Stakeholders and community members with an interest in the proposed Point Wells development gathered at the Shoreline Fire Department’s training center over the weekend for an intensive planning session.
“It was really interesting to hear the community perspectives. I was pleased there was so much variety in the concepts proposed. They were consistent with things we’ve discussed internally,” said Gary Huff, a Seattle attorney representing Paramount of Washington LLC, the project’s developer.
The charette, held Aug. 22 and sponsored by the Richmond Beach Community Association, attracted some residents of the area that are concerned about traffic generated by the potential development and other impacts.
“Transportation is a big issue. We know that. That will be a very important part of the plan,” said Huff, who graduated from Shoreline High School. “There will be impacts that will be mitigable that will be part of the scheme.”
Point Wells is a 61-acre site that includes an oil depot, asphalt plant and defunct oil refinery. It’s located in Snohomish County near Woodway, but the only road leading into it goes through Richmond Beach in Shoreline.
Paramount, a subsidiary of Texas-based Alon USA, which is in the refinery and asphalt business, hopes to turn the site into a mixed-use development that could include condominiums and retail. Paramount would have to clean up the site that is contaminated by the oil wells.
The Snohomish County Council voted unanimously Aug. 12 to change the zoning from industrial uses to allow housing and commercial space.
Some Shoreline residents are hopeful that the city of Shoreline will annex the property.
“I think today was a first day to put ideas in writing to present a case to the owners of the property that annexing to Shoreline is what they need to do,” said David Bannister, a Richmond Beach resident. “Otherwise Shoreline won’t have a say in it.”
Scott Becker, a board member with the Richmond Beach Community Association, said that while some neighborhood groups want to fight the project, the charette was a way to find solutions.
“We wanted to do something else,” said Becker, a local architect. “The charette was a way to neutral but allow the dialogue to happen.”
Joe Tovar, Shoreline’s planning director, participated in the meeting. He said city staff will provide a draft plan to the planning commission which will evaluate the comprehensive plan and zoning for Point Wells in the fall.
“We had a lot of good questions and thoughtful suggestions put on paper by citizens,” he said.
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