At first glance, the Mile Post neighborhood seems like all others in this
small city.
A dad is out mowing the lawn.
Kids are playing with their dog.
Smells of dinner waft from kitchens.
Occasionally, a neighbor waves or honks as they drive by.
But after the April 7 meeting between about 40 Mile Post homeowners and the
city, it's obvious this community is quite unique.
The group had agendas prepared, speakers lined up and follow-up letters
ready -- all to get their message across to city officials and the mayor.
What could cause such concern?
Coal Creek Parkway, which is being expanded to four lanes, runs along the
neighborhood to the west. A new elementary school will soon be built to the
east. And several new developments are in the works that could add numerous
new homes to the area.
Simply put: Several Mile Post residents say they feel like the city's growth
is creeping in from all sides.
But that hasn't stopped them from trying to make the best of the situation.
"We have all tried to figure out solutions to these problems that 'a' we can
live with, and 'b' give the city an idea of how it can help," said Judy
Schwartz, president of the Mile Post Homeowners' Association (MPHA).
Last year 135th Avenue Southeast -- the main road through the hilly
development -- was opened from a dead end.
The city planned to install speed bumps along the street, but the City
Council later decided against that idea after several nearby residents
requested the city consider other options.
That success with the city sparked the community to form a homeowners
association that then organized committees designated to work on everything
from traffic studies to cutting down on mail theft.
Some became experts about traffic-calming measures.
"Believe me, we learned far more about that than we ever wanted to know,"
Mile Post resident Bob Hagen said with a chuckle.
Others learned City Hall's phone number by heart.
The group even has a Web site.
And at last month's meeting with city officials, some of their efforts
proved successful.
The residents provided a three-page list of points it wanted city officials
to respond too: Where will school buses stop during the Coal Creek Parkway
construction? How will completion of the first phase of the Coal Creek
Parkway project affect nearby homeowners? What kind of traffic-calming
measures will the city ultimately decide on for 135th Avenue Southeast?
One question that was resolved, however, involved concerns that the Issaquah
School District would significantly widen 136th Avenue Southeast near its
new school, causing potentially dangerous traffic situations.
But city officials announced that night that the street will only be 29 feet
wide due to storm-water issues.
"This is exactly what city government is all about," said City Manager Andy
Takata. "It's unfortunate we had to have these issues to bring us together,
but this kind of communication is what we need."
But while some questions were answered, others were responded with, "We'll
have to get back to you on that."
Exact locations of traffic-calming measures still be ironed out. And Mile
Post resident Sherman Willis said he's still not getting clear answers about
how the Coal Creek Parkway project will change the neighborhood's entrance.
"We'll be in touch," Schwartz said to conclude the meeting last month,
hinting that there are issues still left unresolved.
Schwartz said that forming one group to lobby the city for several separate
concerns of residents has been advantageous.
"Working inside a homeowners association gives us the opportunity to present
ourselves as one voice," she added.
Plus, Hagen said, there has been an added bonus to all this hard work.
"We've been able to actually meet our neighbors and realize everyone has
unique and useful talents," he said, while waving to a neighbor passing by.
