Des Moines council approves development agreement for 290-unit Woodmont Beach apartments after public hearing

The Des Moines City Council voted 6-1 on June 12 to adopt Resolution 25-052, approving a development agreement that clears the way for a 290-unit market-rate apartment complex and 7,500 square feet of ground-floor commercial space at 26915 Pacific Highway South.

The development agreement gives the developer, Woodmont Beach Apartments LLC (Mill Creek Residential), assurances that current development regulations will not change during the agreement’s term and consolidates review and fee timing for the larger project. Councilmember Grace Matsui moved to adopt the proclamation; Councilmember Nutting moved adoption of the development agreement.

The agreement covers dimensional standards, review procedures, phasing and fee vesting. City staff said the concept plan shows six five-story residential buildings, a one-story clubhouse, 63,000 square feet of recreational area and between 400 and 500 parking spaces (subject to traffic analysis). The agreement also sets procedures for subsequent environmental review, traffic impact analysis and design review during project permitting.

Developer Meredith Holzmer, Managing Director for Mill Creek Residential, told the council the site has been vacant for about 20 years and presented renderings of the Modera-branded community the company intends to build. She said the project will be 100% market-rate, will include on-site property management and amenities such as a fitness center, resort-style pool and electric vehicle charging. She said the retail portion is expected to be divided into multiple small suites for local businesses and that the company will market the spaces as construction progresses.

Residents who live near the site voiced several concerns during the public hearing. Tina Jurowitz said the neighborhood already experiences heavy congestion and that “there is no infrastructure being put into place for all of this traffic they're going to be bringing in.” Nikki Crawford, a PTA member, told the council the local school is “stretched to capacity” and that new units would add students to a school district the speakers said has limited options near Woodmont. Several speakers described safety incidents, trash and vehicle break-ins near the property and urged the council and the developer to address traffic calming, buffering and school capacity.

City staff said the Federal Way School District provided districtwide student-generation estimates based on previous market-rate apartment projects and projects roughly 33 students across elementary through high school grades for this project; staff noted the district generates more students from affordable housing than from market-rate projects. The public hearing record and the development agreement do not change school-district authority over capacity or school siting.

Council discussion referenced the site’s long-vacant status and competing possibilities for the land, noted the requirement to meet state housing targets, and emphasized that the development agreement only initiates a review process that will include a separately noticed public hearing for final project approvals. Councilmember Harris, the lone “no” vote, said he wanted to defer until the council adopted stronger local standards for sound insulation and street trees to improve long-term livability. Councilmembers supporting the agreement said the property currently presents ongoing public-safety and nuisance problems and that a high-quality development could activate the site and support nearby retail.

The development agreement specifies that project approvals will be consolidated to a single public hearing before a hearing examiner. Subsequent permits — including design review, environmental review and traffic mitigation required by the traffic impact analysis — will follow the municipal code and the terms of the development agreement.

The council’s action allows the applicant to proceed to full project review under the terms of the adopted development agreement; construction timelines and final tenant mix will be set during the later permitting and leasing stages.

Votes at the meeting showed the motion to adopt Resolution 25-052 passed 6-1 (in favor: Nutting, Ochsicker, Grace Matsui, Mahoney, Deputy Mayor Steinmetz, Mayor; opposed: Harris).