Bellevue council directs staff to advance Maidenbauer Bay Park Phase 2 design amid neighbor concerns about parking and views

The Bellevue City Council voted to direct staff to proceed with architectural and engineering contracting to support permitting and construction of Maidenbauer Bay Park Phase 2.

Council members approved the direction after staff summarized a multi‑year outreach effort and after several nearby residents and neighborhood association leaders urged the council to protect waterfront parking, views and neighborhood access as plans move from concept to design.

The project advances work from the adopted Maidenbauer Bay Park land use plan (2010) and uses funds from the 2022 levy for a scope that staff described as focusing on a gateway plaza, pathways and additional parking constructed under parts of the plaza and canopy walk. Parks staff said Phase 2 will not include the pavilion shown in some renderings and that marina slip reconfiguration, elevated bay connectors and major shoreline restoration are not part of this phase.

“This project prioritizes citywide connectivity at the expense of an established residential neighborhood,” said David Bonathan, a Maidenbauer Bay resident and member of the Maidenbauer Bay Neighbors Association. He recommended moving parking to an east parcel, simplifying design to a natural green space and preserving marina slips. Bonathan said the consultant cost estimate range of $40 million to $50 million and other assumptions require more public review.

Rod Bindon, president of the Maidenbauer Bay Neighbors Association, urged the city to maintain access for delivery, fire and service vehicles, preserve the historic views from Main Street and retain as much waterfront parking as possible. “For Bellevue to eliminate slips and user parking is a mistake,” he said, asking the council to direct staff to retain as much waterfront parking as practical for real‑world assessment in Phase 3.

Scott Lampe, a board member of the neighbors association and former chair of the Bellevue Transportation Commission, questioned the consultant assumptions used for parking demand. He said the city consultant’s vehicle occupancy assumptions understate likely parking need and that peak weekend demand was not fully captured.

Parks staff told the council the concept-level plan anticipates adding about 80 parking spaces across the gateway and east parcels while some of the existing waterfront parking may be impacted as the promenade and path connections are reconfigured. The staff presentation said current marina-area parking is 69 stalls and that conceptual work anticipates a net increase overall, but that final counts will be refined through engineering design, iterative parking studies and the permitting process.

Council members emphasized that park systems serve the whole city while recognizing adjacent residents will be most affected by construction, noise, views and access. Council member Hamilton said he wanted the city to “retain as much parking as possible at the waterfront” and keep neighbor impacts a priority. Council member Lee said the city should “do the best you can” to preserve parking and marina access while acknowledging engineering and permitting could change the final layout.

Staff described a rough schedule that anticipates roughly a year of design work to prepare permit applications and multiple years for shoreline and permitting work; staff estimated a three‑ to four‑year timeline before construction is completed because of permit timelines for shoreline and waterfront work.

Discussion vs. decision: The council’s vote directed staff to proceed to the architectural and engineering phase (design/permitting). Staff and council clarified that specific design details—including exact parking counts, marina slip configuration and any later‑phase features—will be determined in subsequent design and permitting steps and through continued public outreach.

The council's motion passed with no recorded opposition.

Looking ahead, staff said they will continue iterative parking studies, refine wayfinding and loading/drop‑off plans, present mitigation measures for construction impacts and continue engagement with nearest neighbors as designs are developed.