REPORTER
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Fund for Oso set up on Island
Spring street
Fred Jarrett to speak at Chamber lunch tomorrow The Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce membership luncheon is set for tomorrow at noon at the Mercer Island Community and Events Center. Islander Fred Jarrett will speak. He is the deputy King County Executive. He is a former Island mayor, State Representative and Senator in the Washington state Legislature. Tickets are $15 for members or $20 at the door. Please RSVP at 232-3404.
Islander sets up fund for community devastated by landslide Reporter Staff
A community forum on the Mercer Island School District’s ‘Different Learners Review’ is between 1:30 and 3 p.m. tomorrow, April 3 in the Board Room at the school district administrative offices. The Different Learners Program Review is an evaluation of the Mercer Island School District’s literacy instruction to determine if changes are needed to address the needs of all learners, including those who struggle to reach achievement standards. For more, go to www.mercerislandschools.org.
Tickets available now for Sister City Soiree Get your tickets early for the upcoming Mercer Island Sister City Association Soiree Gourmet Dinner. The French-inspired four course feast with paired wines, will be held at Kaspar’s in Seattle on Saturday, May 3. For tickets, contact Linda Todd at 232-4570 or go to www.brownpapertickets.com.
Mary L. Grady / Staff Photo
Sunny daffodils carpet the edge of Island Crest Way at Island Park Elementary School last week. Coldwell Banker Bain gives away hundreds of daffodil bulbs each year to brighten the Island come spring.
Public institution zoning revisited City to keep existing setbacks and height rules for public institutions By Joseph Livarchik
jlivarchik@mi-reporter.com
Mercer Island Planning Commission will hold hearings tonight on a request for a Zoning Code Amendment to set zoning requirements for public schools located in the ‘P’ zone (Public Institution zone), and on the long subdivision at 2960 and 2970 76th Ave. S.E. to allow 18 townhouses to be built there. City staff revised the original proposal of amendments and
rezones in the ‘P’ Zone after getting community feedback on code amendments that it initially proposed for Mercer Island School District properties. The initial proposal would have allowed buildings to be as close as 15 feet away from abutting properties and 20 feet from rights-of-way. The revised proposal keeps the currently-required setbacks of 45 feet from a public right-of-way, such as a street, and 35 feet from other property lines. The revised proposal also requires buildings over 30 feet in height, the current height limit, to be set back further from property lines. Proposed impervious surface limits would be reduced from
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75 percent to 65 percent, while allowing an additional 3 percent coverage if pervious pavers, pervious asphalt or pervious concrete are used. The additional coverage could not be used for driveways, parking lots or any surface designed for vehicles. And administrative design review would be required for new portables. The earlier proposal would not have required any design review. “When we wrote the proposal, we hadn't received any public input. We had to propose something to get input,” said Mercer Island Development Services Group Director Scott Greenberg. “After getting the public input, it appeared keeping the same setbacks would be the best thing.” Greenberg said coming up with a proposal was a collaborative effort between the City and the Mercer Island School District. “We've been discussing ideas
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Schools-Community Forum on ‘Different Learners’ is April 3
Islander Barb Hovsepian, owner of Au Courant salon & the DEN, has set up an easy way for Islanders to help out the communities of Oso, Arlington and Darrington in the aftermath of the landslide there. She was moved to act after yet another night of watching the tragedy unfold on television. “While watching the news, I was struck by the impact this disaster has had on so many, so close to home. It moved me to want to help, not just as one person, but as a community member and business-owner to rally and encourage those I know and come in contact
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