The permit review process is underway for the transformation of the King County Metro South Kirkland Park and Ride into a new mixed use residential and commercial transit oriented development community.

The project includes 239 affordable and market rate housing units, retail/commercial uses, open space plazas, a new parking garage and parking lot improvements for the transit facility.

The following is a status of the proposal. The following meetings are scheduled regarding the project:

• February 2, 2012 a Public Open House will be held 7 to 9 p.m. where you can view the architectural plans, meet the project team members and city staff. The Open House will be held at the Yarrow Bay Office Park, 10604 NE 38th Place, Kirkland (Quad One North Building, Room 110). 
• February 7, 2012, Kirkland City Council will be briefed on the project.  
• February 13 and March 19, 2012 the Kirkland Design Review Board will conduct the second phase in the design review process, a Design Response Conference, where it will fine tune the design of the mixed use building on the Kirkland portion of the site.
• In February, the proposed parking garage for the transit facility and other site improvements located in Bellevue will be submitted to the City of Bellevue for design review and other required permits.

According to an announcement from the city, the Kirkland Planning Department is proposing changes to the fee schedule that will be presented to the Kirkland City Council on February 7, 2012 at their regular meeting.

The proposed changes either clarify and correct format and typographical errors, or add new fees. The new fees are for existing Kirkland Zoning Code (KZC) provisions that require fees but were previously not adopted. The new fees are not increases to existing fees. However, the amount of the new fees is based on existing fees of the same process and complexity. The new fees are for:

KZC 112.25.2 -Affordable Housing Incentives - Density Bonus

Eastsiders, if you missed last weekend’s Eastside Vitality Health Fair at Overlake Hospital, here is another chance to get free information and screenings to help get on track for health and wellness for 2012.

Take advantage of the Redmond Health Fair at Swedish/Redmond that is scheduled for Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.