I’ve been thinking about Bellevue’s rapid growth since the recent “Neighborhood Leadership Gathering” hosted by the mayor.

Although there are many benefits to the growth and redevelopment happening in Bellevue, there are also growing pains like frequent traffic jams and PSE’s Energize Eastside project, which will leave a scar of transmission lines through our city for generations. This has left many wondering, is this what balanced and sustainable growth looks like? Or are we pursuing growth as quickly and cheaply as possible, at the expense of our quality of life?

Bellevue was selected as the second most livable city in the nation in a recent survey. That’s not something that happens by accident. We benefit from the hard work and sacrifices of leaders who came before us. Now it’s our turn. With smart planning and policies, we can grow while maintaining the beauty and character of our city.

For example, the city needs to adopt policies that encourage energy efficiency. It is hard to believe it is still legal for developers to install cheap electric heat that causes electricity levels to spike on a cold winter day, motivating a problematic project like Energize Eastside. We need to accelerate efficiency upgrades for our street lights. There are many areas where the city could do better and live within our current electric infrastructure.

Please ask the City Council to step up and do what is needed to preserve the Bellevue we love so much. For the sake of your community, send them an email at council@bellevuewa.gov.

Don Marsh, Bellevue