Redmond council approves SW area plan

After several months of discussion with residents and revisions to ease concerns, the Redmond City Council approved the Southwest Area Plan unanimously Tuesday night

“You hate to be trite and say, ‘We listened to the citizens,’ but in fact, we did,” said Mayor George Endicott.

After being rejected three times, the city reached out to its citizens to fully vet the plan.

“I think people were just very concerned as to what it could be, in terms of maximum potential, and whether that made sense in that south area,” said Project Manager Heather Richards.

The initial plan was to add a mixed-use neighborhood, one that included both residential and commercial development, near Helmholtz Way and Wickiup Avenue, but the residents didn’t like the fit.

“A lot of people that have moved to Redmond really value that idea of lower-density and larger lot sizes,” Jan Painter said.

So the city obliged, but it wasn’t until after they actually visited the area and saw the landscape.

“Once we visited the site, and the neighbors that live in that area came out and talked to us, they said, ‘Really, take another look at this, it really isn’t compatible with where we are, the urban-rural interface and all that,'” Endicott said.

With that interaction between the city and its residents, together they believe they’ve crafted a stronger plan to help this area of Redmond grow in a better way.

“Citizen involvement can influence decision-makers, especially when you have city staff and council members that are trying to hear what the people (say), and what their thoughts are,” Painter said.

The plan calls for a mixed-use neighborhood near Ridgeview High School which they see as the cultural hub of southwest Redmond.

Learn more about the plan at the city’s Website.