LAKE STEVENS – A Seattle developer wants to build a large shopping center on an undeveloped field along Grade Road just north of downtown Lake Stevens.
Mastro Properties is proposing a 115,000-square-foot retail complex with parking for about 700 vehicles on more than 20 acres east of the intersection of 26th Street NE and Grade Road.
Mike Mastro Jr. wouldn’t say whether the building would host several retailers or if it’s planned for one large retail store.
“We have a couple of different people in mind,” Mastro said. The initial plans submitted to the city are unclear as to who might occupy the building.
The square footage of the proposed building is larger than most supermarkets, but it’s a standard size for a number of big-box retailers such as Home Depot or Costco. It’s smaller than most of the stores Wal-Mart is building these days, however.
In addition to proposing the retail building, Mastro is asking to extend 26th Street NE across to Old Hartford Road and 26th Place NE.
The first opportunity for public comment on the proposed development comes at 6 p.m. Wednesday. That meeting will be at the Community Senior Center, 1808 Main St. in Lake Stevens.
Though much of the large retail development in the area has occurred outside the city limits, this isn’t the first large retail project proposed within Lake Stevens.
In early 2003, after a contentious approval process, a hearings examiner approved zoning permits for a 55,000-square-foot supermarket and adjoining retail buildings at the southwest corner of Highway 92 and 127th Avenue NE. Redfield Development LLC of Mountlake Terrace seemed set to go ahead with the Monte Cristo Marketplace project, but never acted on its permits.
John Jimerson, Lake Stevens’ planning director, said the developer would now have to repeat the approval process in order to build that shopping center, as the permits have expired. Redfield did not return a call for comment.
Reporter Eric Fetters: 425-339-3453 or fetters@heraldnet.com.
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