearing – Downtown Sub-area Plan: One speaker, Maria Frost (Vice President for Government Affairs, Kemper Development), thanked staff for incorporating previous feedback, supported the revised narrative, and suggested a color change on the parks and open space map to distinguish between parks and open spaces.

Discussion Items

  • Crossroads Neighborhood Area Plan: Senior Planner Toon Dooling presented the staff recommendation, which included changes based on the June 11 study session. Commissioners discussed the need for stronger bicycle infrastructure, tree canopy policies, and the wording of policy SCX27 regarding pedestrian connections. Amendments were proposed and adopted: (1) splitting SCX25 into separate pedestrian and bicycle policies; (2) removing the word "strive to" from policy SCX32; (3) amending SCX27 to read "Obtain pedestrian connections within super blocks."
  • Downtown Sub-area Plan: Associate Planner Jonathan Winslow and Planning Manager Kate Ness presented the plan, addressing changes to narrative, policies, and maps. Commissioners discussed the perimeter overlay inconsistency, map clarity, and the strength of policy SDT39. Amendments were adopted: (1) updating the perimeter overlay to match the city code; (2) modifying the parks and open space map to use distinct colors; (3) changing SDT39 from "encourage" to "expand" regarding sustainable stormwater infrastructure, tree canopy, and landscaping.

Key Outcomes

  • Crossroads Neighborhood Area Plan: The commission voted unanimously to recommend the plan as amended to the city council, with the motion carrying after amendments.
  • Downtown Sub-area Plan: The commission voted unanimously to recommend the plan as amended to the city council, with the motion carrying after amendments.
  • Both recommendations will proceed to city council for adoption in fall 2025.

Meeting Transcript

Okay. Okay, we're gonna get started. Um so good evening and welcome to the July 9th um City of Bellevue Planning Commission meeting. Uh this evening's meeting is held via hybrid format with both in-person and virtual options via Zoom. Uh tonight's meeting will provide an opportunity for public comment during the oral communications portion of the agenda. All written communicate comments that have been submitted prior to 11 a.m. today, Wednesday, July 9th, will be summarized into the record. We have two public hearings on the agenda for tonight. Um the first is for the final review and public hearing on the neighborhood area plan for crossroads. And the second is the final review public hearing on the downtown center redesignation downtown sub-area plan. Both of these hearings are for changes to the comprehensive plan as part of the 2025 update uh to the comprehensive plan. So let's move forward to the roll call call next. Uh Vice Chair Conlu. Present. Uh Commissioner Ferris. I am here. Uh Commissioner Kennedy. Present. Uh Commissioner Liu. I'm here. Commissioner Nilchin. I'm here. Uh Commissioner Villevasis. I'm here. And Council Liaison, Deputy Mayor Malikutian. Here. Okay. And this is Craig and Geppel. I'm here as well. Um let's go on to the agenda. Can I get a motion to approve tonight's agenda? I would like to move to we accept tonight's agenda. Sarah Second. Second. Any discussion? So all those in favor? Aye. Next we're going to move on to reports of city council, boards, and commissions. Um, so any reports from council. And we'll start with you, um, Deputy Mayor. Yes. Thank you. Uh, I just wanted to first welcome our two new commissioners, Commissioner Kennedy, Commissioner Nishian. It's so good to see the full house. It's really such a great feeling. I have warmth inside. Uh, thank you for being here. Uh yes, the two options I have is that both Wilberton, Luca and Middle Housing now is part of the land use code. The amount of work. Long meeting after 11 p.m.

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