Retreat Notes: Eastown Plans Hit the Brakes Without Key Developer

Without a sewer system in place or any large developer ready to make an investment in the area, the Bonney Lake City Council continues to struggle with the reality that the city can’t afford to build Eastown on its own.

“Something needs to happen to Eastown. We have to look at the economy but also want a certain type of business there for a larger sales tax revenue,” said Mayor Neil Johnson. “The money has to come somewhere. How do we make that happen? What is the city’s role in this?”

This question was one of many the City Council faced at the focused on future city development, held at the Reed House on Sat., March 5.

Without a large developer lined up to help mitigate the costs of Eastown, the council can’t move forward on critical infrastructure the area needs to grow, or commit to any design standards. However, the council recognizes the need for appealing design standards and infrastructure in place to attract new businesses.

“If I were to put my business owner hat on, I recognize that in long term, businesses will help generate revenues and will pay fees for [Eastown development], but if I were to use my own money and invest in this right now, I wouldn’t touch it with a 10-foot pole,” said Councilmember Mark Hamilton.

Compass Pointe, a player in the Eastown development, is heading to bankruptcy, said Dan Grigsby, Public Works Director for Bonney Lake. The development would have been a mixed-use retail center located off SR 410 between 226th Ave. and 221st with 96th Street to the north. He said Compass Pointe was turning out to be ‘’ but is a ‘primo location’ for future development.

To date, the city has invested over $1.3 million in Eastown, which includes 13 planning actions including designing the sewer systems, intersection widening at 214th Ave. and SR 410. Some costs included in that amount have yet to be determined, such as the purchase of the Eastown Lift Station property on Stormwater Pond ‘B’ and the numerous staff and employee hours focused on the Eastown development project.

The estimated cost of constructing the area’s core sewer system is over $3.4 million, and over a five-year period, additional sewer project costs add up to almost $18 million.

Because no big players with deep pockets are coming forward to help draft a design plan, the city wants to encourage the current property owners and interested parties to band together and create a ‘steering committee’ to lead future development. They want the steering committee to have regular sessions and open houses open to public input to hear more about what residents want in Eastown.

“This is the start of an investment for the city,” said Councilmember Donn Lewis. “Eastown will bring revenue in the city in 15-20 years and we have to take those development costs upfront. It's the next frontier for Bonney Lake."

Design

City Administrator presented the findings of a survey the city conducted on what interested parties see for the future of Eastown. City officials and employees filled out a survey on what they’d like to see, and the same survey was sent to about 18 residents or property owners in Eastown.

From the survey, it was gleaned that both city officials and property owners envision Eastown as a commercial mixed use center, although city officials envision more large-scale commercial operations. Both parties ‘overwhelmingly’ envision the area as distinct area; very few want to see Eastown as an extension of the Midtown retail core. Neither groups see the area as a future industrial or agricultural zone.

Design-wise, the survey showed ‘considerable disagreement’ between city officials and property owners as to what degree the city should dictate design and development standards. City officials want more control, property owners want less government involvement.

The property owners are supportive of the city setting standards of landscaping and design, but city officials want a broader range of standards, including building design, landscaping, a consistent architectural theme and pedestrian circulation system. Both parties think building design standards are the most important, but there is only lukewarm city support to mandate parking locations in Eastown, which is overwhelmingly opposed by the property owners.

The council likes the look of the Sumner Fred Meyer complex and the Lakeland retail shopping district.

“Bonney Lake is a gateway to Mt. Rainier and could have a hotel to connect people to that area all seasons of the year,” said Councilmember Laurie Carter. Mayor Johnson agreed that local attractions, especially Bonney Lake Days and the Maris Farms Renaissance Fair, could attract a fair number of out of town people.

While the council agreed that a strong retail center like a ‘mini Kent Station’ would be preferred, they don’t foresee the area as walkable or pedestrian-centric with any sort of plaza.

“We should not overly stress walkability in Eastown, unless we get a hotel or something out there,” said Councilmember Jim Rackley.

Regardless of design specifics, the one voice missing from the table discussion at the Reed House seemed to be the most critical: Eastown's future big developer.