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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSteve-Rodgers-Proposed-Bosa-Development-at Quendall-Terminals BARBEE MILL BOSA PROPOSAL REVIEW GROUP 1216 N. 42nd Place • Renton, WA • 98056 • +1 206.779.1451 • srcascade@gmail.com March 20, 2024 City of Renton-Planning Commission Attn: Josephine Bayan RE: Proposed Bosa Development at the Quendall Terminals Superfund Site, Renton, WA. Dear Ms. Bayan, Our group of concerned residents of the Barbee Mill development in Renton, WA., were approached recently by Bosa Development (Vancouver, BC) and their agent, The Pooni Group, regarding the potential purchase and proposed development of the Quendall Terminals U.S. EPA Superfund site located between our community and the Seahawks VMAC. The Bosa Development proposes building five very tall structures, or towers, made up high-density residential condominiums – inclusive of two 23-story, two 18-story and one 16-story towers. Although our group has a number of concerns with the proposal, the central issue is the proposed height of these towers which are completely out of character with the surrounding area and are not appropriate for a suburban residential community. The only condominium units of this size are in urban areas such as downtown Seattle and downtown Bellevue. It is also important to note there are no buildings of the heights proposed by Bosa Developement in the City of Renton and only a few commercial buildings of 10-12 stories near the Boeing Plant. Please see the attached letter that was recently presented to Bosa Development and our Barbee Mill Board illustrating our concerns. Thank you for your kind attention to our comments. We ask for your full support by rejecting this misdirected proposal and to share your concerns with: Bosa Development c/o The Pooni Group Attn: Gary Pooni and Anika Bursey anika@poonigroup.com (604) 731-9053 x 102 Thank you, Barbee Mill Bosa Proposal Review Group BARBEE MILL BOSA PROPOSAL REVIEW GROUP 1216 N. 42nd Place • Renton, WA • 98056 • +1 206.779.1451 • srcascade@gmail.com March 12, 2024 Bosa Development c/o The Pooni Group Attn: Gary Pooni and Anika Bursey Barbee Mill Community Organization c/o Board of Directors Attn: Martha Dawson, Peter Grimes, Dinesh Keskar, Lynda Olson, Geary Long Dear Bosa Development, Pooni Group and Barbee Mill Board, We, at Barbee Mill would like to begin by saying we have no issue with Bosa or any other development firm responsibly developing the Quendall Terminals Site! We welcome a quality- based development, and we know Bosa has done them in other urban areas of North America. With that being said, we firmly believe that the current proposal requires significant revisions to align with the character and needs of Barbee Mill and the surrounding communities. 1) The Bosa Proposal to include 16, 18 and 23 story high rises is totally out of character for this area! Renton is a city known for its suburban character, and buildings of such height would be completely out of context and character with the existing residential landscape. There are no buildings larger than 12 stories in the whole City of Renton and these are zoned commercial and none are near residential areas! We believe that the portrayal of Barbee Mill as an urban area is totally inaccurate. Our community is a residential, suburban neighborhood, and the proposed development should reflect and complement this character. Bosa Development needs to ensure that the new project seamlessly integrates with the surrounding architecture and ambiance. In looking at the Bosa Development website it’s easy to see that none of your taller condo/high-rise projects appear to be in a suburban area such as ours. 2) Increased traffic congestion due to a totally inappropriate access placement along with increased resident densities and parking spaces are all major concerns! With the additional Pan Abode apartment’s development going in this only multiplies these issues. The Bosa plan has only one, very poorly placed, major south access planned directly behind and no greater than about 20 feet from the backs of the homes on lots 1-11! Additionally, there is little to no room (probably less than 10-20 feet) for a foliage buffer to mitigate noise and obstruct intrusive views from the nearby huge towers. In looking at the currently approved plat, The Bosa Proposal includes significantly more residences (692->850-1115 units) and vehicle parking (1352->1500 stalls). More traffic and more congestion is the only conclusion here! Bosa needs to reposition the main access to this project to the middle and/or north end to help diffuse the whole access issue and traffic impacts! 3) The open spaces touted by Bosa do not appear to be valid! In viewing the much larger, extended base structure areas of each tower, the actual open spaces touted appear to be less than the currently approved plat even with their 10 structures! The Bosa Proposal also makes a big deal of the larger park at the southwest corner. BARBEE MILL BOSA PROPOSAL REVIEW GROUP 1216 N. 42nd Place • Renton, WA • 98056 • +1 206.779.1451 • srcascade@gmail.com While Bosa highlights a larger park, the actual increase in open space compared to the currently approved plan appears to be almost insignificant! The reality is that the currently approved park is 1.3 acres and the Bosa proposal is only 1.7 acres. That is an area of only 83 X 83 sq ft! Certainly this small increase could be better used to buffer the more intrusive areas of the Bosa Proposal? More areas to walk and play? The approved plat versus the Bosa Proposal shows differently. 4) Neighboring Communities: We are also sure that the Bosa Proposal will have negative visual impacts on the neighboring communities, especially Mercer Island. If previous Mercer Island residents comments are any indication, they will not be in favor of this one either (e.g., visual and light pollution and the aesthetics being completely contrary to the surrounding areas). 5) Opinion Poll: After full review of the recent Survey Monkey opinion poll, it is very clear that a number of the respondents may not even live in Barbee Mill. Of those that are clearly Barbee Mill residents (32 total) the tally is 27 NO and only 5 Yes endorsing the Bosa Development Plan with almost all noting NO to the taller structures and major concerns regarding inappropriately placed access/exit roads, traffic, etc. This should clearly tell Bosa that your proposal needs to change for all the reasons mentioned! To summarize, these are but a few of the reasons that the Bosa Development Proposal is totally unacceptable as currently presented! As mentioned above but deserves to be repeated, this is a suburban, waterfront area with nothing but residential homes up and down the waterfront for miles. We are already going to have three new apartment buildings nearby, and the transportation issues and congestion that come with them, from the Pan Abode area. There is already a huge round-about planned at the North entryway to Barbee Mill, affecting everyone on the north half of Barbee Mill who use that north exit. Add to this another inappropriately placed thoroughfare from Quendall which will further add to the already difficult situation! The current Bosa Proposal shows little regard for any of the first eleven north side and six south side lots entering the north entrance of Barbee Mill. What would be the harm in presenting a proposal that is aesthetically pleasing and in context with the homes already in place? Thank You, Barbee Mill Bosa Proposal Review Group cc: Mercer Island City Council Newcastle City Council Renton City Council U.S. Environmental Protection Agency