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Council approves site plan and easement vacation for Atlas Villas Memory Care; CUP, rezubmitted conditions required
Summary
The council approved a conditional use permit and site plan for Atlas Villas Memory Care, a 26-unit memory care facility, and agreed to vacate a central drainage and utility easement contingent on recorded conditions and engineering approvals.
The East Bethel City Council on Oct. 13 approved a site plan and conditional use permit (CUP) for Atlas Villas Memory Care, a proposed 17,236-square-foot memory care facility with 26 units on two lots east of Highway 65, and separately approved vacating a drainage and utility easement that runs between the combined lots.
City planning staff presented the project as a site plan review and CUP for a residential care facility serving seven or more people in the B3 Highway Commercial zoning district. The two parcels total about 4.36 acres once combined. Staff said the proposal met the city's CUP and site plan standards, noted no variances were requested, and added conditions of approval addressing engineering, landscaping, licensing and other standard items. The Planning Commission held a public hearing on Sept. 23 and voted 5–0 to recommend approval pending the easement vacation.
Staff explained the easement vacation is necessary because a drainage and utility easement established when the property was platted in 1990 runs through the center of the combined lots and would interfere with the proposed building; staff and the city engineer said perimeter easements would remain and that on-site stormwater facilities would be sized to meet requirements. Council opened a public hearing on the easement vacation; no public comments were received. The council approved Resolution No. 2025-57 to vacate approximately 7,800 square feet (20 feet wide) of interior easement while maintaining 10-foot perimeter drainage and utility easements.
Council members asked detailed questions about visibility from Highway 65, proximity of the parking area to the highway (staff said parking is on the west side with the secure outdoor yard closer to Highway 65), site selection rationale, tax status (the developer said the facility is not tax-exempt), and safeguards to ensure outstanding engineering comments and Hockinson Anderson review items are addressed before building permits are issued. Staff said conditions in the resolution and a site improvement performance agreement must be satisfied before issuance of any building permits and that the approval is contingent on the easement vacation.
Amber Gonyan, an owner with the applicant, told the council the site was selected for visibility from Highway 65, sewer and water access, and the opportunity to combine two lots for possible future expansion; she said the design would be similar to the applicant's Centerville facility but larger (26 vs. 16 rooms) and that interior features would be tailored for residents with memory issues.
The council adopted the site plan/CUP resolution (2025-56) and the easement vacation resolution (2025-57) by unanimous votes. Staff noted building permits will be reviewed administratively and the developer must satisfy listed conditions before construction can proceed.
