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Council OKs sale of nearly 7 acres for hotel development after public concerns about transparency
Summary
The council voted to approve Ordinance 4218 to sell about 6.997 acres to Wonder Lodging LLC after a public hearing in which a local prospective developer said he had been blindsided; city staff offered to arrange meetings between the complainant and the master developer to coordinate opportunities.
The Bellevue City Council voted on May 19, 2026, to approve Ordinance 4218, authorizing the sale of approximately 6.997 acres of city property to Wonder Lodging LLC. Council suspended the three‑reading rule to hold the public hearing and vote the same night; the suspension passed 5‑1 (Councilman Casey voted no).
During the public hearing, Gerry Friedenbach, who said he had been in discussions with city economic development staff about building a Radisson hotel and had invested time and money, said he was surprised and upset to learn the city was selling the property to an out‑of‑town developer. "That was a slap in my face," Friedenbach said, accusing the city of a lack of transparency.
City staff and the mayor responded that multiple prospective developers had been engaged over time, that the city’s objective was to secure hotels to support the planned water park and entertainment district, and that Richard Coleman (American Resorts Management) had offered to buy and develop lots. Staff acknowledged communication gaps and offered to arrange a meeting between Friedenbach and the master developer to explore possible coordination.
After discussion, the council approved Ordinance 4218 by voice vote.
What happens next: city staff said they will help arrange direct contact between Friedenbach and the master developer; the sale moves forward under the terms presented in the ordinance and any negotiations required by the purchase agreement.
