Evan Smith: Kagi expects House vote on Point Wells bill this week

By Evan Smith

ShorelineAreaNews Politics Writer

State Rep. Ruth Kagi says that she expects a floor vote in the State House of Representatives within a few days on the bill to control development at Point Wells.

Kagi said Monday that she expected the bill to come before the full House “early this week.”

The bill would limit residential density at places like Point Wells to the density of surrounding cities unless the county that it’s in negotiates an agreement with nearby cities over the impacts of development.

A developer has proposed building a 3,100-unit condominium complex on the former industrial site on Puget Sound in southwest Snohomish County, north of the Richmond Beach area of Shoreline and west of the town of Woodway,

Snohomish County has rezoned the area to allow the development, a development that would bring increased property-tax revenue to the County.

The cities of Shoreline and Woodway both want a say in the development.

Shoreline is concerned because the only way into and out of the site is a two-lane road through the Richmond Beach area of Shoreline.

Woodway is concerned that the scale of the development doesn’t fit that of the tiny residential community. The site is in Woodway’s urban-growth area but is separated from the town by hills.

The bill to control development cleared the House local government committee Feb. 17 and the rules committee Feb. 22. The rules committee clearance puts the bill on the House calendar.

Kagi is the bill’s principal sponsor. Rep. Cindy Ryu is one of seven co-sponsors.

Sen. Maralyn Chase has sponsored an identical companion bill that won the approval of the Senate committee on government operations Feb. 21.

Both committees made amendments to the bill, but Kagi points out that amendments in the two committees were identical.

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