Bartels closing raises land‑use questions at Snoqualmie Planning Commission

Commissioners raised a local land‑use concern after one commissioner reported that a Bartels store in town will close July 9 and that aisles were already empty.

Commissioner Maruzziak (speaker used as generic label in transcript) said she was “shocked to see half of the aisles empty” and that the store had told her it was closing July 9. Council member Johnson advised the commission that staff and council had discussed whether to expand the retail overlay to include nearby sites such as the Dollar Store, Starbucks, Bartels and Safeway, but staff recommended leaving larger‑footprint retail to be addressed in a future zoning review of Snoqualmie Ridge. Johnson said that if a new tenant applied before a rezoning effort, current rules would govern that application.

Commissioners asked whether a pharmacy could replace Bartels. Staff said the presence of a competing pharmacy at Bartels in past development agreements had constrained other retailers; if Bartels vacates, the site’s market rights would open and another operator — such as Safeway — could consider adding a pharmacy.

Discussion versus decision: this was informational — commissioners requested staff follow up and staff said they were attempting to contact the owner for more details. No formal land‑use decision or permit action was recorded in the transcript.

Key details: the commissioner reported an expected closure date of July 9; staff said Snoqualmie Ridge remains zoned under a broad mixed‑use final plan and that future rezoning will more precisely define the allowed retail types. The city is monitoring the situation and staff will seek more information from the site owner.

What’s next: staff will attempt to contact the property owner and report back; rezoning of Snoqualmie Ridge will be considered as a future, separate process that will define allowable uses more precisely.