re: Should "Membership Stores" Be Permitted in Redmond's Manufacturing Park Zone?

Michael Magnussen — Thu, 24 May 2007 22:49:59 GMT

First of all, I would like to commend you on your fervor on this issue. It is apparent you have passion for this subject and its long-term implications on Redmond, and your pride in the community is noble.

I am also proud of my hometown. I am a third-generation property owner here, and my family has had great positive impact on this community for many decades. And I too want to see Redmond grow into the world-class community it deserves to be.

That all being said, I am a firm believer that the Manufacturing Park zone in Redmond (and the entire Greater Eastside, for that matter) really has no future here as it stands now. The land is too valuable, and there are too many low-cost MP space alternatives in South King and Snohomish counties to make Redmond a viable option for manufacturers. The current MP zone also does not provide Redmond with the valuable sales tax dollars that would come with a large retail membership club. Additionally, new jobs would be created along with a store that almost everyone in town would use. And, according to the traffic studies done on this area, the impacts would not be any significantly greater than if this property was developed MP.

I don't believe Redmond is suffering from a lack of MP product - in fact, it seems as if a lot of existing MP buildings are being converted to office space to adapt to the demands of the marketplace.

I also don't think Kirkland or Issaquah - just to name a couple of cities - have regretted their decisions to allow these clubs into their communities (quite the contrary). The revenues they produce their respective jurisdictions is nothing to scoff at; nor is the convenient service they provide to residents. Why should we not reap the benefits that two other successful Eastside jurisdictions have been able to enjoy for years?

Thanks again for your opening up discussion on this matter. We both have passion for our community, albeit our visions may not totally coincide with one another.