Drafter
Cler 08/17/2026
Title
AN ORDINANCE approving the city of Kirkland's proposal to exchange 16,274 square feet of Mark Twain park for an equal amount of square footage.
Body
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
1. King County authorized the transfer of Mark Twain park to the city of Kirkland by Ordinance 9311.
2. Ordinance 9311 provides that the city of Kirkland must obtain written approval of the King County council for the sale, transfer, or trade of all or any portion of the park.
3. In 2006, the city of Kirkland requested King County council approval of a trade of a 13,274-square-foot portion of the Mark Twain park to an adjacent property owner ("Basra") in exchange for an equal amount of Basra's adjacent property.
4. By Ordinance 15620, the trade was approved.
5. However, the city and Basra did not complete the lot line adjustment to effectuate the approved trade of property.
6. In 2024, the successor in interest to Basra, Artemis Homes, applied for a lot line adjustment that would involve a trade of the same 13,274 square feet of its property, which is tax parcel no. 3326059178, for 16,279 square feet of Mark Twain park property.
7. To make up for the 3,005 square feet difference, the city proposes to dedicate a portion from a parcel adjoining the Mark Twain park. The portion from the adjoining parcel, which is tax parcel no. 3326059055, to be dedicated would abut the current property lines with the park. The city is currently in negotiations to purchase the adjoining parcel, and for which the city has filed a condemnation action.
8. By Resolution 5739, the Kirkland city council authorized the city manager and parks and community services director to seek King County's written approval to trade a portion of Mark Twain park for a portion of the adjacent property owner’s property and the dedication of a portion of the adjoining parcel, contiguous to the Mark Twain park, the total square footage of which would equal the 16,279 square feet proposed by Kirkland to be transferred to the Artemis Homes property.
9. The exchange of the square footage between the park and Artemis Homes will eliminate a panhandle in the park, protect seven significant trees, fund the planting of fifteen trees within the park, and create a straightened property boundary to the benefit of the park and the Artemis Homes property.
10. The addition of the 3,005 square feet portion from the adjoining parcel to the Mark Twain park will add much-needed vehicular access to the park and contribute to parking for the park, both of which it currently does not have.
11. In the 1990 deed transferring Mark Twain park from King County to the city of Kirkland, pursuant to King County Ordinance 9311 and King County Resolution 34571, the deed encumbered the park property with certain restrictions, including that the Mark Twain park will continue to be used for the purposes contemplated by Resolution 34571, that park property shall not be transferred or conveyed except as approved by the King County council, and the park property shall not be converted to a different use unless other equivalent lands and facilities with the county or city shall be received in exchange therefor.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. A. The city of Kirkland's proposal to exchange a 16,279 square feet portion of Mark Twain park for a 13,274 square feet portion of tax parcel no. 3326059178, and to dedicate to Mark Twain park an additional 3,005 square feet from tax parcel no. 3326059055 is approved, contingent on all the following occurring within one year of the effective date of this ordinance:
1. The city of Kirkland taking ownership of tax parcel no. 3326059055;
2. The city of Kirkland dedicating to the Mark Twain park a 3,005 square feet portion from tax parcel no. 3326059055 and such portion shall abut the park;
3. Completion of the lot line adjustment filed under LLA24-00658 or successor application involving tax parcel no. 3326059178 and Mark Twain park for the exchange of property described in Section 1.A; and
4. The city of Kirkland causing to be recorded with the King County recorder's office documentation evidencing that the property added to the Mark Twain park from both the lot line adjustment with tax parcel no. 3326059178 and the dedication of 3,005 square feet from tax parcel no. 3326059055 shall be encumbered with the same restriction contained in the 1990 Deed, with recording no. 9104230196, transferring the Mark Twain park from the county to the city, which generally prohibits the transfer of the property without the King County council's approval and the property shall be used for park or recreational purposes, and all user fees shall be the same for unincorporated residents as for city residents.
B. The city of Kirkland shall transmit to the clerk of the King County council
copies of the documents required by subsection A.4. of this section within ninety days of their recording.