Learn About This Space

Summary:

Over the years, the City of Bellevue bought or acquired three parcels of land that now comprise Bellevue Airfield Park. One parcel contains a stormwater retention pond that manages the stormwater runoff of the Phantom Lake Water Basin before it flows into Phantom Lake and eventually Lake Sammamish. The second parcel is the final undeveloped lot within the I-90 Business Park. This parcel was not developed because it contained the former Eastgate Landfill, making it a poor construction site and a risky investment. The Department of Ecology designated this parcel as a Model Toxic Control Act Cleanup Site in 2002 and implemented restrictive covenants further making it unattractive to further development. The final parcel was purchased from Bellevue School District. The total of the three parcels is 27.5 acres with about 11 acres of buildable flat land over the former landfill.

The original Master Plan called for sports fields to be built over the landfill with restrooms and picnic areas being built on stable ground. On September 17, 2024, the City Council adopted the Bellevue Airfield Park Master Plan Update that includes a new aquatic facility, pickleball courts and other improvements. Per Bellevue Parks & Community Services, “The Bellevue Aquatic Center Concept Plan 2021 identified an estimated cost for the preferred concept and parking at $125m. That study did not include costs to develop the Bellevue Airfield Park site.”

The Bellevue Airfield Master Plan was approved in 2012, however after the city decided to build an Aquatics Center and the Pickleball Courts they were required to go through the State Environmental Project Act (SEPA)process to include these elements. This was a non-project SEPA that did not require input from agencies outside the City so the Development Services Department reviewed the request from the Parks and Community Services Department, Development Services issued a “Mitigated Determination of Non-Significance(DNS)” which allowed the City Council to adopt the Updated Master Plan. This meant that an Environmental Impact Statement was not required nor issued. The reason the Determination of Non-Significance was issued as “Mitigated” means that this is not a “Clean” DNS. The City must obtain permission from the State Department of Ecology to mitigate the covenant restrictions before anything can be constructed over the former landfill parcel. The Park will be built in phases and each phase will require a Project SEPA that will require input from outside agencies including the Department of Ecology.

In 2008 the voters approved a Parks and Natural Areas Levy. “If approved, this measure would cost a typical homeowner about $71 per year for the next 20 years, or 12 cents per $1,000 of assessed value”. Among the proposed projects was: “Eastgate Area Community Park ($6M) (now Bellevue Airfield Park) This 27-acre undeveloped site will be improved following a community-based plan to preserve natural areas and add new recreational amenities.” (1)

In November of 2022 Bellevue voters approved Proposition 1, “This measure will cost an owner of a $1 million home approximately $200 per year for the next nine years, or 20 cents per $1,000 of assessed value.” Among the proposed uses of the levy revenue is: “Recreation and Community Facilities ($10 million): Plan community facilities such as those that support aquatics and a cross-cultural center.” (2)

These two levies allocated $16 million for Bellevue Airfield Park and Aquatics center planning assuming no money goes toward the Community Center. On November 18th, the City Council approved the 2025-2026 budget and the 2025-2030 Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) budget. Two of the supporting documents for the CIP budget are P-AD-83 “Bellevue Airfield Park Development” which states $26,019,654 is programmed with $9,019,654 having already been appropriated. $24,197,654 is coming from “Parks Levy”, $1,718,000 is coming from “Parks REET” and $104,000 from “misc. revenue”. (3)

P-AD-108 Bellevue Aquatics Center Design (A&E) is appropriated $4.1 million, $4 million from misc. revenue and $100K from Interlocal. (3) There appears to be a discrepancy between the $24,197,654  appropriated in P-AD-83 and the $16 million that was presented to the public in the Parks levies.

As mentioned earlier, the Aquatics Center is estimated to cost $125 million above and beyond the cost to improve the Park property. The Bellevue Aquatic Center Study suggested a number of sources for this funding with a 65% public 35% private model. Sources/types of funding will need to be finalized before construction of the Aquatics Center starts, but with this amount of money another levy is highly likely. There is currently no contingency budgeted for the potential costs for remediating toxics in the landfill mass which has a high potential of adding costs to the project. 

References:

(1)https://bellevuewa.gov/sites/default/files/media/pdf_document/2008_bellevue_parks_levy_fact_sheet_proposition_1_nov_4_voter_initiative.pdf

(2) https://bellevuewa.gov/city-government/departments/parks/planning-and-development/2022-levy-parks-open-space

(3) 2023-2029 Adopted Capital Investment Program (CIP) Plan High-quality Built and Natural Environment

When we talk about the risks and costs associated with differential settling at the meadow, here's what we mean. This kind of settling is also pronounced across the meadow but, because meadows absorb storm water runoff and help prevent flooding and soil erosion, this is not an issue.  Even the parking lot located directly above the settling is cracking from the stress.

Engineers might note that these are structural issues that can be mediated. That’s probably true, but at what additional costs? The current estimated budget by the CoB (City of Bellevue) is significantly underestimated where these issues are concerned. It should also be noted that previous engineering expertise, as evidenced by these photos, was not successful and construction of the Bellevue Business Park in the 1980’s already caused irreparable environmental damage to Phantom Lake due to migration of silt and other toxins even though a temporary erosion system was in place! 

Source: (Washington Department of Ecology Cleanup site 4425) https://apps.ecology.wa.gov/cleanupsearch/site/4425