Washington — The Washington City Council voted Dec. 15 to annex 18.09 acres off Beaker Road and approved a preliminary development plan for the Bakers/Beakers Point subdivision, a proposed 57‑lot planned development residential (PDR) project.

The council adopted the annexation and later approved, by resolution, the preliminary development plan for Lots 2 and 3 of Millburn Estate Plat 6 (document recorded as 2004‑04957). Planning staff said the applicant sought PDR zoning because terrain and lot design require narrower streets and modified standards, including a proposed 40‑foot right of way for the exterior loop instead of the typical 50 feet.

Consulting engineer Cameron of Wonderlic Surveying & Engineering told the council the PDR layout reflects buyer preferences for wooded walkout lots and site constraints. "This cul de sac here slopes to the north ... you’ll be coming up at 12% and then going back out to the Loop Street," he said, describing steep sections where the plan exceeds the usual 10% grade standard. Councilors and staff discussed that a roughly 400‑foot section will reach steeper grades and noted adjustments were made to hammerhead radii and grades for emergency access.

The preliminary plan calls for 30‑foot‑wide local streets, pedestrian trail connectivity to the East West Gateway Parkway and Stonebridge, and approximately 15% of the site — about 2.59 acres — designated as common ground. Cameron said the common ground will become the homeowners association’s responsibility after final plat and that trail grades are expected to remain below 9% in the steepest sections.

Planning Commission recommended two specific conditions: a 30‑foot setback for Lots 55–57 to ensure functional turnarounds and a native tree buffer planted in the common area north of an existing gas‑line easement. A nearby homeowner, Jeffrey Roth, asked whether the tree‑buffer recommendation is binding and warned that a 40‑foot tree canopy will not fully screen higher lots from his backyard view. Planning staff responded that the commission’s tree‑line suggestion is a recommendation the council may impose as a condition on preliminary approval and that staff will work with the developer and the Urban Forestry Commission on species selection and final plat notes.

Councilor comments acknowledged tradeoffs between connectivity and internal cul‑de‑sac design. One councilor said the project would add a range of housing sizes that could help local affordability, while others pressed on emergency‑vehicle access over the steeper grades. After discussion, the council voted to accept the preliminary development plan into the minutes and approved the resolution endorsing the preliminary plan; final plat and specific conditions will be decided at later hearings.

What’s next: Staff will meet with the developer and Urban Forestry Commission to refine tree buffering and trail maintenance language before the final plat is filed. The council’s approval was for the preliminary plan and annexation only; final engineering, platting and any conditions remain to be set.