Point Wells progress report and City Council candidates speak out

Jerry Patterson reviews the history of the Pt Wells project
Photo copyright Marc Weinberg

Text and photos, Marc Weinberg

Nearly 300 Shoreline/Richmond Beach residents packed the meeting room at the Richmond Beach Congregational Church Tuesday evening to hear an update from the Richmond Beach Community Association planning group about the status of the Pt. Wells project. Jerry Patterson gave a historical brief followed by members of the Pt. Wells planning group. 

Susan Chang explains pros and cons of annexation alternatives
Photo copyright Marc Weinberg

Subjects and news of most importance:

1. City Manager Debbie Tarry expects it is unlikely that the City will complete the Transportation Corridor Study (TCS) this year as planned, but it will be sometime in 2016. This focuses on the developer’s assumptions regarding the anticipated number of vehicles transiting our roads based on the number of occupants in the finished project. Projections for Richmond Beach Road alone could create grid lock at all hours of the day and during the commute times backups would be impacted all the way to Interstate 5.
2. An ongoing point of contention has been that since Snohomish County Code prevails (the building site is in unincorporated Snohomish County) it requires a project of this size to have more than one access road: at this point there is no provision plan for a second road.  
3. Tolling on Richmond Beach Drive is or could be a viable option to provide funding for road maintenance and improvements.
4. 90 foot maximum height on Point Wells buildings. Currently the project calls for at least 20 towers taller than 90 feet.
5. Annexation alternatives should include a financial analysis of the impact to the City and to Woodway.

City Council candidates listening to the questions
Photo copyright Marc Weinberg

During the second half of the evening the audience heard from candidates running for the City Council: Position 2- Jessica Cafferty vs. Keith Scully, Position 4-Doris McConnell (unopposed), Position 6- Lorn Richey vs. Jesse Salomon (not present, but sent in his replies). 

Each person responded to the same questions presented by the moderator about the issues outlined above.

The next RBCA meeting will be a ‘Candidate Forum’ on October 13 and each candidate at that meeting will take questions from the audience.

The City Planning Commission meeting at City Hall on Sept 17, 7pm will include citizen questions and discussion of proposed changes to the building code. Of major importance at that meeting is the potential revision of items concerning land and structures in currently designated ‘critical areas’. If your property is on or near a steep slope, stream, wetland, or bluff you will want to be present.