Public Works taking it slow for new maintenance facilities

Part of the North Maintenance Facility will be
converted to an open channel creek and flood storage
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

By Diane Hettrick

After failing to obtain approval for a consolidated maintenance facility in Hamlin Park, the Shoreline Public Works department is reassessing and evaluating the properties available to them.

The plan now is to divide resources between multiple areas rather than consolidating as a single facility.

Public Works Director Randy Witt says, "Following guidance from the City Council we are looking at the existing properties for locating city maintenance facilities. 

"Currently, we are considering which operations can go to which property, what improvements are necessary to support operations at the different properties, and what the capital and operating costs would be for each of the properties."

The department can utilize four existing City properties for long-term City maintenance operations.

The properties are:

1. Hamlin Yard (current maintenance facility site),
2. North Maintenance Facility near Brugger's Bog Park
3. Brightwater Portal Property on Ballinger Way
4. Ronald Wastewater District property on Linden

The Brightwater Portal property on Ballinger Way is being leased to the US Postal Service for up to two years as parking for their postal delivery vans. The City retains ownership of the property.

The North Maintenance Facility on 25th NE next to Brugger's Bog Park will be reduced in size under current plans to develop an open channel creek and flood storage area through the site. Assuming the City Council approved construction, it's possible that the remainder of the current facility could be used a maintenance function.

Witt says, "We expect to report our findings and recommendation to the Council this coming summer."