Building a Better Bellevue is a newly created grassroots organization, which was created to preserve the quality of life in Bellevue neighborhoods, and to support the placement of the Sound Transit light rail alignment in a corridor that aligns with:

1. Bellevue’s Comprehensive Plan,

2. Land Use Code,

3. Subarea Plans for neighborhoods, and

4. Best Practices Study for light rail.

Here is the organization’s statement:

“The Problem

 

Our neighborhoods are a cherished part of Bellevue – and they didn’t get this way by accident.  Decades of smart City Council decisions and laws, along with informed and involved residents have helped plan and shape our beautiful community into the gem it is today.

 

However, there appears to be a plan afoot to turn Bellevue into something that is not wanted – a clone of Seattle driven by a Seattle-centric planning.  This plan would change our ‘City In A Park’ to a city in a parking lot (or city amid pavement.).  Our quality of life is under attack by outside groups who would do harm to the very things that brought us to Bellevue.

 

We are not opposed to transit and we have tried for years to work cooperatively with Sound Transit to bring light rail to Bellevue in a way that respects our mutual goals.  Many of you have attended City Council meetings, attended public hearings, sent numerous emails, and made phone calls in support of your neighborhood – and we are glad to stand with you. 

 

Still, Sound Transit continues its refusal to respect the rights of the City of Bellevue and our Bellevue City Council decision on routing.

 

We have advocated for an alignment that respects the neighborhoods, the environment, and our pocketbooks. 

 

That alignment is B7. 

 

This alignment proposed crossing I-90, turn north on a section of the BNSF railroad right of way and then proceed into downtown adjacent to 405.  There are several ideas on entering downtown, whether from a tunnel or from an elevated station on the western edge of 405 at NE 6th.

 

We are proud to stand with the majority of our City Council members, the overwhelming majority of residents and the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce who all support the alignment known as B7.

 

Our goal is to continue to work with our Bellevue City Council, consistent with state and Bellevue laws, as well as our City’s Comprehensive Plan that protect ALL of our neighborhoods. 

 

We invite YOU to help us do this. 

 

All of us working together are Building a Better Bellevue for us and our future.”

Learn more about Building a Better Bellevue at (http://betterbellevue.wordpress.com/)