Emerald Heights Expansion Is Close To Approval

The approval of this 2/3 story redevelopment has been in the works for years. Construction of a new 42-unit Independent Living Building and a new 54-unit Assisted Living Building within the existing Emerald Heights retirement community is involved.

 A HOA led by retired CM John Stilin took their case to the Washington Superior Court.  Their objections were NIMBY in nature. i.e. too many trees removed, incompatible with existing neighborhoods, traffic, etc. -- Bob Yoder 

Design Review Board memo:

Site & Background: The Emerald Heights campus currently includes: 333 independent living units, 56 assisted living/memory care units and 32 skilled nursing units, which total 421 units.   

The proposed project is located within the Education Hill neighborhood, in the Emerald Heights Retirement Community, which is located at 10901 176th Circle NE. The Emerald Heights community is located on 38.0 acres and was approved in November 1988 as a Planned Unit Development. 

The existing campus consists of 33 buildings, which includes 12 independent living duplex cottages to the west of the campus, an independent living apartment building to the south, a series of connected apartment buildings in the center of the campus, and various amenity and service buildings.

On November 1, 1988, a Site Development Permit (SDP-87-9) and Planned Unit Development (PUD-48) for a 308-unit retirement residence, including a 60-bed skilled nursing facility and 30 personal care rooms. 

The subject Administrative Modification is amending Site Development Permit (SDP-87-9). The site is located in the R-6 (Single-Family Urban Residential) zone located at 10901 176th Avenue NE. The property is adjacent to existing single-family residential homes on the west and east sides. To the north is a park known as the Power Line Trail. Redmond High School is located to the south of the subject site. 

Zoning to the east is both R-4 (Single-Family Urban Residential) zone and R-5 (Single-Family Urban Residential) zone. R-4 (Single-Family Urban Residential) zoning is located west and north of the site. To the south of the site, the zoning is R-6 (Single-Family Urban Residential) zone. The R-6 (Single-Family Urban Residential) zone provides for primarily single-family residential neighborhoods on lands suitable for residential development with an allowed based density of six dwelling units per gross acre. This designation provides for stable and attractive suburban residential neighborhoods that have a full range of public services and facilities.

To complement the primarily residential nature of these zones, some nonresidential uses are allowed. Comprehensive Plan Policies The site is located within the R-6 (Single-Family Urban Residential) zone. This designation provides for stable and attractive suburban residential neighborhoods that have a full range of public services and facilities. To complement the primarily residential nature of these zones, some nonresidential uses are allowed. 

This project is still under review. 

Bob Yoder, 1/22/2021

Design Review Board memo, 1/17/2021