Court allows high-rise condos at Point Wells

WOODWAY — Plans for thousands of high-rise waterfront condos at Point Wells can proceed under more lenient building rules after a Washington State Court of Appeals decision released Monday.

The ruling overturns a November 2011 decision by King County Superior Court Judge Dean Lum. The earlier ruling had sided with Woodway and the Shoreline neighborhood group Save Richmond Beach. They sued Snohomish County and developer Blue Square Real Estate to force the project to adhere to new, stricter development regulations.

The wrinkle was that the state had forced the county to rewrite the regulations after it had accepted a development application for the project.

The appeals court said that the earlier rules still needed to apply.

The county and the developer both argued the project should be subject to the old rules.

An attorney for developer Blue Square Real Estate said Monday’s decision brings welcome clarity, though a long process lies ahead,

“Under any circumstance, this will take a long time to be reviewed and permitted and cleaned up and then built in phases,” said Gary Huff of Seattle law firm Karr Tuttle Campbell. “It will still likely be a 20-year process.”

The appeals court ruling means Blue Square subsidiary BSRE Point Wells’ project can grow to more than 3,000 homes with buildings of up to 180 feet tall.

The county this fall limited development at the site to about 2,600 homes and buildings of 124 feet in height. Those rules no longer apply to the project.

The county had been forced to make code changes to comply with state growth laws and the county’s own rules, including those governing transportation planning. A state growth board identified the problems in April 2011.

An attorney for Save Richmond Beach said the group was disappointed, but not caught completely off-guard.

“It was a case that presented a novel, somewhat complex issue and we felt all along that it could go either way,” said Zach Hiatt of the Seattle law firm Graham &Dunn PC.

“The important thing is that Save Richmond Beach is still committed to doing whatever it can to advocate for a project down there that’s compatible with the surrounding community,” he said.

The Point Wells proposal has no equivalent in the region. The developer, which is part of a real estate and energy conglomerate headquartered in Israel, aims to transform the 60-acre industrial site into an architectural showcase with condos, shops and public amenities. Plans call for a public pier and beach. The developer also has promised to clean up a century’s worth of pollution that taints the area.

The land is in unincorporated Snohomish County, next door to Woodway and Shoreline. It offers a front-porch view of the Olympic Mountains, with a steep bluff to the east.

A major source of controversy is limited road access to the property. The only route is a two-lane road that runs through Shoreline.

Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465, nhaglund@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Olivia Vanni / The Herald 
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax

The tax would have helped pay for transportation infrastructure, but was also set to give Mukilteo the highest sales tax rate in the state.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring gives the state of the city address at the Marysville Civic Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Marysville council approves interim middle housing law

The council passed the regulations to prevent a state model code from taking effect by default. It expects to approve final rules by October.

x
State audit takes issue with Edmonds COVID grant monitoring

The audit report covered 2023 and is the third since 2020 that found similar issues with COVID-19 recovery grant documentation.

Bothell
Bothell man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of Marysville middle schoolers

The man allegedly sexually assaulted three students in exchange for vapes and edibles in 2022. His sentencing is set for Aug. 29.

Larsen talks proposed Medicaid cuts during Compass Health stop in Everett

Compass Health plans to open its new behavioral health center in August. Nearly all of the nonprofit’s patients rely on Medicaid.

Guns for sale at Caso’s Gun-A-Rama in Jersey City, New Jersey, which has been open since 1967. (Photo by Aristide Economopoulos/New Jersey Monitor)
After suing, WA gets carveout from Trump administration plan to return gun conversion devices

The Trump administration has agreed to not distribute devices that turn semi-automatic… Continue reading

The Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility about 16 miles east of Ellensburg in central Washington is part of Puget Sound Energy’s clean energy portfolio. (Courtesy of Puget Sound Energy)
Megabill’s elimination of tax credits for clean energy projects could cost WA $8.7 billion

Washington households could see electricity costs increase $115 per year by 2029; 21,800 workers could lose their jobs by 2030, analysts say.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

Everett mayor candidates focus on affordability, city budget in costly race

As incumbent Cassie Franklin seeks a third term in office, three candidates are looking to unseat her.

Everett
Judge sentences man, 73, for intending to have sex with ‘teen’ in Everett

The Arizona man sent explicit images to an agent posing as a 13-year-old. Investigators found images of child sexual abuse on his phone.

State’s draft of climate action plan open for public comment

Residents can submit public comments or climate-related stories online through Aug. 22.

The Edmonds School Board discusses budget cuts during a school board meeting on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds school board approves 2025-26 budget

After facing an estimated $8.5 million shortfall earlier in the year, the board passed a balanced budget Tuesday.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.