Bel-Red Area Transformation - Introduction (Official City of Bellevue Website)

The Bel-Red Corridor

Following a two-plus-year process with the Bel-Red Steering Committee and five of the city’s boards and commissions, the city has drafted amendments to its comprehensive plan and land use codes that would facilitate the Bel-Red area's gradual transformation into a place that accommodates housing, mixed-use developments and open space.

Draft Bel-Red Subarea Plan and Related Comprehensive Plan Amendments (May 8, 2008)
Draft Bel-Red Zoning Map (May 8, 2008)
Draft Bel-Red General Land Use Code Amendments (May 8, 2008)
Draft Bel-Red – Part 20.25D Land Use Code Amendments (May 8, 2008)
Draft Medical Institution – Part 20.25J Land Use Code Amendments (May 8, 2008)
Draft Bel-Red Design Guidelines (May 8, 2008)
Staff Report (May 8, 2008)

The goal of the draft Subarea Plan, a result of work by the Arts Commission, the Environmental Services Commission, the Parks & Community Services Board, the Planning Commission and the Transportation Commission, is an urban development that dramatically reshapes the area, while allowing it to transition gracefully from its past. The plan envisions, by 2030, more intensive, mixed-used developments with taller buildings, a thriving economy, an enhanced transportation system with new streets, trails and bike lanes, more parks and open space and new neighborhoods.

Following the public hearing, deliberation and additional refinement of the drafts, the Planning Commission is expected to forward its recommendations on the Subarea Plan and development regulations to the City Council. The Council would likely take action on the recommendation by the end of the year.

Background
The Bel-Red Corridor is a 900-acre area that stretches between State Route 520 and Bel-Red Road, extending from Interstate 405 to 148th Avenue Northeast. Bel-Red is a major employment area for Bellevue, but some large employers have moved out or reduced operations, in part due to changing market pressures in the area.

Change has been dynamic in the areas surrounding Bel-Red (Downtown Bellevue and Overlake), and the area had not been considered in a comprehensive manner in several years. At the same time, Sound Transit is proposing to build a light rail line through the Bel-Red Corridor into Redmond. If light rail is built, with stations in Bel-Red, it would have the potential to support changes to the land-use patterns in the area by providing additional transportation capacity.

In 2006 and 2007 Bellevue staff, consultants and a project steering committee — with involvement from business and property owners and residents —developed a long-range plan for future land use and transportation in the corridor to determine the area's role in the city's overall growth and economic development. The objective was to work with the community to plan and manage change rather than to accommodate the inevitable change in a haphazard, piecemeal way.

In September 2007, the Bel-Red Steering Committee approved a final preferred alternative and presented it to the City Council. Implementation of the Bel-Red Final Report requires new Comprehensive Plan policies and land use code regulations. The Council asked five of the city's boards and commissions to craft new Comprehensive Plan policies and land use code regulations to implement the new plan.

On February 27, 2008, four boards and commissions presented their policy recommendations for Bel-Red to the Planning Commission. In the spring of 2008, the Planning Commission will conduct a public hearing and make a recommendation on the plan to the City Council. Board and Commission Meetings

Contact Information

Planning & Community Development
450 110th Ave. NE
P.O. Box 90012
Bellevue, WA 98009
Contact: Paul Inghram
Phone: 425-452-4070
E-mail
Contact: Kevin O'Neill
Phone: 425-452-4064

Transportation Department
450 110th Ave. NE
P.O. Box 90012
Bellevue, WA 98009
Contact: Tresa Berg, Public Involvement Coordinator
Phone: 425-452-4638
E-mail