Office building proposal delayed – Woodinville Northwest News

For the second time this month, the Woodinville City Council delayed a decision on a proposed office building near the intersection of NE Woodinville-Duvall Road and NE North Woodinville Way, at its April 18 meeting.

The council delayed until May 16 a decision on whether the city should vacate a right-of-way in an area that would be part of the office and parking lot site, near 148th Avenue NE. Speakers at a public hearing on the proposal immediately before the council meeting debated whether loss of the right-of-way might hinder future access to the Wellington neighborhood, as well as whether the area might be subject to other commercial development.

The proposed office building, a 13,000-square-foot one-story structure, would house the offices of Woodinville-based Sierra Construction.

Although the city currently has no plans to use the right-of -way in the now undeveloped area, speakers at the public hearing said the council should consider the possible need for new streets in coming decades, as the Wellington neighborhood grows.

The council should consider that question carefully, because its irreversible, said Steve Yabroff, city planning commission chair.

Once that right-of-way is given up, its gone, Yabroff said.

Sierra Construction owner Roger Collins told council members that he would grant an easement to the city allowing it to build a new street, if it becomes necessary. Council members suggested that an easement or some other conditional right-of-way should be among the considerations when the proposal is considered next month.

Collins, who owns land adjacent to the office building, said he had no plans for further development in the area, and pledged that he would do whatever is necessary to guarantee that the land not be developed.

If I can get this building built, I would give that hillside away, Collins said. At their meeting, council members originally voted to reject the right-of-way sale. But, they reversed the decision after a procedural discussion and a previously unscheduled executive session to consider property transactions, called after the debate on the disposition of the land adjacent to the office-building site.

Collins, who would pay $20,000 for the right-of-way under an agreement negotiated with city staff, said the site is uniquely suited to meet the companys need for a single-story structure large enough to accommodate its staff of 40 employees.

Earlier in the month, the council delayed a decision on the proposal after hearing from residents near the development who complained that they had not been formally notified of the office building proposal. The council then directed city staff to mail notification of the April 18 hearing to residents within a 500-foot radius of the office building property, and Collins subsequently met with residents to discuss the proposal.

Council member Elaine Cook supported vacating the right-of-way to allow the office building development, and said Collins should be rewarded for his efforts to alleviate the citys concerns.

I worry that denying the vacation hurts a respectable company and its 40 employees, Cook said. I worry that it eats away at our relationship with the business community in general.

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Office building proposal delayed - Woodinville Northwest News