The Bellevue City Council last week requested the city Planning and Zoning Commission consider an application to annex 100 acres of land bordering the city limits.
The order came after hearing a preliminary presentation Thursday, June 9, about a plan to annex part of a vast property in Slaughterhouse Canyon.
"I felt it was an appropriate time to come before your group and ask for a portion of the property to be annexed," said Jeff Pfaeffle, the project developer with Hartland Development Company.
Pfaeffle submitted a letter in March and then appeared before the council at the recent meeting to formally request annexation of the land.
"Instead of working with the county, I think there is a lot more I can offer in terms of development, revenue and amenities to the city," Pfaeffle said.
In total, the developer owns 172 acres of land that extends two miles up Slaughterhouse Canyon. A 10-acre parcel of the property is situated within the city limits. The land, to be developed by Hartland, is referred to as Slaughterhouse Gulch, and extends east of Bellevue along Slaughterhouse Road.
Pfaeffle attributed the timing of the application in part to recent council considerations of an area of city impact boundary. He also said the request stemmed from an application before the P&Z to develop the 10-acre parcel located within the city limits, adjacent to the property proposed for annexation.
"(The discussion) always came back to what I would do on the (other) property," Pfaeffle said.
This spring, Pfaeffle presented the P&Z with plans for a 23-lot subdivision on the triangular piece of property, known as Strahorn Meadows. The parcel sits at the mouth of the canyon between Slaughterhouse and Muldoon Canyon roads.
The P&Z tabled the proposal after two meetings, raising concerns over the relation of the project to future development of the adjacent land.
At the council meeting, Pfaeffle presented a conceptual plan for the proposed area of annexation. He emphasized that no definite plans exist for the 100 acres.
In a spring interview with the Mountain Express, Pfaeffle said he foresees a planned unit development clustered near the city limits, transitioning to a rural setting. The development would then extend into open space.
Although no definite plans exist, the city requested that Pfaeffle provide $20,000 to fund impact studies of future plans.
"Before the consideration of annexation there should be more information in front of you," said Christopher Simms, Citizens for Smart Growth executive director.
Council member Vivian Ivie made the motion to refer the annexation application to the Planning and Zoning Commission. Council members Ivie, Jon Wilkes and Shaun Mahoney voted in favor of the motion. Council members Steve Fairbrother and Chris Koch recused themselves from the discussions.
City Attorney Jim Phillips said the referral of the project to the P&Z indicates the council is seriously willing to look at the project.
The application now goes before the commission for discussions at a later date that will include a public hearing.
