By SUSAN PARK

By SUSAN PARK It may seem like it isnıt often that neighbors get their wish ­ tell the city what they want and actually see it come to fruition. However, that is just what several lucky Haller Lake residents have received.

Velva Maye and Sue Geving both have lived in the Haller Lake neighborhood for a long time. Maye for 46 years and Geving for 16. Maye began working on the Northgate Comprehensive Plan, a blueprint for growth in the Northgate area decided by citizens, business owners, and government officials over ten years ago.

For four years, Maye says she attended meetings to hammer out a compromise of wish list items. The Plan was finalized in 1993. One of her number one goals on that list - the cul-de-sac separating her single family home from the onslaught of cut through traffic from Northgate Way to 5th Ave NE. As of late September, she can now live in peace.

In an editorial Maye wrote for the Haller Lake Community Club newsletter, Splashes, that she wished to share with the Jet City Maven, she wrote: ³During the past year, the 115th Street residents between 3rd Ave. NE and 5th Ave. NE have been bombarded with construction noise, dust, and heavy traffic... Hopefully, these changes will result in a quiet, peaceful neighborhood. ²

The cul-de-sac is actually being constructed by Touchstone Corp., the developer of the super large four-story shopping center known as Northgate North containing the new Target. Northgate North occupies the entire block between 3rd Ave NE and 5th Ave NE and is bordered on the south by Northgate Way and Northgate Mall. The cul-de-sac is part of an agreement to allow left turns from Northgate Way into the shopping center.

Haller Lake resident, James Smith, noted that two single family houses are cut off from the rest of the neighborhood and must now enter their driveways from the newly created commercial entrance on 3rd Ave NE. ³Iıd like to see it go in 100 feet south so it would include the two single family homes currently not included.²

However, Geving noted that, ³Thereıs no room. You canıt put a turnaround in five feet (of right of way). Itıs just impossible.² Geving added that the house on the corner could move their driveway to 115th NE.

More traffic revisions are expected: the creation of a 112th Street on the north side of the Northgate North building and a new traffic interchange on Northgate Way allowing four-way access between the Mall, Northgate North, and traffic coming east and west on Northgate Way. The Mall is also planning to alter its access by eliminating its semicircular entry and creating a single point of entry at the new traffic light on Northgate Way. This is still in the planning stage, but will be a welcome addition for shoppers who must wait in the turning lane and battle oncoming traffic in order to enter from the east.

³Finally, somethingıs come out of the Comp Plan thatıs protecting single family residents,² cheered Geving, ³Touchstone deserves some credit... They didnıt fight us one little iota on it.² Next on Mayeıs wish list - seeing the Park and Ride north of the new Target turned into a neighborhood park.