Many residents in the neighborhoods surrounding the East Gateway Urban Village(EGUV) were involved in the original planning and visioning for the EGUV in 2007-08.

The EGUV is 52 acres south of 132nd between 35th Avenue SE & Seattle Hill Road that is zoned for a mixed-use urban village & is planned to be developed with a combination of residential, retail and office uses. Development has been anticipated since the plan was adopted.

Since development activity has finally started to pick up, the City will be sending out a periodic newsletter to the surrounding neighborhood to keep you informed.

Three items are discussed in this newsletter:

• First, the City has received a Binding Site Plan application for what is known as the Nash Property (Henry’s Plant Farm).
• Second, construction of the first development in the EGUV has begun.
• Third, the City is proposing amendments to some of the regulations that apply to the EGUV zone district.

These items are described below:

Proposed Development on Nash Property

On August 6, 2012, the City received a development proposal from Polygon NW for the18.5-acre Nash property (Binding Site Plan 2012-63). The proposal is for 29,000 square feet of commercial area in three buildings, 104 townhomes/condominiums, and 210 apartments. The proposal also includes installation of a traffic signal at the 132nd Street 44th Avenue intersection, construction of 44th Avenue south of 132nd Street to connect the development to the new signal and future adjacent properties, and a public neighborhood park.

City review of the project has several steps. The City is currently reviewing the Binding Site Plan application for completeness. If deemed complete, the City will issue a Notice of Application, which will be published in the newspaper and be posted on the property.

Also, once the Notice of Application is issued, the project file will be available for public review at City Hall. Following the Notice of Application, the City will conduct an environmental review of the project and negotiate a development agreement with the applicant, which establishes responsibilities for the implementation of the project and addresses other issues such as phasing of development. The development agreement is subject to review and approval of the City Council. Finally, a public hearing on the Binding Site Plan will be held by the City’s Hearing Examiner. The City’s review process will take several months. If you have questions please contact Christi Amrine, Senior Planner at the number listed below.

Medical/Office Building Under Construction

You might have noticed a new building under construction just west of the Advent Lutheran Church. 132nd Street Land Development is building a 24,000 square foot, two-story medical/office building that will include a parking lot, landscaping, and a plaza. Only the northern portion of the site directly adjacent to 132nd Street SE is proposed to be developed at this time. This building was approved by the City’s Hearing Examiner in September 2011.

Proposed EGUV Code Amendments

To ensure that development in the EGUV area is consistent with the City’s economic development objectives and the adopted EGUV Comprehensive Plan policies, the City has been exploring revisions to the EGUV zoning to allow for stores that have a ground floor footprint that exceeds 60,000 square feet. As you may know, this issue was the focus of a City open house on June 21, 2011, where two alternative scenarios to the original illustrative master were displayed. It was reported in the media and by the City that Target was interested in locating in the EGUV area. To accommodate the possibility that a large anchor store such as a Target could locate in the EGUV, and to ensure that the area meets other commercial economic objectives, the City is proposing several amendments to MCMC Chapter 17.19, East Gateway Urban Village (EGUV) Zone District and the EGUV Design Guidelines. The proposed amendments, if approved, would:

• Allow multifamily residential uses only above commercial uses, in the area west of 44th Avenue SE;
• Eliminate the maximum 60,000 square foot ground floor area restriction for a single commercial building footprint;
• Eliminate the minimum 400 dwelling unit requirement; and
• Revise language to clarify Design Guidelines in regard to residential units in mixed-use buildings.

The Planning Commission is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the proposed revisions on September 20, 2012. City Council action on the amendments could occur as soon as September 25, 2012.

If you have questions on the proposed code amendments, please contact Senior Planner, Christi Amrine.

Mailing List

If you would like to continue to receive information on the proposed development or the proposed code amendments as they are reviewed by the City, please contact Sherrie Ringstad at the number listed below to be added to our mailing/email list.

Being on the mailing list will ensure that you receive regular updates on EGUV projects. Even if you don’t add your name to the list, you will still receive required public notice of the public hearing if you own property or reside within 500 feet of the project site.

Contact Information

Tom Rogers, Community Development Director   (425) 921-5721

tom@cityofmillcreek.com

Christi Amrine, Senior Planner (425) 921-5738 (contact with questions & comments)

christi@cityofmillcreek.com

Sherrie Ringstad, Planning Specialist (contact to be added to email and/or mailing list)    (425) 921-5717

sherrie@cityofmillcreek.com

Information taken directly from City of Mill Creek Press Release 8/16/2012  from the office of Tom Rogers, Community Development Director