City of Kenmore, Washington - City Projects: Lake Pointe Mixed Use Development

City of Kenmore Projects
LakePointe Mixed Use Development

Last Updated August 2006

The LakePointe project is a proposal for a mixed-use development, which will be built in phases on approximately 45 acres on Lake Washington where the Sammamish River enters the lake. The site is just east of the Kenmore Air Harbor Seaplane terminal. The project contemplates including approximately 350,000 square feet of office space; 300,000 square feet of retail and commercial space (including a multi-screen movie theatre); 1,200 residential units (both rental and condominium); a marina; and over 4,200 surface and underground parking spaces. The proposed Plan includes a new road connecting SR 522/Bothell Way NE (at approximately 66th AVE NE) with 68th AVE NE (at a location approximately one block south of NE 175th ST). This roadway will be called LakePointe Way NE and will serve the community at large and the project.

LakePointe is not a new proposal and has undergone significant public review since 1989. The proposed development was included in the Northshore Community Plan that was adopted in 1993 by the King County Council. A LakePointe Citizen Task Force met for several years and worked with the developer to provide public support and extensive input into the design and implementation of the proposal.

LakePointe is intended to integrate different land uses and activities in a complementary manner to minimize the conflicts and integrate the usage among residents, shoppers, vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. The mixed-use nature of this development will provide almost a mile of Lake Washington and Sammamish River channel shoreline public access. A waterfront promenade will be developed for pedestrian use along the existing barge channel, and will include trees, benches, public viewpoints, walking paths and sidewalk cafes.

King County approved the Master Plan for the LakePointe project just prior to the City’s incorporation in August 1998. The conditions of this approval were subsequently appealed to the City of Kenmore’s Hearing Examiner. While most of the issues that were raised in the appeal were dismissed, the Hearing Examiner ruled in April 1999 that the LakePointe proposal did not meet the intersection standards at the intersection of the proposed LakePointe Way and 68th Avenue NE. The developers were instructed to revise their proposal to ensure that it met the appropriate standards.

In February 2000, the developer submitted a revised transportation analysis. After review by the City, the City issued a Notice of Decision on May 26, 2000 finding that the revised transportation analysis met the appropriate standards. The City's decision was appealed and a hearing was held in front of the City's Hearing Examiner on August 2, 2000. On August 31st, the Hearing Examiner issued his decision that the City did not err in finding that the LakePointe project met the intersection standards at the intersection of LakePointe Way NE and 68th Avenue NE.

In January 2002, Pioneer Towing, the local property owner, announced that the development partnership formed to construct the LakePointe project had dissolved. The owner cited the current economic climate as a key factor in creating difficulties in securing the appropriate financing to construct a project of this size. The owner is still committed to completing the project and is in discussion with several developers who have expressed interest in the project.

The expiration date for both the Site Development Permit and the Shoreline Permit was August 14, 2004. On June 1, 2004, the developer requested an extension of the Site Development Permit. After reviewing current traffic counts and re-evaluating the traffic study completed in 2000, the City of Kenmore issued an extension of the Site Development permit until December 31, 2006. The developer also submitted an application to begin grading work on the site, which would activate the Shoreline Permit. The grading permit was issued by the City on August 2, 2004 with grading work to commence prior to the August 14, 2004 deadline. The City granted an extension of the Shoreline Permit to 8/14/07.

For more information on the LakePointe project, call the Department of Community Development
at 425-398-8900.