Point Wells Plans Move Forward

Two public meetings later this month will deal with key issues surrounding the proposed Point Wells development in Snohomish County.

On Jan. 20 the Shoreline Planning Commission will hold a hearing to change the street classification of Richmond Beach Drive N.W. between N.W. 199th Street and the Snohomish County line from collector arterial to local street. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at Shoreline City Hall.

The two-lane road maintained by the city of Shoreline is the only way in and out of Point Wells, which is in the southwest corner of unincorporated Snohomish County.

This amendment to the Shoreline’s Point Wells subarea plan would allow for only 4,000 vehicle trips per day on that stretch of Richmond Beach Drive as opposed to the 8,250 vehicle trips allowed under a street designated collector arterial.

Members of the group Save Richmond Beach plan to testify in favor of the redesignation. Save Richmond Beach believes Snohomish County violated the Growth Management Act when designating Point Wells an urban center in 2009 and subsequently believes traffic problems would be created by having up to 3,500 housing units at Point Wells as the developer has proposed.

On Jan. 27, neighborhood meeting sponsored by the project’s developer Blue Square Real Estate Point Wells, LP, will feature plans for the project.

It will take place at Shoreline Conference Center’s Auditorium at 18560 1st Ave. N.E. in Shoreline.

Doors open for the meeting, which is required by Snohomish County law, at 6 p.m. and presentations by the main members of the project team will begin at 6:30 p.m. A video from Shraga Biran, the owner of the property, will explain his vision for what the developer calls a “sustainable mixed-use residential development, including 3,500 housing units, restored natural habitats, LEED-certified sustainable architecture, open space for the public, restored beach access and transit-friendly features.”

More than 4,000 residents of Richmond Beach, north Shoreline and Woodway as well as elected officials, city and county government staffers received mailers about the meeting,

Anyone can submit written questions during a question and answer session with the architects and representatives from Blue Square. Questions can also be submitted at www.pointwells.com/contact-us. Written comments will be summarized and included in the application submittal to Snohomish County, according to a press release from the developer.

Snohomish County's urban centers code lays the ground rules for the process. Blue Square must wait at least 30 days after the hearing before it submits its project application.

Meanwhile, motions are being filed in the case before the state Growth Management Hearings Board that features Shoreline, Woodway and Save Richmond Beach versus Snohomish County and Blue Square (Paramount of Washington, LLC).

Shoreline, Woodway and Save Richmond Beach are challenging the designation of Point Wells as an urban center zone by Snohomish County, which enables Blue Square to proceed with its project.

On March 2, a hearing before three members of the Growth Management Hearings Board at a site yet-to-be-determined will take place. A final decision by the board is expected by April 25.