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Hayden Lake Marina previews co-development plan to ease Honeysuckle Beach parking and access
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Summary
Hayden Lake Marina presented a high-level scheme to combine its two acres with the city's adjacent parcel to create about 88 parking spaces and address safety, congestion and emergency access concerns at Honeysuckle Beach; council asked for additional details before committing.
Representatives of Hayden Lake Marina presented a conceptual plan May 13 to expand parking and improve traffic flow for Honeysuckle Beach by combining the marina's two-acre parcel with the city's adjacent property (the sandpit) to create a roughly seven-acre development with additional parking and landscape buffering.
Luke Radlinski, president and chief operating officer of Southern Marinas (owner of Hayden Lake Marina), and Lindsay Olmstead, general manager of Hayden Lake Marina and longtime local resident, told council they had reviewed a May 2022 study and prepared a high-level layout that would add about 52 truck-and-trailer spaces and 36 car spaces, use existing road access, and aim to reduce roadside parking on Honeysuckle Avenue.
Olmstead said the site currently used by visitors and fishermen can get "literally crazy" during peak summer hours and described conflicts when boats and trailers queue for the launch. The presenters said the concept seeks to minimize land disturbance while creating pull-in/pull-out circulation from East Honeysuckle Avenue to East Smith Road.
Council members asked whether removing parking along Honeysuckle was feasible given county-owned right-of-way; staff said that ownership and control of the right-of-way would need to be researched. Council also raised questions about how users would get from a new parking area to the beach (the presenters estimated about 0.6 miles), whether parking would be paid, who would operate any shuttle service, and how development costs would be allocated. Radlinski said financial details have not yet been worked out and that the presented plan is an initial concept; the marina intends to retain ownership of its parcel and indicated the concept would require demolition of two existing buildings on its site.
Council members expressed cautious interest and asked staff to continue exploring particulars including right-of-way constraints, circulation, pedestrian access, potential paid parking or shuttle operations, and the impacts on emergency access and nearby businesses. No formal action was taken; staff and the marina were asked to return with additional details if the council wishes to pursue the idea.
Provenance: Marina presentation and council Q&A occurred under new business item regarding Honeysuckle Avenue and Honeysuckle Beach.
