OLYMPIA — A spat between Snohomish County and two communities on future development planned on the Point Wells industrial area spilled out in a legislative hearing Friday.

A House committee heard testimony on a bill to severely limit the number of condominiums built on the 61-acre site unless the county signs an accord beforehand with Shoreline and Woodway on traffic, density and other concerns.

BSRE Point Wells, which owns the property, wants to build 3,081 condos and townhouses, some in buildings reaching 16- to 18-stories tall. The company’s plans also calls for a waterfront plaza and a landscaped public pier.

Shoreline and Woodway residents are deeply worried because the only way to reach the property is on a two-lane road passing through their communities. Their elected leaders want it scaled back and seek assurances that fees paid by the developer will make improvements that lessen the impacts.

Residents and their elected officials have pressed Snohomish County for a written agreement and, failing to get one, are turning to the Legislature for help.

“This will absolutely assure that there is an agreement reached,” state Rep. Ruth Kagi, D-Lake Forest Park, the bill’s sponsor, told the House Local Government Committee.

Rep. Cindy Ryu, D-Shoreline, a co-sponsor, said she tried reaching out to Snohomish County when she served as the city’s mayor.

“The problem is there’s been a lack of meaningful engagement,” she said. “We’ve gone through the good neighbor process, and we’re asking for help.”

The bill would require the project be developed at the same density as the two communities – about six residential units per acre — unless there is an agreement.

“The goal is to make sure conflicts will be reconciled,” Shoreline Planning Director Joe Tovar told the panel. “We’re not saying this is not the right use and mix. We’re just saying it’s too much.”

Snohomish County Councilman Dave Somers told lawmakers the County Council would be “more than happy” to come to an agreement if there are unresolved concerns following the lengthy process of reviewing the project.

He pointed out it is in that process when specific development conditions can be imposed by the county and the city could work out its own arrangement with the developer too, he said.

But passage of this bill would extend the city’s zoning rules onto land in the county which seemed unprecedented if not illegal, he said.

“We think, frankly, it will kill the project,” he said.

On Tuesday, a companion bill in the Senate will begin its legislative journey.

At 1:30 p.m., the Senate Government Operations and Tribal Relations & Elections Committee will hold its hearing on the legislation. A possible vote to pass it out of committee is slated for a special 6 p.m. session of the panel.

To track the progress of House Bill 1265 and Senate Bill 5421, go to www.leg.wa.gov.

Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com.