Woodinville and Bellevue Loosen Up, Ferndale Considers It

Woodinville

Woodinville has allowed a one-year moratorium on new development in its R-1 zone to lapse. The R-1 zone (residential, one dwelling per acre) is mostly to the city’s east. Development may now continue under temporary guidelines; permanent guidelines are expected in September. The interesting part for me is the part of the Seattle Times article regarding potential R-4 development in the area.

“We’re still studying this, trying to decide what the density up there should be,” [City of Woodinville staff member Cindy] Baker said Thursday.
The situation with R-4 development, or four houses per acre, is less clear in the area, she explained.
“Someone could still submit an R-4 application and ask for a typical rezone,” she said.

The idea of a “typical rezone” is very interesting.

Bellevue

Bellevue has placed a building moratorium on “7 acres of apartment complexes and homes near the water” as the city completes plans for the area. Bellevue seems to be very interested in fostering pedestrian friendly development focused around a new waterfront park. While the moratorium looks likely to extend through the rest of the year, apparently it has been fast tracked in response to citizen complaints.

Two choice quotes:

City leaders want the expanded park to connect with downtown, but they don’t own the land up the hill from the shore. So they’ve frozen building permits in the area until at least September, much to the chagrin of several landowners.

City officials say they want to create a European-style waterfront district that fits into the bay’s history as an active port. A pedestrian corridor, possibly a “grand staircase,” would connect to downtown, and a sightline may be created between Downtown Park and the water.

Ferndale

The Ferndale City Council will hold a public hearing regarding its temporary ban on big-box stores. The hearing will be on March 26th at 7 p.m. at Eagleridge Elementary School, 2651 Thornton Road. Big box stores are defined as single-tenant retail buildings in excess of 75,000 square feet. More information is available in the city’s notice. (PDF)

Sources:

  • Woodinville cautiously reopens east area to builders The Seattle Times March 23, 2007 Page B5
  • Landowners wary as Bellevue eyes bayfront The Seattle Times March 24, 2007 Page B4

- posted Mar 25, 08:14 PM in

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