Save Richmond Beach is a citizen advocacy organization formed in response to the proposed project at Point Wells in Snohomish County. The project would add thousands of apartment units and residents to an area with one road, which is through Shoreline.
Latest report from Save Richmond Beach
Richmond Beach resident Tom McCormick met with Shoreline City Manager Debbie Tarry recently to discuss various issues concerning the proposed development at Point Wells.
Transportation Corridor Study
The last meeting with the developer, BSRE, to review results of the traffic study was September 10th. While BSRE showed some additional results at that meeting they did not leave a copy of the results with the City so the City has nothing to review yet. BSRE has not set a date for the next meeting or the delivery of the final study results.
Richmond Beach Associates plans to engage their own traffic engineer to review the study results once the City receives them. Ms. Tarry confirmed it is her intent to allow 30 days for that review.
While things could still change, at this point Ms. Tarry believes it's likely the TCS Open House to show the results to the public won't happen until spring of 2015 with final presentation to the Council happening in summer, 2015.
Two access roads
Ms. Tarry confirmed the City is requiring the TCS traffic modeling study to include an assumption for two access roads. She has also sent a letter to Woodway asking about their plans to accommodate a second access road. Ultimately the resolution of the second access road issue will be determined by Snohomish County.
Tolling on Richmond Beach Drive
The Shoreline Transportation Benefit District (whose board is the Shoreline City Council) has the authority to ask the voters to implement tolling on a city street such as Richmond Beach Drive. Ms. Tarry said City staff is studying tolling and plans to include it as part of a broader discussion with the Council regarding the City’s statutory authority to regulate City streets. This discussion is currently scheduled to occur in January, 2015. There are a number of policy questions the Council wants to consider and answer before deciding whether to pursue tolling on Richmond Beach Drive.
Tolling does require approval by the voters of Shoreline; if the Council passes an ordinance to submit tolling to the voters, a tolling measure could be on the November, 2015 ballot.
Ms. Tarry said the City has advised BSRE that it is studying tolling for Richmond Beach Drive.
Annexation
The Snohomish County Boundary Review Board's ruling against the City's attempt to assume the small area in unincorporated Snohomish County served by Ronald Wastewater raises the natural question of whether Snohomish County would approve an attempt by the City to annex all of Point Wells. Ms. Tarry said the City is continuing to discuss annexation issues with their outside counsel, Foster Pepper. Foster Pepper has advised the City that obtaining a petition from BSRE to annex to the City would provide substantial support for the City’s case.
The City is moving forward with annexation planning and has notified Snohomish County of its intent to negotiate a Master Annexation Interlocal Agreement with the County, the first step in the annexation process. The City is waiting for a response from Snohomish County.
Other traffic control measures
Ms. Tarry said that it is clear that State law provides options for the City to regulate public streets. One option she mentioned that may have the effect of limiting the amount of traffic entering Richmond Beach Drive/ Road during morning commute hours is metering, similar to what is used on the I-5 on ramps. The City is still working with BSRE on a mitigation/development agreement but Ms. Tarry said City staff could seriously consider metering if the City cannot negotiate a satisfactory agreement with the developer.
Conclusion
The fight to reduce the size and impact of development at Point Wells is far from over. Yes, we lost our attempt to have the application thrown out, but the process of examining that application in detail and making sure it follows all Snohomish County code requirements has just started. We are also encouraged that the City seems more willing to look at all the methods they might have at their disposal to control the impact of development at Point Wells. As always, we will keep sending out updates as the process continues to move forward.
What a cluster*%$#!
ReplyDeletePoint Wells, Ronald Commons, 145th Street Station, Fircrest, and 185th Street Station with it's "reach-around" from I-5 extending all the way to Aurora. And then what, turn the corridor from Aurora all the way to the future Point Wells monstrosity into more high-density redevelopment?
The City has always wanted to maximize development of Point Wells, while minimizing cost to the City. Why wouldn't they? They don't give as rat's a** about the people living and working in Shoreline NOW. They are looking out for #1. Period.
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