Mike and Debbi Rovech and Toby are looking forward to an off-leash area as they lounge on the grass at Lakeview Park. They live across the street from Lakeview. Toby is a chocolate Labrador that weighed 59 pounds when the couple rescued him. He’s a whopping 105 pounds now. The Rovechs are the former owners of the Reuben in Des Moines and say they miss their customers.
Burien lawmakers unanimously approved July 1 development of an off-leash dog park at Lakeview Park near Highline Medical Center.
The park, located at 422 S. 160th St., formerly housed an elementary school. The building has been torn down.
Deputy Mayor Lucy Krakowiak said placing the dog park there provides a “unique opportunity.” It will increase public safety in the neighborhood while providing a public off-leash area for dog owners.
Councilmember Jack Block Jr. said the park is an “outstanding site.” With a park picked, it will be easier for B-Town DOG, a non-profit group that will help run the facility, to raise funds for it, Block noted.
Parks operations manager Steve Roemer said the 1.5-acre park will have separate areas for small dogs and large dogs.
The parks department had originally suggested Hazel Valley or Salmon Creek parks in north Burien. But Lawmakers were concerned about the impacts to neighbors.
City Manager Mike Martin said the willingness of Highline Public Schools officials to allow a dog park on district-owned land signals a new era of cooperation between the city and the district.
In other business, council members indicated readiness to change plans for a mixed-use development in the Five Corners neighborhood.
The new development agreement involves Miller Creek Court. Motorists entering southbound State Route 509 from South 160th Street can easily spot the vacant residential units off to the west.
Original plans for the 3.05 site at 215 S. 160th St. called for 46 residential units and three office buildings.
After starting construction on the housing structures and one office building, the original developer encountered financial difficulties and forfeited the property to the lender.
A new developer announced plans to finish the 46 units and the office building but told city officials the current economic climate is not conducive to building the two remaining commercial buildings.
Community Development director Chip Davis proposed to the council that the obligation to build the two buildings be deferred until the area can be rezoned to omit that requirement.
Davis said the parcel is surrounded by SR-509 to the east, single-family residences to the south and commercial properties to the north and west.
The council is expected to approve the proposed change on July 15.
At the July 1 meeting, lawmakers heard speakers who normally don’t appear before the council. Representatives from immigration rights groups and Hispanic organizations spoke in favor of a proclamation supporting national comprehensive immigration reform.
The council unanimously passed the proclamation, proposed by Block.
