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...
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