Education Hill neighbors press Redmond for clarity on short plat, warn of traffic and transparency issues
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Summary
Residents near 157th Avenue NE told council Feb. 3 that application materials for the Via (Veil) Short Plat are inconsistent (documents showing 4 homes vs. 16'24 units) and urged the city to be transparent about whether the street will be opened to through traffic, drainage impacts, tree removal, and cumulative neighborhood effects.
Several residents of Education Hill addressed the Redmond City Council on Feb. 3 to press for clearer, consistent public information and to raise safety and cumulative-impact concerns about a proposed short plat on 157th Avenue NE.
Planning Director Carol Helen explained the Veil Short Plat application and said the proposal submitted to the city is for four single-family lots (tearing down one existing home). She told council that the application met procedural submittal guidelines (and was therefore deemed technically complete), but the submittal contains conflicting plan materials. Helen said the project proponent must construct frontage on the applicant's property and that current fire-access regulations would not require reopening a closed street unless there were more than 100 dwelling units in the surrounding area; she said roughly 47 homes lie north of the closure and about 23 homes lie south of it. Helen also said the applicant is complying with tree-removal rules and will replant "20 plus" trees as part of development.
Residents said the public documents do not match: several people reported seeing versions on the city's portal that listed 16 homes or 16'24 units while staff said the traffic study and the current proposal are for four single-family homes. Speakers said the inconsistencies have created confusion and anxiety in a neighborhood they described as a steep, enclosed community where opening the road could create a shortcut from SR 202 and increase vehicle speeds and cut-through traffic. A resident who lives directly below the site described long-standing runoff that already affects her property.
Council members and staff acknowledged the inconsistency in submitted materials, encouraged continued dialogue and pointed residents to posted application materials and staff contacts for follow-up. Director Helen offered business cards and reminded residents the sign on the property includes contact information. Several residents asked that the applicant be required to resolve discrepancies and provide a single, clear set of public documents before the process moves forward.
Next steps: Staff indicated they will continue to communicate with the community and the applicant. The council did not take final land-use action at this meeting; the short plat remains under review and initial comments had not yet been sent to the applicant.