In landmark decision, buildings up to 150 feet in business district OK’d
December 27, 2011
Rowley Properties could someday build tall buildings on 78 acres in the business district, as shown in the rendering above. Contributed
Rowley Properties plans to redevelop land in decades ahead
Tall buildings could someday punctuate the skyline in the modest business district along state Route 900, after city leaders created a framework Dec. 19 to transform acre upon acre blanketed in storage units, low-slung office buildings and automotive service centers into a dense neighborhood for shops and homes.
In a landmark decision, City Council members approved a 30-year agreement between the city and longtime Issaquah developer Rowley Properties to overhaul almost 80 acres in the coming decades. The council agreed to allow buildings up to 150 feet tall and mixed-use development on up to 4.4 million square feet in Hyla Crossing and Rowley Center — parcels along Interstate 90 and state Route 900.
The landowner, in turn, is required to pay for transportation upgrades, affordable housing construction, Tibbetts Creek restoration efforts and storm-water system improvements.
Leaders said the potential for change in Hyla Crossing and Rowley Center offers a rare opportunity to reshape Issaquah as the city readjusts after a decadelong population boom.
In major development decision, city OKs buildings up to 150 feet in business district
December 22, 2011
NEW — 9:30 p.m. Dec. 22, 2011
Tall buildings could someday punctuate the skyline in the modest business district along state Route 900, after city leaders created a framework Monday to transform acre upon acre blanketed in storage units, low-slung office buildings and automotive service centers into a dense neighborhood for shops and homes.
In a landmark decision, City Council members approved a 30-year agreement between the city and longtime Issaquah developer Rowley Properties to overhaul almost 80 acres in the coming decades. The council agreed to allow buildings up to 150 feet tall and mixed-use development on up to 4.4 million square feet in Hyla Crossing and Rowley Center — parcels along Interstate 90 and state Route 900.
The landowner, in turn, is required to pay for transportation upgrades, affordable housing construction, Tibbetts Creek restoration efforts and storm-water system improvements.
City Council candidates, unopposed in election, outline goals for future
November 29, 2011
Though most City Council seats appeared on the November ballot, voters faced a choice in a lone race — the contest between incumbent Joshua Schaer and challenger TJ Filley. (Schaer claimed a second term in a landslide.)
The other seats up for election did not attract challengers, so incumbents Fred Butler and Stacy Goodman, plus newcomer Paul Winterstein, coasted through campaign season. The next council is due to settle into office in early January.
Environmental report arrives for Rowley Properties redevelopment
November 29, 2011
Planners released a key environmental report about a proposed Rowley Properties redevelopment Nov. 23, days after City Council members heard from citizens about the project.
Citizens can offer input on the proposed development agreement between the city and Issaquah-based Rowley Properties at public meetings in December.
The council listened to almost three hours of testimony about the project at a Nov. 21 public hearing. Most speakers supported the project, although others raised questions about possible environmental impacts.
The upcoming meetings mark the latest step in a decadeslong process to reshape 80 acres near Interstate 90 and state Route 900 — areas called Hyla Crossing and Rowley Center.
The council plans to review the proposal through mid-December and reach a decision by Dec. 19.
The proposed agreement requires Rowley Properties to provide or pay for transportation upgrades, affordable housing, creek restoration and storm water management.
Find a complete meeting schedule and read the environmental impact statement at www.ci.issaquah.wa.us/rowleyda.
Citizens can offer input on proposed redevelopment
November 22, 2011
City leaders could seal a deal to redevelop almost 80 acres in the business district next month.
In the meantime, citizens can offer input on the proposed development agreement between the city and Issaquah-based Rowley Properties at public meetings in late November and early December.
The hearing is the latest step in a decadeslong process to reshape 80 acres near Interstate 90 and state Route 900 — land dubbed Hyla Crossing and Rowley Center.
City Council members plan to review the proposal through mid-December and reach a decision by Dec. 19.
City seeks input on proposed Rowley Properties rezone
November 15, 2011
The process to transform about 80 acres in the decades ahead is due to continue Nov. 21.
City Council members plan to gather input from citizens about a proposed rezone of Rowley Properties-owned Hyla Crossing and Rowley Center from commercial land to urban village — a designation used to foster mixed-use construction in the Issaquah Highlands and Talus.
Issaquah quarry site is considered for homes, businesses
November 8, 2011
The hillside quarry below the Issaquah Highlands, plus land adjacent to the highlands, could someday transform into businesses and homes, if the city and landowner approve a long-term agreement to redevelop the site.
The landowner and quarry operator, Lakeside Industries Inc., proposed a development agreement for the 80-acre site.
The site — a quarry, a hillside and land on the plateau adjacent to the highlands — is zoned for mineral resources. The agreement under consideration could change the zoning to urban village — the same zoning for the highlands and Talus.
“We envision redevelopment that follows the patterns we are seeing in the highlands,” Lakeside Industries CEO Tim Lee said in a letter to City Administrator Bob Harrison. “Specifically, we foresee mixed uses and moderate density in a walkable community.”
City Council members sent the proposal to a committee Nov. 7 for further discussion.
City seeks comments on possible impacts to environment
September 20, 2011
Citizens can offer input on a plan to transform Issaquah’s business district in the decades ahead.
Longtime Issaquah developer Rowley Properties is proposing a long-term plan to redevelop about 80 acres along Northwest Gilman Boulevard and state Route 900 from a commercial and light-industrial district into a mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented neighborhood.
The municipal Planning Department issued a draft environmental impact statement late last month for the plan to redevelop Hyla Crossing and Rowley Center. The draft statement illustrates possible impacts on storm water, traffic, views and more.
Citizens can read the statement at www.ci.issaquah.wa.us/planning and then submit written comments on the document to city Environmental Planner Peter Rosen at peterr@ci.issaquah.wa.us until 5 p.m. Sept. 29. Or, citizens can mail comments to Rosen at the Issaquah Planning Department, P.O. Box 1307, Issaquah, WA 98207.
Then, using comments from the public, planners prepare a final environmental impact statement for the City Council. The council then uses the statement to make a decision on the proposed development agreement between the city and Rowley Properties.
Offer input on plan to redevelop business district
September 13, 2011
Citizens can offer input on a plan to transform Issaquah’s business district in the decades ahead.
Longtime Issaquah developer Rowley Properties is proposing a long-term plan to redevelop about 80 acres along Northwest Gilman Boulevard and state Route 900 from a commercial and light-industrial district into a mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented neighborhood.
Get involvedRowley Properties draft environmental impact statement open house
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The municipal Planning Department issued a draft environmental review for the plan to redevelop Hyla Crossing and Rowley Center on Aug. 31. The review, or environmental impact statement, illustrates possible impacts on storm water, traffic, views and more.
Rowley Properties and city planners embarked on a bold effort in April 2010 to redevelop Hyla Crossing and Rowley Center in Central Issaquah.
The city is in the midst of a parallel effort to define redevelopment in 915-acre Central Issaquah in the coming decades. The agreement to redevelop the Rowley Properties land is seen as critical to the overall redevelopment push.
The city is hosting a public open house on the draft environmental impact statement Sept. 21. The meeting is meant to provide information about the review, but the city is not accepting verbal comments at the meeting.
Then, to address comments from the public, planners prepare a final environmental impact statement for the City Council. The council then uses the review to make a final decision on the proposed development agreement between the city and Rowley Properties.
Offer input on long-term plan to redevelop business district
September 4, 2011
NEW — 8 a.m. Sept. 4, 2011
Citizens can offer input on a plan to transform Issaquah’s business district in the decades ahead.
Longtime Issaquah developer Rowley Properties is proposing to a long-term plan to redevelop about 80 acres along Northwest Gilman Boulevard and state Route 900 from a commercial and light-industrial district into a mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented neighborhood.
The municipal Planning Department issued a draft environmental review for the plan to redevelopment Hyla Crossing and Rowley Center on Aug. 31. The review, or environmental impact statement, illustrates possible impacts on storm water, traffic and views.
Rowley Properties and city planners embarked on a bold effort in April 2010 to redevelop Hyla Crossing and Rowley Center in Central Issaquah.
