Showing posts with label point wells. Show all posts
Showing posts with label point wells. Show all posts

Economic Development and a Point Wells update on the agenda for September RBCA meeting

Tuesday, September 6, 2011


Recent events locally and nationally promise to turn the September 13 public meeting of the Richmond Beach Community Association into a pretty wild affair. The anticipated crowd may be so large that the meeting will be in the sanctuary at the Richmond Beach Congregational Church instead of in the basement. The church is at the corner of 15th Ave NW and Richmond Beach Road, and the meeting is open to all.

In the wake of the huge meeting/protest at Shoreline City Hall on August 31 and a possible repeat at the September 6 City Council meeting, the usual Point Wells Subcommittee report of the RBCA will be a another flashpoint on the crucial issue of a possible urban center at Point Wells. In August the City Council issued a Letter of Intent to BSRE, the developer, signaling the dropping of legal challenges if Point Wells might someday annex to Shoreline. Richmond Beach residents, who will find 5000+ Wellsians streaming through their burg daily via tiny Richmond Beach Drive believe that the City is abandoning its interests and responsibilities to the neighborhood.

The city councilpeople and those running against them in the November election have been invited to attend the September 13 meeting. They will all face Richmond Beach residents again at the October 11 Candidates Forum.

The actual “headliner” of the September 13 meeting is City of Shoreline Economic Development Program Manager Dan Eernessee, who will talk about business prospects in Shoreline and Richmond Beach amid the Great Recession. He will have a slide show and take some questions and suggestions from the audience. He will not talk about Point Wells, the economic impacts of which are purely speculative at this time.

The Tuesday, September 13, meeting will be at its usual time and location, 7:30 p.m. in the Richmond Beach Congregation Church. See you there!


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Report: Shoreline proposes compromise on Point Wells development

Saturday, August 27, 2011

By Evan Smith

The City of Shoreline has proposed a compromise on the Point Wells development, according to a report in the Everett Herald Friday.

The paper reported that Shoreline is seeking a compromise with the developer to allow the development to move forward.

The compromise would allow the developer to go ahead with the condominium development in exchange for a deal on traffic and a possible future annexation of the 60-acre property on the opposite side of the King-Snohomish county line.

The Herald story said that such a deal could save the city and developer costly legal battles.

The Herald quoted Shoreline Planning Director Joe Tovar as calling the proposal the start of a discussion. The report quoted Tovar as saying that the proposal would allow the developer to build the project according to Snohomish County codes but allow Shoreline to limit the number of trips in and out of the area on Shoreline roads.

The proposed development is in an unincorporated area of southwest Snohomish County, within the town of Woodway’s urban growth area, but the only access to and from the area is on Richmond Beach Drive in Shoreline.

The Herald reported that Snohomish County, Woodway and the Save Richmond Beach neighborhood group all have objections to the proposal.

The Herald reported that, on Thursday an attorney working for the developer called Shoreline's offer a welcome, though expected move.

The attorney told the Herald that the developer has no preference as to annexation.

The Herald said that Snohomish County and Woodway do have objections.

County leaders in the past have been wary of further cross-county annexations, such as one in Bothell.

Woodway Town Administrator Eric Faison told the Herald that while it's necessary to drive through Shoreline to get to Point Wells, it's also necessary to drive through Woodway because the road to the property goes through a small portion of the town after crossing the county line. Woodway borders Point Wells to the north and east as well.

The Herald reported that lawsuits by Woodway, Shoreline and Save Richmond Beach over the county's zoning for the property remain unresolved.

The Herald reported that Woodway has sought a court order to enforce a State Growth Management Hearings Board ruling that the Snohomish County zoning at Point Wells is illegal.

The Herald quoted Caycee Holt from Save Richmond Beach as saying that she understands Shoreline's desire to compromise, though she's worried about what it means in real terms for people who already live in her neighborhood.

In a press release, Shoreline Mayor Keith McGlashan argued that the city is the most logical provider of police, fire and other municipal services at Point Wells.

The city of Shoreline has scheduled a meeting to update people about Point Wells from 6:30 to 8:30pm Wednesday.

City staff members also plan an update during a City Council study session at 7pm September 6.


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Report: Snohomish County review board to set guidelines for urban center development

Friday, August 26, 2011

By Evan Smith

Snohomish County is about to start a board to set guidelines for large-scale urban center developments such as the one proposed at Point Wells, the Everett Herald reports.

The Herald reported Thursday that Snohomish County is seeking volunteers for an “Urban Centers Design Review Board.”

The Herald reported that the board is authorized under county code and serves in an advisory role for urban center development applications. It reviews a project only if an applicant fails to reach a design agreement with the city or town in whose urban growth area the project is located or borders.

The proposed Point Wells development is in Woodway's urban-growth area and is just across the County line from the City of Shoreline.

A developer has proposed building a 3,100-unit condominium on a former industrial site along Puget Sound in southwest Snohomish County. The only access to the site is along a two-lane road in the Richmond Beach area of Shoreline.


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City to hold community meeting on Point Wells

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Photo courtesy Brightwater
The City of Shoreline will hold a community meeting to update and hear feedback from residents about City proposals for Point Wells and negotiations with BSRE, the developer. (see article)

August 31, 6:30-8:30 pm, Shoreline City Hall, 17500 Midvale Ave N, Shoreline WA 98133.

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City of Shoreline proposes to negotiate agreement with Point Wells developer to protect the City from project impacts

Press release from the City of Shoreline

The City of Shoreline has issued a Letter of Intent (LOI) to BSRE Pt. Wells, LP (BSRE), the owners of the Point Wells property, stating its intent to negotiate an agreement to protect the City from project impacts and to advance the City of Shoreline, the Shoreline Police Department and the Shoreline Fire Department as the logical providers of urban governmental services to the property.

As an approach to avoid costly and uncertain litigation, for several months City staff has met with BSRE to discuss the potential for an agreement. From time to time, the staff briefed the Council in executive session, regarding progress and to seek direction on the agreement as an alternate to potential future litigation and settlement of pending litigation. These discussions resulted in the development of the LOI.

The LOI outlines how the City and BSRE will work toward an agreement to measure and restrict traffic volumes and to define appropriate mitigation, and states the City’s intent to pursue annexation as the most appropriate way to address the ongoing impacts of future Point Wells’ residents who would use Shoreline’s roads, parks and services. The City proposes to calculate actual and projected traffic counts by project phase as they are built, and to prohibit subsequent phases if the traffic impacts would exceed the City’s adopted level of service for intersections and road segments in the Richmond Beach Road corridor.

“The only access is through Shoreline, so they are going to be driving through our City and using our parks, libraries, roads and police services. It’s only fair that future residents of Point Wells share, with City taxpayers, the burden of paying to maintain our shared high quality of life,” said Shoreline Mayor Keith McGlashan. “We recognize that this site is going to be redeveloped and we believe that the City is the most logical provider of services to the development,” he added. “The best way to protect the City, to address the demand for increased services and the long-term impacts is through annexing the property into Shoreline.”

If BSRE agrees to the principles and expectations described in the LOI, the City would avoid the cost, uncertainty, and risk of having to pursue further litigation to protect the City’s interests. 

“While the LOI is not binding, it does provide a structure for developing an agreement that the City Council would formally act upon,” stated City Manager Julie Underwood. If a satisfactory agreement cannot be reached, the City is committed to pursuing other methods, including litigation, to protect the interests of Shoreline’s citizens and taxpayers.

In exchange for BSRE signing an agreement consistent with the principles and expectations set forth in the LOI, the City would recognize the current permit application in Snohomish County as a vested permit, and support the provision of urban governmental services to Point Wells by the Shoreline Fire Department and King County Sheriff’s Office.

With the release of the LOI, the Council directed staff to hold a community meeting to hear feedback from residents and update them on the current status of the Pt. Wells project. This meeting is scheduled for August 31, 6:30-8:30 pm, at Shoreline City Hall. 

Planning Director Joe Tovar added, “Snohomish County will also soon begin the process of preparing the project’s environmental impact statement (EIS), so the meeting on August 31 is a good time for our citizens to tell the City what issues, impacts, and mitigations need to be addressed as that EIS moves forward.”

In addition to the community meeting, staff will provide an update of the Point Wells negotiations at the Council’s September 6th Study Session. During this meeting, the public is also invited to provide comment either at the beginning of the meeting or in writing to the Council.  Citizens may provide written comments to the City Council by emailing the Council.



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Photo: Point Wells at Sunset by Finn Huffstetter

Saturday, August 20, 2011


Finn Huffstetter took this dramatic view of a decaying dock at Point Wells at sunset.


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$500 reward for information leading to conviction of sign thief

Friday, August 19, 2011

The Save Richmond Beach community organization reports that a thief stole around 60 of the "No Urban Center" signs from yards and the public right of way in Richmond Beach Thursday evening.  

The signs are meant as a public display of community opposition to Israeli developer Shraga Biran's plans for a major development at Point Wells.  Biran is expected to visit the site this month.

Witnesses saw a white male driving a medium-sized dark red or burgundy SUV (similar to a Ford Explorer). He was lifting signs between 8:30 and 9:00 pm on Thursday evening, August 18, 2011.

"Please contact us if you saw this person or have any information that might identify him. The fine per sign is $1,000 and potentially 90 days in jail per offense."

Save Richmond Beach is offering replacement signs at cost for $6. New signs are still being offered at the original $10.




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Taking it to the streets - “No Urban Center at Point Wells”

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Starting this Sunday, July 24, you will likely start seeing some new signs out and about on the streets of Richmond Beach.

The signs, which read “No Urban Center at Point Wells”, are intended to alert the developer and Snohomish County that residents will NOT accept an Urban Center at Point Wells.

Save Richmond Beach, the citizens' organization which has been steadily lobbying against a proposed development at Point Wells which would eventually house 3,000 new Snohomish County residents at the end of a dead-end Shoreline street, has started a public sign campaign.

Volunteers will begin placing the signs along easements on city streets in Richmond Beach this Sunday.
If there is a sign in the easement in front of your residence and you just don't like it, we absolutely respect your wishes. Please alert us by email info@saverichmondbeach.org and let us know you would like us to remove the sign. Each sign has a "name" written in the corner, so please indicate which sign you would like us to retrieve.

Signs are up for adoption. For $10 a sign, say the organizers, you can help defray the costs of the campaign.

Organizers hope to have the streets full of signs for the August visit of Shraga Biran, the Israeli developer who is the majority owner of the development company which owns Point Wells.


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Evan Smith: Woodway official expects long process on Point Wells

Sunday, May 1, 2011

By Evan Smith
ShorelineAreaNews Politics Writer

Woodway’s town administrator says he expects the decision invalidating the urban-center zoning of Point Wells to be a step in a long process.

Town administrator Eric Faison said Thursday that he expects Snohomish County to appeal the state growth management hearings board decision that overturned the County’s designation of the area as an urban center.

The County could appeal the decision to the Snohomish County Superior Court.

The Growth Management Hearings Board decided early this week that the zoning of Point Wells as an urban center is not proper.

Both Woodway and Shoreline had argued against the designation of Point Wells as an urban center. Shoreline and Woodway are concerned that they would absorb the impacts of the development, while the county would get the property tax revenue.

The Community organization “Save Richmond Beach” joined the two municipalities in disputing the urban-center designation.

Other urban center zones is Snohomish County are on highways near cities. The County had argued that Point Wells’ location along the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad tracks gave the area a transit alternative.

Shoreline, Woodway and Save Richmond Beach told the growth management hearings board that Sound Transit has no plans to build a station in the Point Wells area.

A developer has proposed building a 3,100-unit condominium complex on the former industrial site in unincorporated southwest Snohomish County.

The site is in Woodway’s urban growth area, but Faison said that there had been no proposal to annex the area.

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City of Shoreline response to Point Wells decision

Friday, April 29, 2011

Growth Management Hearings Board issues decision on Point Wells
On April 25, 2011, the Central Puget Sound Growth Management Hearings Board (Growth Board) issued a Final Decision and Order (FDO) in two cases involving legal challenges to Snohomish County's designation of Point Wells as an "Urban Center." The City of Shoreline, the Town of Woodway, and the citizens group Save Richmond Beach jointly filed appeals against two County actions. The appeal argued that the County had violated both the GMA and the SEPA when it amended its Comprehensive Plan to designate Point Wells as an Urban Center and adopted a Point Wells Urban Center Code.

In its decision, the Growth Board ruled that both of the County’s actions failed to comply with the goals of the GMA. It also found that because the Urban Center Plan Amendment also violated specific requirements of the GMA, the County’s action was invalid. The Growth Board agreed with Shoreline that the County’s SEPA documents were inadequate because the County did not evaluate sufficient alternatives and did not describe the impacts of new information later introduced into the County’s record. The Board ordered the County to amend its Urban Center Plan to bring it into compliance with the GMA and to do additional SEPA analysis to describe additional alternatives and likely impacts of the Urban Center Plan and Code designations.

In addition, the Growth Board rejected the County’s assertion that the Point Wells Urban Center is “served by transit.” The Growth Board pointed out that transit service does not now exist in any transit agency’s plans and rejected the County’s argument that transit is available to Point Wells simply because the Sounder commuter train passes through the site. Acknowledging that the only road access to Point Wells is through Shoreline’s Richmond Beach neighborhood, the Growth Board ruled that the County has a GMA duty to make its Point Wells land use decisions consistent with Shoreline’s existing road level of service standards.

Snohomish County has until May 9, 2012 to submit a statement of actions taken to comply with the Growth Board’s order.

City of Shoreline staff will continue to coordinate and communicate with Snohomish County staff regarding actions the County may take to comply with the Growth Board’s order, potential future interlocal agreements between the City and the County, and future steps the County will take in processing the Urban Center Development Permit that was submitted to the County by Blue Square Real Estate Point Wells (BSRE), the Point Wells property owner.

Consistent with City Council direction, the City staff will also continue to meet with representatives of BSRE to attempt to negotiate a “municipal agreement” between the City and the developer which would address the City’s concerns.

The full decision is linked on the City's webpage on Point Wells.

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Growth Management Board invalidates Sno County ordinance naming Point Wells an "Urban Center"

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

The Central Puget Sound Growth Management Hearings Board (GMHB) issued a decision this week invalidating Snohomish County's designation of Point Wells as an "Urban Center."

The Growth Management Hearings Board is a State Board charged with hearing cases concerning compliance with the goals and requirements of the Growth Management Act and related provisions of the State Environmental Policy Act. The Central Puget Sound Hearings Board is a three-member panel of land use experts.

Following extensive briefing and a hearing on the merits, the Board agreed with Petitioners Save Richmond Beach, City of Shoreline and the Town of Woodway that Point Wells is not an appropriate site for an "Urban Center," and invalidated the Snohomish County ordinances designating it as such.

As a result of pressure on Snohomish County by 32nd District Rep. Ruth Kagi in the state legislature, Snohomish County had begun to work with the Town of Woodway and the City of Shoreline on issues around the Point Wells development.

To quote Jerry Cornfield in the HeraldNet,
"Kagi almost single-handedly brought Snohomish County to its knees on how it will deal with future development on Point Wells. She introduced a bill making sure the county hears what Shoreline and Woodway have to say. Though the bill died, the county agreed those communities will get a louder voice in the process."

Shoreline staff had just started meeting with developer Blue Square Real Estate and the Town of Woodway to develop a municipal agreement, which is part of the Snohomish County code. This ruling by the GMHB should change the terms of discussion.

--Some material in this story came from the newsletter of SaveRichmondBeach

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City of Shoreline re the agreement with Sno County on Point Wells

Monday, April 11, 2011

City of Shoreline and Snohomish County Agree to a Process to Address Concerns over Point Wells Development

The City of Shoreline has agreed to a process with Snohomish County to communicate and share information regarding potential impacts of the proposed Point Wells Development on Shoreline’s road network. This agreement outlines the framework for a respectful, constructive, and transparent communication process between the City and the County.

The City worked with Representatives Ruth Kagi and Cindy Ryu to sponsor House Bill 1265 in the current legislative session, which would have assigned to the City the responsibility for preparing the Transportation component of the future Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Point Wells project. This bill was initiated to address the City’s primary concern about the traffic impacts to the Richmond Beach neighborhood, which provides the only vehicle access to the proposed development site. However, Senator Craig Pridemore, Chair of the Senate Government Operations Committee, urged the City and County to reach agreement rather than have the legislature intervene.

“While the Council was disappointed that the legislation did not move forward, we remain committed to advocating our concerns with the proposed development,” said Shoreline Mayor Keith McGlashan. “This agreement provides a positive forum with Snohomish County to work through those concerns.”

The agreement specifies that the City and County will communicate on a regular basis, copy one another on related emails and correspondence, and that the City will be asked to consult on the selection of the traffic consultant to be retained to prepare that portion of the EIS. In addition, the City has committed to post relevant documents on the City website and to work with the County to provide opportunities to inform the public about the likely project impacts on Shoreline.

The City adopted a lower level of service for Richmond Beach Drive to 4,000 average daily trips, which is the only access to the site, as the road narrows to a two lane road. The ordinance adopted by Council indicates that raising the traffic threshold to the original maximum of 8,250 will be reconsidered when a transportation corridor study is completed, impact mitigation is identified, and funding is committed.

The City will continue to work to ensure that any development at Point Wells meets our traffic thresholds and includes mitigation to address the city’s concerns.

--from the Office of the Shoreline City Manager

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Evan Smith: "Save Richmond Beach" calls legislative agreement ‘a step in the right direction’

Sunday, April 3, 2011

By Evan Smith
ShorelineAreaNews Politics Writer

The Save Richmond Beach organization calls the agreement over Point Wells “a step in the right direction.”

“While the agreement is not exactly what we would have liked, it is a step in the right direction that the City of Shoreline and Snohomish County are at least collaborating on the impacts,” a Save-Richmond Beach spokeswoman told me Friday. “To date the decisions being made about the impacts of Point Wells have been forced on us by a governing body that is not responsible for making decisions for our community. The agreement, while putting the City of Shoreline at the table, does not necessarily guarantee the results that are appropriate; it simply requires the County to share information. However, it will at least help to ensure that the evaluation of the impacts will be conducted in a legitimate way.”

State legislators announced Thursday that they had dropped consideration of a bill that would force Snohomish County to give the cities of Shoreline and Woodway a leading role in deciding on the impacts of the Point Wells development after officials from Shoreline and Snohomish County had agreed to share responsibility for the project.

Democratic State Sen. Craig Pridemore, chairman of the Senate committee on government operations, said Tuesday that he was halting action on the legislation
In an e-mail to Shoreline and Snohomish County officials and to local legislators, Pridemore said that the City, the County and the legislators had agreed in a meeting early in the week to the following:

  1. “Snohomish County agrees to allow Shoreline to consult on the selection of the consultants who will prepare the traffic impact study. The goal will be to try to find someone who can be equally trusted on both sides, possibly including a consultant who has had past relationships with both the city and the county. 
  2. As the traffic study goes forward, the county agrees to cc: the City on all written communications regarding traffic impacts on Richmond Beach between the County and the consultant. Where practicable and reasonable, the County will invite the City to participate in meetings between them and the consultant on Richmond Beach traffic impacts, particularly on substantive issues and discussions. 
  3. On a timely basis, the City will provide the County with comments on project impacts through the State-Environmental-Protection-Act process, including recommending reasonable mitigation measures for the County to consider. The County agrees to fully consider all such comments and recommendations and to levy them, as the project impacts require. 
  4. The City and County will work together to ensure that Shoreline residents are educated and kept informed of project impacts on Shoreline. If appropriate, this may involve three-way public meetings sponsored by the City, County and project developers. The County will make an extra effort to do this, respecting that they cannot do more for Shoreline than they do for their own residents. It was recognized at the meeting that there are positive impacts of the development for Shoreline residents, including public amenities, shoreline access and cleanup of a brownfield site. These positive impacts should be presented just as possible negative ones are. 
  5. When legal and appropriate, the Snohomish County Council will consider holding a public hearing on the project in or near Shoreline specifically to hear residents’ concerns. 
  6. Both sides will make definitive efforts to communicate on a regular basis (perhaps biweekly) regarding the project. 
  7. Both sides agree to engage in trust-building efforts and to avoid actions that might cause distrust. In an appropriate manner and at an appropriate time, Shoreline will review its current level of service on Richmond Beach and establish it at a level that is consistent with City and King County policy and that meets the reasonable needs of the community. 
  8. Both sides agree to do everything in their power to resolve areas of disagreement to the best of their ability without putting the other in difficult public positions. If necessary, the City and County will call in a neutral third party to restore discussions and to promote resolution of areas of disagreement. 
  9. The Washington State Legislature will not act further on House Bill 1265." ( House Bill 1265 is the bill presented by 32nd District Rep. Ruth Kagi and co-sponsored by Rep. Cindy Ryu.)

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Snohomish County and City of Shoreline reach agreement on Point Wells

Friday, April 1, 2011

Kagi drops legislation in light of agreement

FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2011
From the Washington State House of Representatives

OLYMPIA — Officials from Snohomish County and the City of Shoreline reached an agreement this week on addressing the impact of development at Point Wells on local infrastructure.

Sen. Craig Pridemore, chairman of the Senate committee on government operations, called together representatives of the two jurisdictions after the committee passed House Bill 1265. The bill, sponsored by Reps. Ruth Kagi and Cindy Ryu, would require the City of Shoreline to be designated as the lead agency for addressing the traffic impact of the Point Wells development. Sen. Pridemore, D-Vancouver, urged the County and City to reach agreement and move forward cooperatively rather than having legislation dictate the solution.

Kagi and Ryu are Democrats representing Shoreline, Lake Forest Park and the rest of the 32nd Legislative District, including the part of Southwest Snohomish County that includes Point Wells.

“I introduced this bill to assure that the cities impacted by the Point Wells development would have a real voice in determining the impact and how it would be mitigated,” Kagi said. “I’m pleased that local officials reached an agreement and a legislative solution does not appear necessary at this time.

“The city and county have committed to work together to study traffic impacts, solicit public input and share information. I will be monitoring this agreement closely to assure that the cities most impacted by this development are in fact being included in the definition and mitigation of project impact.”

In the agreement, Shoreline will be allowed to consult on the selection of traffic-impact consultants for a study being commissioned by Snohomish County. Snohomish County must keep Shoreline informed of ongoing developments in the traffic study as they relate to Richmond Beach impacts. The parties also agreed to keep each other regularly informed on all mitigation issues, as well as conduct public outreach activities in conjunction with the Point Wells developers.
“I’m pleased we found a solution that works for local governments, citizens and developers,” Kagi said.
Kagi has said that she introduced the bill to ensure that Snohomish County, the City of Shoreline and the Town of Woodway work cooperatively on mitigation issues related to Point Wells, an unincorporated area on the north side of the Snohomish-King County border. Developers hope to transform Point Wells into a mixed-use development with 3,000 housing units.

Access to Point Wells, however, is limited to just one two-lane road, that winds through Shoreline in King County. Many nearby residents, particularly those in the adjacent Richmond Beach neighborhood, are concerned that the scale of the development is too large and will adversely affect traffic and safety along the road.

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Save Richmond Beach says comments due by Apr 11 on developer's application to Sno County Planning

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Reprinted from Save Richmond Beach newsletter

Developer submits project application to Snohomish County Planning Department

Comments due by April 11

Blue Square Real Estate submitted their development application to Snohomish County on March 4. This was likely in an attempt to vest under current development regulations prior to the State Growth Board issuing a ruling on whether the urban center land use designation and development regulations are legal.

Save Richmond Beach has obtained all of the documents related to the development application and encourages all residents who have an interest in the matter to submit comment letters per Snohomish County instructions. (download in pdf)

Development application materials can be reviewed on the Save Richmond Beach Web site. Some files are rather large. We are not responsible for the content, substance, size, etc of these documents. They are the property of Blue Square Real Estate and Snohomish County.

SaveRichmondBeach.org is a community-driven non-profit organization dedicated to preserving our neighborhood through responsible and sustainable planning.

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Seattle Times: Point Wells developer perplexed by neighbors' opposition

Friday, March 25, 2011

The Seattle Times published an article in Thursday's edition about the developer who owns Point Wells. She interviewed sources in Israel, where Shraga Biran is a well-known figure. He is admired for creating thousands of housing units for an influx of immigrants from the former Soviet Union. He is reviled for creating those housing units on agricultural land.


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Evan Smith: Snohomish County acceptance of Point Wells application sets up possible conflict

Saturday, March 5, 2011

By Evan Smith
ShorelineAreaNews Politics Writer

When Snohomish County planners accepted an application Friday for construction of the proposed Point Wells project, they set up a possible conflict with legislation that passed the State House Thursday and with a challenge to the area’s zoning that the State growth management board heard Wednesday.

A report in the Everett Herald Saturday said that County acceptance of the application “renders largely moot ongoing attempts to stall the project, including legislation in Olympia and a zoning challenge to a state growth board.”

Rep. Ruth Kagi and a neighborhood group opposing the project disagree.

Kagi said Saturday that environmental review of the project would not start before the law that the State House of Representatives passed Thursday could take effect.

A spokeswoman for the neighborhood group “Save Richmond Beach,” said that the application “shouldn't be a consideration. Legislation as passed should still be OK.”

The application, Herald Writer Noah Haglund reported, is to build more than 3,000 high-rise waterfront condos at Point Wells.

The legislation, which the House passed Thursday, requires counties accepting applications for construction in places like Point Wells to make neighboring cities “co-leads” in reviewing such projects, Kagi said.

The cities of Shoreline and Woodway challenged Snohomish County’s zoning of Point Wells at a hearing Wednesday before the State growth management hearings board.

Haglund quoted an attorney for the developer as saying that the developers would talk to representatives of the cities next week.

"What happens next is we have at least 45 days to see if we can reach an agreement with both Woodway and Shoreline," attorney Gary Huff told Haglund. "We talked about getting together next week to see if it's possible."

Haglund reported that city staff members from Shoreline and Woodway joined Friday's application meeting with Snohomish County planners.

His story said that if the developer cannot reach an agreement, the project would have to pass muster with an appointed Snohomish County design review board, among other steps.

Neighbors worry that the only way to reach the 61-acre site in unincorporated Snohomish County is by a two-lane road through the Richmond Beach area of Shoreline. Opponents also say the Point Wells plans are too big for the low-density surrounding neighborhoods.

The project would be built under rules for urban centers, a type of zoning the county established last year. Other zoned urban centers are on highways or freeways.

Haglund reported that documents that county planners accepted Friday are similar to what BSRE Point Wells presented at a January public meeting. Plans call for 3,081 homes. The tallest building would rise to 17 stories and about 180 feet tall. Several other buildings would reach 16 and 14 stories.

The project would be built in four phases over 15 to 20 years. It would include a public pier and beach.

Thursday, the state House approved Kagi’s bill to allow Shoreline and Woodway to review environmental impacts. It passed 63-35 and next goes to the Senate for consideration.

State Sen. Maralyn Chase, who has sponsored a companion bill in the Senate, said Saturday that she supports what Kagi has done.

Kagi said she rewrote the legislation that she sponsored to make it clear that the cities be required to have “a voice but not a veto” in the project.

State Rep. Cindy Ryu told the Herald that concerns about the scope of the project have "caused a multi-year angst with no resolution in sight." She told Haglund that she hopes this "good neighbor" bill will change the dynamic.

Chase, Kagi and Ryu are Democrats representing Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Woodway, Kenmore, south Edmonds and the rest of the 32nd Legislative District.

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Evan Smith: State House passes amended Point Wells bill

By Evan Smith
ShorelineAreaNews Politics Writer

An amended version of the bill that would force Snohomish County to consider the interests of the cities of Shoreline and Woodway in any approval of the development at Point Wells passed the State House of Representatives Thursday.

The bill passed by a 63-35 vote, with both Democrats and Republicans on both sides of the issue.

Democratic State Rep. Ruth Kagi, the bill’s principal sponsor, told me Friday that she worked with Democratic State Rep. Deb Eddy, D-Kirkland, an environmental attorney, to amend the bill so that Shoreline and Woodway would have a meaningful voice, but wouldn’t have veto power.

“The amended bill requires that jurisdictions significantly impacted by the Point Wells project will be co-leads in the development of the state environmental protection act,” Kagi said. “It assures they will have a real voice. I worked with the City of Shoreline on the language and they support it.”

Kagi said that opposition came from representatives who believe that requirements in the bill for an inter-local agreement won’t withstand a court challenge because it essentially gave Shoreline and Woodway veto power.

“The permit could not be approved unless the cities and county agreed,” Kagi said.

The bill now goes to the State Senate, where a committee has already approved a companion bill, which Democratic Sen. Maralyn Chase has sponsored.

Chase, Kagi and Democratic State Rep. Cindy Ryu, a co-sponsor of Kagi’s bill, represent Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Woodway, Kenmore, south Edmonds and the rest of the 32nd Legislative District.

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Evan Smith: Local groups must wait until April for decision on challenge to Point Wells zoning

Point Wells with Brightwater Project
By Evan Smith
ShorelineAreaNews Politics Writer

The cities of Shoreline and Woodway and the community group “Save Richmond Beach” won’t get a decision until late April on their challenge to the zoning of the Point Wells area.

A Thursday story in the Everett Herald reported that the State Growth Management Hearings Board has until April 25 to reach a decision on arguments it heard Wednesday.

The two cities and the community group challenged Snohomish County’s decision to zone the Point Wells area as an urban center in a hearing before the growth management board, meeting at the County campus in Everett Wednesday.

Save Richmond Beach activist Caycee Holt, who attended the hearing, told me Thursday that attorneys for the two cities and the community group told the board that designating the area as an urban center is inconsistent with other urban center zones in the county.

Holt said that attorneys for her group and the cities had pointed out that the County’s other urban growth areas are in the cities of Everett, Lynnwood and Bothell, places near highways and bus lines.

Holt noted that the developer had said that the area’s being next to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad track provided a transit option but that Sound Transit had no plans to put a station so close to its station in Edmonds.

The Herald quoted the attorney representing Woodway as telling the board that the Town of Woodway would like to see smaller development of homes and businesses on the property.

Herald writer Noah Haglund reported that a reversal of county zoning wouldn't necessarily stop the Point Wells development.

Two-lane residential road is only access to Point Wells site.
He wrote that the developer's attorneys say the development rules can't be changed since Snohomish County officials have already accepted their initial plans, adding that County planners aren't so sure.

Haglund reported that the Tulalip Tribes also have joined the case as a "friend of the court" observer to try to protect historical artifacts and fishing rights that might be harmed by development. The Snohomish Tribe, one of the members of the Tulalip tribal confederation, historically lived in areas stretching from Richmond Beach to the north.

Point Wells is now home to aging fuel tanks and an asphalt plant. BSRE Point Wells is part of Alon Group, a real estate and energy company headquartered in Israel.

One of Alon's principals, Israeli attorney Shraga Biran, envisions transforming the 61-acre site into a signature development with some buildings as tall as 18 stories. He's enlisted the help of world-class architects to do it, promising cutting edge environmental techniques, European design and public access to the waterfront.

The County Council changed zoning at the site from Industrial to an urban center in 2009. Last year, the county finalized its rules for urban centers. The rules allow for buildings of up to 180 feet -- about 18 stories -- if certain conditions are met.

The development could include, more than 3,000 units, but would be accessible only by a two-lane road through the Richmond Beach area of Shoreline.

It is part of Woodway’s urban growth area, but it would be far larger than the town of 1,200.

Shoreline and Woodway are concerned that they would absorb the impacts of the development while Snohomish County would get the added tax revenue.

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Growth Management Hearing on the Merits this Wednesday Mar 2

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Point Wells: Hearing on the Merits
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Growth Management Hearing Board
Public Hearing Room 1F03
Robert J. Drewel Bldg. 1st floor
3000 Rockefeller Ave.
Everett, WA 98201

The public is welcome to attend this meeting, but public comments will not be taken.

Both sides of the Point Wells issue will be making oral arguments as to whether Snohomish County legally designated Point Wells an urban center and if the development regulations are valid.

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