[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",5980106,"mediaKeyId","5792634-9b67ebd7f484824f02847ec4f5a60184","parentId",5792634,"title","Newport Hills plan update emphasizes neighborhood center, nature connections; council moves to adopt","audioSeconds",162,"startMs",4578000,"endMs",4740000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5792634-9b67ebd7f484824f02847ec4f5a60184&start=4578&end=4740","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5792634-9b67ebd7f484824f02847ec4f5a60184/thumbnail_4578000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5980106/Bellevue/King-County/Washington/Newport-Hills-plan-update-emphasizes-neighborhood-center-nature-connections-council-moves-to-adopt","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5980106-5eef35b36285114b4fd29426114c214e/orig.mp4?Expires=1773706301&Signature=iuD2GW~5mt7QC7frNlSGCetejh8Ua2RpLwdfwdUrsQ7nEu2UQ87t7MpNAN121x6tJNjzX3ZR2RGKCAuBhwd~gVTDMWej6reo8JOLmJBmvdXQT0QMVmRpjbXDYECrbltBg9XHhQSBBzY~eKQvb60mQQnHbl24Z3gjwYlIchZCEGTM4YvK~oFl2ds4LWp9TFAbiLHlh3U42kJXvotxHBIv6S1wUW-35vAajKG1ukpgw39yTtF1nsDFhNVOc8RTAZCV2dcuypA8TwWYXnu-MewUhBTJYZg1sQD1y4kFWT0ZQZ~lyrXgz86ZsfGmS3Atnz4ZQnPu57PrtLqV7Frukk3thA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Bellevue City, WA","date","2025-09-17T19:13:09Z","article","The City Council on Sept. 16 directed staff to prepare ordinances to adopt an updated Newport Neighborhood Area Plan that the planning commission recommended after a year of engagement.
Planning Commission Chair Khanh Lu summarized the commission's work: \"The planning commission recommends a comprehensive plan amendment for the Newport neighborhood area plan and related changes.\" Chair Lu and staff emphasized that the neighborhood update focused on public‑realm priorities and did not itself change land‑use designations; they noted that code and zoning efforts (including the separate HOma/Houma initiative mentioned in testimony) proceed through other processes.
Staff said the Newport plan reflects differing subareas within Newport — Newport Hills, Newport Shores and Greenwich Crest — and centers policy attention on the Newport Hills Shopping Center as the commercial core. Planning manager Kate Nesse said the plan adds policies to support the neighborhood center, preserve walkable links to parks and trails, support schools as community gathering assets and address congestion and pedestrian connections.
Residents raised concerns in oral communications about outreach accuracy and data used in the plan. Faye Ho (spoke as Faye Howe in public comments) said the plan's claim that 80% of homes in Newport are owner‑occupied was incorrect for her block and urged council to return the plan to commission to correct data and add policies to track investor ownership and unpermitted rentals. Staff responded that demographic tables use American Community Survey figures and offered to update figures; staff and commission said they accommodated additional review time during the process to address community questions.
The planning commission and staff emphasized that the neighborhood plan’s policies are intended to guide public‑realm investments and neighborhood priorities. Council directed staff to prepare the ordinance and the general documenting ordinance for final action as part of the 2025 comprehensive plan amendments.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Bellevue City Council Meeting - September 16, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council directed staff to draft ordinances to adopt an updated Newport Neighborhood Area Plan focused on preserving the neighborhood shopping center, improving park and trail connections and addressing traffic and gathering spaces after planning‑commission review and public outreach.","taxTitle","Bellevue, King County, Washington","taxId",2544,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5980112,"Council to advance Crossroads neighborhood plan updates after broad community engagement",144,4506000,4650000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5792634-9b67ebd7f484824f02847ec4f5a60184&start=4506&end=4650","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5792634-9b67ebd7f484824f02847ec4f5a60184/thumbnail_4506000.jpg","/articles/5980112/Bellevue/King-County/Washington/Council-to-advance-Crossroads-neighborhood-plan-updates-after-broad-community-engagement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5980112-106c6ab65a757c4ec1475479e56f5afc/orig.mp4?Expires=1773706301&Signature=TxVO9tTA1Ok9xDe1c-5P4RPVshj90-tEFJVOgeT3OHsrusJQonBeebrE8Oa8wJhpOyamvcvPAN~wc8Wkcd7JpwjuWQfXHsR40bXR4UJYgCCHcqRfxeIzFkqLF6-LFDTmtfOQ0V2qgu6qvyPgeYsX7lqRVPMNabzxIQMmk6d5bj28PYETvcFkyClBvV28D~KGkafVERT6RSSbsZdQUYyuriAiz9~MTdqUow8YgR88ary0PwDRRwHD40OCnGdXCUVsT8IiaLUAszgri88umwxZNH~4mVnOO754tGJguk~0J13S6yz68zNCv3CKqXpMCPtvoXLn1Ypr2~3ya3S9m8BncA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City planning staff and the Planning Commission recommended Sept. 16 that the council adopt a new Crossroads Neighborhood Area Plan that replaces the older subarea plan and emphasizes transit access, multimodal mobility, small business retention and community gathering places.
Chair Khanh Lu told council the commission reviewed multiple drafts and \"recommends the comprehensive plan amendment for the new Crossroads neighborhood area plan.\" Staff said the Crossroads plan was updated to reflect the neighborhood’s role as a cultural and transportation center and to add policies on active transportation, transit access, mixed‑use and small business retention.
Tim Dooling of the planning team described the engagement approach: interactive workshops, mailed questionnaires and in‑person events intended to reach residents, business owners and community groups. Staff said they tailored outreach to reach nontraditional participants (for example, school‑age youth and language‑specific community groups) and used concept maps and walk audits to capture priorities.
Planning staff highlighted policy themes that emerged from outreach: value for proximity to services and other neighborhoods, support for pedestrian and bicycle improvements, desire to strengthen neighborhood gathering places (parks, the shopping center), and stronger roles for schools as community assets.
Council discussion included a request from Councilmember Sam Hamilton to ensure the Crossroads mobility policies prioritize pedestrian and bicycle facilities that connect to a broad set of destinations — not only transit stops — and council expressed broad support for advancing the plan. Council voted to direct staff to prepare the ordinance and documenting materials to adopt the Crossroads Neighborhood Area Plan as part of the 2025 comprehensive plan amendments.","City staff and the planning commission recommended replacing an outdated Crossroads subarea plan with a new neighborhood area plan that emphasizes transit access, small business retention, community gathering spaces and multimodal connections; council directed staff to prepare ordinances for final adoption.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5980116,"Council directs staff to pursue PSRC redesignation for Downtown Bellevue, staff to return with ordinance",456,4661000,5117000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5792634-9b67ebd7f484824f02847ec4f5a60184&start=4661&end=5117","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5792634-9b67ebd7f484824f02847ec4f5a60184/thumbnail_4661000.jpg","/articles/5980116/Bellevue/King-County/Washington/Council-directs-staff-to-pursue-PSRC-redesignation-for-Downtown-Bellevue-staff-to-return-with-ordinance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5980116-694bde2e14a91e07b8f638068ecffd1c/orig.mp4?Expires=1773706301&Signature=USyjoZhOkNtyuftK4ZNn3KmMPK2Na0udpNlDClozT5IYpC7ph~PFQMQrIOeYoBq6JYyIh2KhjI6w-yIbKBF4TWdx-b4JAAwp80Hja52VvY5nM9mFUQP~i3OKXED-6pRI39Srh7HB0644VfHQVb1UsH8K2QJ4gbTvHv42x0Bh1rlkwX0IxNO1XXA8FAphA0JW~sqV24pnLmU~7Olb9IoSCQVWfJg7Q6He7D-CM6hUxF5cHd8udF5n34u8gtCChjtQzUkKpicmAZ9YGwVuc6YT-ZQAZylfWRZmbjl61kYx8ZxB3Wk~QDin8JP8D8-NLRxz7uDROWFaQk5tA-y4FZEyLQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City planning staff told the Bellevue City Council Sept. 16 that a narrow set of amendments to the Downtown Subarea Plan is intended to maintain Downtown Bellevue’s designation as a metropolitan regional growth center under the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) process.
Tara Johnson, Planning Director, said the amendments update data and narrative to reflect recent growth and to align the subarea plan with PSRC’s monitoring and redesignation requirements. \"The purpose here is to make sure that the center is performing well,\" she said, and that the update focuses on PSRC requirements rather than new strategic directions.
Kate Nesse, planning manager, said engagement on the narrowly scoped update included two planning commission study sessions and a public hearing; the commission recommended the amendments after making targeted edits for readability and updated policy language on displacement, historically underserved communities and environmental issues. Planning Commission Chair Khanh Lu told council the commission \"recommends the amendment to the downtown sub area plan.\"
Staff emphasized the primary advantage of retaining the designation is competitiveness for federal transportation funds and alignment with the region’s Vision 2050 growth strategy. Johnson said the designation helps the city compete for federal transportation dollars that finance large‑scale mobility projects and that downtown’s growth focus supports that strategy.
Council discussion focused on benefits and risks. Councilmember Mia Robinson (council reference) highlighted downtown growth and asked staff to summarize the pros and cons; staff said a primary risk of not meeting PSRC targets is loss of the designation and possible reduced competitiveness for federal transportation funding. Councilmember Sam Hamilton and others urged monitoring of displacement risks and coordination with citywide policy work on equity and small business retention.
Council voted to direct staff to return with an ordinance to adopt the proposed Downtown Subarea Plan amendments and the general documenting ordinance for the 2025 annual comprehensive plan amendments. The motion passed on a voice vote.","City planning staff told council the downtown subarea plan amendments aim to retain Downtown Bellevue’s metropolitan regional growth center designation under Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) rules; council directed staff to bring an ordinance to adopt the limited amendments.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5980120,"Bellevue Police report overall crime down, highlight CCAT crisis interventions and light‑rail unit",448,3193000,3641000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5792634-9b67ebd7f484824f02847ec4f5a60184&start=3193&end=3641","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5792634-9b67ebd7f484824f02847ec4f5a60184/thumbnail_3193000.jpg","/articles/5980120/Bellevue/King-County/Washington/Bellevue-Police-report-overall-crime-down-highlight-CCAT-crisis-interventions-and-lightrail-unit","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5980120-8b662bdf84c44657276cbf5c2b6b7add/orig.mp4?Expires=1773706301&Signature=OHiHVLFAj4CnnOIYe5NoW9-JaCVk6y2HD2i~Mt~y8YCjD2yWf5bLIl~q1YOqKWravtAOSGgXt3KMSA8SiXJ4tWgF9YVx-K0fVOUDuUsAQjKJ~dPVNhRe~63XCuv1ncN5~dqNcrkECGsp7AkqRcWiHAMswFYqrUUEV~IFHlfXd3cBkZBjjZeHlmJOtgpCgY7~1DvW63cANtTAUMi-OB5dWOStL7D5FI4Jmy94MSfm0m5XlePsoDYoD4bxSWqiwwysp183QEG5-1bPmHMcE0DRQpmwalFoH-ESNcJvcV1rnc5cDJUSGhEKZwr-~NK99fuSmR7loyLRJqM3TlMYeR5QNA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Bellevue Police Department reported a year‑to‑date drop in reported crimes and described several program expansions at the Sept. 16 City Council meeting.
Chief Wendell Shirley said the department focuses on prevention, intervention and enforcement. \"Our officers can use any one of these approaches to accomplish our mission,\" he said.
Assistant Chief Andrew Popachock presented data through Sept. 8 showing an overall 28% decline in reported crimes compared with the same period in 2024, a reduction of about 1,494 reported incidents. The largest category decline was property crimes — down 34% or roughly 1,495 fewer reports — with notable decreases in motor vehicle theft (down about 69%, or 275 fewer incidents) and motor vehicle prowl (down about 40%, roughly 260 fewer incidents). Popachock noted person‑category crimes were up about 2% (14 more incidents) but said the absolute numbers are small.
Popachock also described traffic‑safety enforcement and trends: speeding tickets have increased 117% year‑to‑date with 1,918 speeding tickets written, and there were 208 DUI arrests; traffic collisions are down 21%. The department reported a median emergency response time for 911 calls of three minutes, 52 seconds.
Chief Shirley and staff highlighted the Community Crisis Assistance Team (CCAT), a co‑response program that pairs mental‑health professionals with police officers. \"CCAT has made nearly 1,500 contacts, since its inception, and about 59% of those have been repeat contact,\" Shirley said, and shared an example in which a CCAT officer persuaded a person holding a firearm to surrender and accept services.
The department also stood up a light‑rail policing unit (Blue) to patrol Link light‑rail stations in Bellevue; Shirley said to date there have been no major incidents on light rail and noted the unit will be important as regional connections increase.
Public‑facing initiatives referenced by the department include a transparency dashboard on the city website, a firearms exchange (87 firearms collected and more than $13,000 in gift cards distributed), distribution of about 1,400 steering‑wheel locks and community outreach such as youth camps and women's self‑defense classes. PIO Drew Anderson said the department continues to hire and restructure to meet service needs.
Councilmembers thanked staff for the detail and asked about implementation and equity in enforcement and planning for continued growth and traffic needs. No formal council action was required; the briefing was presented as part of routine public safety updates.","Police presented year‑to‑date crime data showing a 28% overall drop from the same period in 2024 and described program expansions including the Community Crisis Assistance Team (CCAT) and a Bellevue light‑rail unit; council heard details and urged continued focus on traffic safety.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5980125,"Bellevue outlines operational changes and increased outreach after neighbors raise safety concerns at Eastgate housing campus",3091,1289000,4380000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5792634-9b67ebd7f484824f02847ec4f5a60184&start=1289&end=4380","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5792634-9b67ebd7f484824f02847ec4f5a60184/thumbnail_1289000.jpg","/articles/5980125/Bellevue/King-County/Washington/Bellevue-outlines-operational-changes-and-increased-outreach-after-neighbors-raise-safety-concerns-at-Eastgate-housing-campus","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5980125-e056fa5eacc8b97f7edbb4a8fa0ec232/orig.mp4?Expires=1773706301&Signature=SC7YSskFgKLs-iooqE8FXE8Xmw~Rx5tfvXVS0thvC7hEiGIU5EROwC1jnjUVEllVizrmoP8Zeas~x18Wb-~RpneAtvzspcYL2RuxhInijrSuJqQPC7dmF6iddy2Ou4Cs8lQQX6mgoVSAFX~fn4mV2YfzRTtqSMzLI~mTPf-Vx04VBYrMNynTgi6QfhOopj03EYClALYg8~KrBfmc-~qHDQ~tuu2gXRax18ai6-aM2MsVAIHTNHBy20ORJIbp7px7PraHuyc58BaEVQn6gYloR0NK~1Xd8fKmjlSwZ-unMdEErZTNDDtQ7zT5AlOryoDkQAktQeyikRUB901CDeVkVA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City of Bellevue staff and nonprofit operators told the City Council on Sept. 16 that they are increasing outreach and changing shelter practices at the Eastgate Housing Campus after nearby residents reported escalating public-safety and quality‑of‑life problems.
Bianca Siegel, director of the City of Bellevue Office of Housing, summarized operational changes and coordination with Porchlight (the men's shelter) and Plymouth Crossing (permanent supportive housing). \"They are changing their bed reservation system, and scheduling in a way that allows men to not need to be on campus early in the morning in order to secure a bed that night,\" Siegel said. She said Porchlight has also increased certain guest sanctions, extending some suspensions from three days to 30 days.
The changes come after multiple residents who spoke during oral communications described ongoing problems near the campus, including people sleeping on sidewalks, loitering, trash and encampments in nearby greenbelts, and at least one murder close to the shelter. Julia Tai, who described herself as a neighbor and member of Porchlight’s community advisory group, said, \"Problems have been steadily escalating around Porchlight's campus and our neighborhood\" and listed repeated incidents she has reported to 911 or the My Bellevue app.
City staff described a multi‑department response. Siegel said the city and operators are conducting multiple visits each week to areas where encampments had appeared, that outreach teams are coordinating with Porchlight staff to offer services and safer locations, and that the shelter has been cleaning the adopted street and doing daily on‑site trash removal. She added that Plymouth Crossing provides 24/7 staffing, secured building entry and on‑site case management; \"well over half of the units are rented to people that have local connections to Bellevue and the Eastside,\" she said.
City manager Diane Carlson told council the city is increasing monitoring and will publish an FAQ on the city website about permanent supportive housing and the campus operators. She and Siegel confirmed an additional status update will be provided to council in one month; councilmember Sam Hamilton asked that the item come back as a study session presentation.
Public commenters asked for stronger enforcement and neighborhood protections. Susanna Chung, who has served on a community advisory group, urged the city to \"create a new police sector to cover only Eastgate,\" assign a 24/7 officer or security guard and increase patrols, and to ban sleeping on public space in addition to existing camping ordinances. City staff did not commit to those exact measures in the meeting; Siegel and other staff said they are increasing outreach visits, coordinating with the shelter and evaluating additional staffing for the Eastgate substation.
The city emphasized that Porchlight and Plymouth provide services that staff say have measurable outcomes: Siegel told council that last year the Porchlight men's shelter \"helped over 800 men find a safe place to sleep, plus connections to jobs and housing and services,\" and that Plymouth Crossing now provides apartments and supportive services for more than 90 formerly homeless people. Siegel also asked neighbors to report unhoused people in need via the My Bellevue app so outreach teams can prioritize responses; staff said response typically occurs within 24–48 hours on weekdays.
Council action and next steps: Council asked for a follow‑up update in one month and directed staff to return with either a written report or a study session presentation. No ordinance or regulatory change was adopted at the Sept. 16 meeting.","City staff and shelter operators described steps to reduce street loitering and improve coordination after residents reported encampments, public drinking and several deaths near the Eastgate Housing Campus; council asked for a one-month update.","actionData","errors"]

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Bellevue Police report overall crime down, highlight CCAT crisis interventions and light‑rail unit

Bellevue outlines operational changes and increased outreach after neighbors raise safety concerns at Eastgate housing campus