Cities mull over Klahanie options

Issaquah City Council members met with Sammamish and King County officials this week to explore future options for Klahanie.

At issue are the implications of annexing the neighborhood of 11,118 residents, which sits in unincorporated King County.

Issaquah is contemplating whether to move Klahanie off the city's potential annexation area. In November, Klahanie voters agreed to annex to Issaquah, but they opposed taking on a share of the city's debt to do so. The surprise vote left officials questioning what to do next.

If the Issaquah City Council votes to wash its hands of Klahanie, Sammamish could have a chance to absorb it.

But Sammamish officials say they're unclear about the benefits such a move would bring. They say more studies must be done before they would consider it.

"There are some caution flags," said Councilman Lee Fellinge.

The biggest one, officials say, is widening the Issaquah-Fall City Road, a main artery on the Sammamish Plateau that is clogged with traffic during the morning and evening commutes.

The cost of widening a section of the road from two to four lanes is estimated to be $17 million, said Issaquah Councilman David Kappler.

If Issaquah or Sammamish annexed Klahanie now, it would take on the cost of that project, he said. City officials say it's the county's responsibility to fix the road.

"We simply shouldn't be annexing that area until the county meets its duty," Kappler said.

Meanwhile, Fellinge said Sammamish officials aren't in any rush.

"It's still in [Issaquah's] court," Fellinge said. "Until the Issaquah council decides if they want to keep Klahanie or not, we in Sammamish are just observers."

Sonia Krishnan: 206-515-5546 or skrishnan@seattletimes.com