The Avondale Crest project is a loser. A loser for the developer, a loser for the neighborhood, a loser for the city, and a loser for the people buying into it. Why? The access to the project is a "death trap" and just "won't work".
Traffic on the steep, curvy collector road to the project is both dangerous and congested. I'm talking about NE 104th Street. Congestion will worsen as nearby developments like Tyler Creek ( 92 homes) are built out and start flooding onto 104th. The final blow to congestion will occur when homeowners move into the Avondale Crest development. This project will be a juggernaut.
Susan Wilkins appealed for "right-in, right-out turns only." She lost. The "laws of congestion" will show she was right. As it is now, free lance driving is allowed. And, so more forced turns will be made by AC cars resulting in more accidents and I hope not, even deaths. Recently, a neighbor told me (not in the police report I requested) that a propane truck jack-knifed and turned over on 104th. Consider it a rumor, but we can expect the worst, now.
This development is a mistake. .. an example of "forced planning" at it's worst. In this case, the preservation of a landowner's constitutional right not to have his land taken without compensation has taken precedence over preserving the safety and welfare of citizens. Council...what does it ever take?? The appellant will be asking council next week. ( council@redmond.gov for anyone interested.)
As the Vice Chair of the Planning Commission stated this week -- the free market will decide how and IF this development gets built. The plat has been on sale for many months and no one wants to buy it. On the plus side, the applicant will have an option of selling TDR's (Transfer Development Rights") to recoup costs, if he can't find a buyer.
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| Orange tape marks 104th location and width of Avondale Villa Road |
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| 184th Ave Ne dumps heavy neighborhood traffic from 184th AVE NE onto 104th. Avondale Crest "Road" is just down thec hill on the left curve. It's faintly marked by orange tape. The speed monitor is up hill from 184th. |
OPINION: "Avondale Crest" plat was changed to "Avondale Villas" after the 9-lot plat was changed to 8-lots.
4/19/2007: Last night, council made a decision to approve the proposed 9-home Avondale Crest project near the NW corner of 104th St. & Avondale. This is a nightmare. After much discussion, Council voted 4-3 to deny resident Susan Wilkins, appeal. [I can't give councilmember names for the vote because the names were garbled when announced by the Council President]
4/19/2007: Last night, council made a decision to approve the proposed 9-home Avondale Crest project near the NW corner of 104th St. & Avondale. This is a nightmare. After much discussion, Council voted 4-3 to deny resident Susan Wilkins, appeal. [I can't give councilmember names for the vote because the names were garbled when announced by the Council President]
The Avondale Crest project is a loser. A loser for the developer, a loser for the neighborhood, a loser for the city, and a loser for the people buying into it. Why? The access to the project is a "death trap" and just "won't work".
Traffic on the steep, curvy collector road to the project is both dangerous and congested. I'm talking about NE 104th Street. Congestion will worsen as nearby developments like Tyler Creek ( 92 homes) are built out and start flooding onto 104th. The final blow to congestion will occur when homeowners move into the Avondale Crest development. This project will be a juggernaut.
Avondale Crest (AC) cars turning left into their development will have to wait for cars coming up hill from Avondale. At the same time cars going down hill (if they don't crash) will be leaning on their horns "to persuade" that darn AC to by-pass their forced turn. The AC car will feel the heat and head down to Avondale and look for a turn around, so it can make an unobstructed right-hand entrance into their AC home. The same forced left-hand turn (with associated hazards) will occur for AC cars leaving their homes for Avondale.
Susan Wilkins appealed for "right-in, right-out turns only." She lost. The "laws of congestion" will show she was right. As it is now, free lance driving is allowed. And, so more forced turns will be made by AC cars resulting in more accidents and I hope not, even deaths. Recently, a neighbor told me (not in the police report I requested) that a propane truck jack-knifed and turned over on 104th. Consider it a rumor, but we can expect the worst, now.
This development is a mistake. .. an example of "forced planning" at it's worst. In this case, the preservation of a landowner's constitutional right not to have his land taken without compensation has taken precedence over preserving the safety and welfare of citizens. Council...what does it ever take?? The appellant will be asking council next week. ( council@redmond.gov for anyone interested.)
Susan Wilkins states: "The council's decision opens the City to an astronomical legal and financial obligation when someone is injured at the new intersection. I don't think that they realize this." Yes, I may be an alarmist and prognosticator. Yes, my language is extreme about the safety issues -- but traveler beware.
I just pray the Realtors and their buyers considering purchasing an Avondale Crest house read up on what they are "getting into" so they "find a way out", pun intended.
Professional Realtors owe their buyers full disclosure on this one!! [ I plan to send an alert to all the major brokers in the area to open their eyes to disclosure.] If I were I buyer, and I wouldn't be, I'd low-ball my offer, low ball it again, and then accept the concept of living in fear of bodily harm and frustration ...until I could find a new buyer.
As the Vice Chair of the Planning Commission stated this week -- the free market will decide how and IF this development gets built. The plat has been on sale for many months and no one wants to buy it. On the plus side, the applicant will have an option of selling TDR's (Transfer Development Rights") to recoup costs, if he can't find a buyer.
One last quote from the appellant Susan Wilkins "the whole process was confusing and frustrating. If I had had the Technical Report on the PRD before the Dec. 11 hearing, my whole approach would have been different and I'm sure the outcome would have been different." The Development and Review Department replaced long standing City Code traffic standards with new National Standards to accommodate Avondale Crest - the exception was approved by the Technical Committee.
These changes were improperly recorded in the PRD permit rather than the Plat file. When the appellant Susan Wilkins asked for the PRD permit file it wasn't available. Councilmember Kimberly Allen voted against the PRD permit, in part, out of protest.
These changes were improperly recorded in the PRD permit rather than the Plat file. When the appellant Susan Wilkins asked for the PRD permit file it wasn't available. Councilmember Kimberly Allen voted against the PRD permit, in part, out of protest.
Last and not least, THANK YOU Susan Wilkins, for speaking up for all of us in your appeal. You represented us with sacrifice to your personal life and outstanding commitment to our community. Thank you.
OPINON BY BOB YODER
PHOTOS BY YODER
OPINON BY BOB YODER
PHOTOS BY YODER
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