SAMMAMISH’S only Locally owned newspaper
THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016
eview R sammamish sammamishreview.com
Issaquah sweeps hoops doubleheader vs. Eastlake, Page 8
PGA event promises minimal disruption
By Tom Corrigan tcorrigan@sammamishreview.com The city does not stand to make a lot of money when the Women’s PGA Championship lands at the Sahalee Country Club June 7-12. It will gain prestige, put the city on a national stage and allow residents to watch some truly world-class golfers, said Pete Butkus, a consultant hired to help manage the event for the city. Judging from the sparse attendance at a public meetSee PGA, Page 12
Residents lose appeal to block subdivision
By Greg Farrar / gfarrar@sammamishreview.com
Retiring Sammamish City Manager Ben Yazici walks on Jan. 20 in front of the main entrance to Sammamish Commons, one of the many city facilities that did not exist when he began his long tenure for the city.
THE LONG GOODBYE Ben Yazici reflects on 14 years as Sammamish city manager
By Tom Corrigan tcorrigan@sammamishreview.com
By Tom Corrigan tcorrigan@sammamishreview.com
Except for some apparently minor concessions, the city and developer Conner Homes won big in the long-running dispute over the proposed Conner-Jarvis development. Plans call for 115 singlefamily homes on acreage located west of IssaquahPine Lake Road Southeast and north of Southeast 42nd Street near Laughing Jacobs Creek and Laughing Jacobs Lake. The appeal cited poten-
While he enjoys talking about Sammamish, retiring City Manager Ben Yazici, 56, does not seem to like talking too much about himself. Yazici’s last day in Sammamish is set for Feb. 6. Deputy City Manager Lyman Howard will continue in that capacity until he is formally named the new Sammamish city manager on March 1. Born in Turkey, Yazici landed in the Pacific Northwest at the age of 23, working toward a master’s
See APPEAL, Page 12
degree in transportation engineering from the University of Washington. Why did he choose to come to the U.S.? Why did he choose to come to this area? Yazici doesn’t answer directly, but he’s more than happy to talk about why he stayed in this country. “We’re so fortunate here,”
Yazici said, adding some people are not overly appreciative of things such as freedom of speech. “I’m a naturalized citizen and I’m very proud of that,” he said. The differences between Turkey and the U.S. are “mind boggling,” Yazici said. “Here, if you want something, if you work hard, you can do that thing.” Yazici was recruited by the Washington Department of Transportation before he
ECRWSS POSTAL CUSTOMER
FOLLOW THE SAMMAMISH REVIEW ONLINE
Website: sammamishreview.com Facebook: facebook.com/sammamishreview Twitter: twitter.com/sammamishreview
even graduated from college. He spent a few years there, before moving on to Bothell, Gig Harbor and a few other spots. Yazici came to Sammamish in January 2000 as director of public works and finance. He was named city manager a year later. “I will always be grateful to the community for the opportunity,” Yazici said. Previously, Sammamish had two short-term city manSee YAZICI, Page 3
50¢ Prsrt Std U.S. Postage PAID Kent, WA Permit No. 71