City to back hospital plan
November 4, 2008
By Ed Farrell
Snoqualmie City Administrator Bob Larson said Monday the city has discussed plans to locate a 125-bed hotel on Snoqualmie Parkway that would be adjacent to the recently announced desired location of Snoqualmie Valley Hospital.
Larson told the city’s Public Works Committee he had been privy to discussions with a developer who is “not committed, but very interested” in building the hotel and possibly a restaurant at a 3-acre site next to the site unveiled by hospital officials Oct. 27.
Hospital Director Rodger McCollum revealed the plans to build a 28-bed medical center on Snoqualmie Parkway and SE 99th Street.
McCollum said the hospital’s plans were for a new hospital only, but that the adjacent property would be a good site for a hotel and other commercial uses.
On Monday, Larson said the hotel developers he had met with felt the site “is very viable for this community.”
Larson also said the city’s “executive team,” which includes himself and Mayor Matt Larson “would like to support” both the hospital’s plans and the potential hotel proposal.
Larson also told the committee he would not recommend any new efforts to limit parking times on Ridge Street as requested recently by a local business owner.
Ken Staude, owner of Snoqualmie Ridge Learning Center, 34929 SE Ridge St., had complained to city officials about commuters parking for extended periods of time while using King County Metro’s new bus service on the Ridge.
Larson said most commuters are parking at Snoqualmie Community Park, but even if they were parking vehicles on Ridge Street or other area streets it was within their rights to do so.
“They are residents and have a right to park” on city streets, Larson said, adding that “forcing” commuters to park elsewhere would only serve to push the problem onto residential streets on the Ridge.
Larson also noted that enforcement of any parking limitations would be something he would not recommend, and would prefer to see the city continue to urge commuters to park where long-term parking would minimize impacts on businesses.
“We’ll try to educate people to see if we can get commuters to not park right in front of retail businesses,” Larson said.
Reach reporter Ed Farrell at efarrell@snovalleystar.com or 392-6434.
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