Sammamish City Council Redirects Parks Funds to Town Center Project
Parks Commission's Unanimous Opposition Ignored as Council Diverts $4.3 Million
The Sammamish City Council approved the allocation of approximately $4.3 million from the Parks CIP (Capital Improvement Plan) to purchase land in the Sammamish Town Center, a decision that has drawn significant criticism from residents and the Parks Commission. This reallocation comes amid a reported $42 million budget shortfall over the next two years, as documented in the 2025-2030 Citywide Capital Improvement Plan presented at the August 29, 2024, City Council meeting. The remaining $700,000 originally proposed for the acquisition was reserved for a newly proposed "Ambassador program" put forward by council members during deliberations and approved on November 12, 2024, though details of this program remain undefined.
Understanding the Decision and the Council's Vote
The funds, originally designated for acquiring natural lands and open spaces throughout Sammamish, will potentially be used to purchase a 0.75-acre parcel adjacent to the existing "Notch" property in the Town Center. According to city officials, the parcel would be developed as part of a Town Square project, which is projected to cost an additional $15-20 million for development.
The project first appeared publicly as item "PK-23 Town Center Land Acquisition" in the 2025-2030 Citywide Capital Improvement Plan presented at the August 29, 2024, City Council meeting, with little prior public discussion.
The City Council approved this budget amendment (Amendment #5) by a 6-1 vote on November 25, 2024, despite unified opposition from the Parks Commission and numerous residents who spoke against the move during public hearings on November 12 and November 25, 2024.
From the November 25, 2024 Sammamish City Council Minutes:
MOTION: Councilmember Pam Stuart moved to return the Parks CIP land acquisition dollars as shown in the original budget that were previously reallocated under Amendment #5 and instead allocate the Town Square project primarily using the Parks CIP existing fund balance. Councilmember Roisin O'Farrell seconded. Motion carried 6-1 with Councilmember Kent Treen dissenting.
A Question of Priorities and Value
Public comments reveal significant concerns about the cost-effectiveness of the acquisition. According to the Parks Commission, since the Land Acquisition Strategy was adopted in 2018, the city has acquired nearly 70 acres of property at a cost of approximately $8.3 million, averaging about $120,000 per acre.
In stark contrast, the Town Center parcel is projected to cost around $5 million for less than one acre – approximately 40 times the per-acre cost of previous acquisitions. Records indicate this parcel is owned by "Sammamish Town Center," who purchased it in 2019 for $1.25 million. In 2024, the parcel’s assessed value was $1.3 million.
This substantial markup appears to conflict directly with Washington State's constitutional requirements. The State Constitution's "gift of public funds clause" (Article VIII, Section 7) and the concept of "just compensation" in eminent domain (Washington Constitution Article I, §16) explicitly prevent municipalities from paying more than fair market value for property, essentially prohibiting the use of public funds for anything but public purposes.
"If we were to leave the $4.3 million balance in the fund, we could potentially acquire an additional 35 acres," noted one resident in public comments. "For example, there is currently a listing for 22 acres of undeveloped land along Snake Hill Road. The cost? $1.1 million or just $50,000 per acre."
Conflict with Established Community Priorities
The city's formally adopted Land Acquisition Strategy identifies several community priorities for parks funding: "The community's highest priorities are for new trails, preserving tree canopy, protecting streams and corridors, preserving wildlife habitat, and increasing waterfront access."
Critics argue that the Town Center plan, which reportedly calls for 60% hardscape, conflicts with these stated priorities.
"Taking the land acquisition fund to apply it to an unplanned 'idea' is immoderate and was not only a shock to the community who actively follow and participate in the Town Center development projects, it was clearly objectionable," wrote one concerned resident in a public comment.
Bypassing the Parks Commission
In a statement to the City Council, Parks Commissioners expressed disappointment that they were not consulted regarding the withdrawal of funds.
"As Parks Commissioners, we have been individually selected by you to provide input from our citizens and guide your policies and procedures for development, maintenance, and acquisition of parks and recreation properties for our community," their statement read. "Each one of us on the Parks Commission is extremely disappointed that you chose not to consult us regarding this withdrawal of parks acquisition funds and that you chose to disregard our unanimous disapproval of this amendment."
The commissioners emphasized that their advisory role exists specifically to ensure proper stewardship of park funds according to established community priorities, making their exclusion from this significant decision particularly concerning.
Impact on Future Park Developments
The decision to siphon the balance of the Parks CIP Fund affects not only future land acquisitions but potentially impacts already-planned park improvements. The city has adopted master plans for several parks, including Beaver Lake Park, Klahanie Park, Beaton Hill Park, Big Rock Park South, and East Sammamish Park, many of which have seen improvements delayed due to funding limitations.
Critics worry that the Town Center development will take precedence, further delaying these planned improvements.
The Town Center Plan Questions
Some residents questioned whether the purchase aligns with the Town Center plan. According to one public comment, "The Town Center Plan calls for a Town Square adjacent to SE 4th St. Previously, STCA proposed a location for a future City Square north of SE 4th Street as the Primary Zone for the Green Spine with the area south of SE 4th Street as the Secondary Zone."
A 2021 decision by the City of Sammamish Hearing Examiner noted that the exact location of the City Square within the Town Center was not specifically mandated in planning documents.
The Pursuit of Transparency and Looking Forward
One resident has submitted a public records request for all emails, meeting notes, correspondence, and any documents referencing the Town Square or $5 million Town Center Land Acquisition item, with results expected by April 4, 2025. This request seeks to clarify how the project was initiated and developed with limited public involvement.
The City Council must now determine how to move forward with both the Town Center development and the numerous other park projects that may be affected by this funding decision. Future natural land acquisitions will likely depend on general fund allocations, which may prove challenging amid the current budget constraints.
For now, residents and the Parks Commission continue to advocate for reconsideration of the decision, emphasizing the community's expressed desire to preserve Sammamish's natural spaces and tree canopy. The outcome of the pending public records request may provide additional context about how this significant funding decision was made and whether proper procedures were followed.