Planning commission backs PCD amendments for Stuckey Farms (to ‘Alea’), approves higher building heights with limits on residential heights
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Summary
The commission recommended approval of proposed changes to the Stuckey Farms planned community—renaming it ‘Alea’ and allowing taller commercial and hotel buildings—while keeping residential heights lower and excluding one mixed-use pod from the higher hotel height allowance.
The Washington City Planning Commission on May 7 recommended approval of Z-25-13, an amendment to the Stuckey Farms Planned Community Development (PCD) that renames the project to “Alea,” assigns specific building heights for mixed-use and hospitality areas and updates pod numbering to match a revised site plan.
Staff outlined the requested height changes: up to 60 feet for condo/hotel hospitality areas (city code standard 45 feet), up to 50 feet for commercial and professional office (standard 45 feet), and up to 40 feet for residential in mixed-use areas (standard 35 feet). Staff noted prior approvals in other parts of the city for hotel heights in the 58–65-foot range and recommended the commission forward the PCD amendment with findings and conditions.
Public commenters raised concerns about increased heights, effects on views and neighborhood character, stormwater and flooding risk, wildlife and runway safety, park/open-space reductions in earlier site-plan amendments, and increased traffic. Commenters included neighborhood residents and an attorney representing nearby parcel owners who claimed a possible future right to purchase a parcel that could affect a planned fire-station site; staff said no record was provided and described that matter as a private dispute between landowners and developers that would not directly bar the PCD amendment.
The applicant’s representative, Brandy Walker of Civil Science, emphasized that the revised site plan concentrates smaller residential lots in the interior and positions hospitality and commercial uses away from existing estate lots and at lower elevations relative to the ridgeline.
Commissioner Anderson moved to recommend approval of Z-25-13 with conditions that (a) residential heights remain at the current 35-foot standard and (b) Pod 12B not receive the 60-foot hotel height allowance. Commissioner Schill seconded. The commission voted 4–1 in favor; Commissioner Mitchell opposed. The recommendation will go to city council for final action.
Staff noted that approval of the PCD amendment would vest the new height limits in the zoning; if council denies the amendment, applicants could still request individual height variances later but would not have the blanket PCD height standard.
